In other sibling news, Theon (Alfie Allen) and Yara (Gemma Whelan) meet again in the Iron Islands. It’s not the best homecoming for Theon: 1. Those islands seem damp, and 2. Yara’s not super excited to see him because of the whole “who’s gonna be the next king” vote that she hopes to win. With another sibling in the mix, that’s more competition, and she’s pissed at Theon since men died on the mission to find him. But Theon assures her that all he wants is to help her be king. Queen?
Off in King’s Landing, I’m personally super sick of The High Sparrow, even though it is Jonathan Pryce. Every week he tells another character some boring anecdote that seems to have some really important message, because the camera slowly pushes in on him, and then he’s like, “and that’s why I never wear shoes! Because of the rich!”
This week it was Margaery (Natalie Dormer), who successfully identifies a passage from the Book of the Stranger (title alert!). He wants to make her do the infamous Shame Walk and Cersei (Lena Headey) and Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg) finally have something to agree on — Margaery should not do the Shame Walk. Instead they convince Lancel Lannister’s dad to stand down against the Tyrell Army when they come in and kill Jonathan Pryce. Yay! Fingers crossed for no more boring lectures! We also get another sibling reunion when Margaery is allowed to visit wretched Loras (Finn Jones) in his cell.
In Meereen, Tryion (Peter Dinklage) tries his unique brand of diplomacy on the slavemasters of Astapor, Yunkai and Volantis. Over wine, he suggests they end slavery in seven years. Now send in the whores! Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) and Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) aren’t super down with the whole cozying-up-to-slavers thing, having been slaves themselves, and neither do the other freed men of Meereen. Tyrion is a son of privilege after all, but they somehow come around to his point of view, mostly because they don’t like war. They’re still skeptical that the slavemasters will use them in some way. In other news, both Grey Worm and Missandei get to wear pants in this episode. Liberation!
Now what’s up with Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and her initiation into the sorority of Khal widows, the Dosh Khaleen? Well, the boring, handsome detectives Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) and Daario Naharis (Michiel Huisman) are on the case. There’s a lot of time spent in how they sneak into the city, kill some dudes and then meet up with Daenerys. However, she seems to be cool to go this one alone. She has to do this oral exam/judgment with the Khals, which mostly consists of rape threats, because that’s the only topic of conversation among Dothraki men.
Daenerys has had just enough of their verbal abuse, and just tips the conveniently placed fire pit goblet torch things over and sets the whole place on fire, barricaded from the outside, natch. The temple of the Dosh Khaleen is a fire marshal’s nightmare. The Khals are trapped inside and burned, and Daenerys emerges unscathed, how she do, proving “The Unburnt” part of her extremely long title. It’s all very Carrie at the prom — DePalma would be proud. All of the Dothraki, including the Dosh Khaleen and Jorah and Daario, bow before her. This whole naked fire thing sure is a nifty trick that goes a long way for Daenerys, but this seems like the last time she can use it. And now, all of Slavers Bay will have to bow to the Dothraki too.
Are you also sick of the High Sparrow? How loud did you cheer for Sansa and Jon to reunite? Thoughts on the phoenix Dany and the Meereen kerfluffle? Leave your thoughts about the episode in the comments below.
loved the episode, it felt like a lot of things are moving forward. I do wonder how much time the North has until the ice king and his undead arrive to announce the arrival of winter south of the wall. Will the Starks have to make temporary peace with Lord Bolton to unite their army’s to face the great foe? Or will the writers hold off on that battle until Danerys and here dragons arrive to flame broil the undead? Still loving this series.