Game of Thrones Season 7, Episode 5, ‘Eastwatch’ Review: Surprises, Revelations, And Sibling Tension

Last week’s “The Spoils of War” gave me a hard time to sleep. But now, as another episode “Game of Thrones” episode went past us, everything had me on edge yet again. Season 7, episode 5 brings us “Eastwatch,” and it teases lots of good, meaty details.

First, come the surprises of the episode. We learn that Cersei is pregnant right after we also learn that Jaime is alive. Gendry makes his return, the only living heir of Robert Baratheon who we last saw sailing back to King’s Landing. He’s now alive and bashing Lannister heads in with a hammer and also striking up a very intense bromance with Jon Snow. The notable tension between the Stark sisters is also present, with Sansa shutting down whatever Arya plans when it comes to a violent takeover. Sansa’s diplomatic rule over Winterfell kind of ticked Arya off, as Sansa refused to resort to violence if ever their people try to undermine them.

In the midst of all these reunions and surprises, the story shifted its course as well. Jon is now “uniting the league” as they altogether venture out beyond the Wall to kidnap a living (but basically dead—also as per suggestion by Daenerys’ hand Tyrion), breathing White Walker. This is so they could prove to Cersei their point about the looming zombie threat that’s about to take over the entire Westeros. Completing their mini-Justice League is the Brotherhood Without Banners—Beric Dondarrion, Thoros, Anguy and newcomer Sandor Clegane.

(Is it me or are the White Walkers taking a very long time trying to reach the Wall?)

“Game of Thrones: Eastwatch” was also a bridging episode, as it links Daenerys’ dragon’s fire-breathing capabilities to the imminent war against the Night King. However, as the episode offered up important details and revelations, there were also ample amounts of grand plot-altering situations which make “Eastwatch” one of the most important episodes in “Game of Thrones.”

Yes, Yes, Jaime Is Obviously Still Alive

Jerome Flynn and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Macall B. Polay/HBO

Last week’s cliffhanger was ultimately deemed irrelevant as we found out at the beginning of the episode that Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj-Coster Waldau) is still alive—thanks to Bronn (Jerome Flynn). Well duh, obviously Bronn needed to save his ass because he hasn’t even paid his debt to him yet. Don’t get overly bromantic here, Bronn is only doing this for the castle that was promised to him. “I have to tell Cersei,” Jamie said as they recapped the deadly dragon attack. Bronn, on the other hand, made a shocking announcement. After witnessing what the dragons could do, he figured that it was time for his partnership with Jaime to end. A rather harsh but prudent action, but who could blame him when this partnership is going to cost him his life at the hands of dragons?

House Tarly Bids A Roasted Farewell

Tom Hopper and James Faulkner in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Macall B. Polay/HBO

“I’m not here to murder. All I want to destroy is the wheel that has rolled over the rich and poor,” said Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) after she slaughtered the entire Lannister and Tarly army. A bit confusing, but okay. “Refuse or die,” the Queen of the Andals added, prompting the other soldiers to bend the knee. Of course, two main players refused to fall on their knees: Randyll Tarly and his son Dickon. The latter was obviously thinking if he should bow down to Daenerys, but in the end, they both went up in flames as the Queen dracarys-ed the hell out of them. This now elevates our young aspiring maester Samwell Tarly has Lord of their house, although he doesn’t know it yet. It’s funny how some main players of the show survived all these years, only to meet their end dying by dragon fire.

Jon Snow Touching Drogon: Daenerys’ WTF Moment

Kit Harington in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo via HBO

It’s been a question since Daenerys was able to ride her dragon children whether or not she’ll be getting help for it. Surely she can’t be the only one able to ride them, right? Well, all signs point to a resounding yes.

After roasting the Tarlys, Daenerys then flew back to Dragonstone to meet with Jon Snow (Kit Harington). He’s seen waiting at the cliff. And as the dragon flew over him and landed right in front of the King in the North, he made a very risky decision of attempting to touch Drogon. And touch him he did. An obvious shock was in Daenerys’ face when she saw Drogon acknowledge Jon. This could only mean one thing: will Jon be the next dragon rider?

Cersei Whines And Whines

Lena Headey in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Helen Sloan/HBO

“We fight and die or we submit and die. I know my choice,” said Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), who’s only desire is to rule Westeros forever and eliminate Daenerys out of the picture. She was being debriefed by Jaime about the dragon attack. Last year, it was Cersei who orchestrated the explosion of the Great Sept. Now, she’s willing to do it again, by letting King’s Landing be engulfed in flames at the cost of her not bending the knee to Daenerys. And yes, she’s pregnant with Jaime’s child. He’s obviously smitten and is on the verge of tears. However, Cersei also agreed to an armistice with the Mother of Dragons, to which she also thinks can work to her advantage.

Ser Friendz—er, Jorah, Is Back In Action

Emilia Clarke and Iain Glen in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Macall B. Polay/HBO

With his greyscale cured, all thanks to Samwell Tarly, Ser Jorah (Iain Glen) traveled back to Dragonstone where he went in for a very platonic hug with his Queen. This resulted in a (jealous?) death glare from Jon, another tease by the “Game of Thrones” about an impending romantic relationship with Daenerys and Jon (oh dear god no). And of course, with Jorah being back, he also wants to be of tremendous service. And so he suits up and proposes to go beyond the wall to help Jon find a White Walker. Hopefully, this is where we see Jorah fight again. Seriously, his fighting abilities are beyond amazing.

The Maesters Are The Dumbf***ks of Game of Thrones

Back in Winterfell, Bran was at it again with his warging. He used ravens to scout beyond the wall and find out where the White Walkers are. True enough, he found the Night King and proceeded to urge his Maester to send out letters warning every one of the impending doom. The Maesters at the Citadel, upon receiving the letter, took it either as a prank, a scheme by Daenerys, or a hoax.

John Bradley and Hannah Murray in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Helen Sloan/HBO

You would imagine that news of the White Walkers arrival would have shaken the Citadel to its foundations. But nope, nothing to see here. Despite Samwell Tarly’s (John Bradley) urging, the Maesters remained adamant that no such threat exists. If I were Sam, I would’ve thrown a scroll at all of them. Due to the obvious ignorance that the Maesters are wallowing in, Sam opted to leave the Citadel. Oh, and did we mention that Sam’s Father and Brother are dead? He doesn’t know this yet, and one of the Maesters have no plans in informing him as well. Asshole.

One key moment from this scene is when Gilly (Hannah Murray) discovered a document about Rhaegar Targaryen’s secret marriage with Lyanna Stark. The show just indirectly confirmed Jon Snow’s origin. Sam dismissed this and went on to rant about how crushed his dreams of becoming a Maester became.

The Stark Sisters Aren’t Getting Along

Sansa’s (Sophie Turner) chill way of ruling over Winterfell isn’t jiving with Arya’s kill-everyone-cause-ya’ll-gon’-die-anyway attitude. To make matters worse, Arya also accused Sansa of secretly lusting for power. She also didn’t like how Sansa chose their parent’s chambers as her own. There’s a whiff of disloyalty towards Jon now drifting around Winterfell, and Sansa seems to be subtly enjoying it.

Towards the end of the episode, Arya’s anger was transferred towards Lord Baelish (Aidan Gillan) as she followed him all over the castle. There’s obviously something going on, she just couldn’t figure out what it was. But then, she uncovered a letter where Sansa urged the North to bend the knee to Cersei. This was the same letter that Sansa was forced to write when she was Cersei’s prisoner in King’s Landing. The letter was planted by Baelsih himself. What’s even more alarming is how he actually wanted Arya to find the letter. Something shady is going on here, so Baelish better be careful lest it costs him his head through death by Arya.

Gendry Is Back And Ready To Hammer His Way Through

Joe Dempsie in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Helen Sloan/HBO

Gendry (Joe Dempsie) is King Robert Baratheon’s only remaining heir (which Cersei has no knowledge of). He was last seen rowing towards obscurity back in the third season. While Tyrion secretly met with Jaime, Ser Davos also went ahead to take care of his own business; that is, Gendry. The Baratheon bastard happily left everything behind and sailed to Dragonstone with Ser Davos and Tyrion. There he met Jon and introduced himself as a Baratheon. This made them instant besties, and lo and behold a bromance is developed. This might mean many things for the course of the show, as Gendry is an obvious asset for Jon’s team.

Overall Verdict

“Eastwatch” was more of a relief episode from the previous big clashes of the previous entries in season 7 of “Game of Thrones.” But it did contain major story hints and where the show could pick up in the last two episodes remaining. There was no action, but then again, we need to figure out how to defeat the White Walkers fast before they all come marching in with snow blazing. There is still hope, and we can leave it to Jon and Daenerys how this could all go about.

“Game of Thrones” continues next week with “Beyond The Wall,” Sunday at 9 PM on HBO. Watch the preview below: