Day 7 : Game of Thrones - Eastwatch - Review

NO SPOILERS. (The leakers took care of it.)

This episode follows the events at the Blackwater Rush. The Lannisters troops have just seen the Dothraki and Dany’s dragon in open battle for the first time. And it really did not go as expected for them. As expected, any episode after a big event, is a mellow affair. There wasn’t really a lot of excitement here, just moving pieces across the board for a much interesting episode coming next. So let’s just get to it.

hey, dad.

The show begins with Bronn and Jaime. They both know they’ve just barely escaped the massacre. They have both faced the dragon’s wrath, they are both still in shock. Bronn says plot blank, he will not fight alongside Jaime in another battlefield if another dragon shows up. Jaime reaches Kings Landing, to give Cersei the news. Cersei at first is not very impressed. But Jaime convinces of her of army’s their pitiful performance. Cersei agrees to fight by some other means. Jaime also tells him about Tyrion’s innocence in his son Joffrey’s death. Cersei also tells him about another news she’s been hiding. She’s preggo. They are both happy and excited, but viewers clearly remember the prophecy. Cersei would only have three children in her life. So she either loses this child, or loses her life giving birth. We all know Cersei, no matter what is to happen she is going down swinging.

Next we come to the Citadel. The maester’s have just received a raven from Winterfell from one Brandon Stark. The crippled boy seems to have seen the army of dead men beyond the Wall, and requests support from the lords of Westeros. The maesters being the cynical bunch, do not put much faith to the words of a young boy’s fantasies. Sam overhears the conversation and tries to intercede on Bran’s behalf. He tells of how he was the one who led the boy beyond the wall and the cripple would not have survived beyond the Wall without the skills he professes of. The Archmaester is not convinced, but still to keep heart with the young intern promises to send raven back North for further clarification. Sam is not very content with just that. He comes home to Gilly pissed. Our sweet lass here has not been idle either, she has become quite comfortable with books now. Comfortable enough to be able to unearth one of the biggest secrets in Thrones. She finds a scrolls from an old maester where he mentions of an annulment of marriage between a Targaryen prince named Ragger and a Dornish princess. The same Targaryen prince is immediately married off to another. This is clearly about Rhaegar and his wife Ella Martell from Dorne. And we all know he was in love with Lyanna Stark, the love that started the Robert’s Rebellion and the downfall of the Targaryen line. But this also means, Jon is the legitimate son of Rhaegar, making him a bastard no more and someone who has a better claim at the Throne than Dany. Sam didn’t make any of that connection though, he was steaming. And can’t blame him yet, only Bran knows yet about Jon’s parentage. Sam has had enough of Citadel nonetheless, packs up a few books from the restricted section and makes off with Gilly to the North.

Speaking of Dany. She begins her time in this show with asking those alive in Blackwater Rush to bend the knee. A few do immediately, a few take some convincing by Drogon. But one old man heard none of it. This was Randyll Tarly, Sam’s father. He’d rather burn than bend. Dany ignored Tyrion’s plea, and did what she did. Burned both father and son Tarly, they both wanted n foreigner queen lording over them. Sam is not going to be happy about this. Also wasn’t Tyrion and Varys. They will have to be keep a careful watch at the Dragon Queen’s anger. They also receive the raven from North. It is from Bran. It is only now that Jon comes to know that Bran and Arya are alive. But he doesn’t get enough time to rejoice. The raven also brings news of the army nearing Eastwatch. They discuss and hatch a plan to go to Eastwatch and bring a wight back to Westeros, show it to the Cersei and her lords. They hope to bring a united force against the Night King.

Then there is the scene where Arya falls in to Littlefinger’s trap. He lets her see a raven sent by Sansa, where she writes at the behest of Cersei to request Robb to swear fealty to King Joffrey. This is a ploy to bring friction between the two sisters. Arya seem to have fallen for it. They never really were big fans of each other to begin with.

Then we come to a hideaway shore of King’s Landing. Davos seem to have successfully smuggled Tyrion into the capital. Both then go their separate ways into the capital, with their own agendas in mind. Tyrion goes for the dungeon under the Throne Room with all of the ancient dragon heads stored away. This is where he meets Jaime and Bronn. They have their little frenemy moment. Tyrion being the voice of reason amongst the Lannister siblings tells him of how little chance he has against the Dragon Queen’s army, he talks of a compromise between the warring families. Jaime has seen the enemies forces and agrees with his little brother for the most part, but he also knows Cersei wouldn’t agree. But in the end Cersei does agree. Just to get her chance to take care of Dany without facing her on the battlefield. Davos by the way, proceeds to Steel Street to find Gendry back where we saw him for the first time, beating away hot metal on an anvil. Davos picks up the eager lad back to Dragonstone to meet Jon. The two bastards become fast friends and they soon leave for the North. Here there is a lot of love-triangle build up between Jorah-Dany-Jon, which I am sure would go on for a few more episodes. Jorah doesn’t seem to get a break at all.

Oh, also we get a scene here where Jon touches Drogon. He is the only other person other than Dany to have shown allowed to do so by Drogon. There was a moment earlier with Tryion in the dungeon where he helped Viserion and Rhaegal. But that still felt a bit not as reciprocated as by Drogon. He seemed pleased. I so hope to see the #ThreeHeadedDragon theory come to life.

Then we reach Eastwatch where the group is welcomed by Tormund who tells they are not the only ones who wish to go beyond the Wall to fight the White Walkers. The Brotherhood without Banners have made their way to the Wall. The Hound, Beric Dondarrion, Thoros of Myr all have seen the coming evil horde in the flames and want to fight it. Everyone in the room clearly has cause to hate the other, but as Jon points out – they are all breathing. Which puts them all on the same side. This bad of rag-tag Sucide Squad make their way towards the real North, facing unpredictable conditions, but guaranteed action.

The next episode promises to be a big deal. Can’t wait!

Day 6 : Game of Thrones - Spoils of War - Review

SPOILERS AHEAD (REALLY?)

This was the shortest episode of the whole show. But also by far the most watched, the highest rated and the most badass episode ever!

HBO did fumble the ball a bit when it comes to the episode. They were caught up in a large scale hacking incident, a big chunk of content and sensitive information was stolen from their servers. Including this episode, which was leaked into the internet a few days ahead of telecast. A lot many people did see it beforehand. But I guess due to the sheer goodwill of most of the fans still stuck around till the actual telecast, giving this episode the highest viewers of the entire series. And they were all rewarded for their wait, this was the best episode of the season so far. Maybe even better than BOB episode last season (?)

Give this guy a bunch of Castles already! 

At the very this was definitely an episode where every minute of screen time was something significant. So without much dillydallying ourselves let’s get into it.

The show starts in the Reach right where it ended last episode, Highgarden. Jaime is still pissed off with that last zinger the Queen of Thorns left this planet with. Bronn does question him about it, but Jaime doesn’t spill a word. This is something that Cersei would have to know of first. Instead Jaime hands him a big bag of gold, something that was promised. And a Lannister always pays his debts.

Then we are taken the most important Lannister in the Seven Kingdoms – Queen Cersei. She is meeting with the delegate from the Iron Bank (Mycroft Holmes, they are clearly running short of British actors). Cersei tells him about them taking over House Tyrell and that the Bank would be getting all their debt paid in full. There is a bit of high talk and kiss-assing, in the end Cersei is recommended to enlist the services of the Golden Company. They are a band of swords for hire, notoriously savage and extremely efficient. Readers of the book would recall this is where the Aegon Targaryen is. He is the only surviving son of Rhaegar Targaryen, a major character. Seems pretty fishy introducing him so late in the game. Or maybe that is just a coincidence, maybe this would be a character only living in the book and not the show.

Then we are taken to Winterfell, to Bran. Meera is leaving. Bran, being the aloof cold-hearted guy he’s got to be now, tells her goodbye and good riddance. The guy clearly is undergoing his own version of PTSD. He has seen too much, he knows too much. But there is not much he can do now without inadvertently changing the future by a lot. He is the only person we know for sure is going to survive, he could possible save and protect many others. But we don’t know what would get altered if he does. Also there is Littlefinger coming in and gifting him the Valyrian steel dagger that was used to slit his throat first season. But Bran already knows, and also throws in the ‘Chaos is a ladder’ call back to let Petyr know that he knows.

Then we get to see our favorite assassin in Westeros at the gates of her home. She meets Sansa, she meets Bran. The family is back together. I am so happy. This fills me with so much joy. The three kids where never really that close to begin with. But they have all been through a lot and that shared period of torment has brought them all together as a family. Arya likes Sansa becoming Lady Stark. Sansa likes that she has a lil sword wielding badass for sister now. And they both are equally confused as to what their brother has now turned into. Bran gives the dagger to Arya. We already know it is Valyrian steel, and about its magical powers. So we can expect a lot out of it in the hands of Arya now. Also, there is this neat little training waterdance sword fight between Brienne and Arya, at the end of which they both become instant besties. I love that!

Then we come to Dragonstone, Jon is taking the Dragon Queen into the caves below her castle where all the dragonglass is. There in the cave he shows her old cave paintings made by the Children of the Forest. They depict them and men fighting together against their common enemies, the Others. He almost convinces her to join her armies with his to defeat the common enemy in the North, she simply says she will when he bends the knee. Damn, that woman is persistent. They come out of the cave to find Tyrion and Varys giving them the bad news about their defeat in Casterly Rock. Dany is pissed off. Starts lashing out everyone. She immediately wants to take her three dragons and burn down the Red Keep. Jon has seen more battle, and loyal subjects than her. He advices restraint, using her dragons to burn down castles would only alienate her to her people. In a bit, Theon shows up in Dragonstone to get Dany’s help. But she is already gone.

Then comes the big climax of the show. The Loot Train Attack. Jaime and his troop is marching towards Kings Landing. The wagons with gold have already reached the gates, the food and other loot is proceeding rather slowly along the path. And that’s when they hear the sound. They sound of thousands of hoofs pounding ground, it sounds like approaching thunder. And there it is, a big horde of Dothraki fighters. Bronn asks Jaime to turn back and go to the castle, he is a commander not a foot soldier. Jaime says nah, I’m good, and we can take them. As if in reply comes Drogon’s screech. ‘Forget something, bruh?’ Damn the look on their sorry faces! Gold. Then there is the whole glorious battle sequence, see it to believe it. In Bronn, who probably has more guts than all of Westeros, takes up one of Qyburn’s scorpions and aims at Drogon, you know the giant fire-breathing dragon flying directly towards him. He fires a couple gets one into the dragon’s shoulder. The dragon lands with Dany, not before burning down the scorpion first, Drogon is smart. They had by then almost won the war, the Dothraki is finishing up the last few of the Lannister army. Dany now on the ground beside her dragon/child, tries to remove the spear lodged into his shoulder. Jaime sees this as an opportunity, picks up a spear and rushes at her like a jousting idiot. He is almost there, Drogon sees Jaime, breathes fire on him. Jaime is saved at the last moment, and pushed into inexplicably sudden deep water.

THE END.

(Goosebumps.)