Game of Thrones’ Episode 503, “High Sparrow,” was enjoyable to watch and so far the best of the season.
Arya chooses to preserve her Stark identity: The show opens with a fascinating shot of the House of Black and White, and Arya sweeping the floor. She tells Jaqen that she wants to be an apprentice and learn the techniques that the Faceless Men employ. Jaqen tells her that first she needs to serve the Many-faced God instead of herself. He also hints at the name and the gift of the Many-faced God: Death. Later a female servant (the waif?) starts playing “the game of faces.” She hits Arya three times because of lying about her identity. When Arya is about to get hold of Needle, Jaqen interferes and asks her to get rid of Arya Stark’s belongings since they do not belong to “no one”. As a result, Arya discards everything that she brought with her except Needle which she hides. This action is evidence that she will not let go her Stark identity, and that she will never become a Faceless Man / Woman. Worth mentioning is that people go to the House of Black and White to commit suicide. Because everything is new to her, Arya wonders what exactly is done to the bodies. The viewers are only given a glimpse in which she and the other female servant clean a dead body.
The “catfight”: King Tommen marries Margaery Tyrell. On their way to the sept, everybody is cheering for Queen Marg. Cersei notices that, something that increases her paranoia. The scenes that follow regarding the conflict between Margaery and Cersei are deviations from the book. Everything book readers know about Margaery is through two different points of view: Sansa and Cersei. “Innocent” Sansa describes her as a friend. Paranoid Cersei sees her as a rival. Both points of view are biased. The TV show portrays Margaery Tyrell as a player. She uses Tommen to get information and tries to convince him to send his mother to Casterly Rock. Furthermore, Margaery’s comment to Cersei about being a “Queen Grandmother” sooner than expected is loaded with indirect messages. Margaery is basically telling Cersei that she holds power over her son, in this case, through sex. This scene ends with Margaery’s handmaidens giggling – a very intimidating act to Cersei who leaves the meeting location with a furious face. It really makes me wonder whether Cersei plans to do something not only to Margaery but also to her handmaidens.
The High Sparrow: The High Septon is caught by Lancel and other sparrows at Littlefinger’s brothel with some prostitutes. He is stripped and made to walk naked in public. Of course, the High Septon requires to be punished for being a hipocrite. However, the given punishment is extremely humiliating, not something that any person, good or bad, should deserve. This scene foreshadows another event that will most likely happen towards the end of the season. After this event, the High Septon asks Cersei to arrest the sparrows and kill their leader, the High Sparrow. Cersei meets the High Sparrow and creates some sort of “alliance” with him.
- She mentions that she incarcerated the High Septon because of his inmoral behaviour. Will she give the High Septon to Qyburn? It is a possibility. Qyburn is still working on the reanimation of UnGregor , whose covered body shudders in one of the scenes.
- She also mentions that the King and the Faith are the pillars of the Seven Kingdoms; if one falls, the other one does too. They have to work together.
Sansa’s plot line: This is probably my least favourite part of the whole episode. Once Sansa realizes that she will be heading to Winterfell to marry Ramsay “Snow”, she objects to it. However, she changes her mind quickly in less than a few seconds when Littlefinger tells her that she is going to do it to avenge her family. Otherwise she will be running away and hiding all her life. Of course, she accepts it because she wants revenge and that is fine. This change also makes possible for a series of interesting events to develop. However, Sansa is still a pawn, and she is taking the role of book Fake Arya, a girl that is powerless and abused. However, I do not think the writers / producers will go fully that way. I think they might merge two characters together: Fake Arya and Alys Karstark, a willful lady that escapes from a marriage arrangement in A Dance with Dragons. The glare that Miranda gives Sansa at her arrival simply means that she will be going for a hunt with Ramsay.
Littlefinger’s political moves: The change made in the TV show in which Littlefinger decides to leave the Eyrie is not the best writing. Basically Littlefinger holds power as Lord Protector of the Vale as long as he has Robert Arryn in his hands. Since he gave him to Lord Royce as a ward, he does not have any power at all at the Eyrie. However, he tells Roose that he holds the Vale, and that the last time the North and the Vale were allies, the Targaryens were brought down. It would make sense for Littlefinger to marry Sansa to get hold of the North. However, he is taking her to marry Ramsay. Obviously he is trying to dispose of House Bolton too, and have Sansa for himself. The problem is that Roose mistrusts him.
In the books, both Sansa and Littlefinger are still at the Vale. Littlefinger’s plan consists of getting rid of Robert Arryn, and putting Harry the Heir as the Lord of the Vale. In fact, he is planning to get Sansa marry to Harry the Heir. With Littlefinger out of the Eyrie, the adaptation has made it easier for Danaerys to take over the Vale, an area which has plenty of food and a whole army.
House Bolton’s position in the North: The Northern lords do not want the Boltons to be Wardens of the North. Ramsay has to resort to flaying to have taxes paid and Roose has to arrange a marriage between his son and Sansa to stabilize their hold in the North. Roose even tells his son that they do not have enough men to hold the North if the lesser houses rebel. What both Littlefinger and Roose do not suspect is that Rickon Stark is alive, most likely under the protection of the Umbers. It seems that there is a “hidden” conspiracy going on and it is expected for the lesser houses to ally with Stannis. This is demonstrated by the comment made by the lady in charge of taking Sansa to her room: “The North Remembers.”
Events at the Wall: The main highlight is Davos’ interpretation of the Night’s Watch oath:
“I am the shield that guards the realms of men.”
This is probably the most important vow of the oath. The Night’s Watch is supposed to protect everybody south of the Wall from whatever threat that arises but mainly the White Walkers. Davos brought the point that it will not be possible to unite the North against any threat as long as the Boltons hold it. Davos’ opinion was brought up after Jon’s refusal of Stannis’ offer of legitimizing him as Jon Stark. Other events worth mentioning is the beheading of Janos Slynt by Jon, a deed that Stannis approved, for non-compliant behaviour and the illness of Maester Aemon.
Tyrion in Volantis: The little lord was given a small amount of time in this episode but besides him being abducted by Jorah, there are two interesting details. First, the red priestess that was preaching in favour of Danaerys and inciting a slave uprising stares at him. Is she able to foretell the future? Tyrion also makes a reference to the Stone Men, who are actually men suffering from greyscale. It seems that the scene in which he fights them will not be cut out.
Brienne and Pod: It looks like Brienne is the one that will kill Stannis. This is based on the conversation she holds with Pod about the ball that her father organized in order to find a suitable marriage partner for her. She remembers how the boys were making fun of her by calling her “Brienne the Beauty.” Renly was very kind to dance with her and protect her from further hurtful comments. She acknowledges that Renly liked men and that it was a shadow with Stannis’ face who killed Renly. She then claims that she will avenge him. Most book readers are not happy about this change since it is foreshadowed that Stannis will be killed by dragon fire fighting Daenarys.
What is likeable about this whole scene is that Podrick appreciates Brienne’s skills rather than her looks. He is also very kind. It seems that both Brienne and Pod would be taking the role of the Ghost of Winterfell in the books, a hooded man who kills Bolton men. They might also play a role with Theon in rescuing Sansa.
What is poorly done in this scene is Brienne mentioning that they will go around the Neck to get to Sansa. The book clearly states that the North is only accessible through Moat Cailin. There is no way around it, and that is the main reason why the Northmen preserve the Old Gods since they could not get invaded by the Andals carrying the Faith of the Seven.
Featured image is from Hbo.