Game of Thrones – Eastwatch

By starrymag | August 19, 2017

By: Tara Donahue

 

 

After the action of last week’s episode, we needed a moment to breathe. We got just that with this episode. Things happened. Things always happen in “Game of Thrones.” But it was nowhere near that level of intensity we saw last week.

 

Last week it seemed like Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau)  was going to die. He was sinking below the depths of the water and it didn’t look good. But as the episode opens, we see that Bronn (Jerome Flynn) has come to the rescue. He pulled him out of the water, chastising him for pulling such a stupid stunt. He also made it clear that no one gets to kill Jaime Lannister but him.

 

Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) joins Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), with Drogon behind them, atop a rock looking over the remaining soldiers of the Lannister army. She tells them she’s not there to do all the horrible things they’ve been told. She’s there to destroy the wheel that has rolled over rich and poor to the benefit of no one but the Cersei Lannisters (Lena Headey) of the world. She offers them a choice; bend the knee and join her. Together they will leave the world a better place than they found it. Or refuse and die.

 

Several bend the knee, but not all. Randyll Tarly (James Falkner) is asked to step forward. He tells her he won’t kneel because he already has a queen. Tyrion reminds him that until recently he had another queen until Cersei murdered her and destroyed House Tyrell for all time. His allegiances are somewhat flexible, it seems. Randyll refuses to support a foreign invader with no ties to this land and an army of savages at her back. Dany respects that he will not trade his honor for his life. Tyrion tries to suggest sending him to the wall, but since he doesn’t recognize Dany as his queen she says she can’t do that.

 

As the Dothraki start to lead him towards the dragon for his death sentence, Dickon Tarly (Tom Hopper) says she will have to kill him, too. “You are the future of your house. This war has already wiped one great house from the world. Don’t let it happen again, bend the knee,” Tyrion pleads. But he refuses. Tyrion tries to convince Daenerys to imprison them, but she makes a good point – if she allows the option of a cell, they will all take that choice. She gave them a choice and they made it. The Tarlys are led over in front of Drogon and sentenced to death. “Dracarys,” Dany says and Drogon carries out the sentence. The rest of the soldiers immediately kneel.

 

Back at the Red Keep, Jaime finds Cersei to let her know what happened on the battlefield. It’s not a war they can win he tries to tell her. Not with the Dothraki army and three dragons. He tells her about Lady Olenna’s (Diana Rigg) final confession about Joffrey’s (Jack Gleeson) death. She doesn’t believe it. “If you were Olenna, would you rather have seen your granddaughter married to Joffrey or Tommen,” He asks. There’s no way she could have argued with that. She knows the truth and wishes Olenna would have died screaming.

 

At Dragonstone, Dany and Drogon land and Jon (Kit Harington) approaches the dragon. He takes off his glove and reaches out, petting him. That’s another sure sign of Jon’s true Targaryen lineage. She asks him about the knife in the heart comment that was made when she first met him. Jon tries to brush it off and is saved by an interruption of the Dothraki bringing someone to Dany who claims to be a friend. It’s Ser Jorah (Iain Glen). He has returned to her service now that he’s cured. He kneels before her and she introduces the two men.

 

Ravens are flying and Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) has warged into one of them. They fly far north, coming across the Army of the Dead. The Night King sees them and they scatter. This brings Bran out of the warg state and he says they need to send ravens.

 

At the Citadel, they’ve received the raven and are discussing it, but clearly aren’t putting much stock in it. Sam (John Bradley) enters and overhears them speaking about a crippled boy. He knows Brandon Stark, the crippled boy who survived many years beyond the wall when no one else could. They should listen to what he has to say, he pleads with them, because he has seen the White Walkers himself. They won’t listen; however, and Sam is dismissed – without being told of his father and brother’s deaths.

 

Varys (Conleth Hill) and Tyrion are discussing Daenerys and her actions as of late. The discussion turns to the scroll meant for Jon Snow. Tyrion asks Varys if he’s read it. Of course, he has. He’s Varys.

 

Jon reads the scroll. He thought Arya and Bran were dead. He’s not happy though, Bran saw the Army of the Dead marching towards Eastwatch. He needs to go home. He’ll fight with the army he has unless Daenerys wants to help. But she can’t leave and give the country to Cersei. Tyrion has a plan, though. Bring one of the wights to Cersei, prove to her it’s not just a story. Cersei listens to Jaime and he might listen to Tyrion. They come up with a plan. Davos (Liam Cunningham) will smuggle Tyrion into King’s Landing. Jorah and Jon Snow will go north and the Free Folk will help them.

 

Back at Winterfell, the lords and ladies are upset about Jon leaving and think maybe they should have picked Sansa (Sophie Turner) to lead them instead. Arya (Maisie Williams) watches from the back as Sansa basks in the praise, not really coming to Jon’s defense. The two of them talk after the meeting, Sansa pointing out that she warned Jon that the North wouldn’t just sit and wait for him like Ghost. Arya realizes that Sansa has taken over their parent’s chambers. Arya points out that Sansa always liked nice things, which made her feel better than everyone. Sansa sat there and let them insult Jon, but she doesn’t see it that way. She was listening to their complaints, which is her duty as Lady of Winterfell. Arya knows it’s more than that. She’ll need their support if Jon never returns.

 

Bronn has brought Jaime beneath the Red Keep under the guise of sparring with him, but he’s actually brought him there to meet Tyrion. It’s the first time they’ve faced each other since Jaime helped his brother escape before he was to be executed. Before Tyrion killed their father. They discuss it before moving on to the more important matter.

 

Davos is walking through the Street of Steel in Flea Bottom, looking for someone. We see the person he’s been looking for. It’s Gendry (Joe Dempsie), the bastard son of Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy). Davos tells him he thought he’d still be rowing. Gendry knows that Davos has come to get him and he’s ready to go. He grabs his war hammer and they leave.

 

At the boat, two Gold Cloaks find them and Davos has to bribe them to leave them be. But when Tyrion shows up, they recognize him and Gendry shows just how useful he can be with that hammer. “This is Gendry,” Davos says. “He’ll do,” Tyrion replies.

 

Jaime enters Cersei’s chambers and Qyburn (Anton Lesser) leaves. He tells her that he met with Tyrion and that Daenerys wants to meet to discuss an armistice. He tells her about the army of dead men marching on the Seven Kingdoms and that their brother will have proof.  Cersei already knew of the meeting because nothing happens without her knowing. Then, she drops a bombshell on him – she’s pregnant and she’s planning on telling everyone it’s his child. But as he hugs her, she tells him he better never betray her again.

 

After arriving at Dragonstone, Davos tells Gendry not to tell Jon his true identity. But, he does anyway. “Our fathers trusted each other, why shouldn’t we?” Gendry tells Jon. He decides to go north with them, to help.

 

Sam and Gilly (Hannah Murray) are reading and she’s telling him random facts she’s finding in the books. Apparently, High Septon Maynard recorded everything including a juicy little tidbit she reads about an annulment, followed by another marriage for a Prince Rhaegar in a secret ceremony. Jon Snow isn’t a bastard after all. Instead, he’s a legitimate son and rightful heir to the Iron Throne. Sam doesn’t catch it though as he’s too distracted and angry about the maesters not taking the threat seriously. Tired of reading about the achievements of better men, Sam gathers up a bunch of books and scrolls from the forbidden section of the library and leaves the Citadel for good with Gilly and little Sam.

 

Arya is spying on Littlefinger (Aiden Gillen) at Winterfell. He’s having secret meetings and Maester Wolkan (Richard Rycroft) brings him a secret scroll. He hides it in his chambers and Arya finds it after he leaves. It’s the scroll Sansa sent about their father and encouraging Robb to swear fealty to King Joffrey. As she leaves the room, we see Littlefinger hiding in the shadows. He wanted Arya to find it.

 

Team Snow arrives at Eastwatch and talk with Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) about their plan. He shows them his prisoners; The Hound (Rory McCann), Thoros (Paul Kaye) and Beric (Richard Dormer) who were also trying to go north of the wall. Since they are all and working together towards the same purpose, they decide to team up. Once they are released from their cell, the team heads out into the blistering cold and snow to track down the Army of the Dead and capture a wight.