The pressures are starting to hit harder.
What They Say:
The Dance of Dragons – Stannis faces a difficult decision; Jon returns to the Wall; Mace visits the Iron Bank; Arya encounters someone from her past; Dany oversees a celebration of athleticism.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
While there were a number of really intriguing smaller moments playing out last time around, particularly with Cersei and her situation in King’s Landing, the dominant piece that will stick with people is the Hardhome encounter. With a very strong and up front encounter with the White Walkers and those that are within its thrall, Jon and the Wildlings (what a band name) got a very good look at what they’re facing and a reinforcement of exactly what it is they’re up against, which should bring more of the Wildlings to his side since he’s the only one really offering something of a plan beyond just running away. There are a lot of little pieces of intrigue within the whole encounter to keep people really excited by it and the potential of what it means, but in the end you know there’s going to be a bit of quiet going into this episode as there’s only so many times they can do something this big in a season.
With the opening here, things get underway quickly in Stannis’ camp as we see Melisandre coming out of it in the midst of the night for a variety of fires suddenly burning the camp. It’s a brutal takedown as the attack on them killed hundreds, ruined food stores and eliminated a number of horses – as well as morale. Stannis is undeterred though in his mission to go after Winterfell, as he follows the vision that Melisandre has laid out for him. He’s listened to her for the most part over the years and when he does so properly, it’s largely lead him in the right direction. It’s hard to imagine him not following her now. Interestingly, Stannis is intent on sending Davos back to Castle Black to get the necessary materials to continue the push on, with promises of more than enough men for the Wall when he becomes king. It’s a difficult moment for Davos on many levels, not even taking into account just how problematic it will be to get men from the Wall to help considering the way things are there.
Shireen becomes an interesting central player in this part of the arc, first as we get Davos talking with her before he leaves, giving her a small carving as a present. There’s some touching material between the two of them because of how they’ve helped each other, and her relating bits of the Dance of Dragons tale to him adds a little more color to things. This plays out differently when Stannis comes to talk to her later, and he can’t quite grasp the poetic side of the story and why things are what they are. It’s also difficult due to what he needs to ask of her at this time, something he needs for the greater good of his journey here that Melisandre has put him on. So when they walk outside and she sees the tree that she’s to be attached to and sacrificed upon, it just reinforces the cruelty of belief and what it will do. Stannis is conflicted to be sure, but driven by his ambition. Selyne on the other hand has no qualms about it from what you can see, as she believes this sacrifice will provide what they need. So it’s surprising when she does try to help, because it feels so against who she’s been for so long. It’s a cruel scene, which thankfully plays off screen, if not for the screams themselves. Part of you hopes that the Greyscale will save her in some way, though that’s admittedly foolish.
On the other side of the Wall, we get the return of Jon, Tormund and the survivors of Hardhome and that’s a pretty intense moment at the first as they come for sanctuary and to help fortify the Wall overall, if Jon’s plan goes right. But with Alliser in charge, you can see him looking to take control here as this goes against everything in a very big way. But the force of wills is one that has Jon winning out, at the moment, and the arrival of so many is a potential changer overall, even if the mission itself was largely a failure in Jon’s eyes. But it’s also quite problematic once inside the Wall as so many of the Night’s Watch aren’t pleased to see Wildlings walking through it, never mind a giant and what it represents. Tensions have been high for quite some time here, but now you can really feel the divisions in a whole other way. But even for what’s done here, the mission revealed a lot for those that survived about the White Walkers and that’s going to be important as time goes forward.
While time in Dorne was largely passed over the last time, we get a little time with it here as Jaime is brought in with Doran, which also includes Myrcella and Trystane. There’s some fun little banter to be had here, but Jaime does reveal why he’s there, with the necklace that was given to him being impetus for him to visit on Cersei’s behalf. There’s obvious tensions to be had there, which is fun to watch play out, especially as the Prince makes sure that Trystane and Myrcella are going together, with Trystane to take over for Oberyn on the small council when there. The Prince is doing what he can to further secure his position and he’s maneuvering as best as he can, though it’s not something that pleases all within his family. There’s also a little bit of fun involving Bronn that plays out with Jaime doing what he can to secure his release, but there’s always a catch to these things with those in positions of power. Its brutal in its own way, but also a bit comical, but the point is to show the kinds of revenge that can be put into play by those like Trystane, making it clear that he is similar to Doran, but harsher.
With Arya, she’s off on her assignment to kill the merchant, and is getting things into position for that, but it takes a curious turn along the way as we see Mace Tyrell arriving in Braavos to deal with the Iron Bank. But that’s not what really catches her attention. It’s that Meryn Trant is serving in his guard and that’s a name on her list to be eliminated. She’s nowhere near subtle in following them and trying to pay attention to it all, but there’s the simple fact that it’s been so long that nobody will recognize her as Arya anymore. Seeing her following him is amusing a she even attempts to sell her clams to those in the brothel that he’s made his way into. Arya’s improved a lot in being sneaky in the last season or so, but here it’s like she’s back to the first season in her obviousness. Trant does get close to recognizing her when she’s pushed into his presence, but his distraction by the flesh he’s after is enough to put him off of things for a bit. While we knew Arya wanted him dead for good reason, that’s reinforced for us here with the kinds of interests he has in the brothel.
Meereen had some excellent material the last time around as Dany and Tyrion found some position to work with each other, which was an absolute treat. This time around, the games have grown to something far bigger with the Great Games getting underway in a true Roman fashion. Dany’s unease is certainly apparent, especially with the way her husband has seemingly been acting odd. It’s a well designed sequence overall, especially with the Targaryen trappings scattered around it with the dragons. For Dany though, all of this just feels wrong, even if she knows that it must be presided over for the greater good of these people that she now rules. She can’t change them in an instant, and has to lose a piece of herself in something like this. There’s some amusing dialogue that feels richer now that Tyrion is there and inserts himself carefully into the conversation, which is also fun due to the way Daario does as well.
To ramp up things here though, after the first fight ends, we get the appearance of Jorah in the Great Games, fighting for her approval. Daario’s quick intercession to keep Hizdahr quiet is perfect, as is Tyrion’s disquiet over the proceedings with him involved. There’s some interesting dynamics at play with those watching over it, the men next to Dany, as well as the way she watches the events as Jorah fights hard to win against his Meereenese opponent. His desire to be back in her good graces is plain as day as he takes out those that stand in his way, though not without some flaws along the way that keeps you guessing. Of course, as good as the matches play out, having been a fan of the Spartacus TV series, it’s a whole other thing here. It’s still an engaging fight overall though and Jorah’s intensity is well done as he goes through things, but also his split second play that reveals that the Sons of the Harpy are within the crowd and have come to kill Dany.
While it’s not Hardhome, it’s a strong sequence as we see things getting tighter around Dany with the Unsullied fighting back, more innocents dying, and even Hizdahr getting knifed hard in both front and back. Tyrion has a solid moment in saving Missandei, but it’s the way we see Dany accept Jorah’s help, and Daario working with him in understanding the real important role they both play at this moment. It becomes this huge moment within the ring itself with so many Sons of the Harpy surrounding the small group that things are at their bleakest. There’s a slow whittling away that starts to happen, and seeing it get tighter and tighter is tense as you wait for that key moment to hit that will make clear what will happen. And when it does, with Drogon’s cries in the distance and his sudden arrival, you can’t help but to cheer with what it represents with his connection with Dany, and a further cementing of her power and position because of it. Tyrion’s shock alone at the event is worth the price of admission, as is Dany’s calm as Drogon torches nearly all those that were trying to kill her.
Those final moments though, as she reaches out to Drogon as the spears fly at him and the two truly connect, is a beautiful piece of proper fantasy. It’s made all the more real, awkward as the CG is for it, as Dany finally climbs aboard him and takes to the skies for the first time. It’s been quite some time since there’s been a dragonrider, and for Dany it’s the opening of a new chapter in her life with those that have ushered her into some real power. Balancing that with the looks of those that were defending her just then, seeing her fly off, is just as powerful. For Tyrion in particular as it reinforces both the potential and the fear of what Dany could represent as a Targaryen.
In Summary:
With another of the big moments from the fifth book put into play here, Game of Thrones hits some strong material throughout but capitalizes on it with the extended time in the final act for this. It brings a change to Dany that’s been needed for some time and opens up the world to her in a way, while also furthering other plans in motion, making it interesting to see how those that follow her will react to it. There’s some cruel material in this episode though, particularly with Shireen, but a lot of interesting teases elsewhere as well. As the penultimate episode of the season, it hit the right notes I was looking for, especially having just finished the fifth book, and has me excited to see if they’ll go all out with the season finale.
Grade: A-
