This season is turning into the season of character returns. Bran, Hodor, Meera, Osha, Rickon, and now this week's episode saw 3 more characters make their long awaited return. Walder Frey (boooooooo) and Edmure Tully appeared for the first time since season 3, and we finally found out what happened to Uncle Benjen! Whilst this episode was actually quite drama free in comparison to the past 5 episodes, there were a huge amount of major developments and power shifts that will affect the next 4 episodes of the season.
The episode opened where the last left off: with Bran and Meera fleeing the wights. Bran is still warging and we see glimpses of his visions, the most interesting being events that occurred before the timeline of the show. We see the Mad King Aerys on the Iron Thrones wanting to "burn them all", and we see Jaime Lannister stab him in the back.When the wights catch up to Brand and Meera, it seems like all is lost - that is until a mysterious cloaked figure on horseback appears and saves them. I wonder who this could be...
Down in Kings Landing, it seems like the High Sparrow has brainwashed King Tommen and Margaery into becoming devout members of the Faith. I'm pretty sure that Tommen is fallen for his patter hook, line and sinker - but I would be very surprised if Margaery isn't playing the situation and scheming for her own benefit here.
Over the Narrow Sea, Arya is beginning to rethink her career as a Faceless Man as she cannot bring herself to assassinate an innocent woman. It is an exciting moment when she uncovers her beloved Needle which she hid last season: a confirmation that No One is once again Arya Stark of Winterfell! Let's hope that she can find her way back to Westeros before Jaqen and the Waif silence her...
An old enemy returns in the form of Walder Frey, as both Brienne and Jaime descend on Riverrun to assist and destroy the Blackfish's newly assembled Tully army. It seems that Brienne and Jaime will reunite, but on opposite sides of a battle. We learn that the Brotherhood Without Banners are back (Lady Stoneheart anyone?) and that Edmure Tully has seemingly been languishing in the Twins' dungeons since the Red Wedding.
The episode ends with Daenerys reuniting with Drogon and delivering yet another inspiring speech to her new Khalasar and declaring her intentions to take them across the Narrow Sea to conquer Westeros. Will she actually follow it through this time?
Pros
- Yet another powerful speech from the Mother Of Dragons. I never get bored of those CGI dragons!
- Very cool flashback sequences from Bran - hopefully a sign of thing sto come as a we all wait for the R + L = J reveal.
- Part 2 of the Braavosi play about the story of Westeros. Seeing everyone weep while Arya delighted in watching Joffery die was a highlight of the episode.
- No Tyrion, Varys, Jon Snow or Sansa this week.
- Is Margeary playing the High Sparrow?
- Is Tommen really that stupid?
- Is Arya about to become someone again?
- Is Bran officially now the Three Eyed Raven?
- Why didn't Benjen return to Castle Black once he was saved by the Children Of The Forest to warn them of the White Walkers?
- If so many old characters are turning up, will we finally see Gendry soon?
Comparisons to the books
In the books, Bran, Jojen, Meera and Hodor are greeted by a mysterious cloaked figure at the Wall called Coldhands, who rides a great elk and guides them to the Three Eyed Raven. He first appears to save Sam and Gilly from White Walkers and takes them to the Wall where he says he is waiting for Bran. We never find out his identity but he is described as having black hands and does not seem to breathe. It is strongly insinuated that he is dead, something which is almost confirmed as he cannot enter the Three Eyed Raven's cave due to the magic that surrounds it, just like the wights who cannot enter, and he also cannot pass the wall for the same reason.
"Once the heart has ceased to beat, a man's blood runs down into his extremities, where it thickens and congeals... His hands and feet swell up and turn as black as pudding. The rest of him becomes as white as milk."
~ Coldhands
The books have never confirmed the true identity of Coldhands but many believe him to be Benjen Stark. The shows seem to have confirmed this theory, however I wouldn't be surprised if the books give him a different identity, as it is implied that he died a long time ago which doesn't fit in with the Uncle Benjen theory.
My favourite reactions to the episode
Fly KhaleasyJet - Mother of Airlines. #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/apfs9teCH2— The Pixel Factor (@ThePixelFactor) May 30, 2016
Benjen is closely followed by Gendry. #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/ILiptz672G— Game of Thrones Meme (@Thrones_Memes) May 31, 2016
About Tommen. #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/q36e396HjN— Jᴏɴ Sɴᴏᴡ (@RebellicusMiles) May 30, 2016
Tormund and Brienne in Love Actually. #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/89Z5TAW4MO— Game of Thrones Meme (@Thrones_Memes) May 30, 2016
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