Game of Thrones Recap: Dream Team Assembles, and Sam Needs to Work on His Listening

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Last night’s episode of Game of Thrones was like a soap opera loaded with reveal after reveal. It was an emotional rollercoaster and we have a lot to get to this morning, so let’s dive right in.

SHUT UP, SAM!

In undoubtedly the biggest revelation on last night’s episode (and that’s saying something), Gilly just breezes over a little nugget about some dude named “Ragger,” an annulment, and a secret wedding. This, of course, is meant to imply that not only is Jon the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, but that he is the legitimate heir to the Iron Throne.

Thankfully, it appears that book is going with Sam to, well, wherever he’s going. So, it’s likely going to come out sooner rather than later. Obviously tired of sitting on the sidelines, it’s unclear where he’s going, but he’s ready to enter the fray. The maesters haven’t seen what Sam has seen.

I know we weren’t the only ones screaming, “SHUT UP, SAM” at the television last night…

Dragonstone

Things are much calmer in Dragonstone, after Dany’s Dothroki horde and Drogon made short work of the Lannister men. It seems like all parties involved are finally realizing, “oh…yeah…we have these dragons…we really can just end this conflict at any time!” But, Tyrion is obviously uncomfortable with Dany setting the Tarlys ablaze, and still seems heavily affected by seeing the remains of his family’s banner men. He had hoped this would go more peacefully, but NOPE!

The concern is that should Dany ever start showing semblance of her father’s descent into madness, she would have the power of her dragons to act out her madness. Varys tells Tyrion he has to find a way to make her listen.

If you’re keeping count, Jon is just the third person in the show to touch a dragon (Dany, obviously, and Tyrion). The way Dany looks at Jon throughout this episode makes me think she’s either falling madly in love with him, or she’s starting to realize that there’s something unusually great about Jon. She brings up Jon taking a knife and living again, but Jon continues to shrug it off as Davos getting carried away. Regardless, she’s impressed with Jon.

King’s Landing

Bronn sets up a secret meeting between Jaime and Tyrion, disguised as a training session so Jaime would be unarmed. At this point, Jaime realizes that they aren’t going to defeat Dany’s army. The situation must be dire for Tyrion to show his face in King’s Landing again, and Jaime soon learns the true nature of their meeting. They all need to ban together to defeat the White Walkers.

Surprisingly, Cersei entertains the idea of an armistice. She, too, realizes that they aren’t going to defeat Dany’s army. “Fight or die, submit or die,” she says – obviously realizing that there ain’t a pretty ending for the Lannisters regardless.

But, she drops a hell of a bomb on Jaime. She’s pregnant – and even better, she’s going to announce to the Seven Kingdoms that Jaime is the father. Whoa.

But, don’t buy it. The odds of this child actually being born are astronomical. For one, it’s entirely possible that Cersei is lying to Jaime. Perhaps she senses that she’s starting to lose him. I mean, he is looking at her like she’s insane after all. Hell, after last night’s episode, those looks more resembled feelings of, “who the hell are you, Cersei?” Even by her standards, she’s starting to become a little more ruthless.

Second, the prophecy that the witch in the woods told her stated that she would have three children that would die. That prophecy has remained true so far, so I don’t think they’ll diverge from it now. It’s a doozy, so I won’t rehash it much more here, but if you need a more in-depth refresher, Vox wrote a nice piece about it. Check it out here.

Finally, Cersei tells Jaime to never betray her again (even though he came to her and told her of the meeting, so did he really betray her?). Bronn, on the other hand, doesn’t get a hug. In fact, Cersei instructs Jaime to punish Bronn, something Jaime doesn’t look entirely comfortable with. I hope this doesn’t spell the end for one of my favorite characters.

Littlefinger

The safest bet on what Littlefinger is trying to accomplish in Winterfell, in my opinion, is that he’s trying to regain influence over Sansa because he loves her, and wants to become King by her side. Well, these pesky Stark kids keep messing with his plan. First, I don’t think he counted on the unwavering support the North shows for Jon. Now, Arya is back in Winterfell and meddling in his affairs.

So, what does a man of Littlefinger’s skill set do to take back control of a situation? Well, he’s aiming to divide and conquer. Did you catch the letter that Arya found in Littlefinger’s quarters last night?

Robb, I write to you with a heavy heart. Our good king Robert is dead, killed from wounds he took in a boar hunt. Father has been charged with treason. He conspired with Robert’s brothers against my beloved Joffrey and tried to steal his throne. The Lannisters are treating me very well and provide me with every comfort. I beg you: come to King’s Landing, swear fealty to King Joffrey and prevent any strife between the great houses of Lannister and Stark.

This is the letter that Cersei forced Sansa to write to Robb waayyyy back in season…two? One or two, but a long, long time ago.

Ouch. So, Littlefinger is on to Arya, and now he’s outright playing her. He knew she was watching him, and loudly proclaimed “Lady Stark thanks you…” to make it sound like Sansa wanted the note protected.

His goal is to build up distrust between the Stark women. Hopefully it will lead to Arya’s departure – either she’ll grow frustrated and leave, or she’ll be forced out by Sansa. Still, no one in Winterfell understands what Arya is capable of. Plus, Littlefinger isn’t immune to Bran’s skills, either. So, I still don’t think this ends well for Littlefinger – what’s the saying? “The lone wolf dies, while the pack survives.” The Starks will band together to weed him out.

There’s a fun theory out there that he is actually one of the Faceless Men, but don’t get your tinfoil hat ready quite yet. It doesn’t really make sense to me – if he was No One, why wouldn’t he use his powers before now?

Eastwatch

I just don’t know about this plan, guys. It seems a little lofty. You’re going to take a few good men North of The Wall, capture a wight, and bring it to King’s Landing to convince Cersei Lannister of the threat to the North. Really, it makes sense for Dany – she now realizes that she could crush the Lannisters if push came to shove, and if Jon is right, there’s a much more dangerous foe currently en route.

But, getting all of these volatile personalities in a room seems hazardous. Not to mention the fact that the mission seems nearly impossible. I mean, my goodness, did you see the army of the dead? This is no small task and the odds of our heroes making it out fully intact are slim. Still, this is a veritable dream team of characters – Jon Snow, Gendry Baratheon, Jorah Mormont, Tormund Giantsbane, The Hound, Beric Dondarrion, and Thoros of Myr.

I think it’s entirely possible that the wight that makes it back to King’s Landing is one of these men, and that makes me sad.

Notes

*Shout out to Sam, who unknowingly became the head of House Tarly in last night’s episode.

*Don’t just gloss over the awkward Qyburn scenes this week. That sonofabitch is up to something, and whatever it is, he and Cersei are keeping it from Jaime.

*All that rowing made Gendry a badass! How about that damn warhammer?

*Tormund is sad that “the big woman” isn’t coming with them, and I can’t really blame him. Also, he undoubtedly had the best zingers of the episode.

Wow – what an episode. Don’t be surprised if next week’s show is solely up North. I just hope Ghost shows up to help our super-group!

Check out last week’s recap here.

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. A strong advocate of GSD (get shit done) and #BeBetter, he’s down to talk Tennessee Titans and Alabama Crimson Tide football over a beer any day. Check him out covering the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley@WrestlingNewsCo

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