So THAT'S how the Iron Isles become relevant. As with Walder Frey and his bridge, so with Euron Greyjoy and his navy. Dany will get to Westeros if she pays his toll... marriage. If not, she's stuck in Essos behind a naval blockade. But, she could elude Euron's blockade... using sub-Meereens!
Yara and Theon escape, taking some quantity of ships apparently... but it's hard to see where they fit in the immediate future. Winterfell is landlocked, Castle Black is landlocked... they can't really help with the drama currently unfolding in the North. I assume that they'll be back in season 7. I also assume that Euron's fleet will arrive in Slaver's Bay toward the end of the season, just as Dany finishes mopping up and turning her attention west. Well, the entmoot turned out to be more interesting than I expected!
Bran! Fricken Bran you dumb-ass! Just had to go play with the zombies, didn'tcha. Poor Hodor... that was the grimmest "origin story" I can think of. So... with no Hodor and no wolf, Bran just has Meera left... she seems a capable sort, but they're not going to get too far if she has to drag him everywhere they go.
Sansa finally gets to do the kind of stuff her mother raised her for. Not just sewing, but also politicking. Not only did Cat Stark teacher this stuff from childhood, but she's also had the chance to watch up-close while Cersei, Tyrion, Lady Tyrell and Margie, and Littlefinger did their thing. How much of it rubbed off on her? She also has Ser Davos in her corner, who while not crafty and cunning like Tyrion and Varys, is at least a very astute man.
Very interesting that Littlefinger didn't mention that he had troops from the Vale marching north, or offer to pledge them to her cause. I would assume that means he anticipates being able to use them as a bargaining chip later on. "My forces could help, but in return I need something from you." Also interesting that he mentioned Blackfish Tully had retaken Riverrun from the Freys. Is that the truth, or did he deceive her? One would think that open warfare between the Freys and Tullys would be be a big news item in Westeros, and that Maester Aemon could verify that by sending out some ravens.
Jorah the Explorah gets sent off on a quest to heal himself. I would think that with the resources available in Meereen, she should have taken her with him. Another Red Priestess... who got Varys all agitated by mentioning stuff from his childhood, including the voice from the flames that said a name as his body-parts were being sacrificed. Was that name Daenarys Targaryen? Is that why he's been plotting on her behalf right from day 1?
I liked this episode... as events in the North continue to unfold and the finale involving Hodor was quite stunning. Even the Iron Isles stuff was more interesting this week, as finally we have an idea how they fit into the bigger picture. I assume that next week we'll be back in King's Landing with major drama involving royals, religious extremists, and FrankenMountains.
-k