Game of Thrones Episode 49: The Dance of Dragons

Jon Snow returns to Castle Black with the surviving wildlings from Hardhome, and some Night’s Watch men are openly unhappy about letting them through the gate. Jon insists the refugees be admitted anyway, treating the threat beyond the Wall as more urgent than old enmities.

In the North, Stannis Baratheon’s army is stranded by a brutal snowstorm after Ramsay Bolton’s men sabotage their supplies overnight. With food and morale collapsing, Stannis sends Davos Seaworth back to Castle Black to ask Jon Snow for supplies and manpower, promising to repay the favor later. After Davos leaves, Stannis makes the terrible decision to allow Melisandre to sacrifice Shireen Baratheon to the Lord of Light in hopes of changing their fortunes.

In Braavos, Arya Stark continues her training as a Faceless Man but becomes distracted when she spots Meryn Trant. She abandons her original assignment and follows him instead, learning where he is going and deciding to pursue a personal revenge target rather than the mission she was given.

In Dorne, Jaime Lannister meets with Prince Doran Martell and reaches an agreement that allows Myrcella Baratheon to return home. The meeting happens under tense circumstances, with Ellaria Sand visibly furious at the arrangement.

In Meereen, Daenerys Targaryen attends the reopening of the fighting pits and watches the games from the stands. Jorah Mormont is unexpectedly one of the fighters and wins a bout, but the celebration turns into chaos when the Sons of the Harpy launch a surprise attack on the crowd in an attempt to kill Daenerys. Daenerys is trapped in the pit as the slaughter begins, until Jorah fights to her side and Drogon arrives, scattering the attackers. Daenerys climbs onto Drogon and, for the first time, rides him out of the city while Tyrion Lannister and the others look on in shock.