She may be immune to fire, but Daenerys Targaryen on last night's episode proved why Game of Thrones is still one of the hottest shows on television.
The episode called “Book of the Stranger” took season six off the ice of the North and brought it back to the blood and fire of the Targaryens.
Be warned of spoilers about what could actually be one of the happiest Game of Thrones episodes so far. At least for most of the characters that is.
Children Of The North
Before we go across the sea to the mother of dragons, lets start with a long overdue family reunion up north in Castle Black with Sansa Stark and the newly resurrected Jon Snow. The rightful heir to Winterfell went through hell in season five and everyone breathed an ecstatic sigh of relief to finally see her lock eyes with her bastard brother.
Not only that, they spend the entire next scene chatting, catching up and even smiling! Is this really Game of Thrones? Is George R.R. Martin actually hiding behind a stone wall ready to deliver a fatal, unexpected blow to one of the Starks lest we forget that this show is driven by death, blood and dragons?
However, it is clear that after having seen nothing that awaits him beyond death, Jon Snow wants nothing more to do with war and death, while Sansa wants to lead an army to retake her birthright. Looks like the half-siblings might part ways once more.
It also looks like Sansa may have the help she already needs. Back in Eyrie, Littlefinger, still placing his chess pieces exactly where he wants them, convinces Lord Robin and others at the Vale to join him in rallying behind Sansa to reclaim the North and Winterfell.
Theon Greyjoy also has a reunion of his own back in the Iron Islands. Almost like his first return back home, he is not exactly welcomed back with open arms. His sister, Yara, accuses him of turning his back on the Iron born when she tried to rescue him and is suspicious he has only returned to become Commander of Pyke.
However, Theon assures her that he wants no such position and only wants to help her rule the Iron Islands.
Sadly, while family reunions are underway in the Northern lands of Westeros, one reunion does not end quite so happily. Osha, back after several seasons in Winterfell, attempts to seduce Ramsay, the “Lord of Winterfell.” Unfortunately, Ramsay knew about her part in helping Brandon and Rickon Stark escape.
Although the wildling make one last valiant attempt to reach for a knife on a table to save herself, she ends up as yet another body to add to the psychotic Ramsay's pile.
Stopping the murderous rampage of Ramsay is exactly the reason Jon Snow needed to get back into action. After receiving a letter threatening to destroy the Night's watch, torture and rape Sansa yet again, and mutilate the former Lord Commander, Jon Snow decides to rally his remaining men and wildlings to make a stand against Bolton's army of 5,000.
Sansa assures her brother, saying that they will get the support they need.
"Northern families are loyal. They'll fight for you if you ask. A monster has taken our home and our brother. We have to go back to Winterfell and save them both,” she says.
Down South
As we said, this episode wasn't all about snow and ice. Down south in King's Landing, the embers are still being kindled as High Sparrow attempts to bend the Tyrells even more by sharing the pain of his own past as a drunk and gambling philanderer who saw the error in his ways. While Margaery's will remains strong, Loras seems to want nothing more than to make all the pain go away.
Cersei did not disappoint in this episode, too. A surprising alliance is made between the Queen Regent of Westeros and the Queen of Thorns, Lady Olenna.
Not wanting Margaery to go through a walk of Atonement like Cersei did last season, both Cersei and Jaime Lannister plot to allow House Tyrell's forces into King's Landing so they will have enough men to arrest the High Sparrow.
Although the plan could backfire and ignite a civil war, Lady Olenna says:
“Many people will die no matter what. Better them than us.”
On The Other Side Of The World
Meanwhile, back in Meereen, Tyrion announces to the various slave masters his plan to end the slave trade in a period of seven years — in complete contrast to the immediate results Dany would have wanted. Her loyal advisors Missandei and Grey Worm, voice their objections to the plan, warning Tyrion that he does not understand what it truly means to be a slave, and the slavers will only use him in the end.
As they try to run the city without their Queen, Jorah and Daario finally reached Vaes Dothrak to rescue Dany. Jorah also unwittingly reveals his Greyscale to Daario before setting off into the holy Dothraki city where weapons are not allowed.
However, the prohibition against spilling blood meant nothing to Daario, who smuggled in a knife, which was used when he rescued Jorah during a street brawl with two Dothraki.
As they make their way toward her, Daenerys has learned of the abuse the Dosh Khaleen suffered from their deceased husbands, and she vows to give them the protection they never had before.
This is when she was finally reunited with the two men who constantly bicker about who loves her more. Much to both men's surprise, instead of running away with them, Dany has other plans in mind.
Born Of Fire
In the very same hall from season one where her Sun and Stars, Khal Drogo declared to the Dothraki how he would lead them for the first time across the Narrow Sea to conquer Westeros, Dany looks in disgust at how the current Khals, especially Khal Moro, only talk about ransacking small villages and raping women.
“You are small men. None of you are fit to lead the Dothraki. But I am... So I will,” she says boldly.
Keeping true to her promise to break the wheels of power, Dany takes hold of her destiny and overturns a fiery brazier one by one, until the entire structure burns and all the khals are helpless within.
Just like she did in the final episode of season one, “Fire and Blood.” Dany emerges reborn from the flames, naked and facing not just one khalasar, but the entire Dothraki nation bowing before her and ready to follow her anywhere — back to Meereen to take on the slave masters, or even all the way to Westeros where she can take the Iron Throne.
Winter is coming on Game of Thrones with the threat of the White Walkers still to be dealt with, but with the new fire burning inside Daenerys, it may not be long now before we finally see that epic battle between Ice and Fire.
