Game of Thrones Recap Season 5 Episode 6: Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken

Game of Thrones Recap Season 5 Episode 6: Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken



Braavos

Arya continues training in The House of Black and White, spending most of her time cleaning and dressing corpses. Jaaqen wakes her up to play the Game of Faces. Arya loses once again.

Lore: The House of Black and White

The House of Black and White in Braavos honors The Many-Faced God, an amalgamation of many Gods throughout the world. It is an old and mysterious temple, operating like other religious structures with priests, servants, and acolytes residing within. There is a pool on the first floor filled with a liquid lethal to consume. Further in its depths, there is a wide arrangement of cured and preserved faces taken from the people who have chosen to end their suffering at The House.. It is also a home of sorts to the Faceless Men, elite assassins known throughout the world as expensive and effective. Arya is training to join their ranks, a process that requires renouncing your own identity in service of the Many-Faced God. How long this training takes, or how her attachment to her list of targets and Needle will factor in, remains to be seen.

Later, Arya helps young girl ease her pain with a drink from the pool, sympathizing with her over a shared past she makes up on the spot. Jaaqen leads her to the lower levels of the House, where she sees a staggering collection of preserved faces. Arya is ready for the next step of her training.

Somewhere near Valyria

Our wandering duo discusses the merits of a possible Queen Daenerys before being taken captive by slavers. To buy some extra time, Tyrion boasts of Jorah’s battle prowess and suggests they would be valuable if sold to fight.

King's Landing

Littlefinger meets the Faith Militant on his way to Cersei, who asks if the Vale will support the Crown. He proclaims loyalty to the Throne (an artful dodge, if you ask me) and provokes her by revealing the plan to marry Ramsay and Sansa. He encourages immediate action against whoever wins the impending Bolton/Baratheon battle, and offers to send his troops from The Eyrie north to Winterfell in exchange for the title of Warden in the North.

The Queen of Thorns is back in King’s Landing to help release Loras. In his formal inquest, Loras denies all charges and it seems as though he might be released. The High Sparrow calls in Loras’s former lover to testify against him and Margaery, who swore to Loras’s innocence. Loras and Margaery are both arrested to await trial.

Winterfell

Crazy Miranda tries to frighten Sansa with details of Ramsay’s former relationships and their distasteful endings. Sansa snaps and calls her out on her shit, showing some serious backbone for the first time since...well, ever.

Sansa and Ramsay are married in the Godswood, and for some reason we have to watch the ensuing rape. So does Reek, who Ramsay commands to stay in the room while he forcibly consummates the marriage.

What changed?

Arya has moved on to the next step of her training; Tyrion and Jorah are now both captives; Loras and Margaery are now both awaiting trial by the Faith; Sansa is married to Ramsay Bolton.

Who's Missing?

Varys, Stannis, Davos, Melisandra, Brienne and Pod, Jon Snow, Bran Stark, Rickon Stark, Yara Greyjoy, Balon Greyjoy, Daenerys, The Dragons.

House Power Rankings

  1. House Lannister – Cersei’s machinations with the Faith seem to be paying off, and if we believe Littlefinger, they’ll be positioned well to attack the winner of the Baratheon/Bolton battle.
  2. House Tyrell – with Margaery and Loras arrested and Mace off to negotiate with the Iron Bank, the Tyrells are facing some serious trouble for the first time in a while.
  3. House Bolton – marrying Sansa is an important step in being recognized as the Warden of the North, but agitating the Lannisters with Stannis on the march is trouble.
  4. House Greyjoy – no change
  5. House Baratheon – no change
  6. House Targaryen – no change
  7. House Stark – maybe a slight bump with Sansa the Lady of Winterfell, but we also know she doesn’t want to be there and that it will be difficult to accomplish anything in that environment.

Dragonflame Burn of the Week

"The city has changed since you were here last: we flooded the gutters with wine, smashed the false idols, and sent the godless on the run."

"The city has changed since you were here last: we flooded the gutters with wine, smashed the false idols, and sent the godless on the run."

"...Well done. I'm here on urgent business with the Queen Mother. Should I send word that I'll be delayed?"

"...Well done. I'm here on urgent business with the Queen Mother. Should I send word that I'll be delayed?"

"Step carefully, Lord Baelish. You'll find there's little tolerance for flesh peddlers in the new King's Landing."

"Step carefully, Lord Baelish. You'll find there's little tolerance for flesh peddlers in the new King's Landing."

"We both peddle fantasies, Brother Lancel. Mine just happen to be entertaining."

"We both peddle fantasies, Brother Lancel. Mine just happen to be entertaining."



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