game of thrones season 2 episode summary

Most shocking moment: Grey Worm's fight with the Sons of the Harpy, one of the best bits of hand-to-hand combat in the whole series, ends with poor Ser Barristan getting killed. As Jaime and Bronn continue their adventures in Dorne, where we meet the ill-fated Sand Snakes, Jorah and Tyrion slowly make their way back to Dany, making you wish they'd just arrive at their destination already. The less religiously inclined storylines have lots of set-up. The most important developments have to do with fanatics and fundamentalists: Having teamed up with the High Sparrow and the Faith Militant, Cersei enrages Margaery when her brother Loras is arrested for his sexuality traveling North to build support for Stannis's military campaign, Melisandre attempts to seduce John Snow into joining the Lord of Light and following a riot in Meereen, Daenerys must contend with the deadly Sons of the Harpy, who are staging a coup against her. Recap: An episode that's reflective of some of the larger problems that plagued Season 5, 'Sons of the Harpy' introduces compelling ideas but doesn't always find the most effective ways to dramatize them. Why it's important: It's an episode that once again shows how putridly the show handles violence against women, and in doing so establishes Ramsay as one of the most frustratingly exhausting villains in its oeuvre. Most shocking moment: The horrific rape scene. Jorah and Tyrion are sold into slavery while trying to get back to Daenerys, and Arya does some more training with the Faceless Men. Her (secret) father and his companion come face to face with the Sand Snakes. On the subject of the Lannister family: Jaime and Bronn sneak into Dorne to rescue Myrcella, who is perfectly happy with her hunky Dornish beau. But to the point about the Tyrells: Loras is put on trial by the Sparrows, as is, unexpectedly, Margaery, and both are taken prisoner, much to Cersei's delight and Tommen's horror. It's a brutal, utterly unnecessary scene that punishes Sansa, who just moments before asserted her power in the face of taunting from Ramsay's girlfriend Myranda.

Recap: Though the episode is named for the Tyrells, it's most notable for the controversial final scene in which Ramsay rapes Sansa on their wedding night in front of Theon Greyjoy, who's forced to watch.

Game of thrones season 2 episode summary