To be fair, this was a great improvement from the previous episode. This episode literally featured no filler scene. What seemed like a filler/buildup was nothing but a callback sequence and was entertaining all the same.
Like we did for the last episode, lets run down from the best to the worst.
1. Arya-Nymeria. Arya, to me, is a clear winner again. In fact this episode proves that one doesn't need shocking murders to steal the spotlight. Arya-Nymeria is the second reunion this season (after Arya-Hot Pie, which took place in the same episode) and it has been one of the longest awaited ones. The direwolf mirrors Arya's character. Arya was never meant to marry a high lord and spawn a lot of children. She is a fighter. An assassin, who has killed the human inside and seeks only revenge for all that her family has gone through. All we had gained in the last season was that Arya is dead inside but she proved it wrong when she chose to head home instead of going to King's Landing. She showed she still has the basic human emotions. But here is why Nymeria sequence, though heartbreaking, is very crucial. It reminds Arya that she is not the little girl who wanted to head home. It reminds Arya that she currently has a To-Kill List and there is a name that sits right at the top of it, powerful and in all glory. She might head South again after all. Let's see.
2. Samwell-Jorah. I find this to be the most underrated sequence of the episode. We don't take much back from this sequence in terms of content but in terms of psychological interpretations, it hits a home run. We learn more about Sam's benevolent nature here. The direction (probably in only this scene in the whole episode) is marvelous and Jorah's acting is beyond words.
3. Daenerys. I was disappointed by the last episode because it featured three words from Dany despite the episode being called Dragonstone. Here, of course, Dany plays the most important role. There is a certain thing about Dany's tone that is bothering. Even though we know what she is saying is reasonable and probably right, the rudeness and arrogance takes away the validity from it. It looks like, even though she is gentle and caring deep down, she is trying very hard to exercise power. Not in a Joffrey kind of way. No, she is not a freak. But in a forced Mad King sort of way. Her sequence with Varys was interesting. I know she may receive a lot of flack for that, but then so should Jon for being rude to his 'saviour' Baelish. What is wrong with Dany is that she is surrounded by fools whose main motive is revenge, not justice. They don't care about how many people die for the purpose of their mindless revenge. But I believe as long as Tyrion is by her side, she will remain sane because she really does listen to him.
4. The siege. The battle, though mildly surprising, could have been better directed. The camera movements were way too sharp and quick and not at all smooth, possibly because of usage of body doubles, which made it look more disturbing than exciting. Yet it was a good turn of events and leaves us hanging to wonder how Tyrion and Dany are going to deal with this sudden turn of events. Finally, after two blatantly predictable seasons, the old Game of Thrones-level complication might have returned. It also showcased how Tyrion, who had been rather flawless in the Blackwater battle's scheming, has been outwitted by Euron.
5. Jon-Sansa. To be fair, this scene showed another development and we're finally headed towards the much sought after Jon-Dany meet. People have been waiting for 7 years for this to happen. Watching Jon fight for it, though for entirely different reason, was definitely a treat. Dany's "He sounds like quite a man" was also quite entertaining. Baelish seems to have lost his grasp. We will discover the truth of it in the next episode. Jon-Sansa tension seems to fading out already.
6. The scissors. Missandei-Greyworm sequence, though placed for the 'necessary' nudity, also plays a crucial role in human-ization of the mechanical Unsullied.
7. Cersei. *sigh* As she had become in season 6, up until the finale, Cersei has become a dull-dud, mere-words woman. Her scenes have become blatantly boring and it seems like the writers and director(s) are at a lack of imagination on how to make the viewers stay hooked to what she is saying. Even though Lena is still doing a good job, the character has lost its evilness that made us hate her, yet want to watch her. This sequence is one of the major disappointments of an otherwise brilliant episode.
Overall, a good, engaging episode with a lot going on. Keep more of this coming D&D. I'm going with an 8/10.
Like we did for the last episode, lets run down from the best to the worst.
1. Arya-Nymeria. Arya, to me, is a clear winner again. In fact this episode proves that one doesn't need shocking murders to steal the spotlight. Arya-Nymeria is the second reunion this season (after Arya-Hot Pie, which took place in the same episode) and it has been one of the longest awaited ones. The direwolf mirrors Arya's character. Arya was never meant to marry a high lord and spawn a lot of children. She is a fighter. An assassin, who has killed the human inside and seeks only revenge for all that her family has gone through. All we had gained in the last season was that Arya is dead inside but she proved it wrong when she chose to head home instead of going to King's Landing. She showed she still has the basic human emotions. But here is why Nymeria sequence, though heartbreaking, is very crucial. It reminds Arya that she is not the little girl who wanted to head home. It reminds Arya that she currently has a To-Kill List and there is a name that sits right at the top of it, powerful and in all glory. She might head South again after all. Let's see.
2. Samwell-Jorah. I find this to be the most underrated sequence of the episode. We don't take much back from this sequence in terms of content but in terms of psychological interpretations, it hits a home run. We learn more about Sam's benevolent nature here. The direction (probably in only this scene in the whole episode) is marvelous and Jorah's acting is beyond words.
3. Daenerys. I was disappointed by the last episode because it featured three words from Dany despite the episode being called Dragonstone. Here, of course, Dany plays the most important role. There is a certain thing about Dany's tone that is bothering. Even though we know what she is saying is reasonable and probably right, the rudeness and arrogance takes away the validity from it. It looks like, even though she is gentle and caring deep down, she is trying very hard to exercise power. Not in a Joffrey kind of way. No, she is not a freak. But in a forced Mad King sort of way. Her sequence with Varys was interesting. I know she may receive a lot of flack for that, but then so should Jon for being rude to his 'saviour' Baelish. What is wrong with Dany is that she is surrounded by fools whose main motive is revenge, not justice. They don't care about how many people die for the purpose of their mindless revenge. But I believe as long as Tyrion is by her side, she will remain sane because she really does listen to him.
4. The siege. The battle, though mildly surprising, could have been better directed. The camera movements were way too sharp and quick and not at all smooth, possibly because of usage of body doubles, which made it look more disturbing than exciting. Yet it was a good turn of events and leaves us hanging to wonder how Tyrion and Dany are going to deal with this sudden turn of events. Finally, after two blatantly predictable seasons, the old Game of Thrones-level complication might have returned. It also showcased how Tyrion, who had been rather flawless in the Blackwater battle's scheming, has been outwitted by Euron.
5. Jon-Sansa. To be fair, this scene showed another development and we're finally headed towards the much sought after Jon-Dany meet. People have been waiting for 7 years for this to happen. Watching Jon fight for it, though for entirely different reason, was definitely a treat. Dany's "He sounds like quite a man" was also quite entertaining. Baelish seems to have lost his grasp. We will discover the truth of it in the next episode. Jon-Sansa tension seems to fading out already.
6. The scissors. Missandei-Greyworm sequence, though placed for the 'necessary' nudity, also plays a crucial role in human-ization of the mechanical Unsullied.
7. Cersei. *sigh* As she had become in season 6, up until the finale, Cersei has become a dull-dud, mere-words woman. Her scenes have become blatantly boring and it seems like the writers and director(s) are at a lack of imagination on how to make the viewers stay hooked to what she is saying. Even though Lena is still doing a good job, the character has lost its evilness that made us hate her, yet want to watch her. This sequence is one of the major disappointments of an otherwise brilliant episode.
Overall, a good, engaging episode with a lot going on. Keep more of this coming D&D. I'm going with an 8/10.