Stormborn [Game of Thrones]

This episode of Game of Thrones was so emotional for me for several different reasons, but the scene that hit me hardest was THAT reunion. I started watching GOT as a non book reader because I kept seeing gifs of these cute wolves and baby dragons. The scene that was popularly gif'd from season one was of Arya packing her bags and Nymeria watching her with the cutest head tilt. I thought to myself, this wolf is adorable, I have to check this out, not knowing Nymeria was only going to be in two episodes - it was very upsetting to me that Arya had to make her wolf run away in order to save her and I've been hoping Arya would find her again one day. After I finished watching season one, I read all the books and in the books Nymeria is still roaming the Riverlands with a pack of her own, so we know she's out there. The show seemed to forget Nymeria, but that's the one reunion I've been wanting more than anything and hoping the writers would bring her back again. Tonight we got just that ...

Stormborn

Tonight's scene with Arya and the wolves was amazing and heart breaking at the same time. I literally burst into tears when Nymeria came into view and came face to face with Arya. It's one of the happiest moments I've witnessed while watching the show, but then it quickly turned bittersweet and my tears of joy turned into a sobs of sadness when I realized she had to let her go because Nymeria has her own pack now and is a wild wolf ...and as heart breaking as it is to accept it, it makes perfect sense. Nymeria is much like Arya, wild at heart and untamed, always staying true to herself. Arya has never followed the rules and expectations of others and it's fitting her wolf wouldn't either. Arya realized this to as she spoke "that's not you" out loud as Nymeria turned away and left with her pack of wolves. It was both beautiful and devastating and I've been crying inside for hours. 

Earlier in the episode there was another great reunion between Hot Pie and Arya and Arya finally learns that the Boltons have been defeated and her brother Jon is in Winterfell. I was hit in the emotional feels in this scene as well, because I loved Jon and Arya's sibling relationship. She was the one Stark that treated him as a Stark and not a bastard. I've been wanting to see them reunited  ever since Arya left for the Wall in season two. After learning her family is back in Winterfell, she abandoned her mission to return to Kings Landing to kill Cersei. On the way to Winterfell is when she meets Nymeria, but it makes me wonder if their parting of ways and realizing Nymeria is no longer the same wolf will make Arya turn back to Kings Landing, because Arya is no longer the same girl either. I hope she doesn't, because I still want that happy ending for her and Jon, but this is Game of Thrones. Arya's fate worries me more than anyone else's. ...

It's storming in Dragonstone and I'm absolutely loving every minute of Daenerys and Varys. She called him out as the spy that conspired to have her killed as well as his betrayal of all the other Kings he has served. Dany has every right not to trust Varys as an advisor, but his response to her was a pretty powerful moment. I loved the line where he told her he wouldn't blindly follow anyone who isn't good for realm, because that's where his loyalty lies. She replied that if he ever thinks she's not doing the right thing, he should tell her to her face and not conspire against her. Just really awesome stuff. 

Holy shit! Dany is now aware of Jon Snow thanks to Melisandre and speaking of Jon, we had more great stuff happening in Winterfell. Jon received a raven from Dany asking him to come to Dragonstone and bend the knee and a second raven from Sam about the dragonglass under Dragonstone. Jon realizes that with her dragons and the dragonglass, Dany could be a great asset to them against the White Walkers. The other Houses however are opposed to him trusting a Targaryen and a Lannister.... and so is Sansa. We get more moments with them showing opposing opinions and Littlefinger smirking in the corner over their discord. Later when Jon nearly chokes Littlefinger in the Crypts and threatens to kill him if he touches Sansa, I took great pleasure and satisfaction in it. And again, I got hit in the feels with the statue of Ned Stark. More feels came when Jon decided he was gong to meet Dany and he put Sansa in charge of the North. Let me just say that I am freaking hyped for Dany and Jon to come face to face....however, the King of the North should not bend the knee..

There were many beautiful moments in this episode that filled me with happiness, but the stuff in Kings Landing fills me with dread. I'm still hating that Jaime stands beside Cersei and now I'm freaking out inside that one of Dany's dragons will be killed. Qyburn has created a weapon against Dragons and this being GOT, I don't see all of them surviving. 

I'm less certain about Jorah's fate. The greyscale has spread over his body and that scene with Sam removing the infected areas was fucking gross man! Even if Sam manages to save his life (and I really hope so), what does this all mean for the end game? I can't figure out how grayscale fits into any of the war to come or how Jorah will either for that matter.  

The episode ended on a pretty deadly note! Fitting since the previous episode opened with death. Euron and his fleet of ships attack Yara and the Dornish and it was awesome. Two sandsnakes get killed and the others are taken hostage. Since the show fucked up everything Dornish (except Oberyn - which sucks since they're amazing in the books), I was happy to see them wiped out. I'm more upset about Yara being taken hostage and omg, poor Theon was triggered by everything and reverted back to Reek. The look of disgust on Yara's face said it all, he's been emotionally scarred for life. I don't know how he will come back from this. He betrayed his sister and he would be a weak link in Dany's army. Now that Dany is down Dornish allies and Yara's Iron Fleet, her strategy to lay siege to Kings Landing as been blown to hell.

All in all this episode was amazing and we are just getting started...

8/10

Dragonstone [Game of Thrones]

Game of Thrones is back and I've decided to do a weekly run down of everything I love and dislike about every episode. It's been a while since I've blogged at all so I'm a little rusty, but I'm going to try my best lol ..so shall we begin? ;)

Top 5 Moments of Dragonstone:

1. Tensions at Winterfell:

As a Stark loyalist (The North Remembers) I am always the most invested in what's happening with the remaining Starks. We've been waiting several seasons to finally see them reclaim the North and it finally happened last season with Jon and Sansa defeating the Boltons, but with Littlefinger in the mix, it's made Sansa and Jon's reunion tense, especially with him getting all the credit for defeating the Boltons and being declared King of the North. The disagreements between Jon and Sansa at the council table had me on edge and I could tell Littlefinger was relishing it. However, I remain hopeful that Sansa remains loyal to Jon and I absolutely loved the scene where it was just the two of them and she was urging Jon not to make the same stupid decisions that got Rob and Ned killed. The greatest Winterfell moment was between Sansa and Littlefinger ...Sansa wasn't having any of his manipulating bullshit and I loved how she shut him down. Best quote was when she told him not to bother to get the last word, I'll assume it was something clever. Yesss, you go Sansa! I hope he dies and I hope it's by her hands....I know several want to see Arya kill him, but I rather see him die by Sansa. 

Also, shout out to Lyanna Mormont for continuing to be a badass and standing her ground. She may be small, but she is fierce! 

2. Winter Comes For House Frey:

Holy shit, what a cold open! I knew right from the start that it was going to be Arya, but it didn't make the moment any less epic! Arya killing Walder Frey last season was one of the most satisfying deaths, but I didn't expect her to kill off the entire Frey House ...it was such a bad ass character moment and I love that it happened in the same room as the Red Wedding. It came full circle in the most satisfying way possible. "When people ask what happened here, tell them winter came for House Frey and The North Remembers." Chilllssss! 

3. The Hound's Guilt:

The Hound has always been one of my favorite characters. He's done some awful things, but I've never viewed him as a villain. He's a realist that's playing a game of survival in a brutal world to live in. When he walks into the house and sees the remains, the look of guilt and remorse on Sandor's face is subtle, but you can tell he truly feels sorry for what happened to the father and daughter that gave shelter to him and Arya back in season four...and it was touching. The most surprising of this scene was him being able to see the visions in the flames....I don't know how that works. How people are chosen by the Lord of Light to see visions?? I wonder what it means for his character. Is his overall arc just to defeat his bother? Or is there something more ...

4. The Night King's Army:

It has Wight Giants! Not just one, but three!! Freaking awesome! However, after watching that scene, this makes me wonder if Hodor will be part of the army of the dead. He died on the other side of the wall ....and that thought is lingering in the back on my mind.. it's a heartbreaking thought but entirely possible....

5. Dany's Home:

Finally! After 7 years Daenerys Stormborn has landed on Dragonstone! Seeing her step foot on her ancestral homeland was a huge moment for the series ...I loved that it didn't have any dialogue between the characters. The moment didn't need any. Watchers know how big this moment is and the game is about to change in Westeros. While the episode itself was solid and more of a catch up with everyone, I feel like they picked the perfect line to end the episode with. "Shall we begin?" This almost seems like a question to the viewer as well as her council  ...it's like saying now that we have caught up with everyone, the real craziness is about to get started, so get ready!

Other moments:

Sam's conversation with the Archmaester seemed like some serious foreshadowing to me. During their discussion the Archmaester mentions that the Wall has withstood every war over the years and that's why the Citidal doesn't worry about the threat of the Whitewalkers. So my theory here is that Bran has crossed over, erasing whatever magical barrier was in place and somehow the Night King is going to make the wall fall. Of course the Wall doesn't have to fall, just be breached like the weirwood cave, but I think it being destroyed completely would make the threat of the dead even more terrifying and a wake up call for everyone.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Sam is sending a Raven to Jon about the dragonglass under Dragonstone. Is this how Jon and Dany will meet?? I seriously can't wait to see those two together and it seems like that could be the thing that puts Jon on the path to meeting her. 

Nitpicks:

Overall I think the season seven premiere was very good. There's only two things I took issue with and that was Arya's meet up with the Lannister soldiers. I don't care about the cameo itself, no issue there, it just felt oddly out of place and like filler and with such a short season I want every single moment to count. The other thing is more of a book nerd nitpick. I'm seriously annoyed that Jaime is still standing beside Cersei after everything she has done. She killed everyone with wildfire ...Jaime killed the mad king to stop him from doing the very thing ...that he stands beside her still is just frustrating. .



7/10 Ravens.