As always do not read on until you watched the latest episode as SPOILERS lie ahead.
Meera and Bran open the episode to be saved by a mysterious rider that is later revealed to be Benjen Stark, a return that many predicted.
In fact this episode continues this series run of re-introducing long forgotten characters. The Freys are back having lost Riverrun and reminded that Edmure Tully is their unwilling guest. The Blackfish has caused plenty of ripples despite not actually being seen on screen yet this series. Jamie Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), the Freys and Brienne are all on their way to Riverrun to clash with The Blackfish in different ways.
The once despised now favoured Jamie Lannister is being sent at the head of the Lannister army against his will after being dismissed as a Kings Guard. The high sparrow (Jonathan Pyrce) was not threatened by the looming Tyrell army as The Queen of Thorns proclaims, he won. He has the support of the impressionable young King Tommen and effectively now has control over the capital. Jamie’s forlorn realisation was a great moment as the character realised he has lost this battle despite the backing of an army.
Elsewhere the meandering Arya(Maisie Williams) storyline finally reached a dramatic turn as she accepts her true identity retrieving needle and setting up her biggest threat yet in the form of the Waif. Sam (John Bradley-West) is bullied by his father and in an understated triumph of character takes Gilly with him along with the families Valeryian Steel that he knows wil be useful against the threat from north of the wall.
Some great grandstanding moments within this episode concluding once more with Daenerys promising to take Westeros aboard her fierce dragon, let’s hope her storyline continues to gather some much needed pace.
No Jon Snow or Tyrion this week but the episode did not suffer. It feels like this series has now out enough chess pieces in place for some big showdowns especially at Winterfell and Riverrun. Interestingly the show runners seem to be resetting some of the storylines from last season that deviated from the books to back where there where in the books.
It still remains the best thing on TV and there is sure to be plenty more shocks yet.
#Peace.Love.GameOfThrones
