“Everyone wanted to see the perfect revenge. We know Tyrion is innocent, so we figured the outcome would reflect that.” – Z. DiGiorgio
Game of Thrones fans have learned the “rule of nine” the past three seasons: everything happens on the ninth episode. But this season has proven why this show has been so popular by continuing to push back against fan expectations. Time and time again, this season has delivered intense drama and heart-pounding action.
Look, I’m not going to pretend not to know what happened at the end of last night’s episode. I know that you, like me, were watching the clock the entire episode thinking “come on, come on, they better show it this week!” But here’s what happened in the other 40 minutes while everyone was waiting for the big showdown between the Red Viper and the Mountain:
First off, in case you forgot, the episode wanted to remind you that the Wildlings are out beyond the wall a-slaughtering. But now they are moving closer to Castle Black, hitting up Mole Town, where the Nights Watch brothers often sneak out to break their oaths. Though a few brothers were killed in the fray, the episode focused on the fate of Gilly, Sam Tarly’s sort-of girlfriend/Craster’s daughter who was working in Mole Town in order to support herself and her baby. Though Sam’s crying gave away Gilly’s position, Ygritte spares Gilly and baby.
Though Sam doesn’t know this, and he blames himself for Gilly’s “death,” though the other brothers of the Night’s Watch are less concerned about her. Back in Castle Black, some decisions need to be made as to how to defend against the incoming Wildling onslaught. With only 102 men, prospects are bleak for the Night’s Watch. Looking at previews for next week, it seems like that will be the focus of next week’s episode. That should be exciting; we haven’t had a battle like this since Blackwater Bay in season 2.
One of the more pointless subplots of the episode, nay, the season, is the possible romance between Missandei, Daenerys’s handmaiden, and Grey Worm, the captain of the Unsullied soldiers. The problem is that as an Unsullied, Grey Worm was castrated. So how can he be aroused at the sight of Missandei?
Doesn’t matter. She digs him. He digs her. We’re still checking the clock, waiting for the trial by combat to start.
Ramsey Snow is up to his schemes again. He has Reek/Theon march into the Greyjoy-occupied Moat Cailin “pretending” to be Theon and offer terms of surrender to the embattled troops there. Though the ill general refuses to surrender to Theon and Theon almost goes back into Reek mode, the Greyjoy soldiers kill the general so they can escape with their lives.
And just like that, Moat Cailin is turned over to the Boltons. Roose Bolton is pleased, and legitimizes his bastard son, making Ramsey Snow Ramsey Bolton, heir to the Warden of the North.
And it’s in that semi-touching moment that I sit back and reflect on how many utterly loathsome characters are left in this series, and I just feel sad.
Back at the Eyrie, a suspicious eye has been turned on Petyr Baelish following the death of Lysa Arryn. And no wonder; he’s guilty. But the master of lies is trying to use his silver tongue to work his way out of things in a tribunal, but none of the people of the Vale are really trusting of Petyr, so they call in Sansa, the witness to the death. Though it looks at first as if this would be curtains for Petyr, Sansa reveals her true identity to the council, and spins a stunning yarn about how Petyr saved her life. She recounts that her unstable aunt jumped out the moon door despite Petyr’s attempts to save her, too. She even had the water works going. Good work, Sansa.
Petyr is a bit surprised by Sansa’s loyalty, but it works. Petyr is off scot-free. Robin Arryn is being sent off to learn sword fighting and real skills to be a lord, and Sansa and Baelish are alone together.
If your skin is not crawling, you haven’t been paying attention. I am not eager to see where this plotline goes.
A huge bombshell is dropped in Meereen. Ser Jorah’s royal pardon is discovered by Ser Barristan; if you remember, he was originally just working with his “Khaleesi” to get back in good graces in Westeros before he clearly fell in love with her and dedicated his life to her service.
But despite his honesty, Dany is mad, and not without entirely good reason. Ser Jorah is tearfully banished from Meereen and the sight of his beloved Khaleesi. Though this is a sad position for Jorah, this really can’t end well for Dany. Her rule in Essos is already tentative. Now she banished the advisor most willing to inform her of her errors in judgment. Dominos are being set up for a big fall, Khaleesi.
Back in Westeros, Arya and the injured Hound (uh oh, foreshadowing much?) arrive in the Eyrie, where Arya was to rendezvous with her aunt Lysa. Lysa’s dead, remember? Arya can’t help but burst out laughing at the irony of it all. What a perfect moment of television. I can’t wait to see what happens with this.
For those of you frantically checking the time, we finally get back to King’s Landing. Really, the only thing that happens for a few minutes is Tyrion contemplating his chances of dying to his brother. They spend a lot of time talking about their simple cousin Orson who liked to crush beetles with rocks (ten minutes left, will there be a fight or not?). Tyrion is really vexed by the corpses of the beetles and tried to understand the deeper meaning behind the beetle killing. It’s symbolic of…something. I think the main thing established here is that Tyrion and Jaime’s bond has grown strong, so come what may, Jaime might have his brother’s back.
I don’t need to tell you what happened in the last five minutes in the episode. I don’t need to make a comment about how Oberyn Martell was mimicking Inigo Montoya most of the fight. I don’t need to scream or cry or any of that. I just want to draw attention to the fact that the whole episode built up to this little fight (the beetle story was just as long as the fight), but look at how much impact this moment had. Not only were fans emotionally distraught by the whole thing, but the show also threw a wrench once again into everything you have come to expect. We’re used to the idea of the good guy winning out. Everyone wanted to see the perfect revenge. We know Tyrion is innocent, so we figured the outcome would reflect that.
If this episode accomplished anything, it’s a reminder that Game of Thrones is not a show to bow to expectations.
Next week is the ninth episode. Hold on tight.
