Beware the snakes.
Last Episode: We saw the end of Mance Rayder, Jon Snow take a risk, Tyrion make a decision, Varys reveal a loyalty, Dany face violent dissent from people and dragons alike, and Cersei mourn a father.
This Episode: Arya arrives at the House of Black and White and has the most awkward meeting ever with an old man who later turns out to also have the face of Jaqen H’ghar. After rejecting her the first time, he accepts her later after coming upon her about to throw down with three guys who want Needle for themselves. When asked who he is, if not Jaqen, he says “Nobody.” If Arya is about to join the order that master assassin Jaqen H’ghar is in, then things must be getting interesting
After we saw Sansa and Littlefinger’s coach pass tantalizingly close to each other last episode, they finally run into each other at an inn. When Brienne finally gets her chance to pledge herself to Sansa as Catelyn Stark wished, Sansa turns her down, just as Arya did, citing her appearance at Joffrey’s wedding. Brienne and Podrick make a narrow escape from the posse of men that Petyr brought along, and head off to follow them.
Cersei receives a threat to Myrcella in the form of a viper figurine holding Myrcella’s necklace in its jaws. Jaime makes a decision to go to retrieve her, after Cersei yells at him about his failure to protect his children. He’s never allowed himself to think of himself as a father, to protect them from the label of bastards born of incest, but it’s clear that Cersei’s use of “our children” hits a nerve. He goes to Bronn, who’s moving up in the world, marrying Lollys of Stokesworth, who is not the brightest bulb. When he finds out he won’t be living in her castle due to her bitchy older sister, he’s clearly not impressed, and when Jaime brings notice that Lollys will be marrying someone else, he clearly has no better choice than going with Jaime for the promise of a better match later.
Prince Doran, a sick man, is being pushed to take revenge by both Oberyn’s former paramour Ellaria Sand and the Sand Snakes, his gaggle of illegitimate daughters. Ellaria wants nothing more than to have a courier deliver Myrcella’s various appendages to Cersei, but Doran will not allow a war to be started. Ellaria accuses Doran of being weak; if others see him in the same light, he risks having someone go against his wishes in the name of avenging Oberyn.
In Meereen, the hunt for the Sons of the Harpy is underway. After one of their masked members is captured, Dany takes counsel from Barristan Selmy to give the prisoner a fair trial. He dies at the hands of Mossador, a former slave who was advising Dany. Faced with upholding rule of law or placating the thousands who call her “Mhysa,” she chooses the law. As soon as Daario takes his head off, the rocks start flying and a riot begins. Recovering later in her chamber, she steps out on the balcony to find Drogon paying her a visit. Though he does not try for a barbecue like Rhaegal and Viserion, he does not show much affection either before leaving again. Without dragons, the love of the people, or Jorah, she has less and less to support her tenuous position.
Tyrion and Varys are on their way to Volantis; Tyrion is still drunk.
At the capital, Cersei has Qyburn named Master of Whispers, and her Uncle Kevan Lannister Master of War, which doesn’t sit well with Kevan. He wants the king, and the king only, to give him his orders. When Cersei refuses him, he walks out
The Night’s Watch is on the verge of choosing a new Lord Commander to replace Jeor Mormont, with Alliser Thorne, the old bastard, running at the head of the pack. Before that can happen Jon Snow is offered everything he’s ever wanted:to be a Stark, and to be Lord of Winterfell. He tells Sam he means to refuse, only to have Sam nominate him for Lord Commander at the last possible second. And surprise, surprise, he wins, after Maester Aemon casts the tiebreaker vote.
Westeros seems to be at peace for the moment, but with Stannis still on the loose, there is no telling how long that will last. It appears that Dany is failing in her performance of a delicate balancing act between the masters of Meereen and the now former slaves, some of whom want to be slaves again. Prince Doran, a physically weak man, is struggling to keep members of his own family in check even though he may share their anger and desire for revenge. Jon Snow now faces command of an organization that only voted him in to office by a bare majority. The challenges of leadership are just as difficult now as they were in wartime.