GAME OF THRONES - Season 5 - "The House of Black and White" | ©2016 HBO
Stars: Peter Dinklage, Nicolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Maisie Williams, Aiden Gillen, Stephen Dillane, Liam Cunningham, Carice van Houten, John Bradley, Sophie Turner, Hannah Murray, Conleth Hill, Gwendoline Christie, Jerome Flynn, Michiel Huisman, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jacob Anderson, Daniel Portman, Tom Wlaschiha, Reece Noi
Writers: David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, series created by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, based on George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire”
Director: Michael Slovis
Network: HBO, Sundays @ 9 PM
Airdate: April 17, 2015
As usual, GAME OF THRONES delivers with “The House of Black and White” being no different.
Arya (Maisie Williams) travels to Braavos, but to her dismay, she is initially turned away by a strange man at the House of Black and White, where she had hoped to be trained to be a “faceless” assassin like her old ally Jaqen H’ghar (Tom Wlaschiha). However, when Arya is accosted on the street and about to take on a gang by herself, the strange man shows up, scares the youths away and transforms into Jaqen. He brings Arya back to the House of Black and White.
Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) and Podrick (Daniel Portman) by chance come across Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) and Petyr Baelish (Aiden Gillen) in a tavern. Sansa declines Brienne’s help and Baelish wants his men to detain her. Brienne and Pod escape – allowing for some cheer-worthy derring-do on our noble swordswoman’s part – but Brienne is still loyal to her oath. She is going to protect Sansa no matter what and she certainly doesn’t trust Baelish. Brienne therefore declares that she and Podrick are going to quietly tail Sansa and Baelish.
Cersei (Lena Headey) is extremely upset when she receives a package from Dorne, containing a pendant owned by her daughter Myrcella. Cersei and her brother (also Myrcella’s father) Jaime (Nicolaj Coster-Waldau) both agree this is a threat, so Jaime determines to go to Dorne to rescue the girl. He doesn’t plan to bring an army, but instead recruits his old sparring partner and Tyrion’s old friend Bronn (Jerome Flynn) for the journey.
In Dorne, Ellaria Sand (Indira Varma), lover of the late and well-loved prince Oberyn Martell, argues in vain with Oberyn’s brother, ruling prince Doran (Alexander Siddig), to kill or mutilate Myrcella in revenge for Oberyn’s death. Ellaria says she has the support of the Sand Snakes (Oberyn’s daughters).
At the Wall, it’s time to elect a new Lord Commander. With one candidate who hates Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and another who’s a lying coward, Sam (John Bradley) nominates Jon for the position. Maester Aemon (Peter Vaughan) breaks the tie by voting for Jon.
In Meereen, Daenerys’ (Emilia Clarke) attempts to play fairly with the murderous assassins known as the Sons of the Harpy result in disaster. One of the Sons is captured, then killed in captivity before his trial by former slave and loyal Daenerys supporter Mossador (Reece Noi). Daenerys feels obliged to have Mossador executed in order to show that the law applies equally to everyone, but she succeeds in alienating most of the freed slaves. When Daenerys is alone, brooding, her missing huge dragon Drogon comes to her briefly before flying away again.
It’s a testament to how convincing the effects are, and how intimidating Drogon is, that we feel a sense of awe when Daenerys has a brief moment with her more-than-grown dragon. She experiences both dread and joy, and we share her sentiments completely. As for the political mess that is swamping Meereen, it could scarcely seem more real-world.
While it’s a good outcome to have Jon elected as the new Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, the real delight in the scenes at the Wall is to see how much Sam is coming into his own and to watch the excellent Bradley play some substantial material.
Jaime and Bronn have the potential to be a great odd couple on the road together and it’s always swell to see Brienne winning in battle. Arya shows every sign of developing into a fierce and terrifying person on her current path, which is as it should be.
Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and Varys (Conleth Hill) have a scene that’s probably not strictly necessary – we got the gist of it in the season opener – but since there is little on television that’s as much fun as watching these two with one another, there’s no reason to complain about it.
Related: TV Review: GAME OF THRONES – Season 5 – “The Wars to Come” – Season Premiere
Related: TV Review: GAME OF THRONES – Season 4 – “The Children” – Season Finale
Related: TV Review: GAME OF THRONES – Season 4 – “The Watchers on the Wall”
Related: TV Review: GAME OF THRONES – Season 4 – “The Mountain and the Viper”
Related: TV Review: GAME OF THRONES – Season 4 – “Mockingbird”
Related: TV Review: GAME OF THRONES – Season 4 – “The Laws of Gods and Men”
Related: TV Review: GAME OF THRONES – Season 4 – “First of His Name”
Related: TV Review: GAME OF THRONES – Season 4 – “Oathkeeper”
Related: TV Review: GAME OF THRONES – Season 4 – “Breaker of Chains”
Related: TV Review: GAME OF THRONES – Season 4 – “The Lion and the Rose”
Related: TV Review: GAME OF THRONES – Season 4 – “Two Swords” – SEASON PREMIERE
AGREE? DISAGREE? LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD – COMMENT BELOW!
Follow us on Twitter at ASSIGNMENT X
Fan us on Facebook at ASSIGNMENT X
Article Source: Assignment X
Article: TV Review: GAME OF THRONES – Season 5 – “The House of Black and White”
Related Posts:
Loading ...
