ThisGame of Thronesreview contains spoilers.
Still, I am again drawn to that half smile that ended the episode.
Hes sure not whistling The Bear and the Maiden Fair.
This cannot be denied.
is a bit indicting.
Rather, the battle played out on double-time while bending over backwards to service any and all plot demands.
Still, all in all, the Meereenese scenes in Battle of the Bastards were not a complete disappointment.
Tyrion ever so helpfully points to that plans similarities with her fathers bloodlust for immolation.
I still think Dany will prove herself to be her fathers heir.
But for the moment, I will concede my predictions were wrong about her razing Yunkai and Astapor.
However, I wasso rightabout her stealing their ships to get to Westeros.
Can we just all admit right now that we love Team Daenerys and Yara?
Because their rapport was full of all sorts of win here.
And just like former Stanford athletes-turned-judges, one does not so easily take away their expectations from this world.
Ergo, Yaras rule might be a thing shorter than her doomed uncles current one….
But it will at least last longer than Ramsays tenure as Warden of the North.
Of course, it would be epic.
Up until that point, Jon has mostly seemed aggrieved that Melisandre woke him from his peaceful death.
Even Melisandre has been drinking the snow-aide, suggesting that she no longer loves her god.
Hes the best we have is pretty much damning herself with faint praise.
It is quite the beautiful shot of Ser Seaworth at dawn surveying the final resting place of Shireen Baratheon.
Rickon ran for Jons arms but only found an arrows crimson-soaked tip clinging to his body in the end.
The actual fighting is a stunning visual of carnage and bloodshed, equal partsSaving Private RyanandBraveheart.
David Benioff and D.B.
It really is the spectacle where the gore sells the grandeur and horror of this TV event.
A lord that does that will not rule any manor for long.
But that wasnt the real end.
We were forced to sacrifice a Wun Wun first before the actual ending came.
Jon Snows victory over Ramsay Bolton was well earned.
But both are still short followers, including those wildlings that Jon sympathized with for so many seasons.
As a conflict-focused episode, Battle of Bastards isGame of Thronesmost dazzling and stomach-churning hour yet.
Although, for an ending shot, it still might be hard to top Bastards.
Still, for many, I am sure it was too quick.
Wide-eyed and content, Sansa enjoys her victory over TVs cruelest villain.
Littlefinger will, and honestly should, take much of the credit for victory.
But in doing so, he might take a stab at leave Jon Snow out in the cold.
In such a turn of events, where will Sansa land?
But I again return to that ghostly smile that closed out the hour.
Weiss is obviously right: she has changed.
History might yet repeat itself if Sansa walks ever closer to finally embracing the teachings of her one-time mentor.
But well cross that bridge and its steep price when we get there next week.
In the meantime, lets all replay the sound of Ramsays cries one more time.
you might also talk about your favorite bastardly moments on Twitter@DCrowsNest.
Rating:
4.5 out of 5
