Jon and Sansa found allies and enemies in the North, while Dany made drastic decisions and Tyrion took a swim on Game of Thrones season 5, episode 5.
Retribution
In the aftermath of Ser Barristan’s death, Dany’s much-reduced advisers offer various pieces of violent advice. Dany decides to make it personal. She rounds up the heads of the Great Houses and forces them into Rhaegal and Viserion’s vault.
“A good mother never gives up on her children,” she says, and pushes one Master forward, to be burned and devoured by her dragons. Dany considers killing the rest of them, but when Hizdahr zo Loraq displays unexpected bravery, she relents – for now.
The other choice
Missandei is at Grey Worm’s bedside when he awakens. He has failed Dany, and also feels shame because he felt fear as he was stabbed – fear that he would never see Missandei again.
Missandei finally kisses Grey Worm, and we’re melting just a little.
Later, Dany asks Missandei for her advice. Missandei says that she has seen Dany ignore her councilers because there was a better choice – “One that only you could see.”
Apparently, Dany sees this choice. She visits the terrified Hizdahr in his cell and admits that he was right about tradition.
Dany decrees that she will reopen the fighting pits – to freed men only. And to create a lasting bond with Meereen, she will marry the leader of a Great House.
“Luckily,” she says, to the kneeling man, “A suitor is aleady on his knees.”
It’s safe to say that Hizdahr did not see this one coming.
Unchained
Up at the Wall, Maester Aemon encourages Jon to go forward with a plan which will bitterly divide the Night’s Watch.
“Find the strength to do what needs to be done,” Aemon tells him. “Kill the boy, and let the man be born.”
Apparently decided, Jon attempts to convince Tormund to bring the wildlings south and make peace. It doesn’t go smoothly, but by unshackling the giant man, Jon manages to get his point across – the women and children of the Free Folk need to be saved from the White Walkers. He promises that they will be settled on land below the Wall.
Tormund grudgingly agrees to seek out the willing host at Hardhome – as long as Jon Snow comes along to demonstrate his good faith.
The realms of men
Understandably – but unfortunately – Night’s Watch, who are uniformly and emphatically opposed to making peace with their ancient enemies. Of particular concern is Olly, who is deeply disturbed that Jon would make peace with the people (not even the general race, but the exact people) who murdered everyone he knew.
Jon sympathizes with the boy’s pain but reminds him that “Winter is coming. We know what’s coming with it and we can’t face it alone.”
Olly’s like, “Great, I’ll tell my mom. Oh wait, the Thenns ate her.”
Stannis and Sam talk discuss White Walkers in the library. Sam admits that he has no idea why dragonglass kills them, but Stannous – who knows from Melisandre that they must prepare to fight the undead – tells Sam to continue his research.
Stannis has also lent Jon his fleet to sail to Hardhome. Soon, the King – and his daughter, his wife, and his sorceress – begin the march south to Winterfell.
Dogs
Brienne has settled near the castle and tries to send a message to Sansa. However, Sansa is not entirely alone; her elderly maid instructs her to light a candle in the highest window of the broken tower if she is in need of aid.
Clearly, not all is peaceful at Winterfell. Ramsay’s girlfriend Myranda is upset that he’s getting married, though she promises him not to bore him. Later, Myranda sends Sansa into the dog kennels where she finds Theon sleeping in filth.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he whispers, and Sansa flees.
At dinner, Ramsay makes a toast to his and Sansa’s wedding at dinner; Sansa doesn’t drink. She reminds Roose’s wife, Fat Walda that Winterfell is her home.
“It’s the people who are strange,” she says. (Go girl!)
When Theon arrives, Ramsay explains how he has punished “Reek” for killing Sansa’s brothers. He then proposes that Reek is the nearest she has to living kin, and will give her away at the wedding.
Fat Walda announces that she is pregnant – and it’s probably a boy. Ramsay is pissed the FUCK off and confronts Roose later; he knows that he is only the heir until a better option comes along. Roose tells Ramsay his origin story, which involves Roose raping his mother after killing her husband.
Roose admits that he was going to kill the woman’s child, until he saw him. “I looked at you and I saw then what I saw now,” he says. “You are my son.”
He tells Ramsay that they are going to fight off Stannis Baratheon, because the North is theirs.
No it’s not the North remembers you assholes
Ruins
After days of boredom, exposure, and occasional violence, Tyrion continues to try and sweet-talk Jorah. He wants wine, and for his hands to be untied; Jorah does not oblige.
Jorah sails through the Smoking Sea of Valyria, where allegedly the Doom still rules. They marveling at the ruined city; Tyrion rises to his feet in awe Drogon soars overhead.
But the shine wears off rapidly when Jorah and Tyrion are attacked by Stone Men – people afflicted with greyscale, exiled to the ruins of Valyria.
“Don’t let them touch you!” Jorah bellows, fighting them off, but that’s the least of Tyrion’s problem. He falls in the water, dragged down by a stone man; his hands are bound.
Tyrion awakens on the shore, with Jorah, who finally frees his hands. They decided to walk up the coast, and confirm that neither of them were touched. Jorah heads off in one direction, bathed in brilliant sun. He raises his sleeve and finds a patch of greyscale blossoming on his arm.
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