In “Kill the Boy,” we spent quality time with Reek and the Boltons, and Jorah Mormont ran into new dangers on his journey up the river with his captive. The actors who play them- Alfie Allen, Iwan Rheon, and Iain Glen- are among the highlights today in our day-after post-mortem of Game of Thrones, along with the weekly bonus videos.
Episode spoilers below!
In last night’s episode, Jorah Mormont survived an attack from the Stone Men only to find that he’s contracted the highly contagious disease greyscale. Iain Glen talks to Entertainment Weekly about this turn of events.
In the interview, Glen acknowledges that it doesn’t look good for Jorah, but “People have died from it and they have been saved from it. So who knows? It’s a slow burn, greyscale, and there are ways to intervene.”
On Mormont’s change of scenery this season he says, “It’s a very different journey this year to being constantly attached to Daenerys – which I’ve loved, but I’m enjoying the freedom of playing different scenes away from her as I’m working my way back toward her.” Working with Peter Dinklage sounds like a breeze though- Glen says, “There’s nothing complicated or difficult about Peter,” and calls him “a lovely guy.”
Check out the full interview at EW.
Iwan Rheon talks to HBO’s MakingGameofThrones about Ramsay’s ascent to becoming Roose’s heir.
I think he probably feels he deserves it but it’s an amazing thing that happened to him. It’s similar to Jon Snow’s situation, wanting that name for so long, so it’s a huge moment to get the respect that his father gives him for capturing Moat Cailin. He knows that raises his status in the world; he’s clever enough to realize he’ll be Warden of the North when Roose Bolton dies and that’s massive. This whole thing has elevated him and he wants his father to trust him and to bring him in because he’s got a lot of ideas.
Rheon also shares his reaction to Roose telling the tale of Ramsay’s conception:
I think it was roughly what he thought had happened, but I thought it was interesting how his father spelled it out to drive his point home. He does want Ramsay to be his son. You have to understand, Roose needs to manipulate Ramsay a little bit. Whether he does expect he’ll get a son and that will be his heir, he still needs to keep Ramsay happy. But I think he means it: Ramsay is his son. He has proved himself to be useful. It is quite a touching moment.
Alfie Allen answers the question of whether there’s any Theon left in Reek, over at the Hollywood Reporter:
I can’t really put a finger on when there is more Reek and when there is more Theon. What I think in this scene for sure is definitely memories for both of them sort of creeping back. I think he is worried about Sansa’s safety and doesn’t want her to be punished the same as he doesn’t want to be punished.
Allen says, on the key to the kennel scene with Sansa:
It’s interesting to be with the dogs as a character, because that’s where he spends a lot of his time. In a way I try to let little mannerisms creep in. That particular scene is about the realization that this thing used to be Theon. I guess for me, the memory has been coming because he’s realized that she is there and that thing — Theon and Reek — is always ever changing.
In this week’s Inside the Episode, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss look back on Jon’s talk with Aemon, Roose’s motivations at the Bolton family dinner, and Tyrion and Jorah spotting Drogon in Valyria.
Emilia Clarke and Michiel Huisman discuss Dany’s choice to use force on the rich masters of Meereen.
The cast and crew take the audience behind the scenes to see the four-hour makeup process and careful coordination involved in creating the Stone Men scene.
George R.R. Martin provides more insight into the deadly disease greyscale that affects Shireen Baratheon and the Stone Men.
Just when I can’t love Stannis any more, he goes and makes sure Sam knows he’s useful, despite his lost position as Randall Tarly’s son: “Keep reading, Samwell Tarly.” (This reminded me that Sam and Shireen are 2d cousins, something easily ignored for the show — I don’t know whether it’s ever called out in the books specifically)
Noob Takes the Black,
If Stannis dies trying to take Winterfell, that conversation was to show how Sam figured out dragon glass was on dragonstone.
I don’t see Stannis dying. No point to his character if he doesn’t make it past the north.
Game of Thrones is known for its knack of putting two characters together and giving them a chance to talk and philosophise, bounce off each other, argue about ideologies and draw comparisons between their respective back-stories etc. This is one of the more engaging parts of the show; you don’t need back-to-back action scenes when you can make the most of a good interaction. Unfortunately I feel like that’s fallen apart for Tyrion this season. Him and Varys teaming up
was a perfect opportunity for this, but it was largely wasted because Tyrion spent most of the time drunk, nihilistic, making crude jokes or complaining about being in a box. I get that this attitude makes sense given where his head is at right now, but it just meant Varys was trying to bring his ‘A-game’ and Tyrion kept shutting it down. Now they’ve split up again all too soon, so it seems like a missed opportunity. (He sort of tried with the Volantene prostitute, but that was too short to go anywhere.)
Now he’s with Jorah, and again that seems ripe for some quality convo, but this time Jorah refuses to talk to him meaning it’s just a monologue of Tyrion gradually deducing who he is, reiterating a heap of information we already know, and begging Jorah for wine. Apart from the ‘Ozymandias’ style poem about the Doom of Valyria they shared, it’s been largely pointless, which is frustrating to watch. Now that they’ve bonded over almost dying, maybe we’ll get a worthwhile dialogue going, but still, missed opportunities.
Even something as simple as Tyrion saying, ‘I met your (relative) once.’ (which seems to be one of his go-to lines) would start it off:
TYRION: I met your father once, you know.
JORAH: (surprised) What were you doing at Castle Black?
TYRION: I wanted to piss off the top of the Wall. (chuckles nostalgically)
JORAH: (angry) Is the Night’s Watch a joke to you?
TYRION: No. I just…(trails off) I admired his resolve. The Lord Commander was an honourable man and –
JORAH: ‘Was?’
TYRION: (Realising Jorah didn’t know) The Small Council received a raven from Maester Aemon a few months back. He was killed while ranging north of the Wall.
JORAH: (conflicted) Wildlings?
TYRION: His brothers turned on him.
JORAH: (disgusted) Traitors.
(And so on… )
That opens up the conversation to talk about:
Jorah’s back-story, Jeor’s back-story, Jorah’s sense of honour, Jorah being a traitor (to Jeor and to Daenerys), being a disappointment to fathers (Tyrion killing his), how Tyrion has changed since he was at the Wall, and more. And also creates a segue to the Wall storyline, if required.
Not having this sort of interaction from Tyrion has really bothered me this season. The fact that ‘Brienne/Pod’ and ‘Gilly/Shireen’ are doing it, when he’s not, makes it feel even stranger.
Schrödinger’s Cat,
That was a really engaging conversation that you wrote between Tyrion and Jorah. Personally, I would have liked to have had Tyrion say something about the dragon flying overhead. All the two of them did was stare at it without a word. I feel the dragons are integral to the story, so it would have made sense to bring out some foreshadowing or something. However, a great conversation like the one you wrote would make the scene ten times deeper and richer than it was and serve to muster up more sympathy for Jorah since he lost his father and didn’t even know. They could even have discussed their fathers. There is a theory that Tyrion is Aerys Targaryen’s son that makes a lot of sense (and I personally hope turns out to be true) and would have made seeing the dragon all the more poignant.
Jorah has got to have some of the worst luck ever. How many main characters does he have to save at personal cost to be considered redeemed? Besides the fact that I just like looking at the man, it gets frustrating when certain characters simply cannot seem to win. I suppose that makes them all the more effective. Life ain’t fair.
Iain Glen is either awesome at trolling (as opposed to some of the actors who love to ‘accidentally’ give spoilers), or there may be hope for J after all.
That moment when Jon unchained Tormund – one of the best moments of the episode. Not expecting anyone to kneel – Mance would be proud.
I’ve not been a huge Stannis fan but he’s winning my respect this season. Touching interactions with Shireen AND Samwell definitely earned him some brownie points! I even found myself chuckling at his frustration over the grammatical errors of others. By R’hllor, it’s “FEWER”!!! XD
The series is getting predictable. Jorah won’t turn into a stone man. Instead he will die a heroic death later this season. I am absolutely 100% percent sure.
Aside from that, I’m 80 percent sure that Brienne will kill Stannis. Don’t understand me wrong, I love this series, but if Brienne kills Stannis, I will stop watchingthe series forever.
TFT,
No you won’t.
Dragonmcmx,
Yes, I will. That’s the only thing that could make me do something like that. I will not eat my words if that happens. Stannis dying would be a shame, but Brienne killing Stannis (who already owned half the cast of Game of Thrones) is something I can’t handle.
TFT,
You say that now, but you’ll end up watching it anyways.
Not that I think that will happen. I think she will get very close to him eventually, but fail to take revenge. Stannis will die a different death later on.
TFT,
If Brienne kills Stannis in TWOW, she will kill him this season.
Dragonmcmx,
I’ll stop watching. You don’t know me, so don’t presume you do and tell me what I will or will not do.
Thanks.
I do think it will happen because it’s a D&D invention to have Brienne in the North whining about wanting her revenge. D&D are often not so subtle about things as George.
I said i will not care… but but they killed Selmy!
I am really thinking about quiting the show.
It was a slow, but great episode! Full of ASOIF mithology and character development, with a good set up for the future.
Hands up to Winterfell and Tyrion sequences, which were spot on!
(Please, someone give Alfie Allen an Emmy, because he’s earning it.)
It looks like the stone men sequence took a lot of work, careful planning, make-up, fight choreography, etc. And it was worth it. That end sequence to Episode 5 was one of those visual scenes that make GoT the wonderful show it is.
Bryan Cogman understaaands.
I think Brienne is going to be caught and chased by Ramsay’s dogs.
Best episode yet this season. Was still upset about Barristan leaving, but quickly got sucked in and I’m along for the ride.
Loved the meta-moment when Reek told Sansa she “wasn’t supposed to be here.” From that point on, I was 100% on board with changes this season and all doubts evaporated.
Enjoyed the Sam/Stannis interaction. Hopefully soon we will see
Liked that we got some Bolton back story, but I miss the
I must have rewatched the Stone Men fight almost as much as I’ve relistened to the analogous scene in the audiobook. Good to know that the theory that Jorah would contract greyscale instead of Griff was correct, but I’m surprised they revealed it right away.
Still wondering what Varys will do with Tyrion gone and how long/hard he will search before
Finally, that poem that Tyrion and Jorah recited…does anyone know if it was from DWD? I only read it once and am still working my way though the audio book. Or is it from the World of Ice and Fire? Or did Bryan Cogman write it? If so, give him a cookie.
Also, I’m having trouble with my internet connection right now, so I had to rewrite my post from memory. If it is posted twice, my apologies.
Hands down the best episode so far
R.I.P. Stannis Baratheon
That final scene with Jon screams “dead”
Episode four was very good but this one was great. Saw Jorah’s mishap coming, but really hoping he makes it to the end somehow – he still has to fulfil his father’s dying wish to take the black…
Hoyti Von Totiy,
TFT,
I doubt either of those things happens. The whole reason Jorah caught greyscale was to bring it to Westeros, IMO. And if Brienne was going to kill Stannis, they would not have had her talk about it. I think they are setting up Brienne having to choose between her oath to Catelyn or her quest for vengeance for Renly. I believe she’ll choose the former.
After a good episode last week, this one was decidedly average.
The Winterfell stuff is kind of getting there. The scenes with Roose and Ramsay were clever as they really need to build up a big bad and Roose’s noose rape and Ramsay’s disgusting dinner display did the trick. I don’t mind what they’re doing with Sansa at Winterfell but I still think the means of getting her in that position are/were ridiculous. Alfie Allen continues to nail it as Reek and I’m going to make a prediction that he saves Sansa from Myranda by pushing her out of the broken tower as she’s lighting the candle to summon help (yay, let’s summon boring Brienne!) after Ramsay has gone too far with her. Anyone else , for a split second, think that when she was in the kennels there could be a dire wolf at the end!?
Brienne continues to be pointless. It appears every season except the one where she escorts Jaime, she just wanders about doing nothing until the end where she beats or kills a fan favourite which I have a horrible feeling will be Stannis this season.
The Wall is still the best adapted part of the story at the moment. Good scenes depicting the tension in the watch and how Jon has to make unpopular decisions. Stannis giving a bit more backstory to Sam and even more hints Oldtown is going to feature is great stuff. Stannis is the strongest part of the show by far at teh moment. E brings a real sense of authority to proceedings. If he gets offed this season then the show is really going to suffer moving forwards.
Mereen, well it’s back in the quagmire as Dany lurches from stupid decision to stupid decision. Missandgrey is back and as corny as ever. Looks like Grey Worm is going to hang around to pain us with this awful romance as the more interesting Barristan is now out of the picture. Missandei continues to be the antithesis of her book counterpart by lacking any sort of wit, intelligence or stoicism. Was nice to see the dragons again but Mereen is lacking any sort of depth at the moment.
Jorah and Tyrion was ok and had some fine cinematography but the dialogue didn’t exactly crackle and Jorah having greyscale was inevitable with the vast amount of referencs to it they’ve pumped into the series.
I think the show really missed KL and Jaime and Bronn this week. There was a lot of building again and getting people in position and the big scenes, although not bad, aren’t as epic ( as much as I hate that term) as they have been in past seasons. Half way through and Season 5 really needs to pick it’s game up. Also…what’s with this ‘Previously on’ rubbish?! Someone of us do have memories that surpass that of a goldfish!
This may be the only part of your post that I agree with but I think it is a strong statement. It is almost as if they are trying to turn Stannis into our favorite character. (Kidding, yes but its working for me.) From the nod to the scene with Shireen to the grammar correction to “Keep reading, Samwell Tarly,” Stephen Dillane is killing it as Stannis.
I like Brienne but I would be devasted if she killed Stannis.
Really enjoyed the ep, especially Stannis and Samwell! As hard as the Winterfell stuff was to watch ,for me it replicated how I felt reading those chapters of the novels even if the content was different. Was very impressed.
Wrote a review if anyone’s interested.
http://hitsville.co.uk/tagged/tv
Tyrion Pimpslap,
mariamb,
Stannis is a grower. I think Stephen Dillane plays no small part in his appeal but the book character is strong too. The guys sheer willpower to get on that throne, even after everyone considers the War of the Five Kings over is admirable. Unfortunately , as soon as a character becomes likeable then they are in serious danger of being offed unless they’re one of the big 4! If Selmy, Stannis and Bronn go this season then the show is really going to suffer. I still don’t think this season has recovered from the loss of Tywin and the Hound.
TheTouchOfFrost,
There was a maester behind that rock, dammit! Rory is one of a kind, I will sullenly keep hoping.
I did not know that about Stannis, but as he’s not much of a shower….wait, doesn’t his Pyro sidekick count as show? 😉
Dragonmcmx,
I am not Mr. Pimpslap, however this is true and part of the reason I’m confused about why people think the pink letter is true. Unless time overlap?
TFT,
I’m willing to bet that if Brienne confront Stannis this season, it is because GRRM told the boys that’s what was going to happen later on. May seem unlikely to you given her location is different, but D&D have cut the riverlands plot. Probably in the books she’ll meet him somewhere else.
I just don’t think GRRM would put that bit with Catelyn in if Stannis and Brienne are never going to meet in the books.
So this is all to say, ask yourself when it comes to a “change” going forward – if GRRM wrote it to happen, would you stop reading? If not, then give the show a chance.
Pigeon,
Oh I fully believe the Hound is dead…Sandor however I think has taken up a new profession to which Westeros must need a lot of!
I dunno. His Stan-juice can make shadow babies so I guess anything is possible!
Dragonmcmx,
I think George meant for the timelines to be muddled. So I think it is possible that this chapter took place before the PL, if in fact that was legit.
I think that in the process of saving Theon/Sansa,
I love how the only speculation everyone got wrong was Myranda not enjoying Ramsey’s teeth on her neck.
Ser Gerold Dayne,
Tyrion Pimpslap,
Best episode so far. U know why ?
Because it focused on the 3 leads, Jon, Dany and Tyrion.
Episode 6 will be the worst i fear from what ive seen from the preview.
Arya, Dorne and KingsLanding (the only good part).
That sounds fascinating.
1) Now cut out like 3-5 minutes of something else in the episode so they can have this conversation. You can’t.
2) How do you know they don’t have this conversation down the road? You don’t.
I really like how Dany avenges Barristan, the guy who always counseled her to not kill people without a fair trial, by murdering a possibly innocent man without a fair trial. Barry would be proud!
Other than that, good episode.
Grey Worm – Misandrei scene could be cut, thats 5 minutes right there.
Also the 10 second shot of Sam And Gilly.
3 minutes of that anoying child Olly
TheTouchOfFrost,
The sense of dread that many have here about Stannis is alarming. I will be the optimist and say that I hope you are wrong. I don’t want to lose Stannis yet.
Tyrell19,
Well-written article. Thanks for sharing it.
This absolutely, GRRM wants us to learn things in a specific order which is why he isn’t using linear chronological timescale. IMO the PL was just kidology trying to provoke a sense of futility.
The point of that was to show her succumbing to the Mad King’s ways in her grief, and then overcoming them. What’s so bad about it?
Hopefully D&D are playing a game here. After many rounds of building people up only to tear them down, maybe they are just building Stannis up. At least in the books, it looks like
In the TV universe, the Boltons positions seems hopeless – outnumbered according to LF, without allies as they have spurned the Lannisters and apparently the Freys have disappeared from the galaxy, without any mention of the hostages that they, the Lannisters, and Freys were using to control various northern lords, and wedded to the ticking time bomb Sansa rather than
I see no way the Boltons could even hope to win from the position D&D have put them in. Perhaps there is some higher dimensional chess going on on their part, but I just don’t see it. Why change from the books (more or less “good” guys is the underdog, while the outright evil side has the advantage) to the opposite? If Stannis wins, it is “meh, of course”. If the Boltons win, it is both awful and inexplicable.
I think by season’s end Brienne will come face to face with Stannis, most likely in his camp with Theon and Sansa in tow. But I don’t believe she will kill him.
Chad Brick,
When Stannis’ army gets bogged down trying to march through metres upon metres of drifting snow, the Bolton position will look a tad more favorable than it does now.
Ohh Iwan.. Yes, it was a touching moment.. Except every non-sociopathic person didn’t seem to think as much..
It makes me wonder, at one point during production, we saw a scene being shot at a beach in Northern Ireland and some of us were hoping for it to be Yara’s scene this season. But with the light shining the way it did, I’m having this educated guess that it was the last scene of this episode. I don’t have any hope for the Ironborn-storyline, I wanted it to happen, but I can’t help but think that the way the storylines converging is making a lot more storylines worthwhile. Weakest storyline is still the Dornish one, but it’s mostly the fault of it literally going nowhere until episode 6.
Oh, and I’m 100% sure the Stannis/Sam-scene will end up in at least one, perhaps two: “previously on GoT”-segments. My father-in-law blurted out: “well, that’s a new one!” at the Oldtown mention, but I just refrained from telling him: “uhh, nope, third mention in this season, and if you count the Citadel-mentions..” Sam needs to keep reading, but there’s almost nothing for him to read at Castle Black, big hint. Stannis also mentioning there’s plenty of Dragonglass on Dragonstone is also a big hint. I think when those two things become relevant that we’ll see this scene in the “previously on”-segments. They’re so big, yet so understated.
(a) Brienne will never get the chance to fight Stannis one-on-one, Stannis isn’t stupid and he knows he’s likely to lose. He’s King and he has no reason to let her.
(b) Brienne is too wedded to her honor to kill Stannis with any sort of trickery, ergo:
(c) Brienne never kills Stannis.
Yeah, Jorah isn’t taking the black. He got close though, he’s gotten to take the grey.
mariamb,
I think it’s because the likeable side of Stannis is finally showing through on the show. In the books there’s the knowledge of the ‘Proudwing’ incident and how he lost his faith in the Seven when his parents were both killed. This complimented his stubborness and sense of justice. It’s undeniable that he has become a highlight for a lot of people so I hope he’s around for longer as the show needs this more complicated characters because Dany, Jon, Arya and Tyrion although on the most part are still enjoyable have become a little whitewashed and therefore don’t throw up as much interest as the Stannis’, Cerseis, Jaimes, Theons, etc of the story.
Be interesting to see what they do with Yara if Brienne takes her place as Stannis’ captive.
If Oldtown happens is it too optimistic to hope we might still see Euron there?! They need an antagonist and could tie in with that third leech! Jaqen is down there too as is Sarella so you’ve got a nice bunch of characters for Sam and GIlly to interact with.
Noob Takes the Black,
I dunno. Stannis is no slouch. He’s just a superior commander to warrior so doesn’t do it as much plus fighting in tourneys, etc doesn’t suit his persona. Be quite close in the books I reckon but Brienne’s fighting has been boosted so much in the show she could probably take on his whole army by herself at this point!
I kinda think that Oldtown will be around in Season 6. Too many references dropped about it in the show. here’s my reasoning.
I still think a part of the Kingsmoot / Greyjoy Uncles will be a part of Season 6 — most likely just Euron Greyjoy (with Victarion and Damphair being cut). That third leech has to come into play somehow. I can see Euron attacking Oldtown at some point in Season 6.
Add in the fourth Sand Snake (Sarella / Alleras) lurking around at the Citadel. It is show canon that Oberyn had eight bastard daughters. So far we’ve only seen three. It’s certainly possible to establish Sarella/Alleras at the Citadel.
The only thing I’m unsure about is whether the original J’aqen is also at the Citadel as Pate. Right now it seems as if they’re playing it as the Faceless Man currently training Arya is the same J’aqen that gave her the coin back in Season 2.
Either way, the combination of Sam’s maester training, Euron’s possible attack on Oldtown, Sarella, possibly J’aqen, and of course the grand maester conspiracy to wipe out dragons would make Oldtown a vital enough place to feature in the end game and Season 6. I can see D&D making Oldtown more meaningful by sending Arya over there in J’aqen’s place to tie the location to a main character.
Josh L.,
I think they may just send one of the existing SS there in her place as I honestly can’t see what they need the three of them for.
Arya could potentially go there but then again so could Jaime as who knows if they’re going to reunite him and Brienne! A Jaime/Sam pairing could prove to be amusing…as could Arya and Jaime.
TheTouchOfFrost,
TheTouchOfFrost,
Josh L.,
Regarding The Citadel…
spacechampion,
But I think she takes out Ramsay, leaving Roose with a tiny potential heir if his wife has a boy. Roose’s position will continue to weaken.
mariamb,
I think it will still be Davos in that role. There’s a reason they cast him and I think he would be alot better at negotiating than Brienne plus a lot more trusted by Stannis. If Brienne takes Asha’s place I wonder what they’ll do with Yara? Perhaps she’ll fulfil whatever role beyond ships that Victarion was meant to have. All depends on if Euron puts in an appearance or not.
Ser Oromis Locke,
Funny, we don’t get any “previously on”s here in the UK.
mariamb,
They gotta have the glass candles.
TheTouchOfFrost,
No argument here – Davos would be much better negotiator. As far as Yara…who knows? May depend on what happens with Balon.
Ashara Dayne,
I love the glass candles. I’d like a few for my home.
New thoughts regarding jorah and greyscale:
Thats my own pet theory. You heard it here first.
Totally making “I am a person that drinks” t-shirts, who’s in
Just a theory, but Sansa may end up fleeing back to the Vale, Myranda will escape Ramsey’s abuse with Theon and jump the Winterfell Wall only to be found by Stannis and Co. Brienne and Pod will try to rescue Sansa only to be taken by Stannis and hung because she carries Oathbreaker and for what happened to Renly. Just a theory mind you.
mariamb,
They need to address the cock leech soon surely!