Game of Thrones season 5 is over the halfway line, and the players are making their moves.
After their respective characters sat last week’s installment out, this week we returned to King’s Landing, Braavos, and Dorne. The pieces of the Game of Thrones have been placed, and now the players make their moves. In a surprisingly eventful episode, “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken” saw Tyrion and Jorah kidnapped, both the Sand Snakes and Jaime Lannister foiled by Prince Doran, the Tyrells imprisoned, Arya face a difficult dilemma, and Sansa face her marriage to the disgusting Ramsay Bolton. We might have been missing Jon, Dany, Brienne and a few other faces, but there was still plenty going on. We’ve picked our five favorite moments from the episode — check them out below and add yours in the comments!
Related: Game of Thrones season 5: Our 5 favorite moments from “Kill the Boy”
‘We never stop playing.’
Arya’s Braavos story line has been a bit slow and plodding for most of this season, but things took an interesting turn when she appeared to win the game of faces after weeks of struggles. The music for Arya’s scenes earns it a spot on this list by itself, but the overwhelming scene of the many “faces” in the hall were jaw dropping.
Not only did this particular sequence contain the most spectacular visuals, but it also presents Arya with a very interesting opportunity. With the vengeful Stark girl about to take on a new face, we wouldn’t want to be in Ser Meryn Trant’s shoes. On his way to Braavos, on Arya’s kill list, and not even able to recognize her.
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake.’
Last night’s episode saw several plot threads come together, as Myrcella’s blossoming romance, Jaime’s search for his daughter, the Sand Snakes’ quest for revenge, and Prince Doran’s quiet plotting all converged on Dorne’s famous Water Gardens.
Bronn was, as always, on fine form throughout the episode. His hilarious quips made a well choreographed fight scene hilarious as well as exciting. Jaime couldn’t smuggle Myrcella away, The Sand Snakes’ violent vendetta couldn’t stop the men of Westeros, and none of them could handle Prince Doran’s guards. It looks like the Martell and Lannister relations just got a lot more complicated.
‘We both peddle fantasies, Brother Lancel, mine just happen to be entertaining.’
Littlefinger decided to crack out his magical teleportation device again, as Game of Thrones‘ time-travelling mastermind left one end of the country, and appeared in the other soon after. That’s not the only trick up Petyr Baelish’s sleeve though, as he also proved (once again) that he’s also one of the most cunning men in the Seven Kingdoms.
As his plan was slowly revealed during a charged exchange with Cersei, we can’t help but feel excited. Is another full-scale war about to engulf Westeros? The character roster is certainly starting to get crowded again, it’s probably about time the writers killed a few thousand off. One thing’s for sure, Baelish looks set to play his final hand in the Game of Thrones.
‘And the famous tart, Queen Cersei.’
Diana Rigg made her season 5 debut in “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken,” and the Queen of Thorns was back on form! Her sarcastic quips and brutal honesty always make Olenna Tyrell a delight to watch on screen with any character — but pitting her against Cersei’s venomous tongue was a genius move that brought compelling viewing. Unfortunately, she was only back in the capital to try and ensure her grandson’s freedom.
Her efforts were in vein though, because the High Sparrow and his deranged cult didn’t just throw Loras Tyrell in prison, but Queen Margaery as well. With another of the great houses incapacitated by Cersei’s dastardly schemes, the Queen Mother will have free reign of King’s Landing. Gods help them.
‘You’re looking at one of the great warriors in the Seven Kingdoms!’
If you thought things couldn’t get any worse for Tyrion Lannister, you were wrong. Having already been taken across the narrow sea in a crate, kidnapped by Jorah, and ambushed by Stone Men this season, he found himself on the wrong end of a slaver’s sword.
Jorah and Tyrion are building up a real rapport after their relationship’s rocky start, and this became clear as the duo managed to talk themselves out of a slit throat. We’re sure with their collective cunning, the two of them will be able to get themselves out of this tricky situation before too long.
Related: An incriminating context: Sansa Stark and the Game of Thrones rape problem
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