Game of Thrones Season 6 Episode by Episode Review

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 During Season 5
The biggest question lingering from last season is the fate of Jon Snow. He's dead, that's undeniable, but in Westeros, dead isn't always permanent. He was betrayed by his brothers in the Night Watch, upset that he made alliances with Wildings. I expect him to come back. After all, he has Red priestess Melisandre with the power to make the dead alive. Melisandre's ploy to lead Stannis Baratheon to be king is over with Baratheon having fallen in battle to the Boltons after being deserted by most of his troops for following Melisandre's advice to sacrifice his only daughter.

Daenerys Targaryen struggled as ruler or Meereen before riding into the sunset on a dragon.
Sansa was married to the most twisted villain in Westeros, Ramsay Bolton, but she escaped with Reek, formerly Theon Greyjoy.
Cersei is imprisoned by the same militant group she resurrected to retain her power and imprison Margaery Tyrell, forced to walk the streets naked as punishment.

Arya Stark's path of becoming an assassin are derailed when she disobeys orders and kills a man against whom she has a personal vendetta.

Check out my Game of Thrones season 6 recaps.

Review: Episode 1 - The Red Woman
This episode covers a lot of ground, and it needs to in an effort to catch up and start a lot of story lines. While we don't see all the stories, this is a solid opener. Now that the show is ahead of the books, is the show going to spoil the books or just make things up? Martin has discussed with the creators how the story ends, but the show has taken plenty of liberties already.

Jon Snow lives! Actually no, he's dead.

The biggest question was Jon Snow, and the episode opens with Jon on the ground, discovered by Davos and the Night's Watch. Melisandre happens upon Davos and Jon, commenting that she saw him in the flames. Will she be his resurrection? We'll have to wait at least one more episode.
Alliser Thorne defends his decision and admits to the murder, claiming that Snow violated his oaths.
Thorne demands that Davos and the few brothers surrender before nightfall. Davos isn't about to surrender, He touts the powers of the Red woman, but the few brothers allied with him don't believe it.

Ramsay Bolton laments the death of Myranda at the hands of Reek during the escape and vows vengeance. Despite her death, he doesn't want to waste good meat and orders her body be fed to the hounds. If you don't know, Ramsay is a special kind of vile.

Reek and Sansa are on the run from Bolton's hounds. Freezing to death is better than being torn apart by the hounds. Reek plans to lure the hounds away to save Sansa, telling her to make it to Castle Black where Jon Snow can protect her. Little do they know...
Reeks plan doesn't work out. He makes it three steps before he's found, and one of Bolton's men taunts him stating, "I can't wait to see what part of you Ramsay cuts off this time."
Brienne of Tarth and Podrick ride in to save the day. Brienne pledges her services and Sansa readily accepts. Brienne is finally making good on her oath to Sansa's mother.

Her hair seems to grow rather quickly.

Cersei's hair has grown out quite nicely. She's excited at the arrival of a Dorne ship, expecting her daughter Myrcella. Instead she finds a forlorn looking Jamie Lannister.
Cersei shares the witch's prophecy with Jamie. He doesn't believe it, but Cersei does.

Margaery Tyrell is still imprisoned. She demands to see her brother Loras, but is rebuked and urged to confess.

You always hurt family the worst.

Doran Martell is killed by Ellaria, tired of a weak ruler and his failure to avenge his brother Oberyn's death. "Weak men will no longer rule Dorne." She claims. The Sand Snakes proceed to kill Trystane as well. I'm guessing both the weak and the men will be out of the picture.

Tyrion and Varys walk the streets of Meeren dressed as common merchants. The Sons of the Harpy are organized, and Tyrion wants Varys to find whatever information he can. Their walk concludes with the boats in the harbor on fire. Tyrion can make this city better. He's proven be a good ruler and planner when he desires.

Jorah Mormont and Daario Naharis track Daenerys, both stating their devotion to her. Jorah is afflicted with Greyscale, from a battle last season. They determine the Dothraki have her, and they are correct.

Her official title is too long to list here. She's a lover, a child, a mother, a sinner, a saint.

The Dothraki insult her, assuming her dumb. They get a surprise when she speaks Dothraki and rattles off her title which is so long I can't even remember it all. They laugh at her claims, mocking her as the millionth of her name. She's granted immunity when it's learned she is Khal Drogo's widow. It's a little known rule that you can't lie with a Khal's widow. It felt more than contrived when she goes from on the verge of torture to completely safe and all expenses paid.

Blind Kung Fu master in training.

Arya is still blind, begging for coin. I'm guessing she's eavesdropping, and she is though to what end? She's given a staff by the girl from the House of Black and White and beaten mercilessly. It's training. Only when you can fight blind can you fight with sight, I'm assuming.

Melisandre strips naked while looking at a mirror and reveals that she is actually an old woman. Her necklace may have some kind of illusion power. I'm guessing this is an allusion to her powers of transformation. I guess we have to wait at least one more episode before we learn the fate of Jon Snow's body.

Review: Episode 2 - Home
The episode opens with Bran and the Three Eyed Raven (Max Von Sydow), who looks like a man but lives entangled in tree roots, in a memory watching Ned and Benjen Stark as boys. He also sees Hodor, who's real name is Willis. Willis can talk. Will we find out what happened to Hodor or will it forever be a mystery?

He can walk!

Bran can walk again and he's back home, though only in his dreams.
Bran is excited to tell Meera what he saw, but she's not content to fight a war in the cave. An elf girl urges Meera to stay. I don't know why we need the elf girl. Does the show really need to voice every thought? Obviously Meera is loyal to Bran, she's traveled this far with him.

Back at Castle Black, Thorne demands Davos open the door. Thorne promises to let the rogue Night's Watch brothers rejoin and let the wolf free, but I'm not one to trust Thorne. Davos draws his sword and the rogue brothers do the same. The direwolf CGI looks pretty good.
Just as Thorne's man is about to break down the door, the Wildlings with a giant in tow led by Tormund Giantsbane and a man from the Night's Watch, break down the castle gates. The Night's Watch drop their weapons. Cowards the lot of them, I tell you. Thorne is imprisoned.

It's a zombie mountain.

Zombie The Mountain kills a man for telling a rowdy story about Cersei. We don't know how Qyburn resurrected him... yet. Zombie Mountain is Cersei's personal bodyguard. All we can see are dark lifeless eyes surrounded by gray flesh peeking out from a Kingsguard helmet.

Son, father, and uncle

Tommen and Jaime discuss why Tommen barred Cersei from Myrcella's funeral. Tommen is ashamed that he did nothing when Cersei and Margaery were arrested. He did nothing when Cersei was paraded down the street in punishment.
The High Sparrow shows up to the funeral, much to Jamie's disgust. The High Sparrow implies that together they could overthrow an empire.
Tommen confronts Cersei, apologizing that he imprisoned her for her safety. He beseeches Cersei to teach him strength as king. This seems exactly like what Cersei wants. She's always wanted to pull the power strings. She even got to for a while. Has she learned any lessons? Tommen will want to free his wife. Margaery and Cersei are enemies.

Tyrion dances with dragons.

Tyrion and Varys seek information in Meeren on who set fire to the ships in the bay. Tyrion proposes letting the two remaining dragons fly free. Dragons in captivity waste away he purports. He visits the dragons, and that CGI looks very good.

Arya gets more training, which means a good beating. Just as I wonder what she'll have to do to complete her penance, Jaqen H'ghar shows up for a verbal quiz. The questions are so easy that even I could pass the test. Arya is no longer a beggar, her eye sight now restored.

You can count on Ramsay to be unpredictable.

Ramsay and Roose Bolton discuss Sansa's escape. They know she's heading to Castle Black for Jon Snow. While Roose is hesitant to anger the Kings of the North, Ramsay retorts that they only need a couple of the families to squander any challengers to the Bolton throne.
When it's announced that Roose has a son with a Walder Frey woman, Ramsay is visibly upset. Ramsay is an illegitimate son, formerly Ramsay Snow. A legitimate child would be ahead of him in secession. Ramsay unexpectedly, though why is anything Ramsay does unexpected, kills his father and steals the throne. Ramsay orders the maester to report that their enemies poisoned his father. He orders for the Frey girl and the baby. We know this wont' end will, but just how terrible will it be? The Frey girl's pleading, the music... I had hoped whatever it may be would occur off screen. Thankfully it did, though my imagination was bad enough.

Brienne shares what she knows about Arya with Sansa. Sansa bemoans not following Brienne when she had the chance. Reek is unsettled about returning to Castle Black. He deserves punishment for his crimes, but he's not willing to seek said punishment. He would have delivered Sansa to Jon Snow, but with Brienne he doesn't need to. He plans to return home, but with a father that didn't like him before, I don't see him being accepted readily.

Balon Greyjoy's hold on the North is slipping. When his brother, the pirate Euron, returns, Euron kills Balon. The custom of the Iron Islands is for their leader to be chosen. Yara, Balon's daughter, wants the throne, but it won't be handed to her. We can assume that Euron will be vying for the same throne.

Melisandre has failed us.

Davos asks Melisandre to resurrect Jon Snow. Shes seems particularly disillusioned. She placed her bet on Stannis Baratheon and that didn't pan out. Melisandre has never resurrected anyone but Davos asks her to try her best. What could go wrong with that?
Melisandre cuts locks of Jon's hair and chants. If he comes back is he going to be a zombie or will he have his faculties? I assume he will be fully functioning. Melisandre saw the Red priest Thoros revive Beric Dondarrion. I assume that is what she references in this episode.

Just kidding, the magic take a while to kick in.

Despite Melisandre chanting, nothing seems to happen. I'm not buying it. They string it out. We watch one Tormund, Melisandre, and Davos leave. We see the unresponsive Jon, we see his wolf, we see Jon again, and then.... HE'S ALIVE! Roll credits.

Catching up on each story makes the episode pass quickly. Each episode is a collection of vignettes, vignettes that eventually will collide. With this episode Jon Snow is the reason to watch.

We're still on the set up side, but this episode brought Jon Snow back to life. We knew Snow was coming, and we also got to see Ramsay Bolton rise another rung up the ladder. Euron Greyjoy and Theon may have a conflict soon. So what happens next? We've got a lot of stories.

Review: Episode 3 - Oathbreaker
Jon Snow is back and this is the most intriguing story happening. We're left with yet another question concerning Jon Snow this episode.  Ned Stark makes a return, though probably not as you had hoped.

Jon Snow lives and breathes, but he doesn't bleed. Snow has always been fair and deliberate, but I wouldn't mind him  rampaging for revenge.

Lord Commander Jon Snow in the house.

Davos urges Snow to keep doing what's right. He may have failed, but Davos urges him to fail again. We don't know Jon's next move, but he's regarded as a wonder for now.

From an interesting story to the Samwell Tarly story. Tarly's on a boat headed for Oldtown where he'll become a maester. Will there be anything left of Castle Black upon his return? While it's unclear just how long it takes, it's a minimum of a few years if not more than that. We've never seen a young maester.

Ned Stark has returned.

Bran's seeing another memory, one of his father at a young age. Does he have the ability to access any memory or just of his own lineage? Young Ned is seeking his sister Lyanna. I have to imagine she is of some importance. The show won't let us forget about her or Rhaegar Targaryen.

Bran learns a hard lesson. You can't trust everything you've heard. His father didn't really beat Arthur Dayne as the stories say. Bran is left with the question of what was in the tower. With a female screaming, I'm guessing Ned's sister. The Three Eyed Raven warns Bran not to stay in the memory for too long. Bran prefers the memory to reality.

The people's queen.

The Dothraki are gathering for something and I don't think it's a dance party. Since Daenerys didn't return to the Dothraki home base, instead going out into the world, her safety is not guaranteed. I doubt they'll kill her. I expect we'll tread water while the show tries to make her fate look dire before letting her off the hook. That or Jorah and Daario will swoop in to save the day.

Varys is after answers in Meereen, talking sweet and sour to Valla. Valla conspired with the Sons of the Harpy to kill the Second Sons. Who is funding them? It turns out three cities are doing the funding.
Tyrion is waiting on the answer while trying to extract any form of conversation from Grey Worm and Missandei. He's having very little luck.

Zombie Clegane.

The little birds Varys left in King's Landing are still hard at work, this time reporting to Maester Qyburn, who confirms the zombie on the Kings Guard is in fact Gregor Clegane and Qyburn is the one who did the resurrecting, not that we needed confirmation.
Jamie wants Gregor to crush the High Sparrow, but Cersei will have Gregor enter trial by combat on her behalf. Cersei's out for revenge against... everyone.
Cersei, Jamie, and Gregor join the Small Council meeting. Cersei and Olenna Tyrell joust verbally. Olenna calling for Queen Magaery's release with Cersei asserting herself as the queen. Olenna quips that it can be confusing as to who is married to the king in the Lannister family.

Tommen demands the High Sparrow forgive his mother. He's the king in name only, wielding very little power. The High Sparrow claims he's only carrying out the will of the gods.

No one fighting no one.

Arya is back at the House of Black and White, still blind. She's quizzed on family history and beaten for training. The girl with no name recounts her time with the Hound and her list. In a montage of unspecified length, Arya learns to fight blind and gets her sight back.

Ramsay Bolton is holding court in Winterfell and Lord Umber is seeking an allegiance with the Flayed Men of House Bolton to help repel the Wildlings. Umber presents a gift of Osha, Rickon Stark, and the head of Rickon's direwolf as fealty. Bran had sent the two to House Umber, a supporter of the Starks three seasons ago. Nothing creates stranger bedfellows than war and desperation.

Jon Snow's final act before he relinquishes his position.

Jon Snow has his murderers ready for the hanging and carries out the order. He then turns the position of Lord Commander over to Eddison Tollett. The oath to the Night's Watch only ends upon death, and Snow fulfilled that. What's his next move? Melisandre mused he may be the king she seeks. His reasons for leaving to help his brother Robb no longer exist, so what will he do?
If he doesn't bleed will his wounds ever heal? Does he need to eat or sleep?

Review: Episode 4 - Book of the Stranger
This is a solid episode and one of the best this season. It's helped by focusing on fewer characters.

Jon Snow opens yet another episode. Ed petitions Jon to stay, reminding him of the white walkers. Jon responds that he gave his life to the watch. The Night's Watch murdered him.

Sansa shows up to Castle Black, reunited with her cousin Jon. They reminisce about old times and how they never should have left Winterfell. Sansa asks Jon's forgiveness. She treated him horrible when they were kids since he was illegitimate.
Sansa wants to take Winterfell back from the Boltons, urging Jon to unite the Wildings he saved. Jon doesn't want to fight. Is he going to be the reluctant leader?
Does Sansa know that Jon defeated death?
Melisandre pledges her allegiance to Jon Snow, though at this point Jon doesn't know that. Is Brienne going to stay with Sansa when they head South? Brienne and Melisandre do not get along.

Lord Baelish is visiting Robin Arryn at the Eyrie. Robin, and the actor, have grown up. He's taller than Peter now, but seemingly just as weak. Peter is running the Vale through Robin. He commands Lord Royce to form an army and join the fray. They're going to help Sansa.

Tyrion is entertaining the masters of Slavers Bay, attempting to broker peace. Tyrion is speaking on behalf of the queen and offers Slavers Bay seven years to eradicate slavery and halt their support of the Sons of the Harpy. Wheeling and dealing is Tyrion's forte. He uses Greyworm and Missandei to bolster support, though neither is happy about it.

Daario and Jorah are planning to sneak into Vaes Dothrak to rescue Daenerys. As they're hiding their weapons, Daario discovers Jorah has Greyscale. It's a fatal disease that hardens and cracks the flesh, making it look like stone.
They're discovered a few minutes into their rescue, but they manage to dispatch the two Dothraki that discover them.

Somehow the discover Daenerys quite easily. There infiltration contains no tension whatsoever though. Daenerys has a plan and faces the Khals who shall decide her fate.
She demeans the Khal and states that only she is worthy to lead the Dothraki. I had forgotten she's fireproof. She sets the hut on fire, killing all of the Dothraki khals. Why doesn't she use that power more often? When she emerges from the burning hut all of the Dothraki take the knee. She now has a massive army. Looks like Westeros is just a little bit closer now. It's about time something happened with her story as it had become stagnate. She did the same thing in season one with her khalasar. With a greater number, maybe she can capitalize on it this time.

Magaery is still locked up. The High Sparrow attempts to engage with Magaery. He tells her his story, and how he chose the path of righteousness. He then allows her to see Loras, her brother.
She urges Loras to stay strong, but he claims he isn't. He just wants his imprisonment to stop.

Maester Pycelle is counseling Tommen, but of course Cersei doesn't like that. Tommen shares with Cersei something the High Sparrow told him in confidence. I wouldn't be surprised if Cersei sold Tommen out.
Jaime and Cersei plan to bring the Tyrell army into the city to prevent Magaery's walk of shame. Tommen must have told Cersei about the walk of shame.

Theon Greyjoy is back at Pike. He no longer has to deal with a father that hates him, but he's no longer the same person. His sister is mad her men died trying to rescue Theon only to fail, but Theon wants Yara to rule the Iron Islands. This warms Yara's cold heart.

Ramsay kills Osha, because of course he would. The show is turning him in to a caricature. Ramsay sends a letter to Jon Snow demanding Sansa be returned, otherwise he will torture and kill.
It looks like this is where the reluctant ruler steps up to reunite the North. Sansa urges him to fight and he agrees. The armies of the North will follow him she states.

Review: Episode 5 - The Door
I wondered when white walkers would appear again, and this is it. I'm still trying to parse what happened in this episode. There are still surprises to be had, and reveals that were set up since episode one. This episode provides a Hodor bombshell! Episode four was great, and this might be even better.

The new king of the Iron Islands is installed, while Sansa Stark and company plan for their upcoming battle. All of this is secondary to the Bran Stark story.

Sansa is looking the part of the queen more and more.

Sansa receives a letter from Peter Baelish and visits him in Molestown with Brienne.
Sansa's less than pleased to see him after he sold her to Ramsay Bolton. She forces Peter to imagine the lurid details of her wedding night. He apologizes, but she threatens him. He pledges to do anything in his power for her, even if she asks him to die.

Game of Thrones provides its own parody.

Arya is still stick fighting. Is that other girl going to be somebody more important? Wouldn't this temple have multiple servants? Arya is tenacious and continues to fight, undeterred by defeat. She's clearly outmatched. Jaqen provides a history lesson on the faceless men, before giving her another assignment, a second chance for redemption by killing a stage actress. Either no name completes the assignment or she's the one who dies. Arya, the girl without a name, gets to watch a stage play parodying Robert Baratheon's death. She laughs until the play denounces her father and sister too. It's a bit of history she didn't know.
Arya questions Jaqen on the deed, wondering if the younger actress wants her time in the spotlight. Of course Jaqen tells her to stop asking questions.

Euron Greyjoy- The new Iron Island king.

It's finally time for Kingsmoot at the Iron Islands. Yara Greyjoy makes a claim, but the dissenters want Theon. Yara worries for a moment when Theon begins to speak, suspecting he may claim the throne, but he upholds his promise and supports his sister. It's then that Euron Greyjoy claims the salt throne.
Euron admits to killing Balon, insults Theon to applause, asserts he'll build the largest fleet, and claims Daenerys as his future wife. The crowd quickly rallies behind Euron and his boasts.

While Yara and Theon take the fleet, Euron is drowned per custom, but then coughs up the water. "What is dead, may never die." His first act as king is to murder his niece and nephew. They've fled, but he plans to build ships and give the Iron Islands the world.

Daenerys has a big army, but so far is just looking.

Daenerys ponders what to do with Jorah. She has banished him twice and he's returned twice to save her life. Jorah reveals his stone flesh and admits he must be sent away. She commands him to find a cure for the stone flesh and then return. She wants him to return, but this is either an easy way to write him off the show or provide another deus ex Jorah moment in the last few episodes of this show.

Tyrion is installing a red priestess as prime minister.

Tyrion's plan of peace has resulted in the end of murders for now. Tyrion's not happy with peace, he wants an unwavering figure head for the people. Someone that can't be bought. He meets with a red priestess. The priestess pledges her support to Daenerys, the leader the lord of light predicted.
Tyrion is pleased with the pledge, but Varys questions how Stannis was also predicted as the savior of the realm.
This red priestess proves her legitimacy to Varys, recalling what he heard on the night of his mutilation.

Jon Snow is strategizing with his dream team; Davos, Sansa, Brienne, Edd Tollett, Giantsbane, and Melisandre. Sansa is looking ever more a queen. She also sewed her own dress, something she wouldn't have done a few seasons ago. With Sansa's uncle the Black Fish forming an army, that could be the big name on their roster they need to garner support from the North. Sansa wants to send Brienne to the Black Fish to ally him, but understandably Brienne is against leaving Sansa alone.
The dream team leaves Tollett in charge of Castle Black as they ride out to muster an army.

This episode brings the white walkers, and how.

It's Bran's turn to learn history. The children of the forest created the first white walker in a war against men.
Bran enters a vision on his own, without the Three Eyed Raven, and sees an army of white walkers. How did the ancient people ever confine them to the North? Did humans just flee South and then build a wall? Even then, how could you get far enough ahead to build the wall? Maybe Bran can provide a history lesson on that too.
The white walker king sees Bran in the vision and touches him. Now the white walker king will come for Bran. The king knows where he is and Bran is sent on his way. I didn't expect Bran's training to end that abruptly. Now Bran must become the Three Eyed Raven.

White walkers mean business.

The white walkers moved fast! They are outside of the Three Eyed Raven's cave the same day. I was expecting to see them at the wall, not at the cave. The forest children command Meera to get Bran and run and then begin attacking the walkers with explosive rocks. Bran is in a vision, not waking. Where is Jojen?
The fight is intense! Bran and crew make it out, though Bran's direwolf is killed and Jojen is nowhere to be seen. The forest children and the Three Eyed Raven don't make it either.
Why does Hodor only say Hodor? It's a shortening of "Hold the door." Somehow Bran's vision and this siege bridged space time (I kid you not). With Bran as a conduit, young Hodor was struck with a seizure and he could hear Meera shouting the words. From this moment forward he forever repeated "Hodor." until his death. He held the door, but was ripped apart by white walkers.
Bran as the conduit could have happened as he was in a vision, but also Warged into Hodor to facilitate escape. Bran could very well be the cause of Hodor's condition. He's definitely the cause of Hodor's death. Bran and Meera had a grim outlook before, but this is even worse. Aren't the white walkers just going to track Bran now? 

Review: Episode 6 - Blood of My Blood
Bran and Meera are wandering the woods, with Bran in a vision. He's seeing a lot of history, his own, the region's, and the world's. When you're the Raven, you need to know the history of the world.
Meera can't protect him, which I didn't expect her to. The white walkers have found them, but a black robed man with a covered face saves them. Could this be Benjen Stark? If so why wouldn't he have been turned to a white walker? He's obviously too pale to be fully human. Possibly he's been raised from the dead, but wouldn't that have to happen before dying North of the wall? Benjen was last seen on an expedition North of the wall.

Episode 6 - The Benjen mystery is resolved.

Coldhands claims the Three Eyed Raven sent for him. Coldhands is Benjen. How is he alive and how is he connected to the Three Eyed Raven?
Benjen was killed by a white walker, but the Children of the Forest stopped him from turning. He's been an agent for the Three Eyed Raven since.

Samwell and Gilly visit his home. This is a way to ensure Gilly's child has a good life. Gilly has to hide she's from North of the wall though. It's a foreign environment for Gilly, and Samwell's father Randyll misses his arrival while out on a hunt.

Episode 6 - Gilly and Samwell visit his home.

Gilly cleans up nice, when she dresses up for dinner. Samwell's father is just as cold and menacing as expected. Dinner is quite awkward. Randyll insults his least favorite son. Gilly defends Samwell, recounting the time he killed a white walker. That illicits a few chuckles, and she lets slip that she's a wildling. Randyll responds that Samwell would never wield the family sword, and that he would never be head of the family. He insults Samwell and Gilly in equal measure. Randyll agrees to let Gilly work in the kitchen and take in the child, but Samwell will never set foot in the castle again. This might be the first time the Samwell story is actually interesting.
Samwell decides to take Gilly with him and steals the family sword as well. It's the first bold move he's made, but how can he train to be a maester with a wife in tow?

Tommen is concerned about Magaery's walk of shame, discussing it with the High Sparrow. Tommen gets to meet his queen. Magaery seems to have fully repented, realizing she was never devoted to helping the poor. I can't help but think this is a ruse, pleading to the story to get out of imprisonment. That or she's putting on a show for Tommen. It could be a bit of both.

Episode 6 -Jamie takes a few losses this episode.

Jamie gathers Lord Tyrell and the Tyrell troops to stop Magaery's walk. Jamie demands Magaery and Loras. The High Sparrow dismisses death as a great achievement in the service of the gods, but relents. Magaery doesn't have to walk as her atonement is complete by bringing Tommen into the light of the Sparrows. Magaery is trickster.  Her ruse was to fool Tommen, not the Sparrows. Tommen unites the crown and the faith to Jaime's chagrin.
This isn't Magaery pulling a fast one, this is the High Sparrow. He's won.
Tommen banishes Jaimes from King's Landing. Jamie will deal with the Blackfish at Riverrun. He pledges to  hire Bronn to kill the High Sparrow, but Cersei cautions him against it. Jaime should take the castle back because it should be a Lannister castle. Cersei will face trial by combat soon, which means we won't see the Zombie Gregor in this episode either.

Arya gets to see more of the Bravos play. This time Joffrey dies. She's touched by the monologue delivered by the actress she's contracted to kill, and this causes her to hesitate before adding the poison to her drink. This is her first true step into the brotherhood of assassins. She's confronted by the contract and gets a story of how the actress got started. Arya gets to offer her own suggestions to tweak the actress's monologue. Arya steps in and stops her contract from drinking the poison. She reveals who gave her the contract and the girl from the House of Black and White is of course spying on her. Arya retrieves her sword Needle. She's no longer on track to be one of the many faced men.

Episode 6 - Arya is no longer the girl without a name.

Jaqen promises the other girl that she can kill Arya. He's disappointed in Arya's decision as she had many gifts, but she isn't made to be an assassin.

The Blackfish takes back Riverrun from the Freys.  Walder Frey demands it back, but he's met with excuses. Walder Frey plans to use Edmure Tully as a bargaining chip.

Episode 6 -Daenerys the dragon rider.

Daenerys and Daarios discuss the invasion of Westeros. He claims she's a conqueror, not meant to sit on a throne. She stops him, a strange breeze having caught her attention. She rides ahead on the path alone. She returns riding a dragon, because of course she is. She delivers an impassioned speech and the Dothraki agree to ride across the sea to Westeros and conquer the realm for her. It's not like you refuse a woman riding a dragon. 

Review: Episode 7 - The Broken Man
I wondered if this would be a filler episode, moving the pieces in place for the finale. While there is a lot of set up, it's very entertaining set up. This episode does have a big reveal. The episode isn't quite as good as episodes five or six, but it's still a good episode.

Another character back from the dead.

A whole lot of building is happening. It's Ian McShane playing Septon Ray building a church. We see two and three men carrying logs, but one man is carrying a log by himself. Guess what? The Hound is alive!
After Arya and the Hound journeyed together in season four, Arya left him for dead after he broke his leg and was defeated in a fight by Brienne of Tarth. We should have known when we didn't see him die.
Septon Ray provides exposition on finding Clegane close to death. Clegane wonders why he hasn't been punished for his misdeeds, though Ray says he is being punished.
Septon Ray preaches that it's never too late to change, to do good in the world. Will the Hound change? You see on his face that he's different, but he's a fighter. Even if he hides it for a while in this community, it will come out. He cautions Ray that they need to train and fight just for precaution.
While the Hound is out working, Septon Ray and all of his followers are murdered by opportunistic soldiers. He can't escape violence, but where will he go now? In the short term he'll kill a few soldiers, but what happens after that?

They bicker because they're so much alike.

Magaery is playing teacher's pet for the High Sparrow. I still have to wonder if this is strategy. The High Sparrow encourages Magaery to produce an heir with her king. It's her duty despite her lack of desire after her conversion. Magaery is encouraged to help convert her grandmother Olenna Tyrell, the Queen of Thorns. Magaery encourages her to go home while slipping her a note with a drawing of a rose. The rose is the symbol of House Tyrell.  Magaery is faking. I knew she was too smart to fall into the High Sparrow's rhetoric.

Cersei beseeches Olenna Tyrell for help against the High Sparrow. Cersei criticizes Olenna for planning to leave her grandchildren. Olenna responds that Cersei may be the most vile person she's met, though it's hard to remember since she's been alive for so long. Cersei has lost. There's nothing she can do at King's landing Olenna tells her.

The Snow and Stark tag team.

Jon Snow and Sansa Stark are recruiting wildlings with the help of Tormund Giantsbane. Tormund spins a rousing speech about Snow dying for the free folk and they should pledge to do the same for him. They agree to join the cause.
Their next stop is the Mormont house. The child serving as lady of the house is none to eager to waste another life on someone else's war despite Jon serving under Jeor Mormont in the Night's Watch. Ser Davos Seaworth stresses the importance of Jon serving under Jeor and the rising threat of white walkers. House Mormont pledges their sixty -two fighting men.
The Glovers reject Jon Snow outright. The Boltons just helped them get their castle back. Sansa reminds the Glovers of their pledge to House Stark. The Glovers served House Stark, but the Starks are dead. I'm glad they get a loss, it would be too easy if everyone readily joined them. This shouldn't be easy. The history the Glovers cite about Robb is important. Many men died serving the Starks. There are many good reasons to pass on the Stark offer.
Snow has a few hundred men from the houses and only a couple thousand wildlings. Sansa stresses the need for more men, but Jon tells her they'll fight with the men they have. She sends a raven anyway. Sansa has a few secrets hidden from Jon. I expect it's going to create a temporary rift, and then her schemes will work out and Jon will forget about it due to a victory.

Bronn is promoted to Jamie's right hand.

Jamie is leading the Lannister army against the Blackfish Brynden Tully at Riverrun, joining the Freys who have Edmure Tully. Jamie promises Bronn a high ranking position in the army. Bronn contests. He's gone from a sell sword to a knight with a castle. Jamie reminds him that a Lannister "always pays his debts."
The Freys aren't combat skilled. They threaten to kill Edmure Tully and the Blackfish calls their bluff. The Freys back down. Jamie takes over for the Freys, demonstrating that you don't make a threat you won't carry out by hitting one of the Freys in the face.
Jamie demands the Blackfish surrender, pledging to save the mens' lives and take them as prisoner. The Blackfish vows to never surrender.

The Greyjoys have docked and are enjoying their leisure. Yara demands the real Theon return. She doesn't want the cowering dog. She demands he returns to form or slit his wrists. She needs him when they sail to Meeren and make a pact with the dragon queen. A bit of ale is all it takes for Theon to pledge his allegiance and quit cowering for a few minutes. I'd think it would take a bit more ale. I guess the trick is to keep him drunk all the time. He may not have the coordination, but at least he'll have the attitude.

What is dead, may never die. Oops. Wrong body of water, wrong house.

Arya finds a captain from Westeros and pays for passage home. When you see a little old woman walk up behind Arya, you know it's one of the faceless men.  Arya gets stabbed in the gut a few times, but manages to escape and jump into the river. She stumbles around the market bleeding, no one offering help. I thought for a minute the show had killed her off. That would be a HUGE surprise. The show claims anyone can die, but it's been a few seasons since a main characters has been killed. Things look dire for Arya, but she'll make it. I don't see her dying yet.

Review: Episode 8 - No One
We are so close to the end of this season. I expected an amazing episode and I'm a little disappointed. This was a fair amount of filler without a reveal as big as the Hound in episode seven. On top of that, there were two scenes that seemed to serve little purpose than pure filler.

The actress Arya saved took her counsel and delivered a touching performance. Much good it did Arya. Why did we see the actress? That's because somehow Arya made it through the market and backstage. That actress treats her wounds. There really was no one else in Braavos that could or would help her. Will Arya become an actress, surely not. Arya plans to head West past Westeros, where all the maps stop. Lady Crane gives Arya milk of the poppy to help her recuperate.

In their next scene, Crane is reaching for a potion on a high shelf. I guessed it was for something nefarious, but before we find out the waif kills her. The waif then advances on Arya. Arya flees on a race through the village... a race to the death! Arya sneaks away, though not for long, but she's awfully healthy for the wounds she sustained. The waif is like the T-1000 in Terminator 2, she just doesn't stop. Arya takes a nasty fall that opens her wounds. What's the end game here? Arya is going to live. It would be a crazy twist to have her die, but I don't think the show is willing to commit.
The mad dash is heading towards Arya's sword needle. It an amazing sequence, she slices the candle, sending the room to darkness. Sadly we get no sounds, and no indication of the outcome.
In the next scene, Jaqen sees blood on the floor of the House of Black and White. The waif's face has been sliced off by Arya, hanging on the wall. Jaqen declares the girl is finally no one, Arya declares herself a Stark and states she's going home.

I knew as soon as I saw the group from the Brotherhood without Banners in the wood joking around what would befall them. I didn't wait long.

Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr are hanging the very men the Hound is after, and for the same reason the Hound wants them dead.
Beric agrees to let the Hound hang two of them. Could the Hound join the Brotherhood? That's an interesting proposition. A redemption story for the Hound would be a crazy twist.

Tyrion is proud of his work, red priestesses proclaim Daenerys as the true ruler. Varys isn't as impressed. Varys is heading back to Westeros for allies and ships. They made a good team, though this show is just too big for their story.
Tyrion guilts Greyworm and Missandei into drinking with him. I suppose he's just lonely now. He tells a joke. It's clear Greyworm and Missandei like each other. They all share a laugh, but it's just filler in an episode that should be leading up to something big. The masters return to Meereen with many ships to take back their slaves.

With the slave ships attacking Meereen, Greyworm tells Tyrion he can talk no more. Tyrion's talking put them in this situation.
As I expected when I first saw the slaver fleet, Daenerys arrives to save the day. We see her arrival but nothing else.

Cersei is in a battle of wills with the High Sparrow. He sends one of his underlings to fetch Cersei. She refuses, stating "I choose violence."
An ax to the Mountain's chest doesn't even phase him. He decapitates one of the faith militants, and we finally get a glimpse of his ability and apparent immortality.

Cersei is seething when she's refused the right to stand by her son on the throne. That's after she wasn't even informed of the royal announcement. Also, trial by combat is no longer an option by the King's decree. Those accused will stand trial before those of the faith. I never guessed trial by combat would have been stopped, but I know somehow we'll get to see the Mountain in a fight to the death.

Brienne and Podrick arrive at Riverrun. Brienne tells the Lannister men she wishes to speak to Jamie and that she has his sword. He gave it to her in season four to help her find Sansa.
Bronn and Poderick meet again. Bronn hates how women flock to Jamie. He liked working more with Tyrion in that regard. The conversation is out of place with such a large story.

Jamie is surprised Brienne even found Sansa. Sansa wants the Tully army to fight for Winterfell, but they are defending Riverrun from the Lannisters. Brienne proposes Jamie allow the Tullys to head North safely in exchange for Riverrun. Jamie agrees if the Blackfish agrees. Brienne informs Jamie that she would be bound to fight with the Blackfish against Jamie if it comes to it.
Brienne convinces the Blackfish to at least read Sansa's letter, but Brynden isn't willing to lead his men to Winterfell.

Jamie apologizes to Edmure for the poor treatment by the Freys. Edmure asks Jamie how he lives with himself. Jamie launches into his admiration of how Catelyn and Cersei love their children. Jamie wants to get back to Cersei. If he has to murder all of the Tullys, that's what he'll do. He doesn't care about the Tullys, but he cares about Cersei. Jamie threatens to murder Edmure's son if he must.

Jamie frees Edmure. Edmure demands entry into Riverrun, but Brynden denies it. The men mutiny, claiming they must obey the rightful lord of Riverrun. Brynden knows it's a trap.
Edmure commands the men to lay down their arms and open the gates. He also commands them to put the Blackfish in irons and give him to the Freys. Brynden helps Brienne and Pod escape. The Blackfish dies fighting. If he had taken Brienne's deal at least the men would still be armed.
Jamie sees Brienne escape and waves her off. No one else sees her.
Why didn't Edmure's men do anything when the Blackfish told the Freys to slit Edmure's throat?
Jamie presumably is headed back to King's Landing. He won't be happy with Cersei's trial. He just talked to Edmure about his savage love for her, so I'm guessing a fight happens. Jamie could be a character the show kills off.

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.

Review: Episode 10 - The Winds of Winter
This is a great finale to a great season. This episode especially has a number of great images and moments.

The trial of the century begins.

In King's Landing, everyone is getting ready for the trial of Cersei Lannister and Loras Tyrell.
Loras confesses to his crimes. The High Sparrow urges him to confess them all. He admits to laying with Renly Baratheon and perjuring himself. Loras abandons his Tyrell name, his lordship, claims to Tyrell land, and children. The sparrows carve their seven pointed symbol into his forehead as his father cries out in dismay.

Cersei is late to her own trial. The Mountain stops Tommen from going to the trial as Lancel follows a child deeper underground. He's stabbed before realizing he's in a vault full of dragon fire. Qyburn has a half dozen children stab Pycelle to death.

Magaery points out to the High Sparrow that Tommen and Cersei are absent. She urges everyone to escape immediately. Cersei knows the consequences of skipping her trial, and would only do so if she could avoid the repercussions.

Dragon fire is no joke.

Lancel witnesses a lone candle in a pool of dragon fire. It ignites and the Sept of Baelor crumbles, ostensibly killing everyone inside. Cersei sips wine, a smile crossing her lips. This was a very likely possibility based on the restrictions in place. I am disappointed we didn't get to see the mountain in action.

Cersei, content to be a mass murderer.

Cersei tortures the Septa Unella, the very one that tortured her during imprisonment. Cersei admits to killing Robert Baratheon  and sleeping with Jamie, all because it felt good. She doesn't kill the Septa, she gives her to the Mountain.

This was a wild opening. It was geared to be theatrical, with a score as the backdrop to the action. Tommen can't be happy that his mom killed his wife... Just as I think that, we see a pained look on Tommen's face before he silently jumps from his window, killing himself. That's going to torment Cersei, but she's also created a power vacuum that I'm sure she's all too happy to fill.

Jamie and Bronn drink with the Freys. celebrating the Riverrun victory. Walder sits with Jamie, and Jamie mocks Frey's victories, taking Riverrun and killing the Starks. Jamie asks him why they need him, if they have to continually ride out to save him.

Walder Frey complains that his sons haven't arrived, but the servant girl informs him they are. This is the same servant girl that was making eyes at Jamie earlier, much to Bronn's chagrin.
The servant girl insists his sons are here and points to the bread. Walder begins to feel sick and sees a finger protruding. The servant tells him  it wasn't easy to carve them up, before she removes her face. It's Arya. BOOM! Looks like she picked up a few tricks from the faceless men. She sure traveled to Westeros quickly. I didn't expect to see her again this season. She kills Walder Frey out of revenge for season four's red wedding. She could be poised for an epic killing spree over the next couple of seasons. Did she kill the servant and steal her face? I have to imagine she did.

Tying up that story about which no one really cares.

We get an update on Tarly's story. He's arrived at the Citadel, but they aren't a cordial bunch. Samwell does get to see the famed library, though Gilly has to stay behind. If it takes five to ten years to become a maester, will Samwell become the de facto maester for whoever is left alive that proclaims her or himself ruler of the seven kingdoms?

Jon Snow is back at Winterfell. He recounts to Melisandre how he was relegated to the kids' table. Davos marches in and tosses a toy horse to her and demands she tell Jon where it came from. The lord of light commanded her to burn a child, princess Shireen, at the stake. It served no purpose as Stannis lost anyway. Davos asks Jon to carry out a sentence against her. Melisandre petitions Jon. He's seen the power of the lord of light.
Jon orders her to ride South. If he sees her again she'll be charged with murder. Davos submits he'll carry out the order himself.

Jon acknowledges that Sansa won the battle for them with the armies of the Vale. She apologies for not telling Jon about her ruse. Jon urges her to trust him. They have too many enemies not to.
Sansa informs Jon that a white raven arrived from the Citadel. "Winter is here."

Peter Baelish tells Sansa he wants to sit on the iron throne with her by his side. She tells him it's a pretty picture. He replies that the North will rally around her based on her lineage. That has to be a subtle joke. Jon Snow has a lineage we don't know about it.

Lady Tyrell is in Dorne talking to the sand princesses. We haven't seen Dorne since episode one. They asked her to Dorne for an alliance. Olena wants revenge on Cersei for killing her son and grandchildren. Varys is also in Dorne.

Daenerys commands Daario to stay in Meereen. Peace has just been achieved and he must maintain it. Daenerys can't bring a lover to Westeros, a marriage is the easiest way to form an alliance. Daario pleads to go with her, proclaiming his love. He's happy to be her mistress, but Daenerys rejects him.

The queen and the hand of the queen.

Tyrion tries to console Daeneyrs, though she chides him that he's not very good at it. She's in the great game he tells her. Everything she ever wanted is nearing closer. Daenerys is upset not that she rejected a man that truly loved her, but that she felt nothing when she did it.
Tyrion tells her he's always been a cynic, but he believes in her. He swears his council to her, and she makes him the hand of the queen. I like Tyrion, an I'm glad he gets this victory. I hope it lasts.

Benjen Stark has to leave Bran and Meera. He can't pass through the wall, but he'll keep fighting. Bran touches a tree and has another vision. It's the one with his father Ned Stark outside of a tower with Lyanna inside. Lyanna died in childbirth. She asks Ned to promise to protect her child. It's just as we guessed. The child between Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryan is Jon Snow. The show jump cuts from Ned promising to a close up on Jon's face. We guessed this was the case, and now it's confirmed. Somehow Bran will have to reveal that information to the world, because no one else knows.

"The king of the North."

Jon attempts to quiet the troops. Little bear Lyanna Mormont stands and calls out the houses that didn't fight with Jon. House Mormont fought. She proclaims him the king. He's a Stark and she will follow him until his last day. Little does she know how strong Jon's right to kingship is.
The houses of the North proclaim Jon "The king of the North!"

Cersei has now taken the throne.

Jamie returns to King's Landing and sees it in ruin. He enters the throne room to see Cersei take the iron throne. I thought Cersei would struggle to overturn her charges by the High Sparrow, I didn't expect to see her crowned queen.

The episode closes with Daenerys and her fleet sailing to Westeros. Great episode, great season. Until next year...