Game of Thrones review: Most exciting episode yet

“My watch has ended,” declares the recently resurrected Jon Snow, shrugging off the heavy burden (and cloak) of the leadership of the Night’ Watch, and walks out of Castle Black. Thus, he was the titular Oathbreaker of the fourth episode of the sixth season of Game of Thrones. This was also devoid of action (largely) and yet, was the most exciting of the season so far, for it finally takes a clear direction with two of its major characters — Arya Stark and Jon Snow.

The episode, as has been the norm, is sandwiched between the Jon Snow storyline. It opens with a gobsmacked Davos Seaworth looking on in disbelief as Jon takes shuddering breaths before the numbing realisation sweeps over him — he is alive when he should be dead.

And it takes the champion pep-talker of Westeros, Davos, to give Jon a clear sense of purpose. The first thing Jon does is to show himself to the Night’s Watch and then, summarily executes the traitors (an ironic twist there, for they had branded Jon a traitor to begin with). And then he leaves, presumably setting in motion the most epic conclusion to A Song of Ice and Fire.

In the meantime, we see Samwell Tarly, Gilly and the baby Sam on a ship headed somewhere. We assumed it was Oldtown where the Maesters study, but Sam tells Gilly he’s taking her to his home, Horn Hill, the seat of House Tarly.
Daenerys learns her fate will be decided by the entire Dothraki race as, instead of coming to Vaes Dothrak when Drogo died, she set off on adventures of her own.

King Tommen Baratheon (or Lannister, whichever you prefer) confronts the High Sparrow over the thorny issue of his mother, but the seemingly-benign old man cleverly manipulates the King into losing his bluster.

It’s interesting to note that the confrontation was only about Cersei, and not Tommen’s imprisoned wife, Margaery. Finally, Arya becomes rather adept at defending herself and kicking some serious butt while still blind. She’s becoming quite the pint-sized instrument of death (as if she weren’t already),

But even her declarations of being “no one” clearly rang false to this reviewer as the only reason for her existence at the moment is not to serve the Many-Faced God, but to avenge her family. And now, she has her sight back. Great things await fans of the show over the next seven episodes.