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Archive for Season 6

Game of Thrones – Episode 57

Jun07

20160226073939!GoT_season_6_official_posterShow: Game of Thrones

Genre: Fantasy

Watched: Episode 57 – June 5, 2016

Title: The Broken Man

Summary: Lots of great character development

ANY CHARACTER HERE

NOTE: SERIOUS SPOILER WARNING. This review/discussion contains tons of spoilers about the episode and even ones crossing over from the books. It’s really my free-for-all musing given all the information at my disposal.

Plot threads are unraveled and discussed one by one.

The Hound – Guess what, or favorite Clegane is back! Turns out like so many GOT characters when Arya left him to die… the Hound only “mostly” died. The mysterious Septon Ray (name changed from the books where he was Septon Meribald) found him where Arya left him and nursed him back to health. The Septon is played by vetran British actor Ian McShane, who was so awesome as Swearengen in Dead Wood (and countless other roles).

This thread is broken into several segments, but essentially Seption Ray runs a kind of refuge commune of various regular folks made homeless by the war. He inspires them to live well (he does wear a Septon’s star) and works alongside them as they build a tower, prepare food, cut wood etc. He’s a humble guy and keeps engaging the Hound in conversation. They’re both amusing. Ray: “What kind of big f**ker was man enough to take you down?” Hound: “a woman.” It’s also clear even from the beginning that Sandor is changed man, less angry than before. Septon Ray talks of his past as a warrior and his transformation into a holy man. One could parallel this with the High Septon’s story but overall Ray is certainly less manipulative and fanatical. During one of these speeches three men from the Brotherhood arrive on horseback. They ask for money, food, etc but are nicely turned away. The Hound is touched by Ray’s sentiments, but speculates that they should be prepared to fight.

GOT607_082415_HS__DSC76711-1140x759

Chopping wood for 2 and a half years

Next time we see him he is cutting wood off by himself when he hears screaming. He returns to camp to find every soul shot through with arrows. The Septon dangles from his tower by a noose, even his star having been taken. The Hound grabs up an axe, set back on the warrior’s path.

While I’ve always liked the Hound (not as a person, but as a character), and I enjoyed McShane’s Ray, I was not totally satisfied with the handling of the group’s demise. It looked as if a magical force swept in, shot everyone, and vanished. Stuff was still laying about, and it takes some “dedication” to kill everyone. Even the Mongol Horde missed stragglers (and sent back a special party to mop them up). This sort of atrocity certainly wouldn’t be in character with Dondarian’s Brotherhood, but more work of the ilk that clustered around the older, bigger, meaner Clegane (aka Fraken-Gregor before Quburn got to play with him).

It should be noted that this whole segment is so much clearer (as usual) in the show than in the books where it’s told from the POV of Brienne, who doesn’t know the Hound. In fact, the written interaction is mostly between her and the septon and the presence of the Hound is only inferred, and the septon technically says he is dead. But he may be speaking metaphorically, implying that the hound changed — which given what the show is doing is presumably the case.

Alas poor Ray, I knew him well

Alas poor Ray, I knew him well

Margaery & Olena – The younger Tyrell is back hanging with the High Sparrow in his chapel. She is reading from one of the seven holy books, and quotes from the “The Mother.” If, as suspect, she’s acting, she’s doing a great job of it. She discusses her “new self’s” views of her “old self” in a very convincing way. The Sparrow inquires about her sex life, mentioning that she and the king haven’t “been together” — despite having been together. He encourages her to do her duty, as the king must have an heir. Certainly, medieval royalty were pragmatic about this, but it felt slightly forced. He also implies that Marg’s grandmother, the Queen of Thorns, had better watch out.

Later, Marg is back in the Red Keep with her Grandmother and under the watchful eye of Septa Unella. Olena is furious at her granddaughter’s pious stance and wants the septa gone — clearly they haven’t been alone. Marg sticks to the holy program, responding to Olena’s suggestion that she return to Highgarden that her grandmother should do the same. Then Marg slips her a note.

I knew it!

I knew it!

Oleana, never a dunce, instantly changes her tune. Outside, she opens the note which is revealed to be merely the Highgarden rose. Still, this is proof that Marg still sides with her house.

Later, Cersei and Franken-Gregor visit Olena, who is packing to return to Highgarden, finally having gotten the message to move out of the Sparrow’s reach and leave the scheming to her protege. They have an amusing exchange where Cersei, continuing to be subdued after her walk of shame, argues for an alliance. Olena blames her for the mess, which Cersei, in a bit ofrelatively new self awareness, agrees. But Olena reminds her that they have both lost, and that Cersei is without any support. Her uncle forsakes her, her son has gone to the Sparrow, and her brother is off fighting.

Jaime – and his Lannister army arrive at a Riverrun which due to budget, has grown more elaborate and picturesque since we last saw it way back in season 3. And Bronn is with him to continue their bromance. Jaime “convinces” Bronn that he should take over command of the siege and play his right hand man — since he’s short in the hand department. The Frey army investing the castle is as lame as the Freys themselves. The hooded creeps are taunting the Blackfish (who watches from the battlements) with his nephew, the hapless Lord Edmure. Threatening to kill him if the gates aren’t opened. The Blackfish isn’t about to flop.

So when the Frey’s back down on their threat, Jaime approaches them and takes command by one part royal order and nine parts confidence. He orders them to have Edmure bathed and fed. His putting the smack on the Freys is quite amusing. They don’t put up much of a fight.

Don't mess with us Freys!

Don’t mess with us Freys!

The same can’t be said of the Blackfish. Jaime goes to the castle gates alone and unarmed and treats with him. Kingslayer and Blackfish. They take the measure of each other, and the Blackfish is not impressed. Jaime offers terms (letting the Tully men go free if they surrender) and the Blackfish states that he was born in the castle, and he’s prepared to die in it. The walls are high, the fortress well provisioned, and the commander is seasoned. This won’t be a quick siege and Jaime knows it.

These are fun scenes, even if Bronn is merely amusing and not in prime form. But the Jaime / Blackfish interactions are great as is him putting the Frey’s in their place.

Kingslayer vs. Blackfish

Kingslayer vs. Blackfish

Theon – and his sister Yarra party in Volantis, allowing us to again check out the cool shop-covered bridge and the whore houses. And while the Theon of old was a big brothel lover, alas, the newly trimmed version isn’t so keen on the carnal affairs. Which can’t be said of the enthusiastically lesbian Yarra — apparently instact Greyjoys are a lusty sort. But for all her bravado, Yarra is fairly sympathetic to Theon’s plight, in her Ironborn way. Still, as she puts it, if he’s so far gone he ain’t coming back he might as well end it all. Euron (sounds like urine) is hunting them, and they’re going to sail all the way to Meeren to ask Dany for help talking the Iron Islands back (little do they know she’s out horseback — I mean dragonback — riding). This tough love works on Theon, and he nods, on his way back from the reeky depths.

Runs in the family

Runs in the family

Jon, Sansa, Davos – are trying to get the north back together. First step is to convince the Wildlings to join them in this fight. Here Jon does pretty well, making a big speech about the Wildlings being toast if they don’t knock Ramsay out. Tormund acts as backup singer and Wun Wun the giant chimes in by saying “Snow!” Victory one.

Wun Wun steals the scene again

Wun Wun steals the scene again

Next up is Bear Island, which is a cool spot with icy waterfalls. There Jorah’s cousin-he-never-met, the 10 year-old niece of the Old Bear (the Lord Commander before Jon) is the lady. At first, the going is tough convincing her (and her Maester). Despite centuries of loyalty to the starks, She isn’t buying Jon. Nor Sansa. Then Davos pops in with a “I grew up in a shack” story and wins her over. Of course she only has 62 men, but she’s so cute she’s become an instant internet sensation — sort of like the Tormund/Brienne forbidden love.

Too cute to rule!

Too cute to rule!

Stop three is Lord Glover. He listens to them, and might even have a grain of sympathy for the old days, but he’s still a big no despite the trio’s efforts. Robb did them no favors with the way he screwed up, ruined everything over a foreign girl, and then left them to the Bolton’s tender mercies. Now fear of flaying and keeps them in the Ramsay camp.

And speaking of camps, the meager forces of Snow, Start, and Seaworth make camp at that exact unlucky spot where Stannis was blizzarded in, then “forced” to burn his daughter at the stake. A grim locale. Sansa wants to gather more men, even though they have tried and failed at all reasonable options. Jon thinks they need to win with what they have. But Sansa secretly writes a letter (presumably to Littlefinger) and signs it with her direwolf sigil.

game-of-thrones-season-6-the-broken-man-image-6-600x399

Sansa, Snow, and Seaworth

Arya – Finally back to our favorite little Stark. She’s got a new outfit and hairstyle more in her traditional “hanging out at the Red Keep with her Dancing Master” style. Confident and bold, she strides up to some Westerosi ship captains and buys a cabin with stolen coin, then heads up to a bridge to take in a gorgeous view of Bravos and the Titan (the giant statue). Worth noting that this episode has been full of great views. Anyway, an old lady approaches, and we know what’s coming, it’s the Waif wearing a mask, and she stabs Arya 5-6 times nastily in the belly (shades of that other Stark, Robb’s wife). Arya, still being Arya, knocks herself free and over the side of the bridge to disappear into the lagoon and a pool of bloody water.

Thinking herself the Titan

Thinking herself the Titan

Shortly after, she pops up somewhere nearby, swimming in pain, climbs out and staggers through the market clutching her bloody guts.

I was loving this whole sequence until her post-stabbing athletics. I have to imagine that a half dozen long bladed stabs to the intestines and then a bath in bacteria laden waters is pretty much a certain date to meet the real master of the House of Black and White. So, unless she gets some magical intervention next week, I’m having a hard time imagining my suspension of disbelief will hold. The walking at all after such a stabbing already has it strained to the breaking point. But we shall see.

Can we say sepsis?

Can we say sepsis?

Episode Body Count: Septon Ray and his whole crew. Arya’s guts.

Overall, a quieter episode than most, but with a lot of good character development. Really Arya’s encounter was the only major on screen action, but the show doesn’t need constant action for good drama. Containing only 4 major threads, this week moved those stories forward in a meaty way. They are deliberately merging more characters. And this trend will continue next week as Brienne seems to be hopping from the Jon thread to the Jaime thread — and it will be great to see them back together again.

Also thematically, the Broken Man is apt. We have the Hound and then Jon’s party, full of broken men. Jaime and Blackfish both. Or at least damaged. Hell, Edmure too. Theon is pretty much the definition and even Cersei and Marg have been “broken” (or bent) in their own ways.

If you liked this post, follow me at:

My novels: The Darkening Dream and Untimed

or all my Game of Thrones posts or episode reviews:

Season 1: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]

Season 2: [11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20]

Season 3: [21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30]

Season 4: [31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40]

Season 5: [41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50]

Season 6: [51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57]

Related posts:

  1. Game of Thrones – Episode 37
  2. Game of Thrones – Episode 56
  3. Game of Thrones – Episode 25
  4. Game of Thrones – Episode 31
  5. Game of Thrones – Episode 53
By: agavin
Comments (0)
Posted in: Television
Tagged as: a game of thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire, Episode 57, Game of Thrones, got, HBO, Season 6, Season 6 - Episode 7

Game of Thrones – Episode 56

Jun01

20160226073939!GoT_season_6_official_posterShow: Game of Thrones

Genre: Fantasy

Watched: Episode 56 – May 29, 2016

Title: Blood of my Blood

Summary: Great stuff, slightly rushed execution

ANY CHARACTER HERE

NOTE: SERIOUS SPOILER WARNING. This review/discussion contains tons of spoilers about the episode and even ones crossing over from the books. It’s really my free-for-all musing given all the information at my disposal.

Plot threads are unraveled and discussed one by one.

Bran – and Meera flee desperately through the snow, picking up where they left off last week. Bran is still in his trace and we are treated to a rapid-fire montage of visions. Mostly bits of White Walker footage from previous battles (like Hardholme) and stressful highlights (like Ned Snark’s final moments) but also a touch of new footage including the mad king screaming “burn them all” and some Wildfire explosions (is Wildfire a key to fighting the undead horde?). Back in the real world, given storm and terrain, Meera is having a tough time with the sled. Bran wakes, but the zombies are coming out of the woods. Just as things look bleakest, with the dead about to strike, a horseman with a fiery censor/thurible appears and makes short work of the shambling nightmares. At last, the long awaited appearance of Coldhands!

The long lost uncle (mostly)

The long lost uncle (mostly)

Later, this mystery figure (who in the books helped out Sam and Gilly in the North and later Bran before he got to the tree), is beheading a rabbit — yuck (tie in with Sam and Gilly dialog). But he soon reveals himself to be Benjen Stark — achem, a little worse for the wear. Seems he was stabbed by a White Walker at some point, but was saved when the Children of the Forest used an obsidian dagger (shoved in his heart) to turn him into some kind of “good white walker.” He has apparently worked for the Raven since. The details of his transformation are unclear, presumably some similar magic to that which Leaf used to make the original White Walker. We fans have long suspected that Coldhands was Ben, and now it’s confirmed.

Overall, this is some great stuff and more of the rapid-fire reveals, particularly with regard to the Walker/Raven/Children mythology so long on slow IV drip. Ben didn’t look all that “transformed” and I would have preferred he appear more “wraith-like” or at least they showed his black hands. An elk/reindeer as opposed to a horse would have been cool too. The show is slightly uneven in how it embraces the high fantasy elements. Certainly they do, and in increasingly large measure, but it doesn’t play them to the LOTR max (and I mean good LOTR, not the Hobbit).

Does he look dead enough?

Does he look dead enough?

Gilly & Sam – Ride in a very fancy carriage through the southlands as they approach his ancestral estate of Horn Hill. They talk of trees (being green and different down south). Sam is a nervous talker and funny as usual. “A person just doesn’t feel welcome after that [being told to go to the wall or die]”. They inform the audience that Sam didn’t tell his family she was a Wildling (just a Northerner) in his letters and that his father hates Wildlings. Eventually they approach the house, which seen in the background is a giant complex I’m convinced was inspired (architecturally) by either the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi or by the older examples of Roman villas (put through a “medieval filter”).

Horn hill in the show

Horn Hill on the show

The Basilica of St Francis

The real life Basilica of St Francis, begun in 1228AD. Coincidence?

A typical large scale Roman villa, certainly an influence on the later Basilica

A typical large Roman villa built over a 1000 years before the Basilica, but both are Italian

Either way, Horn Hills looks imposing. Inside we meet Sam’s mother and sister and baby Sam is introduced as his son. Later, Gilly is amusingly awkward in a fancy dress. She looks quite different without that greasy/stringy hair, but she’s always been a cute girl (under the dirt). Sam’s dad is at dinner. I thought he might end up being Ian McShane, who is supposed to join the cast for one episode, but no, he’s dour and underplayed. There is hunting talk and the father is on Sam’s case from the first instant and Sam just shrinks into his chair. It’s tough to watch because Sam is such a sympathetic character and he has come such a long way over the years — but clearly not with regard to his father. This I can believe because it’s easy to retreat to old behaviors (good or bad) when seeing important people in your life you haven’t in a long time. Much like how you can hang with old college buddies decades later and it feels like “no time has passed” in certain regards. Anyway, the dad “points out” Heartsbane, their family Valyrian steel blade. Gilly can’t help but defend Sam and taunts the father with her Wildling origin (as a side note she mentioned rabbit hunting which is deliberately paired with Coldhand’s rabbit butchering above). Sam’s dad calls her a whore and demands that while she and the baby can stay, Sam has to go at first light. Sam just takes it all. But later, after talking to Gilly, and even though she forgives him, he comes back and grabs her to leave — stealing Heartsbane on his way out!

It’s good to see him getting his backbone back, even if he just took the verbal assault, and even if he does it on the sly. I liked these scenes, but my biggest problem was how black and white “nasty” Sam’s father was without any nuance or complexity.

Not the most relaxing family dinner

Not the most relaxing family dinner

Arya – is back at the theatre in Bravos, watching another political drama, I guess a sequel to last week’s. This time it’s the Purple Wedding and the death of Joffrey. She enjoys getting to see him get his just desserts. It’s clear that as the Cersei actress (Arya’s target) says her lines that the younger one playing Sansa covets the part. Next, Arya sneaks back stage and puts her poison in the lady’s rum. On her way out she runs into her target. The actress is actually quite friendly and assumes Arya is a wannabe actress. So when the actress settles down to drink her rum Arya can’t bring herself to let it happen knocks the glass from her hands. I could tell this was coming as the writers weren’t about to make Arya into a soulless killer. But it’s still a big decision for her. She runs to her rocks and digs out needle (presumably to run away from the House of Black & White).

Later, the Waif reports to Jaqen H’ghar. She’s always had it out for Arya, but Jaqen is bummed. Still, he tells the Waif to kill her (but make it quick). So Arya is “free”, but a wanted woman. Like many of this week’s scenes I thought this was good stuff but a touch rushed. And while Arya will soon be on her way “back” (presumably to join one of the other threads of the story) it doesn’t feel to me that she has learned enough skills. She has better emotional control. She is better with the quarterstaff. But she hasn’t learned any secret Death God magics. Or maybe in the confrontation coming up (with the Waif and maybe Jaqen) she will steal some masks or mask magic. We shall see.

Hope we've seen the last of silly hair

Hope we’ve seen the last of silly hair

Walder Frey – For the first time since season 4 we return to the loathsome Walder Frey. This segment serves mostly as exposition as he’s dressing down some of his indistinguishable hooded sons about having lost Riverrun to the Blackfish. Walder orders them in no uncertain terms to take back the castle — although easier said than done for a bunch of lackluster men against a seasoned commander like the Blackfish. Having sufficiently cowed his underlings he trots out a barefoot and bedraggled Edmure Tully (Cat’s brother and the Blackfish’s nephew) so they have some added leverage against the Blackfish. This is no surprise to me, as I knew they had him in custody. It makes sense to have held onto him because he was never a practical threat, but might prove a useful tool.

3 years of gruel in the tower room!

3 years of gruel in the tower room!

Tommen – is talking to the High Sparrow again, about Margaery in particular. This week the king is allowed to see her. Cleaned up, in her homespun robe, she looks younger. And she sure talks the penitent talk. Hard to tell if she’s become a convert or is playing along. Last week, she seemed in full charge of her facilities, so I have to wonder. They talk about Loras and she draws the convo back to the Sparrow.

Jaime – supervises the arrival of the Tyrell army, nominally under the command of the ridiculously armored Mace Tyrell — who gives a rather lame speech. They march on up to the Sept where the Sparrow has Marg out on the steps. Even the Queen of Thornes is there (in her armored coach). Jaime rides up the steps and confronts the Sparrow, demanding that there shall be no walk of atonement. The Sparrow pulls out his trump card and trots out a pet Tommen, superficially yielding on the walk issue, but showing his domination of the king. He announces a new union between church and crown (including both king and queen). Olenna is the only one seemingly aware that he “won”.

I wanted to see the walk!

I wanted to see the walk!

Back in the throne room, Jaime strips off his Kingsguard armor in echo of the similar action by Barristan Selmy at the end of season 1. I think he was more fired than quit. He is being stripped of his command but sent with Lannister forces to deal with the Blackfish at Riverrun. Basically this is getting him back on track with the books.

Later, he’s furious when talking to Cersei. He wants to launch an all out attack on the Sept and knock out the High Sparrow. But this time she’s the one arguing for restraint. She isn’t worried about her upcoming trial because she can force it to “trial by combat” and have Franken-Gregor mow through whoever. They kiss passionately and reaffirm their Lannister Twin Pact.

Jaime fills out a uniform well

Jaime fills out a uniform well

Dany – marches through the desert with her army, talking about how many ships they will need to bring the hordes to Westeros. Suddenly, she spots a dust devil and her spider senses tingle. She makes the rather silly looking gang of Dothraki wait while she runs around the corner. I do have to note that the whole Dothraki look is just a little over the top and always looks silly in a group. Khal Drogo himself looked great, totally badass, but the gang of them just don’t pull off the rough warrior ethos. Maybe it’s because the extras they drum up aren’t really nomadic horse warriors. Plus it doesn’t help that when we see them close up, it’s only a few guys.

Anyway, after Dany runs around the corner she reappears a minute later on top of Drogon (who has been eating WELL since we last saw him) and lands in front of her “horde”. Here, she proceeds to give another of her excellent foreign language motivational speeches, this time in Dothraki and with parallel lines to the awesome oath Khal Drogo gave before the Mother of Mountains in season 1.

The speech itself I liked, but I somehow thought they could have come up with some better way for her to hook up with Drogon than to “feel” he was hiding around the corner. Plus the cheering horde had that silly Dothraki extra look.

Drogon-Dany

Episode body count: Zombies, Arya’s career as an Faceless Man, and Jaime’s pride.

Overall, a good episode with a lot of stuff happening, mostly dealing with the threads that were not addressed last week. My issue, as I’ve said above, is that these events felt like good moves from a plotting department but weren’t entirely fleshed out in execution. I wonder how much this has to do with the shift of the “scene writing” from GRRM to D&B. The former is a master of wrapping up his plot turns in the context of great scenes. Examples would be things like the Red Wedding or even a simpler scene like where Cat captures Tyrion in that inn in season 1 or where Ned ends up stabbed in the leg by Jaime. At the plotting level we have the turnabouts, but GRRM really sells the moment. By contrast, turning the corner and just finding Drogon isn’t a sexy way to get them back together — even though their reunion is a desirable thing.

If you liked this post, follow me at:

My novels: The Darkening Dream and Untimed

or all my Game of Thrones posts or episode reviews:

Season 1: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]

Season 2: [11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20]

Season 3: [21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30]

Season 4: [31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40]

Season 5: [41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50]

Season 6: [51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57]

Personality of a lobster

Personality of a lobster

Related posts:

  1. Game of Thrones – Episode 53
  2. Game of Thrones – Episode 28
  3. Game of Thrones – Episode 25
  4. Game of Thrones – Episode 36
  5. Game of Thrones – Episode 37
By: agavin
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Posted in: Television
Tagged as: a game of thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire, Episode 56, Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin, got, HBO, Season 6, Season 6 Episode 6

Game of Thrones – Episode 54

May16

20160226073939!GoT_season_6_official_posterShow: Game of Thrones

Genre: Fantasy

Watched: Episode 54 – May 15, 2016

Title: Book of the Stranger

Summary: Dany is back!

ANY CHARACTER HERE

NOTE: SERIOUS SPOILER WARNING. This review/discussion contains tons of spoilers about the episode and even ones crossing over from the books. It’s really my free-for-all musing given all the information at my disposal.

Plot threads are unraveled and discussed one by one.

The Wall – Focus pulls from Longclaw (Jon’s sword) to Edd who watches while while Jon packs. Horns blow to announce an arrival and the the big wooden gates swing open for Sansa, Brienne, and Pod. It’s been so long since any Starks actually met that I was at first sure this was one of those “tricks” like in Silence of the Lambs where they were entering a different gate. But no, they actually made it to Castle Black before Jon left — well not before he died and was reborn.

I must mention that Tormund Giantsbane gives Brienne the same kind of stare that a high school boy might reserve for Jessica Alba.

They make them that big?

They make them that big?

Jon stumbles out and down and they are drawn into a big bold Stark hug. It is, as D&B note in the “inside the episode” such an emotional and interesting moment in part because they weren’t even close as children. Sansa espoused mostly disdain for Jon. Now, after what they’ve gone through all that doesn’t matter and the common parentage and background is so much more precious. So soon, they’re sipping soup and kidding about Old Nan’s kidney pie and how much of a brat Sansa was. Jon forgives her and declares that he’ll stick with her now. She drives right into what they must do: take back Winterfell from the monstrous Ramsay. She even suggests using the Wildlings. Jon though is tired of fighting. He’s been fighting nonstop for years and he lost — and died. Sansa says she’ll do it with or without him.

Meanwhile, Davos and the Red Lady are talking. She says she’ll do whatever Jon commands because he is the new promised one. Davos quips about Stannis. Brienne marches right up and announces that Stannis got his ass kicked and confessed to killing Renly before she executed him — then walks away from the stunned pair.

Later a messenger with Ramsay’s grotesque banners shows up at Castle Black. A black brother brings his letter in where all the principles including Jon and Sansa are eating some really disgusting looking hunks of meat. Jon reads the letter which is some seriously arrogant and taunting shit from Ramsay about having Rickon and planning to rape and kill all of them. Sansa puts two and two together and guesses that Ramsay killed Roose. She is even more determined to get revenge and take Winterfell back. They ask Tormund how many men he has: 2000 to Ramsay’s 5000. So she suggests they recruit from the northern houses. Jon reluctantly agrees to the plan.

Stark reunion at last!

Stark reunion at last!

The Vale – Westeros’ lamest lord, Robin Arryn, is practicing his archery in his ridiculous dress outfit. He hasn’t gotten any better since season 4 or whenever it was we last saw him. Littlefinger, evidently freshly return, rides up in a late Roman-style coach. Robin runs to him and Littlefinger gives him a falcon as a present. Lord Royce, having heard about Sansa and Ramsay, tries to give Littlefinger a hard time but the master politician turns the tables on him instantly and almost has Robin ready to toss him from the moon door. But that isn’t really what Littlefinger wants, instead he manipulates Robin into raising the knights of the Vale to head north toward Winterfell (nominally to kick Ramsay’s ass, but with LF we never know what the real agenda is).

Makes Lord Fauntleroy look like a stud

Makes Lord Fauntleroy look like a stud

Tyrion – That same antique looking boat from Dubrovnik sales up to Meereen. It’s the slave masters from the other cities and it’s clear from the hard comments from Missandei and Grey Worm that they aren’t a fan of negotiating. But Tyrion meets with them anyway, cutting through the BS to suggest a proposal where they “phase out” slavery over 7 years. He leaves them to think about it with some free prostitutes.

The former slave leaders of new Meereen aren’t thrilled, and ambush our favorite Lannister leaving the conference. When they question his authority, Missandei and Grey Worm back him up. But when alone they aren’t happy about it. This occurs while walking down the stairs of Meereen with some great shots of the towers behind them too. Tyrion puts it rationally: if war and slavery are both evil, he can’t eliminate both right away.

Still drinking

Still drinking

Margaery – is in her cell when the annoying nun drags her, filthy and barefoot, to the High Septon’s chapel. She can barely handle the bright light. The Sparrow launches into his usual style of questioning by asking her where she would like to go: back to her family. But this, he says, leads to the folly of wealth. He then goes on about his own background as a high end cobbler and how at a banquet he was hosting he had an epiphany about the futility of worldly pursuits. But Marg shows that she is far from broken by calling him out as having borrowed elements of this story from the Book of the Stranger (the Westeros bible). The Septon shrugs it off and has her thrown in with her brother.

Loras isn’t doing nearly as well. She tells him to stay strong and reveals her grasp on the situation.

Tyrell women definitely wear the pants

Tyrell women definitely wear the pants

Cersei – visits Tommen and finds Pycelle working his lame routine on the impressionable young king. She tosses him out — and he shuffles away, making me think of the strange little scene where he did his happy dance after sleeping with Ros — but he does get in a gloaty glance at the Queen Mother. Tommen reveals he has been talking to the High Sparrow and tells Cersei some secret.

Which turns out to be the plan to have Margaery do the walk of shame, because Cersei brings it to the Small Council (with Jaime but not Franken-Gregor) and tries to use this fact to get the Tyrells and her uncle to work with her. They all agree the Queen can’t do the sexy walk through town. Jaime suggests bringing in the Tyrell armies to grab her and kill/capture the Sparrow. Kevan worries about civil war, but seems to agree.

Game-of-Thrones-S6-Ep4-Book-of-the-Stranger-Diana-Rigg-as-Olenna-Tyrell-and-Ian-Gelder-as-Kevan-Lannister

The Queen of Thorns hasn’t been fun since Tywin bit the big one

Theon – Sales home to Pyke, which always looks cool from the water. There he finds his sister sitting in his father’s chair. Yara, still looking bloated, is not exactly excited to see him after her failed rescue in season 4. He apologizes and cries. Says he doesn’t want to be king and offers to help her get the throne.

No sausages here

No sausages here

Ramsay – Is enjoying an apple in his rooms when he has Osha brought to him, and asks her about her involvement with House Stark. Osha again (like with Theon) pretends to have been a slave, claiming she carried around Rickon to find a buyer for him. She also (like Theon) tries her femine wiles on him, but it was only a ruse to get him distracted and kill him with a nearby knife. As Osha mounts him, Ramsay reveals that Theon had told him how she helped the Stark boys escape. Osha grabs for the knife, but Ramsay pulls out his secret blade and stabs her in the neck. Osha falls to the floor and bleeds to death as Ramsay wipes the blade and returns to peeling his apple with the very same knife used to kill her.

If he had a mustache, he'd be twirling it

If he had a mustache, he’d be twirling it

Jorah and Dario – Are sneaking around above Vaes Dothrak. Dario teases him mercilessly about sleeping with Dany, which is amusing enough, but a bit forced. Jorah sticks to business, telling Dario (and the audience) that she must be in the temple. He makes them hide their weapons since those are forbidden below (a rule that earned Viserys the golden crown). Dario flaunts his naked lady dagger and Jorah is ridiculously sloppy with his shirt and reveals his greyscale.

When night comes they continue their sneaking, this time in the camp city below. In the background are the usual Dothraki antics (drinking, sex, etc). The less-than-stealthy duo runs into two Dothraki. Dario takes his out fairly quickly but Jorah gets his ass handed to him, which is odd considering he was still a potent warrior not long ago at arena fight (must be the greyscale). Dario has to save him with his contraband naked-lady knife and then cover up the murder wound by bashing the corpses head in.

Useless duo

Useless duo

Dany – is hanging out with the crones. The high priestess is sympathetic and seems to genuinely want her to get voted into their club. Dany makes friends with a very young ex-Khaleesi and they go out to “make water” and just happen to wander into Jorah and Dario — well be grabbed by. Dany protects the girl from them and says she has a better plan than trying to make an escape.

They should have bought her flowers

They should have bought her flowers

So later, the whole gaggle of Khals are arguing first about the girl who Dario killed, then bring in Dany for interrogation. They talk about her like property but in true Dany style she takes over the conversation and calls them petty little men who don’t have the vision that she or Drogo did. She recalls her heart eating and the Drogo’s vows in this very room. They laugh this off and threaten to gang rape her, but then she grabs the braziers, which don’t burn her, and sprays the fire around setting the whole wood and grass structure on fire. But of course she doesn’t burn, for “fire cannot hurt a true dragon.” Jorah and Dario have conveniently barred the doors too.

Referencing season 1, she emerges naked and unburnt from the pillar of fire. A crowd of Dothraki (plus Dario and Jorah) kneel before her. Old Dany is back (for now). She always has the best episode finishes.

This scene and its interesting tactic confirms my feeling that Dany is generally immune to fire. This was shown at least three times in season 1 (hot tub, burning eggs, and when she walked into Drogo’s pyre) and again in season 2 when she was unburnt by the dragon fire. Sort of an interesting super power because it’s purely defensive, but it does allow interesting tactics like burning down the building you are in.

Also notable that Emilia Clarke did not use a body double for this scene despite some claims on the internet that she would not do any further nudity.

Girl on Fire!

Girl on Fire!

So overall, probably the second best episode of the 4 so far. This is one of those episode that concentrates on a few overlapping threads, making it feel more coherent and less jumpy than some. The Wall, Kings Landing, and Dany dominate. But this also may reflect that the plots are beginning to merge as we wind slowly toward our conclusion.

Thematically too, there seems to be an issue of who is the used and who is the user. Sansa is in the seemingly weak position, yet she convinces Jon to join her quest. Dany is a plaintiff to the court of the Khals, yet kills them and takes their army! Who is in control between the Sparrow and Marg? Is Cersei using the king? The Small Council? or vince versa?

If you liked this post, follow me at:

My novels: The Darkening Dream and Untimed

or all my Game of Thrones posts or episode reviews:

Season 1: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]

Season 2: [11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20]

Season 3: [21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30]

Season 4: [31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40]

Season 5: [41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50]

Season 6: [51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57]

Related posts:

  1. Game of Thrones – Episode 45
  2. Game of Thrones – Episode 37
  3. Game of Thrones – Episode 53
  4. Game of Thrones – Episode 41
  5. Game of Thrones – Episode 36
By: agavin
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Posted in: Television
Tagged as: a game of thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire, Book of the Stranger, Episode 54, Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin, HBO, Season 6, Season 6 Episode 4

Game of Thrones – Episode 53

May09

20160226073939!GoT_season_6_official_posterShow: Game of Thrones

Genre: Fantasy

Watched: Episode 53 – May 8, 2016

Title: Oathbreaker

Summary: Decent transitional episode

ANY CHARACTER HERE

NOTE: SERIOUS SPOILER WARNING. This review/discussion contains tons of spoilers about the episode and even ones crossing over from the books. It’s really my free-for-all musing given all the information at my disposal.

Plot threads are unraveled and discussed one by one.

Jon – As usual, the episode opens where it left off. In this case, with Jon Snow’s resurrection — or more accurately Davos watching it. Somehow he knew to come back to the room so he could check out Jon in his third week straight naked on the table. As Ghost and Davos watch, he sits up, then stumbles off the table, only to be caught by Davos. The Red Lady also returns (did someone send out a memo?). Much like with The Body, one of the best episodes of Buffy, up to this point, there has been little/no dialog, which is about the only way something like this can avoid being cheesy. But the director pulls it off. Then Melisandre starts asking Jon about the afterlife, so Davos politely kicks her out and continues the interrogation, with a touch more tact. I was waiting for Jon to seem “changed”, but while he is shocked, he seems Jon-like enough. Interesting realizations, as he says “I did what I thought was right and I got murdered for it.” He isn’t the first person this happened to, but the whole coming back and getting someone’s perspective on it is a “rarity.”

Do zombies get goosebumps?

Do zombies get goosebumps?

Next a (newly dressed) Jon walks outside to greet the assembled Night’s Watch, who all must have gotten that memo. Tormund greets him warmly (I guess former enemies make the best friends), and then Edd.

Much later in the episode (at the end), Edd leads Jon out to the courtyard again where the four traitors are lined up on the gallows. Unlike Caesar’s assassins, they didn’t have time to go raise an army. Jon asks them for their last words and Thorne proves he’s still a principled prick. I do think the guy was fairly sincere, if a “tad” colored by his dislike for Lord Snow. Olly just gives Jon the usual stink eye — so Jon uses Longclaw to whack the rope and lets them dance at the hangman’s ball. Good riddance to both Thorne and Olly — particularly the later, as he did kill Ygritte!! Interestingly Jon does not “use the words” (i.e. “in the name of… I sentence you to die”).

Dance a jig at the Hangman's Ball

Dance a jig at the Hangman’s Ball

After, he gives his Lord Commander’s cloak to Edd, announces his “Watch has Ended” and walks off.

And if you take the Night’s Watch oath literally, “Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death,” Jon isn’t even an oathbreaker.

Sam & Gilly – At long last we return to the show’s only genuinely romantic couple. Although not so romantic this week as their ship is tossing in a storm and Sam is puking into a bucket — multiple times. Gilly, however, seems in great spirits. The dialog is mostly expository, reminding us that they head for Old Town, and why Sam wanted her and the baby to come. Apparently no women are allowed at the citadel, so he wants to drop her off at his family estates. I suspect drama ensues. Meanwhile, their exchange, in which Sam explains his motivations and how much he cares for Gilly is quite tender. I particularly like how he admits he doesn’t “really” care for people in general. It’s just so Sam.

Cute and gross at the same time

Cute and gross at the same time

Bran – is dreaming again. Non book readers will take a minute to know who’s in this scene but I knew the second I saw the Tower of Joy. Young Ned, who apparently didn’t change his haircut in 20 years, pulls up with Howland Reed and some men to confront Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning and Gerold Hightower. For those of you who don’t know, both were part of the Mad King’s Kingsguard and tasked by Rhaegar to guard “something” (aka someone, aka Lyanna Stark) in the tower. The story was we know it is that Eddard Stark defeated Dayne during the rebellion. Anyway, Hightower dies fast enough but Dayne makes devastating use of his double sword skillz to take out most of the group and disarm Ned. Only when a wounded Reed stabs him in the back of the neck is victory assured. Ned, peeved not to have won in a fair fight, finishes Dayne off out of mercy and heads toward the tower. Interesting parallel with Ned’s season 1 fight with Jaime. Also fascinating, Bran calls out after his father and Ned seems to respond. Then Max von Raven warps them back to the present, much to Bran’s chagrin. So is it possible Ned heard Bran? What does that even mean with a vision of the past? The Raven brushes it off and scolds Bran, telling him he must learn — apparently in a cryptic, episode by episode manner.

A great scene. Even young Ned is still Ned, although possessing only a shadow of Sean Bean’s gravitas. And the dual wielding sword fight was badass. Of course we really want to find out what the deal with Lyanna is.

It takes a steady hand to fight with two...

It takes a steady hand to fight with two…

Dany – Is marched back to Vaes Dothrak amidst a horde many times the CGI size of the season 1 horde. After a brief convo with the new Khal, she’s shoved into the crone’s hut to confront her “peers.” The old lady priestess, who looks a touch like the witch from season 1, is actually fairly sensitive about informing Dany of her predicament. Seems hanging out with the old ladies is about the best she can hope for, since she didn’t come right away after Drogo died, the Khalasar needs to vote on her fate.

We need a good rescue or some dragon on horde action soon. Dany’s thread is dragging. There isn’t much drama because we “know” she will get out of this by Dragon or Knight (or both).

Varys and Ty – An overheated Master Spider uses his “charm” to interrogate the prostitute who murdered a bunch of Dany’s men for the Sons of the Harpies. He exercises trademark style to carrot and stick her in an efficient way, getting his answers (off screen).

Meanwhile, Ty, Mis and Grey Worm have a very odd conversation in which Tyrion attempts desperately to get the slightest entertainment value out of their presence — apparently he fails. But Varys returns with the news that the masters of the cities Dany took in season 3 and lost again have been funding the rebellion in Meereen. Mis thinks they only understand violence while Tyrion advocates some kind of message/lesson.

Menopause lasts forever

Menopause lasts forever

Qyburn – is hanging out with a bunch of Vary’s former young spies. It’s an odd scene, and I don’t totally understand how some candy bribes are going to get excellent intelligence out of them. Jaime, Cersei, and Franken-Gregor stomp in and Cersei demands he use his “little birds” to ferret out every secret in the kingdom. Best part here is Franken-Gregor.

Small Council – Pycelle, Kevan, Mace Tyrell, and the Queen of Thornes are pow-wowing, perhaps about to take a crack at figuring out how to get Margaery back. Jaime, Cersei, and Franken-Gregor enter again. Jaime wants his seat on the Small Council back. The Tyrell/old Lannister alliance marches out and leaves them the room. About all we learn is that they know about the coup back in Dorne.

Franken-Gregor steals the scene everytime

Franken-Gregor steals the scene everytime

Tommen – goes and pays the High Sparrow a visit, with guards. He’s developing at least a small sack so now wants his mother to be able to see his sister’s grave. The Septon has his reasons why that can’t be so, but they disarm by sending their respective soldiers off. The Sparrow then uses his charisma to really work Tommen. He’s perfectly reasonable, yet unyielding. Tommen has a hard time arguing and is drawn into his point of view — to what degree and end we don’t know.

Tete de tete

Tete de tete

Arya – is back in the house of black and white experiencing a training montage. In this series of shots she is alternately beaten with a stick by the Waif and questioned about her past. She channels Jaqen H’ghar to speak about herself in the third person and explain how she got here. Like all good montages, she improves from shot to shot until she is finally able to parry the Waif’s blows. Jaqen H’ghar shows up and offers her a tasty drink from the temple pools. The statue of the Old Gods looks on and she — knowing it could be fatal — takes a swig and gets her sight back.

Certainly this sequence was the best of the three, as something actually happened. Now a serious initiate, and possibly having (mostly) left Arya behind to become “no one”, we’ll have to see what kind of murderous mischief she gets up to in future episodes.

arya-kungfu.0Ramsay – A carriage with the Umber sigils approaches Winterfell. Ramsay and Karstark entertain a young lord Umber. The guy isn’t buying Ramsay’s “My poor dad died of poison” story, but doesn’t care. He has that amusingly frank GOT tone as he refuses to swear to Ramsay — for what good would it do — they’re already both Oathbreakers. He has a gift, Osha (long time no see) and a MUCH bigger Rickon. It would be hard to tell if he’s even the same actor, but I think he is. Oh, and sadly, a hot dog on a stick in the form of the Direwolf Shaggydog’s head. Sigh. So many bastards in this show. Now only Ghost, Summer, and Arya’s forgotten wolf are left.

Umbers bite!

Umbers bite!

So Overall, a good episode, not as great as last week’s, but better than the first. Typically in GOT, after one of those bigger pivot episodes (like Home) there is one more about positioning, and this is it. We got medium focus on a medium number of threads. Sansa, Pyke, Littlefinger etc are all missing, although the scenes let us know they are returning next week.

If you liked this post, follow me at:

My novels: The Darkening Dream and Untimed

or all my Game of Thrones posts or episode reviews:

Season 1: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]

Season 2: [11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20]

Season 3: [21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30]

Season 4: [31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40]

Season 5: [41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50]

Season 6: [51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57]

shaggydog dead game of thrones

Related posts:

  1. Game of Thrones – Episode 36
  2. Game of Thrones – Episode 52
  3. Game of Thrones – Episode 27
  4. Game of Thrones – Episode 25
  5. Game of Thrones – Episode 37
By: agavin
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Tagged as: a game of thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire, Episode 53, Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin, got, HBO, Oathbreaker, Season 6, Season 6 Episode 3

Game of Thrones – Episode 51

Apr25

20160226073939!GoT_season_6_official_posterShow: Game of Thrones

Genre: Fantasy

Watched: Episode 51 – April 24, 2016

Title: The Red Woman

Summary: Lots of threads

ANY CHARACTER HERE

NOTE: SERIOUS SPOILER WARNING. This review/discussion contains tons of spoilers about the episode and even ones crossing over from the books. It’s really my free-for-all musing given all the information at my disposal.

Plot threads are unraveled and discussed one by one.

Jon / Castle Black – As we closed with Jon’s body, so we open. Sigh. The camera pans across the wall and Castle Black to the scene of the crime. Ghost is howling plaintively in the background. Davos is the first to spot the corpse and rushes to the scene, followed by Dolorous Edd and all of Jon’s remaining friends — how it is that they were all waiting around the corner? They carry his body inside and Edd closes his eyes. Davos asks about ghost. Then a knock at the door, and the Red Lady Melisandre shows. Given the episode title and her presumed skillz at resurrection a big tease. But Mel is so depressed she almost looks like a different actress. First Stannis then Jon. Things haven’t gone well with her vision prophesied royal bloods. She mumbles something about having seen him (Jon) in the flames fighting at Winterfell.

102215_HS__DSC2050Next, Alliser Thorne sits in the main hall and tries to spin his treachery. He takes full on credit and goes for a half-assed Julius Caesar style pitch mostly focused on Jon’s terrible direction of leadership and his helping the Wildlings. I think this could have been better. Brutus, Cassius and all had a better argument (even though I’m a huge Caesar fan). They made the reasonable (to Romans) pitch about Caesar having taken too much power (kingship) unto himself. In the political context of the Roman Republic which like America valued the balance of power, and with the historic founding story involving the overthrow of Tarquin as example, they had some decent spin. Alliser Thorne not so much. But he does sound like he believes what he says, and I’ve always thought the show (and the actor) has done a good job humanizing his role.

Back in the impromptu Jon Snow memorial chamber, Ghost licks his hand. The gang there talks about how they are going to get revenge, and out of this alive. Some want to just attack. Davos argues they need to appeal for help to the outside (presumably he’s talking about the Wildlings and/or the Red Lady).

Later in the episode Thorne comes to their door and demands their surrender by nightfall, but offers them free passage. Inside, they know he likely will kill them. Davos reiterates that the Red Woman is their only chance.

However, she is moping in her room in what is clearly a crisis of faith. She glances at the flame and her reflection in the (crappy) mirror. Then undresses. Again?!? I even commented out loud, because she’s always getting her clothes off. But then she takes off her necklace and is revealed to be an ancient crone. Interesting. Is this merely a glamour curtesy of the Lord of Light? Or does she feel young normally? Uh, and incidentally, the full body shot was kinda extreme.

Anyway, but ending the show on this note the writers drag out the question of Jon Snow and his resumed undeadly return. It was too much to hope they’d get right into it.

ep601_publicity_still_11_00154954_a[1]Ramsay / Winterfell – With Joffery dead, Ramsay is easily everyone’s favorite villain on the show. Really, he does a fabulous job. Here he is delivering the eulogy over Myranda’s body, or at least musing about her in the presence of Maester Wolkan. There is some depth to him and you can see who he liked the hot-but-evil bitch. Textbook touch when he orders her body fed to the dogs.

Next, he has to take some more abuse from his ice cold father (no wonder he’s a whack-job). Roose congratulates him for his battlefield victory but berates him about loosing Sansa, who we (the audience) are reminded (again) is the key to holding the north. We learn that Ramsay has hunting parties out looking for her. No duh! Why isn’t he on the trail himself?

081015_HS_DSC_1274Sansa / Theon – I guess because of what is about to happen. Sansa and Theon run through the forest — perhaps even the very same set (I mean forest) that we saw way way back in the Season 1 Episode 1 intro. Theon is pretty nimble too for someone without most of his toes because he’s doing the leading. He even forces Sansa across a freezing river to “loose the trail” (hounds are barking in the distance). They make it across, but are in serious danger of dying of hyperthermia and have to take a break under a tree to freeze to death.

The hunters draw close. Theon valiantly runs out and pretends she is dead, but the ruse lasts for all of 2 seconds before the hounds find Sansa, who isn’t doing much more than cowering and shivering. All looks grim until…

071715_HS_DSC_7405Brienne / Pod – ride in for the rescue. An oddball helter-skelter fight scene too as Brienne initially does well, then is knocked from her horse and barely — with the help of Theon and Pod — manages to do in all the Bolton soldiers. Sansa, again, cowers under the tree. After, Brienne kneels before Sansa and again offers her services. This time a grateful, less “innocent”, Sansa takes her up on the offer. The exchange of vows worked nicely, even more underscored by Sansa’s marginal memory of the oath.

Cersei / Jaime – Cersei chills in her room, still reeling from her “confession” as Jaime’s ship sails into the Dubrovnik — I mean King’s Landing — harbor. She rushes down all excited to catch sight of her brother on the launch with a gold draped corpse — uh oh. The actual bad news and Cersei’s reaction is skipped, cutting to the twins on a balcony talking about death, their dead mother, the witch’s prophecy and all that. Jaime doubles down as usual saying “Fuck everyone who isn’t us” and this time Cersei needs him again enough to hold him close.

090715_HS_DSC_5068Margarey – Is still cooped up barefoot and dirty in her cell. An annoying Septa reads scripture to her and demands confession. The High Septon swaps in to try good cop. Marg still isn’t ready to yield and asks after Loras, but we don’t learn anything.

080515_HS_DSC_0385Dorne – Price Doran is limping along with Ellaria Sand and they exchange what seems to be pleasantries about his and his brother’s personalities. But Tyene Sand (Bronn’s “girl”) stabs Hotah in the back and Ellaria takes out her pseudo-brother-in-law. It’s all too sad and still fairly cheesy.

Then back on the Dornish boat the young price, Doran’s son Trystane is ambushed by his cousins the Sand girls. They make short and gruesome work of him. I guess Dorne is in full revolt.

Tyrion and Varys – walk the streets of Meereen exchanging their usual jokes. There is a whole thing where Tyrion tries to give a beggar girl some money and she thinks he wants to eat her baby (his Valyrian being bad). It doesn’t really work too well. They wander past a Red Priest giving a sermon. Not clear what that’s about. Then they see a bunch of people running and follow the trouble upstream to find the ships burning in the harbor. I guess Dany won’t be sailing anytime soon when she returns.

GOT_MP_100615_4902Jorah and Daario – a exploring Northern Ireland in search of Dany and the show reminds us gratuitously of Jorah’s grayscale by having him take a peek. No surprise, it’s bigger. They find charred ram, clearly Drogon’s leavings and then Dany’s ring. Not totally sure how they manage to do that other than it being on the one untrodden spot where she was standing — and magically figures out that the horde has her.

Dany – Is being marched along with lots of other slaves in this new Khalasar. We find out Khal Moro is in charge and Dany listens to the Dothraki discuss the many ways in which they plan to “have” her (in Dothraki). Their arrival at the Khal is heralded by one of the most amusing bits of the episode, where the Khal and his bloodriders debate “the 5 best things in life,” in which, according to the Khal, “seeing a woman naked for the first time” outweighs “slaying another warrior.”

Dany pulls out her rusty Dothraki and lists her titles, but the Khal isn’t impressed until he learns she’s a Khal’s widow. Off she must go then to Vaes Dothrak to live with the crones. Maybe not the greatest, but buys her more time than “entertaining” the soldiers would have.

GOT_MP_092415_3330Arya – is not only still wearing uncomfortable white contact lenses, but is begging in the street. The Waif creeps up on her and beats her with a staff for a while. Clearly, in future episodes, Arya needs to listen to the Force and hone her blind-girl fighting skills!

GOT_MP_090315_0035Overall, it’s great to have the show back but this is one of those episodes that has so much scene setting, and so many story threads that no one really gets that much time to move the plot. That being said, it’s not all just establishing position because a whole lot of stuff happens. As usual in this show everyone’s position is shifting rapidly and isn’t always what it seems. GRRM (and D&B) love to each plot line to alternate highs and lows. Although frankly, there are plenty of lows right now.

I can’t believe we have to wait another week!

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Related posts:

  1. Game of Thrones – Episode 27
  2. Game of Thrones – Episode 45
  3. Game of Thrones – Episode 36
  4. Game of Thrones – Episode 50
  5. Game of Thrones – Season 6 Trailer
By: agavin
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Posted in: Television
Tagged as: a game of thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire, Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin, HBO, Season 6, Season 6 Episode 1

TV Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer – part 5

Jan29

CONTINUED FROM PART 4 ABOVE. And the whole series [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS:

 

Season 6:

The transition from season 5 into season 6 is the best of the entire series. After the season 5 finale, with its tear jerking “The Gift,” we slam right in with the two hour “Bargaining,” and it’s more or less continuation “After Life.” I’ve never managed to not watch all three of these together because until the end of the third hour things are so unsettled you just have to keep going.

Season 6 is dark, and in my opinion the seven seasons would be ranked 5,6,3,4,2,1,7. With all but 7 being fantastic, and five and six very close. Six is a bit darker, but I’ll give the edge to five just because I like Glory so much and the whole villain bit is more cohesive. But both five and six have almost no “one off” episodes, even those that technically have a monster of the week like “After Life,” or “Hell’s Bells,” are fundamentally crucial to the larger plot. And episode seven of season six is “Once More, With Feeling,” arguably, along with season 5’s “The Body,” the best episode of the entire series.

“Once More, With Feeling” is just mind bogglingly brilliant. Not only is it a musical, sung entirely by the cast and written and scored by Joss Whedon, but it’s a darn good musical. If you are new to Buffy, don’t watch this episode and expect to be wowed — I mean if you like musicals you might like it — but you have to see it in context of the series to really appreciate it. I’ve watched it no less than eight times, and I’ve been spell bound ever time. Plus I hate musicals. First there is the sheer audacity of it: to just up and write a musical episode, complete with MGM musical style titles in the middle of a long running dramatic series. I even own the soundtrack. But then, much more importantly, is how this episode is actually the most central to the season, the one in which everything comes to a head. It has the most plot, the most climax, of any Buffy episode. Nearly every character is pivoting here — and the music makes it happen. Sheer unadulterated genius.

After “Once More, With Feeling,” things grow really dark. This season our nominal villains are the Trio, three geeks who have ganged up to be super villains. They’re pretty funny, although not nearly as menacing as the mayor or Glory. They do have some tremendous lines like “episode one bad?” But really, their villainy is trumped by none other than the best friend. In the middle of this season Buffy herself struggles with Nihilism, and a career in fast food. But Willow… Her magic addiction threatens to destroy her relationship, her life, and ultimately the world. Lots of other stuff is self destructing here. Giles leaves, Dawn suffers teen angst, Anya and Xander implode, and Buffy turns to down and dirty sex to validate her dark self. This is good stuff, almost too dark.

Nearing the end we have the very emotional “Seeing Red,” and then the high speed tripple whammy of Willow’s vengeful meltdown. The end is good too, just not as deeply felt as “The Gift.”

If only season 7 could have stayed this good.

CONTINUED HERE IN PART 6.

Related posts:

  1. TV Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer – part 3
  2. TV Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer – part 4
  3. TV Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer – part 2
  4. TV Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer – part 1
  5. Book and Movie Review: Twilight
By: agavin
Comments (3)
Posted in: Television
Tagged as: Buffy, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Fiction, Gift, Joss Whedon, Once More with Feeling (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), reviews, Season 6, Television, tv, Vampire, Xander, Xander Harris
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