Spoilers ahoy!
Well, I think that this weekâs episode has made up for the legitimate âShit Sand Snakes scrapâ complaint that spawned this thread. Iâve been away on business this week, so I havenât had my usual access to the show. Ended up watching the repeat at 11:05 tonight, and boy, am I glad I did.
Cersei
This really is quite close to the books. She got herself in exactly the same scrape there, and the trigger, an innate sense of unearned competence on Cerseiâs part, was ultimately the thing that landed her in the trouble sheâs in now. Sheâs a short-term thinker that doesnât consider the long-term outcomes. She enabled the very group that is prosecuting her now, and despite all the stuff she says about gender, some of it undoubtedly true in the male-dominated world of GoT, the reality is she doesnât realise how bright she isnât.
Arya
Again, not a huge departure from the books. Sheâs doing the work of the Many Faced God. She played that character in the books, and this was her first assignment. Given the 20 minute focus on one location, this was understandably a case of keeping the ball in the air.
Daenerys & Tyrion
Still hasnât happened in the books, but wouldnât consider this a huge departure other than the timing. Tyrion has been on his way to meet Daenerys for what seems like forever. At the end of the Dance of Dragons (the last book, and the title of next weekâs episode) he is still milling around outside Meereen and hasnât yet met the Dragon Queen. A big part of Daeneryâs story in the novels involved a suitor from Dorne. It didnât really go anywhere and didnât do too much except that explain that once again, short dudes get the worst breaks when it comes to women.
Focusing on the TV though, this shit was electric. Two of the most outspoken (and well-spoken) characters finally meet, verbally spar, and delight. Poor old Jorah Mormont thoâ.
Sansa
A brief visit to Winterfell reveals some interesting revelations, at least for Sansa. Her younger brothers are not dead. From a character perspective, this must be hugely ennobling for Sansa. The girl who had no family to live for suddenly determines that some of them are still out there.
Jon Snow / Hardhome
Saving the last, best scene, until the end. Itâs another GoT battle, but unlike those that have gone before, this one is both on-screen (many of the early battles in the War of the Five Kings were not) and most impressively, happening in broad daylight. The other two major battles, Stannisâ assault on Kings Landing and the assault on the Wall, both occurred at night, very forgiving on the budget.
Not a bit of it here. I am not going to pretend for a second that this was Helmâs Deep on scale, but it easily eclipses any other battle put to screen in GoT. The bit where the wildling chick gets whacked? Wow, that was difficult to deal with, and gives an indication of the desperate struggle that lies ahead.
In conclusion
As I said as the start of this post, it took me a little while to get around to watching this. Iâve heard a lot of hyperbole about how this is the best episode ever. After viewing, Iâm not that sure itâs hyperbole. Usually, the battle episodes are an entire episode, or the best part of it. This managed to advance several plot-lines, put on a tremendous show and, not coincidentally, produced the best âCome at me broâ moment of the entire series. Loved it.