Game of Thrones Season 6 Ep 6

[shapinglight]

Just watched this. Brief spoilers behind cut.



Well, knock me over with a feather. It's Benjen Stark.

I really did think we'd never discover what had happened to him, and there he is, plain as plain (if very slightly White Walker-y about the nose). That's nice. It really does feel like Bran's storyline is going places. A shame no one said anything about Hodor, though.

I half-expected to be a bit bored when I saw which cast members were in this episode, because I've found the whole High Sparrow plot so dull, but apart from the drag-y scene with Margaery and Tommen it wasn't too bad. Though of course I am wondering whether Margaery is pretending, given that last time we saw her she was telling Loras he had to be strong. Maybe she decided that going along with the High Sparrow was the only way to get free - but it certainly didn't look that way.

I'm disappointed in her.

Also, it looks like killing the actress wasn't part of Arya's training (in the sense that they hoped she would baulk at it) and the Faceless Girl (whatever her name is) is now going to kill her. Unless it's some kind of elaborate double-bluff and Jacquen wants to teach the Faceless Girl a lesson by having Arya beat her? Oh, I dunno. We'll see. I'm just glad that Arya didn't kill the actress.

Loved the Sam/Gilly scenes. Those two are completely adorable.

Fingers crossed that Walder Frey is finally going to get what's coming to him. It's about time somebody evil did. And please can it be Ramsey's turn next week?

Lastly, stirring though Dany's final scene was, I can't help being a little chilled (make that a lot chilled) by what she plans to do. She'll lead the Dothraki to Westeros and they'll cause horrible suffering and mayhem. And the Dothraki themselves are not going to cope with the cold. Nor can they fight White Walkers and zombies. Lots and lots of people are going to suffer to fulfill Dany's ambitions.

No idea how this is going to end now. Not a clue. But it's beginning to feel a bit endgame-y. I have trouble believing they're going to spin it out for another two seasons.

Comments

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

I KNEW IT! I was sure they'd have to break Benjen out of the missing-character deep freeze to get Bran and Meera out of this, and whaddyaknow.

A shame no one said anything about Hodor, though.

Yeah, that bugged me. Sure, what little we get of that storyline is mostly spent in panic, but still - some acknowledgement that they're only alive because Hodor and Summer (and all the Children, I suppose) laid down their lives (and not necessarily by choice, in Hodor's case) wouldn't have gone amiss. If for no other reason than to give fans a chance to mourn along.

Margaery is definitely playing along. It's what she does. And the Tyrell women are good schemers. I kinda like that Tommen earns the name Baratheon here, even if he probably just makes things worse, but I loved the look on Jaime's face; "...Crap, I knew I forgot about something." (And how adorable was Mace Tyrell trying to lead an army to take back his children? I almost started cheering for him.)

NEEDLE!

Lots and lots of people are going to suffer to fulfill Dany's ambitions.

Yeah. Dany isn't The Hero here. I liked Daaaaario's comment to her that she's not made to sit on a throne, though; she's spent so long trying to build up force, but she seriously needs to start thinking about what her endgame is.

Two episodes in a row without Bolton. Dare we hope he's dropped dead of a heart attack?

[shapinglight]

Two episodes in a row without Bolton. Dare we hope he's dropped dead of a heart attack?

I'd quite enjoy that. Some rider approaching Sansa and Jon to tell them Bolton's dropped dead off screen and it's party time at Winterfell. But it won't happen. I've a horrid feeling the Bolton thing is going to drag out into next season, if only as a cliffhanger.

I hope you're right about Margaery, but if she is pretending she's pretended well enough to convince Tommen, it looks like. Unless he's pretending too - but I think he's too naive for that. Unless, of course, there are hidden depths to him in which he is more like Cersei than currently appears.

Speaking of whom, I almost found myself rooting for Cersei/Jaime in this episode, despite the whole incest thing. However, I'm sure it won't be long before one or other of them does something horrible again - like Cersei gets Margaery killed, or Jaime meets up with Brienne, discovers she's on the other side and kills her. Or something. :(

I KNEW IT! I was sure they'd have to break Benjen out of the missing-character deep freeze to get Bran and Meera out of this, and whaddyaknow.

Yes! And speaking of missing characters, Jaime name-dropped Bronn. I was wondering what had happened to him, but assumed he was probably off somewhere recovering from having to be involved in the silliest, and most pointless, storyline in season 5.

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

if she is pretending she's pretended well enough to convince Tommen, it looks like.

Well, bless Tommen's toes, but he's not exactly a living lie detector, is he? :)

Speaking of whom, I almost found myself rooting for Cersei/Jaime in this episode, despite the whole incest thing.

Up until the point where I realised that his new job is helping Walder Frey defeat the Blackfish (whom I've also been missing), me too.

Also, I'm convinced that Richard E Grant's character is Withnail. It may require crossover fic to prove it, but he totally is.

[shapinglight]

Also, I'm convinced that Richard E Grant's character is Withnail. It may require crossover fic to prove it, but he totally is.

Hee! Yes, even in Westeros (or Braavos anyway), he's a complete luvvie.

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

For once I got to watch the thing while it was hot.

They really start to move things! In the books Bran and Myra have some white walker named cold hands aiding them. I think they might have finally gone there and done what everybody expected them to do and merged him with Benjen Stark.

I also loved the Gilly/Sam part, especially him nicking the valyrian steel blade. Sitting there on that stupid shelf when it is actually the one single thing that can be of use against the walkers.

I'm glad they finally made Arya leave Bravoos. She had her trainings montage and she really was never going to be no one. She will always differentiate between people and she will always want her revenge. I don't know if the faceless girl and Jaquen will just be hunting her for thrills or if she'll ever return to that temple, I don't think so. Getting needle back seemed final and I keep wondering if there isn't a cameo for Syrio Forel looming somewhere, while they are at it, letting popular characters who went missing early on back in.

Don't care much about the Riverlands plot, although it looks like Jamie and Brienne will meet up again.

I hope Maguery is playing the Sparrow, I really do.

Dany in full on war mode is chilling. But I don't think it will be an endgame anytime soon. I think she will talke Yunkai and the other cities in Slaver's bay before returning to Mereen. That should give her the ships. The season will probably end on her setting sails, but then it's still a long way for the plot to go.

[shapinglight]

For once I got to watch the thing while it was hot.

I can imagine how often that happens. ;)

I think they might have finally gone there and done what everybody expected them to do and merged him with Benjen Stark.

I do wonder what GRRM will do, now that the show has made all these revelations. Will he decide that, in order to keep the tension, he has to do something different in the books?

Sam and Gilly were delightful, and Sam's mother and sister were very nice too. His brother seemed like a rather stupid English public schoolboy - the sort that goes straight into the army after school and doesn't go to university. The brother and the dad both seemed like they belonged to a different family, though. Sam has a different accent to all of them.

I don't know about Syrio. He may be just dead. We'll see. And I really don't know what's going on with Jaquen. That other girl seems so vindictive and horrible (see dwyld's comment below) that it's hard to see how she fits in as a servant of this Faceless God either.

I want Arya to go with the actors. They're hilarious. However, I suspect we may have seen the last of them.

I hope Maguery is playing the Sparrow, I really do.

God, me too - but I can't work out how what she's done will help Loras, and if she is playing the Sparrow, surely that's her motivation?

The season will probably end on her setting sails, but then it's still a long way for the plot to go.

This is true. There's the whole Greyjoy thing to deal with, for a start. Which Greyjoy will get to Dany first?

Also, I miss Jorah. I suspect we won't see him again this season.

[chasingdemons.livejournal.com]

This is the one show that does not sit on my DVR waiting to be watched. I am constantly astounded by the high production values, and last night I was really noticing how extraordinarily beautiful the music is.

I have to think Margaery is totally pretending. That's her MO. And Tommen fell into line so quickly. It's got to be a game. And I think Grandma is in on it. I look forward to seeing the High Sparrow's wings clipped. I hate those righteous religious types.

Dany is pretty full of her own power. The thing is, I don't see her as having the judgment/maturity to know what to do with that power when she reaches her goal.

[shapinglight]

This is the one show that does not sit on my DVR waiting to be watched. I am constantly astounded by the high production values, and last night I was really noticing how extraordinarily beautiful the music is.

Agreed on all points. It's still a very good show, despite their inexplicable attachment to the character of Ramsey Bolton.

I hope you're right about Margaery and the Sparrow, but he strikes me as too canny to be fooled. I dunno. I just want that storyline over. It bores me. And likewise about the righteous religious types. They're just as bad as the ones who go around setting people on fire.

Agree with you about Dany. Unless it was all grandstanding - talking to the Dothraki in a way she knew they would understand. But if she follows through on it, they are all going to die in the cold trying to fight men in full armour -which - as the Hound pointed out two (or possibly three) seasons ago to Arya - is just not going to work.

Dany does have good advisers, in fact, but she needs to listen to them. Not just Tyrion and Varys, but Jorah. He was always insisting that underneath it all she had a gentle heart and could make people love her as well as fear her, and she's always denied it, but she needs someone who will remind her that kindness isn't always a weakness.

:Misses Jorah some more:

[ex_peasant441]

If Margaery's conversion was real, we needed to see it happen not just have it as a shock-value reveal. I therefore conclude it is all fake.

The Dothraki are going to be hopelessly out of place if they come to Westeros. As you say, they are neither equipped nor trained for the environment. Their horses will suffer terribly in the transit. Unsupported cavalry can't win in Westerossy conditions but they aren't trained to fight alongside infantry. And the whole thing is just going to be utterly weird if they do it. She'll do better to use them to get back her army of slaves and some ships and then leave them behind.

My prediction is that Arya will kill the Waif because the Waif is clearly not faceless at all - she obviously has developed a personal sense of dislike for Arya herself, thus breaking the rules.

[shapinglight]

If Margaery's conversion was real, we needed to see it happen not just have it as a shock-value reveal. I therefore conclude it is all fake.

I agree, and you are probably right. Well, I hope you are anyway. I just don't see how Margaery's ruse - if it is one - is going to help Loras.

I also agree about the Dothraki. Dany is going to get them all killed if she takes them to Westeros.

You're right about the Waif (is that what she's called on the cast list?). She's a vindictive little so-and-so. Which doesn't seem a good qualification for a Faceless Person. I hope your prediction is correct - unless it means Arya sticking around with Jaquen for longer. I think it's time she went home. It's not like it's been a complete waste of time. She's learned something about vengeance (I think), which is that it can seriously damage you. Er...or not.

[ex_peasant441]

She's called the Waif on the wikipedia write ups, which I assume come from an official source since they are clearly always written by the same person. I didn't realise the name hadn't been used on screen.

And yes, I think Arya has learnt a lot but it is definitely time for all the wanderers to start heading back to Westeross. I doubt Dany will make it this season but she should at least start heading in that direction. Tyrion could maybe stay a bit longer since he's only just arrived. Actually setting up and ruling a nice liberal democracy in Slaver's Bay would be a good ending for Tyrion. But he probably needs to go home and get a bit more closure first.

[shapinglight]

I think Tyrion having a confrontation with his siblings before the end of the show is pretty much inevitable. Not sure how it will go. No way Jaime will choose him over Cersei, and Cersei hates him.

This season may well end with Dany poised to go back to Westeros. I just hope she hasn't decided that marrying Euron Greyjoy to get his ships is a good idea.

[lizziebuffy2008.livejournal.com]

I think there are still tons of things that need to get worked out depending on how in depth they go.

I do hope Margery's conversion is not real, partly because, like you I am bored with this storyline and partly because they did not set it up well, although she sold it well.

I think (hope) the Dany thing was a heat of the moment/I got my dragon back/this is the language they understand thing...I do think that scene set up she and the Greyjoys getting together and I think it will be Theon and his sister, not the other guy. Also, what are the Dothroki going to do (where is she going to put them) until she has ships? Is it just me or had Drago gotten bigger?

That sword that Sam stole is definitely going to come into play.

Only 4 more episodes this season...who is going to die? There are big rumors on Cersei. I am hoping Ramsey, but I definitely think Thommein.

[shapinglight]

I do hope Margery's conversion is not real, partly because, like you I am bored with this storyline and partly because they did not set it up well, although she sold it well.

Yes, she really did - well enough to convince Tommen to subjugate the crown to the church. Unless that's a bluff too, and I find it hard to believe Tommen is a good enough liar to bring it off. On the other hand, if Margaery is playing Tommen too, as the only way to convince the High Sparrow she's sincere, Tommen won't be happy about it. Not to mention it seems terribly complicated.

Dany's dragon has definitely got bigger. I re-watched that final scene and found myself wondering what happened to that pretty white horse she was riding. Did she let the dragon eat it? Also, it can't be a coincidence that Daario told Dany she wasn't made for ruling but for conquering just before she made that speech. Maybe she's the Westerosi equivalent of Alexander the Great and when there's nowhere left to conquer she'll cry and then die not long afterwards.

who is going to die? There are big rumors on Cersei. I am hoping Ramsey, but I definitely think Thommein.

Rumours about Cersei? Really?

I'd be very surprised if she was killed off. Then again, after her scene with Jaime in this episode with all that 'together forever' stuff, maybe not? They kill her to give Jaime a reason to join forces with Brienne, Sansa and co to take back Kingslanding.

[sibilant.livejournal.com]

There are so many people in this show who need to have their arses well and truly kicked. Including, but not limited to: Dany, High Sparrow, the Waif, Sam's ghastly Dad, Bran.

The Dany/Tyrion ratio is decidedly moving in the wrong direction. Tommen proves he is an idiot child of incest yet again. The High Sparrow needs a good wash. It all feels a bit baggy and shapeless, but at least Arya has rediscovered her name and rejected religion and Jaime is being pushed out of his passive comfort zone at last. No doubt there are gory shocks ahead - not least when Ser Davos finally finds out what the Red Woman did to Shireen ...

[shapinglight]

No doubt there are gory shocks ahead - not least when Ser Davos finally finds out what the Red Woman did to Shireen ...

Yes, and when Cersei finally unleashes the Mountain. The violence factor has actually been dialled back a bit so far (yes, yes, I know Dany burned all the khals to death, but you know what I mean) so it stands to reason (in GoT-Land) that something so-horrific-you-can't-actually-watch-it is going to happen in the last four episodes.