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Game of Thrones Review "The Sons of the Harpy"

Game of Thrones Review "The Sons of the Harpy"
by Julie Perez


Now, it should go without saying but if you have yet to watch last night’s episode of Game of Thrones I recommend you stop reading, unless you enjoy reading spoilers. “The Sons of the Harpy” had a slow and steady start but it came to a bloody climax by the end of the episode. I started giving up on the episode within the first 20 minutes and then – well noting could have properly prepared me. Where do I even begin?

The episode opens with Jorah stealing a man’s boat to take Tyrion to “the Queen”, who I completely called was not Queen Cersei (as so many of you assumed) but Queen Daenerys. Tyrion gets that information out of him, in true Tyrion form, by attempting to get into Jorah’s head. Unfortunately after he discloses which Queen he plans to take him to, Tyrion fails at getting into his head any further but succeeds into getting Jorah to punch him in the face (turns out Tyrion got to sleep, even without the wine). So, what are your thoughts? Do you think Daenerys will pardon Jorah? I haven’t quite decided what I think yet, but I do know that Daenerys is getting into a very compromising position and she needs all the help she can get, more on that later.

Back in King’s Landing the power struggle between Cersei and Margaery is just getting started and poor King Tommen is stuck in the middle. It’s all bound to come to a head after the stunt Cersei pulled this episode. Cersei meets with High Sparrow to discuss how to better urge the people to follow the gods, not their own swords. They decide on the Faith Militant, an army for the religious that is made up of Sparrows. Once the army is formed, they take to the streets and invade Littlefinger’s brothel, where they torture and kill an old man who was paying to sleep with young boys. They, then proceed to capture Loras (Margaery’s brother) for “breaking the laws of god and men”, basically because he’s gay.

Upon hearing of her brother’s captivity Margaery confronts Tommen and demands that her brother be freed. He promises to do so, but when he asks Cersei to release Loras she tells him that he must go and speak to High Sparrow himself and ask that Loras be released. So, Tommen goes and attempts to speak to High Sparrow but unfortunately fails, because he is a child that doesn’t know how to give orders. I can’t help but feel that this was all part of the plan for Cersei to show her son that he can’t rule without her by his side.

Back at Castle Black, we see Melisandre go and speak to Jon Snow. She tried to convince him to come with her and Stannis as they march to Winterfell. His loyalty to the Night’s Watch doesn't falter and he refuses her offer. Aware that he may need a different incentive, Melisandre proceeds to get naked and tries to seduce Jon Snow (in a scene that had me covering my eyes and yelling at the television “you better get off my man lady”). For a moment, it looks like he may cave but he quickly regains composure and refuses her offer telling her that he loves someone else. The mention of Ygritte is enough to pull at your heartstrings in a way that make you ache for Jon Snow. Melisandre concedes but before walking out of the room she turns back and says, “You know nothing, Jon Snow” touché lady, you win this round.

Sansa cannot catch a break. Back at Winterfell Littlefinger finds Sansa and informs her that he will be going back to Kings Landing because Queen Cersei has sent for him. He informs her that he is aware that Stannis is riding to Winterfell and will be taking it from Roose Bolton. He plans to get Stannis to name Sansa “Wardeness of the North” and if Stannis loses, Sansa is to make Ramsay “hers”. She is meant to use him to her advantage. I mean, but do we really think that she has it in her? I know we've seen Sansa be manipulative in the past but can she really manipulate enough to keep herself safe?

Now, for where the episode truly picks up; Jaime and Bronn make it to shore in Dorne. We find out that Jaime paid off the captain of the ship that brought them to Dorne, but as Bronn mentions, who’s to say that the captain won’t sell them out. It’s looking like the captain did just that when Dornish soldiers ride up to where Bronn and Jaime are. Of course, as he often tries to do, Bronn attempts to talk himself out of the situation but unfortunately the situation can’t be diffused and Jaime and Bronn must fight the four soldiers before them. We had been missing the gore this season and this episode truly delivered. Jaime and Bronn take out the four soldiers (and a poor, defenseless horse) and they continue on their journey.

In Dorne is where we meet Oberyn’s badass daughters. I want to call them my new favorite characters, but my favorite character haven’t done well in the past so I’ll refrain. Oberyn’s daughters along with his lover agree that they must go to war and that they must take revenge against Cersei by using Myrcella. One thing’s for sure this war that is brewing is bound to be an epic one.

The episode comes to a head in Meereen where Daenerys has a sweet moment with Ser Barristan, where he tells her that her brother loved to go into the streets of King’s Landing and sing to people. She’s surprised to find out that her brother enjoyed something other than killing. The moment is short lived, as it seems that Game of Thrones has a rule against happiness. We see Daenerys’ problems just beginning when the Sons of the Harpy attack the city. The Unsullied fight, but unfortunately are outnumbered yet somehow Grey Worm manages to stay alive. It’s not looking great for him but Ser Barristan arrives and helps him in a brilliantly shot fight. He went out fighting heroically but in the end Ser Barristan dies. Grey Worm collapses next to him in the midst of all of the bloody bodies, but I am still unsure as to whether he actually died. Ser Barristan’s death is sure to hit Daenerys in a terrible way, with so many things going wrong with her plans. How much more can she withstand? Will Ser Barristan’s death cause her to re-think the direction she’s been heading in or will it force her to be more ruthless than before?

As a whole, I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. It had the heart and emotional scenes that we've come to love from Game of Thrones as well as the blood and gore that we love to hate. With so many story lines preparing to come to a clash, I’m anxious to find out who will remain standing strong by the end of the season. What were your thoughts? Did you enjoy “The Sons of the Harpy”?
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