The fourth episode of season 7 has left me pretty much speechless. I truly could not find words to describe it. This one left episode 2 and the Euron battle look like a Care Bears movie. I have included as many pictures as I can, but pics do not do it justice. It is a must see. I understand that the episode was leaked online due to a hacker situation that HBO suffered this week, which anyone that watched it early did a major disservice. I stayed away from the internet on purpose to avoid having it spoiled. I like watching it when everyone else does. So, if my review is posted later than most, at least you know it was done honestly. The people who posted their review 5 minutes after the show aired..... screw you, and I hope you trust a fart and shit your pants instead in front of a coworker.
The episode begins with Jamie, Bron, and the Lannister armies on the move. Jamie opens up the gold cart and gives Bron a huge sack of gold.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
Bron wants to know why Jamie is so upset when he just attained the biggest pay dirt imaginable. Bron also asks about the castle that Jamie promised him. He said he wants Highgarden and Jamie laughed him off.
Randyll Tarly and Jamie decide to send Bron and Dickon to go through The Reach and get all the food they can from the farmers in the area. Bron was not happy about this but rode off with Dickon anyway. Jamie and company continue the march.
Next, Tycho is telling Cersei that no one has ever paid the Iron Bank back such a large amount of debt off at once. He tells her she is more impressive than her father, in not so many words. She tells him that the gold is on the way there now. He tells her that the Iron Bank will miss her interest payments, and ask her if they can be of assistance in any other ventures.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
She tells him she wants to control all of the land and everyone on it. He pointed out that will require funds. She let him know that Qyburn has made overtures to The Golden Company in Essos. The Golden Company is a sell sword company and they are known for never breaking a contract. If you remember Daario from the last few seasons, he was a member of this group of men before pledging to Dany. Tycho tells her he knows of the The Golden Company very well, and from his explanation, they sound like a bunch of bill collectors. She is wanting to hire them to join the depleted Lannister army, but to also get some things back that were taken from her.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
I am thinking she means Casterly Rock, since the only other thing I can recall that was taken form her is her children. The Golden Company is said to have around 10,000 men. If the Unsullied have 8,000, with fewer due to some not making it last week when they stormed Casterly Rock, they may be in trouble. The scene ends with Tycho telling Cersei that she will have the Iron Bank's support as soon as the gold arrives.
Back at Winterfell, Littelfinger unsheathes Catspaw and shows it to Bran. He gives it to Bran and tells him that this is the very dagger that someone tried to kill him with and says that he would have tried to stop the dagger that killed his mother with his own heart if he could.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
He says he is doing what he can do and that is protect her children. Littlefinger tells him that if he needs anything, all he has to do is ask. Bran asks him if he knows who the dagger belongs to and Littlefinger says no. Then, he goes on to tell him the very same question is what started the War of the 5 Kings, and then went on to blame Catspaw for making Bran what he is today; Forced from his home, and driven North of The Wall.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
He comments on the things he must have seen things that most men wouldn't believe. He says he can only imagine returning after all that, and there being so much chaos in the world and then Bran interrupts him. Bran says "Chaos is a ladder". This is the same thing that Littlefinger said to Varys in Season 3, episode 6 titled "The Climb". You could tell by the look on Lord Baelish's face that he knew exactly what Bran just did, but at the same time a little puzzled.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
So he should be. I think they have been giving us teasers since Sansa told him in the 1st episode this season to not bother trying to get the last word and she is sure it was something clever. I think he will be done either the next episode or the 6th. I will be surprised if he makes it to the finale this year.
Meera enters the room just in time to break up the new found tension. He apologizes for disturbing Bran, referring to him as Lord Stark and Bran corrects him and says he is not Lord Stark. I really think when he says this, that is the show's way of telling us that he really isn't the same Bran as he was in season 3. We saw him act peculiar last week and this just confirms it. Littlefinger slithers out of the room and Meera is tiptoeing around what she really came to discuss. Bran says it for her and says that she is leaving. She said to him that he doesn't need her anymore and that he is in the safest place. She explains that she wants to be with her family for when "they" come. She expected him to be upset, try to talk her out of it, or at least have some sort of objection, but he doesn't and he agrees that he does not need her anymore. She is very hurt by this and pretty much lays into him since her brother, Hodor, and Sumner all died for him, and she almost did. He does thank her, but it seems like it was a very empty thank you.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
This is when she begins to realize it isn't the Bran she once knew. He tells her that he remembers what it felt like to be Bran, but that is not him anymore. She even says to him that he died in that cave and he does not argue with her as she exits. We need to just get over the fact that since Bran can see everything from anytime, that this will take his emotion away as well. I don't like that he has no emotions invested in these situations that affect him and his family so greatly, but I get it.
Arya comes up onto the panoramic view of Winterfell and you get a sense that she did not realize how much she missed the place until she sees it.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Pan to Arya trying to walk into the gate and 2 gaurds stop her and get rude and nasty with her, and even say that Arya is dead. She tells them to get Maester Luwin or Sir Rodrik and they will know her. They tell her there isn't anyone there by those names. She name drops Jon Snow, the King of the North. They tell her he is gone, 1000 miles away. They tell her to "fuck off" and she asks to know who is in charge.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
They say the Lady has no time for someone impersonating her sister. She tells them to go tell Sansa that she is home. She tells them she is getting in one way or another and she will make sure Sansa finds out that they would not let her in. They sit her on a wagon and tell her not to move as they discuss who is going to take her and interrupt Sansa. Arya is looking around, noticing how different the place is, but also noticing the how it has stayed the same. The guards turn around and Arya is gone.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
The guards tell Sansa about someone at the gate pretending to be her sister and that she ran away. One of them brings up that she was asking for Sir Rodrik and Maester Luwin, and that made Sansa look up from what she was doing. She tells them she knows where she is.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
Sansa is walking through the crypt, knowing that if the girl at the gate is Arya, this is the place she would be. Without Sansa saying a word, Arya asks her if she has to call her Lady Stark now? Sansa tells her yes and tries for a moment to remain serious, but cannot contain how happy she is to see Arya and breaks out a smile at her. She walks toward her with purpose and hugs her very tightly.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
She tells her she shouldn't have run from the guards and she tells her she didn't and that she needs new ones. Sansa tells her she wishes Jon were there. The girls then focus on Ned's statue and that it doesn't look like him.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
Arya asks her if she was the one that killed Joffrey and Sansa tells her honestly that she did not, but wishes she had. Arya said she wanted to kill him to and mentions he is on her list. Sansa asks about the list and Arya explains. Sansa thinks she is joking, just as Ed Sheeran and crew did and laughs. Arya sees she doesn't believe her either and laughs with her.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Then Sansa asks how she got back to Winterfell and she replies that it is a long story, just as she is sure hers is. She agrees. Then Arya tells her that their stories are not yet over and Sansa agrees again. Then unexpectedly to Sansa as well as myself, Arya rushes for her and hugs her. That is good to see after we see Bran not caring about anything at all. Sansa ends the scene by telling Arya that Bran is home.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
Bran is under the weirwood and Sansa and Arya approach. Arya goes to Bran much like Sansa did, but with a little more reservation.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Then Bran tells her he saw her at the crossroads and Arya is confused. She asks him about him seeing her and Sansa interrupts and says as if she is about to roll her eyes, or doesn't want to say it out loud because it is hard to believe, that Bran has visions. He inquires to Arya further and tells her he thought she was going to King's Landing. She says she thought she was too. Sansa wants to know why she would go there and Bran answers for her. He says that Cersei is on Arya's list. Sansa asks her who else is on her list. She asks in a way that she is genuinely interested, but still is looking at her like a young child that she last saw 6 years ago(in their world, probably longer). Arya doesn't give her the list, just says that most are dead already. Bran then pulls out Catspaw and Arya wants to know where he got it from.
He tells her and she asks why Littlefinger is there. Sansa tells her that he declared for House Stark. Sansa wants to know why he would give that to Bran and Bran tells them that it was the dagger meant to kill him. Sansa remembers the attempt on his life in Season 1 and Arya wants to know what a cutthroat would be doing with a very expensive dagger. Bran suggests that someone with a lot of money wanted him dead. She tells him that Littlefinger doesn't just do things to be generous and he will expect, or already does expect something in return. Bran tells her it doesn't matter because he doesn't want it. He hands it to Arya and she reminds him it is Valryian Steel. He reminds her that would do no good for a cripple to have it.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Arya is pushing Bran's wheelchair through Winterfell with Sansa next to her. Brienne looks in the distance to see the 3 Stark children together, Poderick compliments her on helping to make this happen and keeping her vow. She tries to correct it when he calls her Lady, but then thinks better of it and just thanks him.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Dany and Missande are walking down toward the beach of Dragonstone. Missande inquires about the Unsullied and not hearing from them, obviously concerned for Grey Worm. Dany asks what happened between them and Missande replies "Many things". Dany looks amused and repeats this and then Jon Snow interrupts them before Dany can get the scoop on the pillar and the stones.
She tells the Dothraki to stay and she and Missande follow Jon to the cave. He says he wants to show her before they go hacking it up. She sees all the dragon glass and Jon is looking excitedly happy, but treading very lightly with the dragon queen. She looks around, bewildered.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
He confirms that this will be all they will every need of dragon glass, and he wants to show her something else. He lets her lead a little and she looks up, amazed at all the beautiful drawings around her. They are patterns and shapes of things we have seen before, but but in the form of cut up bodies the White Walkers left for people to find. I do not know what all of these shapes mean, and I haven't done any research into it as I don't want to see anything from other writers regarding the episode until I get my review done.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Jon informs her the Children of the Forest are the original artists of the drawings. She asks him when and he tells her a long, long time ago. She says before there were Targaryen's, Stark's, and Lannister's, they stood here, maybe even before people. Then he corrects her and leads her, gently by the arm, to a drawing to show that the First Men were here with the Children of the Forest.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
She makes the assumption they were fighting there and Jon, takes her arm again and leads her to another drawing of the Night's King and 3 White Walkers, all with blue eyes. He tells her that they fought together against this common enemy, because it was real, and it always has been. This is enough proof for her that the Night's King and his army of the dead are real.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
She tells her she will join him but only if she bends the knee. He has pretty much the same exact exchange with her as he had with Mance a few years ago about bending the knee to Stannis, except this time, he is seeing things from Mance's point of view and Dany his.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Jon and Dany come out of the cave to see Tyrion and Varys waiting on them. They inform Dany that they took Casterly Rock. Dany sees they aren't exactly excited about this good news and she asks for more info.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
We do not see them tell her what all took place, but we pan to Dany storming down the beach with everyone hurriedly following. She is in a tirade and most of it is directed at Tyrion. She even accuses him of not wanting his family hurt and that his family is their enemies. She threatens to take the dragons to the Red Keep herself. She turns her attention to Jon Snow and asks him what he thinks she should do, even admitting she is losing to him.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
He agrees with everyone else unknowingly, but tells her that she will win, but it isn't the way to get the people to want her as their leader and she will be no different than the rest before her. I think they are headed toward the Jon and Dany hook up. This whole thing and the thing in the cave was very much setting us up for it. I mentioned in a recent post that I am a little "icked" out about the Jon and Dany pairing. My main problem is that the biggest villain on the show is doing the same thing with her brother, and is also the very reason Bran Stark is paralyzed...... Why should we willingly accept Jon and Dany together? I don't like it, but I am willing to accept it only if Jon finds out who his parents are. I won't go into anymore as I just did a post on this very topic a few days ago.
Brienne and Pod are sparring again. Arya approaches and interrupts. Brienne notices her sword and dagger and Arya let's her see the dagger. She asks Brienne to spar with her and Brienne tries to get out of saying no by telling her she will get the master of arms.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Sansa and Littlefinger are overhead, unbeknownst to them. She reminds her of the oath she swore to her and her sister and Brienne agrees but tells her her sword is too small. Arya ignores that and tells Brienne that she won't cut her.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
They begin sparring. Sansa and Littlefinger continue to look on, Sansa looking at Arya with maybe a new found respect. I think she was still looking at her like she was a little girl and this is where she realizes she isn't, and she really has been through her own journey too. Arya tags Brienne about 3-4 times, then loses her sword.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
She get's Brienne with the dagger and smiles real big at Brienne. When Brienne asks Arya where she learned that, she simply replies, "No One". That was my favorite line of the episode. Arya looks up and sees Sansa and Littlefinger and he now knows Arya has the dagger, and not Bran.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Jon and Davos are walking along the winding path at Dragonstone. Davos is asking what he thinks of Dany and he said she has a good heart. Davos lightly mentions that he saw him looking at her "heart". Jon says he doesn't have time for that. They run into Missande and ask her some questions about Dany and how she came to be an adviser to her.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
She tells them and says she can leave at any time, that they chose her to be their Queen, not because of the bloodline of a king they did not know. She says if she wants to leave, Dany would wish her well and send her with a ship. Jon asks her if she believes that and she says she knows it. A Greyjoy ship is in the bay and Jon points it out.
Theon and crew are running their dingy ashore and Jon is there waiting for him with Davos, Missande, and a few Dothraki. Theon talks to Jon uncomfortably and mentions Sansa. Jon grabs him up by the neck and tells him that what he did for her is the only reason he is not killing him right now.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Davos tells him they thought he was dead. He says he should be and announces that Euron has his sister and that is why he is there, he wants to ask the Queen to help him get her back. Jon tells him she is gone. Theon asks where she went and we pan to Bron and Jamie on horseback, overlooking the troops.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
Randyll Tarly approaches Jamie and Bron on horseback and advises them that the gold has made to to Kings Landing. He says they need to cross the river quickly or the entire army won't be able to cross and they will be separated. He wants to flog the stragglers to make everyone speed up. Jamie says give them a warning 1st, they fought good at Highgarden.
Dickon is overlooking a few soldiers changing the wheel on a wagon. Funny, we never think of medieval times having some of the modern day problems we face, but this is a prime example. Tire changes have been common since the invention of the wheel, I suppose. Anyway, Jamie and Bron ride up on him and Jamie again refers to him as Rickon. He corrects him again as Bron laughs in his face.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
Jamie asks him if Highgarden was his 1st battle, and he said yes, it was glorious. Bron tells him to be honest since his father is not there. He said all of his life his father was pledged to House Tyrell and he knew some of them. He said he hunted with some of them, like they were buddies. Jamie tells him that they didn't deserve it but Olenna Tyrell was a traitor. Dickon says he didn't expect it to smell like that, referring to men shitting themselves when they die. Bron makes fun of him for his high upbringing, and says he learned about that when he was five. Then Bron turns serious(as he should) and says, "Listen"
Just as episode 1 of this season, we see a big cloud rolling in, except it isn't a snow storm and White Walkers. It is a cloud of dirt, and a rumbling of horse hooves in the distance.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Jamie jumps into action and tells his men to grab their shields. We hear them, the Dothraki, whooping and yelling as they are riding into battle. We finally see them off in the distance, and we can tell that the Lannister army is seriously outnumbered. Randyll also gets his men in line. Bron tells Jamie to get back to King's Landing because they are so outnumbered. Jamie tells him he is not leaving his men and thinks they can hold the line. the moment this sentence leaves his lips, we hear a dragon screech and roar, then fly out of the clouds. Dany, with a look of PMS says her famous, "Dracarys" and Drogon goes to town!!!
This part of the episode is so good. Drogon burned a hole in the front line and the rest of the Dothraki are able to go right through, fire and all. We get to see the Dothraki in battle like never before! They are doing some amazing maneuvering on these horses, and shooting arrows in synchronization. We are also getting a 1st hand look from one of the blood rider's point of view. I have never seen anything like it. It is the equivalent of Battle of the Bastards, but with choreography! No joke.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Bron finds Jamie. Jamie tells him where Qyburn's scorpion is. Bron tells him to go do it and Jamie informs him that he can't with one hand. Bron takes off toward the wagon holding the huge weapon. Jamie cuts down a few more Dothraki and almost succumbs to one, when Dickon comes from behind and stabs the Dothraki right in the back.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
This battle is making Jamie have flashbacks to the Mad King for multiple reasons. He saw him burn people alive, he stabbed him in the back, just as Dickon just did to the Dothraki. This is all after he has made fun of him to his face on more than one occasion. So Jamie is getting taught a few more lessons from different angles here, and I am hopeful that all of this will make him see Cersei for who she is, once and for all.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Bron is riding full force for the scorpion and one of the bloodriders has his sights set on him. They are riding toward one another, and Bron throws one of the Dothraki weapons at the rider coming for him. He misses, as the Dothraki is able to deflect with his own weapon.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Bron pulls out his sword and gets ready to take off this guys head, when he pulls a stunt by leaning over and cutting one of Bron's horse's legs off, throwing him from the now screaming animal. His coin bag goes flying and he looks over at it, then notices the bloodrider coming for him still. He takes off.
Now we get to see the battlefield from Bron's point of view on foot. There is smoke and fire everywhere, horses running with flaming carts behind them. This battle is called the Loot Train Battle for a reason. Dany burned up all their weaponry, army, and food in one sitting. She continues as we are still at Bron's pov. He falls down and we see the dragon fly over head, shooting flames at groups of men. He has to fight off several, push flaming men out the way, but finally makes it to the wagon.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
The blood rider opens the back curtain to the wagon, and is looking right at the pointed end of the javelin, who has Bron at the helm. Bron releases, and the bloodrider shoots out of the wagon, and into a cart behind it. Then he lets down the walls of the wagon to expose the weapon. He loads it with the cranking mechanism and swivels it into position.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Tyrion comes up to the scene and looks on with sadness as the bloodrider next to him tells him his people cannot fight. Tyrion looks on at the massacre in front of him, knowing that his brother was seriously outnumbered.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
He sees Bron take a shot at Drogon & Dany and has a look of concern. Bron reloads. Right as Drogon is coming right at Bron, he says, "Come on, you fucker".
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
This reminded me of the last scene of Jaws when Martin Brody tells Jaws to, "Smile, you son of a bitch". It was pretty much identical, except ocean/land and shark/dragon. He releases the weapom and this time it makes contact. Drogon is falling out of control and Dany is struggling. He finally get's himself together and we can see that he is hit in the shoulder. He looks down at Bron, who quickly jumps out of dodge, just in time.
Photos Courtesy Of: HBO
Drogon lands, knocks the burning scorpion apart with his tail, and Dany dismounts. Bron sees a horse and goes for it. She is trying to pull the spear out of his shoulder when Jamie is looking on. Tyrion sees his brother and says to himself, but about Jamie, "Flee, you idiot". Jamie takes off right toward Dany as if he were in a jousting tourney. Tyrion calls him a "fucking idiot".
Photos Courtesy Of: HBO
Dany turns to see Jamie coming right for her. Drogon puts his huge head in front of Dany, mouth wide open. Bron comes up from behind Jamie, and tackles him off his horse and into the river, a millisecond before Drogon's flame burns up the horses they were just sitting on.
Photos Courtesy Of: HBO
They fly into the water and we see them sinking. Then it pans over Jamie as we watch him sinking away to the bottom of the river, till he disappears.
The episode ends.
The creators/writers must be feeling good right about now. For everything bad I had to say about the 1st episode this season, this episode made up for, and more! I knew that seeing the Dothraki hoard in action was going to be awesome, but it far surpassed my expectations, and I am pretty hard to please. My favorite episode of the whole series was the Battle of the Bastards, because of the battle itself and the fact that we got to see Ramsey get eaten by his own hounds. This one may have to tie it, or top it. The difference is going to be if Bron dies in the next episode due to Drogon's fire. If Bron lives, the episode surpasses. If he dies, it ties.
What does everyone out there think? Is this the best episode? Leave your thoughts in the comments. Thanks for stopping by!
XOXO
Gina Murrell
Mother of Reviews, Breaker of Theories
The episode begins with Jamie, Bron, and the Lannister armies on the move. Jamie opens up the gold cart and gives Bron a huge sack of gold.
Bron wants to know why Jamie is so upset when he just attained the biggest pay dirt imaginable. Bron also asks about the castle that Jamie promised him. He said he wants Highgarden and Jamie laughed him off.
*Photo Courtesy of: HBO
Next, Tycho is telling Cersei that no one has ever paid the Iron Bank back such a large amount of debt off at once. He tells her she is more impressive than her father, in not so many words. She tells him that the gold is on the way there now. He tells her that the Iron Bank will miss her interest payments, and ask her if they can be of assistance in any other ventures.
She tells him she wants to control all of the land and everyone on it. He pointed out that will require funds. She let him know that Qyburn has made overtures to The Golden Company in Essos. The Golden Company is a sell sword company and they are known for never breaking a contract. If you remember Daario from the last few seasons, he was a member of this group of men before pledging to Dany. Tycho tells her he knows of the The Golden Company very well, and from his explanation, they sound like a bunch of bill collectors. She is wanting to hire them to join the depleted Lannister army, but to also get some things back that were taken from her.
I am thinking she means Casterly Rock, since the only other thing I can recall that was taken form her is her children. The Golden Company is said to have around 10,000 men. If the Unsullied have 8,000, with fewer due to some not making it last week when they stormed Casterly Rock, they may be in trouble. The scene ends with Tycho telling Cersei that she will have the Iron Bank's support as soon as the gold arrives.
Back at Winterfell, Littelfinger unsheathes Catspaw and shows it to Bran. He gives it to Bran and tells him that this is the very dagger that someone tried to kill him with and says that he would have tried to stop the dagger that killed his mother with his own heart if he could.
He says he is doing what he can do and that is protect her children. Littlefinger tells him that if he needs anything, all he has to do is ask. Bran asks him if he knows who the dagger belongs to and Littlefinger says no. Then, he goes on to tell him the very same question is what started the War of the 5 Kings, and then went on to blame Catspaw for making Bran what he is today; Forced from his home, and driven North of The Wall.
He comments on the things he must have seen things that most men wouldn't believe. He says he can only imagine returning after all that, and there being so much chaos in the world and then Bran interrupts him. Bran says "Chaos is a ladder". This is the same thing that Littlefinger said to Varys in Season 3, episode 6 titled "The Climb". You could tell by the look on Lord Baelish's face that he knew exactly what Bran just did, but at the same time a little puzzled.
So he should be. I think they have been giving us teasers since Sansa told him in the 1st episode this season to not bother trying to get the last word and she is sure it was something clever. I think he will be done either the next episode or the 6th. I will be surprised if he makes it to the finale this year.
Meera enters the room just in time to break up the new found tension. He apologizes for disturbing Bran, referring to him as Lord Stark and Bran corrects him and says he is not Lord Stark. I really think when he says this, that is the show's way of telling us that he really isn't the same Bran as he was in season 3. We saw him act peculiar last week and this just confirms it. Littlefinger slithers out of the room and Meera is tiptoeing around what she really came to discuss. Bran says it for her and says that she is leaving. She said to him that he doesn't need her anymore and that he is in the safest place. She explains that she wants to be with her family for when "they" come. She expected him to be upset, try to talk her out of it, or at least have some sort of objection, but he doesn't and he agrees that he does not need her anymore. She is very hurt by this and pretty much lays into him since her brother, Hodor, and Sumner all died for him, and she almost did. He does thank her, but it seems like it was a very empty thank you.
This is when she begins to realize it isn't the Bran she once knew. He tells her that he remembers what it felt like to be Bran, but that is not him anymore. She even says to him that he died in that cave and he does not argue with her as she exits. We need to just get over the fact that since Bran can see everything from anytime, that this will take his emotion away as well. I don't like that he has no emotions invested in these situations that affect him and his family so greatly, but I get it.
Arya comes up onto the panoramic view of Winterfell and you get a sense that she did not realize how much she missed the place until she sees it.
Pan to Arya trying to walk into the gate and 2 gaurds stop her and get rude and nasty with her, and even say that Arya is dead. She tells them to get Maester Luwin or Sir Rodrik and they will know her. They tell her there isn't anyone there by those names. She name drops Jon Snow, the King of the North. They tell her he is gone, 1000 miles away. They tell her to "fuck off" and she asks to know who is in charge.
They say the Lady has no time for someone impersonating her sister. She tells them to go tell Sansa that she is home. She tells them she is getting in one way or another and she will make sure Sansa finds out that they would not let her in. They sit her on a wagon and tell her not to move as they discuss who is going to take her and interrupt Sansa. Arya is looking around, noticing how different the place is, but also noticing the how it has stayed the same. The guards turn around and Arya is gone.
The guards tell Sansa about someone at the gate pretending to be her sister and that she ran away. One of them brings up that she was asking for Sir Rodrik and Maester Luwin, and that made Sansa look up from what she was doing. She tells them she knows where she is.
Sansa is walking through the crypt, knowing that if the girl at the gate is Arya, this is the place she would be. Without Sansa saying a word, Arya asks her if she has to call her Lady Stark now? Sansa tells her yes and tries for a moment to remain serious, but cannot contain how happy she is to see Arya and breaks out a smile at her. She walks toward her with purpose and hugs her very tightly.
She tells her she shouldn't have run from the guards and she tells her she didn't and that she needs new ones. Sansa tells her she wishes Jon were there. The girls then focus on Ned's statue and that it doesn't look like him.
Arya asks her if she was the one that killed Joffrey and Sansa tells her honestly that she did not, but wishes she had. Arya said she wanted to kill him to and mentions he is on her list. Sansa asks about the list and Arya explains. Sansa thinks she is joking, just as Ed Sheeran and crew did and laughs. Arya sees she doesn't believe her either and laughs with her.
Then Sansa asks how she got back to Winterfell and she replies that it is a long story, just as she is sure hers is. She agrees. Then Arya tells her that their stories are not yet over and Sansa agrees again. Then unexpectedly to Sansa as well as myself, Arya rushes for her and hugs her. That is good to see after we see Bran not caring about anything at all. Sansa ends the scene by telling Arya that Bran is home.
Bran is under the weirwood and Sansa and Arya approach. Arya goes to Bran much like Sansa did, but with a little more reservation.
Then Bran tells her he saw her at the crossroads and Arya is confused. She asks him about him seeing her and Sansa interrupts and says as if she is about to roll her eyes, or doesn't want to say it out loud because it is hard to believe, that Bran has visions. He inquires to Arya further and tells her he thought she was going to King's Landing. She says she thought she was too. Sansa wants to know why she would go there and Bran answers for her. He says that Cersei is on Arya's list. Sansa asks her who else is on her list. She asks in a way that she is genuinely interested, but still is looking at her like a young child that she last saw 6 years ago(in their world, probably longer). Arya doesn't give her the list, just says that most are dead already. Bran then pulls out Catspaw and Arya wants to know where he got it from.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
He tells her and she asks why Littlefinger is there. Sansa tells her that he declared for House Stark. Sansa wants to know why he would give that to Bran and Bran tells them that it was the dagger meant to kill him. Sansa remembers the attempt on his life in Season 1 and Arya wants to know what a cutthroat would be doing with a very expensive dagger. Bran suggests that someone with a lot of money wanted him dead. She tells him that Littlefinger doesn't just do things to be generous and he will expect, or already does expect something in return. Bran tells her it doesn't matter because he doesn't want it. He hands it to Arya and she reminds him it is Valryian Steel. He reminds her that would do no good for a cripple to have it.
Arya is pushing Bran's wheelchair through Winterfell with Sansa next to her. Brienne looks in the distance to see the 3 Stark children together, Poderick compliments her on helping to make this happen and keeping her vow. She tries to correct it when he calls her Lady, but then thinks better of it and just thanks him.
Dany and Missande are walking down toward the beach of Dragonstone. Missande inquires about the Unsullied and not hearing from them, obviously concerned for Grey Worm. Dany asks what happened between them and Missande replies "Many things". Dany looks amused and repeats this and then Jon Snow interrupts them before Dany can get the scoop on the pillar and the stones.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
She tells the Dothraki to stay and she and Missande follow Jon to the cave. He says he wants to show her before they go hacking it up. She sees all the dragon glass and Jon is looking excitedly happy, but treading very lightly with the dragon queen. She looks around, bewildered.
He confirms that this will be all they will every need of dragon glass, and he wants to show her something else. He lets her lead a little and she looks up, amazed at all the beautiful drawings around her. They are patterns and shapes of things we have seen before, but but in the form of cut up bodies the White Walkers left for people to find. I do not know what all of these shapes mean, and I haven't done any research into it as I don't want to see anything from other writers regarding the episode until I get my review done.
Jon informs her the Children of the Forest are the original artists of the drawings. She asks him when and he tells her a long, long time ago. She says before there were Targaryen's, Stark's, and Lannister's, they stood here, maybe even before people. Then he corrects her and leads her, gently by the arm, to a drawing to show that the First Men were here with the Children of the Forest.
She makes the assumption they were fighting there and Jon, takes her arm again and leads her to another drawing of the Night's King and 3 White Walkers, all with blue eyes. He tells her that they fought together against this common enemy, because it was real, and it always has been. This is enough proof for her that the Night's King and his army of the dead are real.
She tells her she will join him but only if she bends the knee. He has pretty much the same exact exchange with her as he had with Mance a few years ago about bending the knee to Stannis, except this time, he is seeing things from Mance's point of view and Dany his.
Jon and Dany come out of the cave to see Tyrion and Varys waiting on them. They inform Dany that they took Casterly Rock. Dany sees they aren't exactly excited about this good news and she asks for more info.
We do not see them tell her what all took place, but we pan to Dany storming down the beach with everyone hurriedly following. She is in a tirade and most of it is directed at Tyrion. She even accuses him of not wanting his family hurt and that his family is their enemies. She threatens to take the dragons to the Red Keep herself. She turns her attention to Jon Snow and asks him what he thinks she should do, even admitting she is losing to him.
He agrees with everyone else unknowingly, but tells her that she will win, but it isn't the way to get the people to want her as their leader and she will be no different than the rest before her. I think they are headed toward the Jon and Dany hook up. This whole thing and the thing in the cave was very much setting us up for it. I mentioned in a recent post that I am a little "icked" out about the Jon and Dany pairing. My main problem is that the biggest villain on the show is doing the same thing with her brother, and is also the very reason Bran Stark is paralyzed...... Why should we willingly accept Jon and Dany together? I don't like it, but I am willing to accept it only if Jon finds out who his parents are. I won't go into anymore as I just did a post on this very topic a few days ago.
Brienne and Pod are sparring again. Arya approaches and interrupts. Brienne notices her sword and dagger and Arya let's her see the dagger. She asks Brienne to spar with her and Brienne tries to get out of saying no by telling her she will get the master of arms.
Sansa and Littlefinger are overhead, unbeknownst to them. She reminds her of the oath she swore to her and her sister and Brienne agrees but tells her her sword is too small. Arya ignores that and tells Brienne that she won't cut her.
They begin sparring. Sansa and Littlefinger continue to look on, Sansa looking at Arya with maybe a new found respect. I think she was still looking at her like she was a little girl and this is where she realizes she isn't, and she really has been through her own journey too. Arya tags Brienne about 3-4 times, then loses her sword.
She get's Brienne with the dagger and smiles real big at Brienne. When Brienne asks Arya where she learned that, she simply replies, "No One". That was my favorite line of the episode. Arya looks up and sees Sansa and Littlefinger and he now knows Arya has the dagger, and not Bran.
Jon and Davos are walking along the winding path at Dragonstone. Davos is asking what he thinks of Dany and he said she has a good heart. Davos lightly mentions that he saw him looking at her "heart". Jon says he doesn't have time for that. They run into Missande and ask her some questions about Dany and how she came to be an adviser to her.
She tells them and says she can leave at any time, that they chose her to be their Queen, not because of the bloodline of a king they did not know. She says if she wants to leave, Dany would wish her well and send her with a ship. Jon asks her if she believes that and she says she knows it. A Greyjoy ship is in the bay and Jon points it out.
Theon and crew are running their dingy ashore and Jon is there waiting for him with Davos, Missande, and a few Dothraki. Theon talks to Jon uncomfortably and mentions Sansa. Jon grabs him up by the neck and tells him that what he did for her is the only reason he is not killing him right now.
Davos tells him they thought he was dead. He says he should be and announces that Euron has his sister and that is why he is there, he wants to ask the Queen to help him get her back. Jon tells him she is gone. Theon asks where she went and we pan to Bron and Jamie on horseback, overlooking the troops.
Randyll Tarly approaches Jamie and Bron on horseback and advises them that the gold has made to to Kings Landing. He says they need to cross the river quickly or the entire army won't be able to cross and they will be separated. He wants to flog the stragglers to make everyone speed up. Jamie says give them a warning 1st, they fought good at Highgarden.
Dickon is overlooking a few soldiers changing the wheel on a wagon. Funny, we never think of medieval times having some of the modern day problems we face, but this is a prime example. Tire changes have been common since the invention of the wheel, I suppose. Anyway, Jamie and Bron ride up on him and Jamie again refers to him as Rickon. He corrects him again as Bron laughs in his face.
Jamie asks him if Highgarden was his 1st battle, and he said yes, it was glorious. Bron tells him to be honest since his father is not there. He said all of his life his father was pledged to House Tyrell and he knew some of them. He said he hunted with some of them, like they were buddies. Jamie tells him that they didn't deserve it but Olenna Tyrell was a traitor. Dickon says he didn't expect it to smell like that, referring to men shitting themselves when they die. Bron makes fun of him for his high upbringing, and says he learned about that when he was five. Then Bron turns serious(as he should) and says, "Listen"
Just as episode 1 of this season, we see a big cloud rolling in, except it isn't a snow storm and White Walkers. It is a cloud of dirt, and a rumbling of horse hooves in the distance.
Jamie jumps into action and tells his men to grab their shields. We hear them, the Dothraki, whooping and yelling as they are riding into battle. We finally see them off in the distance, and we can tell that the Lannister army is seriously outnumbered. Randyll also gets his men in line. Bron tells Jamie to get back to King's Landing because they are so outnumbered. Jamie tells him he is not leaving his men and thinks they can hold the line. the moment this sentence leaves his lips, we hear a dragon screech and roar, then fly out of the clouds. Dany, with a look of PMS says her famous, "Dracarys" and Drogon goes to town!!!
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
This part of the episode is so good. Drogon burned a hole in the front line and the rest of the Dothraki are able to go right through, fire and all. We get to see the Dothraki in battle like never before! They are doing some amazing maneuvering on these horses, and shooting arrows in synchronization. We are also getting a 1st hand look from one of the blood rider's point of view. I have never seen anything like it. It is the equivalent of Battle of the Bastards, but with choreography! No joke.
Bron finds Jamie. Jamie tells him where Qyburn's scorpion is. Bron tells him to go do it and Jamie informs him that he can't with one hand. Bron takes off toward the wagon holding the huge weapon. Jamie cuts down a few more Dothraki and almost succumbs to one, when Dickon comes from behind and stabs the Dothraki right in the back.
This battle is making Jamie have flashbacks to the Mad King for multiple reasons. He saw him burn people alive, he stabbed him in the back, just as Dickon just did to the Dothraki. This is all after he has made fun of him to his face on more than one occasion. So Jamie is getting taught a few more lessons from different angles here, and I am hopeful that all of this will make him see Cersei for who she is, once and for all.
Bron is riding full force for the scorpion and one of the bloodriders has his sights set on him. They are riding toward one another, and Bron throws one of the Dothraki weapons at the rider coming for him. He misses, as the Dothraki is able to deflect with his own weapon.
Bron pulls out his sword and gets ready to take off this guys head, when he pulls a stunt by leaning over and cutting one of Bron's horse's legs off, throwing him from the now screaming animal. His coin bag goes flying and he looks over at it, then notices the bloodrider coming for him still. He takes off.
*Photos Courtesy of: HBO
Now we get to see the battlefield from Bron's point of view on foot. There is smoke and fire everywhere, horses running with flaming carts behind them. This battle is called the Loot Train Battle for a reason. Dany burned up all their weaponry, army, and food in one sitting. She continues as we are still at Bron's pov. He falls down and we see the dragon fly over head, shooting flames at groups of men. He has to fight off several, push flaming men out the way, but finally makes it to the wagon.
The blood rider opens the back curtain to the wagon, and is looking right at the pointed end of the javelin, who has Bron at the helm. Bron releases, and the bloodrider shoots out of the wagon, and into a cart behind it. Then he lets down the walls of the wagon to expose the weapon. He loads it with the cranking mechanism and swivels it into position.
Tyrion comes up to the scene and looks on with sadness as the bloodrider next to him tells him his people cannot fight. Tyrion looks on at the massacre in front of him, knowing that his brother was seriously outnumbered.
He sees Bron take a shot at Drogon & Dany and has a look of concern. Bron reloads. Right as Drogon is coming right at Bron, he says, "Come on, you fucker".
This reminded me of the last scene of Jaws when Martin Brody tells Jaws to, "Smile, you son of a bitch". It was pretty much identical, except ocean/land and shark/dragon. He releases the weapom and this time it makes contact. Drogon is falling out of control and Dany is struggling. He finally get's himself together and we can see that he is hit in the shoulder. He looks down at Bron, who quickly jumps out of dodge, just in time.
Drogon lands, knocks the burning scorpion apart with his tail, and Dany dismounts. Bron sees a horse and goes for it. She is trying to pull the spear out of his shoulder when Jamie is looking on. Tyrion sees his brother and says to himself, but about Jamie, "Flee, you idiot". Jamie takes off right toward Dany as if he were in a jousting tourney. Tyrion calls him a "fucking idiot".
Dany turns to see Jamie coming right for her. Drogon puts his huge head in front of Dany, mouth wide open. Bron comes up from behind Jamie, and tackles him off his horse and into the river, a millisecond before Drogon's flame burns up the horses they were just sitting on.
They fly into the water and we see them sinking. Then it pans over Jamie as we watch him sinking away to the bottom of the river, till he disappears.
The episode ends.
The creators/writers must be feeling good right about now. For everything bad I had to say about the 1st episode this season, this episode made up for, and more! I knew that seeing the Dothraki hoard in action was going to be awesome, but it far surpassed my expectations, and I am pretty hard to please. My favorite episode of the whole series was the Battle of the Bastards, because of the battle itself and the fact that we got to see Ramsey get eaten by his own hounds. This one may have to tie it, or top it. The difference is going to be if Bron dies in the next episode due to Drogon's fire. If Bron lives, the episode surpasses. If he dies, it ties.
What does everyone out there think? Is this the best episode? Leave your thoughts in the comments. Thanks for stopping by!
XOXO
Gina Murrell
Mother of Reviews, Breaker of Theories
Comments
Post a Comment