We all knew we haven’t seen the last of ‘The Hound’ and tonight’s round about episode proves just that. Other highlights of this episode include the recruitment efforts in the North (via Jon Snow, Sansa and Davos), Margaery Tyrell’s long con with the Faith of the Seven, Jaime Lannister’s attempt at overtaking Riverrun and meeting Blackfish, and Arya’s ‘adventure’ in Braavos taking an unsurprising turn.
King’s Landing
Although some were convinced that Margaery was effectively brainwashed by the High Sparrow, we begin to see glimpses that her ‘act’ is becoming difficult to uphold. All the while, the High Sparrow seems focused on taking down any opponents of the ‘Seven’, including Margaery’s grandmother. In a meeting to persuade her grandmother to come aboard with the ‘Seven’, she gives her a note with the symbol for House Tyrell – a rose. This is all that her grandmother, the Queen of Thorns, needs to know. Margaery has not lost sight in who she is and we can tell that she is more than a few chess moves ahead of her enemies. However, the High Sparrow could genuinely believe Margaery is a changed woman or he already knows that she is pretending. Either way, death is certainly around the corner – whether that be a Lannister, a Tyrell or the High Sparrow.
There is also a telling scene between the Queen of Thorns and Cersei Lannister. Take it as a prepping of the stage for what’s to come. I believe that the writers continue to paint Cersei as damaged goods, but I think she’ll likely come out of this on top. Let us not forget that it was the Queen of Thorns who was partly responsible for her son’s (King Joffrey) death.
Undisclosed Brothel
Yara and Theon and the rest of their clan embellish in some R & R after they steal most all the ships from the Iron Islands, leaving their crazy uncle, Euron, the newly appointed king, without much to take upon his revenge. During the celebration, we see that Yara prefers the company of women over men, while also giving her brother a hard time about his now inability to be with a woman. All jokes were quickly pushed aside when she tells him that she needs the ‘real Theon’ to come back and help her. Yara is tired of the shell of a man her brother has become– thanks to Roose Bolton’s torture tactics. She essentially tells Theon to be a man or kill himself. Will the real Theon Greyjoy please stand up? We’ll have to wait and see.
Somewhere in the North
The recruiting continues as Jon Snow, Sansa and Davos go from house to house trying to scrounge up more soldiers – without much help. I did find it interesting to see how each fair in persuading. Jon Snow seems to be the most assertive of the group (his plea to the rest of the Wildlings), Sansa would be the most aggressive (her ineffective case given to House Glover), and Davos would play more to others’ sympathies (his convincing of Lady Mormont). After all their pleas, Snow remains convinced that they’ll have to make good with what they have but Sansa is not convinced. We later see her write a letter but we do not see who to (my money is on Littlefinger). It is likely that Sansa is hoping that Littlefinger can help provide his cousins army to help battle the Boltons, the Freys, and the White Walkers. I should note that we can never forget that Littlefinger is Littlefinger. He will likely make a giant play for power soon and that may involve with making an alliance to the Boltons.
Braavos
We now know that Arya sees herself as a Stark, first and foremost. She just needs to get away from Braavos and the Faceless God members….a.s.a.p.! She throws bags of gold around to sea captains and immediately sets her departure for the following day. Things look fine until, an old lady appears offering her an apple and then begins to stab her a few times. The old lady is revealed to be a disguised waif (waif is defined as a homeless person, FYI), unsurprisingly. Luckily (sort of), Arya manages to jump into the canal where we next see her holding her stomach wound while walking the streets of Braavos (where no one seems to find her condition alarming). Can Arya just catch a break? What if the waif and Arya are the same person? Think about it.
Jaime Lannister and Blackfish are at a crossroads in the Riverlands
If you remember back to the ‘Red Wedding’, both Robb Stark and his mother, Catelyn Stark’s (maiden name Catelyn Tully), were betrayed. In that aftermath, Edmure (Catelyn’s brother), was captured. After Riverrun was taken back by Blackfish (Catelyn’s uncle), the Frey’s used Edmure as a hostage so that Blackfish would forfeit his claim to Riverrun. Hilariously, Blackfish doesn’t bat an eye and calls their bluff and he was right to. Edmure was spared (for now) and Blackfish’s new, worthy enemy on the scene comes with the arrival of Jaime Lannister, the foul mouthed Bronn (everyone’s favorite sword for hire), and a large army. They are there to help take Riverrun back for the Freys.
What came next is the actual meeting between Jaime and Blackfish. Jaime, on the one hand, does not seem to understand that it is his love for Cersei that puts him in many of the situations that seemed to plague him. Even Blackfish said that his impression of Jaime was that he was disappointed. Moreover, Blackfish relays that he’ll never wield Riverrun as it is the only home he has ever known. No matter how you look at it, an eventual battle will cost many lives…and deep down (likely) Jaime knows that he shouldn’t be there at all. Blackfish’s claim to Riverrun isn’t just ‘all that he knows’ but is also a testament to the House of Tully legacy.
As we know, Brienne of Tarth is in route to Riverrun (after being tasked by Sansa – to likely verify that Blackfish has taken over Riverrun). Her reunion with pal, Jaime Lannister, is on the horizon (next episode). Hopefully, Brienne can talk some sense into Jaime otherwise they’ll become enemies to each other.
You ain’t nothing by The Hound
Oh where have thy Hound been since season four? Well, after being nursed back to health by an all accepting religious sect led by a convincing sept (played by the great Ian McShane – “Deadwood” fame), the Hound seemed to find solace while working with a group to build a church. The Hound has been haunted by his past and the meaning behind his life. After living and learning via the religious sect, the Hound has found a sort of peace with himself. He wants to use the rest of his life for good. However, the now peaceful Hound (otherwise known as Sandor Clegane) will seek revenge after the slaughter of his people by the ‘Brotherhood without Banners’. He is the ‘broken man’ as mentioned in the title of this episode.
Overall Thoughts
This episode seemed more like a ‘setting of pieces’ for what are likely very big things yet to come. Personally, I believe unlikely alliances will be made and these pieces will soon reveal a larger picture/goal: to battle the White Walkers as ‘winter’ will have to arrive eventually.
If I were a betting man:
The old Three Eyed Raven has always been Bran Stark.
Jon Snow is half Targaryen and half Stark.
Meera Reed is actually Jon Snow’s twin sister.
Arya Stark and the Waif are the same person. Fight Club style!
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