If you would like to read my review of the last week’s episode, click here.
Synopsis: Daenerys receives an unexpected visitor. Jon faces a revolt. Tyrion plans the conquest of Westeros. (IMDB)
Writer: Bryan Cogman
Director: Mark Mylod
Rating: TV-MA
Running Time: 59mins
Now we’re getting somewhere. Last week’s premiere was a nice reunion and started to set the wheels in motion but this episode went into overdrive as lines were being drawn and the ending proved that winning wasn’t going to be easy for anyone.
Last episode ended in Dragonstone so this episode started off there. Tyrion brought up the option of taking King’s Landing without bloodshed while Daenerys tested Varys’ loyalty to her. Of course he wanted to survive but he was never truly loyal to any monarch, he was loyal to the people and he was willing to die for this. It was good enough for her as long as he did not dare to betray her or else he would be burnt alive (and she means it). Melisandre showed up and told her about a prophecy and that she would play a part in it, along with Jon Snow (obviously). Tyrion told Daenerys about him and also vouched for him. He convinced her that Jon would be a worthy ally, as long as he bent the knee.
Jon then got a raven with a request to join her at Dragonstone which was met with skepticism since it could very well be a trap. Dragons and dragonfire would be useful against White Walkers. Meanwhile, Cersei rallied Tyrell bannermen to her cause. Randyll Tarly made a vow to Olenna Tyrell but Jaime tried to bring him to his side and bribed him with a position as the Warden of the South.
Jon got Sam’s raven about the dragonglass at Dragonstone and informed all the lords. They were opposed to his plan to go there, thinking that it was a trap. Jon was convinced that they needed the dragonglass and the allies. Jon conceded that it could be a trap but he trusted Tyrion. The odds were against them and they couldn’t do it alone. He would leave with Davos and Winterfell would be in Sansa’s control and that was good enough for her. Littlefinger wanted to talk to Jon, however, he did not want any part of it.
Ebrose and Sam tried to help Jorah and his grayscale. Jorah could survive for dozens of years although he would lose his mind within months. Sam believed that Jorah still had a chance but his case was advanced. Ebrose wanted to send him away to live the rest of his days. Sam realized that Jorah was a Mormont and felt like he had to help. He learned of a method that could help, however, it was forbidden for being too dangerous. Ultimately, he went ahead and started doing it anyway (what did Jorah have to lose?).
Qyburn showed Cersei what he was working on in order to counter Daenerys’ dragons which was a bolt that could shatter their skulls. Daenerys brought in Theon and Yara Greyjoy, Olenna Tyrell, and Ellaria Sand who were taken aback by her plan. Tyrion’s plan was to attack King’s Landing with the Dornish and the Tyrells while Daenerys and her army would weaken the Lannisters by taking Casterly Rock. They agreed with this plan. Olenna counseled Daenerys to not overly depend on Tyrion’s cleverness and to not forget that she was a dragon. Before Grey Worm was set to sail to Casterly Rock, he professed his love for Missandei and she reciprocated (if you know what I mean).
After a reunion with Hot Pie, she learned that Jon had retaken Winterfell from the Boltons and became conflicted about her mission to kill Cersei. She decided to head towards Winterfell and on her way, she was reunited with her direwolf Nymeria but she did not want to go back with her.
The last sequence was the most exciting part of the episode and perhaps the first glance of the higher per episode budget. As Ellaria and the Sand Snakes were sailing back to Dorne with the Greyjoys and Ellaria was getting closer to Yara, they were attacked by Euron and his fleet. Euron’s army boarded their ships and the battle that ensued was bloody, vicious, and most importantly thrilling to watch. Everybody thought, including the Sand Snakes who all died (one might still be alive) but in the end, Ellaria was taken hostage and Theon abandoned Yara when Euron had a blade to her neck (and let her go).
Overall, this was another exciting episode where things moved a lot faster with factions starting to come together for the upcoming war for the Iron Throne while potentially curing Jorah’s greyscale, setting up Arya’s return to Winterfell, and also teasing the meeting that most people have been waiting to see for 7+ seasons, the meeting between Daenerys and Jon. The sea battle was great too and will surely just be a taste of what is surely to come.
Score: 9.5/10
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If you’re into previews, here’s a preview of next week’s episode entitled “The Queen’s Justice”.
The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.
