We open somewhere new in a place full of people we haven't seen before. A church is being built in the countryside. It's hard work but people look happy and safe. An unusual site in Westoros.
Groups of men lug logs of wood around. One beast of a man carries a full tree by himself. No fucking way. It's only Sandor Clegane, The Hound. Last seen suffering after a fight with Brienne of Tarth and left for dead by Arya Stark. Great to see him back. Brilliant character. How the hell did he end up here in this place of peace????
He's a hard worker and the leader of the community Ray is impressed by his work ethic. The Hound is more humble these days than he used to be and he likes this life of peace. He even admits to Ray that it was a woman who defeated him in battle. Clegane of old would have never done that.
Ray speaks of finding Clegane in the vale after the battle. He assumed he was already dead but nursed him back to health when he wasn't. According to Ray the gods kept the Hound alive for a larger purpose.
He knows the tales of Sandor Clegane too. But he's a forgiving type and believes the Hound is a changed man. The Hound wants to believe it too. He's happier here in this quiet place than he ever was in King's Landing.
In King's Landing the High Sparrow is conversing with Margaery Tyrell. He wants her to have a baba with King Tommen. He wants her to convert her grandmother Olenna Tyrell to the Faith Militant too.
He calls her a sinner but in reality he knows how powerful she is and how handy she would be to have on the side of the Faith Militant. A subtle threat towards her safety is enough to get Margaery to talk to her. The Sparrow is a scumbag. He preaches peace and humility but he's not afraid to break his own rules at all.
Olenna freaks out at the thought of joining the Faith and tries to convince Margaery to do a legger with her. Septa Unella is following Margaery around to which angers her even more. She's there to make sure Margaery stays true to her new faith.
As Margaery leaves she slips her gran a piece of paper with the Tyrell sigil on it. Ok, good, it's all an act. She hasn't really converted. It's all a ruse to stall and rescue Loras. Good, she's too good of a character to cave to religious silliness. Olenna is relieved too.
At the wall, Jon Snow is gathering help for the battle against the Boltons at Winterfell. The first people he goes to are the Wildlings. They're loyal to him now after he rescued them all at Hardhome. But they want to fight White Walkers, not Boltons.
Jon sways them by telling them they'll be next on the Bolton hitlist if the Boltons's aren't defeated. His words ring true. Wun Wun the giant declares for Jon and the others follow suit. He's on the way towards building an army.
Cersei pays a visit to Olenna Tyrell. Olenna is leaving but Cersei wants her to stay and fight the High Sparrow. Olenna gives her some harsh truths. Its all her fault. The Sparrow's rise was because of Cersei.
Cersei has lost all her allies fast. But she's not going to run. She's not going to let a pack of religious fanatics run her out of her home. She's going to fight back herself. No better woman.
Jaime meanwhile is marching on Riverrun to fight the Blackfish and his forces. Bronn is by his side. Love Bronn. Been too long since we saw him. Jaime is fighting alongside the Frey's who are a disaster at war. They try to call out the Blackfish by threatening his nephew Edmure but Blackfish doesn't give a shit about Edmure. Jaime is ashamed by their pathetic attempts and takes over.
Jon Snow's next visit is to family Mormont, homeplace of bother Ser Jeor and his son Ser Jorah. The family lady is Lyanna Mormont, a young girl not even a teenager yet. She may be small but she takes no shit and when she talks everyone listens. Ser Davos gains her allegiance by warning her about the White Walkers they'll all face eventually.
All the squabbling between houses in the North will mean nothing when the Night's King leads his troops South. The North needs to be united against them. Lyanna comes to realise this. She can only offer 62 men but they make them big and strong on Bear Island so she promises each man is worth 10 others.
Jon says the Bolton's need to be destroyed. Their hate and violence are ripping the North apart and the fact that they know hold Winterfell, the spiritual capital of the North, is a sin. With Winterfell back in Stark hands the North can join as one to fight the dead.
Lyanna's a fuckin deadly character. It's a pity she wasn't in the show from day one. One thing I've noticed in the past 2 seasons is the emergence of really strong female characters. Melisandre, Cersei is on the up, Arya and Sansa have come on in leaps and bounds. Yara Greyjoy and her fleet. Plus everyone is terrified of Brienne and Olenna Tyrell.
At Riverrun Jaime gains a parley with the Blackfish. The Blackfish won't kowtow to Jaime's threats. He's a hard man and war is nothing new to him. He tells Jaime to prepare for a siege and that they've enough provisions to make it last 2 years. Good jesus i hope it doesn't last 2 years.
Jon's final trip is to House Glover but it's an unsuccessful trip. House Glover suffered massive loses when Theon and the Ironborn attacked them and the Stark's were nowhere to be seen. There's no swaying this chap.
Sansa reminds Lord Glover that his house has sworn allegiance to the Stark's but the idea of fighting alongside Wildling's is to much to bear for Lord Glover. He'd rather die. Things aren't looking good for Jon and Sansa.
Yara and Theon and their fleet is restocking in Volantis. Yara is trying to get Theon to return to the cheeky chappy he used to be. But he's too broken for that. Yara has big plans too. To sail to Meereen and pledge allegiance to Daenerys Targaryen. Now that's a duo and a half.
Jon Snow has had enough of begging for soldiers. His plan is to attack Winterfell with the forces at hand. Davos and Sansa tell him he'll lose but he's desperate to get the attack over with. Jon Snow is being a fool again.
Sansa witnesses infighting in the troops. She knows its a lost cause so she begins to write a letter. Who the letter is to we can only guess. But i have an idea it's someone she doesn't really like.
Back in the countryside Ray is spreading wisdom. You can see the effect his words are having on the Hound. You can tell he's on the verge of renouncing violence and going full hippy. It would be nice to see him happy for once.
Then the Brotherhood without Banners show up and try to extort supplies from the community. Finding nothing they leave. Hmmmm. The Hound warns Ray that they are dangerous but Ray is very blase about it all. A big mistake.
In Braavos Arya wanders the streets until she finds a boat captain. Using money she's collected she buys her way onboard a ship to Westoros leaving the next day. She's going home finally. About fecking time.
Things are finally looking up for her. She stands on a bridge enjoying the evening sunshine and an old woman approaches her before knifing her in the belly. FUCK! It's the waif in disguise. The cunning wagon. Arya jumps off the bridge into the water before she can finish her. She emerges alive but in a really bad way.
The Hound returns to his camp for supper. He stumbles upon an appalling sight. Everyone is dead. Ray has been lynched. The supplies are all gone. The Brotherhood Without Banners soldiers have returned and pillaged the place.
The Hound is furious. His new friends are dead. He snaps. He picks up his wood axe and heads out looking for retribution. Sandor Clegane has arisen from the dead and he's about to fuck shit up.
Excellent episode apart from the supremely dull Riverrun nonsense. Arya's life is in severe danger and things are getting very tense in King's Landing. But the big story is the return of the Hound. No one ever really thought he was dead and it's great to see him back. It's a pity everything had to go arseways so fast for him though.
Next up - No One
Series 1 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 2 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 3 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 4 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 5 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 6 - 1 2 3 4 5 6
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