Game of Thrones Season 6 Episode 8 Recap

Game of Thrones (2011-)
Season 6 (2016)

Created by: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
Starring: Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Aidan Gillan, Gwendoline Christie

Plot: 
HBO's fantasy drama series adapted from George R.R. Martin's book series A Song of Ice and Fire follows the civil war of kings and usurpers in Westeros who wish to sit one the throne. The scale and scope of the story is staggering, fully realized with a large ensemble cast.

Previously
The big question isn't when the zombie Mountain will fight the trial by combat, but who he will fight. With the Hound alive and well, will he make his way back to King's Landing? He won't be back the next episode, he has to succumb to violence once again and exact his revenge first.

Olenna Tyrell accused Cersei of being powerless and having lost. I bet Cersei takes that to heart, but what will she do? Magaery sent her grandmother back home. Magaery is gaming the High Sparrow, but to what end? Does Tommen know? Lying doesn't seem like his style, but with Magaery, she may have coaxed him.

It looks like the Sansa Stark and Jon Snow led fight against Winterfell will be part of the finale. Sansa has a few secrets from Jon, and I'm sure they will come into play in episodes eight and nine.

What will happen to Arya? I don't see her dying, but her arc has been one of the wildest.

Daenerys is poised to sail to Westeros, so it's time she suffers another setback. What will it be?

Check out my Game of Thrones season 6 recaps. 

Review: Episode 8 - No One
We are so close to the end of this season. I expected an amazing episode and I'm a little disappointed. This was a fair amount of filler without a reveal as big as the Hound in episode seven. On top of that, there were two scenes that seemed to serve little purpose than pure filler.

The actress Arya saved took her counsel and delivered a touching performance. Much good it did Arya. Why did we see the actress? That's because somehow Arya made it through the market and backstage. That actress treats her wounds. There really was no one else in Braavos that could or would help her. Will Arya become an actress, surely not. Arya plans to head West past Westeros, where all the maps stop. Lady Crane gives Arya milk of the poppy to help her recuperate.

In their next scene, Crane is reaching for a potion on a high shelf. I guessed it was for something nefarious, but before we find out the waif kills her. The waif then advances on Arya. Arya flees on a race through the village... a race to the death! Arya sneaks away, though not for long, but she's awfully healthy for the wounds she sustained. The waif is like the T-1000 in Terminator 2, she just doesn't stop. Arya takes a nasty fall that opens her wounds. What's the end game here? Arya is going to live. It would be a crazy twist to have her die, but I don't think the show is willing to commit.
The mad dash is heading towards Arya's sword needle. It an amazing sequence, she slices the candle, sending the room to darkness. Sadly we get no sounds, and no indication of the outcome.
In the next scene, Jaqen sees blood on the floor of the House of Black and White. The waif's face has been sliced off by Arya, hanging on the wall. Jaqen declares the girl is finally no one, Arya declares herself a Stark and states she's going home.

I knew as soon as I saw the group from the Brotherhood without Banners in the wood joking around what would befall them. I didn't wait long.

Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr are hanging the very men the Hound is after, and for the same reason the Hound wants them dead.
Beric agrees to let the Hound hang two of them. Could the Hound join the Brotherhood? That's an interesting proposition. A redemption story for the Hound would be a crazy twist.

Tyrion is proud of his work, red priestesses proclaim Daenerys as the true ruler. Varys isn't as impressed. Varys is heading back to Westeros for allies and ships. They made a good team, though this show is just too big for their story.
Tyrion guilts Greyworm and Missandei into drinking with him. I suppose he's just lonely now. He tells a joke. It's clear Greyworm and Missandei like each other. They all share a laugh, but it's just filler in an episode that should be leading up to something big. The masters return to Meereen with many ships to take back their slaves.

With the slave ships attacking Meereen, Greyworm tells Tyrion he can talk no more. Tyrion's talking put them in this situation.
As I expected when I first saw the slaver fleet, Daenerys arrives to save the day. We see her arrival but nothing else.

Cersei is in a battle of wills with the High Sparrow. He sends one of his underlings to fetch Cersei. She refuses, stating "I choose violence."
An ax to the Mountain's chest doesn't even phase him. He decapitates one of the faith militants, and we finally get a glimpse of his ability and apparent immortality.

Cersei is seething when she's refused the right to stand by her son on the throne. That's after she wasn't even informed of the royal announcement. Also, trial by combat is no longer an option by the King's decree. Those accused will stand trial before those of the faith. I never guessed trial by combat would have been stopped, but I know somehow we'll get to see the Mountain in a fight to the death.

Brienne and Podrick arrive at Riverrun. Brienne tells the Lannister men she wishes to speak to Jamie and that she has his sword. He gave it to her in season four to help her find Sansa.
Bronn and Poderick meet again. Bronn hates how women flock to Jamie. He liked working more with Tyrion in that regard. The conversation is out of place with such a large story.

Jamie is surprised Brienne even found Sansa. Sansa wants the Tully army to fight for Winterfell, but they are defending Riverrun from the Lannisters. Brienne proposes Jamie allow the Tullys to head North safely in exchange for Riverrun. Jamie agrees if the Blackfish agrees. Brienne informs Jamie that she would be bound to fight with the Blackfish against Jamie if it comes to it.
Brienne convinces the Blackfish to at least read Sansa's letter, but Brynden isn't willing to lead his men to Winterfell.

Jamie apologizes to Edmure for the poor treatment by the Freys. Edmure asks Jamie how he lives with himself. Jamie launches into his admiration of how Catelyn and Cersei love their children. Jamie wants to get back to Cersei. If he has to murder all of the Tullys, that's what he'll do. He doesn't care about the Tullys, but he cares about Cersei. Jamie threatens to murder Edmure's son if he must.

Jamie frees Edmure. Edmure demands entry into Riverrun, but Brynden denies it. The men mutiny, claiming they must obey the rightful lord of Riverrun. Brynden knows it's a trap.
Edmure commands the men to lay down their arms and open the gates. He also commands them to put the Blackfish in irons and give him to the Freys. Brynden helps Brienne and Pod escape. The Blackfish dies fighting. If he had taken Brienne's deal at least the men would still be armed.
Jamie sees Brienne escape and waves her off. No one else sees her.
Why didn't Edmure's men do anything when the Blackfish told the Freys to slit Edmure's throat?
Jamie presumably is headed back to King's Landing. He won't be happy with Cersei's trial. He just talked to Edmure about his savage love for her, so I'm guessing a fight happens. Jamie could be a character the show kills off.