HBO
With so many book-to-show changes, and the fact that many plots are caught up with George R.R. Martin’s text, we’re only doing one Game of Thrones recap this season: this one. Please try to talk about last night’s episode, not plot points half a season away (context from the books will be provided as needed, though nothing will be spoiled). Also, each week’s recap will be broken down into (Faith of the) seven questions that need answering, beginning with…
1. Did anyone else, even just for a second, think this was Gendry?
HBO
No, just me? Okay, moving on…
2. Why did Cersei send Mace Tyrell out of town?
HBO
Margaery and Loras’ Master of Coin father is off to the Iron Bank of Braavos because King’s Landing is out of money (those pigeon pies don’t come cheap). Anyone could have gone, or the matter might have even been solved through ravens, but Cersei strategically moved an important chess piece off the board. Once he was gone, she attacked, basically giving free rein to the High Sparrow’s army of religious fanatics. It went splendidly, for Cersei at least (or so she thinks): Throats were slit, whores were shamed, and Loras was thrown in prison. Disarray has been sown between Margaery and Tommen, who’s too naive to let his Kingsguard spill blood outside the Royal Sept. A kind Lannister? What’s next, Stannis showing actual human emotion? Oh, wait…
3. And what about Meryn Trant?
This season, more than any other, has been about pairing up characters. Brienne and Podrick run into Littlefinger and Sansa, Jaime and Bronn head to Dorne, etc. Arya, I mean, No One has Jaqen H’ghar to keep her company at the House of Black and White, sort of, but she’ll need something to do, other than weakly dust the floor. Guess who’s coming to Braavos? One of the names on her list: Meryn Trant, who killed Syrio. Good thing she didn’t toss Needle into the water.