Game of Thrones actually gave us some payoffs this week, and they weren’t even tainted with that much sadness.
After all the bloodshed we’ve endured, not just over the course of the show, but this season alone, we were finally treated like Varys’ Qyburn’s children. Though the candy was a little bitter on the inside, it was sweet enough on the outside that we could chew and swallow with satisfaction.
“Book of the Stranger” had much anticipated and awaited reunions that we’re never going to get over (unless those reunions lead to one of their deaths, in which case this comment will be redacted). Until then though, let’s enjoy the wins while we can.
5) Brienne and Davos and Melisandre
If Brienne hadn’t mentioned that she had met Davos and Melisandre before, I wouldn’t have even remembered. Their ‘meeting’ was all the way back in season 2, and we never saw them interact, at that.
The most interesting part of this reunion will be to see if Brienne does anything to them, particularly Melisandre. After all, it was Melisandre who created the creature that killed Renly. You’d think she’d want retribution from Melisandre too, not just Stannis.* Was Stannis’ death* really enough justice? It’s hard to imagine Brienne would be satisfied with that, but maybe she’s learning to see the bigger picture and will be satisfied enough by just glaring.
4) Daenerys and Jorah and Daario
This reunion was anti-climactic because we were all pretty sure Jorah and Daario would enter Vaes Dothrak to rescue Dany, and they’d thusly join forces again. To be honest, I mostly only care for Jorah that he’s back with his Queen.
To add to the blandness of this reunion, Dany didn’t even need them to escape, and they were more of a hindrance than help. It’s nice Team Dragon is back together, but seeing as they weren’t apart for very long, it’s hard to care that much.
3) Margaery and Loras
They finally got a chance to see each other, which was great. However, that joy was quickly dashed upon seeing Loras’ state. He appears to have been treated more roughly than Margaery, and it’s not just his physical state that’s poor.
Loras is a broken man, and the sight of his sister, and her encouraging words, do nothing to give him strength. While they must be happy to actually know each other are alive, the fact that Loras is ready to give up made this a bittersweet win.
Seeing her brother begging for this ordeal to end could deject Margaery too, but it could also give her more strength. We’ve not known her to be a weak willed person, and now that she knows she has to fight for both of them, she’ll most likely fight harder.
2) Theon and Yara
After their disastrous meeting in season 4, I’ll admit I was probably most excited for this reunion, because I’m desperate for Theon to find happiness in some capacity, and I figured his sister would treat him better than anyone.
Despite the cold welcome, I don’t think I was wrong. Yara’s reaction to seeing Theon is probably the best he was going to get from anyone, anywhere. Certainly if his father was still alive, his reception would have been much worse.
True, the only warmth to greet Theon was from the fireplace, but this is the Iron Born we’re talking about. All things considered, he’s probably just happy to not be kicked, kicked out, or killed, and I for one am satisfied with that too.
1) Jon and Sansa
Of course the best reunion of the episode was the most awaited and most heartfelt one. Too long we’ve waited for a Stark reunion. The last time any Starks were together was season 3, when Bran and Rickon parted ways.
We’ve come close on a few occasions. Jon and Bran have almost reunited twice, once when Bran was in a tower while Jon was fighting below (with the help of Summer and Shaggydog, no less), and again at Craster’s Keep, when Jojen forbade Bran from calling out to Jon. Arya had a close call with her mother and Robb, when she arrived at the Twins moments before their execution, and she also almost met up with her aunt Lysa. Naturally Lysa died not long before Arya arrived (clearly Arya always was an omen of death).
Now, all the way in season 6, we finally got a true Stark reunion (as in, true reunion, not true Starks). Oddly enough, it’s arguably the duo that got along the least, but we’ll take what we can get, much like them. They even referenced their previously strained relationship, which made the present kindness all the cuter.
Finally, just to add some reality to the mix, the fact that Jon and Sansa reunited doesn’t bode well for Rickon. This is Game of Thrones. If they’re giving us something nice, then we’re getting something twice as bad later.
*Side note: I don’t care if Brienne said she killed Stannis. Until I see a body, I’m not convinced.