Game of Thrones: Eastwatch

It would be easy to write off this episode as a letdown after last week’s The Spoils of War, but Eastwatch had a lot going for it, albeit in more subtle ways. This was another table setter of an episode. The reunions are coming fast and furious. This time we had Gendry and Davos meeting again, and later Dany and Der Jorah Mormont, but far more dramatically Jaime and Tyrion Lannister saw each other for the first time since he murdered their father. Some people may complain of reunion overkill, and there is some validity to it, but with eight episodes left, all of the important characters have to be positioned for the conclusion.

Jaimie Lannister

Surprise, surprise, surprise. Jaime survived the escape through the water, and Bronn was the one who saved him. Like anyone really thought he would die. In reality, given that heavy armor he and Bronn were wearing, I can’t imagine how they possibly could have survived. Bronn set him up with his reunion with Tyrion, one in which Jaime wanted no part of, but it seems as if he, in fact, reached him. Jaime seemed to believe him about Dany’s intentions and the existence of the White Walkers. That led to the big reveal, where Cersei told him that she’s pregnant with Jaime’s child. Feel free to cringe. Ah yes, another child borne of incest in Westeros.

Daenerys Targaryan

Despite Tyrion’s best efforts, Dany wasn’t hearing any of it when it came to burning Randyll Tarly and his son to a crisp. I don’t see what the big deal was. Beheading, getting incinerated by dragons. They’re dead all the same. Dany had a tender reunion with her old buddy, Ser Jorah, and then a bittersuite goodbye with Jon Snow while the sexual tension grows between them by the episode.

Sam Tarly

Sam said ‘hasta la vista, baby’ to the crusty old maesters at the Citadel. I don’t blame him. They’re the typical career academics who think they know everything about everything, but don’t squat about the real world. Happy trails, Sam.

Jon Snow

There was a great scene in this episode when Dany lands back in Dragonstone right in front of Jon Snow, and low and behold, Drogon lets Jon pet him. This sets Dany’s heart afire with newfound admiration for the man who can tame her dragon. If she was a bit more introspective, she might come to the conclusion that it’s because, like her, he is also a Targaryan. Meanwhile, Jon puts together a motley crew of misfits in order to capture a member of the army of the dead, which is fairly pointless since Cersei only cares about her own power. At any rate, I liked this formation of men who have many reasons not to like or trust each other, but as Jon insightfully points out, they’re all on the same side since they’re breathing.

Arya Stark

I love it when the show gets characters who are convinced of their awesomeness only to be matched up with a character who outduels them. Arya thinks she’s very clever. She can spy on Littlefinger, break into his room, and still his private missive. Except that Littlefinger is playing her like a fiddle in this case, growing distrust between her and Sansa. I still stand by my prediction that Sansa will align with Littlefinger and betray Jon. Perhaps Sansa and Littlefinger will be the next two people on her list.

Next week’s episode will prove to explosive since the second to the last episode always is. Stay tuned.