Game of Thrones Review: Battle of the Bastards (Season 6 Episode 9)

Never let it be said that Game of Thrones doesn’t know how to bring us to the edge of our seats.

In fact, in “Battle of the Bastards,” they very nearly brought us to a heart attack.

But all is well that ends well. Or, since this is Game of Thrones, all is sorta okay that ends sorta okay and not as bad as it could have.

Rickon Stark is dead. But, as Sansa said, his position as one of Ned Stark’s true born sons meant Ramsay was never going to let him live. Rickon was, after all, much more dangerous than a bastard and a girl.

Or so Ramsay thought.

Everything goes perfectly for Ramsay Bolton at the beginning of the battle. And then it doesn’t. And then the girl and the bastard beat him.

Talk about poetic justice.

Not only do they beat him, though, they annihilate him. In Sansa’s own words:

Your words will disappear.

Your house will disappear.

Your name will disappear.

All memory of you will disappear.

The Starks manage this because Jon is brave, yes, but mostly, because Sansa is smart. They manage it because someone in the Stark family finally does the smart thing instead of the honorable thing.

Did anyone ever expect it to be Sansa?

She’s come a long way, has Sansa Stark. From meek girl in love with Joffrey, to the victim of many men, tonight, Sansa Stark proved that she is the North. She is Winterfell.

And the North Remembers.

The North also takes revenge, as the final scene proved. And when the North does both those things, as Bran learned on that long ago afternoon from the very first episode, the North stands there and watches.

Rickon will be laid to rest. Jon and Sansa will emerge out of this united. Littlefinger will want something in return.

Because this is not the end of the story, no. It’s merely the beginning of another tale. One of reuniting the North.

One of the Stark family coming home.

Perhaps, even one of the Queen in the North.

Jon doesn’t want this. He wasn’t raised to be a Lord, never dreamed of ruling a kingdom.

Ironic how the people who don’t want to lead are usually the ones who are good at it.

Maybe, just maybe, Sansa will be the one to preside over the North. Maybe, just maybe, Jon will have other battles to fight, other kingdom’s to conquer.

Maybe all the storylines are finally about to collide.

But, for now, the Starks are home and it feels good. It feels like a long time coming.

Enjoy it while it lasts, Game of Thrones fans. Because Winter is still coming. And though this time our favorites have shelter, that doesn’t mean they’re going to come out of the storm unscathed.

Other things to note:

• Tyrion is great at strategy and all, but Daenerys is great at conquering, let’s not deny that.
• Daenerys and Yara meeting was a surprising delight. The women of Game of Thrones have taken over this season and proven that they’re every bit as strong, capable and smart and the men. Probably even more so.
• As hard as “Hardome” was to watch, this was twenty times worse. The episode was so intense I was literally anxious in the middle part of it; even though I was sure Jon was going to survive.
• Kudos to you for that, Game of Throness. Kudos.
• Next week: Tower of Joy reveal, Cersei going mad and Littlefinger being as creepy as ever. At least that’s my guess.

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.

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