Game of Thrones season 5’s third episode saw the rise of a new threat, as well as some sinister meetings…
“High Sparrow” introduced us to the titular leader of a religious cult, as well as his followers. We also saw the coming together of several storylines — with Sansa meeting her husband-to-be Ramsay Bolton, and Tyrion being kidnapped by the exiled Jorah Mormont. In what was probably the strongest episode of the season so far, there were plenty of highlights. However, we’ve tried to whittle them down to the five best moments of the episode. Check them out, and be sure to share your favorite moment in the comments below!
Related: Game of Thrones season 5, episode 3 recap: Ladies’ choice
“You’ve been a bystander to tragedy from the day they executed your father. Stop being a bystander, stop running.”
After escaping Cersei’s clutches in King’s Landing and surviving the rage of her Aunt Lysa, it seemed like things were finally looking up for Sansa. But of course, we should have remembered that this is Game of Thrones, and nothing is that simple. When Littlefinger told her she was to be wed to the psychotic Ramsay Bolton, fans worldwide shook their fists in rage.
Petyr’s promise to Sansa that she will be able to avenge her fallen family at least bodes well for the future. We really hope she can back up her badass new look by manipulating the Boltons to achieve her own ends. If not, this will be just another sadistic twist. Though, even if that’s what we get, Sophie Turner’s nuanced fragility contrasted against Iwan Rheon’s psychotic glee would certainly make for good television.
Sexiest Scene
The seven “Gods” in the brothel, providing our weekly fill of nudity — until the Sparrows come in and ruin the party.
“There is only one God, a girl knows his name. And all men know his gift.”
At Braavos, Arya is understandably impatient to continue her training. After two seasons of the detour from hell, the young Stark girl is determined to get her revenge on those who wronged her and her family. But Jaqen H’ghar decides she’s not ready, telling her she only wants to “serve herself.”
And after being told that she must ditch all of the possessions which tie her to her former life, Arya is forced to abandon all of her belongings in the canal. Her clothes, her gold, and her sword. Seeing Arya let go of Needle was a surprisingly poignant and emotional moment, as we see her too attached to the weapon Jon gave her to throw it away. Instead, she hides it — and we can’t help but suspect it won’t be too long before she retrieves it again…
“Hypocrisy is a boil. Lancing a boil is never pleasant.”
After the threat of the King Beyond the Wall, Mance Rayder, was eliminated in the season premiere, we knew it would only be a matter of time before another chess piece was added to the board. The latest questionable force of Westeros is introduced when the Sparrows launch an attack on the High Septon for blasphemy.
The sinister religious extremists arrive at a very topical time, and it will certainly be interesting to see what the Game of Thrones writers have in store for them. The titular High Sparrow seems like a kindly man with good intentions, but his warning that “lancing a boil is never pleasant” suggests there’s something darker going on underneath the surface. Terrifying stuff…
“Please, I’m afraid. I’ve always been afraid.”
Ned Stark was renowned for his honor, and his mantra of “the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword” seems to have been inherited by Jon Snow. Having his authority as the newly elected Lord Commander tested by the menacing Janos Slynt, Jon is forced to take matters into his own hands and carry out the fit punishment — execution.
Like Dany last week, we thought that Jon would spare the life of his prisoner — especially when the former commander of the City Watch starts grovelling. But Jon knows what he must do, and he executes Slynt with a forlorn composure reminiscent of Ned in the pilot or Robb in season 3. He may have got no satisfaction from it, but Jon certainly seemed to impress Stannis…
Most Gruesome Death
Janos Slynt’s brutal beheading, which (unlike Ned Stark’s more sensitive execution) showed us all of the gruesome details.
“Someone who inspires priests and whores is worth taking seriously.”
After travelling across the Narrow Sea in a tiny box, Tyrion was upgraded to a slightly larger box for the remainder of his journey to Meereen. It’s understandable that he’d get cabin fever, and towards the end of the episode, it all becomes too much for the Lion of Lannister, and he convinces Varys to allow him to go for a walk.
On their travels, the duo encounter a whore modeled after Daenerys herself. And (perhaps unsurprisingly), the exiled Jorah isn’t too far away. Recognising the Imp, Jorah seiezes his opportunity to get back into his Khaleesi’s good books by taking Tyrion to her as a hostage. Dany has plenty of reasons to despise both of them, so it will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
Related: Game of Thrones season 5: Our favorite moments from “The House of Black and White”
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