World's a Stage: Game of Thrones 606 "Blood of My Blood" Review

               Characters loved, hated, and forgotten return as Game of Thrones sets the stage for the end of the season.  Northern reveals, changes of heart, and approaching reunions all bring the storylines closer and closer together in an episode that, while less exciting as the previous, still manages to make an hour pass in seconds.  

               Below, I will give my pros and cons of the episode as a whole with some spoilers.  After, I will break down the episode by location, spoilers galore.  At the end of the post, I'll look at the teaser and title of next episode and predict where the show will go.  

WHAT I LOVED 

• Bran's Binges Game of Thrones:  This glimpse of the past - new and old - provided a great way to not only catch Bran up on the events of the series that he missed, but to show him glimpses of moments unseen by the viewer.  The flashes of the Red Wedding hurt again knowing that Bran had (probably) been unaware of his family's fate before.  The true beauty came from the visions of Jaime and the Mad King.  "Burn them all" echoing over Jaime's breaking of the King's Guard vows that served such a vital part of his life, especially in this episode.
• Sam and Fam:  Seeing Sam with the Tarlys was very powerful.  As much as Sam has changed, he was still unable to face his belittling father.  Sam grabbed the Valyrian steel and is heading out, now armed with one of the only substances known to kill White Walkers, and possibly a new sense of self-worth.
  
  

WHAT I LIKED

• Benjen Stark's cold hands:  Benjen Stark's return has been a source of fan speculation for decades and I had settled on my thoughts that he was merely a plot device used to get the Watch north of the Wall.   The theories that Benjen could be Coldhands seemed to be words in the wind to me but now they have all the show fuel they need for the hype train to keep running.  This return makes me wonder just how many fan theories can be confirmed before the show feels more like fan service than originality.
• Danny's hype speech:  This moment really showed Danny coming into her own as a war leader and continued to fuel the theory she could be taking a villainous route.  The CGI on the dragon also looked great and very detailed.  While it might have been repetitive of previous Dany speeches, I feel that this one is genuine.  Westeros here we come.
  
  

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE

• Arya riding a seesaw:  This season has been rather weak for Arya with the repetition of her training.  What got me through this was the hope that she would come out of it with knowledge of new abilities largely unexplored in the series.  Now she has seemingly abandoned her course to enlightenment and is on the defensive.  I'm holding out hope that we will see Arya back in high gear one way or another and that she may force the faceless men to teach her anyway.
• Tommen Drinks the Kol-Aid:  The high sparrow plot was starting to lose its interest, but the build up to their slaughter made it feel driving.  However having the moment squashed felt anticlimactic and I am disappointed we will probably have to spend a lot more time with him in the coming episodes.  It got Jaime to the Riverlands, but left me feeling dissatisfied.
  
  

WHAT I HATED

• A light Snow:  Jon's resurrection was a big deal for fans and the show.  However he has served very little purpose and been largely unseen since.  He was probably used sparingly to try and avoid his presence on set being leaked, but with few characters phased by his return and his screen time short, it is hard to feel like Jon was brought back for a real reason.

   

BEYOND THE WALL

               Picking up where last episode left, Meera is carrying Bran through the snowy woods, wights closing in, as Bran is stuck in a vision.  We see tons of brief Bran Visions as he finally renewed his HBO subscription.  He watches Westerosi history from the Red Wedding to Robert's Rebellion.  Specially, we see the scattered scene of Jaime killing the Mad King and a little more of The Tower of Joy.  However it seems that his BluRay is scratched because he is only catching snippets and does not seem to fully understand what he is seeing.  

               His vision is interrupted when they are saved at the last second by a masked defender, killing whites with a flaming torch and picking them up onto his horse.   This masked man turns out to be Benjen Stark, Bran's uncle presumed missing since the first season.  However not all is well for him.  He tells the story of his death at the hands of White Walkers and his saving by the Children of the Forest.  He now serves the Three Eyed Raven and tells Bran he must master his powers before the Night King kills them all.

               Bran's vision was really great with how it weaved new footage into old footage.  Bran is now aware of the Red Wedding and has witnessed major events such as his father's execution and Jon's battle with a White Walker.  He also sees Jaime killing the Mad King, ending Robert's Rebellion 20 years ago.  If what we are seeing is what Bran is seeing, he is probably fairly unsure about what he is seeing in this vision and needs to gain control of his power.

               Interestingly, the Jaime scene was originally in the pilot before nearly the entire episode was reshot.  The pilot has been hidden in the deepest depths of shameful history, with HBO and the producers being significantly disappointed with its reception.  While this is not the pilot footage, it is interesting to see this scene return to the show.  It is one of the most significant events of the history of these characters but was unseen by viewers until now. 

               As for Benjen's return, I am happy but a little worried.  It is satisfying to get answers to his disappearance and death, but leaves unanswered questions about where he has been for the last few years and why he was not at the cave with the Three Eyed Raven.  In the books, there is an undead character called Coldhands who guides Bran and the Reeds North and serves the Children.  Many theories over the years have questioned if Coldhands could be a resurrected Benjen Stark.  When Coldhands was seemingly cut from the show, I shrugged these theories off despite originally buying into them.  But this episode seemingly confirmed that theory by giving us a Coldhands-type character and making him Benjen.   I am wondering if this confirmation shows a sign that the writers could be heading down a hole of leaning too hard on confirming fan theories instead of coming up with wholly original twists.  With Jon alive and Benjen returned as well as Brienne in the Riverlands and flashes of the Tower of Joy, this season is set to satisfy man fan theories years in the making.  But how much is too much?  

THE TWINS

               Briefly, we return to the haunted room that plagued our nightmares at the end of Season 3.  Walder Frey sits on his throne, talking angrily with his sons.  As Littlefinger told us last episode, the Tullys now hold Riverrun again, taking it from the Freys.  Here, we see Walder Frey planning to take it back.  From the dungeons, he calls out Edmure Tully, Catelyn Stark's brother.  Walder tells his sons to take Edmure to Riverrun and use him as a pawn to get the castle back.  

               If you remember to season 3 of the show, Edmure Tully was the man who married Walder Frey's daughter at the Red Wedding.  He was also the idiot who couldn't get a flaming arrow to hit his father's coffin.  He is the heir to Riverrun, and his marriage to a Frey was an attempted apology from Robb Stark for breaking his vows.  The wedding didn't go too well for the Stark family.  Edmure was imprisoned, but his older brother, The Blackfish, escaped.  Now, the Frey's are going to use Edmure's life to try and lure The Blackfish into handing Riverrun back.  

               I liked seeing Walder Frey again, and the maneuvering of characters to set up the Riverrun plot makes me excited.  Reintroducing Walder Frey makes me think that Stark vengeance will send their regards to him one way or another this season.  However this scene was probably fairly confusing to casual viewers who have totally forgotten about Edmure, The Tullys, and maybe even Walder Frey at this point.  A little more could have been done to remind viewers of exactly who these characters are and what their part in the game is.  

HORN HILL IN THE REACH

               Sam and Gilly arrive at Horn Hill, the home of Sam's highborn family, the Tarlys.  They plan on lying that Sam is the father of Gilly's son, hoping that Sam's family will take Gilly and Sam JR.  An awkward family dinner ensues as Sam's father, Randyll Tarly, belittles him for everything from his weight to his desire to be a maester.  Gilly attempts to defend him, but accidently slips that she is from North of Castle Black and therefore a wildling.  Randyll angrily tells him that he used to kill people like her back in Vietnam and that they are all savages.  He calls Gilly a Wildling whore and Sam JR a bastard.  He promises to take Gilly on as a kitchen servant and keep the Sam JR as a bastard.  Sam is ready to leave Gilly and head to the Citadel, but changes his mind.  Sam says the belong together as they run out of Horn Hill, grabbing Heartsbane, the family's valyrian steel sword, on their way out. 

              I liked seeing Sam's family and feel like it added a lot of sympathy for the character.  We had heard horror stories of Sam and his father, in the book especially, but seeing it in person was a different level.  Despite all his growth, Sam is a little kid again when his father belittles him.  I expected and hoped Sam to stand up, and was initially disappointed when he didn't.  But him grabbing the sword and saying he will defend his new family felt satisfying.  Sam has taken a step forward for his character and I am really excited to see where he goes next.  Especially now that he has one of the few weapons who can kill White Walkers.

BRAAVOS

               Arya is back at a performance of Mel Brook Presents: Game of Thrones.  Clearly Essie Davis does not have the best luck with her on-screen sons with Tyrion maliciously murdering Joffrey and Tywin.  Clearly history is not remembering Tyrion well and this is a little sad, but Arya can't help but laugh at seeing Joffrey's death.  Her laughter stops when she sees a heartfelt performance from Lady Crane as Cersei.  Regret grows deeper in Arya after she poisons Crane's drink.  They meet at the door and Crane is kind to Arya, telling her the story of her childhood and inviting her to join the troupe.  Arya attempts to fulfill her duty to the Faceless Men, but her heart stops her as she rushes in, knocks the poison out of Crane's hand, and warns her of the killer among them.  Back at the House of Black and White, Arya finds Needle again and awaits the waif, anticipating an escape.

               As before, I really liked the play.  Tyrion being shown as a gross villain out to murder for revenge is interesting and tragic, showing how he is set to be viewed in history.  Arya laughing at Joff's death is fun too as she finally gets to see the moment she has been waiting for.  Essie Davis did a great job as Lady Crane despite its short screen time and I am really happy to see her get work after The Babadook.  My problems with the scene come once Arya takes her turn.  I have been let down by her story this season, feeling like it is repetitive.  I was excited, though, to see her finally gain the powers of the Faceless Men and begin hunting her targets.  Sadly, Arya could not make it through a single target and has already run from her promises.  Clearly, despite nearly two entire seasons of buildup, Arya was not ready to be No One and is back on her own once again.  If Arya doesn't even learn any of the transformation abilities of the Faceless Men, what was even the point of her joining them?  What has she really gained as a character that she couldn't have gained during her time with the Hound?  I am interested to see how this plays out now that she is a target herself, but as of now I am let down.

ROAD TO MEEREEN

               Danny and Darrio are on their way back to Meereen, countless Dothraki following.  Darrio questions her plans, saying she is a warrior more than a queen.  Danny heads off screen for some amount of time before returning, flying through the sky of Drogon the Dragon.  The Dothraki are obviously glad they wore their brown leather pants, looking up in total shock and awe.  Danny gives an epic hype speech, saying they will ride the wooden horses across the narrow sea, slaughter her enemies and destroy their homes.  Dothraki cheer, ready for war.  

               Danny's speech was really cool with how it borrowed lines from Khal Drogo's speech and playing to what she knows the Dothraki think.  The dragon effects were also impressive, especially compared to the weak appearance of her previous riding scene.  I am a bit confused about how exactly she found Drogon.  Does she have the ability to call on him when she needs to?  If so, why not call him to Vaes Dothrak to help save her?  I also wonder if her speech was even really needed to be made after the Dothraki bowed to her previously.  These windy words probably did not truly inspire more loyalty than she already had.  Regardless of these minor issues, I am excited for Danny's next move as she heads west to take the capital, King's Landing, and sit the throne she deserves by right.  

KING'S LANDING

              King Tommen is once again meeting with the High Sparrow and this time their conversation feels much more friendly.  He asks if there is any other way his wife can leave, and the Sparrow invites Tommen to see her himself.  When they meet, Margery acts as if she has truly had a Jesus Moment, behaving like she has found enlightenment through the Sparrow.  Later, Margery is brought out in front of the people, about to make her walk of shame.  The speech is cut short when Jaime and Mace Tyrell lead their armies to the sept.  Jaime demands Margaery and Loras be released or the army will slaughter the sparrows where they stand.  The High Sparrow smiles slyly as the doors open and King Tommen Baratheon walks out, a convert and true believer who promises an alliance between the crown and the faith.  

              Tommen later punishes Jaime for his march on the sept, robbing him of his King's Guard standing and sending him off to the Riverlands.  Jaime fruitlessly tries to reason with his son, before returning to Cersei.  They embrace and kiss, vowing to do what needs to be done to defeat their enemies.  Cersei will prepare for her trial by combat with the Mountain as her champion, and Jaime will head to the Riverlands to support Walder Frey's overthrowing of the Tullys.  

              I was somewhat disappointed by King's Landing this week.  The scene outside the sept was very well executed and tense, but it also felt anticlimactic.  The Sparrow coming out on top is an interesting twist, but not one I wanted to see.  The biggest drive for his story is his inevitable destruction, and knowing we will have to wait a lot longer to see it is disheartening.  But I am really excited for Jamie in the Riverlands and the Trial by Combat and was impacted seeing Jaime's son turn on him after drinking the Kol-Aid and going clear.  

NEXT WEEK ON BENJEN, AND THE HOLOGRAMS

              Next week's episode is titled "The Broken Man" and is written and directed by the same pairing who gave us this episode.  The official pre-episode description reads "The High Sparrow eyes another target.  Jaime confronts a hero.  Arya makes a plan.  The North is reminded."  In the teaser, we see Jaime arrive at the Riverlands and talk with The Blackfish, who says that as long as he stands, the War (of the Five Kings) is not over.  A man limps through a field of corpses and Walder Frey's son looks terrified. Lady Olena scolds Cersei,  blaming her for the fall of Kings Landing.  Yara assures Theon that they will retake what is theirs.  We also see the Stark loyalists begin to make their plays, with Sansa claiming her name, Jon trying to win Wildlings, and Davos giving a dark reminder that the dead are coming.   

              Arya will make some kind of plan to kill the Faceless Men that are trying to kill her and get away.  Perhaps her plan will be to use the faces and become someone else, which could make her unrecognizable to Jaqen and the waif.  I hope so, because I would love to see how the Faceless magic works.  I'm going to left-field predict that the new target of the High Sparrow is Qyburn, the Maester-No-More who is pledged to Cersei and resurrected The

Mountain.  If he could turn him, he would have all the deep knowledge of Cersei's plan for the trial, giving him the chance to choose a champion with enough bite to stand against the Mountain.

              I think Sansa will struggle to be taken seriously.  She is known as a highborn lady and not a warrior.  She will probably come out on top though by asserting some of that cold Stark strength she has grown over the last few seasons.  She is shaping up to be a strong leader, and I think this episode will help her know she is powerful, but perhaps it will also bring her closer to Jon, who she struggled to trust last time we saw them.  

           Jon himself will be North of the Wall and win over many Wildlings to his cause in a satisfying scene that helps build up his army for the war of the north.  He'll probably argue that he needs to defeat Ramsay so that he can turn his efforts north to the White Walkers.  He will remind them that he rode with the wildlings and he fought with the wildlings and that he is one of the only men in Westeros who knows their stories of the dead rising are true.

             Jaime is on his way to take Riverrun back from the Tully forces.  Brienne was sent by Jon Snow to Riverrun to try and turn the Tullys to the Stark's cause.  It is hardly a spoiler to predict that, in a typical Game of Thrones timing coincidence, we will probably see Brienne and Jaime reunited at the Riverlands, giving them a chance to catch up and see how much the other has changed since they were last together in early season 4.

             Many of the scenes that are coming in this episode are lifted from the previous books, so I will avoid theorizing around those.  All I'll say is that The North Remembers and those graves won't dig themselves.  

              We are now over halfway through this season of Game of Thrones, and this episode nicely put the pieces in place for the big plays that will define the end of this season.  So far, this has managed to be the biggest and maybe the best season of the series.  Can it hold up the quality to top it off?  We'll see.

              If you would like to read more of my writing, including weekly Game of Thrones reviews and a post breaking down the Children of the Forest and their creation of the White Walkers, you can find that and more right here at TheFilmFanAwakens.blogspot.com.  You can also follow me on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheFilmFanAwakens and on Twitter @FilmFanAwakens . Thanks a ton for reading this Game of Thrones review!  I can't wait to see you next week and remember, joining a cult that carves stars into their head is probably not a safe life choice.  

I'm Tristan Mayer from The Film Fan Awakens

Thanks for reading!

Note:  All the images used in this article are the property of their respective creators and copyright holders.  They rare used here under Fair Use for criticism and commentary.  If you have any requests or questions about these images, feel free to contact me through email at TheFilmFanAwakens@gmail.com.  I will gladly help to resolve your issue.

Children of the Forest, White Walkers, and Why it Matter on Game of Thrones

               This post will contain spoilers for Game of Thrones up to and including Season 6 Episode 5, "The Door" which aired on May 22nd, as well as lore from A Song of Ice and Fire.

               

             In the most recent episode of Game of Thrones, it was revealed that the Children of the Forest created the White Walkers.  In the scene, Bran and the Three Eyed Raven view the past and see a group of Children using Dragonglass and Old Magic to turn a captured human painfully into The Night King, now leader of the White Walkers.  The defense they use is that they created them as weapons to defend themselves against Men.  

            Even if you have read the books or been devoted to the show, you probably still have questions.  In this post, I will dive into the lore of Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire to explain who exactly these Children of the Forest are, why the created the White Walkers, and why all of this ancient history truly matters today.  

Wait, Children of the What?

                The first question we need to tackle is who exactly these Children of the Forest are.  The only time they have been seen in the series is with Bran in the cave, defending him with powerful magic unseen in the rest of Westeros.  To grasp their origin, we need to go back thousands of years to the first days of life in Westeros.  The earliest records talk about two distinct races: The Children and The Giants.  

          As seen in the show, the giants were large and powerful, often violent and harsh. This contradicts with what is known about the Children who were small and frail creatures, devoted to religion and preservation of the earth. They existed mostly in uneasy peace with each other, the Children living off the lands and the Giants plundering it. It is believed by most of Westeros that both are now extinct, although as viewers we know otherwise.  

                           

WARGS AND WEIRWOODS

           The most interesting and plot-significant aspect of the Children revolves around their magical abilities and their religion.  Many Children of the Forest were wargs and greenseers, who could control the minds of animals and have visions of the past and future.  As we have seen in the show, wargs and greenseers like Bran are still in Westeros, but are a very small rarity.  This makes Bran significantly connected to the Children in some way, being one of the few living Men who shares some of their magical abilities.  

           If you remember from the series, large weirwood trees with carved faces, such as the one at Winterfell or in Bran's cave, are viewed as sacred in the North.  One can be seen prominently in this scene from the first season.  These trees are left over from the Children, who believed they were connected directly to their countless, nameless gods.  This religion is still practiced today, but only in the North, with houses like the Starks praising The Old Gods and praying to the weirwoods.  Why is this religion only practiced in the North, and why are there no more Children of the Forest?  That brings us to the first big turning point in history: the arrival of The First Men.

FOLLOWING THE LIGHT OF THE SUN

          The First Men are the early settlers of humanity as we know it.  They existed in the far South and in Essos, but around ten to twelve thousand years ago, they marched north into Westeros.  Coming in from the farthest south in what is now Dorne, The First Men marched north, quickly and easily destroying any resistance from the Children.  The Children used magic and other abilities to fight, but they were no match against the then-modern weapons the Men used.  As they pushed North, they built farms and cities, destroying the preserved land and cutting down weirwoods as they went.   Some historians believe that the Men cut the weirwoods because they were afraid that the greenseers could spy on them through the eyes of the faces, although most people in Westeros today believe it was simply a religious statement.  As we know from the series, the first scenario is a strong possibility.

          The First Men were vastly overpowering the Children with their combat ability and weapons, and as more Men came into Westeros and more Children died, the war seemed nearly over and the Children would soon be extinct.  It is most likely in this moment that the Children made a desperate decision in an attempt to defend themselves against their enemy; a decision that changed Westeros forever.

IT'S ALIVE!!

          In Season 6, we learn that the Children of the Forest created the White Walkers.  We have not been given much time to explore this realization, but the explanation given by the Children in the cave was that it was defense against Man, which makes sense in the larger context of history between the Children and The First Men.  With quickly falling numbers and a war against an enemy who is destroying their land, culture and beliefs, turning to a deadly magic they do not fully understand is a reasonable if morally grey course of action.  It's also possible that the war caused the death of their most powerful magic-users and that the loss of weirwoods in the South weakened their powers, which added to the clearly unsuccessful act of dark magic.  They were on the edge of extinction and made a desperate decision in an attempt to preserve themselves.  

Dragonglass dagger

            There are still many questions to ask about this event and what it means overall.  White Walkers were not seen until hundreds of years after the war with the First Men.  Where have they been for those few centuries?  It is also interesting that they were forged with Obsidian/Dragonglass, which we have known for years is their weakness.  This was possibly done on purpose by the Children as a fail-safe for their weapon.

             Their weapon clearly did not work out for the Children.  The First Men won the war, signing a peace pact that banished the Children to only live in the thick forest of Westeros (hence, Children of the Forest).  The Children have not been seen since, any many historians believe that their existence was greatly exaggerated and they are long extinct.  As viewers, we know that they are wrong.  The Children are still around, even if they have small numbers, and their magical ability is undeniable.  

WHY IT MATTERS NOW

               The Children, after a brutal war, created the White Walkers through sacrificing The First Men in dark magic.  Thousands of years later, the Children are virtually gone and the White Walkers have returned in full force.  It is clear from the final scene that the Night King has an interest in stopping Bran and the Children.  He came with a full army to kill the Children, the Three Eyed Raven, and Bran.  There are probably major events in the past that the White Walkers do not want to get out, and perhaps they are motivated by a poetic revenge against their creators.  

          What could hide in the past that the Night King does not want modern humanity to know?  Azor Ahai, also called The Prince that was Promised, was a historical warrior who defended humanity against the White Walkers after their first invasion.  He is idolized by many in Westeros, particularly those who follow the Lord of Light like Melesandre.  Various theories about the Prince that was Promised are hoping for Azor Ahai to return, reincarnated through a modern hero.  We had a scene in this episode where a Red Priestess tells Tyrion that Dany Targaryen is Azor Ahai.  Melesandre once believed that Stannis Baratheon was Azor Ahai, and now believes that Jon is.   

             My theory is that the White Walkers want to stop Bran from discovering more about Azor Ahai, which would lead him to the key to their defeat.  They know that Bran can go to the past and witness their ancient defeat at the hands of Azor Ahai and they do not want that to happen.  Bran's goal from now on will be to learn the past of the White Walkers in search of a way to defeat them, which will lead him to discovering which character, if any, is Azor Ahai returned.  The White Walkers will target him in their own attempt to find Azor Ahai 2.0 to secure their victory over the world.  If they can kill Azor Ahai 2.0 before they even know they're Azor Ahai and destroy anyone who might know of their weakness, nothing could stop them.  If you want to know more about Azor Ahai and theories around him, watch this fantastic video from Alt Shift X.

         The final and really the most probable implication involves the Night King marking Bran and the magical barrier protecting the cave.  As we saw in the season 4 finale, there is an invisible magic barrier blocking the cave's entrance.  When wights try to enter, their obliterated instantly.  When the Night King touches Bran in his vision, however, the White Walkers are instantly honed to his location and the barrier is gone.

          What many may not know is that a similar magic barrier is placed on The Wall to keep the White Walkers north of Westeros.  The Wall was built by Bran the Builder (an early Stark) with Azor Ahai, the original Prince that was Promised.  The magical barrier was placed by the Children of the Forest.  If the Night King was able to get through the barrier at the cave by tagging Bran, would he be able to do the same thing with the larger barrier at The Wall?  Bran may need to stay north of the Wall from now on in order to avoid the risk of letting the White Walkers through.  Another possible way they could get through the Wall is if this battle at the cave resulted in the full extinction of the Children.  With no Children left, could their ancient spell on the Wall be moot?  A lot of questions with very few answers.  If this magic barrier is destroyed, very little is blocking the White Walkers from invading a nearly empty Castle Black and easily taking a chaos-filled North.

A SHORT HISTORY OF EVERYTHING

             The Children of the Forest were a peaceful people from the dawn of life in Westeros and were crushingly defeated by The First Men in an ancient war.  They desperately created the White Walkers and Night King, a decision that was ultimately a failure.  The White Walkers are back and hunting down Bran Stark, probably to stop him from discovering the truth about their past and identifying Azor Ahai.  This was a big reveal with fascinating implications in the past and future of Westeros.  How this will all play out is yet to be discovered, and I am beyond excited to see how it grows as we get closer and closer to the end of the epic Game of Thrones.

             If you are interested in diving into the lore of A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones, I recommend The World of Ice and Fire, a Westeros history encyclopedia written by George R.R. Martin.  If you want to read more of my writing, including weekly reviews of Game of Thrones and prediction posts, you can follow me on Blogspot at The Film Fan Awakens.  I am also on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheFilmFanAwakens and on Twitter @FilmFanAwakens .

I'm Tristan Mayer from The Film Fan Awakens.  

Thanks for reading!

Note:  All the images used in this article are owned by their respective creators and copyright holders.  Their use here is protected under Fair Use for criticism and commentary. If you have any requests or complaints regarding their use, please contact me via email at TheFilmFanAwakens@gmail.com and I will gladly work with you to resolve the issue.

One Door Opens... Reviewing Game of Thrones Episode 605 "The Door"

 
          Time travel visions and zombie invaders lead to magic-filled reveals and shocking losses.  For every answer, there are a thousand questions.  This week's episode of Game of Thrones was big and I will be going through it all.  First, I'll run through a quick list of what worked and what didn't in this episode.  After that, I will break down the episode by location in deep, mind-numbing detail for those who want to dive deep into the Weirwood Net.  Finally, 'll predict what might happen next.  This will be spoiler-stuffed, so if you have not watched the new episode of Game of Thrones catch up now.  Don't worry, Hodor will hold the door until you get back.

WHAT I LOVED

• MAJOR SPOILER: Hodor's Big Finish:  This was truly one of the most well executed scenes of the entire series.  With such an insane amount going on at once, it was a lot for the writer and the director to juggle.  This could have easily felt insanely confusing and heavily weakened the impact of the several large moments around it.  Sure, it takes a dive down the rabbit hole, but it managed to create such a beautiful scene so well that I was able to painfully enjoy every second of it.
  
• Jorah's Goodbye to Danny: these two characters have had a fascinating relationship on the page and the screen.  Ups and downs didn't stop Jorah's unflinching loyalty to the queen he loved, and despite all the mistakes Jorah has made and all the danger he put her in, Danny was truly sad to see her savior go.  I can't wait to see where both of these characters end up in the future.  And I hope we see Jorah the Andal standing next to the Iron Throne.

WHAT I LIKED

• Sansa telling off Littlefinger:  Sure, he's my favorite character, but that doesn't mean I have to like him.  It was about time somebody called Littlefinger out for his scheming and the fact that it was the girl once fawning over fairy tales and too afraid to speak her mind is all the more satisfying.  Sansa has come a long way and I think the writers are really trying to make up for the controversy they created with her.  My only complaint about this scene is that I think it would have been more smart for Sansa to think more on her decision.  The Vale has one of the strongest and largest armies in the seven kingdoms and it could have even more empowering to have Sansa start playing Littlefinger herself, using his feelings for her and his regret to her own advantage.
  
• Arya and her Traveling Circus: I had a lot of fun watching the Monty Python like play put on, and really enjoyed what it said about the way people look at the characters of our story.  However I think Arya's hesitation is a little unnecessary after so many seasons of building her up and I am ready to see her fully devote to the Faceless Men, even if she will drop the philosophy later.  
  
• The Focus:  Mostly, this episode does a great job focusing on specific storylines and leaving others for later.  One of the problems this show has had in the last few episodes is with trying to give every character a scene.  This ultimately turns some episodes into almost montages of major events, lessening their impact.  This episode spent a lot of time with many of the characters, giving them time to breath and shine.  It was not afraid to leave Kings Landing behind for an episode. 

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE

• The Greyjoy National Convention:  The Kingsmoot scene was enjoyable, especially seeing Theon step up to the plate, but the Greyjoy plot overall feels rushed and forced and mostly out of place as the rest of the story narrows its focus.  

Now, we'll get to the detailed breakdown, where I will go North to South (mostly) and give the events of the episode by location as well as my personal thoughts and analysis of them.  Skip to the bottom for my predictions on next week's episode.

Note:  Normally, I start Beyond the Wall and go south.  But because the Bran story was so big this week, I'm saving that for last.

THE WALL

           The episode begins with Sansa receiving a letter from Littlefinger, marked with the official sigil of the Tullys in the Vale.  She, backed up by Brienne, plans a secret meeting with Littlefinger and directly challenges him about the way he has treated her and the brutality she experienced  at the hands of Ramsay.  Littlefinger denies that he knew of just how ruthless Ramsay was, but Sansa does not buy it.  Littlefinger offers to use his army to help and insists he will do whatever Sansa wishes, even if it means facing his own death.  Sansa turns down his offer, sending Littlefinger and the Vale away.  Littlefinger leaves, but not before telling Sansa that her uncle, Brynden Blackfish Tully, has formed the Tully loyalists.  

           This is surely my inner optimist talking (probably from the future through a Weirwood) but I believe Littlefinger here.  Mostly, at least.  I think Littlefinger is irrationally loyal to Catlyn Stark and Sansa by extension.  He has done things for Sansa that have saved her from the clutches of certain death, and I believe that he would not have sent her to Ramsay alone had he known of his viciousness.  This speaks to the flaws and the depth of Littlefinger.  He is ruthless, but his love for Catlyn Stark is his one weakness, and his underestimating of people low on the latter could lead to his downfall.  Littlefinger is very much out for himself, but I do not think he is ruthless enough to leave the girl he probably dreams of being his own daughter - the girl who looks so much like the woman he loved as a child - to be raped and assaulted.

Blackfish Tully, Season 3

           Later, Jon, Davos and Sansa are planning their war with the Boltons.  Jon knows his numbers are small and can find the few houses left that could be loyal to the Starks.  Sansa drops that Blackfish regrouped the Tullys in Riverrun, but says she overheard it in Winterfell.  They conclude that, if they can turn the few remaining houses to loyalists and pick up the Tullys, they'll have a fighting chance against the Boltons.  Sansa sends Brienne to Riverrun to inform the Tullys of their fight while Jon and Davos head south to recruit the remaining Northern houses.  

           The Wall had a lot of great moment and set up this episode.  While most of the episode will surely be overshadowed by the Bran and Hodor moments, the shift just below cannot be overlooked.  What started out as Boltons vs Nights Watch is turning into a true War in the North.  When it hits, probably in episode 9, it is going to be huge and inevitably turn the tide of the show no matter which side wins.  And where will Littlefinger land?  

           "The North Remembers" was sure to excite book readers and Brienne heading to Riverrun means that those who are fond of people who dig graves should probably start to GET HYPE.  While I doubt there are stone hearts in our future, we may see a brotherhood back.  Who knows.  

IRON ISLANDS

           We are not at the Iron Islands long, but the scene there is ultimately the quick payoff of their plot this season.  They hold a Kingsmoot, which is sort of like a Party Convention or a Caucus where the Greyjoy ship captains can make their claims for the throne and decide who will lead.  It is essentially an early form of democracy where landowners are given the power to assert themselves as leaders, but it is ultimately about who can give the most rousing nonsensical speech and make the most irrational promises.  Yara makes her claim and is backed up by Theon, who proudly asserts himself as the son of Balon Greyjoy.  

         Their claim seems to be going well before Euron, Brother of Balon and uncle to Yara and Theon, shows up to make his own claim.  Euron had been away from the Iron Islands, living by his own folly across the world.  He recently returned to kill his brother, which he confesses to openly.  He claims that he can do better than his brother by wedding Dany Targaryen and taking the entire seven kingdoms.  The Greyjoys side with Euron, causing Yara and Theon to call their loyalists and take the ships, feeling to some unknown location.

           The Greyjoys are mildly interesting, but have mostly failed to feel connected or important to the story overall.  Euron potentially marrying Dany and bringing her West (remember, the Harpy burnt all of Dany's ships in the premier) could provide a way to make this plotline come around as significant.  Otherwise, it feels like a rushed execution of decent story from the books.  It is certainly not Dorne levels of bad, but in an episode with such big moments, the Kingsmoot is easy to forget.  

BRAAVOS

           Arya is truly No One, or is she?  The Braavos story opens with Arya continuing to get beat in the face with a stick.  I groaned, thinking we were in for another weird backwards step after she seemed to have completed her training last episode.  But this did not last long because Jaqen H'ghar comes and tells her that while she may not be entirely ready, she is going to finally go out on an assignment to test her dedication in the field.

           In a scene that perfectly mixed the fun with the heartbreak, Arya watches a mocking play running through the events of the early series.  Everyone is played out to be a total moron, especially Ned Stark.  They make Ned seem like he was a pure idiot, after the throne yet totally unaware of the way politics is played.  Arya clearly has a reaction to this, showing that the inaccurate belittling of her father is getting under her skin.  Personally, I now dream of a day when the previously on recaps are all created like this.

           Backstage, Arya spots the woman she is supposed to target.  The target (who plays Cersei) is a drinker, so Arya vows to poison the drink to kill her covertly.  While Jaqen doesn't tell Arya who paid for the assignment, Arya believes it was the younger actress (who played Sansa) out of jealousy.   

           I was really happy with Arya's story this week.  A lot of repetition in early episodes could feel worth it if she continues on these interesting assassination plots.  I also really liked the play.  It was fun to laugh at the exaggerated versions of our past characters, but it also had an interesting potential concept of how the people on the world view Ned Stark.  He was an honorable man who fought against the tyranny of kings, even when he had a deep personal connection with them.  However it is clear from this play that people see him as a power-hungry idiot and a laughing stock.  History is truly written by the victor. How will the common folk plays of the future look back at characters like Jon and Danny?  Only time will tell.

VAES DOTHRAK

           The scene here with Dany, Jorah, and Darrio is short, but impactful.  Dany is thankful for her rescue, but Jorah instantly outs himself as being infected with Greyscale and says he must leave before it is too late.  He confesses that he has always loved her and always will, clearly knowing that he is soon heading to his death.  Dany is clearly distraught, tears falling down her cheeks as she hears that there is no cure and that she is truly losing the man she should have trusted from the start.  Her last demand as his queen is that he find a cure, fix his illness, and return to her.  "When I rule the Seven Kingdoms, I need you there by my side."  

           This was a powerful moment, paying off the conflict of Jorah's relationship with Dany and his greyscale.  Dany clearly cares for Jorah and does not want him to go, but knows he must.  It also shows strength and love for Jorah to admit to the greyscale and leave when Dany could have soon welcomed him back.  Dany saying that she needs Jorah by her side seemed like a way of saying "I love you too" without having to say it.  Dany may not love Jorah in the romantic sense, but he has been with her every step of her journey and she has clearly realized her mistake in banishing him.  They full separation in this moment shows a big change for both characters as Dany will need to rely on the advice of others and Jorah will be off on his own, health failing, searching for a last bit a hope.  I do not think this will be last we see of Jorah.  Perhaps he will  turn to the Lord of Light like other characters, including those back in Meereen, are beginning to.

MEEREEN

           Tyrion, Greyworm. Messande, and Varys are all gathered discussing the aftermath of their proposal with the Masters.  As much as Greyworm seems hesitant to admit it, an uneasy peace was taken Meereen, with the Sons of the Harpy unseen and violence against the Masters virtually absent.  However all members of Meereen's House of Representatives know this peace cannot last and that they need to assure the people the Dany still retains control over Meereen.  In order to send this message, Tyrion turns to a Red Priestess.  This woman, who honors the same Lord of Light Melisandre does, is asked to help spread the word that Dany is in power.  The woman seems confident that Dany is Azor Ahai, The Prince(ss) that was Promised.  Tyrion is willing to accept any name and title if it keeps the peace, but Varys is more suspicious.  He challenges her, saying that Stannis was once called Azor Ahai and that it did not get him far.  The woman pushes back by digging out the story of Varys' cutting as a child and the voice that spoke to him through the flames that day.  Tyrion calms the situation and it seems to ultimately go in his favor, but I am sure this is not the last we will see of this tension.  

           Seeing Tyrion back in a position of political power is exciting and his dealings with these issues shows he can function as a leader, but can he only work in the short term?  A deal with the Masters can only keep the peace momentarily and entrusting a religious fanatic with maintaining the image of Dany is a big risk.  I think it is quite possible Tyrion has bit off much more than he can chew here.  He has always looked down upon religion and the gods, but as viewers we know that the Lord of Light, or at least his followers, has shown true power and has quite a lot of potential to be a true god of Westeros.  Will Tyrion's underestimation of this god lead to his downfall?  Or will it raise Dany up as Azor Ahai returned?  Once again, this episode sets up questions with its answers.  Tyrion's scepticism often embodies the audience's own, but as the world begins to see more and more true magic, especially in the far North, this denial of the metaphysical and supernatural may be soon at an end. 

BEYOND THE WALL

PSA: I know there are people here who read these reviews that do not watch the show.  I love you for keeping up with my writing despite your lack of knowledge in the subject, but if you have any interest in the series, please stop reading now.  You can spend your saved time by starting up the show yourself and coming back here to thank me later.

           We'll bounce back up all the way North to deal with the scenes that everyone will be talking about this week.  To cover the spoiler that has surely already paid the iron price for your social media feeds in the last few hours, if you watch the show or not.  The first Bran scene we are treated to is no small one.  Through a vision, we are taken to a very distant past where we see the Children of the Forest using ancient magic to turn a screaming human into a Wight Walker.  Bran awakens in a gasp simultaneous with mine and learns from the Child that is with him that they created the Wights as a last ditch effort of defense from humans. 

           Properly understanding this scene may require some outside knowledge from the ancient history of Westeros that has not been fully presented on the show.  Later this week, I will do a longer, detailed post on who the Children of the Forest are and why they created the Wight Walkers.  The short version is that the children of the Forest are the indigenous people of Westeros before a group vainly referred to in history books as The First Men came.  They crushed the Children with far superior technology and marched further and further North, destroying the Children's religion and culture as they went. After countless years of battle, they formed a peace pact.  The First Men would stop slaughtering the Children, but only if the Children remain in designated parts of the continent, hidden in deep forest.  Many years later, most of the beliefs and culture of the Children is now turned into exaggerated fairytale and legend as the culture of The First Men has taken over.  Sound familiar to the real world? As I said, history is written by the victor.

           The big scene everyone will be talking  about, though, is the epic finale of the episode involving plenty of big players from the Night's King to Hodor.  In an unassisted vision, Bran sees the Nights King and his army of Wights surrounding the Weirwood tree that they were initially created at.   Bran thinks he is just an observer, but is grabbed by the Nights King.  When Bran awakens, he has a blue handprint on his arm and the Raven says he has been tracked.  The Wights soon invade with crushing force.  The Children put up a fight, but their own twisted creation kills them.  Meera and Summer defend Bran, resulting in the death of yet another Stark Dierwolf.  

           Meanwhile, The Three Eyed Raven forces Bran into a deep vision back to Winterfell in the day his father is leaving for the Vale.  While there, The Three Eyed Raven tells him that his time has come.  The Night's King slices through him, causing him to fade to black Ravens in Bran's vision.  

           Bran, distraught and stuck in a vision of the past, hears the screams of Meera telling him to warg into Hodor and save them.  In the vision, Bran turns to Wylis, the young Hodor, causing him to collapse as his eyes fade.  "Hold the door!"  Meera shouts to the now aware Hodor, who does as he is told, holding the door as the zombified army tears at it.  Meera's command is not only heard in the present, though.  Wylis in Winterfell continuously repeats "hold the door!" as he flails in the arms of his mother.  Hodor in the present is being torn apart in his protection of Bran. Tears streaming down his face, dying, as the voice of his younger self blurs together the message that Bran has sent him. "Holdthedoor! Holdadoor! Holdoor! Hodor! Hodor!"

           This series has always been plagued with brutal and shocking death, often of characters we had come to love.  Ned Stark's lost his head because of his honor.  Robb Stark was betrayed by his own men because of his love.  Oberyn Martell's need to vengeance and validation  caused him to die at the hands of the man he hated.  The death of Wylis/Hodor stands tall among them.  Seeing the simple-minded but loving hero die protecting the crippled boy he knows ruined his life, even mistakenly, was truly moving and created a whole new level of love and respect for a character often used as the buttend of a joke in the fandom.  

           Not only was his death itself impactful, but it also carried huge story significance and implications for the future.  Once again we get to see the Wight Walkers and their king are no easy enemy.  The powerful Children of the Forest are crushed almost instantly, and Obi-Raven Kenobi, an ancient being possessing countless amounts of hidden knowledge, is lost in an instant.  Bran and whoever dares to help him has a large fight ahead of them, one that I am no longer sure of how they can win.  

           Hodor's transformation into Hodor as we know him is also tremendously important.  The idea of Bran truly affecting the past is no longer simple words in the wind.  It is true, proven, and dangerous.  And this is where it gets sticky.  The time travel we have seen in Game of Thrones is mostly a Bootstrap Paradox, more Prisoner of Azkaban than Back to the Future.  To explain, in Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and his story exist on a singular timeline, with events such as Harry being saved by a mysterious figure being seen and explained through time travel later.  Harry had to save himself, because it already happened.  In Back to the Future, though, Marty can fully change his present timeline by changing the past.  For example, his parents are super dorky when the movie starts, but because of the changes Marty makes, they become cool and rich when he returns.  

           The effect we saw Bran cause was something that has already happened in the timeline we are shown in the series, like in Prisoner of Azkaban.  Does that imply that Bran cannot change his past, but can create his past?  For example, could he go back in time and stop the Red Wedding?  Or can he only cause events to happen that have already happened in his timeline?  How can John Connor be conceived by a time traveler if the time traveler was sent back in time by John Connor?  How was Matthew McConaughey moving books on a bookshelf while he was looking at it?  What the holy hell was even happening at the end of Primer?  

           These are questions every time travel story needs to answer, and I really hope that the showrunners know what they are doing here.  It's a deep hole to dive down and I am afraid of  the mess it could create.  Time travel is fun, but it is also very hard to write and rarely works in a perfect way.  I'm sure this aspect of Bran's story will be a major one, perhaps all the way through to the end of the entire series, so pull up your Bootstraps steal a TARDIS because this could get very Timey-Wimey.

NEXT WEEK ON BRAN + MORTY

My predictions are based only on official HBO material.

           

           Next week is the 6th episode, titled "Blood of my Blood." The pre-episode description reads "An old foe comes back into the picture.  Gilly meets Sam's family.  Jaime faces off against the High Sparrow."  In the teaser, we see Meera carrying Bran from Wight Walkers and saying "I'm so sorry."  Gilly sits with Sam and his father, who eyes her with disdain. Margery Tyrell begins her confession as Jaime leads an army through the streets of Kings Landing.  Dany confidently states "I take what is mine."

       I am most excited to see Sam with his family.  His father has been told to be brutal and bare a lot of hatred for Sam, and his house is important and loyal to the throne, but he has never been seen on the show.  How he will interact with Sam, especially when he has a Wildling wife and child, will be really interesting.  I also expect Sam not to take it lying down because his confidence has grown in the series.  

           The biggest moments of the episode will probably be in the capitol.  The showdown at King's Landing is a long time coming, and I fully expect and hope that this is the end of it.  After this, Cersei and Jaime can focus their efforts south to take revenge for their murdered daughter.  Perhaps Jaime will be sent on a mission to recruit loyal houses willing to war with Dorne. 

           Arya will probably struggle to assassinate her target after seeing her as a nice person struggling with her own life.  However Arya will go through with it and deepen her spot within the Faceless Men.  It will also be a very fun thematic and visual nod if she kills the actress while she is dressed as Cersei Lannister, a name on Arya's list.     

           Bran, now potentially the most interesting and significant character on the show, will probably spend most if not all of the episode in Warg Mode, seeing visions of various past events, maybe at random and out of his control.  Perhaps we will return to the Tower of Joy so Bran can answer his question about what was going on in the tower.  We will also see more of Young Hodor to keep twisting that knife.  

Simpler Times

           Well, that was one of the longest things I've written outside of college research essays, but I am fully ready to write more.  If you want to keep up with those writings, including an upcoming piece on The Children of the Forest and their ultimate goals and a movie review of The Nice Guys, you can follow me on Blogspot at The Film Fan Awakens.  You can find me on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheFilmFanAwakens and on Twitter @FilmFanAwakens.  

        My Name is Tristan Mayer and I'll see you next week. Thanks for reading!