‘Game of Thrones’ season 5, episode 10 (finale) review: Jon Snow’s Benjen hope, Cersei’s Walk of Atonement
We knew that Sunday night’s “Game of Thrones” finale was going to be eventful, but this eventful? That is something that we certainly did not see coming … especially when it comes to death surfacing so early in the episode. (Warning: MAJOR spoilers ahead.)
The first person that we lost tonight was Stannis Baratheon of all people, right when we thought he would be sticking around for a while. Remember that whole gamble he took to sacrifice his own daughter? Well, that didn’t quite work out so well. His army abandoned him in part, his wife Selyse killed herself, and then the remainder of his army was slaughtered by House Bolton. To cap things off, we saw him die at the hands of Brienne, who sought vengeance over what happened to Renly. This was revenge in the most awesome form, and as you’ll see, the deaths in this episode start really great and get really terrible as time goes on.
More death – Let’s start with the end of Meryn Trant, who was killed by none other than Arya, who went a little astray when it comes to her training. Clearly, she is not “no one,” and she was punished in her own way as a result. Is she now blind? It’s hard to say for sure just yet.
Even more death – Myrcella is gone! Clearly, this is to us the most shortsighted of every move. Sure, Ellaria Sand wanted revenge on what happened to Oberyn, but was this the best way to do it? This is only going to make things so much worse for her entire family in Dorne, and we haven’t been too impressed by the region’s military might so far.
Finally, a story without death – While Daario and Ser Jorah are off searching for Dany (who seems to have found some more Dothraki), Tyrion and Grey-Worm are now being left to rule Meereen in her wake. It’s a good thing that he has someone in Varys to rely on!
The Walk of Atonement – Longtime fans of the books knew that this was coming, and it was just as huge of a moment for Cersei as you would expect, walking through the streets of King’s Landing completely exposed. This was brutal. It’s hard to say too much more about it beyond that … or that apparently The Mountain is back in his weird “vow of silence” body.
Jon Snow’s watch has ended – Now, we have to talk about the most shocking death of all: Jon Snow being stabbed repeatedly by his fellow members of the Night’s Watch. We never saw this one coming (note: we haven’t read the books); sure, we thought it was possible, but not in this way. How in the world does this story move forward? What do we make of all of this? It’s going to take some time to digest it all, since now we want to envision Sam on an Arya Stark revenge path … which seems very unlikely. Plus, maybe something happens to his vision, too.
Overall, a stellar but shocking finale, and one that it’s going to take a long time to ultimately digest. Grade: A.
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Battle Mage
June 20, 2015 @ 12:28 am
All the F votes are cuz Jon Snow lol.
Crashdummie77
June 15, 2015 @ 10:06 pm
The burning of Stannis Daughter did work. The snow started to melt away… what she couldn’t see in her fire was the reaction of Stannis’s men…
They disapproved their leader sacrifice and half of his army deserted away with the much needed horses…He lost his credibility as a military leader when he relied on magic. With the snow gone, it gave the Bolton’s fresh cavalry the advantage on the diminished foot army of Stannis.
This was a nice magic trick but it was used at the wrong moment. That back fired. Remember the Bolton’s intention was to stay behind their walls. They came out because the weather changed and half the enemy forces melted with the snow. It gave the Bolton a total tactical and numerical advantage.
I think Melissandre have a role to play with Jon Snow she did not came back to castle black without a reason.
paul cook
June 16, 2015 @ 12:38 am
the woman who worships a god that’s been shown to resurrect people (Remember the dude who fought the Hound and got brought back to life?) arrives JUST before Jon gets shanked? I think i know how Jon is getting out of this >_>
ealmeira
June 15, 2015 @ 4:51 am
the only salvation that jon has is melissandre….. maybe… just maybe she will bring him to life again…..
Nocturne
June 15, 2015 @ 4:12 am
It’s interesting to ask oneself the question about why the burning of Shireen still resulted in the failure of Stannis’s army to take Winterfell. I’ve seen people theorize that perhaps if Shireen had not been burned, she could have been used to revive Jon Snow. However, if the army still failed when she was burned, is it not possible that Shireen’s death was meant to do something else other than help Stannis succeed?
Other things that struck me: It is odd to see Melisandre so shocked, however, as if she’s questioning her own faith. I also thought “Oh, what a happy moment” when Jaime and Myrcella embrace, then thought “Of course, this is Game of Thrones! We can’t have happy moments!” And when Cersei walked her walk of shame, I actually did feel kind of bad for her, evil, conniving, and inept queen as she is. Can’t wait to see what happens next season!
GW
June 15, 2015 @ 12:13 pm
It’s so bad with this show! As soon as Jaime and Myrcella had that moment I started flailing around going “one of them is not making it to the end of this episode!” And she didn’t even make it through the next five minutes. Man, so much happened last night! Can’t wait for the next episode (or book!).
Ian B
June 15, 2015 @ 4:02 am
We seem to be running out of characters to invest in. Very sad about Jon Snow, but perhaps there was nowhere left for the character to go, narrative wise. I was a little surprised they went full monty with Cersei, since Headey has never done nudity in GoT at all before, I presume the Twattersphere will light up with SJW fury about that. And Daenerys is just starting to really annoy me to be honest.
Stannis’s rapid destruction felt somewhat like the let-down when Robb Stark (remember him?) just got finished off suddenly after we’d spent years watching him plan battles in that same tent (I always imagined it stuck in one corner of the studio, next to a fire exit). Stannis’s odyssey now feels similarly redundant. Apparently the Lord Of Light is useless then, oh well. Melissandre can make a new career performing conjuring tricks or something. I’m not sure that this faceless god of Arya’s is much use either; seems there’s not much to the cult beyond a lot of gobbledegook, and some poisonous water.
Good episode overall, for all my sniping. But there don’t seem to be many outcomes left now except Dany and her dragons vs. the Lannisters then a final big battle with the slowest ever approaching army of the undead in fictional history.
Polish Prince
June 15, 2015 @ 2:53 am
The worst season of all five. The Cable show has deviated dramatically from the GOT books all season….
George RR Martin is obviously a sadist who can’t figure out a creative way to give the ongoing saga any substance unless he punishes, brutalizes or kills any likeable character or any decent person with an ounce of integrity…
He stood by and let the HBO writers rape Sansa, which never happened in the book, and let the writers burned Stannis’ daughter to death which never happened in the book. Why? Outside of cheap shock value it added nothing. The blinding of Arya is in the book…but again, why….Hasn’t this orphan suffered enough?
It’s like watching the Joker kill Batman and his whole family while nuking Gotham city at the end of every season…That is not creative…. its warped….and disingenuous.
I will still watch the show, since Martin claims that the fate of John Snow is not yet determined..Maybe he will survive 6 stab wounds to the heart…Who knows?
Martin seems to be lost and unable to figure out a decent way to end the GOT saga which started out so promising…Instead of creative writing, he is allowing GOT to be turned into a medieval snuff film…Life is tough enough and the audience and readers want some glimmer of hope to make the journey seem worthwhile. Someone should advise Martin that the good guys do win once in awhile…and did even in the Dark Ages
Unless Martin and the writers at HBO take their heads out of their arses, they will lose the audience,… as occurred in shows like Twin Peaks, Lost, Sons of Anarchy and other series where the writers out smarted themselves with trite BS, and pissed off the viewers one too many times….
swazzyswess
June 15, 2015 @ 2:57 am
*yawn* the show has always been brutal and unpleasant. try to provide some insight instead of sounding like a knee-jerk conservative housewife who can only handle soap operas.
Polish Prince
June 15, 2015 @ 3:01 am
Go f yourself, I will write what I want
swazzyswess
June 15, 2015 @ 3:42 am
of course, and so will GRRM. and even his worst stuff is more worthwhile than the collective whining of 1,000 comments section critics.
Polish Prince
June 15, 2015 @ 4:17 am
No one is whining you meathead, its called a critique.
Read the reviews in the New York Times and Vanity Fair, on Books 4 & 5…The critics pretty much agreed that Martin lost his way after a promising start in books 1-3 and that the stories and characters had too many loose ends
The critics also noted that there is not much for the audience to look forward too after killing off the three most popular characters and that Martin risks alienating the readership
A Dance with Dragons was published 4 years ago in 2011…where is the 6th book? . If Martin can’t figure where to take the story in 4 years he is lost, which explains why he is allowing HBO writers to dramatically change the stories from books 4 & 5.
Martin has promised that he will tie up all of the loose ends in the first 5 minutes of book 6,”Winds of Winter” if and when it comes out….
Filming for Season 6 starts in 5 months…where is the story?
starhunter
June 15, 2015 @ 12:07 pm
Killing of the three most popular characters? Tyrion, Denaerys, Jaime, Brienne, Sansa are all alive. And as both a book reader and show follower I certainly disagree about the fact that the Sansa rape and the Shireen burning were not necessary. It was hard and awfull but it definetely made the story better for the show.
Polish Prince
June 15, 2015 @ 2:13 pm
Ned Stark, Rob Stark and Jon Snow were the 3 most popular characters from the series, and the only people with leadership and a moral compass.
Jaime Lannister is a one handed,conflicted soul prone to incest; Tyrion is amusing and witty but he is not a heroic character who will unite the 7 Kingdoms; Danaerys will likely be raped and killed by the Dothraki [based on Martin’s prior modus operandi]; and Brienne and Sansa are bit players [ plus, Brienne was hung by Lady Stoneheart in the book 5]
By the way, HBO’s writers just confirmed that Jon Snow is dead, even though RR Martin never indicated that he died at the end of Book 5.
Which means that Martin has completely capitulated to HBO and has let them tell “HIS STORY” even though Book 6 of GOT isn’t finished yet. This would be like Peter Benchley allowing Steven Spielberg to change the ending of “Jaws” to allow the shark to kill and eat the entire crew of the Orca….and swim away…
I wonder who will write and finish Books 6 & 7 of GOT, George RR Martin or HBO….
Matt
June 15, 2015 @ 5:23 pm
Three most popular from YOUR point of View.
Not mine or most others I might add.
Robb was a side character in the books.
Main characters in the books have point of view chapters Robb never had one and Ned didn’t to near the end of the first book and near his death.
Neither were main characters in the book.
Only Jon is and if you think he is dead you haven’t been paying attention very well.
But keep whining and miss the dialogue and what is really happening in this story
Whining
Polish Prince
June 16, 2015 @ 12:51 am
Whining pulleeze..its commentary..and it was good enough for you to read and respond to, right?
Seagrrl
June 16, 2015 @ 4:31 am
From what I’ve read, including sample chapters that have been published on the net, the story is well along. It is currently slated for release next year, which is about right – it has taken 5 years for each successive book in the series to be released.
As to Jon Snow – I don’t necessarily believe the story that the showrunners are trying (maybe a little too hard?) to sell us. He may indeed be dead, or he may just be mostly dead all day. Personally, I think he still has some things to take care of, and killing him off at this juncture makes very little sense.
Also, Melissandre told him that he may one day find himself in dire need of her help in an earlier episode, and happened to show back up at precisely the right time to offer said help.
Polish Prince
June 17, 2015 @ 5:27 pm
good points
Luke
June 15, 2015 @ 3:08 am
I’m pretty sure Martin is not dumb. He has an ending and probably a good one since the show and book has been so good and done so good so far.
Polish Prince
June 15, 2015 @ 3:14 am
Hey, I hope he does…
It doesn’t need to be a feel good Hollywood ending…likewise it doesn’t need to be the predictable and cliched Hollywood horror movie ending where the villain, demon or creature some how survives death or destruction and kills the hero just before the credits roll…
Based on the creativity of Books 1-3, Martin is better than that….
iotaman
June 16, 2015 @ 5:10 am
If Jon is dead, I’m done with this show…
Just wait for it...
June 15, 2015 @ 12:07 pm
“and let the writers burned Stannis’ daughter to death which never happened in the book”
It IS going to happen, though.
Pegley
June 15, 2015 @ 2:46 am
So many cliffhangers. I thought this season was very good, though. I’m still reeling from Jon Snow being stabbed. When the White Walkers get there those a-holes will have their asses handed to them.also I don’t think Stannis is dead.
ShamanMcLamie
June 15, 2015 @ 3:01 am
As much as I’m a fan of the character there isn’t much reason for Stannis to live. His family is dead, his army is defeated there isn’t really much else he could do and I really see no reason for Brienne not to kill him.
katiana grayson
June 15, 2015 @ 4:48 pm
I’m not a book reader. so I’ve heard that the show has gone in a completely different direction then the books. so my question is does Jon Snow meet the same fate in the book as well? what about Stannis? I heard that Cerceis’ walk of shame was in the book. I felt really bad for her btw. but the b*tch is not going to be down for long. she’s a mean one, but GoT needs her. at least she’s not as despicable as Ramsey, now that’s an ass.
ShamanMcLamie
June 27, 2015 @ 6:35 am
I haven’t read the books(I read wikis), but from what I heard last moments of Stannis in the book had him held up in his camp the Battle with the Bolton’s hadn’t begun yet, but Jon had recieved a letter from Ramsay claiming he was defeated, but it was unconfirmed. As to what happened to Jon aside from somewhat different circumstances as to why it happened his fate at the end of Season 5 is the same as where he was left off in the book.
Pegley
June 15, 2015 @ 2:32 am
I am shocked that Jon Snow was ambushed. I should have known once Sam left, he had no allies left. I knew that damn kid, Ollie was bad news. I just hope The Red Witch, Melisandre will somehow save him in time. Jon Snow can’t die!
ShamanMcLamie
June 15, 2015 @ 3:02 am
That’s what all the book readers have been hoping for.
Mike
June 15, 2015 @ 2:09 am
Not impressed…. Seems they are trying to drag the show out just to make more money off it. Really bad idea… Sure fire way to lose viewer and fans… Hopefully season 6 will wrap things up and give the viewers what they have been watching for….
ShamanMcLamie
June 15, 2015 @ 2:59 am
The plan was to have a season for each book. While things have changed and mixed up it’s likely we’ll have two more seasons to match the planned number of books.
paul cook
June 16, 2015 @ 12:40 am
This season has combined two thousand+ page books into 10 short hours of TV. If anything, it’s incredibly rushed rather than dragged out.
It felt like nothing happened this season compared to the last 2 (which were based on 1 book) but that’s only because not much happens in the 2 books this one adapted (most of those books are about character development rather than action, and the show only really gave us the action stuff).