- TV Review: Doctor Who – Oxygen - 13 May, 2017
- TV Review: Doctor Who – Knock Knock - 6 May, 2017
- TV Review: Doctor Who – The Pilot - 17 April, 2017
Following the trend of the fifth novel in the Song of Fire and Ice saga, the fifth episode of Game of Thrones streamlines the story and dedicated it to those outside of King’s Landing, focusing upon Dany in Meereen, Jon on the Wall, Sansa in Winterfell, and Tyrion in Valyria. This allowed each story to move forward substantially, and a welcome break from Cersei’s scheming ways, though I did miss her acidic tongue.
As always, our top OMG moments are below, in no particular order.
Dany is a good mother
It’s always a feast for the eyes when Dany’s children appear on screen, and this week we saw all three of them. I can’t remember the last time all of her babies were seen in the same episode. We’ll get to Drogon’s appearance shortly, but Viserion and Rhaegal’s turn is pretty damn spectacular.
Angry at the demise of her greatest supporter, Dany takes the leaders of each great family in Meereen into the catacombs of her pyramid, in which her two children reside. It’s a particularly creepy affair as we hear them rustling and the rattling of their chains. Dany delivers another stunning speech; I’ve always been a fan of her speeches, and Emilia Clarke delivers this one with aplomb. Those who claim Dany’s story is stalling need only watch this episode.
Much like Drogon incinerating Kraznys mo Nakloz in season three, Viserion and Rhaegal barbecue one of the leaders, tear him apart, and feast. Stunning special effects are utilised here to bring the dragons to the screen. But I agree that Dany had to kill one of the leaders – she has to be a good mother, after all, and her children are hungry.
Barristan is, indeed, dead
Barristan the Bold is definitely dead. Grey Worm isn’t. Out of the two I’d rather Barristan had survived, but his death makes complete narrative sense. Grey Worm and Missandei bring about empathy to Dany’s storyline – I’ve argued this countless times before. But like I said last week, the last time Dany lost someone she loved to death she birthed three dragons. This time, we unleashes those dragons and lets them feast. And with episode nine – the dreaded nine – rumoured to be titled ‘The Dance of Dragons’, you just know that this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Dany’s wrath.
Someone needed to die, and unfortunately it was Barristan. RIP.
Drogon and the Stone Men
The teaser poster of season 5 has shown Tyrion and Drogon uniting, something which many fans have been clamouring for. And the look upon Tyrion’s face as he bears witness to Drogon’s flight is worth the wait. This is, for Tyrion, confirmation of something which pretty much everyone in his world refuses to believe. In that moment he became, maybe, thankful for Varys’ plan to help Dany ascend the Iron Throne. I can’t wait to see Tyrion in the dreaded nine.
But Tyrion’s awe is short lived, as the much-mentioned Stone Men ambush him and Jorah in Valyria. Valyria is beautifully imagined on screen, with smoking water and husking destroyed buildings, but this segment is all about the Stone Men. I thought this scene would have been dropped in the show because Tyrion’s entourage is vastly smaller here, but it was just as thrilling as his novel counterpart. You just know that one of them would have been affected by the Greyscale.
We’ll get to that in a moment, but seeing the monstrous Stone Men put Stannis’ stunning speech to his daughter last week into prospective. That is what awaited her until Stannis saved her. Suddenly I see Stannis in a much better light.
Jon’s plan
This is the beginning of Jon’s downfall, because it is quite clear that he has pissed off a great many men with his plan to unite the Brothers and the Wildlings. He understands that they all have a much bigger threat awaiting them, but none of his brothers can see what he see’s.
Episodes 7 and 8 are titled ‘The Gift’ and ‘Hardhome’ respectively, so expect another tedious march through the snows beyond the Wall. But I think the eventual uniting of the Brothers and the Wildlings will unfold brilliantly, albeit short lived. I read an interview with Kit Harington who said we’ll see more of the White Walkers this season, so I wouldn’t at all be surprised if the Brothers stumble upon them whilst marching north of the Wall. I cannot wait.
Sam the… Maester?
With Jaqen in Braavos, Sam’s journey to Oldtown is a story I cannot see transcending on screen. Is it necessary? In the novels, I envisage Sam training and then returning to the Wall to serve with Jon and the Brothers until their death, but ultimately I don’t think it is all that important.
What perhaps may happen on screen is Maester Aemon will probably train Sam a little himself, before he dies, and then Sam will continue as an unofficial Maester. Just a suggestion, though it would be brilliant to see Sam and Gilly stop off in Meereen. But I do think it’s pretty much a given Sam won’t leave the Wall – after all, it appears as though Mance’s story has definitely been altered in the show, and because of this Sam will no longer have to leave.
So that just means Sam and Gilly will have to get it on in Castle Black.
Jorah’s plight
I’m not surprised in the slightest that Jorah is struck with Greyscale, after all, I said Tyrion’s entourage is much smaller in the show. It doesn’t look as though Jon Connington and Young Griff will be appearing at all in the show, strengthening the much-believed R+L=J theory. If you’ve not read it, and don’t mind everything being spoilt, google it. Go on, I dare you.
But back to Jorah. With time ticking away, I expect we’ll see Dany forgive him when he saves her life, and then he’ll most likely die. Only Stannis has been able to save someone from Greyscale, and he is half a world away.
Sansa reunites with Theon
I despise Ramsay Bolton with a passion. I fear for Sansa in Winterfell, because it is only a matter of time until they are married, and Ramsay himself said he was looking forward to his wedding night. Once they consummate their marriage, Sansa becomes a Bolton, and loses her Stark name. And that means we’re down to one remaining Stark – Bran, because Arya is well on her way to losing herself completely. The Starks days are numbered.
But, all of that aside, Sansa’s marriage to Ramsay will allow Theon to become, well, Theon again, and this is something I am so excited to see. I would’t at all be surprised to see a cameo from Bran at some point this season either…
