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Cue the controversy.
Like last week, the latest episode of Game of Thrones treated us to a streamlined story. It dropped elements from the Wall and Meereen and instead focussed mainly upon the Stark girls, and the Lannister brood. But with it comes controversy…
As always, our top OMG moments are below, in no particular order.
Ramsay is a complete and utter groin
If you’re a regular reader of OMGame of Thrones, you’ll know just how much I love Sansa. It was so hard to watch the close of this episode, and to hear her cries of pain as Ramsay forced himself upon her.
This segment was uncomfortable to watch, but then so was a lot of this episode. I think it’s been pretty clear since Littlefinger’s plan to marry Sansa to Ramsay came to light that Ramsay would hurt Sansa. He is worse than Joffrey, after all.
Sansa’s plight is no surprising. She had taken the role of Jeyne Poole in the books, after all, and Jeyne is sexually assaulted by both Ramsay and Theon. It is also implied that he forces Jeyne to have sex with one of his hunting dogs. Ramsay is someone who has set a pack of rabid dogs upon one of his conquests, don’t forget, so his sadistic nature here should not surprise.
But throughout this episode I got the impression that Sansa was playing the game, so to speak. She remained stoic through her confrontation with Myranda and only allowed the facade to drop once she was alone. Later, at her wedding, Sansa was a frightened girl until she adopted a steely mask and stepped forward.
Later still, Sansa, whilst horrified that Theon was being made to watch, turned from Ramsay and seemed to accept what was coming when she bent to the bed. She could not fight it – all she could do was accept it, whilst secretly concocting a plan of revenge.
This is essentially a flip-side of the Jaime controversy last season. There, someone the fans loved committed rape upon someone the fans loath (apart from myself, it seems), whilst here the rape is committed by a bastard (in both senses of the word) upon a much loved character. I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see Sansa kill Ramsay before the end of the season.
No one becomes someone
Mirroring the darkness of the close of ‘Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken’, Arya’s story opened the episode in a macabre way as we see her washing a trio of corpses whilst wondering what becomes of them. Arya is still Arya, though she tells the waif and Jaqen H’ghar otherwise. Neither believe her, so the waif hints that Arya needs to lie.
When the man brought his sick daughter into the House of Black and White, this was a huge turning point for Arya. She lied with swift ease to the daughter, and the daughter bought each and every word and so, it seems, did Jaqen.
Because Arya is finally allowed beyond the door, where she discovers a chamber beneath the temple which is used to store the faces of those who had died in the temple. I have to admit I was impressed with this segment, as I did wonder how they would be able to visualise this on screen.
It worked entirely, and created an eeriness which has, perhaps unknowingly, resonated throughout Arya’s entire season five story. She is not ready to become no one, but she is ready to become someone else. Arya is getting a new face!
A ‘sensitive’ diplomatic mission
‘Sensitive’ was how Cersei described Jaime’s traipse to Dorne, and yet sensitive is not a word one can use in relation to the confrontation between Jaime and Bronn, and the Sand Snakes. The Dorne storyline should be amazing and yet it is probably the weakest story this season. Not much has happened, there has been too much teasing, and only now, six episodes in, are we finally getting some action.
With Jaime captive, it remains to be seen how this will all play out, but one or more of the Sand Snakes will likely die. Bronn may too, as he was slashed with one of their spears, and the Sand Snakes are infamous for poisoning their rivals. But I’m finding it hard to care either way at the moment.
A cock merchant
Another story which is being forced down our throats is that of Tyrion. I miss Varys – I could have quite happily watched Tyrion and Varys travel all across the world, but the pairing of Tyrion and Jorah is a bit stale.
I don’t like Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s character of Malko, either, but he is probably needed owing to how they have changed Tyrion’s storyline from the novel. There has to be another way of getting Tyrion to Meereen, after all. I just hope he doesn’t stick around after that.
Anyone else get the impression that Peter Dinklage was overacting during this segment? No, just me?
Cersei’s ploy comes to fruition
The interrogation of Loras was also uncomfortable to watch, but things like this helps to realise the world of Game of Thrones. This archaic look at homosexuality once happened in the world as we know it today, and indeed it still does in parts. This, and the treatment of women, cement Westeros as a horrible place to live.
Of course this allowed for the return of Olenna, who is always a delight. I’ve missed her this season so hopefully she’ll stick around for the rest of the run. Her showdown with Cersei was amazing to behold.
One must remember what became of the last person to piss off Olenna – yes, she murdered King Joffrey. So what will she do to Cersei, now that the Queen Mother has had two of her grandchildren incarcerated?
You know what they say, what goes around comes around. Cersei is in trouble…
