Inside the Episode: “Battle of the Bastards” (Video)

At the conclusion of every Game of Thrones episode, the production airs and then releases a spate of videos detailing the behind-the-scenes work that went into making it. These videos explore the thought process that went into the creation of particular scenes, and highlight what the writers and directors see as the key moments of the episode.

This week’s “Battle of the Bastards” only spent time in two locations–Meereen, and Winterfell. Because of this, the Inside the Episode featurette with David Benioff and Dan Weiss this week is able to cover everything we saw this week, and decently in depth for both of them.

Our first “Behind the Scenes” with the actors focuses on the meeting in Meereen between our Ironborn and Meereenese contingents, with Yara and Theon Greyjoy on one side, and Dany and Tyrion on the other. I was hoping that all four actors would discuss the scene, since for Alfie Allen and Peter Dinkalge, this is the first time they’ve worked together since the very first season. But instead Gemma Whelan and Emilia Clarke focus on the novelty in this world of two women leaders meeting face to face, and their “mutual appreciation society,” as one might call it. (And yes, of course Yara’s proposition comes up.)

In our second Behind the Scenes with actors, all three major players in the battle of Winterfell, Kit Harington, Iwan Rheon and Sophie Turner, talk about the relationship between the three characters–Jon Snow with Sansa, Sansa with Ramsay and then how much Jon Snow really underestimates Ramsay’s ability to get inside he’s opponent’s head. And, of course, there is also a discussion of that final scene where Jon Snow gives Ramsay over to Sansa to kill herself.

This week’s clip is not that final scene though–it’s the opening one, where Jon, Sansa and Ramsay meet in the middle of the field and parlay prior to the battle the next morning.