RECAP: GAME OF THRONES S6EP8 - REVENGE, SEVERED HEADS AND TERRIBLE JOKES

Jun 14

Jun 14 RECAP: GAME OF THRONES S6EP8 - REVENGE, SEVERED HEADS AND TERRIBLE JOKES

After his church brothers and sisters have been murdered, the blood-thirsty Hound we love is back. As predicted, he resumes fucking shit up and loving chicken. The re-introduction of the Brotherhood without Banners along with the Hound makes me think that they’re about to play a larger role in the series, especially considering the resurrection of the dead has been such a strong theme this season.

Speaking of resurrections, the Mountain put the fear of God into Lancel Lannister and his companions, single-handedly tearing the head off of a Sparrow. Cersei meant business when she chose violence. Still, after all the fuss it took to bring him back, it’s been disappointing that this is only his second kill this season. Maybe we’ll get to see some more action during Cersei’s trial by combat. OH, WAIT. Thanks to Tommen, apparently one of the most anticipated scenes this season isn’t going to happen. Honestly, this may sound a tad sadistic, but at times like this I miss Joffrey. Trial by combat was pretty much the only way out of certain execution that Cersei had, and her own son issues a royal decree to ban it across the Seven Kingdoms. I actually kind of feel bad for Cersei. She’s a terrible person, but to see her betrayed by her own child was pretty sad. Tommen may as well have tied the noose himself, and I don't see this ending in a pleasant way for him either.

In Mereen, Tyrion hosts a cringe-worthy joke telling and drinking session with Greyworm and Missandei, which I can forgive for the cute banter between the two. But of course good things never last, and before long their city is under attack. I don’t know much about warfare, but I think I’m with Tyrion on where the Unsullied army should mount their defences. It was kind of sad to know that they were only protecting the pyramid, and letting the people of Mereen fend for themselves. As always, Daenerys makes a dramatic entrance along with her dragon, and presumably with a Dothraki army in tow.

Thank God for Daenerys. Now can you save everyone, please?

Brienne and Pod make it to Riverrun, and convince Jamie to let them consult with the Blackfish. As Jaimie predicted, he’s ridiculously stubborn. He values his illegitimate place at Riverrun over Sansa’s at Winterfell, and refuses to give up his pointless feud. I thought that was kind of ridiculous, considering he fought for the King of the North in earlier seasons, and there was no way his temper tantrum was going to work out in his favour.

Jaimie has a bit of an awkward conversation about sisters with Edmure Tully, making it clear to his prisoner that he would “slaughter every Tully” to be reunited with Cersei. I think I’ve gotten so used to him being a decent guy that I’ve mentally detached him from Cersei, so it was a bit of a shock to see him threatening his prisoner, especially after watching his brief reunion with Brienne. I feel like politics ultimately becomes irrelevant in their relationship despite being on opposite ends, and more than anything they’re friends. But still, what I wouldn’t give to see a showdown between the two.

Needle makes a triumphant return in my favourite scene this season. I was so terrified for Arya throughout the entire chase scene. She was bleeding out and completely battered by the end of it, and I honestly expected some freaky Faceless Man stuff to happen. Like maybe Jaqen would decide to kill the Waif at the very last minute, and save Arya? However, that moment Arya, almost broken, gets on to her feet, Needle in hand, and turns out the light made me lose my mind. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’m fangirling over Arya so hard right now. That was literally the most badass thing I’ve seen on this entire season. Not to mention it was the biggest ‘fuck you’ to the Waif, after being blind and tormented for so long. At least now we can see what all her training in the House of Black and White led to.