Game of Thrones season 5 rushes closer towards the finale with another game-changing episode.
Winter is well and truly coming now, as most of the North is gripped by a fierce snowstorm, and armies prepare for battle. “The Gift” also saw a storm brewing in King’s Landing, with the High Sparrow and his Faith Militant playing their check mate. Across the Narrow Sea, there was a massively exciting reunion — and an important first meeting. The weather may be getting colder in Westeros, but fans’ enthusiasm is heating up. In fact, there were so many jaw-dropping, nail-biting and heart-breaking moments in Game of Thrones‘ latest episode that we struggled to narrow down our favorites to just five scenes. We managed it somehow, but some great sequences didn’t make the cut. Feel free to tell us your personal faves in the comments below!
“No man was wiser, or gentler, or kinder.”
Maester Aemon has been a staple of Game of Thrones since season 1, having been introduced before Sam. Unfortunately, the blood of the dragon’s fire was extinguished in “The Gift,” and his last few moments were heartbreaking. After delighting book fans by mentioning his brother Egg (a reference to the nickname of the titular character in Martin’s spin-off stories), the wise Maester finally passed.
With Lord Commander Jon away on a dangerous democratic mission, and the Maester now gone, Alliser Thorne is right in his assessment that Sam is running out of friends. We’ll keep our fingers crossed that he can remain as strong and brave as he has in the past, because with a mutinous mist descending on the wall, he’ll need all the strength he can get.
Sexiest Scene
Sam and Gilly finally getting it on.
“I’ll take my chances with you.”
Remember the direwolves? We almost forgot about them too. But Ghost is still wandering the walls of Castle Black, and was thankfully on hand to help his master’s friends while he was away. With that aforementioned mutinous mist taking grip, a couple of Crows prey on a helpless Gilly and Sam.
The latter remained brave and determined in the (bloodied) face of his beatings, and he was ready to take on the scumbags himself. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that, as Ghost came in and scared them off. The white wolf’s triumphant return had us cheering in joy. Just keep him by your side in future, Sam!
“I am the King! The Queen is in prison and there is nothing I can do!”
King Tommen Baratheon is jokingly known as the King Without Balls among some fans, but it looks like he might finally be growing some crown jewels. After seeing his brother-in-law and wife imprisoned on the same day, the boy stood up to his mother and finally asserted some authority.
Tommen was always going to be a fairer, nicer King that his older brother Joffrey ever was, but this week he showed he has the conviction and guts to stand up for what he believes in. Cersei may have fed him some lies to keep him at bay, but we hope this scene is a sign of the things to come. With Cersei running the Lannister name into the ground, the capital needs someone to stand up and take action.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace. My name is Tyrion Lannister.”
Possibly the most exciting moment in Game of Thrones season 5 so far came during “The Gift,” when two fan favorite characters finally came face to face. After being captured and sold by slavers, Jorah and The Imp were forced to fight in the pits. Luckily for them, Daenerys was watching.
When Jorah emerges and takes out the most brutal fighters in the pit, Dany is disgusted that her betrayer has returned from his exile. But his “gift” soon reveals himself, and Tyrion and the Queen of Dragons, two outcasts of their dynasties, finally lay eyes on each other. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see anymore of their conversation (the teases!) but the promise of what’s to come has us squeeing in anticipation. Importantly, this marks both characters’ story-lines jumping ahead of their book counterparts. Now, even the most faithful of readers are as Unsullied as the rest of us.
Most Gruesome Death
The poor woman in Winterfell who promised Sansa she had friends in the North. One fewer it seems, since she’s been flayed.
“I wonder what we’ll find when we strip away your finery.”
It was always going to happen. With Cersei determined to remain in control of King’s Landing, she desperately turned to the Faith Militant to take out her adversaries. At first, it worked a treat — not only was Loras arrested, but Cersei’s chief competition Margaery Tyrell wasn’t far behind him.
What goes around comes around though, and the High Sparrow’s words to Cersei when she established the force proved to be prophetic. After taunting the Queen in her cell, the Queen Mother was arrested for her incestuous relationships. With the most manipulative woman in Westeros behind bars, King’s Landing is vulnerable — what’s next for the capital?