Game of Thrones Picks up the Pace in its Second Episode and Ruminates on the Makings of a Strong Leader

The Action:
Game of Thrones is picking up the pace as the series winds down in the remaining episodes of the series. It seems like Westeros is getting awfully small as characters begin to clash this season.
On Dragonstone, Khalessi is making plans for conquering Westeros. With her clever man, Tyrion, by her side, they lay out a plan to use Martell, Tyrell, and Greyjoy armies to lay siege to Kings Landing. Meanwhile the unsullied and Dothraki will take over Casterly Rock, home and seat of the Lannister power. This scene provides some much needed exposition for the season to come, but also provides an opportunity for Khalessi and the Queen of Thornes to talk woman to woman. Arguably some of the best actresses on the show, it’s a shame Emilia Clarke and Diana Rigg’s scene is cut so short. But, it continues with a theme we saw in the last episode — in Westeros, the women must rely on themselves that’s what’s gotten them here thus far and shall take them farther.

In the midst of this, another female powerhouse of Westeros shows up on their doorstep. The last time the red woman was in Dragonstone, she was burning people alive on the beach. I get the sense Khalessi will not be as easily swayed by the red gods as Stannis was — at the very least I don’t see any shadow babies in the future. The red woman offers her services and Khalessi accepts.
Back on King’s Landing, Cersei cautions the lords of Westeros not to support the dragon queen. Her xenophobic argument sways some of the lords that better the Lannisters, who conspire to kill other houses, than the Targaryen and her Dothraki horde. Jamie is actively helping strengthen Cersei’s throne, no word yet on when he’s going to become a Queenslayer.
At the Citadel, another Khalessi ally, Jorah Mormont is dying of the greyscale. The Archmaester tells him their is no way to save himself from this disease and suggests he take his own life rather than go mad. But Sam, who’s been doing an extensive amount of reading knows there is a way to cure greyscale. He even sites Stannis Baratheon’s daughter, Shireen, who had greyscale and was cured. The Archmaester dismisses Sam, but that doesn’t stop the young Maester in training from sneaking into Jorah’s room and cutting off his scales at night.

In the North, Jon gathers the lords and ladies again. John’s kind of leadership is very different from Cersei. Like Khalessi, Jon bounces ideas off his people and seeks consensus. He basically asks permission to pursue a course of action that he has already decided upon. Jon will ride south to meet with the Khalessi and asks for help fighting the army of the dead that marches South. In the meantime, Sansa will lead the North. Now there are three queens of Westeros, if you’re counting.
All things seem to be in Khalessi’s favor until, the major battle on Blackwater Bay. The two fleets of the Iron Islands clash in a major battle — the kind of battle Game of Thrones usually saves for the penultimate episode. In Euron versus the Greyjoy siblings, Euron wins defeating their fleet and their spirit. He revels in making Theon try to save his sister. But Theon is too tormented by memories of his time with the Bastard Bolton to be taken prisoner again. Rather than trying to save his sister, he leaps off the boat and into the murky black water.

The Analysis:
The entire episode is pushing the mechanics of what will become a final battle, while also tracing the makings of a good leader. Varys, who has served many Kings sums it up nicely, as someone who lived in the gutters, he seeks to serve a leader who looks out for the little people. Daenerys is that leader. In the North, the leaders of the great houses look to John as their leader for similar reasons, he is invested in them. He wants to serve them and make their lives better. It’s a slow righting of the world that has been wrong since Ned Stark was beheaded. We see those who are qualified to be leaders finally take the stage in Westeros.
But Benioff and Weiss keep us guessing about whether or not the good shall prosper over Cersei. Daenerys tells the Queen of Thorns that she looks forward to bringing peace to Westeros. But, the Queen of Thorns, who has been around longer than any points out there has never been peace in Westeros.
The episode closes on Arya finding Nymeria, her long lost direwolf in the woods. The two have a moment where they look into each others eyes and Arya asks Nymeria to come home with her to Winterfell. Nymeria turns and leaves her alone in the ones. Arya whispers, “It wasn’t her.” The final episodes of the series will focus on the choices our characters make and staying true to themselves.

Stray Observations:
- I really don’t care about the Missandei and Grey Worm love story
- It’s important to note that there is a general lack of trust for Daenerys. The people of Westeros have not been with her as she became the mother of dragons or freed Slavers’ Bay. Instead, they see her as a conqueror with three fierce dragons. People will not flock to her side as easily as planned.
- When are Jamie and Brienne going to get together already?
- If I ever need a hand of the queen, I’m calling Tyrion

