Lots happening in tonight’s Game of Thrones, including Sansa and Ramsay’s wedding! Get a sneak peek of “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken”, airing at 9:00pm ET|PT on HBO.
On last week’s Game of Thrones episode, “Kill the Boy”:
Castle Black: Lord Commander Jon (Kit Harington) sought advice from Maester Aemon (Peter Vaughan) about an action he wanted to take, though it would divide the Night’s Watch. The maester was adamant that Jon do whatever he thought was best “Kill the boy, Jon Snow…and let the man be born.” So no more indecision. Jon then went to Tormund (Kristofer Hivju), freed him, and asked him to gather the remainder of the free folk north of the wall and bring them back to Castle Black. Jon promised to get Stannis’ (Stephen Dillane) fleet of ships to transport them and would travel with Tormund to provide assurances. When he announced the plan to the remainder of the Night’s Watch, they weren’t pleased. As far as they were concerned, the Wildlings could die. In particular, young Olly (Brenock O’Connor), who’s entire family and village were murdered by the Wildlings expressed being upset with prospects for peace. But for Jon, winter was coming, and they couldn’t face it alone.
Stannis gave the order that his army and family would leave Castle Black, heading for Winterfell; however, before he left, he spoke to Samwell (John Bradley) in the library. Even though Sam didn’t look like a soldier (like his father, Randyll Tarly), he had killed a white walker with obsidian. Stannis encouraged Sam to keep up with his research to learn how to fight the walkers when they arrived.
*SIDENOTE* (1) Love that Maester Aemon is still keeping tabs on Dany: “A Targaryen alone in the world is a terrible thing.” (2) Still really enjoy the relationship between Ser Davos (Liam Cunningham) and Shireen (Kerry Ingram).
Winterfell: Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) and Pod (Daniel Portman) were outside of Winterfell, and while he thought Sansa (Sophie Turner) would be better off in the North far from the Lannisters, Brienne disagreed. The Boltons couldn’t be trusted and Sansa was in danger. It turned out that the innkeeper knew the Starks and agreed to get a message from Brienne to Sansa. Sansa’s lady’s maid brought that message: “You still have friends in the North. If you’re ever in trouble, light a candle in the highest window of the broken tower. You’re not alone.”
In Winterfell, Ramsay’s (Iwan Rheon) continued to have sex with his lover, Miranda (the kennel master’s daughter), though she was angry that he would be marrying Sansa instead. How could Miranda get revenge? When Sansa was out walking, Miranda met her and convinced her to walk to the back to the kennels…where Theon/Reek (Alfie Allen) was sleeping in one of the cages. She recognized him immediately, and he responded saying that she shouldn’t be there. Later when Reek was helping Ramsay get ready for dinner, he confessed that Sansa had seen him. Ramsay made Reek kneel and then forgave him. At dinner, Ramsay brought Reek out and forced him to apologize to Sansa for killing Bran and Rickon. But she was disgusted with Ramsay for making this spectacle…he even suggested that Reek give away Sansa at their wedding! However, Roose (Michael McElhatton) put Ramsay in his place when he announced that his wife Walda (Elizabeth Webster) was pregnant, likely with a boy. Ramsay was no longer in a jovial mood.
After dinner, Roose talked to Ramsay, saying that if his newly legitimized son wished to remain his heir, he’d have to help when Stannis attacked Winterfell.
Meereen: Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) was alive and recovering from his attack with Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) at his side. When he woke, he lamented failing Ser Barristan (Ian McElhinney), his men, and his Queen. He was ashamed, not because he was wounded, but because as he fought, he feared never seeing Missandei again. She was moved and comforted Grey Worm with a kiss.
At the same time, Dany (Emilia Clarke) mourned Ser Barristan’s death and promised vengeance against the masked butchers. Daario (Michiel Huisman) suggested locking down the city and clearing it out, neighborhood, by neighborhood. However, Dany had other plans. She assembled the leaders of Meereen’s great families—including Hizdahr zo Loraq (Joel Fry)—and fed one to her dragons, eventually imprisoning the rest. Dany pledged never to give up on her children, even if she had to discipline them…(*SIDENOTE* I had the feeling she was talking about the dragons as well as the citizens of the city.)
What would Dany do? Barristan advised mercy, Daario suggested a violent purge, but she wanted to know what Missandei thought. According to Missandei, she knew that Dany could ignore her counselors and find a better option, one only she could see. What was the alternative? In this case, it was reinstating the tradition of the fighting pits and marrying a leader of one of the ancient Meereenese families: Hizdahr zo Loraq!
Elsewhere, as Jorah (Iain Glen) sailed towards Meereen with Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), they took a route through the ruins of Valyria to avoid pirates who feared the Doom. As they continued, the missing Drogon flew above them…unfortunately the majesty of the moment ended when they were attacked by Stone Men. Jorah fought them off gallantly and saved Tyrion when he went overboard. Unfortunately, in the process, one of the Stone Men touched Jorah, who now had that beginnings of greyscale on his arm.
In tonight’s episode “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken” written by Bryan Cogman and directed by Jeremy Podeswa:
Arya trains (Maisie Williams). Jorah and Tyrion run into slavers. Trystane (Toby Sebastian) and Myrcella (Nell Tiger Free) make plans. Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Bronn (Jerome Flynn) reach their destination. The Sand Snakes attack. (via HBO)
According to this week’s Entertainment Weekly Spoiler Room, the upcoming episode will also feature Sansa and Ramsay’s wedding, “which will definitely have people talking”, and the return of one fan-favorite character. Judging by the photo stills and trailer from the episode (below), Margaery’s (Natalie Dormer) grandmother, Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg), will return to King’s Landing, perhaps in an effort to free Loras (Finn Jones) and keep Cersei (Lena Headey) at bay.
Remember to tune into HBO at 9:00pm ET|PT for “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken”, and make sure to come live tweet with me as we watch.
In case you miss this airing (or just want to re-watch), the episode will re-air on HBO at the following times:
May 17 = 11:30pm, 2:00am
May 18 = 10:30pm (9:00pm on HBO2)
May 19 = 9:00pm, 2:15am
May 20 = 1:15am
May 21 = 10:00pm
May 22 = 9:00pm (2:45am on HBO2)
May 23 = 10:15pm (3:00pm on HBO2)
