Game of Thrones Season 6 Episode 9 Recap

Game of Thrones (2011-)
Season 6 (2016)

Created by: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
Starring: Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Aidan Gillan, Gwendoline Christie

Plot: 
HBO's fantasy drama series adapted from George R.R. Martin's book series A Song of Ice and Fire follows the civil war of kings and usurpers in Westeros who wish to sit one the throne. The scale and scope of the story is staggering, fully realized with a large ensemble cast.

Previously

Arya is headed to Westeros. Gregor Clegane, the Hound, may end up joining the Brotherhood without Banners, and Daenerys is back in Meereen just as the slavers with a fleet of ships had returned to attack. Daenerys return is a little too timely, but we knew something would prevent her immediate return to Westeros. I doubt her Dothraki army has covered as much ground as she did with her dragon.

What adventures will befall Arya now? She still has to make it out of Braavos. Will the same ship can captain still be available? Technically he shouldn't, but GOT could pull a fast one.

King Tommen outlawed trial by combat which puts Cersei in a predicament. What will zombie Mountain do now? There is going to be a twist here, I just don't know what yet.

Jamie takes back Riverrun for the Lannisters, helped by Edmure Tully's betrayal, but Jamie also let Brienne escape. Jamie wants to get back to Cersei, but Tommen wants Jamie out of King's Landing. I surmise Jamie may get a new mission that puts him back on the battle field.

This is bound to be the episode where the armies of Jon Snow meet the armies of Ramsay Bolton. Game of Thrones has consistently made episode nine the payoff episode. I expect no different here.

Check out my Game of Thrones season 6 recaps. 

Review: Episode 9 - Battle of the Bastards
This is the most intense episode I've seen period. This is a stand out, and the directing is stunning.

The attack on Meereen by the slavers opens the episode. Tyrion has been such a smart strategist, and I don't like the show making him look inept. It's done only to make Daenerys look even more ruthless with her brusque, "Shall we begin?" response to Tyrion's concerns. Her dragons are huge, and that's not a euphemism. Every time we or the characters see one, it's bigger and with three flying free, the slavers stand no chance. That and the Dothraki have arrived. It's Daenerys's first legitimate battle and she crushes her opponents. It's a great episode opener.

The next scene is the armies of Snow and Bolton. Sansa, Jon, and Ramsay meet. Ramsay demands Sansa back and for Jon to kneel before him. Jon responds that he and Ramsay fight one on one. Ramsay refuses of course.

This episode is the culmination of everything this season has been putting in place. Two scenes in and it's been immensely satisfying. This is what we've wanted the entire season.

Davos, Tormund, Sansa, and Jon plan for battle against a larger army. Sansa chides Jon for not asking her insight. She knows Ramsay, she's lived with him. As Sansa says, Jon doesn't know him. They will never get Rickon back. Sansa acknowledges she's never planned for a battle, but she knows Jon can't count on Ramsay falling into his trap.
Are the armies of the Vale going to swoop in and save them at the last minute? Sansa still hasn't revealed her secret. This show sure likes it's deus ex machina tropes.

Tormund and Davos discuss the upcoming battle. Davos surmises that their downfall might have been following kings. Jon isn't a king, and that might be there advantage.
Jon orders Melisandre to not bring him back if he dies again. Melisandre replies that she has no power, she only fulfills the desires of the red lord. If Jon wasn't to be resurrected, it wouldn't have worked.

Theon and Yara have reached Tyrion. Yara uses her similarities to endear herself to Daenerys. They share a few glances and winks. Daenerys agrees to put Yara as ruler of the Iron Islands provided the Iron Islands respect the seven kingdoms and stop raiding. Yara agrees of course.

Ramsay leads Rickon onto the field by a rope. He cuts Rickon free and tells him to run across the field to Jon Snow. Jon takes the bait and races out to Rickon as Ramsay notches one arrow after another. It is a perfectly executed sequence.

Jon takes the bait and only watches Rickon fall. Instead of luring Ramsay's armies to charge, Jon charges. So much for planning.

Could this be the end of Jon Snow? This episode is intense. With Jon standing alone, the Flayed Men cavalry charges. Just as Jon is close to being mowed down, his armies charge and save him.
The battle is ruthless and you can almost feel bones crushing. Jon Snow is unstoppable, mowing down enemies with brutal efficiency. He's in the thick of battle as Ramsay sits at the sidelines.

Why doesn't the giant have a hockey stick to sweep enemies out of the way? Give that guy a club and he could really wreak havoc.
The Flayed Men encircle what's left of Jon and his men. Hidden behind shields, they thrust spears into the remaining army, the shields closing in tighter and tighter. I can predict right now that the Vale army will appear right before a main character is about to die.

Jon nearly gets trampled and the giant is almost dead. Tormund is on the edge of defeat, but then the horn from the armies of the Vale sounds. Tormund turns his fight around and with that, so the battle changes. Sansa may have helped win the battle for Winterfell, but at what cost?  Baelish doesn't provide his services free of charge.

Ramsay retreats to Winterfell, but Jon, Tormund, and the giant proceed on foot. The giant smashes open the gate, sacrificing his life. Ramsay takes Jon up on single combat. Ramsay with a bow, and Jon a shield. Jon stops the arrows and attacks Ramsay, pummeling him nearly to death. Ramsay deserves to die, but Jon relents after glancing at Sansa. A pummeling is much too kind.

Winterfell now flies the Stark banner, but Baelish is bound to want something. Jon has Winterfell, but he no longer has an army. What does he does he do next?

Sansa demands to see Ramsay. It's fitting that she gets to finish him. She feeds him to his own hounds. Sansa can be cruel, though I don't blame her. Ramsay claims his hounds are loyal, but I don't think anyone believes that. Ramsay Bolton is gone.