There’s a great deal of movement in this episode, which more than makes up for some of the slow pacing in previous installments.  In fact, I suspect longtime fans of the source material will be gnashing their teeth more than ever; plot threads are certainly unspooling in ways that never happened on the printed page.  That said, this season is all about the adaptation charting its own course to the same destinations, and it’s nice to feel like the entire fandom is in the same boat when it comes to the plot and character elements.  (Interpretations still vary wildly, as usual.) 

I have no idea if the producers knew that the previous episode’s ugliness would require a swift response, but I can’t help but view Sam’s defense of Gilly as a counterpoint to Ramsey Bolton’s brutality.  Some will no doubt bemoan yet another storyline with rape as a plot point; however, I would remind any and all that it has been established since the very first episode that the Night’s Watch is largely populated by criminals with rape in their portfolio.  They’ve also alluded time and again that the longer Gilly is at Castle Black, the more likely someone will attempt to assault her.



Some will no doubt interpret this episode as Sam being “rewarded” for saving Gilly, which is an awfully cynical way of looking at the situation.  The two have a history going back to the second season, and anyone who didn’t pick up on the love connection was not paying attention at all.  Aemon basically told Sam to take Gilly and Little Sam and get as far away from Castle Black as possible.  That’s almost a given now, prompted rather nicely by Jon’s journey north and the utter lack of support Sam is getting from those remaining behind.  Readers of the source material can see where this might be going; let’s see if this subplot gets chopped out, shall we?  Oh, and for those claiming Sam would never break his vows, he’s the one that reminded Jon about the specific language!

Just south of The Wall, we finally get to see why the writers chose to rearrange who is where in the North.  Why did Stannis bring his family and Melisandre along for the campaign to Winterfell, despite it not making a whole lot of sense?  Well, because Melisandre has a way to resolve this little weather problem they seem to be having.  This isn’t close to the way things play out in the source material, but it’s very consistent with what has been set up on the show previously, and that’s what matters in this case.



While it negates one of my pet theories about Petyr’s “ace in the hole”, it also presents an interesting challenge to one of the most pragmatic characters in the whole saga.  Stannis does what he reasons is necessary, and I can see a scenario where he decides that sacrificing his daughter is the only way to give Westeros the leadership they require.  At the same time, if the writers wanted to really shake things up, they could have this be the line Stannis will not cross, and thus make the price of choosing a loved one over the pragmatic “good of the realm” a resounding defeat.  It would keep things unsettled in the North, to say the least, and it needs to stay unsettled for quite some time.







Speaking of Winterfell, we get full confirmation of just how evil and sadistic Ramsey has been with Sansa, as if we didn’t know already.  His reaction to Reek’s betrayal of Sansa is exactly what one would expect, and thus everything that has happened is, for better or worse, rendered as just another example of what kind of sick monster Ramsey Bolton really is.  What is also underscored is the notion that Sansa cannot count on help from outside or her allies in the North; she’s going to have to figure out a way to overcome on her own.



While this is exactly what I was concerned would happen, as I had hoped that Sansa wouldn’t be shown to need this level of incentive to play the game for real, at least we get the first signs of Sansa actually making a move.  It’s not perfect, as there were several ways she could have followed up on her insinuations that Ramsey’s future is about to be overshadowed (perhaps even assuring him that she’s trying to be a dutiful wife and point out where he needs to take action, etc.), but let’s face it: this is more we’ve seen out of Sansa in terms of manipulating anyone in five seasons.  And I want more!  Imagine Stannis and Petyr and all these people unable to unseat the Boltons, and Sansa being the one destroying them from the inside, and the one left standing on the ramparts of her ancestral home.  Who doesn’t want to see this?







Jumping far to the south of Westeros, we finally got a bit more of a look at how dangerous the Sand Snakes could be.  There is a lot of annoyance over Tyene baring her body to Bronn and how it was unnecessary.  I’m going to present a different view: this is precisely the kind of unabashed manipulation that Dorne culture, as seen more than enough already, would applaud.  And the Sand Snakes would definitely toy with the hormones of a poor little man about to die from poison introduced by the kiss of one of their blades.  Anyone who thought Bronn was in control of that situation isn’t paying attention, and might just be letting their own prudish mores overtake their comprehension of the material.



Consider the implication: Tyene has the power to wrap Bronn around her little finger and use him as a weapon.  And who would they point such a weapon at?  I can easily see Bronn turning on Jamie or even going after Myrcella.  After all, who has been reminding the audience all along that Dornish women can twist your mind in all sorts of directions before disposing of you without a second thought?  Foreshadowing, perhaps? 







Over in Essos, matters are progressing in ways that the readers of the source material will probably hate with a passion.  Granted, nothing that progresses the Meereen plotlines forward can be taken as bad; that said, in the books, Tyrion and Dany haven’t met.  She’s not even aware of Jorah’s presence in Essos.  This is a significant change, and one that will worry a lot of people.



I’m not one of them.  I think this raises the stakes for the true event to come, and only makes the impending disasters all the more exciting to contemplate.  (The fighting pits reopen in Episode 5.09; follow the pattern of previous seasons, and you’ll know why I anticipate Big Things to occur in Meereen!)  I have no doubt that Tyrion will survive, and future events will convince Dany to keep him around as an advisor in the absence of Ser Barristan.  Frankly, if anyone is going to get her ambitions back on track, it’s Tyrion!




I’m saving the best for last: the fall of Cersei.  You didn’t need to be familiar with the books to see where all of this was going, because they reminded the audience countless times that one of the most devout (and zealous) Sparrows also used to be Cersei’s illicit lover.  And considering the High Sparrow is finally showing all his cards, the clock on Cersei’s haughty victory was ticking away.  I’m sure Lady Olenna flipped that particular card in the hopes of getting some kind of kickback for Loras and/or Margaery, but even if that doesn’t work out, Cersei’s fall has been a long time coming.



But even if Cersei’s fall culminates in Episode 5.09, that doesn’t matter much.  It’s not an end unto itself, as the problem of the Sparrows’ control of King’s Landing is one that would still need to be addressed.  How far is that threat going to spread?  It will receive plenty of populist support, given the terrible state of Westeros after so much war, but those seeking power will naturally resist.  I can’t see Dorne standing by as puritanical social mores are enforced with the strength of law!  It’s worth noting that only one of the current contenders has shown the slightest ability to gain popular support.  If Dany can get out of the Meereen quagmire, she may find a more receptive audience for her style of governance in Westeros, after all.