Game of Thrones 6.02: "Home"

This weeks dedication is...
Dolorous Edd
For being a loyal friend, and bringing the wildlings to save the day:

That's right folks, Doloures Edd is a badass.

Let's get into it.

The North

Beyond The Wall
Bran and The Three Eyed Raven

Bran watching his family during a time
when they were young, and happy.

We are at a very  busy Winterfell, and see a scene from the past with two young boys sparring, and it's Ned! It is bright, and the yard is bustling, which is unusual for the North, but it shows that this was a happier time. He is sparring with a young Benjen, and Ser Rodrik is training them. Bran and The Three Eyed Raven are standing and watching them in a position similar to Cat and Ned's in 1.01. I love that we see this:

Ned training Benjen, and telling him
to keep his shield up

and then I remember this:

Jon training Olly, and telling him 
to keep his shield up. (5.01)

I am beyond happy, because this was such a nice touch, because even if Jon is aTargaryen, Ned will always be his father. A girl on a white horse comes riding into the keep and it's Lyanna! She is exactly as I pictured her from the books. She had long brown hair, a wild, natural beauty, and galloping her white horse (a nice touch) in circles around her two brothers.

Lyanna Stark

Lyanna loved riding, and apparently used to go on long rides with Brandon, which is why they have her riding into the keep, with such confidence.  Ned tells her to stop showing off, and she hops down, and we see a young Hodor! His name is Willas, and Lyanna volunteers him as a sparring partner for a young Benjen. I can not tell you how much I loved this scene, it was perfection. Ned was right when he said that Arya is a lot like her, because galloping around on your horse all afternoon is hardly ladylike behavior.

Benjen, Ned,and Lyanna looking at Willas/Hodor

Bran "moves" to the courtyard, and is surprised to see Hodor talking, and is mesmerized, when looking at his aunt, because Ned never spoke of her.  Old Nan (who is not so old) drags Willas/Hodor inside, to the sounds of Ned yelling that with all that giants blood, he'd make a great fighter. Old Nan says he's a stable boy, and he will always be one.

Amazing.

The Three Eyed Raven

Bran is pulled out of the vision by The Three Eyed Raven (TTER), and we see him on the ground of the cave, near the roots of his tree/body. He is angry because he has finally seen something interesting and he pulled him out of it. TTER warns Bran that when you stay in the past too long, you are lost forever.

Bran and Meera
Hodor carries Bran outside, and lays him down on a sexy, side pose, which is for Meera. He tells her that its dangerous, and Meera doesn't care, and who can blame her? Her brother was killed by whatever those HBO versions of some other type of Wights were, and she is bored out of her mind. It has probably been a year, I think more, because Fat Walda has just had her baby, and at least six months passed prior to those nine months. Bran is really excited and tells her about his vision, and Meera is annoyed because nothing is actionable. He also tells her that a war is coming, and Meera is still very unhappy. Hodor picks up Bran and returns inside the cave.

Book Meera explores the hundreds of tunnels in the cave with Book Jojen, so at least they are exploring and doing something. I don't think HBO Meera has been dong anything, which is why she is so depressed.

The child of the forest, who actually looks like one this season, tells her that Bran is going to need her, as soon they will be leaving the cave. Meera looks at her, and turns to gaze at a beautiful sunset over the never-ending land of winter.

The Wall

Team Jon

We return to the Wall, where we see many brothers holding crossbows aimed towards the door. 
Allser, Olly and a few other brothers have made good on their promise, and have arrived at their door. 
Davos says the line from the trailer regarding his fighting abilities, grabs Longclaw, and Team Jon and Ghost, wait for them to break through the door.  

Ghost could take out all of those men on his own, and he would, because he is protecting Jon. They are trying to break down the door, Ghost is ready, and as we see a the hole getting larger...and we hear Wun Wun!! Edd has found the wildlings and brought them, with Tormund leading the way, through the Wall. 

Alliser, Olly and two characters from the book who had no roles on the show, are fighting. The men of the NW are holding crossbows, and only one shoots Wun Wun, who in turn grabs him, and smashes him against a wall. Tormund races in and kills a brother or two, until they all surrender, as Ser Alliser calls they all cowards. Dolourus Edd, our hero walks up to Ser Alliser, who accuses him of being a traitor, and that for 1,000 years the Wall had never fallen, and Tormund adds "until now."
I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner, because they have killed two Lord Commanders, in what I'm guessing, in at least two years? 

"The only traitors here are the ones
who shoved their knives into their
Lord Commander's heart."

Alliser and a very angry Olly are dragged away with a few others to the ice cells.

Winterfell

The Boltons, are having a conversation about Sansa, and the strategy about how to maintain their position in the North. A Karstark, whose name I can't remember, is also there for this announcement. I am not sure which one he is, but they did turn from Stannis to the Boltons in the book, because Book Jon sends Stannis a letter warning him of their treachery.

Roose: You still do not have Sansa, which remains a problem because we will never be able to fight the Lannisters. What happened to your best men finding Sansa?  (which is still confusing because the only reason Roose would want to fight the Lannisters, is to become King of the North, unless I am missing something) Where is she?

Ramsay: She will be going to the Wall, and protected by her brother, Lord Commander Jon Snow. Everyone knows they have barely any men, and I can easily take them from the south, and kill Jon Snow.

Roose: Have you lost your mind? The North will never rally to our side, if we attack them, let alone kill Ned Starks bastard son. The Wall remains one of their oldest traditions, you fool.

Ramsay: Who cares? The Umbers, Karstarks, the Manderlys (I hope and pray, that they ,and the Umbers are playing him) want new blood in the North.

Roose: The Starks ARE the North, and to remain the Warden of the North, we can't kill the Lord Commander. "If you have a reputation as a mad dog, you will be treated as a mad dog. Taken out back and slaughtered for pigs feed."

The Maester shows up and announces that Roose has a son, and adds in "rosy cheeked", just so we all know that that the child is healthy, and Ramsay will kill that baby. You can see Ramsay's eyes are bulging, which means the sadistic monster is about to do just that, except as Roose says "that he will always he his first born", Ramsay hugs him and stabs him to death. It is poetic justice for he is the one who ran the sword through Robb and killed him.

The Maester looks terrified, and Ramsay tells him to send ravens announcing that their enemies have positioned his father. Karstark gives the Maester some attitude when he hesitates, and tells him to listen to his lord and follow orders.

I AM Lord Bolton

The final scene, which was not surprising, was  Ramsay luring Walda and the baby outside. He leads them to the kennel, where his dogs attack and kill them. Why she followed him, with his reputation? I will never know, but she never appeared to be the sharpest tool in the shed. Well, at least we were spared watching this horrifying event, because you never know with this show.


The Fugitives
Sansa and Brienne

Brienne and Sansa catching up

Sansa and Brienne are talking about Arya, and Brienne did not tell her that she was with the Hound. She did say that she looked good, but was not dressed like a lady. Sansa agrees, and when Brienne asks about Ramsay, Sansa's silence says it all. They decide that they will go to the Wall, and seek asylum with Jon. But has anyone actually made it there yet?

• Bran is past the Wall, but told Sam not to tell Jon. HBO Sam, unlike Book Sam,  told Jon when he returned from being with the Wildlings. 
• Arya will never go to the Wall.
• Will Sansa get there? It remains to be seen.

Sansa and Theon
Pod is trying to make a fire, as Theon watches fearfully, because he is afraid Ramsay's men will find them. Sansa has obviously forgiven Theon because he rescued and saved her life and I still find it difficult to believe her turnaround. If you recall, (as if we could forget), she was held captive, raped on a regular basis, and he betrayed her by telling Ramsay about the candle. It was an act, which as we know, cost that old servant woman to be whipped and skinned to death. However, we are off book and Jeyne Poole, the girl who was playing a fake Arya, and whom HBO Sansa has replaced, was sent to Jon, in the blizzard,  because he was looking for her. 

HBO Sansa tells him that he must come to the Wall, but Theon knows that Jon will kill him, for his betrayal of their family. I know that he would do that, even before he was murdered by his men. Sansa says that she will tell him about Bran and Rickon, and Theon wants no forgiveness for his sins. Sansa hugs him good-bye, and Theon is on his way home, Pike, not Winterfell, people. 

Kings Landing

Jaime
Jaime and Tommen

A lovely conversation between Uncle Jaime, and his nephew/son Tommen, take place over his sister's dead body. I sincerely hope we do not have to hear some unbelievable confession, ala Myrcella, from Tommen, EVER. Tommen is upset, and feels bad that he hasn't gone to see his mother since her walk of atonement. He tells Jamie that the High Sparrow would imprison her, if she entered the sept. Jaime tells him to go see his mother, and ask for her forgiveness, and all would be well. Tommen also assumes that Cersei killed Trystane and  Jaime says "She would never do such a thing!" I have no idea where they are going w/HBO Jaime, because Book Jaime is not this clueless about his darling sister.

Jaime vs. The High Sparrow
The High Sparrow shows up to give his sympathies to Jaime and Tommen. Uncle Jaime tells Tommen "go see your mother"; so much for being all grown up. 

Be a good boy Tommen,and go see your mother

Jaime confronts the High Sparrow about how he humiliated crazy Cersei, and we listen to the usual she had to repent for her sins speech. I swear this guy and his speeches about sin, is as bad as Dany as with repeating her titles as a show of power.

Jaime, who shows just a shade of Book Jaime says:

"What about my sins? I killed my own king and my own cousin..", as he grabs the hilt of his knife, not his sword, which we know he can't use very well. I assume Jaime has been practicing with Bronn, who seems to have disappeared, off camera?

The High Sparrow looks at the knife: "You would spill blood in this holy place? 
Jaime: "The gods won't mind, they've spilled more blood than the rest of us combined."

The Faith Militant shows up, out of the shadows with their clubs in their hands, and Jaime, looks a bit nervous. The High Sparrow, realizing that he has an audience, says that he knows Jaime would kill him, before this group of thugs could kill Jaime. He fears death, and yet he doesn't even flinch at the thought of dying right there, in the sept. He tells Jaime they have nothing, came from nothing, and "together they can overthrow an empire."  

Nothing like a religious zealot
seeking world domination

First, when did Westeros become an empire? It is not one, so this is one of those grand proclamations that sound great in the trailer, and make no sense whatsoever.  Dany, is an expert at these proclamations, as we know from her "break the wheel" speech in 5.08.  I, being a book reader, thought maybe he is referring to the Taragaryens? The Faith Militant, and other orders who were also religious fanatics, never stopped fighting, even as they were burned by dragons over and over again. I said this last season, but there's a reason why the Targaryens disbanded them.

Cersei
We briefly go to the streets of Kings Landing where we see an example of the power of Ser Robert Strong, as he crushes the skull of a common man insulting Cersei.

Cerse who is doing this strange thing of pulling threads from the sleeve of her gown, is ready to go to Myrcella's funeral. 

I felt sorry for her, which is something that I would never feel for Book Cersei, because the Lannister soldiers stop her, even with Ser Robert Strong, standing behind her. She asks to see Tommen, and they say that he has already left for the sept. All I could think was go Tommen! He was finally standing up to mommy, and realizing that she is the reason that  his beloved Margaery was in jail. 

Then Lannister soldiers 

Cersei was shocked! She could not believe that her baby boy would prevent her from seeing Myrcella. Surprisingly she doesn't fight them, and returns inside to stare out at her magnificent view, and most likely a drink a few goblets of wine.  

Cersei and Tommen

Tommen arrives at the Red Keep to see Cersei, and she is making it clear that she is unhappy with her darling teenager for keeping away from Myrcella's funeral. It looked more like a viewing for the family, because there was no one else there but Jaime and Tommen. She asks what color Myrcella's dress was, and alas, it was gold, thus playing into her belief that the prophecy is coming true. 

Unfortunately, Tommen is a grave disappointment because he apologizes to his mother, and asks that she help him become strong. Crazy Cersei, who set loose the religious fanatics in the city, is the perfect person to teach a king to become powerful. My advice would be to find Uncle Kevan, sit on the council, and ask Uncle Jaime to teach you how to use a sword, lance, and actually learn to become a soldier. But Cersei is happy, and as her eyes well up, she hugs Tommen. 

Meereen

Tyrion and Varys

Team Dany discussing how to fix Dany's mess

Tyrion, Varys, and the boring Missandei and Grey Worm, are discussing strategy and the dragons. Varys gives an update on what is happening in Astapor, Quarth, Yunkai and even Volantis! I had no idea that Volantis had overturned slavery, as it was alive and kicking when when Tyrion and Varys walked on the bridge into the city. We also had that stare by a random red priestess at Tyrion, which was supposed to mean something, but meant nothing.

The "let's free the slaves and start civil wars tour" is continuing, as slavery has returned to the aforementioned cities, and Tyrion asks about the status of the dragons. Missandei says that they are no longer eating, to which I ask, who was feeding them before? Dany wasn't because they were less than thrilled when she showed up in 5.01. Book Dany was having them fed a wide variety of healthy livestock, and since they were feral, she had to leave them chained up because she had no idea who or  what they were going to eat. Tyrion points out, what we book readers already knew, that dragons do not do well chained up, and it stunts their growth. However, Rhaegal and Viserys have had a very large home, and grown to be quite large, but not as large as big brother Drogon. He asks Missandei if the dragons have ever tried to hurt her, she says no. Has anyone seen her entering the tombs? Is she the mysterious person who feeds the dragons, when Dany doesn't give them a Master to eat?

Tyrion decides that they won't hurt Dany's friends, and that he, as their friend, is going to unchain them. Varys, asks "do they know that?"

Tyrion, Rhaegal, and Viserion

WOW, what a great scene, as Peter Dinklage was at his finest as he spoke to the dragons, and released their chains.  These dragons are truly gorgeous, and it was brilliant to see the light in one of their throats. We, book readers start thinking about Quentyn, but know that Tyrion is not going to die. 

Tyrion and Varys arrive at the tombs, and Varys waits at the opening, and watches Tyrion go and try no to be burnt. He tells a story, straight from the books about a time when he begged his uncle for a dragon, that would be "..little, like me", and how he cried when he discovered that they had been dead for over 100 years. However as he tells this story, he pulls the pin out of one of the dragon's collar, and the other, bends down and turns his neck, and Tyrion pulls the pin out of his collar. 

 They retreat back to their room. Tyrion races out and tells Varys that the next time he has such a bad idea, to punch him in the face. But they leave the door open! 

Could this be proof that Tyrion is also a Targaryen? I am not ready to buy into this theory, but I don't think that it has been alluded to on the show. We saw during the  The Dance of The Dragons, you do not have to be a Targaryen to ride one, and the bond between rider and dragon is still a mystery. 


Braavos

Arya

Our girl is still begging on the streets of Braavos, when the waif returns for another session of beating the crap out of her with a stick. The waif leaves and as Arya is screaming and swinging her stick around, Jaqen stops it. He asks her a few questions, that reminiscent from the book, when the kindly man tells Arya that she can leave at certain strategic moments in her training, and she always says NO.  

Jaqen says that she can return home, and have food, clean clothes and a place to sleep, which is a trick to see how she answers his tempting offers. She answers "a girl has no name", without skipping a beat. Jaqen is satisfied, and as Arya uses the stick to go down the steps and grabs her bowl, Jaqen says "the girl is a beggar no more". 


Pike

Asha 
Asha and Balon

"What is dead may never die'

Asha is discussing the state of their attempt to expand onto land. They have lost Deepwood Motte, and she wants to use their strength at sea, rather than on land. She uses the loss of her brothers to their rebellion eight years ago, as support for this move. Balon, who looks greasy and dirty, blames her for the loss, because she was trying to rescue his no good son, Theon. Asha's having none of it, and Balon says too bad, and if she doesn't want to follow orders, he will go find himself another heir, and leaves the room. 

The Murder of Balon Greyjoy
Book Balon, is supposedly pushed off the tenuous bridge between castles by his brother, Euron Greyjoy. The official story is that he had fallen off this bridge, but the rumor is that Euron a hired a Faceless Man to do the job.

HBO Balon is crossing the rope bridge in the pouring rain, and Euron, who is hidden in the darkness, and sadly does not seem to have an eye patch, reveals that he has come to take the throne. He calls himself a god, which tracks with his character in the books.

"I am the Drowned God"

We learn some background about Euron, which does reflect Book Euron, who cut out the tongues of his crew after he freaked out during a storm. It is why his ship is called the Silence in the books. He is known for his travels through the southern isles, and the Smoking Sea, into Valyria, and even Asshai. His travels give him a reputation for dabbling in all kinds of dark magic, and his lips are blue, as a result of drinking shade of the evening.  He has also acquired quite a large treasure chest of jewels and most exciting, a dragon horn.

Asha and Damphair

The next time we see Asha, she is part of the ritual of sending her father's body out to sea. She declares to her uncle, Damphair, that she will avenge her father and swears by the Salt Chair. Uncle Damphair, says not so fast, you have no right to swear by any chair, and she cannot claim the throne for herself. Asha informs him that her father wanted her as his heir, and her uncle says too bad, and  we are finally getting the Kingsmoot.

and back to the Wall....

Davos and Melisandre

Mel is looking into the fire and apparently not seeing any new visions. Mel, is back to her beautiful self, and Davos arrives to request that she resurrect Jon. This was a decision that is never made clear, as Jon and Davos only had one serious interaction, and they did not have a relationship.  The writers could have added one line, about the reason being that the dead were coming, and Jon would be able to lead an alliance of wildlings and the NW.

Mel says that R'hllor has forsaken her, and I still don't feel sorry for her. She made all of those sacrifices, which if you recall, also created a huge problem, as it shrank Stannis' army. Is it any wonder the man had to buy sellswords? Davos reminds her that he has seen her do the impossible, i.e. the shadow baby and drink poison. She recalls that a priest, (Thoros of Myr) had done it, but he was not a diehard follower of the Red God, and she had no idea how he did it. I remember this meeting, because Thoros said that he only knew that he just wanted his friend back. It is also when Arya adds Mel's to her name to the kill list, from which her name has mysteriously disappeared.

Davos says screw the gods, and she needs to suck it up and do it. Mel agrees and the next time we see her is in the room with Team Jon.

Team Jon and Melisandre
Team Jon, which now includes Tormund, and a sleeping Ghost, who looks almost dead. Melisandre washes Jon, who as Tormund had noticed earlier, was stabbed by a lot of knives, so there is a lot of blood.  It takes a while for her to wipe him clean and we see the killing blow, next to his heart, courtesy of Olly. 

She starts chanting in what I believe is High Valyrian, and slowly washes Jon's hair, which I found to be oddly intimate. She cuts a few strands from his head, and his beard, and throws them into a fire. She puts her hands on his chest and chants some kind of spell a few times.  Jon remains dead, so she turns around and gives everyone a forlorn look. 

Tormund stomps out, followed by the rest of Team Jon, with Davos being the last one to leave the room. 

But I, knowing that Jon is not a warg, but he still has a connection with Ghost, knows that we need to watch Ghost because he will know.....

Ghost is fast asleep..

He lifts his head and.....

then Jon wakes up! And my boy is back,
but he looks TERRIFIED.

Number of Theories proven:
1) Melisandre is 400 years old
2) Book Mel will bring back Jon.
caveat: It has not been proven yet, but before he died, Book Jon had begun to feel almost one, with Ghost. The last word he whispers is "Ghost", so he will more than  likely warg into Ghost, before he returns to his body. 

That's it folks, see you for 6.03!


*All images and quotes are owned by HBO, "Game of Thrones" 6.02