For those who complained that “The Red Woman” was a bit boring last week (really people, were we not watching the same thing?!) there’s no denying that “Home” had hearts racing!
Welcome back, Bran!
Our favorite warg, Bran Stark, hasn’t been seen since Season 4, since showrunners Dave Benioff and D.B. Weiss ran his storyline right up until where it ends in A Dance With Dragons. So after missing in action for a whole year, actor Isaac Hempstead Wright’s serious growth spurt worked in his favor to show that Bran has matured under the Three-Eyed Raven’s tutelage.
Clutching the roots of a weirwood tree that holds memories of the past, Bran visited Winterfell in a flashback where his father, Uncle Benjen, and Aunt Lyanna were children. Ned and Benjen were sparring, with Ned giving Benjen pointers to improve his swordplay. (If they sounded familiar, it’s because Jon Snow said the same things to Olly when he trained him to fight with a sword.)
Aside from Lyanna showing off on horseback (reminding us of Arya and how much better she was at archery than Bran), the most important thing we learned was that Hodor’s name is actually Wylis and that he used to talk … normally. We also saw Old Nan pulling him away when the children wanted to spar with him. (Scenes like this are never thrown in without a reason, so we’ll probably find out why soon enough.)
Bran wanted to enjoy the memory a little longer, but the Three-Eyed Raven pulled him out of it. When Bran told Meera about it, she was clearly not in the mood to listen. Not only is she still missing her brother who died trying to get Bran to the Three-Eyed Raven, but she’s tired of sitting around watching Bran have visions, while she can’t do anything. A child of the forest then told her that Bran wouldn’t be staying there long and that he would need Meera’s help when they’re back out in the wild.
Time is up for Davos and company…
Alliser Thorne came back to find out whether Davos and the other brothers would leave the room where they’re guarding Jon’s body. As he promised them safety (including Ghost who could leave for the forest), the rest of the Night’s Watch waited to unleash a slew of arrows at them when they opened the door. As they began breaking the door down, Davos and the others prepared to fight, Ghost snarled and hearts everywhere pounded until the gate to Castle Black was smashed open by Wun Wun, and Edd, Tormund and a bunch of other wildlings stormed inside. The Night’s Watch didn’t charge at them, except for one genius who shot Wun Wun with an arrow in the back and another who lunged at Tormund. Both were killed and the rest of the men dropped their weapons. Thorne called them cowards, so that little jerk Olly charged at Tormund, too, but he was only held to the side as Thorne and the other conspirators were thrown into cells. (Bloodthirsty fans like myself wanted more, but hey, it’s a start.)
King Tommen is tired of being the nice guy…
When Cersei went to attend Myrcella’s funeral, she was told by a group of guards to go back to her room to ensure her safety, by order of the king. It didn’t make much sense until we learned that the High Sparrow was actually the one who didn’t want Cersei in the sept. As Tommen and Jaime viewed Myrcella’s body, Tommen confessed that he was ashamed of not being able to protect his mother or wife. How could he guard the realm if he couldn’t do the same for his own family?
Enter the High Sparrow (a.k.a. the Pope Francis look-a-like) and his self-righteous lecture to Jaime. (I’m kind of conflicted here because I should want the good guys to prevail and punish people like Cersei. But seeing the Faith Militant clad in black robes, wearing chains, and ready to enact violence doesn’t make them any different from the others.) A pissed-off Jaime made it clear how much he’d like to kill the High Sparrow for Cersei’s walk of atonement, but he found himself surrounded by the Faith Militant and the High Sparrow left shortly after.
Tommen took Jaime’s advice and visited Cersei, whom he hadn’t seen since before she was arrested. (Considering she endured that spectacle for him, you had to feel a little sorry for her here.) He told her about how badly he felt about all of the things he let happen and asked for her help to become strong. Cersei told him she would always help him, and the two embraced. (This probably doesn’t mean anything good, but I’m curious to see how far Tommen will go on the Joffrey-spectrum of fear-based ruling.)
Tyrion’s bright idea…
A small council meeting with Varys, Missandei and Grey Worm brought to Tyrion’s attention that Daenerys’ dragons have not been eating since Drogon took off with her, so Tyrion decided to do something about it. He and Varys visited the dragons, with Varys remaining at the top of the stairs as Tyrion walked toward certain death. Rattling chains, growling and two pairs of glowing eyes in the pitch black ensured a roasted Tyrion. Amazingly though, after talking to them about how he wanted a dragon as a little boy, they allowed him to get near enough to pet them and then remove their chains so they’d no longer be in captivity. (How funny was it when the second dragon actually turned his neck so that Tyrion could remove his chain, too?)
Arya has no name…
After her daily ass-kicking by The Waif, Jaqen H’ghar appeared and offered to help Arya if she’d say her name. Arya repeated “A girl has no name” when Jaqen tempted her with a home, food and her eyesight. Apparently that was what he wanted to hear because Jaqen told her to follow him.
Only child syndrome…
Back at Winterfell, Roose learned that everyone in Ramsay’s search party for Sansa and Theon turned up dead, the story verified by Harald Karstark. (Remember, Rickard Karstark was beheaded by Robb Stark after disobeying Robb’s orders and murdering two Lannister boys to avenge his own son’s death.) Clearly the Karstarks are still upset about that, enough to team up with the Boltons.
When the Maester told Roose the good news, that his wife had given birth to a baby boy, Ramsay hugged and congratulated him, right before stabbing his father in the chest and killing him. Shocker? Not really. Why? A) It’s Ramsay and B) There was a heartfelt moment between the two just seconds prior where Roose assured Ramsay that Ramsay would always be his first-born. Game Of Thrones fans know that any time there is a Hallmark moment on this show, death and destruction come in some form right after. (Not that I would shed tears for Roose. Does anyone remember, “The Lannisters send their regards”?) Then, just as I predicted last week, Ramsay sent for his stepmother and baby brother who he then locked inside the kennels so that the houndsculd maul them to death.
Theon’s going home…
Theon told Sansa that he probably wouldn’t make it through the gates of Castle Black without Jon Snow killing him for all he’s done to the Starks. When Sansa reminded him that his crimes would be forgiven when he took the Black, Theon told her he didn’t want to be forgiven and that he would have given his life to make sure Sansa got to The Wall safely (awww). But now that Brienne was there, he’d just return to Pyke.
Things just got real in Pyke…
Theon’s sister Yara told their father that the Ironborn’s rebellion/invasion failed miserably, and there was no point in trying to re-conquer lands that were far from sea. Balon told her that when she rules, she can do as she pleases, but for now, she had to obey him.
As Balon crossed a rope bridge during a terrible storm (never a good setup), a hooded stranger appeared on the other side. It turned out to be Euron Greyjoy, known as Crow’s Eye, Balon’s younger brother who was banished from the Iron Islands and had been traveling the world ever since. After exchanging some words, Crow’s Eye threw Balon off the bridge. (Ah, brotherly love!)
The next day, Balon’s body was buried at sea, and Yara vowed that she would find who killed him and make him pay when she ruled the Iron Islands. However, Balon’s other brother, Aeron Greyjoy, or as he is most commonly known, the Damphair, told her that she had to win the kingsmoot in order to rule, an ancient Pyke tradition that book fans will recall the Damphair pushed for since he didn’t want Yara, A WOMAN, to rule. (Be careful what you wish for my friend!)
He’s alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally, the moment we’ve been praying for! Davos went to Melisandre’s room (and found her in her young form, thank goodness!) to ask her to resurrect Jon Snow. When she told Davos that she couldn’t, that she had no powers because the Lord of Light never spoke to her, Davos told her a not-so-nice thing she could do with her god and all the other gods for that matter. If she could drink poison and give birth to a shadow demon, it couldn’t be that much work bringing back a dead man!
Cue Melisandre washing Jon Snow’s gorgeous, but stabbed body, trimming his hair and beard, and muttering incantations as the others looked on and Ghost slept (really Ghost?!). She repeated the incantations, a little more desperately each time, eventually sighing and saying “Please”. When nothing happened, one by one everyone left the room, but Davos remained a little longer to look at Jon’s lifeless body before he exited, too.
As the camera focused on Jon, and fans probably wondered how many more episodes it would take for our beloved character to return back to us, Ghost suddenly woke up, and Jon took his first breath like a newborn while the rest of the world forgot how to breathe from the excitement!
Is it a zombie Jon or the actual Jon? Who cares! He’s back, and all is right with the world! And based on previews for the next episode, the truth about his mother is not far behind!
How excited were you about “Home”? Any predictions about what’s to come?