Game of Thrones season 7, episode 2 recap: Stormborn
Game of Thrones took us back to Westeros Sunday night for the second episode of season 7 and there was a lot going on. Here’s what you missed on“Stormborn.”
On Sunday night’s episode of Game of Thrones, the alliances that have been hinted at grew several steps closer across the seven kingdoms. Some highly buzzed about meetings viewers have been hoping for unfolded, while others were planned for episodes to come. So what did you miss in the seven kingdoms? Here’s what went down on season 7 episode 2:
At Dragonstone
On a stormy night, Dany, Varys, and Tyrion reminisce about the old days. Namely, about the storm on the night of Dany’s birth, and the fact that Varys was once loyal to Robert Baratheon. Varys cites his rough upbringing and assures Dany his loyalty has always been to the people. He has chosen to be loyal to Dany, he says, because her knows the “people have no better chance than [her].” Dany makes Varys pledge an oath of honesty to her, which he does, but in the same breath she swears to burn him alive if he ever betrays her (and she’s got the fire-breathing sidekicks to do it). He tells her he wouldn’t expect anything less.
We then get a chance to see the highly-anticipated meeting we were promised from teaser trailers: Melisandre having a little chat with Dany. After Vary points out that she too used to be loyal to an evil ruler (Stannis), The Red Priestess tells Dany that she’s had a prophecy that only a prince can “bring the dawn,” though she’s quickly corrected by Missandei that her translation is a little off. “Prince” in High Valyerian could also mean “Princess.” Which is handy for Dany.
Melisandre goes on to say she thinks Dany has a major role to play in all this and she thinks Jon Snow does, too, setting up the Dany-Jon meeting we’ve all been waiting for. Dany tells Tyrion to send for Jon Snow and have him come to Dragonstone and “bend the knee.”
Later, Lady Olenna joins the war council and discusses strategy with Yara, Dany, Tyrion, and Ellaria. The plan they hatch involves the Dornish and Tyrell armies focusing on King’s Landing (much to some of the women’s dismay), while the Unsullied sets out to claim Casterly Rock.
In one of the episode’s best moments, Olenna and Dany sit down for a little pep talk. Olenna basically tells Dany that supporters like Tyrion are all well and good, but in general it’s best to “ignore the men” and rely on her own fierceness. She wouldn’t be where she is now, Olenna says, if she’d let the men around her drag her down. “Be a dragon,” Olenna tells Dany, in what we’re hoping becomes the new go-to “you go girl” phrase.
Then we get a little romantic interlude as Grey Worm and Missendei finally act on all that simmering sexual tension. There’s nudity involved, and Missendei reassuring Grey Worm that she still wants him, despite his Unsullied (and eunuch) status.
In the North
We then headed to Winterfell where Jon, Sansa, and Littlefinger have just received Tyrion’s summons. Sansa is quick to point out that in her experience, Tyrion is a good man. And they all agree that their collective hatred for Cersei may be reason enough to explore a meeting.
Later Jon receives a raven from Sam and as he tells his followers, he’s learned that Dragonstone is chock full of dragon glass and he’s decided to go meet with Dany to see what they can do about teaming up. His plan is met with some expected concern from his men and Sansa, as they say Dany’s not to be trusted. Of course, when Jon leaves Sansa in charge during his absense, she’s taken aback.
There’s also a heated exchanged that had been hinted at in teasers between Jon and Littlefinger in Winterfell’s crypt (in front of a statue of Ned Stark, to be specific). Littlefinger tries to buddy up with Jon and Jon’s not having it, especially when Littlefinger says he loves Sansa. Laying a hand on his sister would be unwise, Jon warns Littlefinger while nearly choking him out, as he’ll kill him if he does.
In King’s Landing
When we see first see Cersei this episode, she’s warning her people of the threat Daenerys poses to their kingdom. She reminds everyone that Dany’s father was a violent nut job and says Dany is too, recounting a few examples of Dany’s past showings of brutality as a ruler (like she’s really one to talk). After Cersei’s statements, Jaime catches up with Lord Tarly (a.k.a. Sam’s dad). We get a quick look at Sam’s brother, then Jaime implores the lord to help Cersei in her plan. Jaime asks him to help destroy their enemies, but Tarly takes issue with the idea of going up against the Tyrells who he’s pledged loyalty to in the past. Jaime tries to sweeten the deal by offering a position of power should everything go according to plan.
Later, we return to the depths of King’s Landing where Qyburn is showing Cersei that the impending fight against Dany may not be as futile as they think. He uncovered a pretty badass looking crossbow and explains that because Dany’s dragons have been injured before, they aren’t unkillable. The scene ends with a determined-looking Cersei firing a bow straight into the giant dragon skull they’ve apparently been keeping in the basement.
At the Citadel
Jorah makes an appearance early on in the episode as the archmaester and Sam evaluate the severity of his greyscale (spoiler alert: it’s pretty bad). The archmaester tells Jorah he has years to live but his mind will likely go in six months or so. Sam, in his adorable Sam way, bumbles his way through trying to suggest new treatments for Jorah but he’s shut down.
When we head back to the Citadel later in the episode, Sam tries again to convince the archmaester they should try something different to treat Jorah’s condition but he’s rebuffed once more.
The season keeps up its record of using the Citadel as the setting for physically sickening scenes (we still can’t talk about the bathroom cleaning scene from last week without gagging) as Sam sneaks into Jorah’s cell to take the matter of his greyscale into his own (albeit shaky) hands. There are some incredibly uneccessary shots of Sam slowly carving the scales off Jorah’s flesh. We all needed some of the rum Sam and Jorah we’re chugging to make it through that scene.
Elsewhere
We meet up with Arya on the road on her quest to take down Cersei as she reunites with her old friend Hot Pie (which, may we say, might be our favorite character name on the show). There are some good winking references to Arya’s background with pie-making (the human kind), then Hot Pie blows Arya’s mind by breaking the news that the Boltons are long gone and her brother Jon is now the King in the North. That sends her quickly back on her way, though it’s unclear if her destination has shifted.
Later there’s an intense moment where Arya is surrounded by wolves as she makes her campfire. She’s startled until she realizes one of the wolves is her own, Nymeria. She tries to coax her old companion to join her on her journey, then realizes it wouldn’t be right. In the post-show analysis with show runners, we’re reminded her comment that “That’s not you” to Nymeria is a direct reference to Arya telling her father being a dainty lady is “not [her]” back in season 1.
Somewhere across the sea
Things get a little flirty between Ellaria and Yara in the boozy depths of a ship they’re on headed to Dorn (?). Theon opts out of a threesome with Ellaria and his sister, but the interaction is soon ended as the ship comes under attack. It’s Euron Greyjoy and his troops and things get fiery and violent. At least two of the Sand Snake daughters meet their bloody ends and the fate of Ellaria and Yara are ultimately left up in the air. In a particularly heart-wrenching way to end the episode, Euron hold Yara captive, holding his weapon to her throat, his eyes glowing with madness. He invites Theon to come rescue his sister and after some wide-eyed panic, Theon leaves Yara in Euron’s clutches and leaps from the ship.
Next: Game of Thrones: What does the new trailer tell us?
Game of Thrones airs new episodes every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO. Stay tuned for all our Game of Thrones coverage right here on Culturess.