We're back with Lady Crane onstage playing Cersei, pretend grieving for her son Joffrey. I assumed we'd seen the last of her. It's always a joy to see Joffrey die again though, whatever the context.
When she goes backstage after the curtains drop she finds Arya wounded and bleeding. Owing her one after she saved her life she cleans and stitches Arya's wound. A bit of networking never does any harm.
Lady Crane offers Arya a job with the acting company. She knows Arya is someone who can be trusted but she has other plans. She wants to deal with the woman who tried to kill her and then head home to Westoros to deal with her other enemies now that she has the skill to do it.
The Hound is on the move. His new community has been decimated and he's out for blood. 4 members of the Brotherhood without Banners just happen to get in his way and we quickly see he's lost none of his skill for cutting a man down. It's a jawdropping moment of brutality. Jesus.
In Meereen the Red priestesses are spreading the word of Daenerys targaryen and her destiny. The city folk are buying it. All around the city is springing back to life. The lack of Sons Of The Harpy atrocities has people happy and spending money again.
Varys isn't impressed by the priestesses and warns Tyrion not to trust them. Varys is heading off back to Westoros as well. He's on a mission to get supplies and lay the way for Daenerys arrival in Westoros. No better buachaill for the job. I love the scenes between Tyrion and Varys. There's genuine warmth there.
In King's Landing a group of the Faith Militant arrive at the Red Keep to bring Cersei in front of the High Sparrow. She doesn't feel like going. They try to force her. In front of The Mountain. Oh boys. An amateur mistake. One ripped off head later they back down. If the Sparrow wants to see Cersei he can visit her himself.
Podrick and Brienne arrive at Riverrun. Brienne has been sent by Sansa to recruit the Blackfish and the Tully army to Sansa's and Jon Snow's cause. He's Sansa's uncle so surely he'll fight with her to take back Winterfell. They weren't expecting to find him under siege though.
She meets up with Jaime. And Pod is jokingly ambushed by his old buddy Bronn. Bronn and Pod haven't seen each other in years and their scene together is good fun. Bronn comments on Brienne's obvious attraction to Jaime.
Jaime's amazed Brienne found Sansa. He assumed she'd be well dead by now. Him and Brienne make a deal. If she can get the Blackfish to give up Riverrun without violence he'll allow her to take the Blackfish North. Both will get what they want without any bloodshed.
She also tries to give her sword Oathkeeper back to Jaime. He gave it to her to help her find Sansa and he won't take it back. It's hers. She's earned it. A Valyrian steel sword. In the wars to come Jaime will no doubt regret giving that away.
The Blackfish is pure stubborn. Even a letter from Sansa won't persuade him to give up the castle. He's sympathetic to her cause but his own is more important to him. God this is all boring as hell. It's padding pure and simple.
In King's Landing Cersei enters the throne room to hear a new decree from King Tommen. His new decree is one that will effect her massively. Her and Loras's trial date is announced and she will not be allowed a trial by combat. All her Mountain related plans go flying out the window. Qyburn then informs her that her plan B is a go. Hmmm. Curious.
In Meereen Tyrion is missing Varys and so decides to introduce Greyworm and Missandei to the wonders of wine. He tries to introduce them to humour too with predictably cringy results. It's nice though.
We don't often get fun scenes in Game Of Thrones. It's cool to see a human side to Greyworm and Missandei as the wine takes hold and its deadly to see Tyrion smile. It's been a long time since he had a reason to be happy.
The fun doesn't last long of course. A fleet of ships has arrived in the city's bay. It's been sent by the masters of Astapor and Yunkai. They want to retake Meereen. With Daenerys out of the way they think it will be a piece of cake.
In Riverrun Jaime has another plan to end the siege. He'll free Edmure Tully and let him meet his son for the first time if he can persuade the Blackfish's men to end the siege. Edmure has nothing but hate for Jaime. The Lannister's killed his family at the Red Wedding, why the fuck would he help him.
Jaime just wants it all over. he wants to be back by Cersei's side. He promises Edmure that if he doesn't help him, he'll butcher every Tully he can find, even Edmure's new son. The threat works. He'll parlay with the Blackfish's men. Ahh there's the Jaime Lannister i hate.
The Blackfish's soldiers let him into the Castle against his command. The men of the castle want the siege over too. Edmure was once their lord and they are still loyal to him. he commands they surrender and demands the capture of the Blackfish. Jaime's plan worked. The siege is over and no blood has been shed. Yet.
The Blackfish helps Brienne and Pod escape. He's not leaving though. He's going to go out fighting. The stubborn fool. Jaime sees Brienne sailing away. She sees him too. They both wave each other a sad goodbye. If he wasn't so in love with his sister Cersei (i know, i know) you get the feeling him and Brienne could have been good together.
The Master's ships in Meereen bay are attacking Meereen using catapaults and firebombs.The Unsullied can't fight back against them because Meereen has no ships of it's own after the arson attacks.
Tyrion and Greyworm argue about their defence tactics. Greyworn is pissed off because he knows Tyrion's earlier agreement with the Masters made them look weak which lead to this attack.
Atop the temple they are in there's a huge crash. Did a firebomb hit them? Oh no, it's much better than that. Daenerys Targaryen, their queen, has returned just in time and she's brought both her dragon and a huge new army with her. Things are looking up.
The Hound meanwhile is still out for blood. He comes across Beric Dondarrion & Thoros of Myr, the leaders of the Brotherhood Without Banners about to execute their rogue members who killed his village friends. He wants to kill the the rogues himself.
They allow him to do so if he'll join forces with them. They're heading north to take on the White Walkers and a pillar of strength like himself will come in very handy indeed. The Hound has a cause once again. We really didn't need to see his knob though.
In Braavos Arya is recovering well. Lady Crane is a fine nurse. Err she was a fine nurse. The Waif has found them and Lady Crane finally meets her maker. Arya has lost yet another friend and she isn't well enough to defend herself. So she runs.
She belts through the streets of Braavos while the Waif follows her remorsely. She's like the fecking Terminator this one. Arya's wounds are reopening. She's in a bad way. She'll never get away from her.
Arya makes it back to her hideout. She has her sword Needle but she's weak. How will she fight. The Waif enters. Arya turns out the lights. All the skills she learned while fighting blind are about to come in very handy. The waif cant see in the dark. Arya is master of fighting in the dark. She finally has the upper hand and slays her foe. So long gowlbag.
In the House of Black & White Jaqen Hagar discovers a bloodtrail. He follows it and finds the Waif's face with all the other faces of the dead. Arya's there with her sword too. He congratulates her. She's finally ready to become a faceless man. Arya rejects the title. She's done in Braavos. She's going home for revenge on all who's wronged her.
Plenty of good in this episode but plenty of bad too. The bad - all the Riverrun stuff. Pointless. Full of characters no one gives a shit about. But thankfully its all over now. The good - anything to do with the Hound was great and now he has a reason for being again. Deadly. The end of Arya's time in Braavos was slightly anticlimactic but that final chase scene and fight was class. Next up, The Battle of The Bastards. One of the most epic episodes so far.
Next up - Battle Of The Bastards
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