What I’m Watching: Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones: Season 6, Episode 4 “Book of the Stranger” (B+)

Finally, several seasons after Arya nearly got to be reunited with Robb moments before he was murdered, we have two Stark children in the same place for the first time. It was very affirming to see the two of them embrace, and it’s just a shame that their happiness only lasted long enough for them to receive a horrifying letter from the most deplorable character on this show, even worse than Joffrey, who threatened to do awful things to everyone just to be reunited with a woman he detests. I liked the awkward interaction between Brienne, Davos, and Melisandre, with Stannis being the unfortunate link between any all of them. It’s good to see Margaery again and to know that her grandmother is not prepared to let her suffer the same fate that Cersei endured. Daenerys went from a hopeless life of being an imprisoned advisor at best to freeing herself with a formidable show of fire, barely even needing the help of her brave rescuers. Emerging naked from a blaze that engulfed everyone else in it had the desired effect, and now she has a whole new group of people to idolize her and help her in her quest to win this never-ending quest that serves as this show’s title. I enjoyed Tyrion’s fairly successful attempt to make peace with the slavers, complete with a handful of typically terrific lines directed at Missandei and Grey Worm about why it was worth taking a diplomatic approach when a military one clearly wasn’t working.