With all the various Stark family members either dead or scattered across the Seven Kingdoms, we’d almost forgotten that little Rickon (Art Parkinson) had been missing from Game of Thrones for two full seasons — an absence so enduring that many people assumed he’d simply been written off the show.
But while Rickon might have been forgotten, he is not, in fact, gone! The littlest Stark made a surprise return to the show on the Sunday, May 8, episode, albeit under the worst circumstances ever. And elsewhere in Westeros, the recently un-deceased Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch struggled to cope with his return to the land of the living.
Ramsay Gets His Rickon-ing
Having secured his future with a good old-fashioned patricide, Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) took a meeting this week with an unlikely — and, frankly, rather insolent — ally from the lands north of Winterfell. The visitor sassed Ramsay and refused to swear loyalty to House Bolton, which in most cases would be Ramsay’s cue to start peeling the guy like an orange. But in this case, the ally had brought a very special gift: Rickon Stark (Art Parkinson); Rickon’s guardian, Osha (Natalie Tena); and Rickon’s direwolf, Shaggydog. (Not the whole wolf, though. Just the head. RIP, Shaggydog.) This is terrible news considering how much the Starks have suffered already, but on the upside, it’s nice to be reminded that Rickon continues to exist and remains alive … for now.
A Scream From the Past
It was yet another trip back in time this week, as Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) used his psychic skills to go back 20 years, to the last days of King Raeghar Targaryen. The setting: A remote tower, guarded by Raeghar’s men, where a young Ned Stark had just arrived in search of his missing sister, Lyanna. But while the enduring mystery surrounding Lyanna’s fate wasn’t solved this week (sorry, ASoIaF fans), Bran made an interesting discovery: If he shouts at his dad during these time-traveling visions, Ned seems to be able to hear him. Whaaat? Unfortunately, the Three-Eyed Raven (a.k.a. The Doc Brown of Westeros) dragged Bran back to the future before he could investigate further, to Bran’s infinite disgust.
Journeys Over Sand and Sea
After an arduous march to the Dothraki capital, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) was stripped of her gown and forced into a sad-looking hut with all the other widowed Khaleesis — and subsequently informed that she’ll be living there for the rest of her life, if she’s lucky. (If she’s unlucky? They didn’t say, but it can’t be good.) And P.S., if you were wondering how things are going for Sam (John Bradley West) and Gilly (Hannah Murray), this episode caught up with them on a boat, where Gilly let Sam know how much she loves and trusts him, and Sam ruined the moment by barfing all over everything.
A Girl Graduates
After earning reentry into the House of Black and White, Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) fell into an elaborate, Daredevil-style training montage, battling blind against the Braavosian mean girl and answering complicated questions about her old identity. By the end, it was official: Arya Stark has no name, and no list of names of people to kill … unless you’d like to suggest one. Oh, yeah. It’s on now.
And Now His Watch Has Ended
Let’s start with the good news: Death has definitely done nothing to diminish the chiseled perfection of Jon Snow’s (Kit Harington) butt. It’s still as fabulous as ever! But that’s pretty much the only part of Jon unchanged by his trip beyond the veil. He’s still got stab wounds all over his torso, he’s deeply unsettled by what he saw on the other side (absolutely nothing, apparently), and worst of all, Jon Snow 2.0 is somehow even more morose than the original.
After reuniting with his men, Jon’s first post-revival act as Lord Commander was to execute every treasonous traitor who conspired to murder him, including poor dumb Olly (Brenock O’Connor), in a grisly (but highly efficient!) multiple hanging. But then, the surprise: His first act? Also his last. Handing his cloak to another man, he officially decommissioned himself as commander of Castle Black.
“My watch has ended,” he said.
And technically, he’s not wrong! The oath he took as a Night’s Watch member was “until death,” with no take backs or backsies in the event that you somehow become not-dead afterward. But where will Jon go now? And how does his resurrection tie into the princely prophecy of Azor Ahai?
Game of Thrones airs on HBO Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.
