Full of spoilers.
As per tradition, in its seventh episode of season six Game of Thrones slowed its pace close to a grinding halt. We're back to catching up with characters spread across its world with a few surprises thrown in.
For a show best known for killing off its popular characters, there sure seem to be a lot of them coming back this season. Say hello to The Hound.
Clegane's presence backs fan theory that he'll soon face off with his brother. Back from the dead, Sandor Clegane is a changed man, sort of. Thanks in part to Brother Ray who brought him back to life. Ray is what the High Sparrow should have been, genuinely reformed, interested in stemming all violence, leading and helping lead a peaceful life. The High Sparrow is powerful and successful because he plays the game just like the rest of them. A lesson reinforced by the fate Ray and his followers meet. So consider that time in the pastures a brief interlude from the violence to come.
Everyone responds differently to second chances. A reformed Margaery is dropping verses from the Book of the Mother while keeping a straight face as the High Sparrow offers her advice on everything from her sex life to her grandmother's safety. As polite as he is cunning, he convinces her that she needs to send Olenna away. But Margaery mirrors the Sparrow's every move. While playing the pious Queen she slips Olenna the Highgarden rose in a scrap of paper, revealing where her true faith lies.
On her way out, Olenna locks horns with Cersei. “I wonder if you might be the most horrible person I’ve ever met.” The surprise here is Cersei's forbearance at the insults thrown at her. Hopefully, this reformative arc is not an omen for how her trial will go. We all know GOT's thumb rule: the nicer you are, the deader your fate.
Just ask Jon Snow whose resurrection continues to be used as a sales pitch to get people to fight for him. It's working on the wildlings but, unfortunately, not on the great houses of the North. Jon's speeches may not be having the desired effect but fear not. We heard another one make speech after speech and she got to walk through fire triumphantly. Fingers crossed, the battle with the Boltons will make up for Jon's current dullness. Dying really did take the life out of him.
Having her marriage to Ramsay thrown in her face is not going down well with Sansa who sends a raven out, possibly a call for outside help. If this is how Littlefinger comes back to the scene, that seed of discord was well planted.
Without a doubt, the highlight of this episode is 10-year-old Lady Lyanna, head of House Mormont. This kid is Jorah the Explorer's cousin and has ten times the gumption he does. Somebody sit her on the Iron Throne. She has more sense and tenacity than the rest of the claimants combined.
The Greyjoy siblings have sailed to Volantis (note the teardrop tattoo under the eye of the slaves) and plan on journeying to Mereen to ally with the Dragon Queen. These two are fast becoming a motley crew the show doesn't know how to use. The only point of curiosity is what they can offer Daenerys when their uncle Euron will bring her a thousand ships and the horn to control dragons.
Jaime donned his Lannister armour to lead an army to Riverrun's doorstep to end the siege and the Frey's miserable attempts at blackmailing. Jaime has a formidable army and the king's command on his side, but the Blackfish parleys with him Jaime only to say “Sieges are dull, I wanted to see you in person.”
Lyanna Mormont and the Blackfish. That's a road-trip drama waiting to be written. If GOT's looking for spin-off ideas, I'd watch these two set Westeros straight all day.
Meanwhile, Arya is skipping through Braavos, dropping money and booking passage to Westeros like she didn't just defy the House of Black and White. We now know what The Waif's idea of not letting her "suffer too much" meant. Three quick stabs to the gut and all of Arya's plans are askew.
Arya's survival is the cliffhanger the show wants to leave us with, but are we forgetting something?
Brotherhood without Banners, the group responsible for the slaughter earlier in the episode. Their aim had been to protect the defenceless common man in the war-torn areas of the Riverlands. Why, then, are they on a murderous rampage?
Two words. Lady Stoneheart. (Click at the risk of further spoilers and getting your hopes up for the appearance of an intriguing new character.)
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 "Game of Thrones review season 6 episode 7")
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