‘Game of Thrones’ Season 5 Episode 5 Recap: “Kill the Boy”

By
Sheri Young
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Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 5 Recap
Iwan Rheon and Sophie Turner in ‘Game of Thrones’ (Photo: Helen Sloan / HBO)

Welcome to week five (already!) of season five of Game of Thrones. The preview before the credits promises trouble for Sansa (Sophie Turner), trouble at the Wall, which includes a flashback to a Targaryen allusion between Jon (Kit Harington) and Maester Aemon (played by Peter Vaughan. Aemon has always liked Jon. Hey that rhymed! Could it be because they are RELATED?!), trouble for Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), plus some dragon action for Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) as his storyline finally begins to collide with hers.

We open in Meereen. Barristan Selmy (Ian McElhinney) and Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) are indeed dead and the Khaleesi is pissed. Hizdahr zo Loraq (Joel Fry) picks that moment to walk in and ends up being hauled away as part of a “round-up” of the heads of the leading families of Meereen. The Mother of Dragons plans to feed them to her babies. (In the immortal words of Geillis Duncan, they’re “going to a f**king barbeque”*).

Hizdahr is stoic, so Khaleesi gives him a 24 hour stay of execution while she watches her “children” feast.

At the Wall, Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) is reading news of Daenerys to Maester Aemon. He’s waxing about his long-lost niece when Jon comes in to seek his advice. He has a cunning plan, but it will divide the Night’s Watch. Do it, says the Maester. “You’re the Lord High Commander. Kill the boy, Jon Snow.”

Fraggle the Red, I mean Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) and Jon parley about the fate of the free folk. “Gather the free folk, lead them to the Wall” for their safety. They “belong to the realms of men,” says Jon.

Fraggle says they won’t kneel to him; they’re still loyal to Mance. Jon says he doesn’t want them to kneel. He wants them to fight with him, and he wants to save them. He tells Fraggle that he’s either too proud to make peace or he’s a coward. Fraggle tells him that’s easy to say to a man in chains. So, Jon unlocks him. Fraggle’s price is ships to get to his people. When Jon says he’ll ask Stannis for a few, Fraggle tells him that he wants Jon to come with him or he won’t go. He thinks the Wildlings need to hear the terms from Jon.

Jon puts the plan to the rest of the Watch. Sam speaks up in favor, but Bitter Maester Alliser is still bitter and speaks against it.

Kit Harington Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 5
Kit Harington in ‘Game of Thrones’ (Photo: Helen Sloan / HBO)

Jon and his steward Olly (Brenock O’Connor) are having a word. Olly doesn’t want peace with the Wildlings since they butchered his family. Jon sympathizes and tells him that he knows what it’s like to “lose the people you love, but winter is coming and we know what’s coming with it. We can’t face it alone.” Olly is not swayed. His hero has fallen from his pedestal.

The Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) and Pod (Daniel Portman) show is back. Brienne is staring at Winterfell in the distance when Pod suggests Sansa may be better off in her home. He keeps trying to get Brienne to give it up, doesn’t he? But she’s laser-focused on her mission and shoots him an eye-dagger. “Sansa’s in danger even if she doesn’t realize it.”

A servant who knew Ned Stark comes into their chamber. Brienne asks him to get a message to Lady Sansa.

Inside Winterfell, Ramsey Bolton (Iwan Rheon) is in bed post-coitus while naked Myranda (Charlotte Hope), one of his brides of Dracula, is at the window. Ramsey is apologizing or reneging on his promise to marry her and rambling on about furthering his dynasty. They quarrel when Myranda suggests maybe she’ll get married too. He wants to keep her as his mistress even after he marries Sansa. I expected him to hurl her out the window, but instead they start going at it again. She bites him and draws blood, which of course turns him on. Is that a secret smile that means she has an evil plan – run Sansa run! – or is that just revulsion?

In her room, the old woman from two weeks ago comes in to tell Sansa she’s not alone. Is this the message from Brienne?

Outside, where there is already snow on the ground (because, you know, winter), Sansa is eyeing the keep where Bran fell all those seasons ago, when Myranda finds her. She starts complimenting Sansa’s dress and very creepily examining the stitching. Myranda then lures her to what looks like a dungeon, telling her there’s a surprise waiting. This is the kennel master’s daughter and we hear barking. Is it one of the direwolves or is she about to be torn to shreds? Why is she going down there? Why does she trust anyone in this place?! Oh, FFS it’s Reek (Alfie Allen)!

Sansa is not pleased with her surprise.

Next we see Reek with his master, Ramsey the psychopath. Ramsey tells Reek he reeks, then asks for wine. Ew. Apparently the Sansa/Reek meeting was Ramsey’s idea and not the vindictive act of a jealous mistress. Ramsey asks if Reek has something to tell him. Reek manages to squeak out, “Sansa saw me.” To punish him, Ramsey forces him to kneel. We (and he) expect the worst, but the maniac says he “forgives” him. We (and he) are obviously thinking, “What fresh hell is this?”

Time for a dysfunctional family dinner. Ramsey gives a toast to his upcoming wedding. Sansa, who looks like she’s ready to run screaming from the table, has lost her appetite. Probably because every mention of a wedding reminds her of the last one the Boltons had a hand in. Reek is serving at dinner. Ramsey is goading both Sansa and Reek. He wants Reek to apologize to Sansa for murdering her two brothers. There is not enough of Theon left inside Reek for him to tell her he didn’t actually murder her brothers. Instead, he does as he’s told and says he’s sorry. But Ramsey’s not quite finished with the scintillating dinner conversation. His twisted mind has deduced that Reek is the nearest thing to a “relative” that Sansa has left and therefore, Reek should give her away.

The mention of family prompts Daddy Roose (Michael McElhatton) to taunt Ramsey with news that his Frey bride, Walda (Elizabeth Webster), is pregnant and {whatever passes for an OB/GYN in Seven Kingdoms} says it’s a boy. Ramsey is, of course, pissed, and worried about his “position.” Roose then tells Ramsey a heartwarming story about his mother. He raped her on the ground beneath her husband whom he’d just hanged. He tells Ramsey that he didn’t throw him in the river because he sees himself in him. Ramsey is his son and he shouldn’t worry about his position.

Roose is worried about Stannis coming North, but he thinks he and Ramsey can defend it.

Back at the Wall, Gilly (Hannah Murray) is looking for books, now that she can read. She’s also feeling inadequate because she’s starting to learn what she doesn’t know. Sam confesses his ambition was to become a Maester (teacher) but he’s happy he’s a man of the Watch because that’s how he met her. (Sweet moments make me nervous! #DontkillGilly)

Stannis the Dour (Stephen Dillane) tells Sam that he knew his father, Randyll Tarly. He was apparently a great warrior who even defeated Stannis’ brother Robert in battle. Stannis the Curious wants to know how a wimp like him managed to kill a White Walker. Sam tells him about the dragon glass and that he’s “seen the Army of the Dead.” Stannis practically harrumphs and tells a clearly spooked Sam to keep reading, so they know how to fight them.

Stannis tells Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) that it’s time to march on the North. Davos thinks that they should wait for Jon to return from his mission. Stannis the Impatient says they’re leaving now and he’s taking the women with them for safety.

Shireen (Kerry Ingram) wants to see the crypt at Winterfell. Davos says they must get through the battle first. Queen Justsuckedalemon tells him not to talk about battle to her child. Pffft. As if she cares. Princess Shireen the Innocent says she’s “not scared.” Ser Davos tells her that he is and asks, “When the battle comes, promise you’ll protect me.” (Another sweet moment!)

Stannis marches his army away from the Wall. Jon watches them go.

Back in Meereen, Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) is watching over Grey Worm, whom I guess was only ‘nearly dead’. Grey Worm blames himself for Ser Barristan’s death, but mostly he feels ashamed because when he thought he was dying he felt fear – he was afraid he’d never see her again. Poor thing. I can imagine that emotion freaked him the hell out. Missandei finally makes a move and crawls onto his bed to kiss him.

Dany is torn. Ser Barristan counseled mercy until his death. Daario Naharis (Michiel Huisman) has been telling her to kill everyone. She asks Missandei for her opinion. Missandei, who knows how to keep her job, tells Dany how wise she is.

Dany, who apparently has had an epiphany, goes to Hizdahr in his cell and says she was wrong and he was right about traditions. She tells him that she will reopen the fighting pits, but only to free men because slavery will not come back to Meereen. She’s also decided that she needs to forge lasting bonds with the ancient families, by marrying one of their sons. Hizdahr, who knows she means him, is clearly flummoxed.

At last we see Jorah (Iain Glen) and Tyrion, who are still on their boat. Tyrion is talking. A lot. He wants wine. Jorah says no. Tyrion is obviously about to go into the DTs. Sailing through the Straits of Valyria on the Smoking Sea, they are reciting poetry together when Tyrion gets his first view of a dragon. It’s Drogon, of course, who’s gone back to his homeland to roost.

Suddenly Stone Men drop into the boat! (Remember Papa Stannis’ heartwarming tale last week? The afflicted have been banished like lepers to a colony of their own and that colony is right where our two heroes are currently sailing.) Jorah fights them, but Tyrion is still shackled. He jumps into the river to escape, but there’s one in the water who drags him down! We think that’s the last of him, but he comes to on the beach with Jorah, who finally cuts him loose. Jorah and Tyrion both say none of the Stone Men touched them. But is it true? Tyrion’s seen Greyscale before. Would he lie? Maybe, but Jorah certainly did, since he shows us (but not Tyrion) his wrist. Damn it! I really don’t want to see Jorah turned into a dragon. Although, maybe then Khaleesi will love him again.

Oh well, we’re out until next week!

Memorable lines from season 5 episode 5:

“Winter is almost upon us. Kill the boy and let the man be born.” – Maester Aemon

“Don’t worry, the North remembers.” – Ramsey Bolton

“This isn’t a strange place. It’s the people who are strange.” – Sansa Stark

“I’m your son until a better alternative comes along.” – Ramsey Bolton

“You are not my enemy and I am not yours.” – Jon Snow (to Tormund Giantsbane)

“Doom still rules Valyria.” – Tyrion Lannister

“Stone Men! Don’t let them touch you!” – Jorah Mormont

“I’ve seen you ignore your counselors, because there was a better choice, one that only you could see.” – Missandei

“Thankfully a suitor is already on his knees.” – Daenerys Targaryen

Episode 6: “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken” will bring us back to Westeros, as well as Dorne, Braavos, and Winterfell. See you next week, same bat time, same bat channel!

* Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeek), time-traveler, suspected witch in Starz Outlander.




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