Game of Thrones Recap Season 5 Episode 3: High Sparrow
Braavos
Arya is growing impatient with her responsibilities and asks Jaaqen when training will begin. He tells her to be patient, and she continues sweeping a very creepy room.
Jaaqen finds Needle amongst Arya’s belongings; to continue training Arya must renounce her identity and possessions. She saves Needle (a gift from Jon, in case anyone forgot) concealing it in a pile of stones outside the House.
Jaaqen leads Arya deep into the halls of the House of Black and White, where she prepares a body for burial with another servant.
King’s Landing
Tommen and Margaery are married, and Margaery wastes no time putting him through the paces of consummation. Tommen is helpless, and who can blame him? The dude is still a teenager, and this and everything else is coming up Tommen. Margaery starts to put her plans in motion, suggesting that Tommen can never be a REAL man until Cersei goes home. The hint works: the next day Tommen asks Cersei if she wants to go back to Casterly Rock.
The Sparrows interrupt the High Septon in a whorehouse and force him to walk naked through the streets of King’s Landing. He asks the Small Council for retaliation, particularly against the High Sparrow. Cersei finds the man doling out soup to the poor. She names him the new High Septon; the former High Septon has been imprisoned.
Cersei visits Qyburn in the dungeons, and after she leaves the body that was The Mountain moves under a blanket.
Moat Cailin
Littlefinger reveals his plan to marry Sansa to Ramsay Bolton. Initially Sansa refuses, but Littlefinger persuades her to start taking action instead of allowing things to happen to her. Brienne and Pod look on from a distance. Brienne promises to train him in arms and other skills he’ll need to be a Knight. She briefly explains her history with Renly Baratheon and her intent to kill Stannis to avenge his death.
Winterfell
Roose tries to teach Ramsay some leadership and statecraft, and tells Ramsay he’s found him a bride.
Reek watches Littlefinger and Sansa arrive. A servant tells Sansa “The North Remembers”.
Ramsay promises Littlefinger he won’t harm Sansa. Roose interrupts, and two notoriously disloyal Lords discuss loyalties.
The Wall
Jon formally refuses Stannis’s offer to be legitimized and rule as the Lord of Winterfell. Stannis declares his intent to march on Winterfell.
Jon begins his tenure as Lord Commander by naming Aliser Thorne First Ranger, a prestigious position. Janos Slynt, on the other hand, is tasked with restoring a destroyed castle. Janos refuses. In response Jon orders him taken outside, draws Longclaw, and removes his head.
I think I overplayed my hand...
Volantis
Tyrion demands some time outside of their carriage and Varys reluctantly allows it. The two overhear a Red Priest preaching the praises of Daenerys. Unsurprisingly, they wind up in a brothel; surprisingly, Jorah Mormont is also there. Tyrion turns down one of the whores, and before Varys can find him, Jorah ties him up for delivery to Daenerys.
What changed?
Arya moved forward in her training from sweeping to cleaning corpses; Margaery is officially a Queen; Cersei has formed an alliance with The Faith; The Mountain is “alive”; Tyrion is now a prisoner of Jorah Mormont rather than the traveling companion of Varys.
Who’s Missing?
Daenerys and her friends in Meereen, Bran Stark, Rickon Stark, Yara Greyjoy, Balon Greyjoy, Jaime Lannister, Bronn, Doran Martell and his subjects in Dorne
House Power Rankings:
- House Tyrell – solidified the number one spot with Margaery and Tommen’s wedding
- House Lannister – no change, interesting play by Cersei allying herself with The Faith
- House Bolton – closing the gap on the Lannisters; marrying Sansa would give them a more legitimate claim to Winterfell
- House Greyjoy – no change
- House Baratheon – no change
- House Targaryen – no change
- House Stark – no change
Dragonflame Burn of the Week
"I wish we had some wine for you, it's a bit early in the day for us."
If there weren't any witnesses, I'd murder you right now.
"What's the proper way to address you now? Queen Mother, or Dowager Queen?"
If your babies weren't going to be my grandbabies I would threaten to eat them.
