Quick and Dirty Plot:
The episode starts with Renly (Gethin Anthony) chilling in his tent with Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) and Catelyn (Michelle Fairley), doing some strategic planning, when OUT OF NOWHERE a shadowy demon figure comes in and kills Renly. The shadow disappears, and Catelyn knows what’s up. So she tells Brienne to flee with her. Brienne, who is a ride-or-die knight, hesitates out of loyalty to Renly but ends up leaving after she’s thought to be the killer. Loras (Finn Jones) is super sad his boyfriend is dead. Margaery (Natalie Dormer) is simply sad because her husband and the chance to be queen is dead. Littlefinger (Aiden Gillen) offers to help Loras and Margaery flee and join the Lannisters.
Stannis (Stephan Dillane) shows up and all of Renly’s people swear allegiance to him. Davos (Liam Cunningham) then convinces Stannis to not use Melisandre’s (Carice van Houten) black magic for the attack on King’s Landing. Stannis reluctantly agrees and gives Davos command of a fleet.
As the war continues, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) learns from his cousin Lancel (Eugene Smith) that Cersei (Lena Headey) is stockpiling this highly flammable substance called “wildfire.” When discussing Joffrey’s (Jack Gleeson) plan to lob wildfire at Stannis’s fleet, Tyrion and Bronn (Jerome Flynn) doubt the logistics. Tyrion claims the wildfire for his own plan.
In Winterfell, Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) learns a nearby town is being attacked. He sends Rodrik (Ron Donachie) to defend it. Bran also tells Osha (Natalia Tena) his dreams about a three-eyed raven and she dismisses it. Meanwhile, the Night’s Watch learns that the wildlings are becoming more organized. Jon Snow (Kit Harington) volunteers to join a small group to break up their efforts.
In Qarth, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) is invited to this sweet place called “The House of the Undying.” While at some party, Xaros (Nonso Anozie) proposes marriage, stating he is super rich and can help Daenerys. At the same party, Jorah (Iain Glen) is approached by a masked woman who warns him Daenerys is in danger. Daenerys tells Jorah about Xaros’s proposal. Jorah implores her to win the Iron Throne on her own, and she agrees.
Tywin (Charles Dance) deduces that Arya (Maisie Williams) is a Northerner but does not know her true identity. Jaqen (Tom Wlaschiha), a prisoner Arya helped escape a couple of episodes ago, offers Arya three lives for saving him. Arya gives him the name of a guard torturing people, and next thing you know, the dude is dead. Oh boy, Arya has a growing body count now.
Takeaways:
Y’all. I made a stupid mistake. I got attached. I wanted to see Renly kill some people. Alas, that shadowy monster demon murdered him. Right when I was getting “Team Renly” shirts made. Awkward! I was told not to get attached to people. This one is definitely on me. My bad. But also, why?! Couldn’t he have lived a little longer? Ugh. Stupid. Now I don’t know who to cheer for. I am kind of mad that Loras and Margaery will be joining the Lannisters. You know that I hate them. I hate them! Margaery is too smart to be with those people. I also hate that Littlefinger is the one helping Loras and Margaery. Littlefinger is the WORST. In the last episode, he straight up hit on Catelyn after bringing her husband’s remains to her. He is slimy and gross. Props to Aiden Gillen for creating a character so vile I flip off my screen every time I see him.
I feel horrible for Brienne of Tarth. She was so damn loyal to Renly. She watches him be murdered, then has to kill some of his guards and flee. Though, I don’t know why, but that vow Brienne and Catelyn took really touched me. It was nice to see someone trust Brienne and see her for who she is. I don’t typically like Catelyn because she is reckless and annoying, but this moment was touching. Truly, just so sweet to see someone value Brienne. I wonder what will happen with those two.
Speaking of Lannisters, Tyrion is doing all he can to help his family. I am impressed and a little concerned. Tyrion is the black sheep of the family, blamed for his mother’s death constantly. Is this a move he’s doing to try to win favor in his family? Or is he taking his job seriously? I just don’t know why you’d help someone like Joffrey when you’re awesome like Tyrion. The whole thing confuses me. ALSO, why is Cersei having sex with her cousin now? I just cannot with all of this incest. Why does this keep happening?!
I am also concerned for Daenerys. There are too many men in Qarth with too many expectations and wants. I don’t trust Xaros, which is a shame because he is the first person of color I’ve really seen. Are they going to have a hard time giving us not-white characters too? Anyway, I just feel like there are too many people invested in Daenerys’s dragons. Jorah has his work cut out for him. He is really going to have to protect her, and there are enemies everywhere.
As of right now, I am both enjoying the heck out of the show and completely overwhelmed by how many storylines there are. It is a lot to keep track of. I already had issues with telling the white people apart, and now I have all of these storylines to track. What I will say is, the show is doing a good job of keeping you updated on all of the storylines. As much as I’m sad to see limited Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Daenerys, I am at least getting snapshots of what’s going on around the “Game of Thrones” world. I just don’t know what’s going to happen next because there are so many storylines going on; I don’t think anyone told me what’s going to happen this season. I am both excited for the unknown and absolutely dreading it.
In Memoriam:
Renly Baratheon — cue “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley
Renly, my dude. I was hoping you’d go further. I was not expecting this tragedy to fall upon you. You were smart, rational, cool. I loved your crown. I’m sorry I couldn’t see you kill someone important.
Out-of-Context Quotes:
- Renly is smarter than everyone else.
- Wait. NO! I liked Renly.
- Who’s this dude now?
- Arya having to work for Tywin. Awkward.
- I’m cold just watching them walk through this snow. It’s pretty though.
- Who is this Voldemort-looking dude?
- Brienne of Tarth is a ride-or-die lady.
- Why am I touched by this vow between Brienne and Catelyn?
- “But what would a woman want?” Daenerys. Feminist Icon.
- Arya got another person killed?! Not these shenanigans again!
“Game of Thrones” is available to watch on HBO and HBO Max.
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Feature image credit: HBO
Morgan Roberts (she/her) was by films and television. She spent many nights watching “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” or whatever the family rented from Blockbluster. Morgan is particularly interested in cinematography, supporting female filmmakers and “Fleabag.” Outside of a deep love of film, Morgan is passionate about mental health advocacy, gender equality and true crime podcasts. Morgan also contributes to In Their Own League.