Stormborn

TV-MA | 1 HR 5 MIN
WATCH NOW
Written by Bryan Cogman

Directed by Mark Mylod

While a storm lashes Dragonstone, Daenerys discusses the conquest of Westeros.

Tyrion believes she can take the Iron Throne without a long and costly war, given
their new alliances with House Tyrell of the Reach and Dorne. Daenerys thanks Varys
for his help in this regard, but also uses the moment to question the Spider's loyalty.
Varys holds his own and pledges to always be honest with the queen. She in turn
promises to burn him alive if he betrays her as he did his other rulers. Dany moves on
to Tyrion, seeking assurance he will fight against and defeat his own siblings. Tyrion
tells her he will find a way to convince her of his loyalty. Satisfied, Dany turns her
attention to other matters – receiving the Red Priestess Melisandre.

Melisandre introduces herself and, in High Valyrian, informs Daenerys the Long
Night is coming again and only the "prince who was promised" can save them.
Daenerys counters she is not a prince – but Missandei corrects her translation; the
word is genderless, and could refer to either a prince or princess. Less confident than
she once was, Melisandre will not say whom she believes is promised, but knows both
Daenerys and Jon Snow, the King in the North, have roles to play. Tyrion is surprised
by the news of Jon's rise to power, and suggests he would make a valuable ally.
Daenerys tells Tyrion to invite Jon Snow to Dragonstone and bend the knee.

At Winterfell, Sansa, Jon and Davos discuss Tyrion's invitation. Both Sansa and Jon
voice their belief Tyrion is a good man, but still think the invitation is too dangerous
to accept. Davos agrees, but can't help mentioning fire kills wights and Daenerys has
dragons.

Queen Cersei speaks to a gathering of Westerosi noblemen including Randyll Tarly.

She asserts the Mad King's daughter will be no better than her father, whose reign of
terror they can't have forgotten. Randyll asks how she intends to fight three dragons;
Qyburn cryptically answers they are working towards a solution.

When the meeting concludes, Jaime pulls Randyll and his son Dickon aside. Knowing
the influence the Tarlys hold over the other houses, Jaime seeks to enlist Randyll to
their side, reminding Randyll his liege -- Olenna Tyrell -- now fights alongside
foreign Dothraki and eunuchs. Jaime then offers Randyll the title of Warden of the
South in exchange for his loyalty.

Qyburn leads Cersei through a corridor beneath the Red Keep to the chamber where
the skulls of the Targaryen dragons are kept. The queen lays her eyes on the largest of
the skulls – that of Aegon the Conqueror's dragon, Balerion the Dread. Having heard
one of Daenerys' dragons was injured by a spear in Meereen, proving they're
vulnerable, Qyburn reveals an enormous scorpion, a crossbow-like device with its
steel-headed bolt aimed at the imposing skull. Pulling the lever to release the bolt,
Cersei smiles as it smashes through the ancient bone.
Daenerys and her supporters continue to debate strategy. Firmly, but diplomatically,
Daenerys says they will not risk many innocent lives by storming King's Landing, but
instead lay siege to the capital. Tyrion lays out the strategy: since using their foreign
fighters – the Dothraki and Unsullied – would only hurt them in the eyes of the
Westerosi lords, the Greyjoys will escort Ellaria to Dorne to collect her army and
then, alongside the Tyrell forces, surround King's Landing. Meanwhile, the Unsullied
will assault Casterly Rock to take away the last refuge of House Lannister and deal a
symbolic blow to Cersei's cause. The group agrees to the plan, but Olenna, alone with
Dany, instructs the young queen to consider listening less to the "clever men" around
her, and embrace who she is: a dragon.

Missandel enters Grey Worm's chamber, wondering why the soldier was not planning
to say goodbye before heading to Casterly Rock. Grey Worm confesses it was too
hard because Missandei is his weakness. He kisses her, surprising both of them.
Missandei drops her gown, and gently undresses the self-conscious Grey Worm.
Getting onto the bed, the two find other ways to express their love.

Inside a quarantine cell at the Citadel, Sam watches Archmaester Ebrose examine
Jorah's greyscale. Ebrose gives Jorah 10 to 20 years left to live, but only six months
before his mind is overtaken. Speaking out of turn, Sam mentions Stannis Baratheon's
daughter Shireen was cured of the disease, but the Archmaester says Jorah's situation
has progressed well beyond their skill level. Sam is surprised to discover Jorah is the
son of the late Lord Commander Mormont of the Night's Watch.

Sam follows Ebrose through the library, helping collect books. He tells the
Archmaester he believes he's found a way to treat greyscale in a study of rare
diseases. Ebrose, familiar with the procedure, ends the conversation by stating it is far
too dangerous, and forbidden.

That night, Samwell returns to Jorah's cell, explaining he was with Jeor Mormont
when he died. Handing Jorah rum to drink and placing a leather bit into the knight's
mouth, Sam proceeds to use a scalpel and tweezers to peel away Jorah's infected skin,
and applies an ointment to the newly exposed area.

Arya eavesdrops on merchants in the Inn at the Crossroads until she's surprised by
Hot Pie, who asks if Brienne ever found her. She tells her old friend she is headed to
King's Landing, but is taken aback when Hot Pie reveals Jon Snow has retaken
Winterfell from the Boltons. Outside, Arya weighs her options, and chooses to head
north.

Arya makes camp in the woods, but is drawn to her feet by the sound of howling. A
wolf pack slowly surrounds her, and its alpha steps into view. Arya locks eyes with
the enormous creature and recognizes Nymeria. She asks her direwolf to return home
to Winterfell with her, but understands when Nymeria steps back into the woods.

Maester Wolkan delivers a scroll to Jon, who calls a meeting of his northern allies.
Jon shares the contents of this new message: Samwell Tarly has discovered
Dragonstone sits on a mountain of dragonglass. He then reveals to the crowd he plans
to accept Tyrion's invitation to Dragonstone. Sansa protests he is abandoning his
people, but Jon states only a king can persuade a queen, and he is leaving the North in
good hands: hers.

Standing before Ned's statue in the crypt, Jon is caught off guard when Littlefinger
emerges from the shadows. Littlefinger swears he is not one of Jon's enemies; he
loves Sansa just as he once loved her mother. Jon grabs Littlefinger by the throat and
issues a warning to stay away from his sister. Leaving the crypt, Jon waves goodbye
to Sansa and rides off with Davos and several Stark soldiers.

Below deck on Yara's ship, Theon watches uncomfortably as Yara and Ellaria flirt.
They are interrupted by a sudden explosion, and the Greyjoy siblings rush on deck to
discover their fleet under attack and their uncle Euron's warship, the Silence, heading
straight for them. Euron's men storm aboard, outnumbering Yara's men. Tyene runs to
protect her mother below, while Obara and Nym take on Euron. He manages to
disarm both women and kill them with their own weapons. His men seize Ellaria and
Tyene from their compartment and drag them away.

Yara fights Euron, but he overpowers her. Holding his ax against Yara's throat, Euron
taunts Theon, who stands frozen on the deck. To Euron's delight, Theon drops his
sword and jumps overboard. Floating in the water, Theon watches as Yara's fleet
burns and the Silence sails off with his sister.