SPOILERS for Game of Thrones Season 6
What’s sort of amazing to me, on a personal level, is how I really couldn’t care less about what happens at King’s Landing these days. At one time, I sort of half-ignored the comings and goings at Castle Black, wondering when we would get to the good parts. Now I’m all about Castle Black. Anyway, the third episode of Game of Thrones’ Season 6, “The Oathbreaker,” didn’t move the needle that much. We found out some new information, but nothing that groundbreaking beyond the Castle Black storyline. Here are some highlights:
Sam & Gilly are still on a boat. This is the first time we’ve seen them this season, and they’re still traveling to Oldtown. Sam hasn’t heard about the assassination (much less the resurrection) of Jon Snow. Sam and Gilly are mostly focused on themselves and what they’re going to do, and I’m not entirely sure where they came down – is Gilly going to live with Sam’s mom, or is she coming to Oldtown?
The Tower of Joy. Well, we were promised the Tower of Joy, and we saw the Tower of Joy. We just didn’t get to go inside the Tower of Joy and see Lyanna Stark, who is possibly giving birth to… someone. Jon Snow. But that’s a conversation for another episode, because Bran only got to see Young Ned and Young Howland Reed fight Ser Arthur Dayne and one other member of the Kingsguard, because why were they at the Tower of Joy and not fighting for Prince Rhaegar and the Mad King? So I guess they’re saving Lyanna for another episode.
Boring King’s Landing stuff. Cersei and Jamie are trying to be Machiavellian with the Small Council but their uncle Kevan Lannister – who has NEVER been a believer in Cersei or her brood – is all “nope.” It was nice seeing Dame Diana Rigg though. And Frankenclegane is properly frightening. Blah, blah, King Tommen talks to the High Sparrow and I guess we’re supposed to believe the High Sparrow is going to indoctrinate him or something. Oh, and Qyburn uses Varys’ “little birds,” which were just gossipy street children this whole time.
Daenerys & the Hut of Retired Vajayjays. I forget what the hut is really called, but let’s call it what it really is: the hut for retired Khaleesi Biscuits. Once a Khal dies, his wives are supposed to go to this hut and spend the rest of their days hanging out in brown smocks. It really is a retirement community. Obviously, the Mother of Dragons won’t spend the rest of her life there, she’s just waiting to be rescued, or maybe she’s waiting for Drogon (where is he?) to swoop down and set fire to everything.
Varys, Tyrion & the Sons of the Harpy. Varys had a good scene, where he was threatening, cajoling, blackmailing and everything else. He got to find out some information about how the Sons of the Harpy are being financed, which we would be great if Meereen’s FBI agents were trying to book the Sons of the Harpy on a RICO statute. But who the hell is running the Sons of the Harpy? Also, I felt like that scene between Tyrion, Grey Worm and Missandei was a waste. Tyrion is usually less of an awkward drunk.
A Girl is No One. Arya is back in the House of Black & White, and Jaqen H’ghar and the Waif are overseeing her education/training. The Girl seemed to make great strides very quickly and she eased into her No One persona within the space of a montage. Since the writers must have correctly assumed that we were tired of Blind Arya Getting her Ass Kicked, Jaqen gave Arya her sight back at the end of her training. YAY! Now Arya needs to get Needle (her sword) and grab a boat back to Westeros so she can kill everybody else on her list. Also: I like that she was still sort of confused about whether she wanted The Hound to die (foreshadowing!).
Ramsay Bolton, still a psycho. I will start to cry if I really get into this part of the show. I mean, it was amusing to see Ramsay interact with the head of another Northern house, House Umber. House Umber was where Bran sent Osha and Rickon several seasons ago – Bran thought that Umber would always be loyal to the Starks. Umber was not. Dudeface Umber presented Ramsay with a “gift”: Rickon and Osha. And to prove that the kid was really Rickon (Rickon is so grown-up looking, like a rangy teenager!), Dudeface dropped the head of Rickon’s direwolf, Shaggydog. Don’t make me talk about it. I will cry. I will also cry if I think too much about what Ramsay is going to do with Osha and Rickon.
Jon Snow is the Oathbreaker. Davos and Melisandre are sort of shocked that Jon actually did get resurrected. Jon says there’s nothing when you’re dead, and he does seem “changed” but not in a really drastic way. I think the “change” we’re seeing right now is mostly Jon being shocked that members of the Night’s Watch actually murdered him. I like that Tormund is still there, and I love what Tormund said to Jon about how he’s not a god. At the end of the show, Jon’s last act as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch is to hang Ser Alister Thorne and Olly, because f—k Olly. Olly didn’t even have any last words. You could still see the betrayal on Jon’s face. F—k Olly. And now that little bastard is dead. Good. After that, Jon turned over his cloak and said grimly, “My watch is over.” WOOOHOOO.
As for the next episode, we’re FINALLY getting some Littlefinger. Where has he been? What has he been up to? We’re also going to get Sansa and Brienne arriving at Castle Black, hopefully before Jon Snow has left…? Also, while everyone is focused on the reunion of Jon and Sansa, can we just take a moment and think about how awkward it’s going to be when Brienne meets the mother of the smoke-baby-monster who killed Renly? And what about when Davos meets the person who killed Stannis? YIKES.
Photos courtesy of EW, HBO/GOT.
Can maybe a book reader confirm to me, why are we still following Sam and Gilly? Do they play a bigger role in the future?
At the Citadel in the books Sam meets…
*SPOILER*
Jaqen disguised as a trainee, a Sand Snake, and a Maester who’s determined to bring back Daenerys. If they stick with the Jaqen plot maybe Arya gets sent there?
Ah! Thanking you kindly!
Why would Jaqen be at the Citadel if he’s trying to bring back Dany?
We don’t know. Sam just arrives at Oldtowne with Gilly when the books end.
I really doubt this will happen in the show. Besides in the books Sam has just arrived to Oldtown, the main meat imo is that he will learn something about the White Walkers and maybe dragons and then there will be
*SPOILER ALERT*
Ironborn invasion to the Reach. Oh and Sam’s father might be important.
I feel like I need to read the books. I can’t keep up with who these people are, where they are from, or what the heck they did last year.
I haven’t read the books either, but there are sites like Wiki and Watcher on the Wall where you can find out detailed info on all characters, even the most obscure. It’s pretty interesting but beware, you can spend hours there.
I got time. I usually spend my evening hours reading about Hillary’s emails, a new hobby would be good.
Then you will really enjoy them. I started the show after Joffrey’s death and these sites helped me catch up. It gives everything on all the houses – head of house, sigil, motto, etc. There are also some excellent videos on YouTube that explain Robert’s Rebellion, the First Men, and even evidence for R + L = J.
Or westeros.org.
@mayamae, thanks so much for the links. I will definitely check it out. Like kcap, I too get confuse w/ who’s who, especially those who arent the main characters.
At the end of book 5, Sam has just arrived at the Citadel. There has been some intrigue, including a murder and something having to do with a magic candle but Sam doesn’t know anything about any of it and the readers don’t know much more than what I’ve just posted.
Sam is the brains while everyone else runs around whapping each other with swords. He figured out using dragon-glass, and he’s going to the Citadel, in part, to research more. When winter comes I think Sam will be critical with designing tactics to battle the White Walkers.
Regardless of what shakes out at the very end, they are positioning Jon, Dany, Tyrion, Sam, and I think Arya and Brienne too, for the battle in the North. All of these characters are developing practical skills and personality traits that will allow them to lead in that fight.
I just love Sam. I hope his ignorant father heard how much Jon Snow and Maester Aemon valued Sam and his knowledge. I don’t understand why Sam’s father didn’t send Sam to the Citadel. Isn’t that something to be very proud of?
I like this theory. I think maybe Arya takes down monster Gregor with Sam’s help. Maybe.
Shaggy-Dog! Let us mourn for Shaggy-Dog.
Now, more than ever, Nymeria needs to resurface and rip out Ramsay’s throat.
I havent seen the episode yet but I ruined it for myself so meh.
Ive read a few theories that it’s not actually Shaggy dog and it might be a ploy/trap for Ramsey to kick off the battle……I f****** hope so!!
Well, that would be great and explain a lot. Because I can’t imagine Osha having a bag put over her head unwillingly without taking out several people in the process and her captor seemed devoid of recent wounds.
I’m REALLY hoping it’s true. They seriously need to leave the direwolves alone!!
I still haven’t gotten over seeing GreyWind die and then that King of the North scene
(which I realise makes me one of those people that cries when an animal dies in a movie while thousands of people die and this seems stupid to some, but I don’t care)
I hope those theories are right. I don’t think I can handle another Stark death, especially if it is at the hands of Ramsay.
I hope you are right. I am tired of Stark deaths/abuse/torture and the death of the direwolves. I hope it is all a ploy by Umber with Rickon and Osha’s cooperation.
After seeing Ramsey’s gift, I thought for the first time that I am not sure I want to watch anymore. Seeing Rickon and his wolf really ruined the episode for me. I can’t take another Stark in danger. I hope, as a PP said, this is a trick.
It was revolting. I’d like it to be a trick, but I doubt it. I can’t stand seeing the direwolves die.
I hated that part and like others have said contemplated just not watching anymore. Hopefully it is a trick because it pissed me off.
I’m definitely thinking it’s a trick because why would they hand over Osha, not just kill her? She’s no one, unless it’s to make sure she’s there with Rickon in WInterfell, as they all know what a psycho Ramsey is, and I feel slightly better knowing she’s there with him?
*fingers and paws crossed*
I had not thought about the possibility of Osha and Rickon being in on it. But, I can’t get behind that idea. There is no way after what Osha has gone through to protect those kids that she would willingly let Rickon be used in that way. And I don’t believe she’d allow herself to be separated from Rickon (for anyone who wants to argue it’s not really Rickon). I think it is Rickon. And that was Shaggydog (Lindy, I’m with you – the animals always upset me more) because there’s no way they’d be able to take Rickon without taking out Shaggydog first.
But I will admit to allowing the small kernel of hope these theories give me spring eternal.
@Lindy, I agree, why hand over Osha? Why not just kill her? And she would have put up a fight but nobody seemed to have any wounds or bruises.
Yes neither of them had a mark on them, which you’d imagine that Osha would have had to be subdued by force if they had tried to hurt Rickon. She wouldn’t have gone quietly, especially if they had to behead Shaggydog 🙁
Rickon didn’t even look that upset/worried considering the head of his beloved direwolf was laid out in front of him, although that could just be the acting I have no idea. I think I’m being overly hopeful in the fact they didn’t show what actually went down in Umber 🙁
Few people have asked is it actually Rickon haha, that’s what happens when you have teenage boys casted in shows and don’t use them for 18 months. The actor has shot up in height and looks but it’s definitely the same actor.
Omg I hope you are right!!
Shaggy Dog is not dead. This is part of the “rallying of the North” plot from the book. Rickon is the remaining Stark son that will be presented to disheartened Stark supporters to stand up and take back the North. Shaggy Dog is confirmation of Rickon’s Stark identity so no one will think he is a fraud. The North remembers!
Also my *guess* is Tyrion and Bran (wagging) will be two of the dragon rider. The third will either be Danerys or Jon Snow.
Anytime one of their Dire-wolves have fallen so has the character. Look at Sansa for crying out loud. I do love your guys theory about Rickon and Osha but I’m not seeing it. Not with this show.
@Lindy79 – I am the exact same way. If there’s violence against animals I get automatically sick & upset – even though this is all fake. I just can’t take it! 😢
Shaggydog 😢
I was distracted and looked away before this happened and I’m so glad I did. I heard Ramsay say “Hello Rickon Stark” and I guessed it must be because the wolf was dead. Bastards.
I am all in for the Shaggy Dead is not dead, it’s a trick conspiracy because I cannot deal with another dead direwolf! Plus I genuinely did think his head looked too small (a big part of the Twitter conspiracy backing), the head of Rob Stark’s Greywind was like five times bigger, so it seems weird. Plus it would be sweet justice if Ramsay got torn to shreds by a direwolf, slowly.
Peter Dinklage is an amazing actor. As a boy I asked for a dragon, even a small one like me, then drunk. there he is…what a scene. I said to by husband ok so now is Jon Snow like Jesus coming back from the dead and then they all treat him like a God…..you’re not a God, I saw your pecker and it’s small, lol. What a show…..
I was waiting for the Turmond/Jon reunion. I was so happy that Tormund recognized how overwhelmed Jon was and made a joke. And Jon made Dolorous Edd the Lord Commander! I said Edd needed to be the new Lord Commander. Of course, the brothers will have to vote, but come on. After a dead man is resurrected and chooses his successor? You kind of roll with that.
A lot of nothing happened everywhere last night. But Thank The Gods that Jon has left Castle Black. Now we’re getting somewhere!
–TheRealPinky
ITA about Jon’s leaving Castle Black, but if Sansa and Brienne show up and the Night’s Watch are like “Oh dang, you just missed him, he left yesterday” I will be so freaking pissed. The last thing I want to see this season is Sansa and Brienne chasing down Jon for 8 episodes.
I want a family reunion, dammit. LOL.
When I saw the preview for the next episode, I immediately thought “Son of a B****H!” I thought they’d miss each other again. But maybe they don’t. Maybe Sansa gets there and that’s when Jon realizes how bad things are at Winterfell and he needs to get the North in order. It makes sense. Then he’d learn that Bran and Rickon are alive, so he’d have even more reason to fight.
And how great would it be if the posters upstream are right and Umber turning Rickon over to Ramsey is a ploy and it wasn’t Shaggydog, then Shaggydog gets to reunite with Ghost and kick Bolton ass.
@ Rachel
I think Jon knows Bran is alive because he ran in to Sam & Gilly. Sam told him Bran refused to go to Castle Black because he was heading north of the Wall with Jojen, Meera, Hodor and Summer.
Face palm! How did I forget that! Just too many intersecting storylines for me to keep track of.
This is tinfoil at this point, but that wolf’s head looked awfully small. Shaggy is supposed to be the biggest and scariest wolf
That’s exactly what I thought! I mean, they obviously caught Osha and we have to assume that gangly teenager is Rickon—he looks a bit like big brother Bran, doesn’t he?—but that sure as heck didn’t look like the head of a big bad direwolf.
I agree! I’m hoping that House Umber is somehow trying to trick the Bolton’s to reinstate the Starks in the North. I don’t know the Umber’s name, but he was awesome. This week’s episode didn’t have much resolution of issues, but it did progress the story along. I’m hoping that next week has more action!
It’s Rickon. The actor is just older but I knew right away by the expression on his face & his hair that it was the same actor.
I hope this is the case. Please be true.
Soprana, I thought so too. I hope it’s not the real Shaggydog. Regardless, that scene made me so sad.
That size has to be intentional for us. Robb’s direwolf’s head was huge after the red wedding.
Yes I think on Tumblr someone mentioned that Roose Bolton had fought beside a direwolf — Robb’s wolf, Grey Wind — but Ramsay had not. So Ramsay would not know right away the size that a grown direwolf should be. The new Lord Umber may have thought, Let’s take advantage of this situation: Roose Bolton is dead and my father just died; I can approach Ramsay making common cause as we are two new Lords; Ramsay will not know a regular wolf’s head from a direwolf’s head; I can get Rickon back into Winterfell and take it over from within on these pretenses.
That is what I am hoping, anyway.
There is a theory floating around its bait for Ramsey and they are going to backstab him and side with a Stark. Their possibly tricking Ramsey into a false loyalty. Who knows but it would make sense its why the head is smaller than normal, a large wolf but not the real Shaggy.
Definitely too small for a direwolf. But, as mentioned, Ramsey wouldn’t know. Umber is leading him into a trap. In the novels, Smalljon Umber is dead, but in both the novel and show he was Robb’s personal bodyguard. He won’t turn. The North Remembers!!!!
They mentioned Manderly last night as being one of the remaining Stark bannermen but he hasn’t been on the show and they haven’t cast the part. In the books, Manderly is the only one who knows where Rickon has gone. Unaware of this, Stannis sends Davos to Manderly to ask for his support. Because Freys and Lannister relatives are visiting, Manderly pretends to imprison and execute Davos but really keeps him alive and sends him off in search of Rickon, Osha, and Shaggydog while he plans to visit Ramsay at Winterfell and secretly help Stannis from within (Mance and some Wildings are doing the same). Every morning, Ramsay’s men find the bodies of their comrades because Manderly’s men and Mance’s Wilding women are murdering them in the night.
They may be switching out Manderly with Umber.
How badass is Ser Arthur Dayne? Beating 4 or 5 alone. I’m kind of ticked that he lost because of being stabbed in the back. Gilly and Sam seemed pointless unless I missed something. Poor Rickan.
Yes! I am sick of badass warriors getting stabbed in the back on this show, lol.
He was truly impressive. And just doing his job. So it was sad to see him slain. But why *was* he at the Tower of Joy instead of Kings Landing?? He said Rhaegar wanted him at the Tower of Joy, but Rhaegar wasn’t king. He was a prince. Aerys was still king, and Rhaegar should not have had the power or authority to order Ser Arthur to the Tower. Ser Gerold Hightower was the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard at that time, and he was also at the Tower of Joy. He should not have been, and again, Rhaegar would not have had the power to order him there.
Rhaegar and ser Arthur were good friends, so maybe that’s why…
Or maybe Rhaegar sent him there to guard his heir once he is born. But Lyanna dies in childbirth, Ned realizes who the father is (she was able to tell him) and he realizes that he has just killed the baby’s protector. So he takes him home as Jon Snow, and raises Jon as his son.
Before leaving for the Trident, Rhaegar told Jaime he’d be making some “changes” when he returned. That’s understood to mean he was going to usurp his insane father – something nearly all (or all?) the Lord of Westeros desired. So probably fair to assume the knights, good friends of Rhaegar and witnesses to the Mad King’s brutality, knew what was going to go down and sided with Rhaegar.
We were robbed of a scene where Thorne and Olly realize Jon was back.
Why is Tyrion’s dialogue falling flat this season?
Because he is paired with Missandei and Grey Worm and they just want him to leave them alone together. Grey Wind was a better conversationalist than Grey Worm. He needs more time with Varys without the others.
Tyrion’s dialogue is falling flat because there’s no more book sources for the writers to draw from. It doesn’t sound like GRRM. I noticed that last week when he said “punch me in the face if I ever do that again” to Varys.
Completely agree on the difference in writing. It stood out to me starting with the first episode and the Dothraki top five list. GRRM never would have written that. It feels too modern.
Yes! Agree! That top 5 list sounded more like an episode of Friends and the “punch me in the face” was out of character as well.
That scene would have been amazing. But good lord the hate on Olly’s face. It was just pure loathing for Jon Snow. I’m glad Jon followed through, but you could see it cost him. Tore away a little piece of him.
“You have a small pecker.”
“That’s funny. You’re sure it’s really you?”
Edd and Tormund basically roasting Jon after he came back from the dead was my favorite part.
And we were totally trolled on Tower of Joy. I think Bran is going to start doing things on his own, which will ultimately end with him leading the White Walkers directly to the cave.
That’s an interesting theory since we saw on the trailers before the season started that the Ice King grabs Bran’s arm and we saw last night how Ned sort of heard him when he yelled. Perhaps Bran’s stubborness will hurt everyone in the end.
Tormund is quickly becoming a top favorite and the Wildings are as well. Tormund make a lots of jokes about Jon, when he was with them and they were funny then and now. Guess that is how Wildings show affection.
I don’t understand how this show is continuing without the books. What happens when the plot in the book differs from the show? Are they just seperate now?
At this point no one knows when GRRM plans on having the 6th book out and as for the supposed 7th and final book, that’s even further out. The show cannot wait for him to catch up. I do think the producers do know the end game and either will end it in a way that they feel is satisfying to the viewers (I think show wise, Dany is on the Iron Throne at the end. Book wise, I don’t think there will be an Iron Throne and she might die saving Westeros…for example) or get to GRRM’s ending but by different means.
For example, Stannis and his family are alive in the books and dead on the show. That’s not to say that won’t eventually be their fate in the books at some point but I feel like Stannis (as an example) had more to do in the books then he did in the show. Conversely, take our introduction to the Smalljon last night…in the books he’s decapitated at the Red Wedding and his father is taken prisoner. Show…father is dead and he’s alive and he turns Rickon over to Ramsey. Rickon in the books is on a far off island, so we are told, with Osha (this seems to be confirmed by Bran and Jon’s warging in the books as well). So I think at this point fans have to accept there is a show verse and book verse.
I believe I saw an interview with Weiss and Benioff where they said they are privy to how the series ends, and the show will end in the same way, but they’ll definitely take different routes to get there (and have for a while).
I for one will be glad after the last season next year. I need to know how it ends, and at this point, I don’t really have a lot of faith in GRRM’s ability to finish it before the inevitable happens. In the Game of Thrones, you either win, or you die.
I thought they’d confirmed 8 seasons?
The show supposedly has GRRM’s general outline. The story goes that when D&D approached the author, he asked them – who’s Jon Snow’s mother, and they answered to his satisfaction.
I don’t think GRRM meant for Jon Snow to live. Unless he was to somehow come back as a white walker.
*covers her ears and sings loudly*
lalalalalalalalalalalaa
I’m only here for the sake of it. I haven’t watched the episode yet!
I like a hard-core risky lifestyle!
😀
HODOR!
Can we also acknowledge Olly’s stupid face before he was hanged? Because LOL.
Bye Olly. No one will miss you, you little sh*t.
THIS. I waited three episode for that little sh*t to die and I savored every minute of it.
Yep, he got to kill Ygritte and to do what he did to Jon after everything Jon had done for him, no sympathy here.
How were some of the NightsWatch so clueless and ignorant to the White Walkers situation? Did they think Jon was lying when he told them what happened at Hardhome?
But the Wildlings were attacking and killing at Castle Black. And didn’t Ygritte kill his father? I’ve always understood Olly’s motivation. Doesn’t mean I agree with it.
No I do get why he hates them and his hatred blinded him from listening to Jon who genuinely cared about him, but like you, I don’t think that excuses him killing Jon and even his total lack of regret after Jon confronted him, yeah he’s gone so only course of action Jon could take really.
Olly thought he was saving Jon from a wildling attack when he killed Ygritte. That death was not actually motivated by malice, but by his desire to help Jon, who at that point was his new family. I believe there must’ve been something really twisted in Olly for him to turn on Jon in such a violent, final way. The complete loathing on his face as Jon stood before him at the gallows, as if he’d plunge a knife into his heart again if he could, just cements my opinion on that.
Stupid little sh!t with his smug face. Glad he’s deader than dead. Good riddance.
I think it’s supposed to be a face of torment, but the young actor wasn’t quite capable.
It came across as petulant right before the end. Didn’t see an ounce of remorse or regret.
No torment there. Just arrogance and hatred.
Love that they give us a close up of a dead Olly. Thanks showrunenrs, I for one wanted to see his dead smug face.
I was going to scream if he backed out of letting the little a-hole get his due. When he was truly dead I felt at peace.
Question for book readers or anyone who has an answer. When we first met Jaqen (a Man is so hot) H’gar, he was a prisoner being transported to the Wall. Now that we know he is a skilled faceless assassin, capable of assuming other identities, did he get captured on purpose? Why was he going to the Wall? Did he have an intended target, and if so, who?
THAT is what I’m coming to myself, that the Faceless men have an agenda here, They are backing a Horse and Using Arya for their own ends but I don’t know what is their endgame
I completely agree. In last night’s episode, Arya was asked to list out who was on her list (of people she’d like to kill). In the conversation, she asked what name they wanted to hear. The Faceless men definitely have their own agenda!
*** Possible spoiler/theory warning ***
I’m not following the TV show, so not sure how it’s being translated here, but in the books, there’s a fairly solid hint (for GRRM) that the Faceless Men have a dragon’s egg. (Euron claims he had a dragon’s egg but tossed it into the sea. What he really did was pay the Faceless to kill Balor.)
So the general consensus is that Jaqen is roaming around looking for information about dragons. But there are lots of theories about what the Faceless plan to do with their egg. Are they just trying to hatch it? Did they originally brought about the Doom of Valyria by doing some weird magic with dragon eggs, making the Valyrian volcanoes explode? Are they going to use their egg to set off the Dragonstone volcano? They ARE a death cult.
We don’t know the answer in the books because this question has not been resolved in the books. He’s still a mystery.
It was not my favorite episode of the season. Kit Harington just does nothing for me as an actor. I don’t need Jon to be more emo after death.
But Oathbreaker was a good title: The woman Varys interviewed who helped the Sons of the Harpy attack Dany and the unsullied, Umber breaking his oath to protect Rickon and handing him over to Ramsey, Umber reminding Ramsey that his father was an oathbreaker in his role of Robb Stark’s betrayal and murder, Dany’s not staying with the Khal widows, Sam was knowingly breaking his NW vows with Gilly, the men who murdered Jon were also Oathbreakers and Thorne, as their leader, said he would do it again and finally, Jon leaving the NW.
I agree with your assessment, up to your last line. Jon did not technically break his oath to the Night’s Watch. A man of the Night’s Watch serves til death. Jon died. His watch was over when he died.
I do agree with that…his death does not make him an oathbreaker per se, the NW does not have the “you are still one of us should you die and come back from death..” but I think they thought he’d be their leader, especially since he got rid of the mutineers. But technically, no he did not break an oath.
ETA: I always thought his “death” in the books is a way to get him off the Wall.
Ah, yes. That’s a good point. Independent of his oath to the Watch, he also had the loyalty to his friends and the men who looked up to him, and he is willing to just abandon them. I didn’t think of that angle.
But I don’t think Jon took his abandonment of the NW lightly. I think he was devastated that he had tried to do the right thing and was killed for it, and that betrayal broke him in regards to staying at the wall.
I feel badly for Ollie. Remember his parents were killed by wildlings? It would be hard to see those same people welcomed with open arms.
And eaten by the Thenns.
He stabbed Jon through the heart, a man that made him part of Castle Black. Welcomed him an outsider, just like the Wildings, into his protection. He was a budding psycho. No sympathy at all.
I still feel for him. He’s a boy who suffered terribly, latched onto Jon as his hero, then was heartbroken to see his parent’s (as well as many others at Castle Black) killers’ be embraced. He was too young to understand politics and the greater fight of the long night. When Jon and Sam had the chance to explain to Olly, they didn’t do a good job of it (plot contrivance). Then Olly had Thorne whispering in his ear. Thorne was very charismatic himself, and a natural leader. And the smug glare that everyone sees looks (to me) like he’s always on the verge of bursting into tears. He was so proud of himself when he killed Ygritte, and thinks he saved Jon. And, IMO, he was the only who hesitated in stabbing Jon.
Olly put the dagger through Jon’s heart. The Little f*cker needed to die, I don’t care how
traumatized he was that @ssh*le made sure to be the one to stab his lord commander
through the heart.
And what do you mean you saw nothing Jon??? You still know nothing?! How can that
be???? They showed nothing, damn it! I was waiting for answers and they did not
come. And now what? He’s just gonna go on his own without anyone backing him up?
WTF? Isn’t he supposed to be smarter now? This is frustrating.
Tyrion continues being gold as usual. He is the best. Also, Olenna. Her comments, on.
Point.
Poor Tommen is so pitiful. I can’t wait for the High Sparrow to be crushed already. He’s
getting on my last nerve with his high & mighty attitude.
Too much focuse on King’s Landing nonsense and not enough on Jon or Bran’s visions.
At least Arya got her eyesight back. And oh, poor Rickon.
There is a big rumor that the High Sparrow is Meera’s father Howland Reed, imposing revenge against the Lannister’s for Ned’s death.
I find it interesting since he was pointed out by the three-eyed crow in the flashback.
Did you see the outfit young Howland was wearing? Looked very much Friar tuck to me.
I’ve read unspoiled speculation that Lyanna gave birth to Jon and a girl. That the girl is Meera, and the two people present – Ned and Howland Reed, each took a child to raise and protect. Meera seems to be an important character, even though she doesn’t have her brother’s gift. Surely she’s still around for a reason. I assumed it’s because she’ll be Bran’s future wife. She would be his cousin (if fan theory is correct) but that’s so much better than your twin or sibling you’ve known from birth.
I don’t really buy this theory, by the way. There’s also convoluted theories about Ashara Dayne. She was Ser Arthur Dayne’s sister. Barristan, and possibly Ned, were infatuated with her. Ned took her her dead brother’s sword, and she killed herself. Barristan thinks she had a stillborn daughter, and that’s part of why she killed herself. So many think this child was Ned’s and it didn’t die, or that the baby is Meera, and Ned gave her to his closest friend, Howland, to raise.
And to add to my comment above, if Ned did have a child with Ashara, it would have occurred when Cat was still engaged to Ned’s brother Brandon, so Ned wouldn’t have dishonored Cat.
The problem with this theory is that it would be bad writing. There is no foreshadowing regarding Meera, while there is a ton of foreshadwoing regarding Jon. Martin put a lot of effort into making the plot twist with Jon believable, why would a plot twist including Meera end up being so random? That would be unbelievable. Also, it’s as Star Wars-y as it gets and I think martin would not simply copy something.
One of the theory of why some of Prince Rhaegar’s kingsguards weren’t fighting beside him is that they were stationed at the Tower of Joy to protect the future heir.
I am assuming that’s the reason why they’re there. To protect Jon Targaryen. Lol.
He could only be the heir if he was legitimized by the king. Even if he is the child of Rhaegar and Lyanna, he’s still a bastard. He could not be an heir, and Robert Baratheon was the self-proclaimed king at that point, and there’s no way he would have legitimized Rhaegar’s bastard. Dany and Viserys had already been spirited away, and Viserys was the rightful heir, at that point.
Maybe at a certain point Mad Aerys’s Kingsguard decided they were taking orders from Prince Rhaegar. The king was, after all, mad. If, among the Kingsguard, there was unanimous agreement that the king was incompetent, then who was their leader? The crown prince. And the crown prince said: station yourselves at the Tower of Joy. Maybe not to protect his “heir” but to protect the woman he loved most in the world, and their newborn. And would it have been so hard for Rhaegar to legitimize Jon once he was king? Henry VIII legitimized one of his bastard sons (but the boy died as a child). Rhaegar may have been thinking that Lyanna’s son would not have been an heir to the throne (because probably his children with Elia of House Dorne would have been first in line before Jon), but at least Jon would have been a legitimate son to him, I’m thinking.
Robert was viewed by many as the usurper. Rhaegal died before his father Aerys, who could have legitimized the child and Viserys was the rightful king after Aerys and he could have legitimized his nephew as well.
However there’s no saying that Lyanna and Rhaegar weren’t secretly married, is there?
It’d be pretty awful though for Rhaegar to give more concern to Lyanna and an unborn baby than his actual two children and heirs. But he seems like a bit of a dick anyway, so maybe that’s appropriate
Targaryans took multiple wives, apparently.
Plus the tower was in Dorne, home of the first wife, Elia. Could be protecting against the Dornish as much as anyone.
There is a history of polygamy with Targaryens so Rhaegar and Lyanna could have been married and Jon be legitimate.
Also, maybe Elia hated Rhaegar and was on board with Lyanna being in the picture, hence Lyanna being kept safe in the Tower of Joy?
Even if they got married, there’s no evidence for it. Everyone who might know is dead – except for Howland Reed and I doubt he has any more proof than his word.
Lyanna is Jon’s mother, but who else was there at the tower with Ned? Mira’s father. Jon and Mira are twins. That’s why they have the same hair LOL.
Sorry – just saw your comment. Posted similar above.
Great minds!
Prince Rhaegar didn’t know what gender his child was going to be. Lyanna was still pregnant when he died. And he already had a legal heir, his first born son who was with his Mom (Rhaegar’s wife) and little sister. They were in the Red Keep with Rhaegar’s crazy Father.
When their side lost the war, his wife and two children had no Kingsguard protection. She was brutally raped by the Mountain and butchered along with her two children. So Prince Rhaegar either thought his child with Lyanna should take his/her older brother and sister’s place in liner or the Kingsguard were there to prevent the Starks from taking Lyanna back.
Chances are the Kingsguard were there specifically to stop the Stark loyalists from taking Lyanna back to the North. That’s why we had the epic sword fight at the Tower of Joy. Warrior against warrior.
Rhaegar believed that Jaime Lannister, a Kingsguard, remained posted at King’s Landing and was protecting Aerys and Elia and the children. Which, btw — why *didn’t* Jaime protect them?? Because Tywin told him not to??? I am puzzled as to the timing of the conquest of King’s Landing:
-Tywin let Ned and his army in through the gates, and Tywin’s men sacked KL while Ned went straight for the Red Keep
-As soon as Aerys heard that Tywin had betrayed him, he ordered Jaime to bring him (Aerys) Tywin’s head.
-Jaime killed Aerys
-Ned entered the Red Keep and saw Jaime on the throne
So how did it happen that neither Ned nor Jaime could save Elia and the children from their horrible end? Oh, I guess because Elia and the children were in a completely different part of the Keep. Tywin brought The Mountain directly to dispose of all would-be claimants to the throne. He orchestrated that brutality quite apart from Jaime.
In that case, yes, Rhaegar made a terrible mistake posting three of his Kingsguard at the Tower of Joy instead of sending at least one or two of them to personally guard Elia and his older offspring.
Dee Kay, Ned and his army arrived a bit later than Tywin’s army, so time was on Tywin’s side. And I guess Jaime did not know what Tywin was planning. Also, he was with Aerys and mainly protecting him, not the children.
I’ve read a supposed to be ‘leak’ from an extra on the set a while back online. I don’t know if it’s legit or not but if it is……
It’s all going down (The north battle) on Ep9.
It used to be I counted down every single long day just to get to Friday. Now it’s all about Sunday. I’m wishing away my life to see more GoT.
Ha tell me about it, and it’s annoying because I work Mon-Fri so I’m basically wishing for Sunday night 🙁
Penny Dreadful is on Sunday, too. My favorite night for television.
Their penultimate episodes tend to be when all hell breaks loose.
I think it’s awful that Entertainment Weekly put such a massive spoiler for a show on the cover where the whole world could walk past it. This is the only show where you can’t DVR it. They didn’t spoil Breaking Bad, for instance.
I know they save the CGI for the dragons, but would it have killed them to show Ghost with Jon as he walks away? Especially after another Stark dire wolf death?
I’m guessing that Jon doesn’t go far. My guess is that Melisandre and/or Ser Davos will intercept him to try to convince him to lead an army to Winterfell.
In the books Jon does go to Winterfell to fight… the order is different in the series. He sends a crew to get the wildlings from the north and he goes to Winterfell and returns when Stannis loses.
I’m thinking Melisandra and Davos pledge their loyalties to him. There is a reunion with Sansa and they learn what is happening at Winterfell and they prep for battle.
Jon does not go to Winterfell in the books. He sends Mance and a group of women to infiltrate Wintefell and rescue what he thinks is Arya.
I hope another book comes out this summer or fall. It’s just been too long and it would be cool to see what the differences between George’s vision of the story is and what is happening this season.
I found it difficult to pay attention this episode. But dammit, good riddance, Olly. Arya regaining sight just felt too easily wrapped up, somehow. Osha seemed way too calm. Now come on, Sansa and Brienne to Castle Black.
Maester Pycelle farting when Franken Mountain walked in to the Small Council meeting reminded me of his part in the bad lip reading video. I think the showrunners were having a little fun with the fans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Krz-dyD-UQ
Hahaha. Did he really fart? My boyfriend asked that when it happened because the BLR video cracks us up, but I just barely heard it and dismissed the sound for a creaky chair.
My closed captioning actually said – farts. I couldn’t believe it.
The Pycelle farting reminded me so much of one of the funniest scenes in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt where Titus is being interviewed live on TV but doesn’t know yet that he is being recorded. He freaks out and tries to run out of camera range, only to fall on the bed and fart instead.
After reading that wardrobe has kept the Lord Commander cloak unwashed all these years for authenticity, I was imagining KH’s glee at handing the malodorous thing off.
Dolorous Edd and his malodorous cloak. What a pair!
Rickon to Bran, “I’m your brother, I have to protect you”. This scene still gets to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVlRkEqI2T0
It will kill Bran if Rickon is killed. He will blame himself for sending Rickon there.
Did anyone else think young Ned looked exactly like Neil Patrick Harris? I found it distracting.
WOW! What a snooze fest that episode was.
The only thing that interests me at this point is Hodor and Jaqen.
I found this theory on Hodor-Wylis :
‘As we saw in the episode, Lyanna is very kind to Hodor and is also an accomplished rider. It’s possible that Hodor could have warged into Lyanna’s horse in order to spend more time with her and, as gbinasia theorizes, might have been in control of the horse when it was later slain, potentially causing him brain damage. Or he could have simply spent too much time warging and ended up taking on horselike characteristics. It could also explain why Bran is able to warg into him: If he actually has the mind of an animal, it should be pretty much the same for Bran as warging into other animals. The only question left would be why Hodor only says “Hodor.” But what if that’s the name of Lyanna’s horse?’
Also I was wondering if the mad King could have been driven to madness by a warging Bran?
‘Bran realizes that others can hear him during the visions from the past, but doesn’t understand that they cannot fully understand him.
He then attempts to reason with King Aerys when shown a vision of him.
The King only hears whispers, and is driven mad by it.
Bran tries to fix this, however makes it worse.
Mad King Aerys burns Bran’s grandfather alive while Bran frantically tries to stop him.
All he hears is whispers.’
Bran sets the events of the show in motion just by warging in the past.
This is time travel issues all over again! Is Game of Thrones becoming a Sci-fi?
😀
We also know that Ned has been willing to lie for the sake of others before. He did so for Sansa, directly.
As honorable as he is, he’s willing to lie to protect himself and others. Howland stabbing Arthur Dayne was incredibly dishonorable. In an honest fight Arthur would’ve killed Ned, but the legend prevails that he fought heroically and beat the Sword of the Morning.
It’s not true that the best liars lie all the time.
The best liars make sure to tell the truth all the time until they need that single, well placed, lie.
For Ned, that’s the Tower of Joy.
Even if that head it is NOT Shaggy Dog’s (it looks like a regular wolf’s head to me), just stop killing direwolves FFS. Any of them! They’re more endangered than the Starks now.
I think the rest of it will be a snooze fest as well. They are relying on the flash back mode of storytelling (Bran, etc), because they can’t go forward with anything else.
I think I’ll be in a nursing home by the time George RR Martin finishes and publishes the next novel and by then, I’m not going to be giving any flying fudges.
What if Wylis/Hodor is Jon’s father? I don’t read the books. But I enjoy tinfoil. Shiny!
I mean, iirc, book Arya and Jon can warg, but not their tv counterparts. Bran can wary on tv. Hodor could in the books? Is warging a Stark trait, or is it random, or just random but genetic? You create more questions than you answer, Martin! 😠
Please consider posting title headings that don’t give away anything about the episode! For those of us who are unable to watch the show until the next day, it’s always frustrating to be scrolling through a site and see a caption that gives away even a little bit about the show.
I am sorry but how was that header a spoiler?
If you haven’t watched GoT since the start of the season I would highly recommend you to stay off the internet because everything and everywhere talks about what happens in episode 2!
There are no spoilers in the title header.
Where is Baelish and Bronn?
The only highlight in this episode was Arya. The rest were lacklustre. The ending was lacklustre. The only thing I have to say about Snow -he finally grew a pair.