Book of the Stranger: Reunions Abound

Disclaimer: HERE BE SPOILERS!

Recap: Sam and Gilly are aboard a ship to Oldtown when Sam reveals that Gilly would live with the Tarly family in Hornhill while Sam goes to the Citadel. Bloodraven shows Bran a vision of a fight between Ned Stark and Arthur Dayne at the Tower of Joy. Dany arrives in Vaes Dothrak, where the Dosh Khaleen contemplate her fate. Varys finds out that the Slave masters from Yunkai and Astapor are funding the Sons of the Harpy. Tension between the Crown and the Faith persists in King’s Landing. Arya gets her eyesight back. The Umbers travel to Winterfell with a gift for Ramsay, Rickon Stark. Jon Snow defies death and executes the traitors responsible for his death, and then quits the Night’s Watch.

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The Vale

The Bae of the Vale is back.

At Runestone, Robin Arryn displays his dreadful archery skills in front of Lord Royce. Petyr “Litterfinger” Baelish returns with a gyrfalcon as a gift for Robin’s missed name-day. Royce questions Litterfinger’s motives by mentioning that Sansa, who was supposed to be at the Fingers (Seat of House Baelish), was married to Ramsay Bolton. Petyr turns the accusation on Royce by accusing him of betraying Sansa to the Boltons. He subtly reminds Royce of the hold he has over the new Lord of the Vale when Robin asks for Petyr’s judgment on whether they should throw Royce through the Moon Door. Petyr suggests that Royce could be useful with all his experience if he swears his loyalty to Robin, then they decide to gather the Knights of the Vale to aid Sansa.

Meereen

Tyrion invites the representatives of the Good Masters of Astapor, the Wise Masters of Yunkai, and the slave-traders of Volantis. Grey Worm and Missandei are displeased with Tyrion’s diplomacy, but they still agree to meet with the representatives: Razdal mo Eraz, the Wise Master from Yunkai (from Season 3); Belicho Paenymion, the triarch from Volantis; and Yezzan zo Qaggaz, the Meereenese Great Master who purchased Tyrion and Jorah (in Season 5), now representing the Good Masters of Astapor.

Poli Sci 101 with Tyrion Lannister

The slaver-traders want Daenerys to leave Slaver’s Bay and are ready to offer her wealth, just like Razdal did in the past. Tyrion argues that Daenerys decided to abolish slavery without providing an alternate system. To solve their problem, he offers the Masters compensation and a seven-year period during which they would have to end slavery. In exchange, the Masters will stop funding the Sons of the Harpy (even though they deny their involvement). Grey Worm and Missandei do not agree with Tyrion, but they still support him when he asks them to consider the offer.

The queen’s advisors are later confronted by a crowd of former slaves. They want to know when the queen will return and are appalled by the notion of negotiating with the Masters. They do not trust Tyrion and look to Grey Worm for assistance, but Grey Worm reluctantly backs Tyrion’s diplomacy. In private, Grey Worm and Missandei warn Tyrion that the Masters will have their way no matter what he tries.

King’s Landing

Septa Unella escorts the imprisoned Queen Margaery to a meeting with the High Sparrow. The High Sparrow recounts his experience with various vices from his youth and how he decided to turn his life around and join the Faith of the Seven. Later, he allows her to meet her brother. Loras is lying on the floor of his cell. He has lost the will to resist, but Margaery asks him to stay strong despite the High Sparrows attempts to break them.

I would look like that too if I had Septa Unella read a holy book at me.

At the Red Keep, Cersei interrupts Grand Maester Pycelle advising King Tommen to not antagonize the Sparrows. Cersei expels Pycelle from the room and reminds her son of her humiliation at the hands of Sparrows, suggesting that the same would happen to Margaery if he doesn’t take action. Tommen reveals a secret that the High Sparrow shared with him.

Once again, Cersei interrupts the Small Council meeting between Kevan, Olenna and Jaime. Cersei quickly gets past the hostility and informs them that the Sparrow plan to make Margaery do the “Walk of Atonement”. Jaime suggest that the Tyrells march their army into King’s Landing, stop the Faith Militant, secure Margaery and Loras, and take the High Sparrow into their custody. When Kevan reminds his nephew that the King has expressly forbade the Lannister army from making a move, Jaime suggest that the Lannister army will stand down when the Tyrell army arrives. Olenna agrees that if blood is to be shed, it’s better if it’s the Sparrows’ blood.

Pyke

Theon returns to Iron Islands and learns about Balon Greyjoy’s death. Yara is unhappy about his return, especially after her failed attempts to rescue him from the Boltons. She also suspects his motive, considering that he returned just prior to the kingsmoot. However, Theon makes it clear that he doesn’t want the crown. He wants his sister to rule and he is ready to help her in any way he can.

Winterfell

Osha is presented before Ramsay. Ramsay is unsure about what to do with her. Osha tells him that she was forced to serve the Starks after being captured. She attempts to seduce Ramsay while trying to grab the knife he had been using to peel apples. Ramsay is easily seduced and mentions that it took much longer for him to get Theon Greyjoy to talk. Theon told him everything, including how Osha helped Bran and Rickon escape Winterfell. Osha realizes that Ramsay knows the truth and tries to stab him, but he stabs her in the throat first. Osha bleeds out on the floor while Ramsay continues to peel apples.

The Wall

Edd is trying to change Jon’s mind about leaving the Watch when they hear the announcement of riders arriving through the gate. Jon comes out to see Sansa, accompanied by Brienne and Pod. Sansa rushes towards Jon as she reunites with family for the first time since her father was executed. Later, they talk about their childhood, with Sansa mentioning how she never saw him the way she saw her other siblings and asking him to forgive her. She proposes that they take Winterfell back from the Boltons, but Jon has lost the will to fight.

Jon has a thing for redheads.

Ser Davos asks Melisandre whether she would stay at Castle Black. Mel reveals that her loyalty has shifted to Jon Snow (“The Prince that was Promised”). Davos wants to know what happened to Stannis and Shireen, but Mel is reluctant to divulge the exact details. Brienne interrupts their conversation, recognizing Ser Davos from their earlier meeting, and recounts the fact that Mel killed Renly using blood-magic, something she doesn’t intend to forget or forgive. She also reveals that she executed Stannis after he admitted the fact.

Tormund finds his match.

Later, while they are busy dining over the pitiful cuisine of Night’s Watch (except Tormund, who is busy eye-fucking Brienne), Jon receives a letter from Ramsay Bolton, stating that he has Rickon at Winterfell and that he will slaughter all the Wildlings at Castle Black, let his men rape Sansa, feed Jon and Rickon to his dogs etc. Tormund reveals that he has 2000 men who can march and fight, far less than the 5000 with the Boltons. Sansa tells Jon the houses of the North will rally behind Jon as the son of the last true Warden of the North. Jon decides take action against Ramsay.

Vaes Dothrak

“That’s where they’ll have taken her. The Temple of the Dosh Khaleen.”

Jorah Mormont and Daario Naharis reach Vaes Dothrak. Jorah discards their weapons since it is forbidden, plus he thinks they can get away as wine merchants lest they get caught. Once they enter the city, they encounter two Dothraki Aggo and Iggo who see through their ruse. Aggo is about to kill Jorah when Daario saves him using his blade (that he smuggled in, obviously). When Jorah notes that they will recognize the marks left by the blade, Daario smashes his skull with a rock. (KHU KHU KHU!!!)

The High Priestess tells Daenerys about the Dothraki misconception about not breeding with outsiders and illustrates her point by introducing her to a Lhazareen girl, Ornella, who was taken from her village at the age of 12. Dany asks the High Priestess for a break and gets out with Ornella. They are interrupted by Daario and Jorah, but Dany refuses to go with them. She has her own plan and she needs their help, as well Ornella’s.

Khal Moro, the chillest Khal in the history of GoT.

During the Khalar Vezhven, the Khals argues about how to deal with Iggo and Aggo’s death. Khal Moro is pretty chill about Aggo’s death and instead orders Daenerys brought before them. Moro insists that she join Dosh Khaleen, while other Khals express their interests in making her their Khaleesi or giving her to Wise Masters of Yunkai in exchange for thousands of horses. Dany dismisses all of them and claims that they are too weak compared to Khal Drogo, who was ready to cross the “black salt sea” on “wooden horses”. Stating that none of them is fit to lead the Dothraki, she suggests that she should lead. Moro declares that she has lost her chance to join Dosh Khaleen; now she’ll be raped by the Khals, their bloodriders, and then by their horses if she’s still alive. He claims that no Khal will ever serve her. Dany tells him that they won’t serve her, they’ll die. She then channels the spirit of Aerys II Targaryen and knocks down the braziers, burning the temple from the inside. The Khals try to escape, but the temple doors are barred from the outside, the guards killed by Daario and Jorah.

The Dosh Khaleen and the rest of the Dothraki gather around the burning temple in confusion. The doors collapse and Daenerys Targaryen emerges, naked and unburnt. Everybody bows to the Dragon Queen, including Jorah and Daario.

Mad King Aerys would be proud of his daughter.

 

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The episode title “Book of the Stranger” refers to the holy book of the Stranger, one of the Seven Gods. It’s a part of the Seven-Pointed Star which is the holy book of the Faith of the Seven, their equivalent to the books of Bible. The Stranger represents the unknown and few people worship this aspect of the Seven. The Stranger also represents the Many-faced God of Death as worshipped by the Faceless Men. The title is a reference to a verse spoken by Margaery during her conversation with the High Sparrow. (Apparently, Septa Unella likes to read the Holy Book at the sinners.)

This episode features a significant number of reunions. Theon returns to the Pyke and reunites with her sister Yara, intending to support her bid as the ruler of Iron Islands. Margaery reunites with Loras in the cell beneath the Great Sept. Daenerys reunites with her loyal allies Daario and Jorah. Most importantly, Sansa reunites with her half-brother Jon Snow. It is worth noting that Sophie Turner and Kit Harrington haven’t had an actual scene together since the show started. According to the story, Jon has the least amount of interaction with Sansa than any of their other siblings, likely stemming from the fact that Sansa is a lot like her mother, who hated Jon because he was a symbol of her husband’s infidelity. Here, however, the two of them have been through a lot since Ned’s execution, so their reunion fills everyone with warmth. (It also gives us canonical evidence for Jon x Sansa shippers based on the chemistry between the two actors, but that’s all fanfiction stuff. I’m more interested in the Tormund x Brienne.)

R.I.P Osha. They brought her back only to have her killed. No mourning for the Khals though. (None for Iggo and Aggo either. Fuck Aggo.) The last scene of Daenerys burning the entire Dothraki leadership to ashes is significant for three reasons: First, Emilia Clarke did not use a body double, which means that “everything” that we saw belongs to Emilia herself, quashing the rumours of a “no-nudity” clause. (She clarified that she is not opposed to nudity as long as it serves a significant purpose, such as the powerful ending of this episode.) Second, the show once again proves that Daenerys is truly immune to fire, unlike the books where the immunity is circumstantial. Lastly, the use of fire to kill her enemies and the pleasant expression on her face during the entire scene only serves as a reminder that she really is the Mad King’s daughter.

No Arya or Bran in this week’s episode. In the next episode, we’ll see Bran in another vision, one that evidently involves the White Walkers. Till then, Valar Morghulis.

Images from HBO.

Oathbreaker: My Watch is Ended

Disclaimer: HERE BE SPOILERS!

Recap: Bloodraven teaches Bran how to use greensight as they visit a past moment in Winterfell. Jaime and Tommen attend Myrcella’s funeral, but Cersei is barred by the High Sparrow from entering the Sept. Varys informs Tyrion that Yunkai and Astapor have been retaken by masters and the Slaver’s Bay has been restored to its former glory. In order to strengthen Meereen’s defence, Tyrion decides to unchain the captive dragons. In Braavos, Arya is offered another opportunity to become no one. In Winterfell, Lady Walda gives birth to Roose Bolton’s trueborn heir. Ramsay kills Roose and sets his dogs loose on Walda and her baby. Sansa decides to go to Castle Black with Brienne and Pod, but Theon refuses to go with them. Instead, he decides to return to Pyke. In Iron Islands, Euron Greyjoy returns from his exile and murders his brother Balon so that he can claim the Salt Throne. At the Wall, Edd arrives with the Free Folk to help his brothers who are trapped in a room with Lord Commander’s corpse. Davos seeks help from Melisandre. Melisandre uses her mystical abilities to resurrect Jon Snow.

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The Wall

Jon Snow wakes up and starts breathing, leaving both Davos and Melisandre bewildered. The last thing Jon remembers is being stabbed by Olly and others. Melisandre wants to know where he went after dying, but Jon claims that he saw nothing. (Yeah folks! After dying and being resurrected, Jon Snow truly knows nothing.) Mel thinks that the Lord of Light chose Jon. He is the “prince that was promised”, not Stannis as she believed.

“Prince that was promised” is, according to an old prophecy, a saviour who will deliver the world from darkness. Melisandre believes in the prophecy and she believed that Stannis Baratheon was that prince until now. Jon’s resurrection has shifted her belief on his side. Davos is not a devout man. He doesn’t believe in prophecies and Jon being alive seems “completely fockin’ mad” to him. Jon feels that he failed by trying to do the right thing for everyone, but Davos encourages him to go on, as it’s the only thing that matters. (Davos’s speech is very akin to Alfred’s speech in The Dark Knight Rises. “Go, fail again” is the new “Why do we fall?”)

Finally, Jon puts his cloths back on. (Can’t stay butt-naked in the cold northern weather after all.) He comes out to find everyone stunned by his liveliness. Wildlings think that he’s some kind of god, except Tormund. (“What kind of god would have a pecker that small?”) Edd is relieved that Jon’s eyes haven’t turned blue, otherwise they would have to burn him.

Ship to Oldtown

Sam and Gilly are aboard a ship. After Maester Aemon’s death, Sam felt that he would not survive in the Night’s Watch with his present skill set, so he decided to go to Oldtown, where the Citadel of the Maesters is located, and become a Maester. His journey is not going so well, as he’s puking his guts out in a barrel. Gilly is excited to see Oldtown, but Sam reveals that they are not going to Oldtown. The Citadel doesn’t admit women and he doesn’t have a Maester Aemon or a Jon Snow to bend the rules for him. He is taking Gilly and Little Sam to Hornhill, where the Tarly family lives. Sam intends to leave Gilly with his family before he heads to the Citadel.

Tower of Joy / The Cave

In the most awaited flashback of the series, Bloodraven and Bran visit the Tower of Joy. Targaryen Kingsguard Ser Arthur Dayne – also called the Sword of the Morning – is polishing his sword Dawn. Dawn is a greatsword forged from the “heart of a fallen star” i.e. meteorite metal, allegedly. He looks in the distance and watches as a party of six people approaches on horseback. Bran recognizes one of the men as his father Ned, accompanied by his friend Howland Reed, Jojen and Meera’s father. Arthur and his companion, Lord Commander Gerold Hightower, confront the party of Northmen.

Now it ends…

Ned begins a conversation with Arthur about his absence from the battle at Trident and why they weren’t there to protect their prince, Rhaegar Targaryen. Arthur says that their prince wanted them at the tower. Ned realizes that his sister Lyanna is in the tower and they are not getting up there without a fight. Combat ensues between two Targaryen Kingsguard and their six opponents. In the end, only Ned and Arthur remain facing each other. Arthur is about to strike the killing blow when an injured Howland stabs him with a dagger to the back of his neck in a very dishonourable move against a knight. Ned finishes Arthur and starts moving towards the tower as he hears the screams. However, before Bran (and we) can find out what was happening in the tower, Bloodraven pulls Bran back to the cave, maintaining the status quo about Lyanna’s fate.

Time to go back

Before he’s pulled back, Bran gives a shout to his father. Ned stops briefly and turns around, but Bran doesn’t know if he actually heard him. Bloodraven claims that it’s impossible, as the past is already written, and warns him again about the dangers of spending too much time using his powers. Bran tells him that he doesn’t want to be an old man stuck in a tree, but Bloodraven replies that he won’t be. He will go out of the cave and he has to know everything so that he can be prepared.

Vaes Dothrak

Welcome back to Vaes Dothrak

Daenerys arrives in Vaes Dothrak, the holy city of Dothraki, where Khal Moro presents her to the Dosh Khaleen. Dosh Khaleen are a group of crones, each of whom used to be a Khaleesi to a Great Khal. When a Khal dies, his widow returns to Vaes Dothrak and spends the rest of her life in the Temple of Dosh Khaleen with other widows. The women tear Dany’s clothes and remove her ornaments, and then provide her with the rags that she’d wear for the rest of her life. The high priestess of the Dosh Khaleen remembers Daenerys from the moment when she ate the horse’s heart. She tells her that, like her, she used to be a Khaleesi too. She was married to Khal Savo and thought that she would conquer the world by his side, but she joined the Dosh Khaleen after Savo died. Dany was supposed to come back immediately, but she went out in the world. Now, all the Khalasars have gathered for Khalar Vezhven, a congregation in which they decide which cities will be sacked and which tribes will be enslaved. They will decide what to do with Dany: allow her to join Dosh Khaleen, or something else, probably much worse.

“With luck, your place will be here with us, Mother of Dragons. It is the best you can hope for, now.”

Meereen

In the Great Pyramid, Varys is waiting when the Unsullied escort a prostitute named Vala. Vala is the same prostitute who helped kill the unsuspecting Unsullied soldier who came to her for comfort. She helped the Sons of the Harpy set a trap for the Unsullied and the Second Sons, which resulted in many deaths including Ser Barristan Selmy’s. Varys tells her that he knows about her allegiance to the Sons of the Harpy and about her son Dom. Vala harbours hatred for Daenerys, a foreign queen who attacked them with her foreign soldiers. She thinks that Varys wants to torture her or harm her son, but Varys has nothing against blameless children. He is more interested in helping her in exchange for information. He has booked a ship going to Pentos for her and her son and is willing to provide some silver to give her a new start.

Shall we play a game?

Meanwhile, Tyrion is trying to have small talk with Missandei and Grey Worm, except the only talk Grey Worm knows is reporting to Missandei about his patrols. Tyrion asks them if they know any games. The only “games” Missandei knows are the ones her old master Kraznys used to “play” with his girls. Also, neither of them drink, so Tyrion’s Truth or Drink game is useless around here. (This conversation is essentially a filler and serves no important point, but it shows the great contrast between Tyrion’s high-class upbringing and Missandei and Grey Worm’s slave lives.) As they are talking, Varys returns with information. He reveals that the Sons of the Harpy are funded by the Good Masters of Astapor and the Wise Masters of Yunkai with help from their friends in the city of Volantis. Grey Worm and Missandei suggest that the only way to end their problem is to finish the masters once and for all. Tyrion asks if Varys can spread the message with his little birds. Varys replies that he always trusts his little birds.

King’s Landing

Varys’s little birds are revealed to be children who seek help in exchange for snippets of information (“whispers”). As the new Master of Whisperers, that job falls to Qyburn. Like Varys, Qyburn promises that he will give them sweets and provide help when needed, and in return, they will provide him with whispers. Qyburn sets the birds free when Jaime and Cersei arrive with Zombie Mountain. (It’s confirmed that people know him as Ser Gregor, not Ser Robert Strong as mentioned in the books.) Qyburn tells Cersei that Varys’s little birds are hers now. Cersei wants these birds in every region of Westeros, providing information on everything that happens in the Seven Kingdoms and anyone who dares to speak against the crown or “the queen”.

The Master of Whisperers with his little birds

At the small council meeting, Pycelle is complaining to the Hand’s council – consisting of himself; Kevan Lannister, the new Hand; and Mace Tyrell – accompanied by Lady Olenna who is there to lobby for Margaery and Loras’s release. While Pycelle is talking about Qyburn’s experiments on the Mountain, Jaime and Cersei enter the chambers. Cersei wants to know why Olenna is in a meeting. Olenna replies that she was invited to solve certain issues such as the Queen’s imprisonment – swiftly reminding Cersei that she’s not the Queen anymore after Robert’s death. Kevan argues that Cersei has no business being in a small council meeting. Jaime argues that Lord Commander of the Kingsguard does have a position, but Pycelle provides historical context in which the eccentric Mad King Aerys had his Lord Commander on the council, yet King Robert didn’t. Cersei is adamant on staying in the meeting and asks to know if Kevan is doing anything to take action against Ellaria and the Sand Snakes. Kevan is displeased with his nephew and niece interrupting the meeting and makes it clear that while he can’t make them leave the meeting, they can’t make him stay either.

Discussing matters of the State with the small council #driveby #pycellefarts

King Tommen visits the High Sparrow with his Kingsguard, demanding that his mother be allowed to visit his sister’s crypt in the Great Sept. High Sparrow insists that Cersei must stand trial before she can be allowed to do anything. They have a conversation about how the Gods want Cersei to atone and how they work through all of us, even those who don’t believe or care about Gods, such as Tywin Lannister.

Braavos

Arya Stark continues her training with the Waif, getting comfortable with her blindness and overcoming her limitations. Waif tests her ability to lie by repeatedly asking her questions about her personal life. In the end, Arya is able to successfully block the Waif’s attacks. Jaqen takes her to the well and offers her one last chance to get her eyes back if she tells him her name. Arya replies, “A girl has no name.” Jaqen gives her water from the well – the same water that causes people to die – and tells her that if she is truly no one, she has nothing to fear. Arya drinks the water and gains her eyesight back. When Jaqen asks who she is, she replies that she is no one.

A girl has no name.

Winterfell

The Umbers travel to Winterfell to meet the new Lord Bolton. Ramsay and Harald Karstark are talking to Smalljon Umber. Ramsay doubts the Umbers’ intentions, since Umbers have been famously loyal to the Starks in the past. Smalljon reminds Ramsay that Karstarks were kin to the Starks and Roose supported Robb Stark’s claim as “DAKINGINDANORF”, yet both decided to betray the Starks. Smalljon thinks that his father Greatjon refused to pledge their banners to Roose Bolton because Roose was a cunt, and that, like Ramsay, he would have killed his father too if the latter hadn’t died first. Ramsay maintains that he didn’t kill his father. (He was obviously poisoned by his enemies.) Ramsay still wants to know why the Umbers want to ally with the Boltons now.

Smalljon tells Ramsay about Jon Snow leading an army of wildlings south of the wall. Umbers are farther north than any of the other houses, and they need all help they can get in case the wildlings attack them. If Jon Snow leads the wildlings, it won’t be long before Winterfell is attacked. Ramsay asks Smalljon to pledge his banners to Boltons. Smalljon refuses to kneel and reminds Ramsay that his father knelt before Robb and still betrayed him. Instead, Smalljon has a gift for Ramsay. Ramsay hopes that the gift is a redhead girl (Sansa). Smalljon asks his men to bring in two hooded figures and mentions that the girl they have is a wildling, who turns out to be Osha. The other figure is a young boy, who turns out to be Rickon Stark. Ramsay hasn’t seen Rickon before, so Smalljon presents him with the severed head of Shaggydog, Rickon’s direwolf, as a proof.

The Umbers’ Gift to the Boltons: a wild girl and a young boy

The Wall

Edd comes to Jon and tells him that it’s time. Jon comes out in the courtyard where everybody is gathered. Four prisoners are set to be executed for their mutiny: Bowen Marsh, the First Steward; Othell Yarwick, the First Builder; Alliser Thorne, the First Ranger; and Olly. Jon asks if they have any last words. Bowen argues that Jon shouldn’t be alive; it’s not right. Jon reminds him that neither was killing him. Yarwick requests Jon to write to his mother in White Harbor and tell her that he died fighting the wildlings. Thorne maintains his virtue by saying that he had to choose between betraying Jon and betraying the Night’s Watch. He warns Jon that he will be fighting the wildlings’ battles forever. Olly says nothing and just glares at Jon. Jon strikes his sword and cut the ropes, hanging all four of the mutineers at once.

#fuckolly

After the execution, Jon takes his cloak off and gives it to Edd, unofficially designating him the next Lord Commander. He says, “My watch is ended,” and leaves the courtyard.

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The episode title “Oathbreaker” refers to multiple characters breaking their oaths, although circumstances of each one of them are questionable. Daenerys was supposed to return to Vaes Dothrak after Drogo’s death and join Dosh Khaleen. She broke that oath, but she also decided to be a Khaleesi in her own right without a Khal to accompany her (and kind of succeeded, for a while, by becoming the Queen of Meereen). Umbers broke their oath to the Starks by allying with the Boltons and delivering Rickon Stark to Ramsay, but the suspicious reappearance of Rickon and Osha not being dead suggests that the Umbers might have another plan. Ser Arthur Dayne and Ser Gerold Hightower could be oathbreakers as well, considering that they weren’t there to protect their prince when he was killed in battle, but they were just following orders given by their prince.

Finally, the ultimate “oathbreaker” is Jon Snow, who decides to quit the Night’s Watch. Is he really an oathbreaker though? Quitting the Night’s Watch is an impossible task. Nobody gets to quit; they just do it because of extenuating circumstances. Bloodraven quit the Night’s Watch because he got lost beyond the wall and then turned into an immortal old man stuck in a tree. Mance Rayder quit the Night’s Watch in order to join the Free Folk. Any man who quits the Night’s Watch is branded a “deserter” and executed as demonstrated in the very first episode of the series. The Night’s Watch oath says “Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death…”, meaning that the only way to quit the Night’s Watch is to die.

But he did die, didn’t he? Jon Snow lived and died at his post, fulfilling the oath. Technically, he circumvented the oath with his resurrection, but there is no precedent for this in the history of Night’s Watch. Plus, under current circumstances, it’s unlikely that the Night’s Watch will take action against him. Being free from the Night’s Watch also means that Jon can now lead the wildling army to retake the North from the Boltons before the White Walkers attack.

This episode didn’t have Iron Islands plot or Sansa. Next episode will have both, along with return of everyone’s favourite Petyr Baelish and his puppet Lord of the Vale, Robin Arryn. Till then, Valar Morghulis.

Images from HBO.