This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at DePauw chapter.
It’s the moment all of us Game of Thrones fans have been waiting for–the beginning of season 6. Episode 1: “The Red Woman” aired on Sunday, and everyone is freaking out. Here are the highlights in case you missed it. Major spoilers ahead.
Season 6 started right where season 5 left off. Everyone’s worst fears have finally been confirmed–Jon Snow is very, very dead. And mutiny is not a cute way to go. Those still loyal to Jon at Castle Black have taken his body and Edd (Jon’s BFF who helped him escape the White Walkers at Hardhome) heads out to see if the Wildlings will help them out. If he doesn’t get there in time, it’s not looking good for Jon’s remaining buddies. And PS–does that blood stain look at all like a dragon?
Another question on everyone’s mind has been answered–could Theon and Sansa have survived that fall? Indeed they did, and they’re on the run. Roose Bolton is not pleased, blaming Ramsay for torturing Sansa and then losing her, their most valuable pawn. Ramsay’s hounds are already after them and despite wading across a freezing river to mask their trail, it doesn’t take long for the dogs to find them. Just in time, Brienne and Podrick show up and save the day. In a super feminist, beautiful, kick-ass moment in the snow Brienne pledges her service to Sansa once again. This time, Sansa accepts. Girl power.
In Braavos, our girl Arya isn’t doing so hot. She disobeyed the Many-Faced God at the end of season 5 and had her eyesight taken as a result. Now she sits on the streets and begs for money and food. The Waif shows up, hands her a fighting stick and proceeds to mercilessly beat up the blind girl (that can’t be good karma). Arya complains that she can’t fight because she’s blind, and the Waif does not seem to care. She tells Arya she’ll be back tomorrow. Sounds like fun?
Once again Danaerys finds herself surrounded by Dothraki, but this time she’s not their Khaleesi. Truly they don’t give a darn who she is, until she tells their Kahl that she’s Kahl Drogo’s widow. It seems great at first because he says he won’t rape her now (thanks a bunch), but then he tells her she has to go live out her days in Vaes Dothrak with all of the other Kahl widows. We assume it’s tough to take back the Iron Throne from there.
In Dorne, it seems like Ellaria is finally getting along with Doran. They’re all joking and buddying around until Doran receives a message saying Myrcella has been killed. If you’ll recall, Ellaria gave Myrcella the literal kiss of death at the end of season 5 before she got back on a ship to go home to her mom. As he’s reading the message, Ellaria stabs him as the sandsnakes (still a super cool name) and takes out his top guys. The guards all basically just stand there, so they’re no help. If you were thinking Trystane would avenge his death, don’t count on it. They killed him too. It’s hard to hate those girls when they’re so badass, though. Ellaria assures Doran before he dies that weak men will never rule Dorne again.
In one of the sadder moments in the episode we see Cersei get really stoked to see her daughter. She was beaten down a lot at the end of season 5, and when she runs out to see Myrcella’s ship come in and instead sees Jaime standing next to her body, it’s downright tear-jerking. I was thinking this would tear them apart, but Jaime and Cersei have a conversation that leaves them more determined than ever to seek vengeance on everyone who’s taken anything from them. That may be a long list.
Finally, the episode ended on an interesting note. Melisandre (the titular character, also called The Red Woman) is stuck in some bunker in Castle Black with Ser Davos and those loyal to Jon. We see her enter a room by herself to go to bed, but before she does she removes all of her clothes–ending with that necklace she’s always wearing. When she removes the necklace, we see her for who she really is. And WOW she’s old. But hey, it’s easier to conquer the world when you’re sexy. It’s clear Melisandre may be doubting her powers. She had a vision of Jon fighting at Winterfell, and it’s not looking like that’s going to happen any time soon. She’s seen resurrection before. Does she believe she’ll be able to resurrect Jon? Would she even try? Did she really believe Stannis would be king, and had her faith shaken with his downfall? Well buckle up Starks and Lannisters, because we have nine more episodes in this season to find out. Valar Morghulis.