Building Armies and Burning Bridges
Daenerys Targaryen stood stoic, naked, and glorious before yet another group of Stormborn converts, the mutual powers of creation and destruction ramped up to 11 before our very eyes. An army was formed. The queen of dragons was not the only one moving chess pieces last night as “Book of the Stranger” was an episode about forming armies and the impending dread of war.
The East was a major point of focus in “Book of the Stranger” with Tyrion proving he does more than simply “drink and know things” and Daenerys scheming and executing her master plan all within the course of this hour. It remains unclear whether the recruitment of the Dothraki was the plan from the time Dany fled her kingdom at the end of last season or if the thought came in the spur of the moment. It is very much in line with Dany’s end goal and I’d be surprised to learn it was a total coincidence. The ending was a classic Dany moment — manipulative but effective — one this season had been desperately needing. It was intensely gratifying to see a plan fully formed and executed within the episode, and it provided a climax that felt climatic in regards to the events of the episode.
This also provided stakes to the Jorah-Daario dynamic. The greyscale reveal will make end to the groan-inducing scenes of Daario flaunting his youth and sexual prowess. Daario sees their shared admiration for Dany, now equipped with the knowledge that Jorah is both a dying man and one who would never dare touch his queen. It was humbling to witness and allowed the contrived nature of the ‘no weapons’ trope to lead to bare-knuckle brawling that was satisfying on a level higher than base catharsis. We were seeing the two men finally understanding each other and working together. It was one of the more subtle points of the episode, but it was striking as hell.
It was unfortunate then that all seemed quiet on the Western front. Whoopee, Ramsay did another murder. The most inconsequential yet, I’m afraid. It’s as if the writers did not feel a note threatening to rape Sansa again did not pack enough of a punch— perhaps they don’t. Speaking of, the Stark reunion was one of actual note and good humor.
It’s been so many years since Sansa and Jon Snow were in the same room that they are hardly distinguishable as the same people. Sansa’s dig at her being awful functioned not only as a nod to the fanbase (something we rarely see in a show as self serious as Game of Thrones) but as a source of connective tissue between two people who don’t share much aside from misery. It was surpising to see the two not wallow in their sadness together, but celebrate the company. “Book of the Stranger” reminded me how much I’ve grown to like Sansa, especially in the final moments of the episode. A battle that has been brewing all season is finally coming together, and after watching the Starks be trod among relentlessly for half a decade, I hope fans are ready for some bloody revenge. The battle may not be entirely one-sided however, since Brienne is already stirring up trouble at the wall, reminding us that not all the alliances are cut and dry.
The biggest revelation I had during “Book of the Stranger” came in King’s Landing watching the High Sparrow. His conversation with Margaery was in line with the rest of his speeches this season, which is to say unsettlingly logical. The most confusing aspect of the High Sparrow, and why I think he’s come to play such an important role, is that he is often right. His words inspire confidence and speak truths. While his punishments may be strict there is a sense he stands for something, unlike Margaery, Jaime (who, by the way, went from best character arc in the show to nonstarter) and certainly not Cersei. In a world where we know most of these character’s true motivations, the High Sparrow remains a question mark. Surely he must have cruel, selfish intentions, but we keep on being presented with the option that his faith is simply for altruistic purposes.
Everything that didn’t work in “Book of the Stranger” felt simply too slow or inconsequential. The two most interesting Starks were absent from “Book of the Stranger” which made it feel strangely hollow. “Oathbreaker”’s flashback was the best lore digging we’ve seen from Thrones in a while and I’m getting impatient to see that story unfold faster than the current snail’s pace. Arya’s Daredevil arc is finally coming to a head after a season and a half, and in a form resembling last year we only see her every other week. But hey, at very least “Book of the Stranger” brought Littlefinger back. For a show and an episode that is now almost entirely about scheming and planning, there isn’t a character who I enjoy watching do those things with greater pleasure. Plus, don’t pretend you don’t miss the dumb little face of Robin Arryn.
Most Badass Moment: “You are not going to serve.. You are going to die.”
Biggest Major Death: Osha
Largest Absence: Bran flashbacks
