This might be the densest episode of Game of Thrones to date. So much happens it’s hard to know where to begin. Our heroes are hopping around Westeros so rapidly that I’m changing things up this week, reviewing some parts by character instead of location. Let’s get into it!

Danaerys – Turn or Burn

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In the aftermath of her assault on the Lannister army, Dany gathers the survivors and goes full Bloody Mary by giving them a choice of turn or burn. Tyrion recommends Randyll Tarly join the Night’s Watch, which would have been a satisfying circumstance given his treatment of Samwell. But Dany isn’t interested in story parallels – Randyll and his son, Dickon, get dicked on.

Later, Tyrion and Varys discuss the consequences. It’s all too familiar for Varys as he relives his time with the Mad King. She needs to change or she’ll lose her most trusted advisors. Not only that, but she’ll lose us. Remember back in season three when she freed the Unsullied? She gives them a choice: walk free or serve. She isn’t giving the Westerosi the same choice. Okay, we’re not talking about slaves here, but she keeps arguing that her goal is to conquer Westeros to liberate its people from their wealthy noble oppressors.

It mirrors a subtle scene from last episode. Jon asks Missandei about her past. She was a slave, but now she serves Danaerys, claiming that she could board a boat back to Narth if she so wished. Could she?

Jon Sn—Targaryen!

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Last season we got confirmation about Jon’s secret parentage – the theory book readers loved prattling on about. Two questions remained: Was his birth legitimate, and how will he prove it? Well, Drogon for one recognises his blood.

After Jorah shows up and has a lacklustre reunion with Dany, they form a plan to capture a wight. Fantastic idea – I didn’t see this coming and it was a neat twist. Those smartasses at the Citadel won’t look so clever when they see a living (dead?) wight. Cersei needs to be convinced to have an audience with Dany by Jaime, and Jaime by Tyrion.

It’s neat to see Davos’s smuggling past get a payoff like this. He’s the logical choice to sneak Tyrion into the city – it feels organic. Less organic is Jorah immediately volunteering to range north of the Wall. His greyscale was cured way too easily – more on that at the end of my review.

They arrive at Eastwatch and recruit the Hound and company, sending their party full-on fantasy role playing game. Seriously, you’ve got the strong, hammer-wielding blacksmith, the savage barbarian, the noble knight, and the clerics with resurrection powers!

The best moment is that bickering scene outside the cells. They all hate each other. Beric Dondarrion sold Gendry for gold. Gendry was exploited by a red priestess. Tormund’s archenemy was Jorah’s father. The Hound doesn’t like anybody. It emphasises how cooperation requires forgiveness and acceptance, and again plays into this season’s themes of blame and family.

Winterfell – Who’s Stalking Who?

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Sansa remains loyal to Jon, but Arya insists on harsher rule. I’m growing to like Arya again, after we were punished by her uneven and sluggish Braavos arc. And anyway, where were those dark thoughts of hers when she met Ed Sheeran?

In my favourite scene of the episode, Arya follows Littlefinger around then finds a letter. What is he up to? It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that Littlefinger was onto her – he’s always one step ahead of everyone. But it was uncomfortable to watch. Littlefinger is unpredictable and an opportunist, too dangerous to spy on.

As for the contents of the letter, it’s the one Sansa sends to Robb encouraging him to swear fealty to Joffrey after Robert Baratheon’s death. Her words? Well, as Caitlyn put it: “The Queen’s words, you mean.” I have no doubt that Littlefinger planted it there for Arya to find. Like Varys, Littlefinger champions information, and knows the importance of letters. But I’m not sure Arya is stupid enough to believe that it’s a sign that Sansa’s true allegiance is in question.

King’s Landing – Oh yeah, I remember him.

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After washing up on shore, Jaime tells Cersei they cannot win the war. How does Cersei intend to defeat Dany the smart way? Have her assassinated? If I were them I’d have rows upon rows of Qyburn’s scorpions lining the walls of the Red Keep.

Tyrion meets Jaime, and Jaime learns Cersei is pregnant. These scenes moved so fast it’s hard to find anything to dissect. But I have to say I’m surprised at the direction this season is taking. Her pregnancy gives her reason to entertain an armistice with Dany. It’s hard to take anything Cersei says at face value, but we do know that children are the only thing Cersei makes sacrifices for.

So Gendry is back. I wasn’t sure I missed him all that much, but the show treats him like a long-lost fan-favourite character we’ve been dying to catch up with. His eagerness to hop on board with Davos makes sense, but to see him leave King’s Landing, rock up on Dragonstone, and two minutes later be part of Jon Snow’s select group of rangers was jarring to say the least. He’s supposed to be an excellent smith so sure, they might need him to work the dragonglass. But to have him go north of the wall after he’s never even set foot in the North? Oh, but he can handle himself, right? Well, he bashed two distracted guards with a hammer so I guess that makes him fit to take on the army of the dead.

Citadel Bombshell

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After failing to convince Archmaester Jim Broadbent about the validity and imminence of the White Walker threat, Samwell finally leaves the Citadel. Good for him. But that’s not before Gilly, Gilly of all people, discovers the biggest game-changer of the season so far. As it turns out, Prince Rhaegar (or Ragger as she calls him) did indeed re-marry in a secret ceremony. Not only does that make Jon Snow a legitimate Targaryen, it also gives him the strongest claim to the Iron Throne. But I was delighted to finally have concrete proof, after all this time, that Jon isn’t a bastard after all.

In Conclusion

Eastwatch was an episode packed with content. The showrunners clearly listened to complaints regarding the pace of the fifth and sixth seasons. Now, we have episodes where Tyrion can travel from the Reach to Dragonstone, then to King’s Landing and back, all in under an hour. And I like it – there are so few storylines now and we’ve seen so much of the world that there’s no reason not to drive the plot forward.

The only downsides are the likes of Gendry so quickly becoming Jon’s trusted companion, and no time dedicated to a proper reunion between Jorah and Dany – I was in tears when she last sent him away, I should have been again when they re-met. I wasn’t because it was rushed.

Overall, this was the putting things in place episode of the season’s second half. We can expect a lot of shit to go down in these final two episodes. Predictions? After an unsatisfying reunion, Jorah will die north of the Wall. Tragically, they won’t burn him, for he’ll wind up being the only wight they can bring back to prove to Daenerys that the dead walk.

Check out my review of the spectacular previous episode, The Spoils of War.

Header image credit: HBO