Was it too slow?
The third episode of Game of Thrones sixth season,
Oathbreaker, was a little slow, but it was still filled with great scenes. We
still haven’t gotten into actual plot advancement for the season, and that
needs to change by the next episode for the season to feel like it is moving.
At this point the stage is fully set for the rest of the season. All of the
major players are in place for the adventures they will have until the
conclusion.
Jon Snow awakening was the logical place to start the
episode. It was an impactful scene, and handled extremely well. I thought Kit
Harrington did a great job of conveying the confusion Jon Snow had awakening
from the dead. He knew he shouldn’t be back, and was at a loss for how he was.
Melisandre wanted to know what it was like on the other side, but Jon disappointed
her by saying there was nothing. Now does that mean there was truly nothing, or
that he just couldn’t remember? Death it seems will still remain a mystery even
for the people of Westeros. Jon’s thinking there is nothing after death might
have an impact on him now. He knows he must live a full life, because darkness
waits for him on the other side. This is why he walked out on the Night’s Watch
at the end of the episode. He doesn’t want to be tied down there, and his watch
did end the first time he died. I think he probably will come back, but first
he will lead the Wildlings to retake Winterfell and instill Rickon as the new
King of the North.
Jon’s scene bookended the episode well, but the next best
scene for me was with Arya. Her small training montage and regaining her
eyesight showed great determination. She is becoming a true assassin. What is
interesting is that we don’t know her motivation. Is she just saying she is no
one so they will continue to train her, or does she now truly believe it? In
the books we have the advantage of knowing her true thoughts, but I’m not sure
if the character in the show feels the same way. She may be completely embracing
the Many-Faced God. I still think deep down she wants to avenge the people on
her list and has just learned to bide her time. She is learning from the
masters until she can leave on her own. She has always been a wildcard for me. I
don’t know how she will play into the story overall in the end, but her
transformation and growth is compelling to watch.
More setup was seen in Meereen. It was great to see Varys at
work. He threatened the informant so subtlety and with sweetness instead of terror,
and still made it creepy. He is the
supreme good cop, and you can tell why he gets what he wants. Now they know the
other slaver cities are fronting the Sons of the Harpy. My thought is that the
other cities will start to march on Meereen like they did in the books and lay siege
to the city. Danny will conquer all of the Dothraki hordes when her Dragon or
Dragons show up to rescue her. Then she will go back to Meereen lay waste to
it, and march on to Westeros for next season.
When she gets to Kings Landing what will she find? Tommen is
getting pulled in three different directions. One by his mother, one by his
small council, and now by the High Sparrow. The High Sparrow is obviously a master
manipulator. He might believe some of what he says, but for the most part he is
playing the same game as everyone else, gaining power. Cersei is still on the
warpath and will not rest until everyone who has wronged her is killed. This is
the one story were I think we should see some movement. Everyone is in place
for action to happen, it is just a matter of the plot advancing.
The only scene in the episode that seemed out of place was
with Sam and Gilly. It wasn’t needed and didn’t really add anything to the
episode, other than show us they are on their way to Oldtown and Sam wants Gilly
to go stay with his parents. One could probably argue the scene showing a young
Ned Stark fight didn’t add much either, other than fuel the flame of the fan
theory that Jon Snow isn’t Ned’s son, but his nephew. It certainly sounded like
a woman in labor outside of the castle. Now who is to say that this is was Jon,
but it implies it. I liked the scene, and it was the only action we saw
tonight.
Overall the episode was still well acted and well done. There
does need to be some more plot advancement next episode or the show is going to
feel like it is slowing to a halt and nothing is happening. Pieces are still
being settled into place, but they are all their now. This probably would be
considered a filler episode, but it was well done filler. This show is more
like a ten hour long movie, we just have to wait seven days to get the next
hour piece of the film.
What did you think about tonight’s episode? Was it too slow?
Are you ready for the stories to start advancing at a faster pace? Was it still
done well enough to keep you entertained? Comment and let me know.
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