SPOILERS: Don’t read this review if you have not yet seen or don’t want to know details from the latest episode of Game of Thrones. 

Cold Open

A bunch of smallfolk (peasant) men are building a sept in a beautiful green valley, watched over by a new character (played by the FAB Brit veteran actor, Ian McShane).  The women are prepping veggies for cooking while children run about.  Three men are carrying a tree.  The biggest/tallest man is carrying a tree by himself; it’s Sandor Clegane (The Hound)!  As some viewers guessed, he was NOT dead after his tough battle w/ Brienne and abandonment by Arya.

Then the credits play.

What I believe is that there’s something greater than us! -Brother Ray concludes re: his view of religion

We learn how Brother Ray found The Hound (when he was close to death) and helped him get better, then on this (more peaceful) path.  Though The Hound is skeptical re: the gods/religion, Brother Ray is NOT bothered at all (being a chill spiritual type, NOT someone w/ all the answers).

Kings Landing

Congress does not require desire on a woman’s part, only patience. -The High Sparrow gives his view of marital relations

The High Sparrow and Margaery talk re: the poor, before he gives her some (creepy) advice.  Looks like he and Tommen have been talking about some VERY personal matters!  He also gives a NOT quite veiled threat to life of Lady Olenna.

Lady Olenna is pissed off- she insults/threatens Septa Unella w/ a few sharp words before Margaery calms her down a bit.  Though her grandma fears for Loras (“the future of House Tyrell”) and wants her to leave, Margaery insists that SHE is the one who should leave ASAP!  The crumpled up pic of the rose tells the older woman that Margaery is NOT a fanatic (merely playing a role).

The North

Jon gets the support of the Wildling leaders after winning over the giant (Wun Wun).

Kings Landing

I wonder if you’re the worst person I’ve ever met…

Lady Olenna gets some nice cuts into Cersei w/ her sharp tongue (LOVED it)!  And Cersei WAS “stupid” to put The High Sparrow in such a position of power in the first place.  The Faith Militant are beyond anyone’s control, since now King Tommen has swallowed the hogwash fed him by the High Sparrow 

Riverrun 

Bronn is back… FINALLY!  Twitter was abuzz w/ love for the profanely funny sellsword turned reluctant knight. 

Two of Walder Frey’s sons argue w/ Jaime for a bit, BUT he slaps one down (w/ his golden hand- OUCH).  The siege is now under Lannister command, with Bronn organizing the set-up. But why does House Frey have such terrible-looking clothing!?  And they ALL dress and look alike, too, which is NOT helpful to viewers. 

Bear Island (The North)

My mother wasn’t a great beauty, or any kind of a beauty! She was a great warrior though.  She died fighting for your brother, Robb. -Lady Lyanna Mormont retorts when complimented by Sansa

This child actor is just FAB- sassy, decisive, & only 12 y.o. in reality (though playing a 10 y.o.)  She has NO patience for flattery, history, or small talk.  Lady Lyanna (who was named after Lyanna Stark) even rides into battle on the back of a bear (in the books)- WOW!   

Ser Davos (who had such a way w/ Shireen Baratheon) is able to get the little ruler to listen. 

…make no mistake- the dead are coming. -Ser Davos predicts

Then we learn that ONLY 62 men are available to fight from House Mormont!  LOL…

Back to Riverrun

As long as I’m standing, the war is NOT over. -Brynden (Blackfish) Tully explains to Jaime at their parlay

Blackfish is NOT impressed w/ Jaime; they met for the first time here.  Jaime’s armor (could be Tywin’s) doesn’t fit quite right on him, as Joanna Robinson noted (A Cast of Kings podcast).

House Glover

They don’t want to fight; after all, the Boltons helped them get their castle back.  The new lord (younger brother of the one who died fighting for Robb) is disgusted that the bulk of the Northern army is made up of Wildlings. 

A portside brothel (Volantis)

We quickly learn that Yara likes the ladies (NOT a big shocker there).  Then she urges Theon to drink.

“Why couldn’t they have done that… w/ a guy?  You can say, oh, she’s dominant, but she also takes a woman’s role,”  Peter Segal (Nerdette) wondered the SAME thing as me on my first watch of this ep.  

If you’re so broken that there’s no coming back, then end it.  Take this knife…  -Yara begins, but then gives him a pep talk (tough love- she’s Ironborn after all)

Back to The North

Sansa wonders if Davos is the best man to be Jon’s right hand man.  Then she sees the men arguing and shoving each other; this army is NOT looking cohesive.

Sansa writes a secret letter to someone (Littlefinger, no doubt). Follow this link to learn more about her letter!

http://winteriscoming.net/2016/06/07/see-most-of-what-sansa-wrote-in-that-mysterious-letter/

The Riverlands

Brother Ray talks about his past life (as a soldier), the violence he participated in, and his view that a person can change their life.  Then three men (maybe from The Brotherhood w/o Banners?) ride up, asking him about horses, weapons, and food.  He is calm and pleasant, but these strangers don’t seem too happy.

Braavos (Island of Essos)

Arya survives being stabbed multiple times by The Waif (who was disguised as a VERY old woman)- yikes!  She stumbles through the streets, clutching her stomach that’s bleeding.  No one helps her!  Or is this even the real Arya? 

We are led to believe Arya got stabbed, however there are some problems with what happened this episode. First off, Arya seemed different from the start. Her scene with the merchant, her walk all seemed very confident, which is unusual after the events this season. … Also, where did she get the money from? Why was she not carrying Needle [her sword] with her? How come after all she knew about the faceless man she just stood there on a bridge not paying any attention?  –Reddit user iPlayNL wrote.

That wasn’t [A]rya. She would have been carrying Needle. She wasn’t aware that [Jaqen] said not to make her suffer, so making a big show of her suffering doesn’t make sense. It was [Jaqen] testing the waif, and by stabbing her in the stomach and not just slashing the throat, she disobeyed orders just like Arya did. [Jaqen] is gonna lay some faceless justice down. -Reddit user froschkonig expanding on the above theory

Back to The Riverlands

While The Hound was off chopping wood, some men (who could be followers of the Lord of Light) came along and killed ALL the Smallfolk.  And they hanged Brother Ray from logs of the unfinished sept- what a shock!  But, let’s face it, Brother Ray and his followers were just TOO good for this world (of GoT).  The Hound gets the big axe- ready to fight!