In regards to Episode 506, here are the rest of the highlights.
In Essos, there is a developing friendship between Tyrion and Jorah. Tyrion confesses that he killed his father. He explains that Tywin was planning to have him executed for murdering King Joffrey, a deed he did not commit. He also mentioned slightly the events associated with Shae. Then he makes Jorah aware that his father, Joer, was not a bad father compared to Tywin. Based on their meeting at the Wall, Tyrion describes Joer as caring for his men, and accidentally reveals that he was killed at a mutiny beyond the Wall. Jorah’s face show how upset he is about hearing this, and it would not be surprising whether he would do something about it later even though the mutineers were killed. Overall this interaction is a good addition to the TV show. Later both of them are captured by slavers who were planning to take them back to Volantis. By using his wits, Tyrion is able to convince the slavers that they should be taken to Mereen. He tells them that Jorah is one of the best warriors in Westeros, and that they could benefit from him in the fighting pits. This makes the story between them interesting since now they have to work and plot together. A hilarious term, “cock merchant,” is introduced. No matter how funny the conversation between Tyrion and the slaver is, the fact is that there is magic in a dwarf’s cock. This brings to mind the many theories being discussed about Varys’ castration. Based on the assumption that Varys is a Blackfyre or Brightflame descendant, was he castrated for his king’s blood? This is also reminiscent of the scene at the Vale where the Vale’s wildlings threatened to cut his manhood off and feed it to the goats.
Littlefinger reveals to Cersei that Sansa is at Winterfell and getting married to Ramsay Bolton. This marriage will give legitimacy to the Boltons in the North. Peter’s plan is to get the Vale involved. Cersei will not use any Lannister coin or troops. All she has to do is grant him the title of Warden of the North. Of course, what Cersei does not understand are two details:
- The Boltons, who became the ruling house of the North because of the Lannisters, need Sansa to make their claim legitimate.
- Littlefinger’s position as the Warden of the North will be also granted by the Lannisters. The North will not find it legitimate unless he marries a Stark.
Obviously his plans do not make sense but he is able to convince Cersei. Is there something clouding Cersei’s judgement?
Olenna Tyrell meets Cersei in order to have Loras released. She threatens Cersei to cut off the supplies coming from High Garden. She mentions that Tywin understood how to work with rivals rather than destroy them. Was this a slip on Olenna’s behalf? Obviously she is portraying House Tyrell as a rival of House Lannister. Afterwards they head to an inquiry regarding Loras’ unproper behaviour being held by the High Sparrow. Olyvar confesses to be Loras’ lover and highly implicates him by mentioning about a birth mark referencing the scene between them in episode 501. For lying to protect her brother, Margaery is accused of perjury and taken into custody. King Tommen is unable to do something about it. The king does not have authority at all against the Sparrows.
The Dornish plot line still does not meet expectations. One good thing is that one is able to listen to the “Dornishman’s Wife.” Jamie and Bronn finally makes it to the Water Gardens and they are able to find Myrcella quickly. How they were able to infiltrate without any notice is questionable. When he tries to tell her that they must go, she refuses. Jamie’s plan, if there was any, of rescuing Mycella never took into consideration the fact that she has fallen in love with Trystane, the heir to the Kingdom of Dorne. Trystane is knocked down which is not a good thing when it comes to keeping a peaceful relationship with the Iron Throne. Out of a sudden, the Sand Snakes join the fight, an event that is too much of a coincidence. The fight scene that follows is unrealistic. How come is not possible for three Sand Snakes to beat Bronn and a cripple? This skirmish is put to an end by Aero Hotah and his guards. Of course, all of them, including Ellaria, got captured. There are two details worth mentioning. First, Bronn got injured in the fight by most likely a poisoned spear. Second, it seems that Doran was informed about what Ellaria and the Sand Snakes were planning to do based on his conversation with Aero: “We must protect them.”
Overall the episode is “mediocre.” Of course, scenes modified from the books, such as the plot line in the North are excellently acted. However, the writing and changes to it were not the best choices. I will be explaining more about it a week from now in a separate post, especially how a choice that Sansa makes in a former episode is interpreted differently by viewers, especially people who have not read the books. The best scenes in this episode belong to those ones associated with Tyrion and Arya. Here are the links for my separate posts concerning both Sansa and Arya.
Arya in “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken”
The Rape of Sansa in “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken”
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