Game of Thrones is set for yet another wedding this week, a normally festive occasion for most, but one where Game of Thrones characters have traditionally not fared so well. Just ask King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) or Robb and Catelyn Stark (Richard Madden and Michelle Fairley). Speaking of the Stark family, the bride this week is none other than Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), taking her second stroll down the aisle into matrimony after an un-consummated marriage to Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) when King Joffrey broke off his engagement to Sansa to marry Margaery (Natalie Dormer).
Sansa now faces the wedding night horror of an even more sadistic Ramsey Bolton (Iwan Rheon) and being walked down the aisle by her childhood friend who betrayed her family and whom everyone believes murdered her youngest brothers. Can things get any worse for Sansa Stark? More importantly, can anything ever get better? Spoilers follow for the Game of Thrones books and for Sunday’s episode, “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken.”
There is hope on the horizon for Sansa, as Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) was plotting some sort of rescue attempt for her on the last episode of Game of Thrones . Given how Ramsey treats his bride in the books on their wedding night, and that he makes Theon (Alfie Allen) watch the “festivities,” let’s hope that rescue attempt comes before this marriage is consummated. Even if Ramsey behaves himself to whatever level he is capable of, it can’t change the fact that Sansa is marrying the son of the man who helped orchestrate the Red Wedding murders of her brother and mother.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter , Iwan Rheon pretty much ruled out a well-behaved Ramsey when it comes to Sansa, although it may not be quite as bad as Game of Thrones imagine, at least not physically.
“Ramsay… is a horrible human being. He’s capable of anything, really. Because of who she is, I don’t think Roose Bolton will stand for too much slapping around. I think the mental side of it will be horrendous. That’s going to be the difficult bit.”
One thing we do know, thanks to Entertainment Weekly , is that whatever is going to happen at the wedding will have Game of Thrones fans talking, and they have two cast interviews lined up to post after the episode airs. EW also promised the return of “one fan-favorite character.” Could the younger Stark boys be returning, or perhaps the Hound (Rory McCann) survived and will make a return? Who else is still alive that could be returning? Some Game of Thrones fans have guessed they are referring to Lady Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg), who returns to aid Queen Margaery after her brother’s arrest by the Faith Militant, as her husband can’t seem to muster the courage to do anything about it, even though he is king.
The Game of Thrones official episode synopsis for “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken” also reveals that Arya (Maisie Williams) will continue her training to be a Faceless Man (or Faceless Woman as it were) and that Jorah (Iain Glen) and Tyrion will run into slavers, which could certainly create a delay and detour on their road to meet Daenerys (Emilia Clarke). It also states that Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Bronn (Jerome Flynn) reach their destination of Dorne and the “Sand Snakes attack.” Those last two probably aren’t a coincidence.
In the photo above from the episode, Obara (Keisha Castle-Hughes) is clearly gearing up for battle. Game of Thrones fans have been anxiously awaiting more screen time for the fighting sisters since they first got a glimpse in the premiere this season, and it looks like Sunday’s installment of Game of Thrones is going to deliver.
[Photo courtesy HBO PR]