HomeTVGame of Thrones 7×05 Eastwatch recap

Game of Thrones 7×05 Eastwatch recap

Game of Thrones returned for the fifth episode of the season. The episode saw the return of a long lost character.

If you haven’t seen Game of Thrones season 7 episode 5 yet and don’t want anything spoiled then please stop reading now. If you are up-to-date and want to relive the action then keep on reading.

After showing the location of Eastwatch in the credits, the episode opened up with the aftermath of last week’s battle between the Lannisters and Daenerys (Emilia Clarke). Bronn (Jerome Flynn) and Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) had both survived and pulled themselves from the water gasping.

Jaime complained at Bronn that he could have killed him. Bronn pointed out that Jaime had been charging a dragon. Jaime said he was trying to end the war by killing Dany. Bronn said that no-one was killing Jaime until he got the rewards he was owed.

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Jaime was still in shock at how easily Dany had beaten them. He commented that she was only using one of her three dragons. He looked worried and said he had to get back to tell Cersei (Lena Headey).

Nearby, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) surveyed the wreckage left by Drogon’s fire. The Dothraki did the same and collected weapons from the fallen. The few surviving men of the Lannister and Tarly armies were brought before Dany and Drogon. She gave a speech that she wasn’t Cersei and didn’t want to destroy everything. She wanted to destroy the way things were currently run to make things fairer for the people, not just the privileged few.

Doing things her way, Dany gave the survivors a choice, bend the knee and join her or refuse and die. A few of the Lannisters knelt and the rest followed when Drogon let out a mighty roar. The Tarly army led by Lord Randyll (James Faulkner) and his son Dickon (Tom Hopper) refused to do the same.

Randyll told Dany that Cersei was his queen as she was born in Westeros. Tyrion tried to save Randyll and Dickon and suggested they were sent to Castle Black to serve the Night’s Watch. They still refused to bend the knee. Randyll tried to get Dickon to give in but he stayed with his father. Dany said “Dracarys” and Drogon promptly incinerated them. The rest of the Tarly army bent the knee as Tyrion looked horrified.

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Jaime arrived back at King’s Landing to tell Cersei the bad news. She said they would have to buy mercenaries with the support of the Iron Bank. Jaime tried to explain that he didn’t think they had a chance of winning after seeing Dany and the Dothraki in action. He told her that Tyrion was innocent and that Olenna (Diana Rigg) had confessed to poisoning her son Joffrey. Cersei was furious that Jaime had let her get off easy with poison instead of dying screaming.

Meanwhile, Dany arrived back at Dragonstone on the back of Drogon, he seemed to have recovered well. Jon (Kit Harington) was waiting for her on the clifftop and she landed in front of him. She moved Drogon right in front of Jon who looked rather nervous. The dragon seemed interested in him (could it sense he’s Targaryen?) and Jon plucked up the courage to give it a little pet on the nose. Dany watched curiously and seemed to gain more respect and affection towards Jon for the act.

She commented how beautiful her dragons were and Jon said it wasn’t the word he would have chosen. She looked annoyed and he quickly said they were beautiful beasts. Dany said she viewed them not as beasts but her children.

Jon said she had been quick and asked how things went. Dany said that she had fewer enemies now. She commented how she and Jon both wanted to help people and that they needed to be in a position of power to do so. She began to ask him about the dagger in the heart comment from Davos (Liam Cunningham) but they were interrupted.

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Ser Jorah (Iain Glen) had returned to her after completing his quest to cure his greyscale. Jon said he had known Jorah’s father and that he was a great man. Dany was pleased to hear that Jorah was now cured. He said he wanted to return to her service and she was happy to accept him back.

At Winterfell, Bran aka the Three-Eyed Raven (Isaac Hempstead Wright) was having a warg session. He controlled a group of ravens beyond the Wall and was checking out the enormous army of the dead. His session ended when the Night King spotted the birds. Bran realised that they were marching on Eastwatch and said they needed to send out messages by raven.

At the Citadel, Sam (John Bradley) walked in on a meeting between the Maesters. They were laughing and poking fun at the message from a crippled boy about an undead army. Sam overheard and interrupted them saying the boy must be Bran. He explained how Bran had survived years beyond the Wall and that he had seen the undead. He said that they might be best to listen and take the message seriously. He also suggested that they research the Long Night to try and find a way to defeat the Night King. Maester Ebrose (Jim Broadbent) said they might be able to but they weren’t convinced that it wasn’t just a ploy by Cersei. After Sam left the room they revealed they knew about his father and brother being killed by Dany but decided not to tell him.

Later, Sam had a rant to Gilly (Hannah Murray) about the Maesters. She read out a passage from a book that talked of how Rhaegar Targaryen had annulled his first marriage and married Lyanna Stark. This confirms that Jon is Targaryen and the rightful heir to the Iron Throne! Sam wasn’t paying attention and he stormed off, gathered some books from the restricted section and then said they were leaving. She asked if that was what he wanted and he said he was tired of reading achievements of better men. Will he head to Winterfell?

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At Dragonstone, Tyrion and Varys (Conleth Hill) shared some wine. Varys spoke of how he had served Dany’s father. He suggested that Tyrion find a way to make her listen to them. Tyrion spotted that Varys had a message and asked him about it. He said it was a sealed scroll for Jon. Tyrion knew he would have read it and asked what it said. “Nothing good” Varys replied.

When Jon got the message he couldn’t believe that Arya (Maisie Williams) and Bran were both alive and at Winterfell. He said he needed to go home to deal with the Eastwatch situation. Dany didn’t want to commit her forces to the North yet as Cersei would retake the areas.

Instead a crazy sounding plan was formed. Tyrion would go and talk with Jaime with the help of Davos to get him smuggled into King’s Landing. It was suggested that they needed to give Cersei proof of the undead. Jorah said he would go and capture one. Jon said he was going as well and Dany looked concerned for him. She said she hadn’t given him her permission but he said he needed none. He gave a speech how he trusted her, a stranger, and asked that she do the same to him. She agreed to the plan.

At Winterfell, Sansa (Sophie Turner) struggled to keep the Lords happy. They said that the King of the North should stay there and suggested that they should have chosen Sansa over Jon. She told them that Jon was king and that he was doing what he felt was right. Arya was watching the meeting.

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She followed Sansa to their parent’s chambers which Sansa was now using. Arya commented how Sansa always needed nice things to make her feel better. Arya felt that Sansa should have stood up to the Lords more for Jon. Arya would have had them executed but Sansa felt that was the wrong approach. Arya felt that Sansa wanted to be queen.

Back at King’s Landing, Davos arrived with Tyrion who went off to meet Jaime. Bronn was used to bring Jaime to the meeting. He was shocked to see Tyrion and said he had vowed to cut him in half. Tyrion spoke of the hatred their father had for him. Jaime asked what Tyrion wanted and he explained that Dany would win. He proposed an agreement with Cersei to help fight the army of the dead after they provided proof.

Meanwhile, Davos had some business of his own to attend to in Flea Bottom, the slums area of King’s Landing. He headed for a Blacksmith shop and met with Gendry! (Joe Dempsie). Davos had helped hide him there under Cersei’s nose. He told Gendry that bad things were coming so Gendry grabbed his trusty warhammer and was ready to go.

Back at the boat, Davos and Gendry were challenged by some Lannister guards. They took some gold from Davos as a bribe but then wanted to see in there boat. Davos hid the hammer and sold them a story of how fermented crab worked like Viagra. The guards tried some and seemed pleased while Davos suggested they rush to the nearest brothel. As they were leaving, Tyrion arrived. They recognised him but were promptly hammered by Gendry.

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Jaime went to see Cersei to tell of his meeting with Tyrion. She knew about it and said he wasn’t to betray her again. She suggested that he punish Bronn. He explained that Dany wanted an armistice and help with the army of the dead. Cersei said it might be in their best interest to help and that they would defeat anything. Cersei also revealed that she was pregnant! She said she would tell the people that Jaime was the father.

Back at Dragonstone, Davos wanted Gendry to keep his identity secret. Davos was going to introduce him to Jon but he jumped in and blurted straight out that he was Gendry, son of Robert Baratheon. Jon said he was leaner than his father and Gendry said Jon was shorter than his. Gendry said he was a good fighter and would go with Jon on his mission beyond the Wall.

Before they left there was some nice banter between Jorah and Tyrion. Dany spoke to Jorah and Jon before they left. She told Jon that she had grown used to him.

Back at Winterfell, Arya spent her time keeping an eye on Littlefinger (Aiden Gillen). He seemed oblivious to her watching him. When he returned to his room she saw him take delivery of a scroll. She heard him ask if it was the only copy in Winterfell. After locking it in his room he walked off. Arya couldn’t get in there fast enough and promptly picked the lock.

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Inside she searched and eventually found the scroll hidden in the bed. It was the letter than Cersei forced Sansa to write to Robb Stark in season one. It read:

[blockquote]Robb, I write to you with a heavy heart. Our good king Robert is dead, killed from wounds he took in a boar hunt. Father has been charged with treason. He conspired with Robert’s brothers against my beloved Joffrey and tried to steal his throne. The Lannisters are treating me very well and provide me with every comfort. I beg you: come to King’s Landing, swear fealty to King Joffrey and prevent any strife between the great houses of Lannister and Stark.[/blockquote]

As Arya left the room it was revealed that Littlefinger was watching after all. It seems he’s trying to trick Arya into falling out with her sister. Will Sansa see through it?

The episode ended at Eastwatch but we didn’t get the huge battle we expected, that’s going to be next episode. Jon met with Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) to explain their abduct a wight plan. Tormund thought they were crazy and hoped Jon had brought more to help. He was particular keen to find out if Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) was with them.

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Before heading out Tormund took them to see some prisoners. They had captured the Brotherhood without Banners including the Hound (Rory McCann), Beric Dondarrion (Richard Dormer) and Thoros of Myr (Paul Kaye). Jon said they were on the same side as they were all breathing. The final shot was of the gate at Eastwatch opening.

Watch the official preview trailer from HBO for Game of Thrones 7×05 Eastwatch below:

[brid video=”156541″ player=”531″ title=”Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 5 Preview (HBO)”]

 

Read our preview of episode six.

Let us know your thoughts on Eastwatch in the comments below as well as your hopes for the season.

Game of Thrones season 7 continues at 9pm Mondays on Sky Atlantic in the UK.

Greg Ellwood
Greg Ellwoodhttps://8ce250469d.nxcli.io
Greg is the Deputy Editor of Entertainment Focus. He writes about Games, Tech and TV. You can find him on Xbox/PSN/Steam as Tahllian.

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