Game of Thrones Season 6 Review

Hello everyone and welcome back to the blog! Today, I am back with another season review of Game of Thrones. I got to say, I was kind of nervous about season 6. I remember hearing it wasn’t a well-liked season, and this is where the downfall of the show begins. There is so much to cover, so let’s get into it!

Obviously, we have to start with the fact that Jon Snow was resurrected. Melissandre was able to bring him back and now Jon wants to leave the Night’s Watch. However, before we can follow through on his decision, he is reunited with Sansa. This was the reunion we have all been waiting for. Finally, a Stark family reunion. I felt like I could let out a sigh of relief seeing Sansa with Jon Snow, finally safe. It was honestly so touching to see these characters reunited after being apart for 5 seasons especially after all they had gone through.

Honestly, this was a big character development season for Sansa. With her loss of innocence that naïve little girl is gone. She’s done relying on others to protect her and care for her. The only person she can rely on is herself. As she tells Jon before the Battle of the Bastards, no one can protect her. And we can see this realization take effect. She’s cold towards Baelish, she’s hard on Jon during the battle planning, and takes matters into her own hands to secure Jon more men.

The Battle of the Bastards was so good. This was good tv; one of the best tv battles I’ve ever seen, and I think (for me) that’s because of how stark the characters of Jon and Ramsey are. Ramsey comes in cocky, knowing he has the upper hand because he has the bigger army, he has Rickon Stark as a prisoner, and he has the defensive advantage.

When Jon rides out to Rickon he’s no longer acting as a Commander but as a brother, and this is the first blow. Jon’s acting on emotion, and we all know how that usually turns out.

Seeing Rickon run towards Jon while Ramsey shoots arrows, you know what’s going to happen, but you’re hoping against all odds you’re wrong. And just when you think it’s going to be okay, you see Jon reaching out his hand, Rickon within reach, the shot of the arrow landing at Rickon’s feet, and then BAM—arrow through the heart. I was speechless.

Jon plays right into Ramseys’ hand just like Sansa said. She said, “he wants you to make the obvious mistake,” and Jon did. Now he’s stranded in front of Ramsey’s army which causes his army to charge prematurely. This ruins their formation and shows that Jon isn’t a flawless military genius.

But in true Jon Snow fashion he doesn’t turn around and run, he stands there, unsheathes his sword, and prepares to fight a battle he knows he isn’t going to win. I would also like to think that Jon dropping his sheath was him accepting the fact that the odds are against him and he won’t survive. He was accepting the fact that he would never sheath his sword again.

This was also different from any battle that I’ve seen before because this wasn’t focused on sword fighting, there were huge piles of bodies, people climbing up bodies to get out, hell, Jon almost suffocates. Those shots were insane.

Jon's desperate struggle to reach the surface is one of the episode's most memorable sequences. The camera stays close to him, making the audience experience battle as panic and confusion rather than glory. Insane. Just when things can’t get worse, Ramsey’s army forms the Shield wall and slowly compresses Jon’s army in on themselves in a circle. Their only way out is to climb up the mountain of bodies and fight the rest of Ramsey’s army that way. They can’t break through the shield wall. But then, just like in the Battle of Helm’s Deep, there is a Gandalf saving grace moment because Sansa called in the Vale’s army.

The Vale’s army comes in at the last possible minute and saves Jon’s army from total defeat. I heard this move by Sansa was a little controversial, but I think it shows that she doesn’t fully trust anyone (even Jon), and that she has learned political secrecy most likely from Baelish. Another important part of her character development.

The most interesting part about his battle are the two opposing forces Jon vs. Ramsey. Jon is the type of leader who inspires people. They trust him and ultimately want to fight for him. Whereas Ramsey leads through fear, and hi people wouldn’t stay and fight for him.

Ultimately, Jon almost beats Ramsey to death. For a second I thought he actually did. But he stops, and it’s important he stopped because he lets Sansa decide Ramsey’s fate. Her feeding him to his own dogs also shows how she’s changed and hardened.

Important outcomes from the battle: The Starks claim Winterfell again, battles cannot be worn on heroism alone…you need allies and loyalty, and Jon becomes King in the North.

Another important point I want to elaborate on. Jon is named King in the North, which is interesting because on paper he’s an odd choice. He’s a bastard and has no legal claim to Winterfell, he’s a or was a member of the Night’s Watch, and he doesn’t actively seek out power. But the North knows he fought at the wall, united enemies against the White Walkers, and died for his principles. This calls back to the scene when Robb Stark was named King in the North. The differences being Robb is of noble birth and has military victories. Jon’s kinship comes from personal sacrifice and loyalty.

The irony of all this is Jon gets what he doesn’t want. He didn’t want to be Lord Commander, he didn’t want to be king, he didn’t want to take back Winterfell, etc.

We also need to talk about the phrase “King in the North” because it suggests independence from the crown, from the iron throne, and it suggests that Northern identity matters more than the crown.

This entire scene is met with even more irony because in the next scene Bran is there when Lyanna Stark gives birth, and the audience finds out that Jon is legitimate. He is a Stark, and Ned Stark isn't his father. Which I find it so interesting that honorable Ned let the world think he had a bastard child.

Now, there was a moment during all the triumph of Jon becoming King in the North where Sansa has a look on her face. The camera shows her and then shows Baelish. I thought this was a weird moment between those characters, but I think it’s Baelish knowing the mixed emotions Sansa is feeling.

Sansa was a big help in winning the battle, I mean, they only won because of her. There’s relief in claiming Winterfell again, and she’s proud of Jon, but it feels like there might also be some tension there as well. Considering how they’ve already butted heads before the battle, I think that’s foreshadowing for later seasons.

Before we transition away from the Starks, let’s touch on Bran and his powers. We see him continuing his apprenticeship under the 3-eyed raven. Through his travels, we learn the truth behind Hodor’s disability. It seems that future Bran altered the past in some weird time loop. When Hodor was young, he has some kind of episode/breakdown that effects his speech for the rest of his life. He can only say “Hodor.” We learn through the attack led by the White Walkers Bran’s consciousness overlaps the past and present. Wylis (young Hodor) experiences Bran’s command in the future: “Hold the door.” That phrase is distorted through trauma into “Hodor.” In the present, Hodor dies while physically holding the door shut against the White Walkers.

When I tell you I was so surprised by this turn of events. I get chills thinking about it. Hodor being a manipulated jumble of words for “hold the door” which is the command that leads to his death. I’m speechless. It’s also crazy that Bran had affected the past in some weird time loop that my brain literally can’t wrap around. Hodor exists because of Bran, because of what he will end up doing. Which makes you question, was Hodor ever really free? Or was he always destined to become a sacrifice? Truly one of the saddest deaths so far.

Moving forward, let’s jump to the Lannisters at King’s Landing because a lot of crazy things happened.

One being the Faith’s influence over the King Tommen. The High Sparrow is a different kind of political player. He’s not motivated by wealth, power, etc. All Cersei’s manipulation tactics don’t work on him. Which honestly feels like it makes him even more dangerous.

He has Tommen believe that faith and the crown are the two pillars needed to balance the world. Cersei and Jaime hate this because it feels like the High Sparrow is holding their son captive with his way of thinking.

But honestly, I feel like you have to ask yourself why isn’t the High Sparrow going after Tommen and Jaime?

Think about it, the High Sparrow, although he is not motivated by wealth, status, etc, he is still a skilled political player. He just chooses his battles carefully. His goal is to elevate the faith, and Tommen is the perfect person to influence to bring the crown and the faith together. Tommen is more useful to the High Sparrow as king, so he takes Tommen under his wing. He also cannot just outright accuse Tommen of being illegitimate when he doesn’t have any proof. Plus, he would’ve been arresting the king. This would strain the entire political order and cause more chaos than the Faith could most likely handle.

This also ties into why the High Sparrow doesn’t go after Jaime. He has no proof Jaime committed incestual acts. Also, he would be coming after one of the greatest warriors ever. But he does challenge Jaime in other ways…he stops the Lannister when Margaery is about to make her walk of atonement, he openly refuses to be intimidated, and he uses the Faith Militant as a counter to the Lannister’s military power.

The High Sparrow is also a skilled political player because he knows the bounds in which he can operate. Arresting Tommen and Jaime would’ve been more than the Faith could handle. He could arrest Cersei because she had admitted to multiple sins/crimes. The Faith had Lancel who confessed to having a relationship with Cersei and in general, her adultery. The High Sparrow is able to dismantle her power, along with Margaery’s. There was enough evidence for him to arrest both.

It’s ironic that Cersei is the one that gave the Faith so much power in the first place. She empowered them, let them have more rule and it ultimately removed her authority, her power, her dignity, etc.

Which brings me to my next talking point, Cersei blowing up the Sept of Baelor with Wildfire. This was honestly crazy. I didn’t expect this at all.

First, Margaery is the first one to notice Cersei and Tommen’s absence. This is telling because while everyone else is focused on the trials, Margaery is trying to figure out “why Cersei would willingly not show up?” It’s not like her to openly lose…which means there’s a greater threat. When she realizes this, she immediately tries to leave but can’t.

This is the second time we’ve seen Wildfire used. The first time was the Battle of Blackwater when Stannis attacked King’s Landing. Cersei abandons this idea of playing the game and tries to use this overwhelming force of nature to not just kill her enemies but erase them entirely. And this removes several big, key players from the game – we lose the Faith and the High Sparrow, and we lose the Tyrells (minus the grandmother).

Tommen sees this destruction. He loses his wife, who he loved and cared for very deeply, he uses his faith structure/guide, and he loses his purpose. Tommen unlike Joffrey, does not believe in responding with violence, we have seen this multiple times throughout the show.

The irony here is that, Cersei was doing everything she could to protect her last surviving child only to lose him in the end anyways. Plus, his death is a callback to Bran falling out the window from catching Jaime and Cersei together in Winterfell. It feels like a very tragic, full circle moment.

Now Cersei is queen but she’s become queen through fear. Similar to Ramsey Bolton who willingly killed his own father, he ruled with fear. We all saw what happened to him. Those who rule through fear create enemies fast, and I have a feeling she will not be queen for long. Not when she’s also almost entirely alone.

I also want to comment on Cersei’s outfits in the last episode of season 6 (specifically), but I told my husband she really is serving evil queen vibes with her black wardrobe. Even the coronation was somber and not like the others we’ve seen before. This adds to the sinister side to the Lannisters and how far Cersei is willing to go to protect her family, her power, etc. It adds to the dark tension and creates a stunning visual.

One of the last things I have to talk about is Arya killing Walder Frey. First of all, yes, please avenge the Stark family for the Red Wedding. That was so diabolical, I still can’t think about it. But this is one of the best revenge scenes.

Arya has left the temple of the Faceless God because their whole schtick is that you need to be no one, remove your entire identity, etc. Arya leaves because she no longer agrees with their philosophy. She realizes she isn’t no one; she’s Arya Stark.

Throughout the entire show, we’ve heard Arya whisper her list of names. Walder Frey is one of the most important names on there. Killing Walder Frey is such an important task for her because the whole reason she wants him dead is because he killed her family.

The death is honestly pretty violent, gruesome, and horrible, and she kills him in the place he felt untouchable, his own home. I’m not saying he didn’t deserve it because he definitely did, but this also shows how violence has shaped Arya and how powerful she has become. Much like Sansa becoming more of a political player, Arya is becoming a strong player as well. Each of the Stark kids are growing and learning what it takes to survive in Westeros.

Lastly, Daenerys has finally sailed for Westeros! I can’t imagine having watched this show live and waiting six years for her to make that journey. It’s a dramatic scene but everything is coming together for her. She has her army, her ships, her dragons, and her power. Which makes you think about what happens to destined rulers. I’m very excited to see how her story unfolds in season seven and eight with her in Westeros. It will also be interesting to see how Westeros comes to meet her expectations. What does she think vs. what has she fantasized or thought about prior to coming over.

We do need to take a moment for Tyrion becoming Hand of the Queen. Talk about such a poetic full circle moment. Him and Daenerys are both characters who have just been trying to survive, felt like outsiders, and have been rejected by their families. I like their relationship; I like that Tyrion is able to use his knowledge and support a leader he believes in.

Overall, season six was honestly fantastic. It really did exceed my expectations. Going into the last two seasons I am scared about the downfall of the show. I just can’t believe a show this great was fumbled so hard. I will be back with my season seven thoughts and analysis!

Alright folks, that is all I have for this week! Come back next week for another blog post. As always, thank you for reading :)