Game of Thrones
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TheGame of Thronesshowrunners promised us that this last season would have echoes of the first,and it did.
There was Gendry, back swinging his hammer in the forge.
Martin himself, and of course, their endgame.
There isnt much wiggle room.
Still, this episode lays its chips out admirably.
When Jon last saw Bran, the boy was in a coma.
Arya looks even happier to see Jon than she usually does while murdering people.
But what he lacks in dinner party small talk he makes up for in a joke!
Jon: Youre a man.
Hes only kinda half human now.
Its a very funny joke to wargs.)
As for reunions,weve got plenty.
(I used to think you were the cleverest man alive.)
Tyrion and Sansas balance, however, feels a little off.
But Tyrion was as kind to her in their sham marriage as anyone could have been.
In many ways, he kept her alive during that year in Kings Landing.
That said, heres hoping Arya names her new weapon Cold Little Bitch.
Aside from the all the small bits (Theon rescues Yara a little too easily!
Dolorous Edd is alive and well!
Lyanna Mormont has another speech!)
the episode presents three overarching problems.
The first, and most perniciously irritating, is Sansas childish annoyance with Jons new-sworn fealty to Daenerys.
The annoyance itself is understandableJon has upended the entire order of the realm without consulting her.
But the demonstration is beneath a woman as smart as Sansa Stark.
Surely Cersei wants Tyrion dead, despite now knowing that he didnt murder Joffrey.
Such a sad, pathetic little man.)
Now imagine how easily Bronn could infiltrate their camp without ever raising an alarm.)
For a man constantly belittled as a coward, this is a defining moment of shifting self-perception.
Unfortunately, the episodes two greatest faults hover around this disclosure.
What were they waiting for?
How did Sam move about Winterfell without Jon knowing he was there?
The other oddity is that Jon doesnt immediately worry about the fact that hes been committing incest.
In Westeros, its the Mother they pray to for mercy.
Daenerys may have been the Yunkais mhysa, but on this continent shes just a foreign tyrant.
Does the Three-Eyed Raven hold grudges?
That scene of sword comparison between Jon and Arya is oddly drawn out for such a tightly wrapped episode.
