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Game of Thrones: “Hardhome”

by Marc Price
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Tyrion has finally arrived at Mereen, appearing before Danaerys in her court. With a little persuasion, and what charm he can muster, he manages to get on her good side. Cersei is still locked in the dungeon beneath the Sept, being withheld from water by a callous Sister until she confesses her sins. Arya is making progress in Braavos, becoming a much more skilled liar as her training continues. And finally, finally, Sansa confronts Theon about her brothers and he admits to her that he did not kill them.   

But what makes this episode eight, is what happened at Hardhome, where Jon Snow came to talk to the wildlings about making peace. The negotiations go about as well as they can, stubborn pride being a hallmark of northerners with pragmatism being a close second. Jon can’t unite the wildlings like Mance could, but he’s gotten through to some of them. But that’s when everything goes wrong. Dogs start barking. The wind changes. A haze of fog rolls down from the clifftops over the harbor and everyone starts rioting to get on the boats to cross the Shivering Sea. The gates are closed with wildlings left on both sides of it. The white walkers and their army of the dead have made it to the waterfront. Through the fighting, Jon needs to reach the dragonglass  he brought with him, left behind in one of the cabins, but when he goes inside he finds a white walker waiting for him. After showing its immense strength, Jon comes at it with his sword, and manages to strike the walker, shattering it like glass. He realizes that Valyrian steel can be just as effective as obsidian. But looking back at the harbor, now taken by the white walker with the crown of horns, he sees what humanity is up against when all the people who had died are brought back as blue-eyed zombies.

This was an episode of big moments. Dany made peace with a Lannister, the family she sees as usurper to her throne, promising that when she comes to Westeros she will break the feudal wheel that rolls over the common people. The Boltons are getting ready for Stannis’ men to break like an ocean wave against their castle walls. Cersei’s pride reduces her to drinking water from a puddle in desperation. The set piece at the end was the biggest. It was like an abridged version of the battle of Castle Black; we got to see giants, wilding’s unorthodox fighting, and another long take of the battlefield. From a production standpoint it was very impressive. After seeing the white walkers in their more tribal appearances, and when they didn’t wear shirts, it was a little off-putting to see one walk through the flames in black armor that was more reminiscent of a samurai. In that instance it made the scene a little more goofy than the seriousness of the situation may have warranted.  

Am I the only one who thinks that Ramsay isn’t that good of a replacement for Joffrey? Sure they have similar “people are playthings” mentalities, but Joffrey’s was to another purpose. He was the lynchpin of the Lannister claim to the Iron Throne after Robert died. It’s his cruelty and exceptionably poor ability to lead that made him difficult to control by those in his family that knew what they were doing. In short, what made Joffrey interesting was the instability he brought to the people who were trying to maintain control. Ramsay isn’t like that at all. He’s a punk, he’s egotistical, but everything he does is for presentation. He doesn’t kill for sport he does it for entertainment. In the last episode, he could have flayed the woman who offered Sansa help and been done with it. Instead he paraded her to get an emotional shock out of his new wife. It makes sense in this instance because he wants to keep her in line, but it’s what he does with almost every person he kills. He never gets a sense of GOT_Mastodon-300x200satisfaction from killing, he gets it from showing off to everyone how cruel he can be. Because of his last name he was always looking for a means to get attention from his father, and that’s how he did it. But Joffrey didn’t do it for attention. He didn’t need it since he was already the king. Ramsay’s just doing it for attention.

Did you find heavy metal band Mastodon (pictured with Kit) in the episode? 

All in all a great episode. With only two episodes left, we’re still waiting to see how Stannis chooses to fight the Boltons, the trial (or confession) of Cersei Lannister, the fighting pits of Meereen, and what Jon is going to do to keep the white walkers from getting through the wall. Will Arya become a servant of the many-faced god? Will Sansa be able to escape from Ramsay? Only two more episodes until season five comes to an end and we can find out!  Here is a look at Episode Nine of the season – “The Dance of Dragons.” 

Find Episode # 47 here.
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10 comments

Ellie Wilkin June 2, 2015 - 4:52 am

I absolutely loved this episode – FINALLY SOME ACTION! The feeling of utter hopelessness from those last few minutes when the White Walker raised the dead to be White Walkers too made my heart sink for Jon Snow. I can’t wait to see what his next move is going to be. Actually feeling a little hope for Sansa now too. Pretty stoked for episodes 9 and 10!!

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Patriautism June 2, 2015 - 3:56 pm

” I can’t wait to see what his next move is going to be” In the books his next move is to be stabbed multiple times in a nights watch mutiny.. Although he hasn’t been confirmed dead, and he possibly can’t die if he is Azor Ahai, like most people believe.

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Moosh June 2, 2015 - 4:46 pm

If what you wrote is true, then fuck you from the bottom of my heart. What joy do you get from ruining a story line for others? It’s pathetic.

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Patriautism June 2, 2015 - 4:58 pm

WTF are you talking about dumbass? I am discussing a BOOK that has been out for years. After something has been out for a year spoilers no longer apply.. I can’t help it if you’re too dumb to read.

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Ellie Wilkin June 3, 2015 - 3:51 am

I wouldn’t worry too much Moosh – I haven’t read the books but apparently there are some quite big differences and the episodes aren’t always strictly loyal to the plot of the books. So who knows what will happen!

Last King of Middle Earth June 1, 2015 - 2:57 pm

you should consider shooting the next season or so in Lebanon, Middle East check about its beauty, terrain and seasons

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Jason Godfrey June 1, 2015 - 2:04 pm

Ned Stark’s execution and The Battle of Blackwater Bay were both episode 9s. Episode 9 is usually where we are treated to big moments and shocking moments like the beheading of Ned Stark, Blackwater Bay, the Red Wedding, and the Battle of Castle Black to name a few. Not to take the wind of out the sails of any episode 8, but most of them provide some build up for episode 9. Last season, it seemed we got a lot of episode 9 quality episodes. I guess it was another reason why the producers manipulated HBO for a biggest budget for “Watchers on the Wall”.
This episode did feel like episode 9 came early in a season that some feel was not up to the same quality as previous seasons

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Alexandra Mitchell June 2, 2015 - 8:50 am

I was thinking the same thing. Based on the titles of the episodes, I’ve been speculating on what would occur each episode. I have a feeling “Dance of Dragons” will be less of an episode 9 than “Hardhome.”

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