Life, death and resurrection.
As always, SPOILER ALERT! Here are some of our favourite moments from this week’s memorable episode, ‘Oathbreaker’.
Master of Quotes – Best Line
“This is completely f**king mad” – Ser Davos.
Amidst all the euphoria and delight at seeing Jon Snow’s resurrection from the dead, one question was overlooked. We were all too busy wondering when the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch would return, but we really should have been dwelling on the issue of why?.
What purpose does the most beloved bastard in Westeros have? Has death changed him? And what’s his purpose now that his watch has ended?
This all sounds very serious, but then again, you have to admire a show where a God-like figure is instantly greeted on his second coming with the line: “What kind of God would have a pecker that small?”. We know nothing.
So Tormund got to see Jon Snow's "pecker" but we don't? Shame. Shame. Shame. #GameOfThrones
— Marlow Stern (@MarlowNYC) May 9, 2016
Moving swiftly on, the much-loved Sam and Gilly made their season 6 debuts, and it seems that Jon’s best friend is such a nice guy that even a serious bout of sea sickness and puking couldn’t take a way a rare moment of tenderness in Game Of Thrones. Nah actually, it did. We still loved it though.
Repentance and a focus on the past were the strong narrative themes of this episode, a point that was exemplified with the other storylines. Arya took seismic steps towards redeeming herself for the murder of Meryn Trant; Vary’s and his “little birds” made a return; and King Tommen kept reverting to character, being bullied and intimidated by everyone in his pursuit of Margaery’s freedom.
https://twitter.com/Briefslayer/status/729487289089318912
Ned Stark may be dead, but he still somehow managed to become 90 per cent more rock ‘n roll when he showed up at the Tower of Joy, before declaring to Ser Arthur Dayne – the Sword of the Morning – that “now it ends”. The older Ned would probably nod his head in approval – you know, if it was still attached to his body.
Cersei Lannister is always good value for a quip, insult or s**t scary remark, and she delivered once again.
The Queen Regent’s instruction to know the movements of everyone that’s “making our losses their gains, I want to hear about it” was almost as cold as Ramsay Bolton’s chilling welcome to the returning Rickon Stark (didn’t we predict his return?)
https://twitter.com/AlexAllTimeLow/status/729572851599073280
Still though, this week’s best line goes to the man with the weight of the world’s heaviest cloak on his shoulders, Jon Snow.
He may not know why he was brought back from the dead, but he does know one thing after looking into Olly’s dead eyes, there’s nothing left at Castle Black for him.
Ser Alliser Thorne’s final words were definitely in keeping with his character: “I fought, I lost, now I rest. You’ll [Jon] be fighting these battles forever.”
Jon’s watch has ended, but does this now mean that Winterfell’s most beloved son is free to unite the Starks in their bid to reclaim The North?
https://twitter.com/Urs_Uriarte/status/729645036506390528
The North Remembers – Best Scene
Rarely before have a few paragraphs from A Song Of Fire and Ice incited so much debate, theories and excitement, but the fight that took place on the steps of the Tower of Joy was literally a joy to behold.
We’ll discuss the implications of that scream later, but for sheer choreography, pacing and writing, that scrap was fantastic. We had a feeling that the GoT creators weren’t going to reveal everything from this important sequence in one go – the potential R+L = J answer can wait for another day – but the character of Ser Arthur Dayne lived up to our expectations.
In the novels, Ned Stark describes ‘The Sword of the Morning’ as the most formidable foe that he has ever faced on the battlefield, it’s easy to see why.
Duel swords, insurmountable odds, and cool one-liners- he was like the Terminator in chain mail. The Mad King chose his allies well.
WOOWWW I just saw Ser Arthur Dayne fighting. With two swords. R+L=J. @GameOfThrones #SwordoftheMorning
— Aaron Tveit (@AaronTveit) May 9, 2016
"I was certain you would be among them.”
“Our knees do not bend easily,” said Ser Arthur Dayne. pic.twitter.com/FY19J6LzzO— Radio Westeros Podcast (@RadioWesteros) May 7, 2016
Valar Morghulis – Best Death
Ser Arthur Dayne accounted for the majority of Ned Stark’s companion, while Ramsay performed his obligatory flaying. He’s such a scamp.
There’s one clear winner though. Here’s the exact look when you stab your former Lord Commander, only to see him return from the dead.
It’s just a shame that Jon found no comfort in hanging Olly because the little s**t deserved it.
After all, he stabbed Jon in the heart and shot an arrow through Ygritte.
When you stab Jon Snow and he comes back from the dead… #JustGameofThronesThings pic.twitter.com/DG6qJHcqWH
— David (Razor) Harris (@House_Razor) May 9, 2016
Mother of Dragons – Best Beast Scene
No dragons this week, but we did have horses. Lots and lots of horses. The decapitated head of a Direwolf was a pretty morbid touch also.
First Lady, Nymeria is lost, then Greywind now Shaggydog. STOP THE DIREWOLF ABUSE #Oathbreaker #GameofThrones
— 𝓢ᵃⁿₛₐ 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝑲 (Parody) (@TheDove_Stark) May 9, 2016
Sticks and Stones and Swords – Best Insult
Poor Roose Bolton. Even in death, the man still can’t catch a break.
"Your father was a cunt." LOLLLLLL Roose Bolton can't even rest. #GameofThrones
— Luvvie (@Luvvie) May 9, 2016
You Know Nothing – The WTF Moment
Call us superstitious, but there was a certain symmetry in the timing of last night’s show. The episode when Tyrion killed Tywin was aired on Father’s Day in the US, but yesterday was Mother’s Day stateside. Did we finally get a glimpse of Jon Snow’s mum?
Spoiler alert.
Still reading? Here’s the context. After Prince Rhaegar Targaryen abducted Lyanna Stark (Ned’s sister that was betrothed to Robert Baratheon), the entire realm was plunged into war as Robert’s Rebellion ultimately ended the Targaryen rule.
The Tower of Joy in Dorne – the scene of that epic fight between Ned and Ser Arthur Dayne – was where Ned found his sister, lying in a pool of her own blood and close to death. There are two ways to interpret those screams that we heard.
1) Lyanna was murdered, or, 2) she died during child-birth.
The popular theory states that with her dying breath, Lyanna asked Ned Stark to protect her newborn child, a certain Jon Snow.
Stealing The Throne – This Week’s Best Character
Ah, we’ll give it to Jon. After all, the poor bastard came back from the dead. He deserves something.
https://twitter.com/markhoppus/status/729627024759754753
Finally, here’s the promo for next week’s episode.
