‘Game Of Thrones’ recap: S6 Ep5, ‘The Door’

One request Game Of Thrones producers: If you’re going to warn viewers about nudity, violence and strong language, can you add a crying face emoji so we’re prepared for the piles of tissues we’ll be surrounded by when an episode like “The Door” ends?

Is it too late now to say sorry?

Littlefinger worked up the nerve to ask for a meeting with Sansa in Mole’s Town, probably because Jon Snow would have kicked his ass if he showed up at Castle Black. But he definitely wasn’t expecting to almost get beat up by Sansa (well Brienne really, but since she’s technically an extension of Sansa, so it’s almost the same thing).

Sansa, Littlefinger, Game Of Thrones
Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO

While Littlefinger has done some awful things, I don’t think he knew what he was getting Sansa into by marrying her off to Ramsay. Littlefinger’s a master chess player, but he overestimated his abilities on this one and Sansa got the raw end of the deal. And she definitely rubbed his face in it. Remorseful, he made his exit, but not before telling her that her great-uncle Brynden (her mother’s uncle who escaped the Red Wedding horror because of a well-timed bathroom break) had gathered an army at Riverrun, so Sansa could turn to him for help.

Enough with the Wax on, Wax off routine…

Arya has her sight back, but nothing else has changed in the House of Black and White on Braavos. She and the Waif are still fighting with wooden sticks (i.e. Arya’s getting pummeled), dead people are being washed and Arya has to prove she’s ready to become No One. Jaqen gave her a vial and told her that she must kill an actress. An inordinate amount of time was wasted showing the parody that the actress played in before showcasing the dynamics backstage. Curious to see where this leads and if Arya can complete her mission this time.

Arya Stark, Jaqen H'ghar, Hall Of Faces, Game Of Thrones
Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO

Be careful what you wish for…

We’ve all wondered how the White Walkers came to be and we learned the truth. In a flashback, Bran watched as the Children of the Forest surrounded a man who was tied to a weirwood tree and drove a dagger-like stone through his chest that turned his eyes ice blue. Bran woke up and stared disgustedly at the Child who had performed the ritual. She explained that they had needed help when the First Men invaded Westeros, destroyed the weirwood trees and killed her kind. Well now they’re a huge problem, so thanks for that!

The epic fail of the night…

A kingsmoot (let’s just call it a rally) took place on Pyke to decide who would rule the Iron Islands. Yara made the first claim, and with Theon’s support, it looked like she would become the first Queen to rule. (PS – It was exciting to see Theon like he once was, minus the arrogance of course.) However, Euron “Crow’s Eye” Greyjoy showed up to be a killjoy (pun intended). He admitted to killing his brother because Balon had led his people nowhere all this time. However, Euron had the experience since he’d sailed around the world. Eventually he would team up with Daenerys to take the Iron Throne. He reasoned that he had ships, she needed ships, he would make her an offer she couldn’t refuse, and she’d totally want to marry him. Get in line pal.

But the fools in Pyke fell for it and named him king. in the time it took to conduct the drowning/crowning ceremony, Yara, Theon and the men loyal to them ran off in the best ships to escape getting killed.

The first tear-jerking moment of the night…

After last week’s kick-ass fire scene, Daenerys looked upon her Dothraki army before turning to Jorah. She had banished him from her side twice before, yet he kept coming back to save her life. Clearly, she couldn’t keep him away. (Seriously girl, just forgive the guy already. He’s obviously devoted to you, and not the traitor you think he is.) However, Jorah said that this time she had to send him away as he showed her his quickly-progressing greyscale. With his head down, he told her that he loved her and always would. (Insert heart melting here.) He turned to leave, but she said that he had not been dismissed. Since he was sworn to obey, she ordered him to find a cure, heal himself, and return to her side. So maybe there’s hope for the poor guy?

Daenerys Targaryen, Daario Naharis, Game Of Thrones
Courtesy of HBO

 

I’m not sure about this…

Since last week’s compromise with the Great Masters, all killings in Meereen had stopped. But Tyrion wasn’t satisfied. The people needed to believe that Daenerys was responsible for this, and he knew just the person to help spread the word. He invited Kinvara, the High Priestess of the Red Temple of Volantis, to ask her to do this. When she confirmed that Daenerys was the Promised One to remake the world, Varys reminded her that Melisandre had bestowed that honor on Stannis, and that definitely hadn’t worked out well. Kinvara smiled as Varys mocked her faith in the Lord of Light, until she brought up the time he was castrated by the sorcerer. As far as we know, only Tyrion had heard this story, but Kinvara knew every hidden detail of that experience. She then left, but not before telling him that if he was truly the Queen’s friend, he had nothing to fear from her. Does this remind anyone of Cersei’s deal with the High Sparrow? Something doesn’t feel right here …

Kinvara, High Priestess, Game Of Thrones
Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO

 

Oops…

Just like any teen who doesn’t listen, Bran decided to go on a visit somewhere while the Three-Eyed Raven and Hodor slept. Bran grabbed the roots of the weirwood and was transported back to the clearing he had visited earlier that day, only this time during a snowstorm. Surrounding him was the Army of the Dead, but they couldn’t see him walking through their midst, just like the people in his other visions. However, the Night’s King did see him and grabbed him by the arm as Bran woke up screaming. When he told the Three-Eyed Raven what had happened, he told Bran that the mark on his hand would lead the Night’s King to him, so he, Hodor, and Meera had to leave. When Bran asked the Three-Eyed Raven if he thought Bran was ready, the Three-Eyed Raven said no. Well that’s comforting, but I guess it served him right since Bran got himself into this mess.

Fighting a losing battle (that hasn’t even started)…

In Castle Black, Jon, Davos, Melisandre, Tormund, Sansa, Brienne, and Podrick strategized about how they would fight to take back Winterfell. Davos and Jon were pretty skeptical about their odds, but Sansa was adamant that the Northerners would remain loyal to House Stark. (Love this new side of her!) She also mentioned the Riverrrun army that Littlefinger had told her about, but lied that she had learned the news from a raven that Ramsay had received. For this reason, she asked Brienne to go to Riverrun to ask Brynden to join their cause.

Before she left, a usually boisterous Tormund smiled at her, but Brienne only turned away from him. (C’mon girl, give him a chance!) Also before leaving, Sansa presented Jon with a cloak she had made for him that resembled the one their father had worn. (Insert cheesy grin here. But now that I think about it, make that a frown since no good deed goes unpunished on this show.)

Brienne Of Tarth, Sansa Stark, Game Of Thrones
Courtesy of HBO

 

My heart can’t take much more of this…

The final scene was fast-paced, action-packed, and absolutely DEVASTATING. Bran and the Three-Eyed Raven decided to take one last stroll down memory lane together (what better time than when lives are in danger, right?). And of all the things to revisit, they witnessed the scene where Ned was shipped off to the Eyrie. I guess it’s symbolic of the Raven sending Bran off, too, but really? Can’t we go back to the Tower of Joy flashback and finish that one instead?

By this point, the Night’s King and his army surrounded the cave as the few remaining Children of the Forest tried to fight them off. Despite the ring of fire around the entrance, the Night’s King strode inside while countless others climbed the hill and searched for another entrance. Meera frantically tried to wake Bran from the vision since Hodor was rocking back and forth in the corner frightened (as were we all). Eventually, Bran heard her terrified screams during the vision and warged into Hodor (the one in the cave, not the vision) so that he could drag Bran’s heavy cart. The Three-Eyed Raven was killed when the Night’s King split him in two with his ax, leaving Bran alone in the vision. Summer and the last child of the forest (the one who was literally responsible for this mess) sacrificed themselves so that Hodor, Bran, and Meera could escape. What didn’t escape my attention though is that the “fire grenade” the child launched glowed blue in her hand when she took it out. Did anyone else catch that? Any thoughts on what it means? And since Summer is probably dead, too, does that mean she’s part of the Army of the Dead now? Because if that’s the case, we’re all screwed …

Thankfully, Hodor broke down the door so that he, Meera and Bran could slip out. And then we learned why Hodor only repeats “Hodor” over and over. As Meera tried to put some distance between them and the dead, she told Hodor, “Hold the door.” Still inside the vision, Bran looked at the Hodor/Wylis we met in “Home,” and he collapsed in a seizure-like state repeating “Hold the door” as everyone tried to figure out what was wrong with him. Meanwhile in real time, Meera kept running as Hodor held the door. The dead clawed and stabbed him, thus killing the gentle giant.

As a Game Of Thrones fan, I’ve endured much carnage, but this is the first time I’ve ever cried during a scene. Knowing that Hodor can’t think for himself and blindly follows commands, it’s heartbreaking to watch as he is left behind and can’t do anything to save himself. And if he did die, does it mean that he’s now with the enemy?

As if that’s not enough to worry about, I’m also confused trying to understand how this past/present dynamic works. If the Three-Eyed Raven warned Bran that the past couldn’t be changed, then why does Bran’s presence affect it? We saw the Tower of Joy flashback when Bran called Ned’s name, and Ned heard him. And we saw how Hodor’s eyes turned white as Bran warged into Hodor’s young self to help them in the present.

Perhaps the Three-Eyed Raven is an older, wiser version of Bran who’s gone back in time to change the course of events?

What do you think?

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