TV Show Recap & Review 023 Game of Thrones s06e02 Home (HBO)
Game of Thrones s06e02 Home [2016] 4.5/5
- Weirwood Tree -
After a hiatus off the last season, Brandon Stark is being reintroduced again by going back to the past with the Three-Eyed Raven to the early days of the Stark family in better days with his father in his teen practicing with his now departed uncle, Benjen, as well as the object of affection in the Game of Thrones' lore that started it all, Lyanna Stark, his aunt, and even Willis who was actually Hodor as a normal, talking child but the journey had to be cut short because of the mentor's concern of staying too long.
Coming back into the present, once Bran's defender, Myra, was lost without purpose now that they've finally arrived with her brother sacrificed himself to do so, but the Child of the Forest reminded her that he would soon need her help.
Coming back into the present, once Bran's defender, Myra, was lost without purpose now that they've finally arrived with her brother sacrificed himself to do so, but the Child of the Forest reminded her that he would soon need her help.
(Highlights: the return of the Bran's storyline tied strongly to the White Walkers & the anticipated journey to the past)
- Castle Black -
With the time running out and the rest of the Night Watchers begrudgingly working together, Davos Seaworth and the remaining brave few had to stand and fight, and while they almost broke down of the room's door, it was interrupted by another attempt that was instantly successful courtesy of Wun Wun, the giant, whom broke through the castle's main door with the wildlings and Edd who brought them here just in time, but it was the leader, Tormund, and the sole giant who ended the clash as soon as it started with a kill each that instantly demoralized them just enough to lay down their weapons.
Ser Davos now had to deal with the death of the Lord Commander by trying to coax the still dejected Red Priestess despite their previous experience together with magic that she conjured up through the Lord of Light but he wanted the woman herself to show him another miracle, which he did convince just enough for her to reluctantly perform the ritual with a few others watching with bated breath, but tried as she might, it was to no avail. The unsuccessful attempt forced all of them to leave the room regretfully, leaving only the Dire Wolf by the John’s side as the elongated tension was revealed to finally lead up to the reemergence of the Lord Commander from the afterlife, gasping back to life with a look of shock streaming across his face and ours, the audiences.
(Highlights: the wildlings came to the rescue with the giant and the leader, the stubbornness of ser Davos that led up to the reemergence, the buildup to the eventual reveal)
[Top Scenes: the clash of the two forces & the tense atmospheric room of the ritual]
Ser Davos now had to deal with the death of the Lord Commander by trying to coax the still dejected Red Priestess despite their previous experience together with magic that she conjured up through the Lord of Light but he wanted the woman herself to show him another miracle, which he did convince just enough for her to reluctantly perform the ritual with a few others watching with bated breath, but tried as she might, it was to no avail. The unsuccessful attempt forced all of them to leave the room regretfully, leaving only the Dire Wolf by the John’s side as the elongated tension was revealed to finally lead up to the reemergence of the Lord Commander from the afterlife, gasping back to life with a look of shock streaming across his face and ours, the audiences.
(Highlights: the wildlings came to the rescue with the giant and the leader, the stubbornness of ser Davos that led up to the reemergence, the buildup to the eventual reveal)
[Top Scenes: the clash of the two forces & the tense atmospheric room of the ritual]
- the King's Landing -
An outspoken citizen that was in the attendance of the former queen’s public atonement recalling his experience publicly in front of the others in a demeaning manner at the expense of Cersei just for a quick laugh and he paid the price with a quick bashing of head to the wall by the revived Mountain that has done the deed in her favour, brandishing the blood to her as proof while his constant position besides her warranted a number of the King’s Guards just to be the bearer of bad news for her.
While it was a good intention to keep the King’s mother safe and sound in the Red Keep, barring a mother to attend her own daughter’s funeral is ill-advised at best and it was a valid point being brought up by the uncle, Jaimie Lannister, to the king, Tommen, who understandably tried his all to make up for not doing anything before for his family in the rising of the Sept but he was successfully coerced to apologize to his mother before the High Sparrow came into the Myrcella's funeral to have a tense exchange with the former Hand of the King who stated his previous sins in his arduous career to compare it with the other family members who were currently still incarcerated, as thick in tension it was as in philosophical with the former coming out on top despite the threat on his life considering the Faith militants propping up to come to the rescue if need be. The young king did go and apologized to his mother for not being as strong enough as she was to protect his family but Cersei replied his cry for help with a warm comforting hug, signalling her understanding and a return to her tried and true role beside him.
(Highlights: the demonstration of the revived Mountain’s power and its comparison with the King’s Guard and possibly the Lord’s loyal servants)
[Top Scenes: the pulling of the thread that symbolizes her returning meticulousness and strive for perfection that was left behind because of the presence of the embodiment of power, the Mountain, the hypocrisy of the Faith Militant and their apparent political targets & the sense of scale of the Sept and its framing of the funeral scene]
[Top Scenes: the opening shot of Meereen & the whole tense sequence with the dragons]
[Top Scenes: that remembrance of Arya for Sansa & the farewell hug]
While it was a good intention to keep the King’s mother safe and sound in the Red Keep, barring a mother to attend her own daughter’s funeral is ill-advised at best and it was a valid point being brought up by the uncle, Jaimie Lannister, to the king, Tommen, who understandably tried his all to make up for not doing anything before for his family in the rising of the Sept but he was successfully coerced to apologize to his mother before the High Sparrow came into the Myrcella's funeral to have a tense exchange with the former Hand of the King who stated his previous sins in his arduous career to compare it with the other family members who were currently still incarcerated, as thick in tension it was as in philosophical with the former coming out on top despite the threat on his life considering the Faith militants propping up to come to the rescue if need be. The young king did go and apologized to his mother for not being as strong enough as she was to protect his family but Cersei replied his cry for help with a warm comforting hug, signalling her understanding and a return to her tried and true role beside him.
(Highlights: the demonstration of the revived Mountain’s power and its comparison with the King’s Guard and possibly the Lord’s loyal servants)
[Top Scenes: the pulling of the thread that symbolizes her returning meticulousness and strive for perfection that was left behind because of the presence of the embodiment of power, the Mountain, the hypocrisy of the Faith Militant and their apparent political targets & the sense of scale of the Sept and its framing of the funeral scene]
- Meereen -
Trying to figure out a way to handle the aftermath of the Sons of the Harpy’s recent attack and the weakening grasp on the lands Daenerys helped freed, Tyrion brought up the two remaining dragons their mother left behind chained in the cellar and deduced that based on his extensive knowledge gathered from reading all about their species and a confirmation from Missandei, the creatures were mishandled to their detriment and he wanted to free them himself, a decision that’s surely purely because of his liquid courage talking him into it. He completely sobered up though later when he walked down into the cellar himself, with Varys stayed at the door where it was safe, seeing with his own eyes and approaching slowly the understandably cranky and hostile dragons he truly admired since his childhood that was apparent in his wide eyes full of fascination and the small story he told to calm himself more than them. A successful unclasping of the first dragon let the other dragon learned of his true intention and presented its own steel collar for him to undo as well and he did just that, but not without much regret right after.
(Highlights: the charismatic as ever Peter Dinklage, the feature movie quality of the CG dragons)
[Top Scenes: the opening shot of Meereen & the whole tense sequence with the dragons]
- Bravos -
Arya Stark was still left on the street to beg for herself but now with added pummeling that kept her on the edge but still struggling to land any hit herself without being able to see in this second instance although she kept on standing back up after every hit. This particular attitude of hers seemed to convince Jaqen to give her a second chance and her refusal for every worldly help he extended to her in exchange for identifying as a Stark again proved her determination, her flailing of rage notwithstanding.
(Highlights: Maisie Williams’ subtle performance under duress and that condition)
[Top Scenes: the stab in the back of Roose Bolton that was quickly followed by a full support from Harald Karstark and the Maester agreeing to give false report of how the Lord died, showcasing Ramsay’s power and the rise of new leaders in favour of the old & the whole tense scene of the dog mauling that is paced perfectly and showed just enough thankfully]
(Highlights: the small and last tender moment between the two former childhood friends)(Highlights: Maisie Williams’ subtle performance under duress and that condition)
- Winterfell -
After discovering the bodies left behind by the escapees and their help, Roose Bolton tried to discuss rationally with both Ramsay Snow and Harald Karstark on their next course of action, with the latters would love to just march with their army to Sansa’s safe haven, Castle Black, and kill the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch himself despite the aftermath’s repercussions against their force that was smartly brought upon by the then Lord and summarized it beautifully with that quote of “a mad dog”. This clash of learned wisdom against baseless confidence or rather arrogance would reach its climax when the bastard’s worst nightmare came to be in the form of his newborn baby brother and he kept it in long enough to give a congratulatory hug to his father but exchange Roose’ heartfelt message for him with a stab in the back, or rather in the spleen, shocking him and the audiences for sure. Although this is to ensure his claim on the throne, it was flimsy at best because he is not a true Bolton but he knew his position and followed this deed by trying to tie up loose end in the form of his brother and the mother, Walda Frey, and with what the show has previously shown of his capabilities, it didn’t really come as a shock, but it is nevertheless heartbreaking and ruthless of him in the next scene that was better left to the imagination, or maybe not.
(Highlights: two betrayals for the price of one bastard)[Top Scenes: the stab in the back of Roose Bolton that was quickly followed by a full support from Harald Karstark and the Maester agreeing to give false report of how the Lord died, showcasing Ramsay’s power and the rise of new leaders in favour of the old & the whole tense scene of the dog mauling that is paced perfectly and showed just enough thankfully]
- somewhere in the middle -
The proud champion of the ladies of the Starks recollecting her last glimpse of Arya to Sansa, bearing her at least some good news but the trauma living as Ramsay’s ‘beloved wife’ was still palpable for her that she regretted her past choice that led her away from Brienne and into this predicament the first time. The knight tried to console her by telling her that everyone have to make difficult choice and this was apparent in the recently awoken Theon whom still on the edge because of the chasing Flayed Man force and the past crimes he committed against the Stark family that were too severe in his mind to be forgiven, forcing his hands to not stay with them but instead go home himself, leaving the fellow escapee in distraught but understanding of his decision. [Top Scenes: that remembrance of Arya for Sansa & the farewell hug]
- Pyke -
Balon Greyjoy’s ill-fated invasion was slowly dying under his control because of the men’s inability to fight as effectively as they do in the water, granted that one of the days was Yara’s tried and failed rescue attempt of then Reek and the father used that to counter her daughter’s valid arguments and the other point was on how the Iron Island’s man would always be viewed as superior than the woman. A distant family member in the form of the Lord’s brother, Euron, materialized unexpectedly without warning, returning from the foreign sea to take the throne by force but Balon would not go down gently, cutting him just before being thrown over the wonky bridge. A proper burial was given to the former leader fit to please the Drown God but Yara knew he was killed and made her determination to find the killer known but was instead being pushed aside by the priest again because of her gender, although he mentioned the possibility of her ruling in his stead albeit unlikely.
(Highlights: the standoff on the bridge & the beautiful yet morbid funeral scene) 
(Running Time 50+ mns, Rating TV-MA, Genre Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Supernatural)
"A welcome return for the season five absentee Brandon who brandished his power under the guidance of the Three-Eyed Raven as well as reappearance of the dragons that serve as foreshadowing of the events to come with political movements all across the region but the anticipated ending was worth the wait."
No comments: