Game of Thrones Episode 43: High Sparrow

Cersei moves against the Faith after the High Septon is publicly humiliated by the Sparrows, while Tommen and Margaery are married and Jon Snow firmly refuses Stannis’s offer to abandon the Night’s Watch. Across the Narrow Sea, Arya continues her training in Braavos, and Tyrion’s journey toward Meereen takes an unexpected turn when he is captured by Jorah Mormont.

In King’s Landing, the High Septon is caught at a brothel in the company of prostitutes dressed as holy figures of the Seven. The Sparrows seize him, strip him of his dignity, and force him to walk naked through the streets while denouncing him as a sinner. When he complains to the Small Council and calls for the Sparrows’ leader to be executed, Cersei instead chooses to meet the man known as the High Sparrow. She finds him living simply, serving food to the poor, and, rather than attacking him directly, she arranges for the High Septon to be imprisoned instead.

Also in King’s Landing, Tommen and Margaery are wed. Margaery quickly begins shaping her new role as queen, and Cersei later visits her only to find Margaery confidently talking with her handmaidens about her wedding night, leaving Cersei frustrated and defeated.

At the Wall, Stannis Baratheon offers Jon Snow legitimization and support if Jon will leave the Night’s Watch and help him pursue his claim. Jon refuses, insisting that his duty is with the Watch and that the organization must remain neutral in the wars of the realm. He also makes clear that the Night’s Watch cannot keep feeding Stannis’s men and the wildlings indefinitely. Jon then asserts his authority as Lord Commander by ordering the execution of Janos Slynt when he refuses to obey, and he kills him with a single swing of Longclaw. Stannis watches and seems quietly approving.

In Braavos, Arya arrives at the House of Black and White and begins adapting to life there. She is instructed to give up her personal belongings as part of her training.

Elsewhere, Brienne and Podrick continue following Littlefinger. Their conversations deepen Brienne’s understanding of Podrick, and she begins teaching him in hopes of making him a proper knight.

Littlefinger’s plans become clearer when he brings Sansa to the Vale and tells her that he has arranged for her to marry Ramsay Bolton. Sansa is horrified, but Littlefinger persuades her to accept the marriage as part of a larger strategy.

Tyrion and Varys travel through Volantis on their way east. While there, they pass through the city and encounter its worshippers, but Tyrion soon wanders into a brothel. There, he is recognized and seized by Jorah Mormont, who tells him he is taking him to see “the queen.”