You Write Or You Die: Attack of the Crones

GAME OF THRONES

SEASON SIX

EPISODE ONE:

THE RED WOMAN

SUMMARY:

Hearing the mournful howling of Ghost, Jon Snow’s loyal and devoted direwolf, Davos Seaworth runs from his chamber at Castle Black, only to find Jon dead beneath a sign that names him a traitor.

With help of the few Nights Watch who remain loyal to Jon Snow, his body is taken inside and his death confirmed. Dolorous Edd is sent to retrieve Ghost, while Melisandre is stunned to see Jon’s body, claiming she saw him fighting in the flames at Winterfell.

Alliser Thorne takes command of the Nights Watch.

At Winterfell, Ramsay actively mourns his dead lover Myranda and vows to avenge her. When asked to burn or bury the girl, Ramsay declares that she is good meat and to feed her body to the hounds. Roose Bolton, allowing no time for Ramsay to celebrate his great victory over Stannis Baratheon, reminds him that recovering Sansa Stark and producing a son of his own, is more valuable to Ramsay’s status as his heir.

Having survived their leap from Winterfell into the snow below, Sansa Stark and Theon Greyjpydesperately try to outrun Ramsay’s hunting party. Exhausted and frozen, they huddle together for warmth underneath a frozen tree, as the Bolton hounds sound their approach.

Theon desperately tries to lead them away but fails and Bolton men find Sansa, attempting to seize her. Suddenly, Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne appear on horse and fight bravely to save Sansa from Bolton clutches.

Theon saves Podrick from being killed by running a Bolton soldier through with a sword. Brienne, once again, offers her services to Sansa Stark, which finally, she accepts.

At Kings Landing, Cersei is delighted to receive news that the ship from Dorne, carrying Jaime and their daughter Myrcella has finally arrived. Her joy vanishes in an instant at Jaime’s mournful expression and the gold shrouded coffin behind him.

Mourning the loss of her innocent only daughter, Cersei finally tells Jaime of Maggy the Frog’s prophecy but Jaime does not believe a word of it. Jaime vows to take back everything that has been taken from them.

Locked in her cell, with a very intimidating Septa Unella, Margaery Tyrell requests to see her brother and narrowly avoids a beating from the Septa as the High Sparrow unexpectedly enters. He sends Unella away and shares his concern for King Tommen’s welfare and Margaery’s faith.

Margaery denies having anything to confess but readily admits that no one is entirely without sin.

Meanwhile, at Dorne, Doran Martell receives news of Myrcella’s death. As he takes this in, Tyene Sand stabs Areo Hotah in the spine, killing him and Doran’s own guards refuse to help him escape. Ellaria Sand stabs Doran in the chest, declaring “That weak men will never rule Dorne again.”

Still on the ship at Kings Landing, Trystane Martell, in his cabin, paints eye stones for Myrcella when Obara and Nym unexpectedly enter. The two of them let their cousin decide who he will fight he chooses Nym. Trystane raises his sword to defend himself from Nym’s whip but Obara cheats and drives her spear into his head, killing him instantly.

In Meereen, Tyrion Lannister and Varys discuss the state of the city and Daenerys Targaryen’s rapid decline in popularity. Varys informs Tyrion that his spies are working hard to find out the identities of the Sons of the Harpy as they watch a Red Priest urge a crowd of people to fight for their Queen, Daenerys.

Bells suddenly ring out and a panicked crowd flees from the harbour. The Meereenese fleet is ablaze.

Daario Naharis and Jorah Mormont continue their search for Daenerys. In secret, Jorah checks on his progressing Greyscale and then the two men stumble upon the site where she was taken by the Dothraki. Jorah finds the ring that Daenerys dropped in the grass.

Daenerys, dirty and bound, is tormented by the Dothraki who captured her as they move towards their next encampment. They bring her before Khal Moro, who having no idea who’s wife she was, plans to have her in his tent that night and eventually, put a son in her.

Disgusted, she finally reveals that she is the widow of Khal Drogo and Moro releases her, promising not to touch her, swearing she will not be harmed by him or his Khalasar. Dany asks to be escorted back to Meereen promising many fine horses but instead, he vows to take her to Vaes Dothrak and give her over to the Dosh Khaleen.

SPOT OF GOT HISTORY: The Dosh Khaleen are a ruling group within the Dothraki social hierarchy, specifically the crones who preside over the holy city of Vaes Dothrak. The dosh khaleen are composed of the widows of slain khals, and serve as seers foretelling the future and interpreting omens for the Dothraki. In this capacity they essentially also serve as the leaders of the Dothraki religion. Even powerful khals and fierce male Dothraki warriors fear disobeying the will of the dosh khaleen.

The name dosh khaleen literally means "council of crones" in the Dothraki language. Each of them was formerly the wife of a khal, and thus each of them was once a khaleesi. An individual member of the group would be called a khaleen (literally "crone")

In Braavos, A blind Arya Stark is begging in an alleyway when she is approached by the Waif, who tosses her a staff and gives her no choice but to fight. Arya struggles to defend herself and is defeated, the Waif leaves her bloodied and bruised, vowing to return the next day.

Back at Castle Black, Alliser Thorne defends his decision to have Jon Snow murdered in front of an extremely angry Night’s Watch. Thorne then offers those protecting Jon’s body in the Lord Commander’s chamber amnesty if they leave without causing further violence.

Unconvinced, Davos buys time and reminds those with him that there are still those who owe their lives to Jon, the Wildings. Edd volunteers to go rally them to join their forces and Davos mentions asking Melisandre for help. The others with him doubt this idea but Davos tells them they haven’t seen what he has seen her do.

In her own chamber, a completely disheartened Melisandre undresses and examines herself thoroughly in the mirror. Finally taking off her necklace, she is actually revealed to be an extremely ancient and withered crone. In her true form, for the first time in years, Melisandre studies her true reflection until she no longer bear it and climbs into bed…

REVIEW:

Welcome back to Game of Thrones. That was an extremely long nine months wasn’t it?

An extremely crone filled, bloody, vengeful adventure came and went at what seemed like breathtaking speed.

I honestly did not want the episode to end.

But still, not even all that violent death could ever make me warm to anything that happens in Dorne.

Speaking of warming to things, the reveal of Melisandre’s true age/power was expertly handled as was Myrcella’s homecoming, Cersei and Jaime, Daenerys and the Dothraki, Ramsay and Roose, Sansa and Theon, Brienne and Podrick, Jon Snow, Davos and Edd and anyone I’ve missed.

An abundance of praise must go the performances of all Game of Thrones actresses and actors and everyone who works on the show.

They said it would an epic event and boy did they deliver on that promise!

YOUR THOUGHTS:

Dorne was... Meh...