The Game of Thrones Awards, Season 6, Episode 7: A Dead Hashtag Can Never Die

After the “previously on…” montage, I looked down at my phone, expecting to hear the infamous Game of Thrones theme music. Instead I was treated to a rare (for this show, anyway) cold open. When I saw wood being chopped, my first thought was that we were looking at Euron Greyjoy’s forces building ships, but that didn’t seem right. The camera followed one larger man in particular, and as it panned up, I felt less than surprised at who it revealed. Which just goes to show, between book clues and rampant online speculation, how hard it is for this show to surprise me at this point.
What I felt, when the camera panned up, was relief.
George R.R. Martin’s adherence to and respect for causality means that many of our favorite characters have had to die over the years, but the Hound’s story never felt finished. His character arc this episode, aided by the always magnetic Ian McShane as reformed killer Brother Ray, is a microcosm of one of enduring themes of the show since the first season: you can’t run from who you are, but that doesn’t mean you can’t change. The Hound is still a surly bastard, and he will likely seek revenge for what happened to the camp and the man that saved his life, but something about Ray’s message (aka, stop killing people all the time for the hell of it) has gotten through to him.
Speaking of change, I can’t have been the only one that was shocked to hear Cersei finally admit wrongdoing for the mess in King’s Landing. I could listen to Olenna Tyrell eat her lunch all day. If there was a spinoff that featured the Queen of Thorns roasting various Westeros personalities, I would certainly make time for it. Anyway, Olenna is leaving town after her granddaughter pleaded with her to do so. The most notable part of their exchange was the note that Margaery secretly passed to her, a drawing of a rose. It was confirmation that Marge isn’t drinking the Sparrow’s kool-aid.  I didn’t doubt that she was feigning her newfound love of religion, but I also wan’t sure it made sense in the context of her character. I’m still not in love with the way this story is advancing, but I feel more confident in it than I did last week. I’m starting to get the suspicion that, whether it be by his wife’s plans or not, King Tommen isn’t going to be making it out of this season alive.
Jaime Lannister doesn’t have to worry about the headaches in King’s Landing this week, and instead is charged with leading a siege in Riverrun. While he doesn’t have a particular fondness for the Tully family (the last time he saw most of them he was their prisoner), he seems to have just as little patience for his supposed allies, the Freys. He tries to appeal to the Blackfish’s sense of reason, and offers to spare his men’s lives if he surrenders. The Kingslayer fails to realize how personally someone can take the loss of their home, despite the fact that he has, in a sense, recently lost his. As an audience, we like Jaime quite a bit more than the last time he was in this part of the world, but he isn’t on the right side of this one. Unfortunately, no matter how “good” the Kingslayer wants to be, his last name and history will forever limit his options in that regard.
In the North, Sansa and Jon are on the recruiting trail, trying to rally houses to their cause. It’s refreshing to see that after a an early scene in which they are initially rejected, then manage and give a miraculous speech that changes someone’s mind, the lord of House Glover reminds them how complicated these times are. Why would this man take up arms against the Boltons? They helped him reclaim his land. Why would he honor his allegiance to the Stark name? They are outnumbered, and the man he swore an oath to was beheaded years ago. Not everyone is going to see the big picture as well as Jon, because not everyone has seen the Night’s King kill their friends. As we cut away from their efforts, Sansa is sending a raven for someone. Perhaps she realizes that she needs Littlefinger’s help after all?

Sansa’s little sister Arya is also in need of help after being stabbed in the belly by the Waif. Or was she? The internet is already convinced that it was actually Jaqen H’Ghar wearing Arya’s face, which makes sense to a certain degree. For a fleeting second I thought that this was her end, and the pointlessness of it was maddening. He/she manages to escape, but has lost a lot of blood. The fact that the title of next week’s episode is “No One” probably means we will be getting some resolution on this front.
Quotable Quotes
“We’re not clever like you southerners. When we say we’ll do something, we do it.” – Tormund Giantsbane
“I wonder if you are the worst person I’ve ever met. At a certain age it’s hard to recall.” – Olenna Tyrell, landing another zinger
Awards!

• This week’s “We Missed You And Wish You Weren’t Murdered in Horrifying Fashion” award goes to Robb Stark’s wife Talisa. The Arya belly stab moment gave me an uncomfortable flashback.
• The latest “Weak Sauce of the Week” award goes to Walder Frey’s bumbling sons, who look about as fit to lead a siege as I do.
• Our first ever, “Character We Don’t Really Have Time to Learn More About but Really Want to” award goes to Lyanna Mormont. Not only does Thrones boast perhaps the most impressive array of strong female characters in the history of television, they span the age spectrum. Due to the horrors of war, a 10-year-old is the head of their house. And she is fantastic.
• The “Frat Boy Pledge of the Week” award goes to Theon Greyjoy, who is more or less bullied into slamming a beer by his sister.

And Now, a Haiku by the Blackfish
Welcome Kingslayer
You going to hang Edmure?
I’ve got extra rope
I will be back at it next week. Judging by the preview the Mountain is finally going to murder everyone in the face. Hooray?