It's been a couple days now since the release of the seventh episode of Game of Thrones season 6 - however, if you haven't watched it, DON'T READ ON - MAJOR SPOILERS.
Okay? Okay. So, I'm going to start off by saying, I never actually thought the Hound had died. If someone dies on Game of Thrones, you're usually there for the entire grisly, bloody thing. There's usually some kind of confirmation of the fact; even despite the hype and confusion and doubt around Jon Snow's season 5 death, the blank look in his eyes and the blood (oh so much blood) was pretty telling that he had actually been killed. But we never got to know what happened to the Hound after Arya left him to die. And that made me suspicious from the get-go, because it just isn't the way things work on Game of Thrones. Also, we were all told that a "much-beloved character" would be returning to the show after a few seasons off. People of course speculated it was the Hound; some people thought it was Benjen Stark after he appeared in the sixth episode, but we saw him for maybe three episodes in season 1, so I didn't really think that statement was about him. So, when the Hound showed up, it wasn't such a big deal - that, and I had never really liked him as a character anyway (shock and horror, I know). I liked him in his interactions with Arya, but I found him rather dull as a character. I hope they get to do some more developing for him. Hope he goes off and kills the Brotherhood Without Banners. That'd be fun.
I was sort of light-hearted and happy when Arya started making moves to return to Westeros - I was all like "Stark Reunion!" and emotions were flying. And then she got stabbed. Pretty fucking brutally. And I was like "oh". But the episode didn't end with her dying, so I'm holding out hope still. I really hate that Waif bitch - she's a total cow. I hope she gets hers, somehow, someday. I wouldn't go so far as to say Arya's a favourite of mine, but I've always really enjoyed watching her storylines. She's always been so brilliantly vicious, and totally against the expected norms of the setting. Ultimate feminist icon - but then, you all know that. It's why she's basically everyone's favourite. She's just too cool. So, I'm holding my breath and just hoping the next episode doesn't break my heart. The Starks deserve a happy ending more than anyone else on this bloody show. Too many of them have died already.
I think there's a new favourite on this show. I'm sorry, but for all the action (inaction) in this episode, it was clear that Lady Lyanna Mormont had stolen the show. Ten years old and probably more capable of ruling than anyone we've yet seen on the show. I love how she just gives Jon and Sansa a piece of her mind - I lost faith in them for a couple of seconds. A little girl weakened their goal to the extent that Davos had to come in and save the day for them. OMG. Jon really doesn't know what to do around high-born ladies, does he? Watching him get tongue-tied as a result of a couple words from the mouth of a little girl was funny, but slightly sad. Like, grow up Jon. For the first time since season 1 I found Sansa a little annoying - she's been so badass and "take-back-the-North" that to see her sort of behave the way she had for the past five seasons was a little irritating. I was sort of like, "grow a spine already". I don't know why the hell she's letting Jon do all the talking, seeing as a) he isn't very good at talking to nobles and b) he's not a Stark. Like she said - she is a Stark. She should do something for herself. And apparently people are wondering who she wrote a letter to at the end of her segment. Well, she's sent Brienne to Riverrun, so it wasn't the Blackfish. It wouldn't be another minor Northern family, seeing as a) they would've been introduced at some point already to make a bigger impact and b) you don't want to risk Ramsay finding out. It's obviously Petyr Baelish. He has skilled Knights at his command; he wants to make reparations for setting up Sansa and Ramsay; he obviously has a creepy, perverted fixation with the daughter of his lost love Catelyn. So my money's on him. We'll see.
And we come to Jaime and the Blackfish at the Riverlands. Honestly, the most boring part of the episode. Not because of the Blackfish, no, nor because of any of the Frey soldiers (they were funny to watch) - because of Jaime. He's an asshole, he's a little sick in the head, but I just really love his character. But not at the moment. He was just so weak in this episode; he's gone soft. Where's the Jaime who spent ages locked up by the Starks and still had something snarky to say? Where's the Jaime who took pleasure in irritating the fuck out of Brienne? Where's the Kingslayer? Nowhere I can see. I hope he straps on a pair of balls and gets shit done. But at the same time, I don't want the Lannisters to win. I hate Cersei - I was almost sympathetic when she did her walk of atonement, but then I was like "nah". I hope the Blackfish holds onto Riverrun, honestly. It IS his home, regardless of what a bastard boy on a pointy throne might say. And I loved Bronn in this episode - "Don't say it. Don't fucking say it." I've already seen memes of this. Bronn rules, hands-down. Don't worry, Bronn; you'll get your castle and your highborn lady.
I don't exactly hate Tommen, but I definitely don't like him. He's weak; it's pathetic to watch him be manipulated by others. Super amusing when Margaery does it though. I've always liked Margaery; I admit that that was initially because of the actress who played her rather than the character herself. Natalie Dormer was in The Tudors before she was on Game of Thrones, playing Anne Boleyn, and her role in that was absolutely amazing. I felt all the feels. So when I heard she was on Game of Thrones, I was like "YES!" because I needed to see more of her epic period acting. But I was slightly horrified by the events of this and the previous episodes - I didn't want to believe she was that breakable, that the High Sparrow had knocked down everything that made her awesome and powerful and just really entertaining to watch. She was so... pious. Irritatingly so. And I thought, the Sparrow would've had to do a hell of a lot more than what he did to achieve such a conversion. I had almost lost all hope until I saw her slip that piece of paper into Olenna Tyrell's hand. A rose. The symbolism was clear - her allegiance was still to her family. The Sparrow had not broken her. In fact, she was manipulating him, as she manipulates everyone. I totally fist pumped the air when I realised this. I hope she does something about Tommen though, because I almost prefer Joffrey to this. Joffrey would have had that old coot executed long before he had made himself at home in King's Landing. He was cruel and slightly crazy, but he wasn't as gullible as his younger brother. Sigh. The day has come when I actually miss the bastard.
The Greyjoy scenes were an eye-opener. For once, female nudity is treated with a different goal in mind; rather than nudity for the sake of nudity, it plays an important function in developing Yara Greyjoy. She always did act rather manly; in the show she certainly looks rather manly. So it does make sense that she is homosexual. Got to admit, I really love her character - I have a crush on her, yes I do. And I love the way she takes care of Theon. It was a big turning point for him, this episode - or so I hope. He lost that little puppy look and straightened up - he looked a lot like the Theon of old in that moment. I was so happy, because Theon's had the shit end of the stick for too bloody long. It's about time things start to go right for the poor guy. I was super excited at the prospect of an alliance between the Greyjoys and Daenerys; I liked the idea when Euron proposed it, though I didn't like him as a candidate for marriage to her. Not good enough. But Yara and Theon banding up with Dany; I can get on board with that. Sansa and Theon are (sort of) friends now, so that would happen in turn, and one big alliance might hopefully form. We know Dany does make it to Westeros - in Game of Thrones, perhaps this is how. They haven't got there yet, so it might not happen. Knowing the luck of the characters on this show it's equally as likely that they drown at sea or something.
So, this episode wasn't quite as action-packed as the last one, nor did it reveal a hell of a lot, but I do think it's an important one. We learn a little more about how Jon and Sansa are approaching recruitment; we learn the Hound has come back, and that Arya is coming home (hopefully); we learn that Jaime is a pussy and Margaery is epic; we learn that a super-cool alliance may be about to be formed. Next episode is going to be action-packed by the looks of the preview. Can't wait!
Thanks for reading!
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