Winter is coming, but not soon enough. So to help pass the time until season seven of Game of Thrones, we’re doing a weekly re-watch of the series, episode-by-episode, with the knowledge of what’s to come and—therefore—more information about the unrevealed rich history of events that took place long before the story began. Be warned, though: that means this series is full of spoilers for every season, even beyond the episode itself. So if you haven’t watched all of the show yet immediately get on that and then come back and join us for Game of Thrones Re-Throned.
Because the next best thing to watching new episodes is re-watching old ones.
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Season 6, Episode 8: “No One”
Original Air Date: June 12th, 2016
Director: Mark Mylod
Written by: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
“Look around. The city has come back to life.”
“You made a pact with fanatics.”
“I did. And it worked.”
About that…
As Tyrion finds out in this episode—when the masters of Astapor, Yunkai, and Volantis attack Meereen and break the peace he had brokered with them—it’s best not to put your faith in fanatics. But while the return of Daenerys and Drogon will soon turn Slaver’s Bay into the Bay of Dragons, they weren’t the only fanatics Tyrion made a deal with in her absence, and that group is much more dangerous.
The start of this scene, which sees Tyrion and Varys walking around a reinvigorated Meereen, starts with them passing by a red priestess who is preaching to the masses about how Daenerys is their savior.
(In Valyrian) “From the fire she was reborn to remake the world. Daenerys is a gift from the Lord of Light to her children. If we are steadfast in our love for the Queen and her faithful advisors, no man will ever lock us in chains again.”
This is what the priestess Kinvara promised them would happen a few episodes ago, during a very creepy meeting where she knew far more than she had any right knowing. On its own this sermon doesn’t sound all that bad or ominous, but it’s right after this when Varys warns Tyrion about the danger fanatics pose, even to their allies.
“If you shaved your beard with a straight razor, you’d say the razor worked. That doesn’t mean it won’t cut your throat.” He is proven right almost immediately when Meereen is besieged by devotees of slavery.
The entire exchange continues a running theme of the show, one we have noted on multiple occasions during this year-long re-watch: the Lord of Light’s followers are a danger to the living, maybe just as much as the White Walkers. Like all fanatics they are uncompromising in their convictions and what they will do because of them. They burn innocent people alive in service to their Lord, including little girls, and have said Daenerys will bathe the unbelievers in dragon flame.
At least with the White Walkers you get to do some sightseeing.
These are the people Tyrion turned to for help, people he doesn’t really understand. That razor might have given him a clean shave today, but what happens if Daenerys, who doesn’t seem to follow any religion, disappoints them? Or what if upon taking the Iron Throne she swears to the Seven (like Aegon the Conqueror did) and not the Lord of Light? How about if they decide someone else is actually the chosen one? It took Melisandre no time to say, “Oh, no, it wasn’t Stannis who was the Prince That Was Promised, it was Jon Snow. My bad.” How quickly will that razor become a weapon then?
He wouldn’t even be the first Lannister to have made this mistake.
This guy. We’re not usually pro “blow up hundreds of people with wildfire,” but this guy had it coming.
Cersei didn’t understand the High Sparrow or the Faith Militant and the consequences of that mistake were unimaginable. He manipulated the king into being his puppet, bested the great houses of Westeros at every turn, and built an army of fanatics while doing it. To defeat him Cersei turned to a plan that led Jaime to kill the Mad King, and that decision not only led to her son’s death but it could lead to her’s as well.
And all the High Sparrow had were some young men with axes and chains. The Lord of Light has priests and priestesses who can raise the dead, live for hundreds of years, birth killer shadow babies, and use dark magic to know things they shouldn’t. Plus they have a fondness for burning people alive.
Melisandre might have been banished by Jon Snow, but her role in this story is far from over. And season six made it clear her fellow fanatics are only growing in importance too.
It might be best if Tyrion doesn’t shave his beard anytime soon.
What do you think? Do the Lord of Light’s followers scare you, or are they the best soldiers the living have in the Great War? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
Images: HBO
