Game of Thrones Review: Season 7 Episode 5

Welcome to my Game of Thrones reviews posts which are an episode by episode guide of season 7. The entire post will be nothing but spoilers so don't read it if you intend to watch it! The format will be done as a house by house analysis, not a minute by minute report. 

Bronn pulls Jaime out of the water and is furious with him. Jaime explains that he wanted to end the war by killing Dany and Bronn sarcastically asks him if he noticed the big dragon. He tells Jaime he doesn't get to die until Bronn gets paid. A distraught Tyrion surveys the battlefield and when Dany tells the survivors to bend the knee and live, he tries to persuade her not to kill those like Randyll Tarly who refuse. Later he tries to convince himself that Dany had no other choice but Varys is not convinced and tells Tyrion that he must make her listen. When The Mad King burned people, Varys would convince himself that he was not responsible for any of it happening either. Jaime tells Cersei that they cannot defeat the dothraki or dragons and she wonders if Tyrion will try to make amends by having them spared. Jaime tells Cersei about Olenna's confession and why she killed Joffrey-so Margaery could control Tommen. Jaime tells Cersei about his secret meeting which she knew about and thinks she can use this truce to find a plan to beat Dany. She tells Jaime she is pregnant and not to betray her again.

Randyll and Dickon Tarly are amongst the prisoners after the battle and they stand firm when others agree to kneel and live. Tyrion reminds Randyll that he betrayed Olenna Tyrell to fight for Cersei and swapping sides again is not an issue. Randyll declares that Cersei lived her whole life in Westeros and was not backed by savages. He refuses to take the black when Tyrion offers him a way out. Dickon steps forward to stand with his father and  Tyrion watches in horror as Drogon burns them. The other men kneel. Sam is listening to the maester's council meeting and they don't believe Bran's warning. Sam tries to persuade them that this is all real and they must warn people. The Archmaester relents a little and says they will seek confirmation from Winterfell. Gilly is reading about a maester annulling the marriage of Rhaegar Targaryen so he could marry another woman. Sam isn't really listening and decides to take what he needs from the library and leave the Citadel to join the war.

Jon watches in awe as Dany lands Drogon in front of him and to her surprise, Drogon is taken with Jon and allows him him to stroke him. Jorah arrives on Dragonstone to a warm reception from Dany and asks to serve her again. Bran sends ravens north to track the Army of the Dead and finds them bearing down on Eastwatch. Jon receives the message from Bran in which he finds out Bran and Arya are alive, and that the dead are close. He asks Dany for help but she is concerned about letting Cersei take control again. Tyrion thinks if they catch a wight and show it to Cersei, that she might fight with them for now. He wants Davos to smuggle him into King's Landing and persuade Jaime to talk to her. Jorah offers to lead the trip north and Jon says he will go with him and get wildling support. 

The Northern men are getting restless with Royce and Glover hinting that they would follow Sansa. Sansa insists to her sister that she is trying to hold things together but Arya thinks she wants to take the power for herself. Arya starts spying on Littlefinger's meetings with Royce, Glover and Maester Wolkan. She breaks into a room to look for the message Littlefinger hid which was the message Sansa sent from King's Landing asking Robb to bend the knee to Joffrey, unaware that he is watching her. 

With Tyrion meeting Jaime in a set up arranged by Tyrion and Bronn, Davos goes into Flea Bottom looking for Gendry. Gendry has been ready for something happening and is happy to go with Davos and get away from the Queen who killed his father. He proves his worth back on the beach when two guards see Tyrion and he kills them with his hammer. Despite being told to be 'Clovis', Gendry tells Jon his true identity and they bond over their father's friendship.

 
Jon, Gendry, Davos and Jorah arrive at Eastwatch where Tormund is ready for the enemy. He tells Davos he is meant to stop Jon doing crazy things like, passing comment on the Queens that need convincing. He expresses disappointment that Brienne isn't with them. A surprise is waiting in the dungeons as Tormund has captured the Brotherhood. Gendry is furious about them selling him to the witch that tried to kill him, Tormund is unhappy that a Mormont is amomgst them but Beric and Jon persuade that they are all on the same side. They head out north in a blizzard.  

My thoughts:

It is difficult to know what to think of Dany this season, ruling by fear instead of respect. I get what she is saying about being a better ruler than Cersei and caring more about the people but burning those who refuse to fight for her just makes her like previous rulers and will not get the people to love her in Westeros. We saw a bit more of the old Dany in this episode after the murder of the Tarlys. Is it wrong to feel sorry for Randyll? I know he was terrible to Sam but in that moment where he tries to save Dickon then grabs his son's arm as they face death together, I got a lump in my throat that I wasn't expecting. I felt for Tyrion who did everything he could to save the Tarlys.

Drogon! I LOVED watching his reaction to Jon which ends all doubt that Jon is a Targaryen and it seems Drogon did this by smell. Now lets think back to that episode when Tyrion got close to the other two dragons without harm. Does this mean he is also a Targaryen? Exciting times are coming here! If you want to see more on my theory about Tyrion, check out this post: http://chucklesbookcave.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/game-of-thrones-tyrion-lannister-or.html    
And Gilly dropped the bombshell that we were expecting and SAM WASN'T LISTENING!!! Yes she found evidence that Prince Rhaegar annulled his marriage to Elia Martell to marry Lyanna Stark! Jon is a legitimate Stark/Targaryen! But yes to Sam for leaving the Citadel to join the war!

Relief that Jaime and Bronn are still alive but now Cersei has her claws even deeper into Jaime than ever with the pregnancy thing. Gah, I just want to see Jaime get away from her. Maybe when proof about the dead comes and she ignores it, Jaime will ride north to battle! Loved Davos with his attempts to bribe the guards. Loved Jorah coming home. Hey Dany you just killed the family of the man who saved Jorah! Loved Tormund hoping that Brienne had come to Eastwatch! Poor boy!

Littlefinger is plotting again. Arya is sure that Sansa wants to rule and will stab Jon in the back so her obvious suspect is Littlefinger. I don't think Littlefinger planted the real message he was asking for. His glance behind him after talking to the serving girl indicates he knew Arya had been there and I think he has played her, as we see her being watched by him. This message was planted to stir up more trouble between the sisters. Is Arya going to realise this? And what was the real message? Perhaps Littlefinger knows about Jon's real mother and hopes this will sway Sansa into taking control herself as Ned's true child. As for the northern lords, the North might Remember but they aren't very bloody loyal!

Ok, niggle time. Firstly, do the Lannisters have any men left in their army outside King's Landing? Greyworm killed everyone at Casterly Rock, Dany killed or recruited most near Highgarden. So who would Cersei send to join the fight? Is this dangerous trip north really worth it? Not sure about that but it is going to be heartstopping anyway. But they have set off, the seven like the Fellowship in LOTR!