Spoilers abound in this article if you haven’t caught the seventh episode of Game of Thrones’ fifth season, “The Gift.” If you haven’t watched, yet, skedaddle out of here and check out one of our other lovely stories, including everything we’ve seen from Season 5.
While every Game of Thrones Season 5 episode has been chock full of information, the plot has still been a little slow-moving throughout the season. That is until the final few minutes of Episode 7, which finally moved some major chess pieces on the board. One of the big moments came far from King’s Landing, and no, we’re not talking about the wall. Instead, we’re talking about Tyrion Lannister finally coming face-to-face with Daenerys Targaryen, with Jorah Mormont in tow.
If you’ve been tracking Jorah and Tyrion this season, the former actually kidnapped the latter to bring him to Meereen on the HBO series. Then, while on a road trip, they were picked up by a band of pirates who want to use them in the fighting pits of Meereen. Tyrion is chained to a wall and Jorah is just suiting up for his first match at a low-end fighting ring when they both realize Dany is making the rounds and is in attendance. Convenient? Yes, but I’m certainly not complaining.
There is something quite fantastic about seeing Jorah Mormont’s training come into play. At one point, the man was one of Dany’s most trusted advisors, but while he’s done a little light lifting on the show in terms of weaponry, we haven’t really seen him step up to the plate and prove his battle skills. In order to win Dany’s focus, he crushes through a half dozen men or so to get the Queen’s attention. She’s obviously displeased to see him, but then he drops the line that he’s brought her a gift. Then, to make the moment even more epic, Tyrion pops out and introduces himself, proclaiming that he’s the gift. Can you say ‘bombshell?’
Anyone who caught the previews for Season 5 earlier this year may have known that Tyrion and Jorah would eventually find their way back to Dany, but there’s a difference between speculating that something will happen and actually seeing it in action. In action, the possibilities are quite spectacular and totally foreign for all audiences, whether or not they have read George R.R. Martin’s popular novels. In the books, Tyrion and Jorah were sold to the fighting pits, where Tyrion entertained as a mock fighter and Jorah kicked ass. They eventually were able to join the sellsword company the Second Sons. In the novels, Tyrion has not met Daenerys at this point and the potential of an alliance between the Lannister and the Targaryen could be quite exciting.
Dany hasn’t had the easiest time in Meereen this season. Uniting the wealthy factions and the former slaves hasn’t gone particularly well, and even led to the death of Barristan Selmy. However, compared to the problems King’s Landing is facing, her issues are small potatoes. Not only is winter coming, but Tommen has proven he has no ability to sack up against the threat of the High Sparrow and in the North, Stannis and the Boltons are about to have another fight. While that latter bit may not affect King’s Landing, yet, if Stannis emerges the victor, you better believe he’ll set his sights on the notoriously weakened city. Something tells me a siege against Tommen would lack the theatrics of the Battle of the Blackwater.
It’s still hard for me to believe the Game of Thrones showrunners only want to do a few more seasons of the fantasy drama. There are still so many plots that need to be resolved before the ultimate end, and there are only three more episodes left this season. Regardless, tonight a key piece of that puzzle finally fell into place.
