Game of Thrones Recap – “Eastwatch” (Se: 7 Ep: 5)

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Game of Thrones Recap – “Eastwatch” (Se: 7 Ep: 5)

Craig Koshkin

After an incredible end to last week’s episode of Game of Throne’s, we were treated to an episode that was a huge information dump. We found out a lot about the history of Westeros. There wasn’t a ton of action but there was a ton of setup for the remainder of the series, if you were paying attention.

Outside of King’s Landing

Jaime Lannister is alive! If you thought he was going to die so easily, shame on you.  Bronn pulls him out of the water and lectures Jaime on how not to die when dragons are present.

Meanwhile Daenerys, fresh off her victory, has gathered the Lannister men who have checked into the Memorial Hermann burn unit. All she wants is their loyalty and they’ll live. Many kneel and some do not. Randall and Dickon *chuckle* Tarly are amongst those who refuse stating that their word is all they have, despite recently changing allegiances. Tyrion, having seen the destruction, implores the Tarlys to reconsider. They won’t and they are burnt toast. Despite Tyrion’s concerns for such violence, Daeny speaks the most powerful word in the Seven Kingdoms. “Dracarys.” The rest of the men kneel and I don’t blame them.

King’s Landing

We will be visiting King’s Landing a few times this episode and the first trip is for a discussion between Cersei and Jaime. Jaime tells Cersei just how screwed they are. The Dothraki and dragons are so much more than any mercenaries or army can handle. Jaime then drops Olenna’s bomb on Cersei, which infuriates her further. She is more determined than ever to win this war somehow.

Dragonstone

What’s the way to a woman’s heart? Pet her dragon of course. Drogon is completely cool with Jon giving his nose a rub and if there were any doubts lingering about his lineage they should stop right here. Daeny swoon and dismounts Drogon. Why is Jon so worried to tell Daenerys about his return from the dead?

The ultimate third wheel returns. Ser Jorah Marmont comes back trying to look like a badass, but his affections for Daenerys are boring. Lyanna, his neice, would tell him to grow a pair.

Winterfell

Bran wargs ravens over the wall to see the army marching. As soon as the Night’s Kings sees them, they disperse and Bran implores the Maester to send ravens alerting everyone.

The Citadel

The maesters get Bran’s raven and laugh about how preposterous it sounds. Sam begs them to pay attention, having seen both the white walkers and Bran Stark. Despite Sam’s worries, the maesters assume it is a ploy from Daenerys and choose to ignore the message. They also know that Sam’s family is dead but haven’t told him.

Dragonstone

Tyrion and Varys are discussing Daenerys’ tactics with the Tarly’s. Varys is unhappy with the result and Tyrion makes excuses for why he let it happen. Varys laments that he did the same thing when he served the Mad King.

The scroll from Bran has arrived for Jon and he finds out that Bran and Arya are alive.  Jon must go help his people and Daenerys can’t help because she’d be giving the war away to Cersei. Tyrion comes up with a crazy plan to prove to Cersei that the Army of the Dead exists. They want to bring a wight to Cersei in hopes an armistice can be arranged. Davos is going to bring Tyrion to King’s Landing to find Jaime so that they may discuss it.

Jorah volunteers to go capture a wight and Jon will take him. Everyone agrees to this crazy plan and everyone is on their way.

Winterfell

The Lords are pissed that Jon left. Sansa seems to be playing her own game of appeasing them in Jon’s name but to a point that they trust her more than him. Arya sees right through it and confronts Sansa who now occupies their parent’s chambers. The two debate methodology for handling the dissent amongst the Lords. Sansa feels Arya is too harsh and Arya feel Sansa is far too lenient. Arya goes as far as to suggest Sansa is playing the game in hopes of taking over for Jon.

King’s Landing

Tyrion and Davos arrive. Tyrion has business with Jaime and Davos leaves for business of his own.

Bronn lures Jaime into the dragon graveyard with the idea of training. Jaime is completely caught off guard by Tyrion’s presence. Tyrion tries to praise Jaime’s military cunning but Jaime isn’t having it. Getting right to the point, Tyrion suggests an armistice under “certain terms”.

Davos arrives at a blacksmith foundry and Gendry is back! We’ve been waiting 5 seasons to see what happened to Gendry and he’s been under our noses the whole time. He looks mature, strong, and more educated on the ways of the world. He’s ready to get out of Westeros and bring his mighty big hammer with him. To those who aren’t book readers, his hammer is a throwback to his father. King Robert used to wield a war hammer.

Back on the beach, Davos is getting prepared to leave. A few King’s Guard find them on the beach and Davos is forced to pay to keep his presence hidden, with inflation of course. As the King’s Guard walk away, Tyrion shows up and they remember looking for a dwarf with a scar like his. Davos tries to reason with them, but Gendry decides it’s time to go all Thor upside their heads with his hammer.

Jaime meets with Cersei about Tyrion’s meeting. Cersei knew about the meeting and is pissed that Bronn betrayed him, but she is down for an armistice because it, at the very least, gives her time to find a way to defeat Daenerys. Oh yea, she’s also pregnant and is willing to claim it as Jaime’s. I have a huge problem with this because it really screws up Cersei’s one remaining alliance with Euron Greyjoy. You’d have to think he would be very upset if Cersei is having Jaime’s kid as an heir to the throne.

Dragonstone

Gendry meets with Jon just before the Winterfell contingent at Dragonstone is set to leave. Despite Davos’ reservations, Gendry admits he is the bastard son of Robert Baratheon.  They exchange stories of meeting each other’s fathers and how their former alliance can be revived through the two bastards. Gendry is ready to go with Jon to capture a wight.

On the beach Tyrion says goodbye to Ser Jorah. Jorah says goodbye to Daenerys. Daenerys says goodbye to Jon. There is a little something brewing there as Jon says goodbye to Daenerys. There is nothing like the love between Aunt and Nephew. How is Jorah going to intervene on this love?

Citadel

Sam is transcribing by candlelight and Gilly is reading the manuscripts of Grand Maester Maynard. Just as Gilly is about to do the most useful thing she’s done in this series and confirms Jon Snow is a Targaryen, Sam cuts her off. Damnit Sam.  Sam is frustrated while transcribing because the Maesters are ignoring the real threat. Sam breaks into the library, steals some scrolls and books, which I assume are important to his cause, and peaces out. He’s not going to become a master after all.

Winterfell

Arya is spying on Littlefinger as he’s clearly got something cooking. She follows him to his chamber where the maester hands Littlefinger a scroll. Littlefinger goes to his chamber and return almost immediately. After he makes his way, Arya breaks in to find what the scroll said. When she finds it, she reads the letter Sansa wrote Robb, in season 1, about bending the knee to Joffrey and the “crimes” Ned committed before being beheaded. Arya exits Littlefinger’s chamber as Littlefinger looks on from the shadows and smiles. He’s clearly trying to use Arya’s quest for revenge to split up the Stark sisters.

Eastwatch

Jon and co meet with Tormund about going north of the wall to capture a wight. He suggests that they may need more men. Luckily for Jon the Brothers Without Banners have been imprisoned in Eastwatch and also want to go north of the wall. Some quibbling between the two parties about past transgressions takes place and ends when Jon suggests they are all on the same side because they are breathing.

The GoT Suicide Squad is set and head north. It is cold and winter is definitely here.

This episode was a lot of setup but history dictates that next week’s episode will be the penultimate. A battle between the wights and Jon Snow? I’m in. Should be a good one. Who’s ready?