Game of Thrones “Book of the Stranger”—Thematic Analysis

Tonight’s episode, “The Book of the Stranger,” takes its title from the final section of the religious text, The Seven-Pointed Star, Westeros’ equivalent of the King James Bible. During one of the more striking scenes of the evening—in an episode that most are going to agree is the strongest of the season so far—Margaery even quotes it, chapter and verse, at the High Sparrow. “And one day your walked through a graveyard and realized it was all for nothing, and set out on the path to righteousness. Book of the Stranger, Verse 25.” It is a striking scene, both because of Jonathan Pryce’s reveal of The High Sparrow’s backstory—delivered via a mesmerizing monologue the like of which one usually only finds in Shakespearean productions—but also in Margaery’s response. For all her time in the dungeons, and the relentless brainwashing torture of Septa Unella, Margaery has not broken. Instead, she’s been listening, absorbing, and planning to use the tools the Sparrows have given her against them when the time is right.

"Greyworm: “You will not use them. They will use you.”"

Does the High Sparrow realize that Margaery is attempting to manipulate him? It’s the first time we’ve seen someone come up against him who even has an idea of where the levers are. Cersei was utterly blind to him, and Olenna utterly flustered. But Margaery recognizes, and calls out, how he mythologizes his life—he may not have walked through a graveyard, but he did realized that “it was all for nothing” and set out on his own path to righteousness. It is the beginning of an alliance, one she can capitalize on by following Loras’ instructions and letting the High Sparrow think he’s won. But across the board, those who think they are in control of the situation are in a more tenuous situation than they think.

That theme, of “Who uses the user?” played out across all of the plotlines of this week’s episode. Even the shorter scenes, like Ramsay’s murder of Osha (RIP Tonks!) involved a character who thought she had control of a situation, only to realize it wasn’t so too late. Osha thought she was going to use this high born lord’s appetites against him, as she had before. She, like everyone around Ramsay, continues to underestimate his capacity for cruelty. Theon Greyjoy may have made it back to the Iron Islands, but he swiftly recognizes that the only way into Yara’s good graces is to promise to make her ruler of Pyke, while Yara sees what she thinks is her main competition handing her a can’t-lose lottery ticket and clear path to success. Cersei and Jaime may have finally forced their way into the heart of the Small Council formed, but the end result of their blatant manipulation of Kevan and Olenna just handed an invading army the keys to the city. This is an army, it should be noted, that will answer not to Cersei, Jaime, or Kevan, but to Olenna, Margaery, and Mace. Meanwhile, Tommen is being manipulated from all sides (the High Sparrow, Pycelle, and Cersei all had a go this week). The last of these still thinks she has control as “Mother,” but Tommen’s wary revelation that he’s caught on to how much Margaery and Cersei hate each other suggests her time using Tommen for her own ends grows shorter.

"Missandei: “As a clever man once told me, we make peace with our enemies, not our friends.”"

The heart of tonight’s thematic thrust came in Meereen. It was one of the few times visiting that city has not felt either pointless or frustrating since about halfway through Season 4. Tyrion may not understand the culture of those around him. He may not understand how to relax with Grey Worm or Missandei. He may not be able to speak Valyrian much better than he did when he arrived at the end of last season. But men are men everywhere. And unlike Dany and her absolutism, he understands (forgive me) the art of the deal. Appealing to the self-interest of the Masters while giving them time to put a new economic system in place is the fastest way to end the bubbling wars before they start. Does he think they will industriously start putting in a new system when they go home tomorrow? No. But he’s managed to press pause on their enemies, at least for now. And the Seven willing, by the time seven years is up, he, Dany, Missandei, Grey Worm, and Varys will all be far away from this soul-sucking corner of Essos and will have finished conquering Westeros. Missandei and Grey Worm may complain that Tyrion is being used by the Masters, who see this delay as a way to wait out Dany’s rule. What they do not realize is that Tyrion is using it with the exact same idea in mind.

And he may not have to wait much longer. Dany’s march to the Narrow Sea took a major leap forward this evening in the scene everyone will be talking about for the next week. Much like the High Sparrow, Cersei, Yara, and Osha, the khals all thought they had the upper hand in this relationship. Khal Moro thought his magnanimous gesture of put Dany with the Dosh Kasheen would inspire her loyalty, or at least calm her hostility. The rest all saw her as a chip they could bargain over—should they turn her over to the Wise Yunkai of Yunkai for horses, turn her over to their beds for the pleasure, or something else? And Dany could see why those in the Dosh Kasheen thought this not a bad life. They have a modicum of power, and the freedom of not having to suffer the abuse of men. But those khals who abuse them are little men, with small ambitions. And this life, of manipulating little men and their small-time goals, doesn’t appeal to Dany.

The khals had no idea who they were dealing with. The only tragedy is that Khal Moro did not live to see Daenerys Targaryen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, Mother of Dragons, Toucher of Hot Things, Starter of Fires, claim all those titles back and then some, as everyone—Jorah and Daario included—fell to their knees before her.

"Sansa: “Where will we go?”"

For most, that final scene of Dany burning the Temple of the Dosh Kasheen to the ground and stepping out unharmed will be the one to remember, but to me the most striking scenes this week were the ones between Jon and Sansa, not just because we finally got that Stark Family Reunion we’ve all be waiting for (It was huggy! Awwwwwwwwwwwww!), but because while Jon technically has the upper hand in the situation (the Wall is his turf, Sansa is on the run), it was quickly obvious that Sansa was the one calling the shots. Jon could rail all he wanted that he’s been fighting since he left Winterfell and that they never should have gone out into the world and grown up, but Sansa made things clear. She might be glad to see him, but she’s here for his fighting skills and his men and his ability to take down Ramsay Bolton. And he’s going to come with her, one way or another. (If nothing else, she can at least get Tormund to come with her, since he looks like he might just be willing to follow Brienne to the ends of the earth. Tormenne? Brimund? I am so here for that relationship.)

If anything, what made it even more striking was seeing this play out in the opening scenes, and then directly head to the Vale, where the man who taught Sansa how to play the Great Game was doing the same, but far more obviously and clumsily. Littlefinger may act as if he’s smooth and in control, but that sudden pivot on Lord Royce felt like it was semi-unplanned, a think-quick reaction to being called out in front of Robin over his lies about Sansa. Moreover, although Robin has gone through puberty about as violently as Bran, emotionally he’s still the same little boy who loves throwing men out Moon Doors. One got the sense that Royce’s life was on a knife’s edge, beholden to the whims of a Joffrey-like punk kid, and that Littlefinger’s concern was how to manipulate the kid out of tossing the man through the aforementioned Moon Door if things came down on the wrong side. In fact, everything with Robin felt like Littlefinger was simply hoping to land on the right side of the line, whereas Sansa forcing Jon into her war felt far more subtle, even natural. Of course she’s going to insist they must go to war—Ramsay says he has Rickon in the dungeons! He just threatened to have her raped by his entire army!

But this was Sansa’s plan all along. If anything, all Ramsay did with that letter is play into her hands. Who uses the user, indeed.