Game of Thrones 'Oathbreaker' episode sets up the wars to come

NOTE: The following story contains major spoilers about episode three of season six of HBO's Game of Thrones.

"And now it begins."

"No, now it ends."

So goes the dialogue between the Targaryen knight Ser Arthur Dayne and young Ned Stark before they cross swords at the Tower of Joy, a Game of Thrones scene hotly anticipated by those who have read George R.R. Martin's books. For the viewers, it was neither an episode of beginnings nor endings, but a workmanlike mover of the chess pieces that hint at huge revelations and conflicts in the episodes to come. The first episode this season directed by Daniel Sackheim, it didn't have the trademark moody tones of Canadian Jeremy Podeswa (director of the first two episodes), but what it lacked in mystique it compensated for in dynamic plot movement and some memorable dialogue.

We'll get back to the Tower of Joy in a second, but first, let's tackle the goings on in the world of our favourite undead, no-longer Lord Commander Jon Snow.

Jon Snow, the faithful, and the unfaithful

"Your eyes are still brown," says Edd, a Jon Snow faithful, in relief that must have been shared by the fans upon discovering that the newly resurrected Lord Commander is, more or less, the same person. Just to what degree, we will find out in episodes to come (actor Kit Harington had shared in interviews that his character has been changed by the experience of death), but for now, it's good to know that such changes are likely more nuanced, and that he hasn't turned into one of the homicidal maniacs that seem a dime a dozen in Westeros. If anything, Jon seems more decisive, even if you see his lip quivering as he's about to hang young Olly for trying to kill him. Still, it's goodbye Olly, goodbye Alliser Thorne; Jon's got bigger fish to fry.

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What's also important, and will likely be further explored in episodes to come, is that Snow is unsure how good of an idea it was to resurrect him, which makes it reasonable to assume he would not want to be brought back to life again if he were to die. This is a good thing because if Snow was infinitely revivable, there would be little dramatic tension left for the viewers as he heads into new battles.

In addition to his innocence, Jon also sheds his Lord Commander coat at the end of this sequence, passing it to Edd. Hopefully Davos remains at Jon's side. His hilarious, F-bomb-dropping folksiness has kept much of the Jon storyline of the last three episodes from becoming too dour.

And speaking of Jon sidekicks, guess who else is back?

Sam and Gilly

On a ship somewhere, Samwell Tarly is battling sea sickness as his best friend is bending the laws of life and death. Sam was sent by Jon to Old Town to become a maester, but Sam knows Gilly, once again, cannot accompany him there. He tells her he is taking her to his family's home instead, a decision she initially protests but eventually agrees to, cryptically adding she knew he'd always take care of her and their son (baby Sam, Tarly's adopted child of sorts, or a baby yet to come?).

Sam throws up again so we don't find out.

Daenerys, Tyrion, Varys

It is difficult to tell what the narrative point will be of Daenerys's literal and figurative journey back to the land of the Dothraki, where we first met her as a child-bride six seasons ago. Either way, this episode finds her at Dosh Khaleen, a kind of an active senior citizen facility for widowed khaleesis. Except there are no sweet old ladies at this one: Daenerys is told in no uncertain terms that she will be judged for the crime of becoming a conqueror/liberator queen after her Khal's death rather than taking her rightful place in the Dothraki society. Since she achieved so much, it's frustrating to see Daenerys in this storytelling cul-de-sac, a predicament worsened by the fact Emilia Clarke has not yet been given any of her great "break the wheel" speeches so far this season.

The plot thickens in Meereen. While Tyrion reaffirms his "fish-out-of-water" status by trying to teach Grey Worm and Missandei the joys of drinking and cultured conversation, Varys does what Varys does best: extract information. What he finds out is no surprise the Harpy uprisings are being funded by the wealthy class of the cities whose slaves Daenerys liberated. But a pleasant surprise in this scene is that Varys sounds like, well, Varys, something the show has struggled with since outpacing George R.R. Martin's books at the beginning of this season.

Lannisters and Sparrows

In one of the show's nicer segues, we find out that Varys' famous "little birds" are indeed, little: children. Creepy maester Qyburn of the Mountain Resurrection fame bribes them with candy so they can work for him.

Cersei's shag haircut is growing out nicely and she seems to be back to her full ruthless glory, bolstered by Jaime's support and the undead Mountain. Still, when the twins try to wedge their way into the Small Council, it's clear that the others on it are not amused (an elderly bunch that includes the always effective Lady Olena Tyrell and Tywin's brother Kevan Lannister). There's yet another moveable piece in the whole chaos in the capital: King Tommen. In this episode, his planned confrontation with the High Sparrow leads to the religious leader engaging him in a cozy conversation. While these Sparrows really likely have a bad thing coming, Jonathan Pryce's High Sparrow, with his aching bones and uncanny powers of persuasion, is a delicious villain to watch.

Arya Stark

After being beaten with the stick while blind once again (scenes surprisingly tough to watch on a show as violent as Game of Thrones), Arya finally convinces Jaqen she has sufficiently shed her human identity and is given her sight back.

What's interesting is how Arya's training parallels Bran's. The two young Stark children seem poised to play an important part in the conflicts to come, not with swords but with their newly acquired supernatural powers. But can Arya ever become her family's avenger if she must forever part with her identity?

Bran and the Tower of Joy

Bran continues his tour of his family's past with a visit to a place in the Westeros history many George R.R. Martin fans believe to be of crucial importance: the Tower of Joy. Alongside the Three-Eyed Raven, Bran sees Ned Stark as a young man taking on the Targaryen knights to ascend the so-called Tower of Joy, where Rhaegar Targaryen (that would be Dany's oldest brother, the one we never got to meet) is believed to be holding Ned's sister Lyanna.

Beyond the casting of a young actor with remarkable resemblance to the original Ned Stark, Sean Bean, this scene was solid in so many ways. The sunny skies and green grass, reminding us this episode took place during the so-called Long Summer. Ned's inability to beat Ser Arthur Dayne on his own; a shocking reminder to Bran that sometimes family lore omits crucial information. The introduction of Howland Reed, Meera's father, who looked out for Ned much like Meera looks out for Bran.

Many viewers were no doubt disappointed that the scene cuts off, courtesy of the Three-Eyed Raven, just as we're about to see whether Lyanna Stark is, indeed, giving birth to a child many fans believe is Jon. But perhaps two major Jon Snow revelations in two back-to-back episodes would have been overkill.

Wars to come

As Jon leaves the Night's Watch, he's a free agent. Sure, he has Whitewalkers to fight, but it's likely he'll take on some enemies in the corporeal realm first. And now he has a good reason, as Ramsey Bolton not only has Winterfell, but the youngest Stark, Rickon (they even killed his dire wolf). His stab wounds still smarting, Jon won't be happy to learn this.