Game of Thrones S07E05 review: And now we root for a different Targaryen

Mumbai: It’s not easy to follow up a quintessential Game of Thrones cracker like Spoils of War with something equally dynamic. However, technically speaking, Eastwatch, with its explosive content, reunions and revelations, is of such causality that you’d assume that a high-octane war sequence was dispensable in this one. Ideally it is, but the episode never stops being humdrum.

This is despite some very strong dramatic moments, even from Emilia Clarke, arguably the weaker of its lead actors, and that irks the fiend in you.

Daenerys Targaryen’s immaculately constructed drop from being the Season 1 Cinderella to the empathetically ambiguous 'rightful heir to the throne' has won the character detractors in terrific numbers, among fans, as well as allies, in diametric contrast to a certain Jaime Lannister, who’s proving to be the one character to root for with startling progression.

Dany’s flabbergasting apathy towards prisoners of war is much to her Hand Tyrion Lannister’s and her spymaster Varys’ dismay.

Bran Stark aka the Three-eyed whatever’s role in the grand scheme of things has appallingly been disastrous, but for a guy who allegedly has seen the past, the future and the Big Bang, he still needs to warg into hapless crows to watch the Night King march with his army of the dead.

However, the most incredible moment of the episode, came from the most unlikely of quarters, with Gilly dropping a major bomb, serendipitously validating one of the biggest theories surrounding good boy Jon Snow (not anymore?).

Largely conversational and strategic, the episode predominantly invested in drama, with the most touching moment ironically coming from the Lannister twins. The sexual tension between another potentially incestuous liaison has also been marred by the re-entry of the incorrigible Jorah Mormont, who delectably never stops being a nincompoop blinded by his one true love.

The highly anticipated re-entry of a certain Westerosi bastard, however turned out to be a dampaned hackjob, toiled out in haste, pushed to waste.

But, the true aficionados wouldn’t mind a lull before the impending Hardhome encore as the King in the North marched beyond the wall to meet his arch-nemesis, would they?

P.S.: The Hound has made new friends.