Game-changing queen power energizes ‘Game of Thrones’
Spoiler alert. Details from the recently concluded sixth season of “Game of Thrones (GOT)” will be revealed here.
The inescapable brutality of the “GOT” world leaves all of its denizens changed, drastically affected by the violence and madness of some of its more villainous figures—destructive men, women, children and monsters that make the hit HBO fantasy series heart-poundingly urgent and unpredictable.
Adapted from books written by George RR Martin, the show mirrors the real world’s sexism, putting female characters at a disadvantage. They’re almost always treated as lesser than men and are often threatened with abuse or violation.
For the women and girls inexorably involved in the power struggle in magical Westeros, life can be terribly difficult.
The sixth season (streaming on HBO Go and reairing July 9 and 10 on HBO) still shows their struggles, but there are significant and well-deserved victories.
The 10-episode season finally unleashes most of the females in grand fashion—but there are big moments for male characters, as well, primarily for war-weary (and magically resurrected) Jon Snow (Kit Harington).
Jon is driven to waging war anew after a moving reunion with long-lost sister Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), formerly the battered wife of deranged Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon).
Sansa has learned to play the game the hard way, and is now making big decisions—like secretly forming a temporary alliance with a villain, which saves Jon and his small army in the penultimate “Battle of the Bastards” episode.
Sansa previously escaped Ramsay with the aid of the knight-woman Brienne (Gwendoline Christie), who has since become her loyal bodyguard.
A few seasons back, Brienne’s offer of protection was refused by the Starks’ younger sister Arya (Maisie Williams), who pursued her own path.
Arya spent most of the last two seasons training under an enigmatic mystical order to become an assassin. She finally uses skill and strategy in the season finale, executing Walder Frey (David Bradley), who butchered some of the Starks in the harrowing “Rains of Castamere” episode from Season 3.
One of the people in Arya’s hit list is Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), who betrayed the Starks at the start of the saga. Mother to two young kings—both of whom have died—contemptible Cersei stunningly destroys many of her enemies, claims the Iron Throne and is declared the first Queen of Westeros in the finale.
Sadly, one of those decimated foes includes her intelligent rival and daughter-in-law Queen Margaery (Natalie Dormer), who is outmaneuvered by the more cunning Cersei.
Making her move to claim the Iron Throne is the queen of faraway Meereen, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), “mother” to three obedient dragons.
Daenerys gradually grows as a leader and liberator with every season—this year, abducted by a nomadic warrior tribe, she kills its chieftains in a burning hut (she’s fire-proof) and amasses more subjects and soldiers, adding them to her already impressive army.
Joining her is Yara (Gemma Whelan), exiled lesbian leader who requests Daenerys’ help in reclaiming territory seized by a usurper. The leaders of two vengeful houses wronged by Cersei, Ellaria (Indira Varma) and Lady Olenna (Diana Rigg), have also teamed up with Daenerys for the impending war.
The season devotes time to Jon Snow’s ascension to king of his territory as well, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the wise child leader of Bear Island, Lyanna Mormont (Bella Ramsey), who rallies Jon’s initially hesitant allies into backing him up as their new leader!
Despite some iffy parts (Arya’s speedy recovery from stab wounds!) and slowly paced arcs, the season can still be counted as one of “GOT’s” best.
Now that the women have mostly taken control of the game, the next season promises to be a raging war of queens—it would be fascinating to see how the encounters unravel, and how the series approaches that bittersweet and all-important game-changer.
