Josh recaps Season 5 Episode 8 of Game of Thrones, titled Hardhome, where Jon Snow tries to convince the Wildlings to come back with him, Tyrion and Daenerys discuss the Iron Throne, Cersei gets a visit from Qyburn, and Theon makes a confession to Sansa about her little brothers! Following the recap, both Josh and Violet share their thoughts about the episode.
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Episode Recap of Game of Thrones, Season 5 Episode 8: Hardhome
Tyrion, Daenerys and Jorah
So the episode opens in Mereen, with Daenerys trying to figure out what to do with Tyrion and Jorah. Tyrion makes his deal–be advisor to Daernerys. His first task as advisor: figure out what to do with Jorah. He seems to think killing Jorah is not the best move, but to banish him. Daenerys heeds this advise, and has Jorah tossed out of the city. Jorah then takes a look at his greyscale disease, and then decides to head back to the fighting pits. As long as he gets to fight for the queen.
Tyrion and Daenerys meet in private, and they discuss their next moves. They debate Daenerys’s next moves, and Tyrion admits to trusting Varys and his brother. Daenerys wants to know Tyrion’s thoughts on getting the Iron Thone, and Tyrion wonders if she should get the Iron Throne at all considering how much she has done already. He makes a good case– not many people are going to really like Daenerys if she takes the Iron Throne. Daenerys says she plans to break the “spokes of the wheel” of the families that are trying to take the Iron Throne.
Cersei, Maester Qyburn in King’s Landing
Moving to our favorite queen, Cersei Lannister, she is still imprisoned, and one of the Sparrows tries to bribe her with water to confess. Cersei tries to threaten her, but the Sparrow just hits her in the face. The Sparrow leaves, and doesn’t give her a drink. Cersei is ticked. Maester Qyburn pays a visit to Cersei, and lets her know the charges brought against her, and it doesn’t look good. Maester Pycelle also seems to be making moves, undoing some of what Cersei has worked to do. Cersei asks for Qyburn to bring Tommen to her, but Tommen seems to be closed off mentally. Qyburn suggests for Cersei to confess, but Cersei refuses. The Sparrow comes back to Cersei, demanding confession. Cersei threatens her with death to no avail. The Sparrow pours the water out, and Cersei scrambles to get what is left in the dirt.
Arya In Braavos
Arya, meanwhile, seems to be working on her new life, and seems to be making headway. She moves around the city with a cart of oysters. Her overseer tells her to keep her eyes open, and comes across a customer. More importantly, after she has made her sale, she overhears some sort of conversation of a trade. A man is taken away unwillingly, pleading for his child’s life. Turns out this man was a gambler. Arya and her overseer discuss this gambler, and looks like Arya will be watching him further.
Sansa, Theon, and the Boltons in Winterfell
So, moving over to Sansa, she demands to know why Theon told Ramsay. Theon tells her that he did it to save her, because there is no escape from Ramsay. Sansa seems satisfied that Theon was sliced up by Ramsay. Then Theon slips up, and tells Sansa he didn’t kill her brothers, Brann and Rickon. Theon freaks out after telling her, and leaves abruptly.
Meanwhile, Roose Bolton and Ramsay discuss how to handle Stannis. Ramsay wants to attack, but Roose Bolton thinks they should hold out in their fortress. Ramsay seems to think with 20 men he can cause enough trouble for Stannis.
Sam at Castle Black
Sam is tended to by Gilly, after his assault by some of the Night’s Watch. Sam gets a visit from a boy, Olly, who wants to know why Jon Snow is working with the Wildings. Sam says they have to work together as the White Walkers will be dangerous even if they work together.
Jon Snow – Visiting the Wildlings
Jon Snow and Tormund arrive at the home of the Wildlings. It takes some violence and convincing, but they end up meeting with the Wildling rulers. Meeting with the Elder, Jon and Tormund explain the situation–the White Walkers are going to be a problem. The Council is skeptical, but Jon and Tormund win over some of the Wildlings. Jon promises them some land to farm, and even tries to explain that this is just about survival. So some of the Wildlings decide to head to Castle Black, on boats, but Jon Snow doesn’t think enough are coming.
Things change though, as the White Walkers attack. The Wildlings try to close their gates, which traps dozens of Wildlings outside with the White Walkers. Things go quiet for a second, but then the Wildlings are reanimated as the dead, and they attack. Chaos ensues as Wildlings run for the boats, trying to escape. Jon and Tormund try to defend the gates, but eventually the gate falls and the Walkers flank them, and things get hairy fast. In the chaos, Jon loses his Dragon Glass, which can kill White Walkers. After some big battles, and many deaths, Jon Snow tries to go for the Dragon Glass. He is confronted by a White Walker, and is forced to fight. In the fight, Jon realizes his sword is effective against White Walkers, as he shatters the White Walkers weapon with it.
But, the town is overrun, so Jon and Tormund make for the last boats. The White Walkers glare at them threateningly from the shore. This fight looks to have just begun…
Josh’s Thoughts: Game of Thrones, Season 5 Episode 8: Hardhome
Jon Snow’s part of this episode was a whole lot of fun. I have been waiting for the White Walkers to actually fight, and boy did they fight. The fight felt like a cross between 28 Days Later because of how fast the Walkers move, and Lord of the Rings because of the “fantasy” feel. It was really well done, and really intense to watch. Then learning that Jon Snow’s sword worked on the White Walkers was a cool revelation. Does that mean Brienne’s will work too? I think they are both Valarian Steel…
As for Cersei, I am glad to see she is getting what she deserves. She is a character as bad as Joffrey to me, and I am hoping she gets what is coming to her. As for Master Qyburn, I wonder how much of what he is saying is true. Is Tommen on a hunger strike, and not willing to save his mother?
Daenerys, meanwhile, seems to be ramping up to take down all of her rivals, but like Tyrion seems to think, that is a lot of work for one person. We’ll see how that goes. As for Jorah, I am wondering what his plan is. I guess we will have to see…
Violet’s Thoughts on Season 5 Episode 8 of Game of Thrones: Hardhome
Oh my gosh, what an amazing episode! There were so many things that happened this episode that we’ve been waiting for, and not just the attack by the White Walkers!
So, first of all, we’ve been waiting for Tyrion and Dany to meet up since the beginning of the season, not to mention the reunion of Jorah and Dany. Okay, so that happened at the end of last episode, and in this episode we got to see what Dany’s reaction was to all that. Unsurprisingly, she was not very receptive to Jorah’s presence, though it was interesting to hear Tyrion’s assessment of Jorah. I think Tyrion’s little speech may have softened her a bit towards Jorah, but she obviously had to stick to her guns and do something about him. She couldn’t just let him return without consequence, as that would undermine her duty as Queen, and what she had declared towards him previously. At this point, she’s very particular about her rule and consistency as part of that rule. I think Tyrion came up with as best a solution that he could under the circumstances. It was really very interesting seeing Tyrion go on to advise Dany. All in all, it was just great seeing these two fan favorites come together.
As for Cersei, we got to see the beginnings of her getting what she deserves when she got locked up at the end of the last episode. In this episode, we got to see her in rags and dirty, thirsting so much for water that she is willing to lick up remnants off the ground, too proud to confess. It was like YES, we’ve been waiting to see Cersei get her comeuppance. So it was quite satisfying to see her in this situation. I do remember reading about this in the books, but I can’t remember what all happens, so whatever happens next to me will be a bit of a surprise, though I’ll probably remember once it happens. Unless they change things again, as has happened somewhat often as of late.
It was also great to have Sansa learn that Theon did not kill her brothers Brann and Rickon after all, and that there’s a chance they’re still out there alive somewhere. Having any of the Starks reunite is definitely something I look forward to, though I have no idea when/if it will ever happen.
Okay, and then yes, the biggest, most exciting thing that happened this episode was the White Walkers attack. If anyone ever had any doubts that “Winter is Coming” well, those doubts have been cast aside after this epic battle. This fight scene was so well done and just mesmerizing to watch. We see just how quickly the White Walkers can overtake a crowd of people, and how easily they could wipe out all of Westeros once they got past the Wall. I actually feared for Jon Snow’s life, because it looked like he was a goner. Any other show, you think there’s no way that a character of his importance would die, but Game of Thrones has taught us that you can’t assume any character is safe. Luckily, his sword worked on the White Walker and he was able to get away. But obviously, this isn’t the last we’ve seen of them.
It feels like the ninth episode of each season is often the big “wow” episode that leaves everyone talking, but this was the eighth episode. It’s hard to imagine that it could get more epic this season than this episode was, but I’m hoping it will, and looking forward to what the outcome will be!
Scenes from Game of Thrones, Season 5 Episode 9: The Dance of Dragons
Here are scenes from the next Game of Thrones episode, titled The Dance of Dragons:
