I have read many comments about GAME OF THRONES season 5 finale: from excellent to outstanding to downright predictable and boring. I tend to stick with the first. I, like many other viewers of this show, have become addicted to the story in the seven kingdoms.
There's some serious advancement in the multiple storyline: Jon Snow dies stabbed to death by his own Night's Watch brothers, Arya becomes a pupil of the Many Faced God only to be left apparently blind, Stannis Baratheon finally realizes that all those prophecies Melisandre raved about are untrue and that his daughter's sacrifice turned out to be the finest example in futility. Tyrion Lannister forges an alliance with Daenerys Targaryen, who is left by her dragon in the middle of nowhere while escaping a coup in the city of Meereen. We see Daenrys being surrounded by hordes of Dothraki riders with the intention of kidnapping her. Meanwhile in Winterfell, Theon "Reek" Greyjoy and Sansa Stark make a desperate escape from Ramsay Bolton as he arrives from his winning battle with Stannis. Last but not least, we have Cersei Lannister's walk of "atonement", where the regent Queen mother of King's Landing is force to purge her sins in front of the city's population, naked and escorted by the brutal Septa Unella who whips a bell as she chants, "shame".
It's the only scene I've heard friends say, "poor Cersei", or "this is too much for her". Apparently these friends have forgotten that it was Cersei who started all this mess by ordering her lover/brother Jamie Lannister to push young Brandon Stark off the window of a high tower. Until the army of the dead make it south of the wall, Cersei remains the main antagonist in the story, the main "bad guy" in GAME OF THRONES, even more so than the Boltons, or the treacherous Night's Watch brothers, or the fanatical Sons of the Harpy.
I do feel however that some loose ends have to start veering in a more concrete way to their conclusions.
1. Sansa Stark - So far she's played the "damsel in distress" prototype. Season 6 has to make her transition into a tough as nails bitch. After the killing of almost her entire family, she needs to take the reigns and start plotting revenge on those who've wronged her family.
2. Daenerys Targaryen - I understand that she needs to get to King's Landing in order to regain what's "rightfully hers" yet (as of episode 9, Season 5) she seems to be pretty comfortable in Meereen. What is she waiting for?
3. Jon Snow - He is obviously NOT dead. You can't have so much build up on one character only to kill him off just like that. Why did Ned Stark never told him who his mother was? Why did the White Walker stared at him in the battle of Hardhome? Why did Melisandre tried to seduced him? Why did Maester Aemon tells him to "Kill the boy"? Jon Snow's storyline will continue for sure!
4. Cersei Lannister - She's defied almost everyone in her path, friend and foe alike, and it's been established that's she's been a raging bitch since she was a little girl (as seen on the first episode of season 5). It's a wonder no one has tried to poison her or kill her, yet her walk of atonement in season's 5 finale has been her embrace with pure, unadulterated humiliation. She will eventually slay those involved in her most disgraceful hour before someone finally slays her.
5. Tyrion Lannister - My favorite character, will have to prove that his alliance with Daenerys will pay off with peace for the Seven Kingdoms, as Lord Varys has expressed.
Forget the naysayers: "Mother's Mercy" was a great finale for season 5. I hope season 6 is even more exciting!
There's some serious advancement in the multiple storyline: Jon Snow dies stabbed to death by his own Night's Watch brothers, Arya becomes a pupil of the Many Faced God only to be left apparently blind, Stannis Baratheon finally realizes that all those prophecies Melisandre raved about are untrue and that his daughter's sacrifice turned out to be the finest example in futility. Tyrion Lannister forges an alliance with Daenerys Targaryen, who is left by her dragon in the middle of nowhere while escaping a coup in the city of Meereen. We see Daenrys being surrounded by hordes of Dothraki riders with the intention of kidnapping her. Meanwhile in Winterfell, Theon "Reek" Greyjoy and Sansa Stark make a desperate escape from Ramsay Bolton as he arrives from his winning battle with Stannis. Last but not least, we have Cersei Lannister's walk of "atonement", where the regent Queen mother of King's Landing is force to purge her sins in front of the city's population, naked and escorted by the brutal Septa Unella who whips a bell as she chants, "shame".
It's the only scene I've heard friends say, "poor Cersei", or "this is too much for her". Apparently these friends have forgotten that it was Cersei who started all this mess by ordering her lover/brother Jamie Lannister to push young Brandon Stark off the window of a high tower. Until the army of the dead make it south of the wall, Cersei remains the main antagonist in the story, the main "bad guy" in GAME OF THRONES, even more so than the Boltons, or the treacherous Night's Watch brothers, or the fanatical Sons of the Harpy.
I do feel however that some loose ends have to start veering in a more concrete way to their conclusions.
1. Sansa Stark - So far she's played the "damsel in distress" prototype. Season 6 has to make her transition into a tough as nails bitch. After the killing of almost her entire family, she needs to take the reigns and start plotting revenge on those who've wronged her family.
2. Daenerys Targaryen - I understand that she needs to get to King's Landing in order to regain what's "rightfully hers" yet (as of episode 9, Season 5) she seems to be pretty comfortable in Meereen. What is she waiting for?
3. Jon Snow - He is obviously NOT dead. You can't have so much build up on one character only to kill him off just like that. Why did Ned Stark never told him who his mother was? Why did the White Walker stared at him in the battle of Hardhome? Why did Melisandre tried to seduced him? Why did Maester Aemon tells him to "Kill the boy"? Jon Snow's storyline will continue for sure!
4. Cersei Lannister - She's defied almost everyone in her path, friend and foe alike, and it's been established that's she's been a raging bitch since she was a little girl (as seen on the first episode of season 5). It's a wonder no one has tried to poison her or kill her, yet her walk of atonement in season's 5 finale has been her embrace with pure, unadulterated humiliation. She will eventually slay those involved in her most disgraceful hour before someone finally slays her.
5. Tyrion Lannister - My favorite character, will have to prove that his alliance with Daenerys will pay off with peace for the Seven Kingdoms, as Lord Varys has expressed.
Forget the naysayers: "Mother's Mercy" was a great finale for season 5. I hope season 6 is even more exciting!