Directed By: Jack Bender / Written By: David Benioff & D.B. Weiss

Original Airdate: May 22, 2016

In the North, after refusing Petyr Baelish’s offer of an alliance with House Arryn, Sansa Stark joins Jon Snow to rally Northern houses in support of retaking Winterfell. In Braavos, desperate to conclude her training, Arya Stark reluctantly accepts a new assignment. In the Iron Islands, Yara Greyjoy expects to be elected the first-ever queen but her uncle Euron Greyjoy arrives in time to steal the Salt Throne from under her. After fleeing Vaes Dothrak with a new horde of Dothraki warriors, Daenerys Targaryen rides off with Daario Naharis at her side while Jorah Mormont has grave news to share. Beyond the Wall, Bran Stark’s training with the Three Eyed-Raven is interrupted with the arrival of the White Walkers, led by the Night King.

main cast

VAES DOTHRAK

After leaving Vaes Dothrak, Queen Daenerys Targaryen, Ser Jorah Mormont, Daario Naharis and the Dothraki horde begin their journey back towards Meereen. Daenerys, while thankful of his rescue, is unsure of what to do with Jorah, having banished him twice only to see him defiantly return twice saving her life both times. She claims that she can’t take him back but makes more of a point to say that she also can’t send him away, insinuating her ultimate gratitude. However, as he starts rolling up his sleeves, Jorah informs her that she must send him away, revealing his growing greyscale infection spreading through his body. Jorah then confesses that Tyrion Lannister was right about Ser Jorah’s love for her. He tells her he will always love her and gives a sorrowful goodbye to his queen. He starts to leave while stating his plan to take his own life well before the greyscale envelops him, as there is no known cure, but Daenerys tearfully commands him to find a cure and come back to her side when she conquers Westeros. Jorah then departs while Daenerys and Daario continue their journey.

meereen

While the rulers of Meereen enjoy a tenuous peace, Tyrion Lannister reminds them of the need to convince the Meereenese that everything has been done with Daenerys' blessing, as the Masters could use Tyrion and Lord Varys' foreign status against them to reclaim Slaver's Bay. To that end, Tyrion invites Kinvara, a Red Priestess from Volantis, to negotiate spreading the word of Daenerys' accomplishments. To Tyrion's surprise, Kinvara appears to be accommodating in supporting his goals, as she firmly believes that Daenerys is “The Prince That Was Promised”. Varys is more skeptical, suspicious of any practitioners of magic, and points out that Melisandre had declared Stannis Baratheon to be the Prince, only for him to be defeated. Kinvara insists that while the Lord of Light has a plan, his followers occasionally make errors. She then unnerves Varys by revealing that she is aware he was emasculated by a sorcerer and offers to repeat the words he heard in the flames. Varys is unsettled by this revelation. Before leaving, Kinvara then assures Tyrion that she will send the priests best suited to the task at hand.

braavos

In Braavos, the Waif continues to drill Arya Stark with combat training while never missing an opportunity to attempt in offending her, this time mocking Arya’s high-born origins from Winterfell. Jaqen H’ghar then brings Arya into the Hall of Faces while explaining that the Faceless Men were slaves in Valyria before establishing the Free City of Braavos, as well as the House of Black and White. As they both look at the faces, Jaqen further explains that these were the faces they wore in life when not wearing others. He then states that now “a girl is one of them if she desires.” Arya insists that she doesn’t have any desires. Then handing Arya a vial, Jaqen tells her an actress named Lady Crane will be the next to receive the Many-Faced God’s “gift”. He warns Arya that she has been given a second chance and won't get a third.

Afterwards, Arya enjoys the spectacle of Braavosi actors re-enacting the War of the Five Kings, playing Baratheons and Lannisters in a play called “The Bloody Hand.” The first scene depicts the late King Robert Baratheon’s indulgence of wine, as Cersei Lannister, played by the actress Lady Crane, asks him to not drink so much, or he will not make good decisions during small council meetings. Robert slaps Cersei and calls such meetings boring. He says he would prefer if Lord Eddard Stark attends the meetings in his stead. Tyrion Lannister is then depicted as having arranged the assassination of King Robert by plying with him more wine before the ill-fated boar hunt. Tyrion then reveals his plans to the audience to dispose of Robert and install Ned as the new king, with Tyrion taking the position of Hand. Sansa Stark then begs Joffrey Baratheon to show her father mercy, and he agrees, but Ned gets beheaded after Tyrion bribes the headsman. Arya’s enjoyment of the play ceases when her father, and his execution, are inaccurately caricatured on stage. Eddard also is portrayed as a buffoon and the actress playing Sansa, named Bianca, has her breasts bared to the audience. In further displays of vulgarity, Tyrion pushes Sansa’s hand to his crotch, and announces he will force himself on her during their wedding night. After the performance, Arya sneaks into the dressing room after the play to observe her target, Lady Crane. She appears to be a clever, decent woman, however, Arya later shares with Jaqen her plan to poison Lady Crane’s rum, which no one else in the troupe drinks. Arya suspects that the jealous younger actress Bianca is the one who has commissioned the kill. Jaqen cuts Arya off, however, reminding her that a servant does not question.

the iron islands

Meanwhile, along the cliffs near Pyke, the Drowned Priest Aeron Greyjoy announces the Kingsmoot, a custom held by the Iron Islands where the lords and ship captains hold an election for a new king from among their own numbers. Yara Greyjoy is the first to lay claim to the Salt Throne, an Ironborn man challenges her candidacy on the grounds that she is a woman. When speaking of this tradition, Yara argues that while this is something they have never done before as a kingdom, they also have never “made our mark upon the world”. Vowing to lead them into a new reign, she notes that the lords of Westeros conquer and humiliate them and then return to forgetting their existence. However, Theon Greyjoy’s return to the Iron Islands is then questioned, but Theon himself announces the endorsement of his sister, urging the gathering to do the same. He proclaims that those who have ever sailed with Yara before know who they are electing : “she is a reaver, she is a warrior, she is Ironborn”. Theon asserts that they will not find a better leader, which is met by thunderous cheers. Before they can crown Yara, however, their uncle, Euron Greyjoy, joins the gathering to lay claim for himself. He openly mocks Theon for his military failures and emasculation before then deriding Yara as a woman. With his arrival, Yara announces that her first action as Queen will be to execute the man who killed her father King Balon Greyjoy. To the gathered assembly’s surprise, Euron freely admits in killing his brother, defending his actions on the grounds that Balon was leading them to defeat, citing two previous wars in which they couldn’t win. Euron’s arguments are ultimately met by resounding cheers. Still campaigning, however, Yara then suggests building a massive fleet to make their mark on Westeros. In response, as well as revealing a trick up his sleeve, Euron proposes to marry the dragon queen, Daenerys Targayen, in order to expand their fleet. The Ironborn quickly support Euron's plan and declare him as the new King of the Iron Islands. Aeron Greyjoy then leads Euron down to the sea to be “drowned and reborn,” as is the custom. Knowing that Euron will kill them as soon as he is able, Yara, Theon, and many of their loyalists flee the Iron Islands during Euron's coronation, taking much of the Iron Fleet with them. After Euron revives himself, he is then crowned by his brother Aeron. When Euron then learns that his niece and nephew have fled with their best ships, he calls on his followers to build their own ships so that he may pursue the pair and kill the deserters.

the north

At Castle Black, Sansa Stark receives a message bearing the sigil of House Baelish, asking her to meet in The Gift at the village of Mole's Town. Accompanied by Brienne of Tarth, Sansa furiously confronts Lord Petyr Baelish upon sight, as this is the first time she has seen him since he left her at Winterfell with Ramsay Bolton. She asks Littlefinger if he was aware what Ramsay was capable of. Baelish deflects, saying he has the knights of the Vale waiting at Moat Cailin to aid Sansa. As she is mistrustful of him when he claims he had no idea of Ramsay's abusive treatment of her, Sansa then describes her traumatic wedding night and what Ramsay did to her. Littlefinger looks on in silent horror and apologizes to her, offering to protect her now. She then tells him that she doubts his ability to protect her or even himself, threatening to have Brienne kill Baelish. He then insists he'll do whatever she asks, to which Sansa firmly responds with the command for him to leave and never come back for her. Petyr obeys, but not before informing that her great-uncle Brynden Tully has recaptured Riverrun and recommending she seek him out and the remaining loyal Tully forces. Sansa says she already has an army, her brother Jon Snow's army of wildlings. "Half-brother," Baelish clarifies as he walks away.

Later at Castle Black, a war council is called, and is attended by Jon, Sansa, Brienne, Ser Davos Seaworth, Melisandre, Tormund Giantsbane, Podrick Payne and Eddison Tollett. They discuss the need for more men to defend Castle Black, since the Karstarks and Umbers, two vassal houses in the North, have now declared for Ramsay Bolton. Jon points out, however, that they can summon the rest of the minor houses in order to rival their enemies, such as the Mormonts, Glovers, Cerwyns, and Mazins. Sansa states that "the North remembers," adding that the people of the North are still loyal to her house and will risk everything for the name Stark. She then reveals Brynden Tully's successful retaking of Riverrun, though she lies when claiming she learned via one of Ramsay's ravens in order to stop Jon from pursuing Littlefinger. Sansa subsequently tasks Brienne and Podrick with securing Brynden's help at Riverrun while the rest of them leave Castle Black to start building their army. Before departing, Sansa presents Jon with a new cloak that is similar to their father Eddard’s and carries the Stark sigil. Meanwhile, before she rides off with Podrick towards the Riverlands, Brienne is left uneasy when Tormund continues to relentlessly display his affection towards her just.

beyond the wall

Meanwhile, beyond the Wall, continuing with his greensight training, the Three-Eyed Raven shows Bran Stark a new vision. As they walk together along a lush green valley they quickly come upon a heart tree amidst a spiral formation of standing stones. As Bran notices someone with a similar appearance to Leaf running towards the tree through the stones, he quickly follows. Bran and the Raven stop when they see a small group of Children of the Forest congregated together, including Leaf herself, who appears no different in age than present day. As the Children talk amongst themselves, they then looking eagerly at a captive bound to the tree. When Leaf starts approaching the captor with a shard of dragonglass, the Raven then realizes the vision they have stumbled upon. Leaf then forces the dragonglass into the captive's chest as he screams when it’s buried entirely inside of him. He does not die, however, instead his eyes turn icy blue and the man becomes the very first White Walker created. This confirms the vision dates back to some twelve-thousand years ago. Bran immediately comes out of his vision and confronts Leaf about her direct part in creating the White Walkers millenniums ago. Leaf explains that they were at war with the First Men and were desperate for protection.

Some time later, Bran is the only one in the cave awake and has been anxious to warg back into the weirwood tree since the last vision. When he succeeds in warging back alone, he does return to the same location, only now the tree and the spiraled stones are covered in snow. As he gazes around he sees the army of the dead in the distance. He then slowly walks towards and then through the army until he comes to a space occupied by four White Walkers, including the Night King himself.  As Bran becomes aware that the The Night King and the dead are now able to see him, the Night King violently grabs his arm. Bran breaks out of the vision with a scream that wakes the others. The Raven tells Bran, Meera Reed and Hodor that the Night King is now able to locate Bran, who is now marked on his forearm, and can also bypass the powerful magic that has been keeping the dead out of the cave. As a result, the Raven insists they all must leave immediately and Bran must "become" the Three-Eyed Raven. Bran asks whether he is ready, and the Raven informs that he isn’t, at which point Bran's eyes whiten as he enters another vision.

Later on, with Bran and the Raven still in a vision, Meera and Hodor are preparing to leave when they notice the air is so cold their breath is visible, indicating the arrival of the army of the dead outside of the cave. Meera runs outside to witness the Children of the Forest using magic projectiles to fend the White Walkers off, but are overwhelmed. They light a fire around the entrance which prevents the wights from entering but eventually the Night King and the Walkers extinguish a pathway and walk through. The wights end up climbing over the weirwood and dropping through roots at the top of the cave. Having ran back inside, Meera desperately tries to get Bran out of the vision and attempts to get the frightened Hodor to carry Bran, to no avail. Using a dragonglass spear, Meera kills the first Walker that enters, and fights alongside Leaf and the remaining Children of the Forest to try to fend off the wights until Bran wakes up. Wights then begin to swarm the cave, killing all of the Children except for Leaf, as Meera starts yelling at Bran to warg into Hodor. In the vision, Bran is at Winterfell watching his father Eddard say goodbye to his own father, Rickard Stark, before being sent to the Vale as a ward. While still in the vision, Bran hears Meera's cries to warg into Hodor and the Three-Eyed Raven tells him to listen to her. Bran wargs into the present-day Hodor in the cave and into Wylis, the young version of Hodor in his vision. In the cave, while Bran's body is placed on a sled and Hodor starts hauling him down a tunnel, his direwolf Summer is killed attacking the wights. As the wights are closing in on them, Leaf sacrifices herself, buying the others enough time to get to the end of the tunnel. While the Raven and Bran are still sharing a vision, the Night King kills the Three-Eyed Raven, and his figure within Bran's vision blows away as ashes. With some difficulty Hodor pushes the cave door open and pulls Bran through, coming back to help Meera just as the wights approach. Meera tells Hodor to bar the exit, shouting to "Hold the door!". Inside Bran's vision, Wylis notices Bran, who links the present Hodor to the past Wylis. Wylis begins to seize when he enters the mind of his future self and falls to the ground convulsing while Meera’s command. Eventually, "hold the door" slurs into "Hodor", as his condition deteriorates and it becomes apparent this is the moment Hodor lost the ability to say any other words, and his destiny was fixed. Present-day Hodor braces himself against the door long enough for Meera to disappear into the snow with Bran's body on the sled. Inevitably, the wights break through parts of the wood and begin scratching and tearing away at Hodor’s face. With no possibility of escape for him, all that is shown at the end is young Wylis in the past seizing while crying out “Hodor”.

*Episode descriptions from GOT Wiki