This week on Game of Thrones we saw the city of Meereen turn on Daenerys Targaryen herself, but when all hope threatened to be lost, Drogon returned, just for a moment, to will on the Mother of Dragons.
Despite that, has our Khaleesi lost everything she had going for her? Turning her back on someone within her own camp and beheading them in front of the entire city because she was betrayed was a powerful move to be played in such a delicate situation, and initially it seems like it was the wrong card to deal out. Can she turn things around? That remains to be seen, but it makes for compelling viewing to finally see Daenerys struggle rather than gliding through trouble.
Elsewhere throughout the episode we caught up with Arya, who has arrived in Braavos and come to the one place she thought she could rely on. It's here that the fantasy genre shines through, with the coin she received way back in season one making a reappearance after she tossed it into the sea following her being turned away from The House of Black and White. Will Arya be stepping into The House to discover the ways of Jaqen H'ghar and if so, just what does that mean for Maisie Williams? We couldn't imagine this show without her.
There's the meeting of Brienne and Sansa Stark, but it of course didn't go the way in which we were all hoping. Sansa smartly declined Brienne's offer of help, realising it would be futile to flip on Littlefinger at this point, and instead sent the warrior on her way, but not before a huge fight broke out and almost saw the delightful Podrick lose his life. It's shot perfectly with action just pulsating and ready to burst out before the big escape is made. This is how television fantasy drama should be done, and at this point Game of Thrones is a pro at delivering.
On The Wall, Jon Snow is offered the Stark name by Stannis, but because of his newfound loyalty to his vows - ones he's already broken by sleeping with a Wildling named Ygritte - he passes up the chance to preserve his honour. Here we see Ned Stark's influence on Jon shine through, but the bastard-born son should do well to remember exactly where Ned's head now rests. Still, things look up for Jon regardless when a timely election takes place and close friend Sam puts Snow forward in a tightly-contested battle for Lord Commander.
Each member of the Night's Watch is given the power to vote, and the person who has the most votes at the end of all proceedings is named new Lord Commander. Who else to take up that role than Jon Snow? He wins - but only just - and Alliser Thorne for one is not a happy Crow.
We also here return to Shireen's story. She's a youngster marred by Greyscale and is growing closer to Gilly, but the former's strange mother continues to be an overbearing pain in the backside and warns her offspring to stay away from Gilly.
Then came the union of Jaime Lannister and former bodyguard to Tyrion, Bronn, the two of which are heading to Dorne in a bid to take home Myrcella Lannister. Jaime is going after a verbal beatdown from his 'one true love' Cersei, and Bronn is simply doing it to reap the rewards. Though Myrcella being saved would be great for the girl and the Lannister family as a whole, neither of this pair have her best interests at heart and instead are doing this for selfish reasons. Still, this is a magical duo that should provide some brilliant content on-screen - seeing where they go from here will be a real treat.
Cersei is taking charge back at King's Landing despite her son being the real leader, knocking down Grand Maester Pycelle a peg or two - if he's any pegs left - and adding the eerie Qyburn into the mix. Uncle Kevan Lannister knows exactly what his niece is up to however and has had enough, rejecting his position within the council and making plans to leave the city.
Introductions are also made in this hour-long episode, as we get a glimpse for the first time of Prince Oberyn Martell's brother, Doran Martell. It's at this point that we're also brought up to date with the condition of Oberyn's lover Ellaria Sand - she's a woman scorned, back in her home country and looking for revenge against the Lannisters. The setting is beautiful, the acting is of course top of the range, but there's just not enough time given to Dorne to allow it to really shine just yet.
And of course, Tyrion is still drinking his way across Essos with Varys by his side, the pair wondering just why they were cursed with their current positions when the two of them could do a great job at leading in a world full of those calling themselves King or Queen, but rarely acting as such.
Game of Thrones season 5 continues with episode 3 next Monday, April 27 at 9pm on Sky Atlantic.
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