‘Game of Thrones’ Season 6 Halftime Report : Who’s Alive, Who’s Dead
WHO’S IN CHARGE
There’s new blood ruling many of the regions in this world of ice and fire, and most of it is bad. We’ve already noted the vicious new rulers of Dorne, the North, and the Iron Islands. You can add Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish to that number, as the schemer is using his hold on the emotionally unstable young Lord of the Vale Robyn Arryn to force a previously untouched army to follow his lead. But there are decent sorts among the newly minted leaders: The Stark siblings’ hardcore uncle, Brynden “The Blackfish” Tully, has retaken the family fortress Riverrun (if Littlefinger’s report is to believed), while the Night’s Watch is now helmed by Lord Commander “Dolorous” Edd Tollett, however out of his depth he may be.
The capital of the Seven Kingdoms is a trickier thing to get a handle on. Right now it’s more or less evenly balanced between the fanatical Faith Militant, who run the town under the command of the High Sparrow, and the remnants of House Lannister. The lions are nominally headed by King Tommen Baratheon, but it’s Cersei who’s still calling the shots. Despite her imprisonment, humiliation, and upcoming trial, the Queen Mother has gathered a group of loyalists that includes her reunited brother Jaime, her mad-scientist spymaster Qyburn, and the zombiefied Mountain. Now she’s hoping the affection that her son and his grandmother-in-law Olenna Tyrell share for Queen Margaery will spur them to join forces with her people, spring the imprisoned royals, and put an end to the religious zealotry.
Over in Essos, the situation is marginally more stable. Abandoned by its Dragon Queen, Meereen is governed by a ruling council of Tyrion Lannister, his intelligence director Varys, the Unsullied commander Grey Worm, and ex-slave translator Missandei. Acting largely on his own discretion, the Imp has made deals with several neighboring slave masters to stop their support of the Sons of the Harpy insurgency, and with the High Priestess of the Lord of Light to convert her religion into the First Church of Daenerys. Either of these could turn out to be devil’s bargains — and they’ve still got the arrival and alliance offer of Euron Greyjoy and his fleet full of reavers to look forward to. If and when Daenerys returns with the entire Dothraki people in tow, things could get complicated. Very complicated.