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| ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 6 Finale: Long May She Reign | ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 6 Finale: Long May She Reign |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Over 10 weeks in the sixth season of “Game of Thrones,” it has become a cliché to note that the powerful women have come to the fore. But there was one character whose trajectory seemed to be the exception to the feminist revolution remaking this story. | Over 10 weeks in the sixth season of “Game of Thrones,” it has become a cliché to note that the powerful women have come to the fore. But there was one character whose trajectory seemed to be the exception to the feminist revolution remaking this story. |
| That would be Cersei, who since the Season 4 assassination of her son King Joffrey has been on a long slide marked by loss (her father and daughter), humiliation (her walk of shame) and most crucially, an apparent dulling of her once formidable sense of how to work the angles of power. Outflanked by first Margaery and then the High Sparrow, two master manipulators with crocodile smiles, Cersei, with her forthright, shameless spite, seemed antiquated by comparison. All that remained, it seemed, was for one last miscalculation to undo her at her trial, perhaps fatally — for the wildfire explosion to claim its architect as a victim, or at least provoke a hubbub that allowed someone like her former fiancé Loras, at some string-puller’s behest, to slide a blade between her ribs. | That would be Cersei, who since the Season 4 assassination of her son King Joffrey has been on a long slide marked by loss (her father and daughter), humiliation (her walk of shame) and most crucially, an apparent dulling of her once formidable sense of how to work the angles of power. Outflanked by first Margaery and then the High Sparrow, two master manipulators with crocodile smiles, Cersei, with her forthright, shameless spite, seemed antiquated by comparison. All that remained, it seemed, was for one last miscalculation to undo her at her trial, perhaps fatally — for the wildfire explosion to claim its architect as a victim, or at least provoke a hubbub that allowed someone like her former fiancé Loras, at some string-puller’s behest, to slide a blade between her ribs. |
| But Cersei had other ideas, wiping out any such notions, along with her primary nemeses, with a well-executed Wildfire Plot that suggested shameless spite is still very much in fashion in King’s Landing. Any remaining doubters can ask Margaery, or the High Septon, or the luckless Septa Unella, or even King Tommen, for whom all the full-contact politics was finally just too much to bear, the poor thing. | But Cersei had other ideas, wiping out any such notions, along with her primary nemeses, with a well-executed Wildfire Plot that suggested shameless spite is still very much in fashion in King’s Landing. Any remaining doubters can ask Margaery, or the High Septon, or the luckless Septa Unella, or even King Tommen, for whom all the full-contact politics was finally just too much to bear, the poor thing. |
| Or ask Jaime, who arrived in King’s Landing just in time to see Cersei claim the Iron Throne in her sinister leather power-frock, looking like a cross between Maleficent and Thin White Duke-era David Bowie. Did he look happy that his beloved sister had finally achieved her dream of absolute power? He did not. Instead the Kingslayer, who’s seemed torn this season between his twisted devotion to her and nobler impulses, seemed to be wondering if he might one day be called upon to be a Queenslayer. After all, Cersei just did a version of what Jaime reportedly killed the Mad King Aerys in order to prevent. (It was his wildfire she used.) At the very least, he seems liable to lend an ear to a certain persuasive brother currently heading his way from the east. | |
| Count me among those who bought all the misdirection this year, the loss and abandonment, the failure of multiple schemes — I thought Cersei was a goner. But while her survival was genuinely surprising, the mechanics of this latest amazingly effective pyrotechnic overthrow (see also: Dany’s big blaze) were less so, thanks to Tyrion reminding us all last week about the stashes of wildfire beneath parts of the capital city. | |
| Indeed, whether because 1) “Game of Thrones” has surpassed George R.R. Martin’s intricate plotting, 2) the story has become too big and obsessively covered, or 3) we’ve become wiser to the ways of the writers, the big moves this season seemed broader and more clearly telegraphed. Examples include Jon Snow’s return, certainly, but also the Hound’s return, Arya’s dispatching of the Waif, Ramsay’s death and the Knights of the Vale’s last second battle-swinging attack in last week’s Battle of the Bastards. (Only the death and definition of Hodor brought the nuclear OMG factor that became the show’s signature with things like Ned Stark’s execution and the Red Wedding.) | |
| Long may she reign, at any rate. We’ll go deeper into all of this later. But for now, let’s take a quick look at what else happened in an overstuffed finale: | Long may she reign, at any rate. We’ll go deeper into all of this later. But for now, let’s take a quick look at what else happened in an overstuffed finale: |
| • Whoops, I buried the lead: We’ve left Meereen! We’ve left Meereen! Well all of us except Daario, who’s sticking around to keep the peace in the city as well as the rebranded Bay of Dragons. Forget Meereen, he said (in a way), speaking for all of us. | • Whoops, I buried the lead: We’ve left Meereen! We’ve left Meereen! Well all of us except Daario, who’s sticking around to keep the peace in the city as well as the rebranded Bay of Dragons. Forget Meereen, he said (in a way), speaking for all of us. |
| After years of isolated plotting and machinations by the various groups in this story, the alliances are coming together at a dizzying rate. Last week the Greyjoy siblings made their pact with the Dragon Queen, pledging ships and an end to their pirating. This week, it seems House Tyrell and maybe even the Dorne gals came aboard, unified in their Lannister loathing. “Cersei stole the future from me,” Lady Olenna told Ellaria Sand, who offered vengeance and justice in return. Enter Varys, who seemed to broker a deal and who apparently discovered a wormhole that allows him to jaunt all over the Known World at his leisure. | After years of isolated plotting and machinations by the various groups in this story, the alliances are coming together at a dizzying rate. Last week the Greyjoy siblings made their pact with the Dragon Queen, pledging ships and an end to their pirating. This week, it seems House Tyrell and maybe even the Dorne gals came aboard, unified in their Lannister loathing. “Cersei stole the future from me,” Lady Olenna told Ellaria Sand, who offered vengeance and justice in return. Enter Varys, who seemed to broker a deal and who apparently discovered a wormhole that allows him to jaunt all over the Known World at his leisure. |
| • Winter is here and the North has its king. Led by the excellent Lady Mormont, the nobles of the region pledged their loyalty to Jon Snow. “The blood of Ned Stark runs through his veins,” Lady Mormont said. Yeah… about that… | • Winter is here and the North has its king. Led by the excellent Lady Mormont, the nobles of the region pledged their loyalty to Jon Snow. “The blood of Ned Stark runs through his veins,” Lady Mormont said. Yeah… about that… |
| “Game of Thrones” seemed to confirm one of the most popular theories about the show: That Jon Snow’s parents are really Lyanna Stark, Ned’s sister, and Rhaegar Targaryen, Daenerys’s older brother. You’ll recall that according to legend, Rhaegar abducted Lyanna, who had been promised to Robert Baratheon, kicking off the wars and rivalries that essentially created the story of “Game of Thrones.” Doubt has been thrown on the details by various characters — was it an abduction? Or two lovers running away together? — but the net result is that Ned lied about Jon’s provenance in order to protect him. One question is what this powerful blood cocktail will mean for Jon, going forward. | “Game of Thrones” seemed to confirm one of the most popular theories about the show: That Jon Snow’s parents are really Lyanna Stark, Ned’s sister, and Rhaegar Targaryen, Daenerys’s older brother. You’ll recall that according to legend, Rhaegar abducted Lyanna, who had been promised to Robert Baratheon, kicking off the wars and rivalries that essentially created the story of “Game of Thrones.” Doubt has been thrown on the details by various characters — was it an abduction? Or two lovers running away together? — but the net result is that Ned lied about Jon’s provenance in order to protect him. One question is what this powerful blood cocktail will mean for Jon, going forward. |
| • Davos confronted Melisandre over her immolation of Shireen, and asked Jon Snow if he could kill her. Beat it and don’t come back, Jon told her. She’ll be back. | • Davos confronted Melisandre over her immolation of Shireen, and asked Jon Snow if he could kill her. Beat it and don’t come back, Jon told her. She’ll be back. |
| • Arya Stark made a fun reappearance, killing the wretched Walder Frey. In the process she confirmed a few things: 1) she is back on the kill-list beat, which could mean trouble for a certain freshly minted queen; 2) though she ditched the Faceless Men, she apparently retained the face-shifting tricks; and 3) the body-prepping skills she picked up at the House of Black and White translate nicely to the kitchen. | • Arya Stark made a fun reappearance, killing the wretched Walder Frey. In the process she confirmed a few things: 1) she is back on the kill-list beat, which could mean trouble for a certain freshly minted queen; 2) though she ditched the Faceless Men, she apparently retained the face-shifting tricks; and 3) the body-prepping skills she picked up at the House of Black and White translate nicely to the kitchen. |
| • It was nice to see Sam, an object of derision at home and at Castle Black, finally attain a career goal. The Citadel, with its Maesterdome of a library, was quite something to behold, even if its male-only policy is exceedingly out of step with recent developments. Also, how much credibility does an institution of learning really deserve, if it’s front desk still thinks Mormont and Maester Aemon are running things at Castle Black? Related: I know “Game of Thrones” can’t show us every conversation but at some point, when Sam next sees his old buddy Jon and asks, “So what did I miss?,” I hope we get to see him explain it. | • It was nice to see Sam, an object of derision at home and at Castle Black, finally attain a career goal. The Citadel, with its Maesterdome of a library, was quite something to behold, even if its male-only policy is exceedingly out of step with recent developments. Also, how much credibility does an institution of learning really deserve, if it’s front desk still thinks Mormont and Maester Aemon are running things at Castle Black? Related: I know “Game of Thrones” can’t show us every conversation but at some point, when Sam next sees his old buddy Jon and asks, “So what did I miss?,” I hope we get to see him explain it. |
| • Missing in Action: Jorah, presumably stonier these days unless he managed to crack the greyscale code; the Hound, perhaps still hashing out his spiritual future with the Brotherhood; and Brienne, whose meaningful final wave apparently was for us as much as Jaime. Row on, my giant warrior maiden. Let us know if you bump into Gendry. | • Missing in Action: Jorah, presumably stonier these days unless he managed to crack the greyscale code; the Hound, perhaps still hashing out his spiritual future with the Brotherhood; and Brienne, whose meaningful final wave apparently was for us as much as Jaime. Row on, my giant warrior maiden. Let us know if you bump into Gendry. |
| Please check back later for a more in-depth version of this recap. | Please check back later for a more in-depth version of this recap. |