What makes A Song of Ice and Fire so beloved by its loyal book fans is that the stories are not just isolated to the characters of focus. The events have real world consequences and the books are not afraid to explore them. While HBO’s Game of Thrones is a much more condensed version of the books, it has occasionally tried to offer up the effects our main characters’ actions have had. So far in Season 5, and especially in “High Sparrow,” the fallout from the ongoing war for the throne and Daenarys’s occupation of Essos are taking more of a center stage.
Since Lancel’s initial reintroduction we have not seen much of the Sparrows. But after “High Sparrow” it is clear there is a lot more going on in King’s Landing than Margaery sniping with Cersei. The Sparrows are a religious group who have given up their worldly possessions to leave a meek and humble life helping others who are in need. However, they are not afraid to take matters into their own hands.
Just before the High Septon (the highest figure in the Faith of the Seven gods) is about to run off with a couple prostitutes more than willing to play his kinky, divine sex games Lancel and some Sparrows bust up the party and drag him into the street. They hit his naked body with a stick as he walks down the populated streets in Westeros. This is the direct punishment for being a sinner. The Sparrows seem tired of the corruption at the top of their faith and clearly are not afraid to try and make a change.
And a change they make as Cersei, after the High Septon has told her about his tribulations, tells the High Sparrow she has jailed the High Septon as she goes to meet the High Sparrow. The High Sparrow is nothing special (he says as much) but he is the de facto leader of the Sparrows. Cersei’s intrigue with him and the Sparrows could make an interesting plot as this would be the first time (that we know of) the commoners would be somewhat recognized by royalty.
In Essos there are not seven Gods but one God with seven faces, as Arya learns from Jaqen in the House of Black and White. Here she constantly sweeps the ground in what looks to be some sort of hall of worship where men go to die by poisoning when Jaqen deems them ready. She is still being put through menial tests to prove she is truly willing to give herself to the House. Jaqen and another girl (referred to as the Waif in the books) visit Arya in her chambers to tell her that she is still clinging too much to her past and herself, forcing her to get rid of all her possessions. All except Needle, which she hides in a crevice in a rock wall. Jaqen later leads her to a chamber where the Waif is already cleaning a recently deceased man, which is another step in Arya’s training.
The House of Black and White and Arya’s trajectory in general is still pretty unclear. It doesn’t help either that there is very little dialogue between anyone in the House. She is committed to becoming an assassin but so far how she will get there still remains a large mystery.
While Arya is learning how to change faces, Sansa is forced to put on a new one as Littlefinger has promised her to be wed to Ramsay Bolton, the new lord of Moat Cailin. Roose, Ramsay’s father (and current lord of Winterfell), is worried about his place in the world after Tywin’s death. He is looking to further entrench his position and it seems he and Littlefinger have brokered a new alliance – though neither are very trusting of the other at this moment. Poor Sansa just keeps having to fall in love with the craziest men in Westeros. If there’s anyone worse than Joffrey it is Ramsay. At the very least they are equals in inhumane insanity. But perhaps Theon, who recognizes Sansa but who Sansa does not see, will be able to help her out if she needs it – or perhaps the servant who still remembers whose land the North really is. Either way it looks as though Littlefinger’s training of Sansa was short lived. We shall see how much Sansa has learned since being relieved of Joffrey.
Sansa is not the only Stark who has an opportunity to retake Winterfell and the north. Stannis reiterates his offer to make Jon a Stark and to help Jon retake the north if he is willing to pledge his fealty to Stannis. But Jon’s recent election as the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch has all but made Stannis’s offer, maybe. Davos lingers after Stannis leaves and has a word with Jon about the Night’s Watch’s oath, telling Jon that the oath says nothing about just protecting the Wall but also about guarding the men of Westeros. This will make Jon think, especially since Stannis has relinquished control of the freemen of the north to Jon.
Jon also makes his first decision as Lord Commander by promoting Alliser Thorne to first ranger and ordering Janos to become the lord of a broken down outpost along the Wall. Janos refuses this order, which causes Jon to threaten an execution. When Janos looks to Alliser for help, Alliser steps aside and let’s the men take Janos down to the chopping block. To show his power Jon chops Janos’s head off, even after he apologizes, in a shrewd move for the new leader – of which Stannis approves. However, this could certainly affect the fairly universal love the men have for him. Whether or not Jon must deal with being a leader and a friend could become an interesting subplot for him, though it’s unclear if it will.
Another example of how “High Sparrow” shows the effects of the wars on the common people come in Volantis, where Tyrion has forced Varys to let him out of the carriage. Here the two come upon another religious gathering for the Lord of Light (the same religion that Melisandre ascribes to). This gathering is well attended by freed slaves who have been branded to reflect what they used to do as slaves (such as hammers if one was a builder, or a tear if she is a prostitute). Daenarys’s still has a lot of good will amongst the freed slaves as she is referred to as the savior by the speaker at this gathering, which is being made fun of by Tyrion until they all notice him.
Tyrion and Varys make their quick escape to a brothel, which shows that a prostitute dressed up as Daenarys is the most popular in the brothel as told to Tyrion by the prostitute he wants to but for whatever reason can’t sleep with. Perhaps thoughts of his first sexual experience and Shae run through his mind at that point. As Tyrion pees off a balcony none other than Jorah Mormount seizes him to bring to Daenarys, which he hopes will put him back in her favor. It has been a while since we have seen Jorah but it looks as though Varys’s plans to get Tyrion to Daenarys are happening. Though now it is uncertain how they will end up.
First the Sons of the Harpy and the ensuing riot from last week’s episode, and now the “High Sparrow” continues to show us who the citizens of these famed cities are reacting to the events they have can’t affect. The Sparrows doing what they can to change the leadership in the church and the good will Daenarys still has with the slaves in Volantis (and the brothel patrons) show a part of the Game of Thrones world that is easy to forget about amongst the various palace intrigues. But it is what gives Game of Thrones a depth and breadth most shows don’t have. Showing these aspects of Westeros and Essos give important context to the viewer and make the world more complete. Hopefully this kind of focus will continue on throughout Season 5.
Other Gamey Morsels
• Brienne and Pod have a nice heart to heart as they follow Sansa to Moat Cailin. We get their backstory – Pod always the squire and Brienne being made fun of by teenage boys – and Brienne finally tells Pod she will teach him how to fight and ride. It was a nice moment between the two, though their story still seems a bit aimless.
• With both Tywin and Lady Olenna out of King’s Landing there hasn’t been the trademark sniping between characters that Game of Thrones is so good at and is so enjoyable. Perhaps Margaery and Cerei’s growing rivalry can take its place. Margaery fired a couple of shots at Cersei in their only scene together, calling Cersei a drunk and reminding her that she will no longer be respected as she is not technically the Queen anymore after Tommen and Margaery got married this episode. You’ve also got to love that Tommen is trying to break some records.
• What does Maester Qyburn have under that sheet in his work room? Could he be trying to reanimate the dead since he has just killed a rat when Cersei walks in? And speaking of Maesters, hopefully Maester Aemon’s cold isn’t too serious. Being the oldest man in the world (as far as we know) and casting the winning vote for Jon in last episode’s election must be taking its toll.