Mini-Review: Game of Thrones "Dragonstone"

The topic of this post was voted on by the members of my Facebook group HERE WE STAND. If you would like to vote on future posts, feel free to join.

I'm hoping to get more reviews out by doing this mini-review format. If I want to go into actual depth on this show I'll do so via multi-vlog reviews or other posts.

In this review of the Game of Thrones episode "Dragonstone" there will be spoilers. So if you haven't seen the episode, stop reading now and go see it before continuing.

The Opening Scene

This opening scene for the episode and season was more than awesome. An opening of a premiere should draw viewers in and make them super hyped for the season. This opening does that beautifully.

Arya Stark, taking on the identity of Walder Frey, murders every Frey she can round up. She makes them all believe they are having another feast just to have them all murdered.

I was not disappointed about her choice.

While a reading could be made of Arya letting some live as proof of her still having compassion, there is another angle to it. A darker angle involving her needing others to know of what she did. So those who have wronged her family will be aware in advance of what will happen to them.

I wonder what effect her committing murders, however justified, and claiming the North did it will have. How will that affect Jon Snow's hold on the North? Could Littlefinger use Arya's need for vengeance to make himself stronger?

As the opening draws to a close, one of my favorite parts happens: Arya smiles.

It's so creepy and awesome!

The Mad Queen Cersei

Jaime Lannister loves Cersei Lannister. That doesn't mean he's stupid as he has become cautious ever since coming back to King's Landing at the end of last season. She even admits Jaime is a little more distant from her.

This hopefully means that he will leave Cersei's side by the end of the season. I don't expect it to be an easy decision for him as he does still love her.

Cersei makes a deal with Euron Greyjoy. You know, the guy who murdered his own brother and doesn't seem to be the sanest of people. She doesn't agree to his terms right away but it does seem very evident that she will form an alliance with him. She'll probably do her usual thing of looking at things in the short term and ignore the long term effects.
Thereby getting royally screwed by Euron. And I don't mean that in an entirely figurative sense.

The man who plays Euron Greyjoy gave a different performance in this episode than in Season 6. It was a very welcome change as he now has charisma. I both want to punch the man and smile at his jokes.

Jorah's Greyscale

Jorah Mormont was only shown briefly in the episode but it left a big impact on me. Mainly because he's my favorite character of the series and I've been worried about him ever since we last saw him in Season 6.

From his brief conversation with Sam Tully, it seems as if he has given up finding a cure. Maybe the maesters are moving at Ent-like speed to find the cure or maybe they're not bothering anymore. If they had truly given up on him he would be sent away. Or maybe that's only done if the person's greyscale has progressed too far.

I don't think Jorah or Daenerys Targaryen truly thought he could find a cure. I think she sent him on the quest as a way to show him that she truly forgave him. All he wants to do is serve her and her last order to him was a gift of service. She did say she couldn't think of ruling the Seven Kingdoms without him by her side so it could also be wishful hoping on her part.

I like people who have given theories saying dragonglass cures greyscale. I like people who say that Sam will find a way to cure Jorah's greyscale. I like people that give me any kind of hope that my favorite will last until the end of the series. Maybe in the bed of the woman he loves or maybe not. But at least he'll be alive.

I wonder if Jorah has told many people about his identity. Remember he had to flee Westeros or face execution for selling people into slavery. I doubt he would use the royal pardon as Daenerys, his love, is coming to conquer the Seven Kingdoms. I don't know if he even still has it at this point anyways.

So it would be safer to hide who he really is so as to have a better chance at getting a cure. I'm assuming hiding his identity is much easier to do in Westeros than in our world.

Sam might not have any way to find out who Jorah is unless the man tells him. So best bet is for Sam to start talking about Jeor Mormont and engage Jorah in that way.

Rating: 4.5/5

Additional Notes:
*Actor who played Walder Frey showed skill with playing his usual character and giving hints of Arya Stark
*Ed Sheeran's cameo was short and nothing to get angry about
*Daenerys Targaryen's arrival at Dragonstone was extremely well shot and reflected what arriving there meant to the woman
*There is mention of the Dragonpit so hopefully that's a clue we'll see it this season
*Sam Tully says no maester believes him, but by one's reply it seems more that the maesters don't believe the White Walkers are a threat rather than fully dismissing the idea of the creatures
*Sam sending Jon Snow a raven about dragon glass in Dragonstone will probably be the catalyst for an alliance between Jon and Daenerys
*Daenerys took a long time to make her way to Dragonstone which means Jorah had a long time to make his way to the Citadel