Game of Thrones Review: Book of the Stranger (Season 6 Episode 4)
For a moment that seemed to stretch on forever, Game of Thrones was not the show we’d been watching for six seasons. As Jon and Sansa stared at each other, and then, simultaneously, moved forward, we almost felt like we were watching a different show.
One where happy endings were possible.
But, of course, this is still Game of Thrones. Two of the Starks might have been reunited, but a third is being held captive, and the time for doubts is over.
You hear me Jon? The time for doubts is over. It’s time to take back the North.
War is coming, and though the picture is still muddy, we can now sort of glimpse that it’ll be Jon and Sansa leading a wildling army, and Petyr Baelish, with the might of the Vale at his back; all united against a common enemy, the most hated men in Westeros right now.
Ramsay Bolton.
Not only does he have Rickon captive, he killed Osha! He was already first on our hit list, but, if possible, this only reinforces our desire to see him killed at the end of the season.
Preferably at the hands of Sansa. Or Jon. Or Rickon.
A Stark will do. We’re not picky as to which.
On the other end of the world, Daenerys is done with diplomacy, and it’s about time. She’s not a queen; after all, she’s a khaleesi. And as much as she loved Drogo, she doesn’t need him to lead.
She’s perfectly capable of doing that herself.
The whole thing with the khals is so perfect it’s a wonder we didn’t think of it ourselves, as fond as we all are of speculating. It’s worked for her before, after all, way back in season one.
And now she has an army. The greatest army the world has ever seen.
She also has Tyrion, so she has inside knowledge. And more importantly, she has three dragons.
Can anything stand in her way?
Other things to note:
- Things in King’s Landing are also starting to come to a head, with a possible Tyrell-Lannister alliance, all in the name of freeing Queen Margery. But does Margarey have a plan of her own?
- I’m still not buying that the Umber’s really betrayed the Starks. Nope, I’m all about conspiracies, and have you ever heard a better name than “The Great North Conspiracy”? I have to subscribe to that! I just have to.
- What Jamie and Cersei need, ironically, is Tyrion. He’s the strategist in the family.
- Slay, Brienne, slay. Her face when she told Davos and Melisandre she’d killed Stannis is only marginally better than her face when Tormund was staring at her over dinner.
- He’s in love. He’s never seen anyone like her. And neither have we.
- Theon supporting Yara was both ironic and wonderful. I loved it.
- I was tempted to write JON AND SANSA ARE TOGETHER AND NOTHING HURTS over and over again and make that my review. Really, really tempted.
What did you think of this episode of Game of Thrones? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Game of Thrones airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz
Lawyer. Writer. Columnist. Geek. Falls in madly in love with fictional characters. Hates the color yellow, misogyny, and people who are late. Can always be found with a book. Watches an absurd amount of TV every week, often, while eating coffee ice cream. She has no regrets. You can check out her blog here: Absurday. Lissete is a senior writer for Tell-Tale TV. Follow @lizziethat