Throughout Game of Thrones the one constant, time and again, shows how ruinous vendettas are. In “Sons of the Harpy” it’s the ladies’ turn to enact their petty plans. At the immediate consequences already show us how disastrous these plans can become.
For much of Game of Thrones the main plots have been pushed forward by the fragile egos of our main characters when they perceive a slight or a wrong against them. Their grandiose, selfish plans often begin how they intend but quickly go awry. Sure, Littlefinger’s assassination of Jon Arryn, the impetus for the entire series, allowed him to gain status by shaking up the established families but there is no way he could foresee everything that has transpired since.
This season has showed the direct consequences of one’s revenge. Tyrion is in Essos, having to flee from Cersei. Stannis is ever hellbent on claiming the Iron Throne and enlists Davos and Melisandre to try and convince Jon to join him. Daenarys continually refuses to reinstated gladiatorial games, no matter how much it may quell unrest in Meereen, to punish the slave owners (and try to “culture” the people). And now Cersei has entered the fray by giving the High Sparrow (the new High Septon) the power to create an army based on faith to help purify King’s Landing. All of this just so she can get back at Margaery via incarcerating her gay brother Loras.
But these new Faith Militant, something that had not been around for a couple centuries, are certainly hell bent on their jobs. They attack taverns and the consumption of alcohol. They attack brothels, though more the customers than the women who work there. And they hate gay men the most as they immediately punish a couple at the brothel. Their power is so much that they refuse to let King Tommen meet with the High Sparrow because he is praying.
Cersei does not seem too worried about any of the Faith Militant’s actions at this point, though it is clear she has put far too much faith in the High Sparrow far too quickly – especially since she hints to him that she may be a sinner herself (the whole incest thing). Not only do her actions drive Margaery and Tommen apart but they also allow Cersei to hang on to power for as long as she still can. She is not ready to retire into obscurity quite yet but her capability to rule is clearly not what she thinks it is – her ever-shrinking small council of cronies included (though with gracious sycophant Lord Tyrell one of the members, who can blame her). Where the Sparrows were the reaction to the desolation of the poor class by the warring families, their new army certainly is not taking as long for their effects to be known.
Cersei has already put her plan into motion but Sansa’s plan, prodded along by Littlefinger, is just beginning to form. Littlefinger tells her the story of her aunt Lyanna who was meant to be betrothed to Robert Baratheon but was favored and eventually kidnapped by Rhaegar Targaryen (the next in line after the Mad King), which resulted in him raping and eventually killing her – as Sansa already knew. This bit of history again goes to show how one vendetta can have major consequences on everyone’s lives as Robert’s Rebellion was the direct reaction to Lyanna’s death. Despite this knowledge, however, Littlefinger still tells Sansa to take back Winterfell however she can if Stannis does not march on Roose Bolton. It certainly seems like odd council given the tale Littlefinger had just told but perhaps it is all part of his larger plan.
Revenge is not just left for the high born, however. In Meereen the Sons of the Harpy stage an attack on some sellswords in hopes of luring some of Daenarys’s unsullied patrols into a trap, which works all too well. This all comes as Daenarys is hearing, yet again, why she should reopen the fighting pits and after she has heard a much brighter tale about her brother Rhaegar from Barristan. Barristan (showing he’s still got it despite his advance age) joins Grey Worm in fending off the Sons of the Harpy but both take serious wounds, with Barristan dying at the end of the fight. And yet the revenge of the Sons of the Harpy will almost certainly lead to some more, ill advised vengeance by Daenarys – especially now that her even-keeled mentor has died.
But one man’s end is another man’s opportunity. Even though neither Jorah nor Tyrion, who he had kidnapped in the previous episode, know of Barristan’s fall it certainly opens up a place for both of them in Daenarys’s court. Tyrion pretty quickly puts together who Jorah is and why he has been cast off by Daenarys, and accurately points out that Jorah’s return may end up the opposite of who he would like. Now with Barristan no longer there to advise Daenarys both have legitimate shots to become her advisors. While Jorah will most likely have to do a little more than just bring her Tyrion, it certainly is not out of the realm of possibility that Daenarys would accept him back now that her most trusted advisor and friend is gone.
Jorah is not the only one with a somewhat measured plan for redemption as Jaime and Bronn make it to Dorne fairly easily. Unfortunately they are immediately met by four Dornish soldiers but with some quick bladesmanship from Bronn and Jaime’s new sword catching ability, the soldiers don’t offer more than a nuisance to the two. The delight here, though, is the relative ease between Jaime and Bronn. It isn’t to the level that Tyrion and Bronn had reached at the height of their alliance but seeing Jaime’s smarmy little grin everytime he reminds Bronn that he won’t be able to do some arduous physical task because of his gold hand is fun. Jaime’s unwillingness to start a war between Westeros and Dorne is also an interesting development. Perhaps Jaime has been humbled because of his severely diminished fighting skills but where there were many rash decisions in the episode, Jaime’s stubbornness in the opposite direction showed that some people can learn. Maybe.
The Wall was another place that showed some measured thought. Jon begrudgingly asked Roose Bolton for some recruits, despite Roose’s taking of Winterfell. He also was able to resist Stannis’s third attempt to get Jon to join his army, this time in the form of Melisandre’s bare breast. Jon has run away once before from the Night’s Watch, only to be reminded of his oath, and it seems that he will not be enticed to break his oath again – not even for revenge. Melisandre’s breast is not the only warmth on The Wall (she doesn’t get cold because she has the Lord of Light coursing through her veins), however, as Stannis gets to show some love in a way only Stannis can. Stannis tells Shireen, his daughter, the story behind her grayscale – it coming from a doll he bought for her when she was an infant – and the lengths he went to try to save her from death. Shireen immediately hugs him, in what was actually kind of a touching moment. Poor Shireen has to look towards Stannis for affection because her mother absolutely despises her.
“Sons of the Harpy” was this season’s most action packed episode yet. Whether it was the Faith Militant or the Sons of the Harpy the groups showed the direct effect someone wanting revenge can have on more lives than, perhaps, originally intended. Daenarys’s and Margaery’s reactions will certainly take center stage in the episodes to come.
Other Gamey Morsels
• One last bit of revenge to be exact looks like it will come from Ellaria, Oberyn’s paramour, and her three daughters (who are known as the Sand Snakes). You definitely don’t want to mess with Obella.
• In a possible moment of foreshadowing, Bronn saves Jaime from a poisonous snake as he is just waking up in the morning. Although hopefully they don’t try to eat any of their victims like they did the snake.
• Lord Tyrell is a complete moron. Good luck to him in his renegotiations with the Iron Bank. Grand Maester Qyburn’s reactions to either Tyrell or just Cersei’s leadership skills are a joy.