Game of Thrones had plenty of surprises in season 5’s penultimate episode.
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In Game of Thrones, a show full of surprise deaths and heart-stopping shocks, only one thing is for certain: episode 9 will deliver the biggest shock of the season. Season 1 saw Ned beheaded, season 2 brought the Battle of Blackwater, season 3 gave us the infamous Red Wedding, and season 4 showed the Battle for the Wall. So, what did season 5’s episode 9 bring? Quite a lot, actually. As we checked in at Dorne, Braavos, Meereen, The Wall, and Stannis’ camp. To help you recap the shocks, twists, and turns of the episode, we’ve picked our 5 favorite moments. Check them out below, and make sure you tell us your personal best!
‘You have a good heart, Jon Snow. It’ll get us all killed.’
After last week’s epic battle at Hardhome, Jon and his newly amassed Wildling army arrived back at the Wall to be met with Alliser Thorne’s steely stare. After the rising tension at Castle Black this season, we were half expecting the Lord Commander to be left out in the cold. Thankfully, Thorne decided against being too prickly.
The newly founded (if incredibly fragile) alliance between the Night’s Watch and the Wildlings is a historic moment in Westeros. Not everyone’s too pleased to see Jon succeed though, as Olly and a few other crows openly show their hostility to the new relationship. If the honorable Thorne can’t keep them in line, Jon may just be needing his newly acquired friends…
‘The Dornish climate agrees with me.’
Jaime and Bronn’s “sensitive diplomatic mission” to Dorne has been nothing short of a disaster: they’ve killed several men, attacked Trystane, fought the Sand Snakes, been imprisoned, poisoned, AND managed to piss off Myrcella. But finally, something went right for season 5’s comedy double act.
After bringing Ellaria under control, Doran Martell gave his son a chance to rule by allowing him to decide Bronn’s fate, and thankfully, the prince was (largely) merciful. With Jaime about to return to King’s Landing, we might see things start to return to normal in the capital. Unless the Dornish have some clever ploy in sending Trystane back with the Kingslayer…
‘Too old.’
For the first time in nearly two seasons worth of episodes, it looks like Arya might be edging ever closer to crossing another name off her kill list. Disobeying her orders from the House of Black and White, the young Stark decided to follow Meryn Trant.
If you didn’t hate the twisted Kingsguard member already, “The Dance with Dragons” gave you another reason to, as he refused every prostitute in the Meereenese brothel until he found one young enough. With Arya overhearing his request for a fresh victim the following night, we’re sure she’ll capitalize on a rare opportunity to get one of her enemies in a compromising position.
‘It doesn’t matter. I want to help you.’
Oh, Stannis. Remember the days at Castle Black, when you warmed all our hearts with the beautiful speech about your love for Shireen? Those days are long gone now. We should have seen it coming really, what with the elevated amount of screen time the Baratheon has been getting this season, she was surely close to the chopping block.
We just really hoped it wouldn’t be Stannis himself who would decide to sacrifice her. But with Ramsay’s successful plundering of the Baratheon’s supplies, and the winds of winter raging fiercer than ever, Stannis turned to desperate measures. The scene in which Shireen met her gruesome end was a very difficult scene to watch: harrowing, cruel, and depressing. But though we’re not happy with Stannis’ decision, we can’t contest that it was an excruciatingly executed moment. Is there anyone vying for the Iron Throne that we actually want to win?
‘Protect your Queen!’
In the standout set piece of the episode, Jorah battled to prove his faith in Dany by defeating deadly warriors in the newly reopened pits of Meereen. But there was little time for celebration, as the deadly Sons of Harpy launched their biggest attack so far.
Though we may have expected him to be behind the plot, the Queen of Dragons’ betrothed was proven innocent by his rapid disposal. As Dany, Tyrion, Daario, Jorah and Missandei were about to be slaughtered, Drogon returned to save the day and give us the dose of dragon badass-ery we’ve been missing this season. With the Queen fleeing the pits on her dragon’s back, Tyrion will have a lot of cleaning up to do.
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