Game of Thrones season 7 - Episode 5

Eastwatch

As season seven approaches the final two juggernaut episodes I thought it would be better to look back at episode five before the storm really begins. Spoilers ahead as ever.

Episode four ended on a cliffhanger with Bronn and Jaime narrowly escaping a fiery death, and this had me thinking they would be at the mercy of Daenerys. However, through some luck or plot convenience, the two escaped and made it back to King's Landing. What followed was an interesting scene as Daenerys executed Samwell's father and brother against Tyrion's advice but Jaime's escape did feel a tad too fortunate given episode four's ending.

I certainly don't mean to come down too hard on this episode but I did feel that it was rushing key events along in order to prepare for this season's climax. We see Jorah later return to Daenerys and no sooner is he back before he quickly decides to join Jon's crew who want to capture a white walker in the hope of proving to Cersei that they have bigger problems. I can't accuse the director's of wasting a moment but sometimes shows need those quieter moments to let the story unfold more smoothly.

Back to what works, we finally saw Samwell reach breaking point in Oldtown and he takes matters into his own hands to find a solution to the white walkers and help Jon. These scenes have often fallen into the shadows of the big fights this time around but I have always enjoyed them as we see Westeros from a neutral standpoint. But it's this middle-ground that breaks Samwell and it will be interesting to see where he goes next with Gilly.

Meanwhile Arya is back to annoying Sansa as they once did but this time there was something dark in Arya's eyes that took her arguments beyond troublesome siblings. What's more Sansa now knows that she has seen/done things that have changed her so could this be the start of more trouble while Jon is away? Well with Littlefinger causing trouble in a great silent sequence where we see him lead Arya on a breadcrumb trail into his own subtle trap I think the answer is yes. I'd also like to point how chilling that final shot was as he peered from the shadows into the moody candlelight. The visuals never cease to amaze.

Back to Tyrion's plan with capturing the white walker, his part of the task sees him going back home to meet Jaime unbeknownst to Cersei and to pass on a message. Having been apart since the end of season four, this scene hit many strong notes but it does end on the classic introduction before cutting away where the characters would then discuss the plan. I can understand the viewers would not want to hear the same plan again and again but we lost their farewell which would have added greater emotion to their meeting. Thankfully, at the sacrifice to this we do get the return of Gendry who is suitably ecstatic to jump onboard with Jon's quest having been absent since series three.

While Theon remained absent from Jon's suicide mission, there was a fan-boy in me happy to see so many characters now thrown together as the crew arrived at Eastwatch to meet Tormund, and coincidentally the Brotherhood Without Banners with the Hound in tow. As the tunnel doors lifted shining light on Jon, Tormund, Jorah, Beric, Gendry, Thoros and the Hound (while accompanied by a group of red shirts following up the rear), I couldn't help but wonder who will come back.

For wild speculation, I think the brothers have run their course and sadly maybe even Jorah who can go out on a high having survived the greyscale. Tormund must surely see Brienne again and I'm 50/50 on the Hound who does have unfinished business with the Mountain. Jon and Gendry must survive but in Game of Thrones anything can happen.