The Small Council: A final look back at “Hardhome”

After several divisive episodes of Game of Thrones, “Hardhome” has received near-universal praise, and if you don’t believe me, just look at this graph. Would a graph lie to you? This week, WiC’s Small Council will break down the episode, considering the highs together with the lows. Or maybe we’ll just gush over the final battle scene. Step into our chambers to find out.

DAN: “Hardhome” was a solid episode of Game of Thrones, even before we took that fateful trip north of the Wall. I especially liked getting another look at the lovely exteriors they’re using for Braavos, and appreciated that David Benioff and Dan Weiss didn’t pander when writing the conversations between Tyrion and Daenerys. Fans have long theorized that these two would make a good pair, but it wasn’t partnership at first site—they’ll have to develop trust, and this episode found them feeling each other out.

But eventually, all roads led to Hardhome, and the production team should be proud of that battle scene, which was among the most pulse-pounding sequences ever featured on the show. Some fans have compared it to the action scenes in “Blackwater” and “The Watchers on the Wall,” but I think the genius of this episode was that it didn’t try to imitate those earlier battles. For one thing, the Massacre at Hardhome (for that is what HBO has named it) didn’t take up the entire episode, which allowed us to sink into a familiar rhythm before we were blindsided by the intensity of those final minutes.

Also, an episode like “Blackwater” drew a lot of its power from the fact that we were familiar with the combatants on both sides of the conflict—we might have been sure that Stannis would make a better king than Joffrey, but we still sympathized with Tyrion, and we were afraid for Sansa. Here, there was no ambiguity—our sympathies were entirely with the living human beings, and against the wights and White Walkers, who embodied pure evil. This gave the sequence a very different feel than any other action scene on the show. It was almost more like a chase scene than a battle scene, as there was never any hope of victory, and that made it stand out.

Finally, it should be noted that this scene was not adapted from the books (true, it’s mentioned in the novels that something happened at Hardhome, but we get no details, so this sequence is basically brand new). After a season during which the producers have come under fire for changing the books, it’s good to see that they can knock a sequence of their own invention out of the park.

What did you guys think of “Hardhome,” battle scene or otherwise?

RAZOR: While I enjoyed the events at Hardhome immensely, I think the success of this episode was set up by the dynamic interaction between Dany and Tyrion. As a book reader, this is the moment that I longed for while reading A Dance with Dragons, and to finally get to observe these two huge power players having a deep and thought-provoking conversation was absolutely amazing.

I know that it’s popular to make fun of Emila Clarke’s portrayal of Daenerys, but honestly I have never really understood all the hate directed at her. Now, I will be the first to admit that this season has not been her best, but in this particular episode, she shined. Perhaps it was the fact that she was next to Peter Dinklage the entire time, or maybe they just bring out the best in each other, but I greatly enjoyed their scenes.

Also, Sophie Turner turned in quite the performance this past Sunday night, despite limited screen time. For the first time ever, I caught myself feeling Sansa’s emotions as she raged against Theon, and then I felt her great relief when he revealed that her little brothers were still alive. I think this is the moment that will change Sansa and Theon’s arc. They now both have something to live for—Sansa for the possibility of rebuilding her family and reinstating House Stark as the Lords of Winterfell, and Theon for his ultimate redemption, which he can try and achieve by helping Sansa escape and maybe find her brothers.

Of course, I would be remiss if I did not talk about the Massacre at Hardhome. Kit Harington really stepped up this episode, something he’s been doing all season long. I also found myself emotionally involved in Karsi, even though she might as well have been wearing a red ensign shirt. Birgitte Hjort Sørensen made the most of her brief time in the spotlight, delivering some of the episode’s best lines and baddest ass action moments. In my opinion, “Hardhome” was the best episode of Season 5, and ranks somewhere in the top three for the entire series.

KATIE: Other than the It scene of the week, some other highlights for me were Arya’s sick new threads, more of the Braavosi scenery, and Theon’s confession (my god, what a relief it was to see Sansa learn the truth about what’s left of her family). Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner can knock a scene out of the park without saying a word, and I think this episode really defines that in Arya’s cool, calculating expression while selling her oysters, and in Sansa’s silent shock when Theon finally spills the long-awaited beans. I’m really looking forward to where these new paths will lead the Stark sisters, and even though their journeys are separate for now, I think it’s interesting to watch as they both embark on these missions. There’s this cool juxtaposition where, in order to survive, Arya has to shed her identity and Sansa has to hold onto hers. This manages to exemplify the differences between the two and at the same time it develops their relationship, even though they’re basically across the world from each other and, for all either of them knows, dead. I’m holding out for a Stark sister reunion…although, let’s face it, it’s gonna have to wait.

But on to the It scene. I—like most everyone—knew a battle was coming up this week, so I expected carnage like only Game of Thrones can deliver. What I didn’t expect was how much I enjoyed it. Typically speaking, I’m not big on battle scenes; action-packed as they may be, my attention tends to drift off amidst all the quick cuts and destruction. This time around was different, and I think that can be attributed to the novelty of the fight. Like Dan said, there was no room to consider the possibilities of the outcome—no “If Joffrey/Stannis/Brienne/Jaime/The Hound wins, then x happens.” One side is humans, the other is White Walkers, and you knew which side you’re on, and while that black-and-white mentality isn’t the norm for Game of Thrones, it’s executed perfectly here. Along with the general buzz that a battle scene usually brings, I think the drastically different stakes were what really sold this one. Not to mention that it was great to finally see Big Daddy White Walker doing something that doesn’t involve taking on the responsibility of an abandoned baby (that was him who took on one of Craster’s kids last season, right?).

Fun fact: Karsi is alive and well as that knockout German girl in Pitch Perfect 2, which actually made me feel a little better.

CAMERON: I’m bummed that I couldn’t think of a good ice-related name for my zombified acapella group. Oh well. The hardest scenes to watch in this episode that weren’t White Walkers killing people were the Cersei scenes. There’s been an awful lot of scenes of people in prisons this season, but Cersei’s situation is very stark, exposing the show’s interest in power dynamics by reversing the fortunes of one of its most privileged characters. And I knew to expect even more schadenfreude-y responses this week, but thankfully some people were like “well look, I hate Cersei, but even I wouldn’t want to drink water from the ground, that’s gross septa.” So there’s that, at least.

I also actually forgot that there was even a Sansa/Theon scene in this episode when I was recapping it to myself. I can’t tell if it’s because it didn’t have enough of an impact on me, if I’m just pre-emptively blocking out portions of Sansa’s story out of fear of Ramsay, or if Hardhome just overshadowed everything that came before and it was a futile effort for me to even try and remember everything that happened.

Also, Samwell Tarly is just the best. I hope he lives a long and fruitful life somewhere safe long after this story is over.

ANI: Cameron, only if he gets South before it’s too late. I hear Oldtown is nice this time of year.

You know, there was a level after watching the wildlings and Jon’s team of Night’s Watchmen battle the skeleton crew that sent me on a wave of despair. What does it matter who is up and who is down on the wheel when THAT is coming? But the turns of the wheel are the reason we’ve all been tuning in week after week. It’s why most of those inside the beltway relish this show. And boy howdy, guess who’s on top this wee? Grand Maester Pycelle. I know we only heard about it second hand between spoon slaps and floor licks, but I can picture his doing a quiet gig in his quarters for this week’s call girl before shuffling over to sit in the Hand’s Chair at the Small Council Table. Too bad the only member left to watch him is Qyburn. Smaller and Smaller indeed. Hey, Maybe Kevan will enjoy it, and even force Tommen out of his funk and into the chambers to learn something about ruling.

Meanwhile, I know the Many Faced God doesn’t care if Arya fails, but I’m wondering how (s)he’ll feel when she succeeds too well—in the wrong direction. Too bad Theon doesn’t know her whereabouts—I’d love to see Arya take on Ramsay on principle for her sister.

• Published on 06/05/2015 at 12:30 PM CDT
• Last updated on 06/05/2015 at 4:35 PM CDT