Game of Thrones 6.01: "The Red Woman"

Before I begin....
We are entering new territory this season and to be honest, it's nice not to dread the death of another character for an entire season. We will get answers, some potential spoilers,  and some actual ones, ie. the finale. But the book has about 2000 pages to get there, so the path will be so different, and for me, I will not entirely accept it, until it is on the page.

However, per the trailers it seems that the writers will be taking events from the book, and merging them together, ie. Hardhome, this season. The book, as well as book knowledge remains relevant, as per casting news, they may be taking story lines from the books into this season, as well as some TWOW chapters. So, I have changed the format, with a countdown of  proven theories proven, and some speculation as well.

We're back!
What an episode it was, an, old theory was proven, Dorne remains the worse part of the show, and yet it prevails. Ghost was back!, Davos is awesome, and still doesn't know Mel burned Shireen at the stake, Sansa didn't get hypothermia and die, Arya is learning how to use her weapons,  and Cersei is mourning Myrcella with Jaime.

This week's dedication:
Brienne of Tarth
Who came out of nowhere, and beat the crap out of Ramsay's men and saved Sansa and Theon.

Brienne swearing fealty to Sansa

She also has finally fulfilled one of her vows to Cat, AND Jaime.

Let's get into it.

The North

The Wall

Ser Davos, Team Jon, and The Nights Watch

Oh, my poor boy, all bloody, and very dead, in the cold, is found by Ser Davos. I was really heartbroken listening to poor Ghost in the darkness, and upon my third watch realized that Davos heard Ghost, and that was why he went outside. I have no idea where the wildlings are, because it is eerily quiet.

Edd shows up, shocked, and helps carry Jon into a room, and along with Ghost, (who Edd set free), and is no longer confused that Sam is Jon, is protecting Jon's body.  Edd is devastated, and he really stepped up this episode. He may have disagreed with Jon about Hardhome, but he went, because he will always follow Jon to the ends of the earth.

Davos has taken charge, and preparing for the inevitable attack by the remainder of the NW. He asks Edd who he can trust, and he says the men in the room. Davos says, you know who we need, and Edd goes to find Tormund and the wildlings.

Mel also swings by, and says that she saw Jon at Winterfell, and she misinterpreted all of her visions. I found this odd, because somehow between Stannis' camp and the Wall, she suddenly had this new vision. Did she see visions in her camp fire? We have no idea, but she leaves, despondent, and returns to her chambers.

Meanwhile..

Let's make a quick visit to the meeting, where the news of Jon's death has been announced. Ser Alliser has taken no time donning the mantle of the Lord Commander.

Ser Alliser: Brothers, the Lord Commander is dead.

The NW: Wait, what?

Ser Alliser: I killed him, with Olly, whose only job in Season 5, was to kill Lord Snow, and a few other brothers. He was a traitor, who was destroying the NW by bringing the wildlings into the fold.

The NW: You murdered the Lord Commander for being a traitor? We understand, you were defending us from the wildlings, who are suddenly nowhere to be seen.

Ser Alliser: I have appointed myself the new Lord Commander, because I have always believed in the NW,  and saved us from ruin. The next step is to lure our brothers out of the room where they protect Lord Snow, kill them, Ser Davos, and Ghost.

The NW: We are with you Lord Commander. Let's get a group together, and take out those 5 or 6 men for being the traitors they are.

Olly showing no remorse for killing Jon

Wow, that didn't take a lot of convincing, but hey, they show up at the headquarters for Team Jon.

Team Jon

Ser Alliser arrives at the door, with bratty Olly and his crew, to make a deal with Team Jon. He tells Davos that they are anointed knights, and he will be allowed to leave the Wall,with food and go south. He can even take Mel with him! The other men, will be welcomed back with open arms.

Ghost protecting Jon's body

Ghost is growling, and Davos, who is no fool, asks for mutton, for his journey south, and does not receive a response. Alliser says that they will return by sunset for their response, to which Davos says fine, because at least now he knows that they are all dead men.

We will go back to the Wall at the end, to visit with Mel and learn her exciting news!

Winterfell

The Boltons
The Sadist Ramsay 
Ramsay is mourning his beloved Myranda, and says that she loved his dogs, just as he does. He says that she was never afraid of him, unlike the Maester, who is standing at the door. Ramsay says that he will avenge her death and tells the Maester to burn her body and feed it to the dogs. 

Ramsay and Lord Bolton

Ramsay and his beloved father, previously known as Lord "traitorous ass" Bolton have a quick chat:

Lord Bolton: Congratulations! You have defeated Lord Stannis, the greatest commander and strategist in all the realm. How do you feel?

Ramsay: Fantastic! I also got to walk around the field after our victory, and kill anyone who was still alive. 

Lord Bolton: I am so glad that you are enjoying your victory, because due to your need to be a sadist and a psychopath, you have lost our most valuable asset: Sansa Stark. Do you realize that I arranged that marriage, so we can fight the Lannisters? 

Ramsay: No, but my best team is on it, so I'll get them back.

Lord Bolton: I hope they find her, because you and your sadistic games, may have cost us the North. Just remember my lady wife is about to give birth, and you may have also have lost your right to be my heir. 

That kid had better be a girl. 

Ramsay just stares at him, because that unborn child is still looming over his head. 

The Fugitives
Sansa and Theon

Sansa and Theon are running through the snow, and survived their landing onto the "snowdrift" after their big jump last season. Theon is remarkably fit for someone who has lost fingers and toes, but he manages to drag Sansa through a river. I have no idea how the actors even stepped into that water. Finally, they get to a mini shelter of roots and leaves beneath a tree. Theon is hugging poor Sansa, trying to keep her warm, although technically they should have already died from hypothermia.

Suddenly we hear the dogs, which means they have been found and Theon tells Sansa to stay hidden in their small shelter. He tells her that she needs to go to the Wall and find Jon, which is a good idea, because everyone uses Jon as their default, when they need to go somewhere safe.

Theon is ready to sacrifice himself for Sansa, and faces the soldiers and the dogs. However, just when we are about to lose hope, Brienne wielding Oathkeeper  comes riding through the woods with Pod, and starts killing the soldiers. She was a total badass, and nothing can beat the power of Valyrian steel (and even more so, since Jon killed the Lieutenant of the Others), and she saves our twosome, with the unlikely help of Pod. Theon even shows that he's still got some of those old skills, and saves Pod from a Bolton soldier.

The Oath

We are treated to a beautiful scene when Brienne lays her sword down for Sansa, and cites the oath that pledges her service to Sansa. Sansa not knowing the words (as why would she) was shaky and helped by Pod, and repeats the words to accept Brienne into her service:  "....I vow that you shall always have a place by my hearth, meat and mead at my table, and I will ask no task that brings you dishonor. I swear by the old gods and the new...Rise"

Sansa has her first loyal knight

Kings Landing

Cersei
Cersei sits alone, touching her hair and gives the impression that she has been humbled by the walk of shame. She is wearing a dress with brighter colors, which is odd for someone who has supposedly lost power. She hears news that a ship from Dorne has sailed into the harbor, and she runs down, and it was so heartbreaking as you see her smile fade to tears, as she sees the casket.

Cersei and Jaime
Cersei is grief stricken as she and Jaime recall that their mother, was the first dead body they had even seen. She is describing the gruesome process of decay for a body, and Jaime tells her not to think that way about Myrcella, and that she is at peace. Cersei says that she was the only good one, and I always thought the only normal one, (Tommen is a child in the books, but he always seemed less mature then the other boys who were his age, ie. Bran) and recalls the prophecy, which comes out of nowhere for the non book reader, since it has never been repeated, since 5.01. 

She is meant to have three children, who shall have golden hair, and golden shrouds, so this must be fate. Jaime (who I do not think, whether in the book or the show, knows about it), responds that this will never happen to them. He tells her that they will take back everything that has been stolen from them, until they are the only two in the world. I believe that this is a call back to the first season when he says almost the exact same thing, the wording is just changed. 

But I miss Book Jaime, he was so conflicted and my second favorite character in the series. It saddens me greatly, but perhaps he will go to the Riverlands, meet up with Brienne, and I will see shades of the real Jaime again. 

Margaery

Margaery and the High Sparrow

Margaery is being tortured by listening to a regular reading of The Seven-Pointed Star, and how to atone for her sins, of which HBO Margaery has no clue of , except that she lied at the Inquest. Book Margaery is set up by Cersei as having been sleeping around, brother included, so she knows how and why she was in prison. 

Margaery is not looking good, and begging to see Loras, and the king. The High Sparrow stops by and plays good cop, by telling her that Tommen misses her dreadfully, and that sin has lead her to cheat on him. Margaery says that she has nothing to confess, because she really doesn't, and he says that she has a long way to go before she has atoned for all that sinning. Oh, and she is not going to see Loras, who has been cast on a netflix show, so we'll probably see him for about 15 minutes before they will kill him, which might have already happened in the book. Book Loras is injured when he took Dragonstone and supposedly was doused with boiling oil, and near death. Theories abound, but he may truly die, and even if he doesn't, killing HBO Loras will cause war to break out between the Tyrell's and the Lannisters. 

Dorne
God help me, could they have just let this go, and move on? Doran could have executed Ellaria, and locked up the SandSnakes. We would have enjoyed a better, more interesting story of having Tyrstane be on the Kings Council. But it was not to be, and we are stuck with this ongoing mess of an amazing story from the books. 

Ellaria and Tyene after killing
Prince Doran & Areo Hotah

Ellaria strolls through the Water Gardens with Doran talking about Oberyn, who the show has dishonored, by making him a liar. Remember "we don't hurt little girls in Dorne"?, and Oberyn planned to fight the Mountain, and lost as a result of his hubris, not because a Lannister jumped into the ring and killed him. Book Doran does know that the people want his brother avenged, but he is in control, because he has an HEIR, and he sends each of the Sand Snakes on a mission. However, Ellaria is helping Doran sit, as Tyene strolls beside Areo Hotah, when Doran receives the letter from Jaime about Myrcella. Ellaria stabs him, and tells him that he is weak, and the people of Dorne are disgusted with both him and Trystane. The guards are on her side, and then we are all treated to the great Areo Hotah, wielder of an axe, who dies from a little knife stuck into him by Tyene. 

Did anyone care where Obara and Lady Nym were? Well, they apparently hopped on the next boat to Kings Landing, and snuck onto Trystane's ship. He was painting one of those creepy eye rocks, when his two cousins show up. Trystane remained amongst the living for less than five minutes, because although he chooses to fight Lady Nym, Obara runs her spear through his face. I am not even going to write down Lady Nym's line, because it was a bad as Tyene's line to Bronn in 5.10.

What's next for Dorne? Do we care? Not really, except if there is someone interesting behind this coup, because I am pretty sure a bastard can't become the ruler of Dorne. 

It's time for the return of one our favorite road shows.

Meereen

Tyrion and Varys

Tyrion and Varys are taking a stroll through the city, and getting a lay of the land. The streets are deserted, in ruins, as they see more graffiti, which is not showing any love for their Mhysa. I really missed these two, and it was good to listen to Tyrion stretching his legs as the "hand" in Meereen. 

Varys is already investigating who is bankrolling The Sons of the Harpy because they could be getting support from outside Meereen. Who wants Dany out of power? I think there has been a resurgence of the "lets free the slaves and start civil wars tour" folks! Remember how it was a success, but then peace was supposedly made w/Yunkai, and all her freed slaves disappeared? The tour never truly ended, and soon Dany with her crazy face on, and riding Drogon, will burn down Meereen and the rest of Slavers Bay.

We also see a man dressed in red, preaching about the lord of light, to the former? slaves, about remaining free without Dany. Tyrion immediately says it's a problem, as we see someone watching them as they walk past the meeting.

The burning of the Meereenese navy

Tyrion and Varys are distracted from the gathering, when they see people running, and they see the smoke and flames coming from a now destroyed fleet of Meereen.

The Dothraki Sea

Daario and Ser Jorah
Daario and Ser Jorah are riding and discussing how they hope to see a day when Dany will rule the world. Daario comments that she doesn't seem to like it very much, to which my response is, have you met your girlfriend? But whatever, because I think that these two are not long for this world.

Suddenly, Ser Jorah sees the rings of crushed grass from a Dothraki horde, and that coupled with some dead skulls, decide Dany had landed there with Drogon. Ser Jorah finds the ring, and we see that the greyscale is spreading. I am still wondering where they are going with this, as greyscale seems important on the show, yet it is unclear how it spreads, ie. has Jorah infected anyone that he had had physical contact with?

Dany

I am glad that the Dothraki are back, as they will be in the books as well. HBO Dany has never seemed as comfortable with the role that she believes is her birthright, as she was with them. Why you may ask? Well, whether she likes it or not, the brutality that we have witnessed as she breezed through Slaver's Bay and conquered Meereen. is not that different, except she has freed slaves, not taken them. It is this act that she believes gives her the right to take these cities, and be called "Mhysa". I also believe, and said on numerous occasions, that it is also sending her down the path to boarding the Targaryen crazy train.

So, Dany is on her way to Vaes Dothrak and she is not a happy camper. It is hot, and dusty, and she should be looking rough, but she doesn't look too bad for walking a long way, and in chains. She is angry, as this is beneath her, as demonstrated by her playing the "I don't understand what you are saying" game.

They drop her off with Khal Moro, whose wives and his crew are there to receive her, and you can see that she's itching to reveal that long list of titles. I will list them now, but as in 5.01, I will never write them again:
Daenarys Stormborn
1. of the House Targaryen
2. The First of Her Name
3. The Unburnt
4. Queen of Meereen
5. Queen of the Andals and First Men
6. Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea
7. Breaker of Chains 
8. Mother of Dragons

We listen to more conversation amongst his men and wives, who are calling her a witch, and they should kill her, amongst other things. I have to say, that I don't understand why they didn't recognize her because she was the only Khaleesi to have white hair, and they all knew Khal Drogo, or of him.

Finally, after we learn that seeing a woman naked for the first time, is one of the top five best things ever for a man, Dany announces her titles. She also informs him that no sex will be happening and she will never bear him or any man a child: "only when the sun rises in the east, and sets in the west, when the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves...."

I listed my titles in Dothraki!
Why aren't I being set free?

The Khal apologizes to her as he was being disrespectful, frees her and states that no one may lie with the widow of a Khal. She informs them that they will be handsomely rewarded if they return her to Meereen. But not so fast  Dany! It might be forbidden to lie with the widow of a Khal, but you have to go live at Dosh Kaleem, the Dothraki convent .

Dany is surprised, because her plan has failed, and until Drogon feels like stopping by, it looks like she's officially just a Widow.

Braavos

Arya

Our girl is blind, and sitting on some steps in Braavos, begging for money. We hear talk of how a member of the Kings Guard was murdered, and we see more than one type of coin dropped in her bowl.  Book Arya is blind for a long time, and she learns how to use her other senses, i.e., touch, so she learns how to identify the coins from other lands by touching them.

The Waif shows up, and Arya actually looks a little relieved, because she most likely thought that this was permanent, and resigned to her fate. She is given the stick, and takes a brutal beating, because she is still someone and not no one. But she seemed to have a little bit of light in her face after the beating, because she knows that she has not been forsaken. Arya is a survivor, and wants  desperately to become a Faceless Man, so she is going to learn how to beat the waif with that goddamn stick.

...and back at the Wall

Melisandre
Alas, she has lost all hope in R'hllor, so what's a girl to do? Go to her old room? One that is nicer than any other room I have ever seen at the Wall? Should I feel sorry of her? No, because she may be despondent, and lost her faith but I can still hear that little girl screaming, and Davos has yet to discover the truth.

The real Melisandre

Mel is defined by her faith, it is who she is, and without it, she is not the powerful, beautiful red priestess. She removes her necklace and her glamour and she reveals her true self; Mel is hundreds of years old! 400 years old, according to D&D, which is very exciting, for so many reasons, one of which is that the Targaryen's were still very much in power.

Number of theories proven: 
1) Melisandre of Asshai is in fact, very, very old.

We did not see Sam or Gilly this week, nor Littlefinger or Lady Olenna, who were last seen in 5.07. Bran returns for 6.02!


That's it folks! See you for 6.02.


*All images and quotes are owned by HBO, "Game of Thrones" 6.01