We’re three episodes into Game of Thrones‘ sixth season, and the latest one, titled “Oathbreaker,” gave us a lot to chew on heading forward. It may not have lived up to the excitement of the second episode of the season in which Jon Snow was famously (finally) brought back to life, but in setting the stage for the events to come it was a monumental hour of television. Here are five important takeaways from the episode.
“My Watch Is Ended”
Perhaps the biggest thing that happened in “Oathbreaker” was that the newly resurrected Jon Snow determined…well, that he could break his oath. We assume he’s the “Oathbreaker” the title of the episode refers to given that he did arguably break his oath to the Night’s Watch before he was murdered. However, now that he’s died, he’s free to go back entirely on his vows to the Night’s Watch. Forbes already constructed a review for the episode and pointed this out by quoting the oath of the Night’s Watch, with the key passage being “it shall not end until my death.” Jon Snow died and returned, and evidently it’s not lost on him that technically this freed him of his oath. Our last look at Snow was as he stormed out of Castle Black after executing his own murderers and handing over the post of Lord Commander. “My watch is ended,” he muttered. Now he’s free to try to right the endless wrongs done to his family.
Ned’s Reputation Takes A Hit
Arguably the most thrilling scene in “Oathbreaker” was another flashback sequence in which Bran and the Three-Eyed Raven travel back in time. This time it’s to witness a young Ned Stark fresh off his and Robert Baratheon’s victory in the rebellion and searching for his captive sister Lyanna when he’s confronted by Ser Arthur Dayne. Fans of the books in particular will know that Dayne is spoken of as perhaps the greatest knight who ever lived. He was also supposedly defeated by Ned Stark, but this scene shows us that’s not the whole story. As Bran and the Raven watch, Arthur Dayne shows his chops, wielding two swords more deftly than we’ve seen any other character use one and taking down a host of Ned’s knights before winding up in a one-on-one fight. He then defeats Ned and moves in for the kill when a young Howland Reed (who’d been struck down previously, but evidently not killed) rises to stab him in the back. Ned finishes Dayne off, and Bran is clearly dismayed at the lack of honour in the storied victory. It’s a shocking scene that makes one wonder if we’re about to see Ned’s reputation deconstructed; though it also furthers the introduction of Lyanna, which could mean a lot of things.
Cersei Regains Her Edge
For some time now Cersei has seemed off her game, prone to anger and dismay at the expense of her own cleverness – which, as it happens, is her main advantage. Indeed, Lottoland actually wrote up a detailed analysis of several main characters’ best attributes, and Cersei’s section is telling: her strengths all fall in the cunning category. That’s something that she’s abandoned as of late, but in “Oathbreaker” we saw her planning ahead, thinking strategically, and acting with absolute authority once more as she set about dispersing “little birds” (or child spies) around the kingdoms. It may not have seemed like a big scene but it was a major step in the right direction for a Cersei determined to regain control of the realm.
Arya Gets Initiated
Most would agree that the Arya arc has grown a little bit tiresome. She’s undergone a lengthy and repetitive training cycle at the hands of the Faceless Men (or really just Jaqen H’ghar), learning to fight and deceive, then failing, then being blinded for her failure, etc. But it seemed that she finally proved her worth to Jaqen at the end of “Oathbreaker.” She finally gives a pretty convincing response that she is “no one,” which is all she’s needed to do the whole time, and it feels like the arc can finally progress now. The question moving forward is whether Arya has been broken by the Faceless Men, to the point of forsaking her identity and letting go of her various quests for vengeance, or if she’s just finally managed to deceive Jaqen.
Rickon Returns
Last week, The Independent featured a rare spoiler straight form the cast of Game Of Thrones. Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark, let it be known that Rickon Stark would return after being absent from the show for some time. And return he did, though one has to wonder if he’d rather be lost in the northern woodlands. As it turns out he’s been captured and brought to Ramsay Bolton, where he immediately becomes a valuable prisoner. Sadly, his direwolf Shaggydog appears to have been murdered by Bolton as well, though this whole thing feels like fodder for a Jon Snow rampage. Snow is likely headed for Winterfell, and finding his sibling in a psychopath’s dungeon will make for some serious action.
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https://youtu.be/b7Ozs5mj5ao?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng
Originally published May 9, 2016. Updated November 29, 2022.
