GoT Season 7, Episode 2: Stormborn
Warning: thar be potential spoilers in these here waters; if you're not up to date with GoT, sail with caution.
GoT Season 7, Episode 2: Stormborn
Blimey! Just like Yara and Theon, I did not see that coming! That kind of action is usually only reserved for the last few episodes of a season, not the end of episode 2!
After carefully working out how she was going to go and take over Kings Landing without any fuss, Danaerys has had her plans (and fleet) well and truly scuppered within the same episode. It was all so simple, the Greyjoys had to sail their fleet to Dorn to gather their forces. I guess they hadn't bet that Euron and his lovely ship, the aptly named Silence would be hot on their heels and stationed just around the corner. Well they he was and goodness did he let them know it!
Let's face it, he's done us a favour really, killing off two thirds of the Sandsnakes. They were really cool for all of an episode and then completely petered out. They've spent a lot of time posing and talking about how they're going to kill everyone, but not really done anything else. And honestly, if they couldn't handle Euron, how did they ever think they were going to have a chance against The Mountain? He's certainly proved that he's going to be the big baddy in this series, but we're getting a whole different kind of nasty from him. Whereas Joffrey and Ramsay were both sadistic schemers, Euron is just out for the killing and being a bit of a bastard. It'll be a nice chance of pace to have a villain who wears his (and his enemies) heart on his sleeve and straight up kills you, rather than conjuring a series of elaborate plots.
So where does that leave Team Dany? Well, she's holed up in Dragonstone and now playing host to Melisandre and the Unsullied are en route to Casterly Rock. But her fleet is utterly knackered, burning in the sea, with Yara, Ellaria and Tyene all captured, presumably to be taken as Euron's gift to Cersei. And Theon, oh Theon. Ramsay's brutal treatment has clearly left a lasting shadow on him. He was offered the chance to be a hero, but cam over all Reek [can you really blame him though] and lopped himself into the sea. So now he's just bobbing away.
What could this all mean for him then, stranded somewhere between Dragonstone and Dorne? If only we had a character in this area with a boat. Maybe even one who could forge weapons from dragon glass for the war to come. You know, like Gendry... or maybe Gendry himself. Could this now be the perfect time for our favourite Steve Redgrave impersonator to make a grand return? Goodness, I hope so.
After carefully working out how she was going to go and take over Kings Landing without any fuss, Danaerys has had her plans (and fleet) well and truly scuppered within the same episode. It was all so simple, the Greyjoys had to sail their fleet to Dorn to gather their forces. I guess they hadn't bet that Euron and his lovely ship, the aptly named Silence would be hot on their heels and stationed just around the corner. Well they he was and goodness did he let them know it!
Let's face it, he's done us a favour really, killing off two thirds of the Sandsnakes. They were really cool for all of an episode and then completely petered out. They've spent a lot of time posing and talking about how they're going to kill everyone, but not really done anything else. And honestly, if they couldn't handle Euron, how did they ever think they were going to have a chance against The Mountain? He's certainly proved that he's going to be the big baddy in this series, but we're getting a whole different kind of nasty from him. Whereas Joffrey and Ramsay were both sadistic schemers, Euron is just out for the killing and being a bit of a bastard. It'll be a nice chance of pace to have a villain who wears his (and his enemies) heart on his sleeve and straight up kills you, rather than conjuring a series of elaborate plots.
So where does that leave Team Dany? Well, she's holed up in Dragonstone and now playing host to Melisandre and the Unsullied are en route to Casterly Rock. But her fleet is utterly knackered, burning in the sea, with Yara, Ellaria and Tyene all captured, presumably to be taken as Euron's gift to Cersei. And Theon, oh Theon. Ramsay's brutal treatment has clearly left a lasting shadow on him. He was offered the chance to be a hero, but cam over all Reek [can you really blame him though] and lopped himself into the sea. So now he's just bobbing away.
What could this all mean for him then, stranded somewhere between Dragonstone and Dorne? If only we had a character in this area with a boat. Maybe even one who could forge weapons from dragon glass for the war to come. You know, like Gendry... or maybe Gendry himself. Could this now be the perfect time for our favourite Steve Redgrave impersonator to make a grand return? Goodness, I hope so.
So, what else has being going on in Weteros?
Well, Jon Snow has risked his hold of The North by heading to Dragonstone. With Sansa in charge, Littlefinger is surely rubbing his hands with glee, but this could be Sans'a chance to prove what she's realy all about now.
It might have taken two ravens, but Jon's headed south way and hopefully we're going to get the alliance we've all been waiting for. Will he bend the knee as Dany wants though? I doubt it. Will we get a brilliant reunion between him and Tyrion? I'm sure we will.
With reunions in mid, let's chat about Arya for a bit. After her emotional softening last episode, she bumps into an old friend, Pot Pie. Although he's only been seen sparingly since he was left at the inn, he's played quite a part in Arya's journey, whether he meant to or not. Last time we saw him, he pointed Briene in her direction, which ultimately left The Hound in a smushy mess and sent Arya on her way to Bravos. This time, he has a more direct influence on her with a spot of long overdue good news: Jon is King in the North and kicking back in Winterfell. They might not have seen each other since Jon went to The Wall, but they always had a special relationship in the Stark family. Jon, the bastard, was never really accepted by the family and Arya, the tomboy, never fit the stereotype she was expected to. The promise of seeing her favourite Stark [or is it still Snow [or maybe even Targaryen now]?] was more than enough to encourage her to change her plans and head back home, but will it once again be a case of so close, yet so far from the homecoming Arya's after? Jon is on his way to Dragonstone now, leaving Sanasa as the only Stark in Winterfell and the two sisters never really got on. That said, Sansa never really got on with anyone, so there's still hope. Plus, it opens the possibility of a cool, if left field theory coming to pass- Arya working as Sansa's guardian, Sansa did say only last season that "No-one can protect me", well, guess who has officially graduated from kick-ass no-one school.
While on her way to one reunion, Arya was treated to an impromptu one in the forest, in a heartstring pulling scene with Nymeria. Another beloved character that she hasn't seen since season one, it was wonderful to see them together again. But, just as Arya isn't the same character as she was when she had to set Nymeria free, our favourite grey dire wolf has changed a whole heap too. She isn't the obedient and adoring pup that Arya said goodbye to, she's the head of a ferocious pack and a wild animal now. But she still remembers Arya, just as Arya hasn't forgotten her.
Arya, on her way home, sees her old friend and invites her back to Winterfell, with the promise of their old lives back, but Nymeria simply turns and leaves (after a tearjerking moment spent gazing at her old friend). At first I thought Arya's words "That's not you" was a simple denial that this was Nymeria, but I was wrong. This is Arya remembering a conversation she had with Ned many years ago now, where he promised her the life of a lady in a castle. "That's not me" said Arya, and now she is seeing herself reflected in Nymeria. Why would she want to trade this life of freedom for one trapped behind the walls of the same caste for evermore? But could this be a foreshadowing that all might not be so rosy for Arya? Has she too, changed too much to be able to go back home herself? Will she realise this before she even makes it to Winterfell? Could this even be enough for her to change her mind and head back to Lannister killing as a lone wolf?
Well, Jon Snow has risked his hold of The North by heading to Dragonstone. With Sansa in charge, Littlefinger is surely rubbing his hands with glee, but this could be Sans'a chance to prove what she's realy all about now.
It might have taken two ravens, but Jon's headed south way and hopefully we're going to get the alliance we've all been waiting for. Will he bend the knee as Dany wants though? I doubt it. Will we get a brilliant reunion between him and Tyrion? I'm sure we will.
With reunions in mid, let's chat about Arya for a bit. After her emotional softening last episode, she bumps into an old friend, Pot Pie. Although he's only been seen sparingly since he was left at the inn, he's played quite a part in Arya's journey, whether he meant to or not. Last time we saw him, he pointed Briene in her direction, which ultimately left The Hound in a smushy mess and sent Arya on her way to Bravos. This time, he has a more direct influence on her with a spot of long overdue good news: Jon is King in the North and kicking back in Winterfell. They might not have seen each other since Jon went to The Wall, but they always had a special relationship in the Stark family. Jon, the bastard, was never really accepted by the family and Arya, the tomboy, never fit the stereotype she was expected to. The promise of seeing her favourite Stark [or is it still Snow [or maybe even Targaryen now]?] was more than enough to encourage her to change her plans and head back home, but will it once again be a case of so close, yet so far from the homecoming Arya's after? Jon is on his way to Dragonstone now, leaving Sanasa as the only Stark in Winterfell and the two sisters never really got on. That said, Sansa never really got on with anyone, so there's still hope. Plus, it opens the possibility of a cool, if left field theory coming to pass- Arya working as Sansa's guardian, Sansa did say only last season that "No-one can protect me", well, guess who has officially graduated from kick-ass no-one school.
While on her way to one reunion, Arya was treated to an impromptu one in the forest, in a heartstring pulling scene with Nymeria. Another beloved character that she hasn't seen since season one, it was wonderful to see them together again. But, just as Arya isn't the same character as she was when she had to set Nymeria free, our favourite grey dire wolf has changed a whole heap too. She isn't the obedient and adoring pup that Arya said goodbye to, she's the head of a ferocious pack and a wild animal now. But she still remembers Arya, just as Arya hasn't forgotten her.
Arya, on her way home, sees her old friend and invites her back to Winterfell, with the promise of their old lives back, but Nymeria simply turns and leaves (after a tearjerking moment spent gazing at her old friend). At first I thought Arya's words "That's not you" was a simple denial that this was Nymeria, but I was wrong. This is Arya remembering a conversation she had with Ned many years ago now, where he promised her the life of a lady in a castle. "That's not me" said Arya, and now she is seeing herself reflected in Nymeria. Why would she want to trade this life of freedom for one trapped behind the walls of the same caste for evermore? But could this be a foreshadowing that all might not be so rosy for Arya? Has she too, changed too much to be able to go back home herself? Will she realise this before she even makes it to Winterfell? Could this even be enough for her to change her mind and head back to Lannister killing as a lone wolf?
Now let's talk about our new favourite power couple, Sam and Jorah. I knew that Sam couldn't leave Ser Jorah to suffer/die, not after he learned who's son he was. Effectively, his whole episode was spent building up to turning Jorah into a human satsuma, where Sam sneaks into Jorah's room and peels him clean. It looked bloody awful, but here's hoping that it's all not been in vain and Dany's creepy crush is back fighting fit before too long. Who knows, maybe he'll be immune to greyscale now and able to wander about Old Valyria in relative safety (only having to worry about killing the stone men and not just being touched by them now). Perhaps he holds the key to some new weaponry in the war to come?
This Sam is more prepared to bend and break rules than ever before, this being the second time he's disobeyed a direct order this season. The only other time before that, he went and pilfered his dad's Valyrian steel sword. Naughty, but clever. This Sam, I really like.
Finally, let's quickly talk about the goings on in Kings Landing. Because while Dany's fleet was being ruined, her armies were being picked apart by Jamie. It looks like Jamie has convinced Randyll Tarly to take up the Lannister banner, so methinks he'll be going head to head with Jon before too long. Might he even go up against his disappointment of a son? Well goodness, that'd be swell.
If it wasn't enough that her ground troops are being plucked from her, it looks like Qyburn has created the newly patented Dragon-Muckeruperer. This giant crossbow made quite the state of an enormous dragon skull, bigger than any of Dany's, but then it was lying stationary in front of the thing. Will it be any use against three of them, all flapping and cross? Well, there's probably more than one and this is GoT, so I'm guessing it will be.
This Sam is more prepared to bend and break rules than ever before, this being the second time he's disobeyed a direct order this season. The only other time before that, he went and pilfered his dad's Valyrian steel sword. Naughty, but clever. This Sam, I really like.
Finally, let's quickly talk about the goings on in Kings Landing. Because while Dany's fleet was being ruined, her armies were being picked apart by Jamie. It looks like Jamie has convinced Randyll Tarly to take up the Lannister banner, so methinks he'll be going head to head with Jon before too long. Might he even go up against his disappointment of a son? Well goodness, that'd be swell.
If it wasn't enough that her ground troops are being plucked from her, it looks like Qyburn has created the newly patented Dragon-Muckeruperer. This giant crossbow made quite the state of an enormous dragon skull, bigger than any of Dany's, but then it was lying stationary in front of the thing. Will it be any use against three of them, all flapping and cross? Well, there's probably more than one and this is GoT, so I'm guessing it will be.
Hopefully episode 3 won't discombobulate me and I'll write about the start first and the end last. It probably won't now though will it? Until next time, valar mughulis.
You can find my review of Episode 1: Dragonstone here
You can find my review of Episode 1: Dragonstone here
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