Game of Thrones – Stormborn

By starrymag | July 30, 2017

By: Tara Donahue

It’s a dark and stormy night at Dragonstone as Team Targaryen reminisces about the birth of the Queen herself on a night much like that night. Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and Varys (Conleth Hill) remember it almost vividly while Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) only wishes she could remember. She always thought returning to Dragonstone would be a homecoming, but it doesn’t feel like home to her.

 

As they discuss matters, Daenerys feels like if her brother Viserys (Harry Lloyd) had three dragons and an army at his back he would have already invaded King’s Landing. Tyrion reminds her that conquering Westeros would be easy for her, but she’s not here to be Queen of the Ashes. They can take the Seven Kingdoms without turning it into a slaughter. They need the great houses to support her claim and if they do, the game is won.

 

The discussion turns from strategy to Dany questioning the loyalty of Lord Varys. She feels like his loyalty is questionable. He served her father and then the man who overthrew him. But Lord Varys had a choice; either serve Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy) or face the headman’s axe. She points out that he took it upon himself to find a better monarch and supported her brother before she came to power. Varys knew nothing of Daenerys before her marriage to Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa) other than her existence and legendary beauty. Tyrion steps in, trying to remind his queen that Lord Varys has proven himself a loyal servant, but Dany disagrees. If he dislikes one monarch, he conspires to find another. He reminds her that his true loyalties lie with the people, not any monarch. He pledges his servitude and loyalty because the people have no better chance than her. She asks him to swear to her that if he ever thinks she’s failing the people he will look her in the eye and tell her rather than conspire behind her back. He swears. She warns him if he ever betrays her, she will burn him alive. Varys would expect nothing less from the Mother of Dragons.

 

A visitor has arrived at Dragonstone. It’s Melisandre (Carice Van Houten), who was last seen banished to the south by Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) for killing Shireen Baratheon (Kerry Ingram). She speaks to Queen Daenerys in High Valyrian, telling her, as a former slave, what an honor it is to meet the ‘Breaker of Chains’. She tells her of the prophecy of a prince who was promised that can bring the dawn to the long night. Daenerys is no prince, but it seems that noun has no gender in High Valyrian, as Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) is quick to point out. Melisandre thinks Daenerys has a role to play in the prophecy as does Jon Snow. Tyrion knows and trusts Jon and we all know what an excellent judge of character he is. He will be a good ally. Daenerys instructs a raven to be sent, inviting Jon Snow to Dragonstone. To bend the knee.

 

At Winterfell, the raven has already arrived (that was fast) and Sansa (Sophie Turner) wonders if it’s truly from Tyrion Lannister. Jon points out that the last line in the message, “All dwarves are bastards in their father’s eyes,” is something Tyrion said to him the first night they met. They discuss the situation, but while Sansa knows Tyrion is different from the other Lannister’s, it’s still too great a risk. Ser Davos (Liam Cunningham) agrees that it’s dangerous to meet with her, but fire kills wights and those dragons might prove to be useful.

 

Cersei (Lena Heady) sits on the Iron Throne, talking of how the Mad King’s daughter will destroy the realm. She has brought an army of savages to their shores and that along with the Unsullied, these Dothraki will lay waste to everything in their paths. Randyll Tarly (James Faulkner) points out that she has three dragons, just as her father did when he conquered the Seven Kingdoms. Qyburn (Anton Lesser) assures that they are working on that matter. Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) approaches Randyll after the meeting. If he will swear allegiance to Cersei, he will be made the new Warden of the South.

 

At the Citadel, Sam (John Bradley) stands by while Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) is given his dire diagnosis. Because he’s an anointed knight, instead of sending him to Valyria to live out the rest of his days with the stone men, the grumpy archmaester does him the favor of leaving him a sword and a day to decide how he wants to handle this news.

 

Back in the bowels of the Red Keep, Qyburn leads Cersei down among the dragon skulls that King Robert has apparently kept around as trophies. The biggest is the skull of Balerion the Dread, the dragon Aegon rode across the sea whose flames forged the iron throne and brought the Seven Kingdoms to heel. Dragons are powerful, but not invincible, he reminds her before revealing a giant crossbow they have built. Cersei pulls the lever and the arrow pierces the dragon’s skull with ease. This weapon will definitely take down a dragon. Or three.

 

Daenerys is discussing plans with her allies. Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan) thinks they’re ready to take King’s Landing. With the army and the dragons, the city would fall within a day. Tyrion says tens of thousands of people would die. Ellaria Sand (Indira Varma) points out that’s just called war. They argue, but Dany interrupts. She doesn’t have time for this. She has a plan. They will lay siege to the capital, surround the city on all sides and cut off the food supply. Yara will escort Ellaria home to Sunspear and the Iron Fleet will bring the Dornish Army back to Westeros and join with the Tyrell army. Two great kingdoms united against Cersei. The Unsullied will take over Casterly Rock, the seat of the Lannister’s power. Everyone pledges their support of this plan.

 

As they disperse, Daenerys asks Lady Olenna (Diana Rigg) to stay behind. She knows she’s there out of her hatred for Cersei and what she has done to her family. She swears to make her pay. Lady Olenna offers Daenerys some wise advice, “You’re a dragon. Be a dragon.”

 

Missandei has come to say goodbye to Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) before he departs for Casterly Rock. He tells her she is his weakness. Before her, he had no fears, but now he does. The two kiss and finally give in to their attraction for one another.

 

Sam, never one to give up, has found a way to treat Ser Jorah. Despite the dangerous nature of the procedure, he’s going to try anyway. “You are not dying today, Ser Jorah,” Sam vows. He prepares his tools and explains how much this is going to hurt. The procedure seems incredibly painful, both to the patient and those watching.

 

Arya (Maisie Williams) has stopped in a tavern on her way to kill Cersei and runs into her old friend, Hot Pie (Ben Hawkey). They spend a few moments catching up and she finally learns about Jon’s defeat of Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) and his new status as King in the North. This news changes Arya’s plan and she heads towards Winterfell.

 

Jon has finally received the raven from Sam. He tells the lords and ladies of the North about the dragonglass at Dragonstone and how he was invited to come and meet Daenerys Targaryen, the one who is going to take the Iron Throne from Cersei. He’s going to accept the invitation because they need the dragonglass to create the weapons that can destroy the army of white walkers. They also need allies, especially allies with dragons and an army of their own. Sansa, along with the others, think it’s a bad idea and a trap. Jon doesn’t agree. It’s a risk, he knows, but he has to take it. He is leaving the North in good hands – Sansa’s.

 

Before he ventures south, Jon visits the family crypt. Petyr Baelish (Aiden Gillen) joins him to talk. His presence isn’t a welcome one and after Littlefinger speaks of his love for Sansa, Jon grabs him by the throat, choking him and warning him to stay away from Sansa or he’ll kill him himself. He departs the crypt, leaving Baelish shaken before he joins Ser Davos and begins the ride south.

 

Arya has stopped on her journey north, trying to build a fire to get warm. Suddenly, she’s surrounded by wolves, including a direwolf. She recognizes Nymeria, the pet she released into the wild after the attack on Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) and approaches carefully, speaking to the animal calmly. She wants the wolf to return home with her, but Nymeria (while she seems to recognize her former owner) turns and leaves instead. “That’s not you.” Arya says as she watches Nymeria depart. It is Nymeria, just as Arya is Arya, but they’ve both changed so much they can’t recognize themselves

 

The Sand Snakes: Obara (Keisha Castle-Hughes), Nymeria (Jessica Henwick) and Tyene (Rosabell Laurenti Sellers) are bragging about who they’re going to kill in the upcoming war. In another part of the ship, Ellaria and Yara are getting very flirty in front of Theon (Alfie Allen). But then disaster strikes. Euron (Pilou Asbaek) has found them.

 

It’s immediately obvious that the Greyjoy’s are being overrun. Ellaria and Tyene are captured below deck, the former’s request for death denied, while Obara and Nym fight Euron and each meets their death with their own signature weapons; a spear and a whip.

 

Soon after, Yara (despite putting up a fight) is captured by her uncle. Euron tries to bait Theon into attacking, to save Yara, but it doesn’t work. Theon Greyjoy reverts back into Reek and he flees, jumping over the side of the boat. The betrayal leaves Yara heartbroken. But that might have been the only thing that saved Theon’s life and we see him, moments later, floating in the water, amongst the destruction.

 

It seems the first battle of the war for the Iron Throne has begun and Cersei has one up on Daenerys. But this is only the beginning and what a beginning it was.