March 17, 2019

Game Of Thrones S05 E08 - Hardhome


In Meereen Jorah and Tyrion are brought before Daenerys. She's very wary of both of them. Jorah betrayed her and Tyrion is the brother of the man who murdered her father. Why shouldn't she just kill them both?

Tyrion saves his own bacon by admitting to her that he killed Tywin Lannister, the man she would have had to face on the field of battle eventually. He impresses her with his knowledge of her life and his grasp of political structures. 

He saves Jorah's hide too. He convinces her of Jorah's devotion to her. And his love for her. She promises not to kill him but exiles him once again. Between this and his stone disease he's not having the best week of it.

Cersei is now a captive of the High Sparrow and her captors are treating her like muck. Oh man her revenge is going to be mighty if she ever gets out. She's being physically and psychologically tortured but she's tough as nails.

In Braavos Arya's training is going swimmingly. Her lying skills are something to behold. She's assumed a new identity, Lanna, an oyster seller. Her new cover is convincing and Jaqen Hagar has a job for her.

She's to take out a dodgy insurance man(???) for a betrayed family. But first she has to find out his routine and everything about him so the kill will be perfect.

Qyburn, Cersei's medicine man pops up to visit Cersei in her cell. Her informs her of the litany of crimes she's accused of. He also tells her Maester Pycelle is making moves in her absence. But Qyburn has a way out for her. She has to confess to her crimes. There's no way she'll do that. 

He has one last thing to tell her. His work on his secret project is nearly complete. That can only be one thing. The Mountain must be nearly revived. What that abomination at her side she'll be unstoppable.

In Winterfell Sansa asks Theon why he told her plans to Ramsay. Theon tells her about the torture Ramsay inflicted on him. She has no bit of sympathy for him because of that and his murder of her brothers.

Theon finally admits that Bran and Rickon weren't murdered. He killed two others instead. Sansa's two brothers might be alive. She has a bit of hope to cling too. Between this and the news of Jon maybe, just maybe things might be ok eventually.


Roose and Ramsay Bolton are planning their war with the approaching Stannis. They know his forces aren't strong. They can wait out Stannis and let him and his forces starve. Ramsay however is a bit more proactive than his Da and has a plan to speed things up. He asks for a small group of men to carry out his idea.

In Meereen Tyrion and Daenerys come to an agreement. She wants him to become her political advisor. He'll come in handy now that Jorah and Barristan Selmy are gone. They get on well too. It's great seeing them finally interacting.

He tells her that Varys, a man she thought was her enemy, was actually a huge factor in her success. He also tells her that her capture of Westeros won't be as easy as she thinks. She needs the backing of one of the big Westeros family's to succeed. The support of the common folk won't be enough. 

The Lannister's, Baratheon's, Starks, Tyrells.....she doesn't need any of them. She's going to destroy anyone who gets in her way. Those are fighting words.

Jorah returns to the lower fighting pits. He wants a chance to battle in the main pits. He's good enough for it. He has the skills to wow a crowd. His main aim is to get to fight in front of Daenerys once again.

Cersei's captors keep asking her to confess. When she won't they deny her food and water. Her will is strong. She won't give in. But a person can only take so much punishment.

At the wall Sam is still recovering and Gilly is still taking care of him. The two are in love now. We need these happy scenes. They are little glints of light in the dark. Olly turns up and asks Sam why they trust the Wildlings to fight with them. Sam says they have no other choice. It's true. They haven't a chance without them.

And speaking of Wildlings. Jon, Tormund and their lil gang has arrived at Hardhome. The sheer size of the Wildling army is immense. Jon is terrified but marches in. He has important work to do.

The Wildling's look at him like they want to disembowel him on the spot. Tormund is the only reason he's still alive. Tormund's old buddy, The Lord of Bones has become the Wildling leader in the absence of Mace Rayder.

The news that Tormund and Jon are allies freaks out the Lord of Bones. He questions Tormund's manhood and Tormund kills him instantly. Then he demands an audience with the elders. Jesus he means business doesn't he. Whoa.


Jon informs the elders they need to ally to beat the White Walkers. They're skeptical. A woman named Karsi says they can never be beaten. Jon shares his dragonglass stash with them. A gift for those who join him. He promises them land south of the wall if they join when the war begins. They ask where Mance is. Jon, being a fool admits he kill him. 

Understandably they freak out but Tormund tells them it was a mercy. His honesty eventually persuades 5000 wildlings to join him, Karsi and a giant called Wun Wun included. Karsi seems like a cool new character to have around. Things are looking up for Jon. 

Until they start packing up to leave. The camps dogs start to go mad. Jon senses trouble. Snow clouds gather at the edge of the camp. There's a loud rumbling. The Wildlings start to panic. The camp's gates are shut. But it's too late. The army of the dead is upon them. The Wildlings trapped outside are massacred. 

Things get terrifying fast. The Wildlings run for the boats. The dead storm the walls and climb under the fences. Wildling arrows have little effect on them. Jon rushes into the fray to get as many Wildlings as possible out. His men, including Tormund join him. The dead swarm in. Blood splashes across the screen. THIS IS FUCKING IMMENSE.

Karsi is deep in the middle of the fighting giving her all. Jon and Tormund block the holes in the walls. They look up and see The White Walkers overlooking the battle. They get their first glimpse of the Night's King.

Jon runs to rescue the dragonglass. He sees Wun Wun the giant destroying the dead. He's good to have on your side. Inside a hut he comes face to face with his first proper White Walker. 

It's a vicious battle. Jon hasn't a hope. Until somehow he gets the Walker with a lucky strike with his sword. His Valerian steel sword given to him by Jeor Mormont. The Walker explodes into a million pieces. It seems Valerian steel works on them too. This is very useful information. The Night's King witnesses this from above. he doesn't look happy.

It's a small win in a losing battle. The Camps walls collapse under the weight of a million zombies. Karsi is swarmed by them and ripped asunder. They divebomb the camp from the cliffs above.

There's only one thing to do now. Retreat. Jon, Tormund, Edd and Wun Wun and the rest of the survivors run for the boats. They barely make it and thankfully the dead stop at the water's edge as they can't float.

Then it gets worse. Much worse. All the Wildlings and Night's Watch men killed in the battle rise up as zombies at the command of the Night's King. The army of the dead has just gotten a lot bigger. An absolutely terrifying prospect.


A-MAZ-ING. Wow. The best battle scene of the series so far just came out of nowhere. No warning. Just happened and blew us all away. How on earth will the White Walkers ever be beaten. It seems impossible. Brilliant episode. Tyrion and Daenerys together at last was fun too. That last 25 minutes though. JESUS CHRIST.

Next up - The Dance of Dragons

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

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