Game Of Thrones Season 5 Episode 4 Recap

[dlevere]

By Erin Whitney



Is it just us, or is "Game of Thrones" getting better each week this season? The Season 5 premiere started off slow, but the pieces are finally culminating into some of the most exhilarating and shocking twists and turns yet.

This week's episode had a seduction scene, introduced us to the Sand Snakes and, wait, did two characters just get killed off?! George R.R. Martin warned fans that characters who are still alive in the books would die this season on the show, and it looks like those deaths are about to bring the shock-factor. Here's what went down, and excuse us for jumping to the end of the episode first, but we just can't wait!

Spoiler Alert! Click to view...

Are Ser Barristan and Grey Worm dead?

Barristan Selmy and Grey Worm spent the final minutes of the episode clashing swords with the masked Sons of the Harpy. But did the show just kill off these two characters who are still alive in George R.R. Martin's books? Selmy falls to the ground severely wounded after he's saved by a less-wounded Grey Worm. If both of them are gone for good, that would leave Daenerys with a major loss in terms of protection and counsel. It was also surprising to see the rebels defeat Ser Barristan, who is known as one of the best sword fighters in the Seven Kingdoms. Let's pray to the old gods and the new that both men show up again next week.



Melisandre hits on Jon Snow

Kit Harington hinted at a Melisandre romance and now we know what he was talking about. The Red Woman comes on to Jon Snow, straddling him and unbuttoning her dress - she certainly has a thing for bastard boys, remember Gendry? But Jon refuses her. Why? Because he's a big emotional puppy who misses his dead girlfriend. Oh, and because he knows nada. (But still, it's a smart choice.)



Cersei gets Loras locked up

After Cersei gives the Faith of the Seven an army and makes the High Sparrow the chosen representative of the Seven, all hell (no religious puns intended) breaks loose in King's Landing. Cersei has Loras Tyrell locked up for sleeping with men while Olyvar, who is Loras' and previously Oberyn's lover, flees the brothel after the religious fanatics capture another gay man.

Tommen proves he is nothing but a boy

He may be the Protector of the Realm, but Tommen can't get anyone to listen to him. The king fails to even get close to the High Sparrow to request Loras' release. Margaery is not pleased.

Jaime kicks Dornish butt with one hand

Jaime and Bronn finally arrive in Dorne, but are met by a group of Dornishmen on horses. Yet the one-handed Kingslayer continues to slay. Also, barbecued snake on a stick doesn't look half bad.



Meet the Sand Snakes!
Finally, after months of hype around these new characters, we got to meet the Sand Snakes. There's Obara, Nym and Tyene, or three of the most bad ass girls in the Seven Kingdoms. They're ready to side with Ellaria to get revenge after their father Oberyn's death, which definitely means danger once they run into Jaime.



Littlefinger reveals his plan

Marrying Sansa off to Ramsay Bolton wasn't just so she could "avenge" her murdered family. The sneaky Petyr Baelish finally revealed that it's all a part of a plan for Sansa to become Wardeness of the North once Stannis defeats the Boltons and takes the Iron Throne. But in the meantime, Littlefinger is leaving poor Sansa all alone with the psycho Bolton boy.

Even Tyrion knows Jorah is desperate

Leave it to Tyrion Lannister to be the prisoner who figures out his captor's plan while being tied up on a boat. Tyrion reads the poor unfortunate Jorah Mormont down to his core and figures out that he's only kidnapped him as a way to get back in Daenerys' good graces. But will it work? I have a feeling these two outcasts are going to become buddies.

"Game of Thrones" airs on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO.

[dlevere]

Game Of Thrones Season 5 Episode 5 Recap

Game Of Thrones Season 5 Episode 5 Recap

By David Malitz


Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) is off to round up some Wildling allies. (Courtesy HBO)

A new location, a new kind-of-undead menace, a rare Drogon sighting, a coming battle for Winterfell and a romance angle that feels completely tacked on. We’re now officially at the halfway point of the season. Here are the five biggest takeaways from Sunday’s episode.
Spoiler Alert! Click to view...

1. Is Khaleesi back?

It seems like it’s been ages since Daenerys has been a strong and decisive leader, let alone the badass who dominated previous seasons. But ordering her dragons to burn someone to death on command is a good way to get some of her swagger back. This flammable moment comes about because Daenerys has got to do something to deal with the latest Sons of the Harpy attack that left Ser Barristan Selmy (along with many Unsullied) dead and Grey Worm wounded.

She rounds up the leaders of the wealthy Meereenese families — which includes the ever-shifty Hizdahr zo Loraq — and marches them down to where Rhaegal and Viserion are still in chains. But Daenerys has not given up on them. “A good mother never gives up on her children. She disciplines them if she must. But she does not give up on them.” And with that, it’s incinerating time. Hizdahr and the rest that were led into the dungeon are spared — a dragon can only eat so much in one night, or something — but Khaleesi’s point has been made. And doesn’t she just seem so much more powerful and in control when speaking Valyrian?

Things are looking bleak for Hizdahr, who escaped death by crisping but is still being imprisoned. When Daenerys goes to visit him in his cell, he immediately gets on his knees to beg for his life. But Daenerys isn’t there for vengeance, she’s there to apologize. He was right about tradition and right about the fighting pits. So those will be reopening soon, for everyone’s officially-sanctioned bloodlust pleasure. But that’s not her only order of business with Hizdahr. Daenerys feels like she must forge a lasting bond with the land she rules and the best way to do that is to marry the leader of an ancient family. And there happens to be one on his knees already.

With word spreading around the Seven Kingdoms that she’s losing control of her stronghold (thanks to a little Samwell/Aemon exposition for this bit of info) it makes sense that Daenerys would look to consolidate her power where she is currently ruling before taking on the greater Seven Kingdoms.


Tyrion somehow escaped greyscale infection. (Courtesy HBO)

2. Don’t take shortcut advice from Jorah Mormont

Jorah Mormont continues on his journey to Meereen with his captive/offering to Daenerys — Tyrion Lannister. It’s not the most interesting boat trip: Long Sullen Silences and An Occasional Punch in the Face is how Tyrion accurately describes their journey. (I believe that was also the name of an early Modest Mouse album if I’m not mistaken.) And worse yet, there’s no wine.

One way to add some action is to take the sea less traveled and sail through old Valyria. Pirates that may be lurking elsewhere won’t find them there, but there’s still the matter of The Doom, a sort of local extinction event that wrecked the ancient city and everyone and everything within it (including all the dragons). Tyrion and Jorah talk to each other/inform the viewers of the mighty history of Valyria (“For thousands of years the Valyrians were the best in the world at almost everything and then...” “And then they weren’t.”) As they row into the ruins, they are greeted with an incredible sight — Drogon, soaring above his ancestral home.

The awe is short-lived, though, because a few moments later it’s like somebody changed the channel to “The Walking Dead.” Last week, when Stannis told Shireen about how she overcame her greyscale, he noted that many told him he should send her off to Valyria to live out her days there with others who were afflicted with the disease that caused skin disorders and rabid, animalistic behavior. So we know it’s functioning as basically a leper colony, but we didn’t know that these so-called Stone Men acted basically like zombies in their single-minded plan of attack. Jorah and Tyrion’s boat is attacked by a handful of these beasts, whose skin-to-skin touch can result in infection. Jorah fights a few off and Tyrion would love to defend himself but his hands are tied. Literally. In order to escape one, he throws himself overboard but then gets dragged into the deep...

Except he doesn’t. Tyrion wakes up on the shore, with savior Jorah kneeling over him. Tyrion says none of them touched him (although how could he really know what happened under the water?) and seems generally relieved to be alive. The two still have quite a journey ahead of them, and it might have to be on foot, but Jorah as bigger problems. He didn’t make it away from the Stone Men unharmed — there are signs of greyscale on his wrist. And he’s keeping it quiet for now.


Aemon Targaryen (Peter Vaughan) is the last of his name...or is he? With Samwell Tarly (John Bradley). (Courtesy HBO)

3. Stannis is marching on Winterfell

It’s crowded at The Wall, but things will soon thin out. You’ve got Stannis and his army; you’ve got the Wildlings being held captive; and you’ve got the Night’s Watch, the permanent residents. As Sam and Maester Aemon Targaryen read their mail and get caught up on Daenerys’s struggles half a world away, it leaves Aemon to lament that he’s “just a Targaryen alone in the world.” At that moment, in walks Jon Snow. If you’re one for reading into things, then have a ball with that one. Jon has come to Aemon for advice and Aemon’s advice is pretty simple. “Kill the boy.” For once in this heartless universe, that’s not a literal command but a metaphorical one. Jon Snow must become all man.

Jon’s next order of business is to check in with Tormund Giantsbane, the de factor leader of the Free Folk, post-Mance. He won’t claim to be their leader, especially as he stands there talking to Jon Snow while in chains. Jon wants to put the past behind them — all 8,000 years of bloody battles and oaths to kill each other — because that’s just what you have to do when faced with the prospect of being invaded by an army of the undead. It’s a pretty logical argument, give him that. “Make peace to save your people,” Jon pleads.

But it won’t just be that easy to convince Tormund to join forces. Tormund demands that Jon go with him on his mission to round up the Folks. This little adventure will take them to Hardhome, right on up by Storrold’s Point, because you didn’t have enough locations to keep track of already.

Jon’s decision is met with general disapproval by the rest of the Night’s Watch. Jon responds with the very reasonable, but remember that whole Army of the Devil thing. Somehow this doesn’t convince everyone. Poor little Olly thinks it’s a trick and that the real end-game is to slaughter the Free Folk like they slaughter Olly’s family. “I know this is hard for you, but winter is coming,” Jon tells Olly.

Stannis has been making the rounds this whole time, just observing. A good king observes. He makes his way to the library, where Sam is poring through the books trying to learn more about what can kill a White Walker. Stannis tells Sam a quick story about how Randall Tarly, Sam’s father, was the only person to ever beat Robert Baratheon in a battle. Stannis has heard about Sam’s feat of killing a Walker and wants to know just how it is that Dragonglass can prove fatal to the undead. Perhaps with some more time spent with the books, Sam will stumble upon the answer.

But for now, Stannis must take leave of The Wall. Davos is a bit puzzled by the decision, thinking it best for Jon Snow to return with the Wildling reinforcements. Stannis quickly waves off this advice; who knows if Jon is coming back and who knows when he’s coming back? They will march at sunrise, says Stannis. And his wife and daughter will be coming along for the ride, which somewhat concerns Davos, which somewhat concerns me. If anything happens to Shireen...Before riding off, Melisandre finds Jon and locks eyes with him one last time, giving him some of that “don’t you forget about me” look.


Shireen Baratheon will march with her father to Winterfell. (Courtesy HBO)

4. Ramsay Bolton: still quite deranged, thank you very much

Ramsay is almost too cartoonish to really hate. Somehow his brand of smiling sadism is kind of bringing some levity to this show. His knack for making every single scene he’s in uncomfortable to watch is almost starting to reach Michael Scott levels. (Theon is Toby in this comparison, obviously.) Really, Iwan Rheon is just doing a version of Alex from “A Clockwork Orange,” but I digress...

In the Bolton’s Winterfell, Ramsay’s favorite plaything, Myranda, is very naked, very angry and very jealous. She can’t stand that Ramsay is going to marry Sansa, but Ramsay attempts to console her with the fact that he’ll still have plenty of time for Myranda on his wedding night. That works out great for her — all of the crazy guy, none of the societal advancement. She threatens that maybe she’ll marry, too, tries to hit him and that makes him angry, which knowing this guy just turns him on. They kiss, she bites his lip, drawing blood and that’s what passes for romance between these two.

Cut to Sansa, who is literally just sitting in a room doing nothing. Her handmaiden walks in with a message, sent by Brienne, who’s staying with Podrick at the Best Western up the road. The handmaiden says that if Sansa is ever in trouble, just go light a candle in the highest window. Honestly, that doesn’t seem all that convenient, but you pay a certain price for secrecy. When Sansa goes to look at what we can presume to be the highest window in Winterfell, we immediately recognize it — that’s where Bran was pushed to his almost-death after capturing Jaime and Cersei in the middle of things.

As Sansa stands there, she’s greeted by Myranda, who plays nice, before she doesn’t. She introduces herself as the kennel master’s daughter, compliments her dress and then sends Sansa into the kennels for a surprise. For some reason, Sansa agrees to walk into the dark place that houses dozens of vicious barking dogs at the advice of this clearly-mental woman she just met. If Sansa is going to rule the North one day, she’s going to have to work on her decision making. There at the end of the kennel, curled up in a fetal position, is Theon. Sansa is disgusted at the sight, for many reasons and storms out.

“You smell particularly ripe this evening,” Ramsay later tells Theon/Reek, in what is probably the line of the night. It’s a precursor to finding out that Theon came into contact with Sansa, which is clearly against the rules. But instead of humiliation, Ramsay offers...forgiveness? At a later dinner, with Roose, his wife Walda, Sansa and Ramsay, humiliation is back on the menu. Theon is summoned and asks Sansa if he’s still angry for killing her brothers (which he didn’t, of course). Ramsay says that he punished him and that he’s not Theon Greyjoy anymore, he’s a new man — “a new person, anyway.”

“Why are you doing this?” Sansa asks, which is truly the perfect question to ask of anything pertaining to Ramsay. After forcing Reek to apologize to Sansa, Ramsay notes that with her entire family dead, Reek is actually the closest thing to living kin that Sansa has. He will be the one to give away the bride at their upcoming wedding. Ramsay’s perverted joy is quickly erased with some news from his father — Walda is pregnant and it looks like it will be a boy. For once, Ramsay’s demonic smile disappears as he knows his inheritance is now at risk.

“How can you tell she’s pregnant?” he later asks his father, referring to her already-considerable figure. (Doesn’t that seem like something Michael Scott would do?) Roose has no time for this silliness and tells Ramsay that he disgraced himself at dinner. This leads to a discussion about Ramsay’s mother, which is about as charming as expected given these two sickos. Ramsay was conceived as his father raped a woman under the hanging corpse of her husband, which honestly explains a lot. When she returned nine months later, Roose’s instinct was to have her whipped and have the child drowned, but Roose must have been won over by Ramsay’s psychotic newborn eyes. This story somehow serves as an effective pep talk; Roose says that Stannis has an army, is after the Iron Throne and that will take him through Winterfell. Ramsay commits to helping his father defeat Stannis.

5. Can anyone really be invested in a Missandei/Grey Worm love storyline?

What Nicholas Sparks movie were these two airdropped in from? “I was afraid not of death...I fear I never again see Missandei from the isle of Naath.” Oh, Grey Worm. Maybe those are the painkillers talking? They were able to get dude some painkillers, right? He got stabbed right in the chest.

Next week: A return to King’s Landing, our first season five glimpse of Olenna Tyrell and maybe something interesting will actually happen at the House of Black and White. (Not betting on it.)

[dlevere]

Game Of Thrones Just Had One Of Its Most Impressive Episodes

By Erin Whitney



A good "Game of Thrones" episode can be a lot of things. It can be one that triggers a powerful, emotional reaction for a beloved character, one that stuns its audience with a shocking death, or even an episode that spends the entire hour depicting an epic battle.

Spoiler alert for Season 5 Episode 7 "The Gift"


Image via HBO/HuffPost

Spoiler Alert! Click to view...

But Sunday night's "Game of Thrones" was one of the most well-written, well-sculpted episodes of the entire series. Episode 7 of Season 5, "The Gift," was fantastic for weaving together so many plots with various tones. The episode honored the passing of a cherished character (RIP Aemon Targaryen), showcased the courage of others, served up some of the best dialogue between rivals (all the awards for Olenna Tyrell), incited long-awaited romance, and best of all, served up delicious justice. That alone is a lot for merely half a season of "GoT," but "The Gift" managed to cohesively pack it all in with smooth directing and poignant writing that still didn't fall short on the nudity and violence. Here were the highlights:

Cersei got what was coming to her

Finally the queen of manipulating and backstabbing was served up a hot steaming plate of justice when the High Sparrow locked her up for her previous incestuous relations with Cousin Lancel. Watching the satisfied smirk slowly fade from her lips almost made her evil acts from the past five seasons worth it. Now we can expect that major Cersei scene to happen any week now.



Sansa stood up to Ramsay

After last week's highly controversial episode where Sansa is brutally raped by Ramsay, we saw the Stark girl weeping in bed covered in bruises. She told Theon that Ramsay has continued to assault her each night and that she's trying to escape Winterfell. Theon, aka Reek tattled on Sansa, but she held her own when she called her new husband a bastard to his face. She may be continually abused, but Sansa is still strong and fighting as best she can.

Tyrion and Daenerys finally meet!

Two of the (arguably) most significant characters in the series finally met when Jorah and the Lannister arrived to the fighting pits. The look on Dany's face when Tyrion announced himself (as "the gift") was something truly magnificent. Now go take over the world and make it a better place, guys.



Sam was the real hero

Samwell Tarley has proven his courage number times, first by killing a White Walker and then during the Battle of Castle Black. But in "The Gift" he fought two of his Night's Watch brothers to save Gilly from being raped. His reward? The two finally kissed and had sex! We shall dub them Gillwell. And Ghost the direwolf also made a heroic appearance, reminding us why the House Stark sigil is the baddest of them all.



Melisandre wants another sacrifice

The Red Woman's latest scheme to help Stannis achieve victory is one the Lord of Dragonstone isn't thrilled to hear. Melisandre wants to sacrifice his daughter Shireen in order to win Winterfell from the Boltons. He kicks her out of his tent for mentioning it, and after a recent episode where Stannis bonded with his daughter, it would be surprising for him to give in.

The Baratheon kids got really upset

Both Tommen and Myrcella Baratheon lashed out at their parents on Sunday, (except the latter doesn't know Jaime is her father). Tommen yelled at Cersei and cried over Margaery's imprisonment, while Myrcella refused to return to King's Landing since she's determined to marry Tyrstane Martell.



Bronn got seduced and saved

Last week, we predicted Bronn's possible death after he was cut by one of the Sand Snakes' spears, which was likely dipped in poison. As it turns out, the blade was deadly and began to slowly kill the fighter as he lay in his cell watching Tyene Sand seduce him with her bare chest. Tyene eventually gave Bronn the antidote for the poison - but only after he admitted she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

"Game of Thrones" airs on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO.

[dlevere]

And now his watch has ended...or has it?

By Bill Bradley



Spoiler Alert! Click to view...

The "Game of Thrones" Season 5 finale, "Mother's Mercy," proved all men must die with the shocking mutiny and possible death of Lord Commander Jon Snow.

Kit Harington says he's "not coming back next season," but the character's future is still ambiguous in the books and the show already skipped a season with Bran. Is Jon Snow really gone?

His co-star John Bradley, a.k.a. Sam Tarly, seems to think so.

"When I read that, it really was very shocking, and I really felt genuine grief about that," said Bradley in an interview with The Huffington Post.

"I think that when I read that scene I had a completely unique reaction from anybody else -- any viewer, anybody on the crew, anybody else in the cast," he continued. "I think I had a completely unique sense of distress because I wasn’t just saying goodbye to a character I love - and everybody loves - I also have this very unique and very precious relationship with a colleague who I’m not going to have that same interaction with ever again."

Bradley opened up about his friendship with Harington and his statements definitely cast doubt on the theories of Jon Snow's return.


Image: Tumblr

Did you talk with Kit about that final scene before it happened?

Yeah, we spoke about it. We kind of avoided talking about it because we didn’t want to make it feel too real.

I was at different levels of grief and different levels of departure you feel when something like that happens. I’d rather have the real Kit than have the Sam and Jon relationship, so the core of our friendship is still there, but ... I think we’re really going to miss it, and now that it’s finished we’ve realized just how lucky we were to get on so well, I think.

People have best friends and they have people they work with. It’s only under very rare and wonderful circumstances that those people are the same person.

What was your final scene with Kit like?

The scene where Jon is sending Sam away, and Sam leaves Castle Black ... When we were shooting that scene, there was a finality to it. This wasn’t just, "I hope you come back and see you soon." This was goodbye. This was two characters who’ve grown so close saying goodbye to each other and it felt like they were saying goodbye to each other for the last time. This time you sense that this is it. So this is their relationship, and it’s heartbreaking for us.

It must've been pretty emotional.

It really was. He’s one of my closest friends in the world, so I won’t see him again, and it really did feel like the end of a chapter of our relationship. To say goodbye to the Jon and Sam relationship in that way was really heartbreaking. It feels like the book's been closed on that, and it’s been beautiful.

Are you guys like Sam and Jon in real life?

Our relationship isn’t a million miles away from Jon and Sam’s relationship sometimes. Kit cares incredibly deeply about things ... I think he’s so passionate that [things he can't help] can really get to him. I think he needs me to remind him sometimes, you’re Kit Harington! A, look at you. B, look at what you can do. C, D and F and all the rest of the alphabet, look at the wonderful future that you’re gonna have. Not only the wonderful future, but the wonderful present that you’ve got. Maybe lighten up a little bit because compared to most people, mate, you are golden.

How do you think Sam's going to react when he finds out?

Sam’s such a masochist. I think he’s gonna feel an enormous sense of guilt that he left and he allowed it to happen. The odds were heavily stacked against him, but maybe he could’ve delivered a rousing speech. Maybe he could’ve persuaded them to not do that.

He’s going to feel an enormous sense of guilt about leaving Jon to suffer that when he was away to do what he wants to do, and it’s just typical of the way Sam’s life works.


Image: Tumblr

On a happier note, Sam is going to become a maester, which is about as close to a wizard as you can be. What do you think about Sam's story?

It’s a very exciting path. He’s wanted to be a maester, and he wanted this grand future, but he’s never had such a fine example of it in practice than he had with Maester Aemon. I think he felt inspired by him. Because he could see the effect of somebody with that wisdom and that worldly knowledge and that sense of tenderness, that sense of acceptance, that sense of tutorship. With Sam, I think he’s seen how that can have such a profound affect on people’s lives for the better. I think he wants someone to feel about him the way he felt about Aemon.

There are already casting rumors that Sam's dad, Randyll Tarly is in Season 6. What do you think about them meeting again?

I’d love that. I think that would be the peak of Sam’s dramatic narrative. This shadow of his father has been hanging over him all the time, and it’s such a destructive force in his early life and created the broken character you saw in the early in “Game of Thrones.” It’ll be interesting if they went nose-to-nose again to see how the changes in Sam will affect Randyll's perception of him. That’ll be Sam's psychological narrative coming full circle, I think.

What are you most excited about for Sam in Season 6?

How the events of Season 5 and that blossoming relationship with Gilly, what kind of platform is that gonna give him? What kind of springboard is that gonna give him going into Season 6? Because these characters are plotted so carefully. I think Sam is very hard to tell because he’s such an unknown quantity that he’s gonna keep surprising with what he can do. So I just can’t wait to find out what he gets up to next year.

What we do know is Season 6 is going to be big for Sam interacting with new characters. And who knows? Maybe he'll even meet some familiar faces too.


Image: Tumblr