Game of Thrones Recap Season 5 Episode 5: Kill the Boy
Meereen
Barristan the Bold is sadly confirmed dead. Rather than follow Daario's advice to systematically clean the city of Sons of the Harpy, Dany introduces the heads of the Great Houses to her babies. One is cooked and eaten by Rhaegal and Viserion as an example to the others.
Grey Worm learns of Barristan's death from Missandei, who has been watching over him. Dany decides to re-open the fighting pits and marry Hizdahr to reconcile the old ways and the new.
The Wall
Jon asks Maester Aemon (Targaryen) for his advice in the matter of the Wildlings. Aemon tells him to “kill the boy, and let the man be born”. Jon asks Tormund to lead the Wildling host, forge an alliance, and fight the White Walkers together. Tormund agrees to lead a rescue mission to Hardhome where the Wildlings are gathered...if Jon accompanies him.
Jon proposes the idea to the Night’s Watch, and predictably the response is negative. He points out that the alternative is facing an enlarged army of White Walkers and wights, but Olly and others cannot forget the violence done by the Wildlings. Privately, Jon tries to explain the logic behind his decision, but Olly is unconvinced.
Stannis and his army begin their march to Winterfell, bringing Melisandre and Shireen along.
Cerwyn? Near Winterfell
Brienne and Pod see Winterfell in the distance, plotting their next move. An anonymous villager agrees to take a message to Sansa.
We miss Catelyn Stark more than any reader or show-watcher. Maybe there's something meaningful to do out this window...
Winterfell
Ramsay tries to manage his jealous lover, Miranda, but quickly changes tactics to threats; luckily for him, she’s psychotic and totally into that. She bites his lip hard enough to draw blood; luckily for her, he’s psychotic and totally into that. Sansa gets Brienne’s message: light a candle in the highest window of the Broken Tower if you’re ever in trouble.
Miranda talks to Sansa and leads her to Reek, who is living in the kennels with the dogs. At dinner that evening, Ramsay has Reek apologize to Sansa for murdering Bran and Rickon. Roose is not pleased, and prompts Lollys to announce her pregnancy - a development making Ramsay’s footing much less secure. Ramsay confronts Roose after dinner, receives some affirmation, and together they proceed to battle plans for Stannis’s army.
The Summer Sea
Jorah and Tyrion sail through Valyria (a cursed, barren land) to avoid pirates. We get a history of the Doom of Valyria before Drogon flies overhead, stunning the two into silence. Attacking Stone Men (greyscale victims banished to the islands) ruin the moment and force Tyrion to escape by rolling overboard where he is dragged below by another Stone Man. Jorah revives him on land, but reveals the start of Greyscale on his own wrist as he walks away.
What changed?
Stannis’s army has left the wall headed for Winterfell; The Boltons are making battle preparations to receive Stannis; Sansa knows Reek/Theon is in Winterfell; Jorah has Greyscale; Jon has put plans in action to lead the Wildlings south of The Wall; Dany has made plans to marry Hizdahr and reopen the Fighting Pits;
Who’s Missing?
Cersei Lannister, Tommen Baratheon, Margaery Tyrell, The Faith Militant, Littlefinger, Varys, Jaime Lannister, Bronn, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Rickon Stark, Yara Greyjoy, Balon Greyjoy, Doran Martell, the Sand Snakes
House Power Rankings
- House Tyrell – no change
- House Lannister – no change
- House Bolton – no change
- House Greyjoy – no change
- House Baratheon – no change, but on the move again
- House Targaryen – Dany is making changes, but we don’t know if they’ll work
- House Stark – no change
Dragonflame Burn of the Week
"How can you be sure...that she's pregnant? I mean...how can you tell?"
"Maester Wolkan has assured us beyond all doubt"
"So...how did you manage it...getting her pregnant"
"I imagine you're familiar with the procedure."
"Of course. But how did you...find it?"
