WARNING: There are spoilers in this article.  Even though we’ve added the obligatory spoiler warning, I’ll find it hard to believe that there are many people who miss this show on the day it airs. In fact, if you are starting to read this and you HAVEN’T seen this episode then you need to stop and come back in sixty minutes. Right, you’ve made it back. Wiped your eyes? Staring into the distance in disbelief? Trying hard not to crush inanimate objects due to Throne Rage? Yep, we’re all there with you in amazement of the series finale of season five (and a little in despair… OK, a lot in despair…). Read more...

Or rather, The ‘Gifts,’ as this episode of Game of Thrones was absolutely full of treats this week. The pacing so far of this season has been excellent – the feeling of foreboding is rapidly reaching breaking point as too much seems to being going almost too well for some characters and terribly, terribly wrong for others in ways we never expected. Winter is almost here and the North is becoming hatefully cold, threatening to scupper the advancing plans of Stannis Baratheon’s army as they march closer towards Winterfell. His allies are retreating but his pride is forcing him to continue for the sake of losing face. Melisandre presents him with another opportunity – sacrifice Shireen in order to secure his victory. This was an awesome scene for Stannis. For years we’ve believed him to be manipulated by the Red Lady only to see that this one step too far for the Lord of Light. It adds so much humanity to Stannis and makes you rally towards him – guess that means he’ll be dead soon then… Read more...

The state of the House Stark has been pretty much left to one young lady for now as Bran is notably absent from this season, Jon Snow courts the Wildlings and Ayra pledges to become No One – a title of its own. So it’s up to Sansa to ride the storm of the Bolton’s in the hope of securing her family home and ensuring ‘The North Remembers’ once again. Read more...

“Careful, I’m the last friend you’ve got.” – Jaime Lannister     Season four of this stellar show continues with one of strongest runs of story content and character development since the opening series. We find Tyrion languishing in his cell and Peter Dinklage, yet again, puts him through more emotional difficulty. He portrays the angst and nervousness well – masterfully disguising it enough so as Tyrion does not appear weak – and the vulnerability of the ever confident man begins to show through the cracks.   Read more...

“I saw you die tonight. I saw your body burn. I saw the snow fall and bury your bones.” – Jojen Reed   After last week’s low point, it made this episode seem all the more fantastic – but it truly was that. First of His Name, in much the same way it ushered in its new King Tommen, was full of subtle spectacle and made for the most riveting watching of this season so far.   Read more...

“A man with no motive is a man no one suspects. Always keep your foes confused. If they don’t know who you are or what you want, they can’t know what you plan to do next.” – Littlefinger     This episode of Game of Thrones was really random at times and seemed to jump around characters for dull but lasting exposition and some scenery-chewing that was worthy of Michael Shannon’s General Zod.   Read more...

“Your enemy has nothing for you but chains and suffering, and commands. I do not bring you commands. I bring you a choice. And I bring your enemies what they deserve.” – Daenerys Targaryen The focus of Game of Thrones shifts this week from the violent exchanges and murders of the first two episodes (although that’s not wholly absent!) to some brutal exchanges of words between some of the major players. Kings Landing is ordered into a lock-down of sorts by Tywin Lannister but the Lion is not quick enough to secure young Sansa Stark. As Tyrion’s wife, it’s without question that she will be implicated in Joffrey’s assassination – especially when her treatment at the hands of the king is taken into account. Luckily for the eldest Stark daughter, she manages to flee Kings Landing with the help of Ser Dontos. The drunken knight secures her freedom from an unlikely source – Littlefinger. Obviously, this casts new speculation on the safety of Sansa – has she merely traded one captor for another? And who’s to say that Littlefinger won’t just cast her back to the Lion’s if it serves his purpose? Read more...

“Serve me my wine. Hurry up, this pie is dry.” The episode opens with a startling chase; one that echoes the pace of this second episode of the beloved series. Ramsay Snow is chasing down a fair maiden with Theon Greyjoy in tow – or Reek as he has now become to be known. This is not the Theon we’re accustomed to. Beaten, tortured and robbed of his manhood by his sadistic captor, the heir to the crags of Pike is a shadow of his former, decadent self. A shaking, dishevelled mess, Alfie Allen proves his acting chops - in an episode that is set to thrill from the start - as he looks to falter when he learns of the murder of his best friend and surrogate brother, Robb Stark. This is merely the beginning as The Lion And The Rose ups the ante and ensures that the actors are put through their paces as their characters are tested to their very limits. Read more...