Book of the Stranger

"Book of the Stranger" is the fourth episode of the sixth season of Game of Thrones. It is the fifty-fourth episode of the series overall. It premiered on May 15, 2016. It was written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, and directed by Daniel Sackheim.

Plot
Tyrion strikes a deal. Jorah and Daario undertake a difficult task. Jaime and Cersei try to improve their situation.

In King's Landing
Underneath the Great Sept of Baelor, Septa Unella enters Queen Margaery Tyrell's cell and leads her to a private meeting with the High Sparrow. The High Sparrow asks her what she would do if he allowed her to leave that day. Margaery replied that she wants to return to her family and her husband Tommen Baratheon. The High Sparrow respects her love for her family but tells her that attachment leads to sin, citing his experience as a cobbler. Margaery manages to impress the Sparrow with her knowledge of The Book of the Stranger, which she admits Septa Unella had read at her. The High Sparrow chuckles and agrees that Unella has a habit of reading at people instead of to them.

The High Sparrow recounts how in his youth he was a womanizer and drunkard. He underwent a conversion experience the morning after an orgy, as his drunken guests lay naked all around his house. Tired of what he was now perceiving as a meaningless existence, the High Sparrow then turned his life around and became a devoted member of the Faith of the Seven. He then left his job as a cobbler and devoted his life to the poor and destitute. Believing he has found a way to reach Margaery, the Sparrow allows her to visit her brother Loras Tyrell. She finds a dejected Loras lying on the floor of his cell. Loras has lost the will to continue resisting but Margaery tells him to stay strong because he is the future of House Tyrell. Loras tells them that he only wants his imprisonment to end and pleads with her to help him. Margaery tells Loras that the Sparrow is trying to use them to break each other and again tells him to stay strong.

At the Red Keep, Cersei Lannister walks in on Grand Maester Pycelle advising King Tommen to accommodate the High Sparrow and the Faith Militant. Cersei requests that Pycelle leave the room while she talks to her son alone under the pretext of meeting him for updates about the previous Small Council meetings. During their conversation, Tommen proposes that the Iron Throne not antagonize the Sparrows further in order to avoid endangering Margaery's life. Cersei then reminds her son about the humiliation that she endured at their hands and exploits Tommen's love for Margaery. She convinces her son that the High Sparrow has no respect for kings, queens, and society. Tommen then reveals a secret that the High Sparrow shared with him.

Armed with this new information, Cersei barges into a Small Council meeting between Kevan Lannister, Olenna Tyrell, and Jaime Lannister. While Kevan and Olenna are initially hostile, Cersei convinces them to listen to her. She then informs the Council that the High Sparrow has planned to make Margaery do the walk of atonement. Olenna is horrified that the Sparrows plan to debase her granddaughter. Jaime then urges the Council to allow the Tyrells to march their army into King's Landing, crush the Faith Militant, and bring Margaery and Loras back to the Red Keep into Crown custody. Kevan says that Tommen expressly forbid him to use the Lannister army he commands at the city to make a move against the Great Sept, for fear that the Faith Militant will harm Margaery in retaliation. Jaime suggests that Olenna send House Tyrell's army to the city instead, and points out to his uncle that Tommen only forbade his army from making a move - but he never expressly told him to prevent anyone else from trying, so Kevan wouldn't be breaking any commands if his forces simply stand down when the Tyrell army arrives. The Tyrell army will surround the Great Sept, intimidating the Sparrows into releasing Margaery and Loras, without any blood actually being shed - and by the time Tommen finds out what they've done he will already be happy with the outcome. Kevan's interest is now turned, but he still expresses reluctance should they fail. Cersei is able to make him change his mind by exploiting his hatred towards the Sparrows for taking his last remaining son and heir Lancel Lannister. Olenna agrees that blood will be shed no matter what they do at this point, so it's better if it's the Sparrows' blood and not theirs.

At the Wall
At Castle Black, Eddison Tollett helps Jon Snow pack up his things. Edd scolds Jon for leaving the Night's Watch after taking an oath, to which Jon replies that he gave his life for the Night's Watch and can't trust his brothers. At that moment, the horns sound for the arrival of travellers. Sansa Stark, Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne ride through the gates and dismount in the courtyard. Jon rushes out and sees Sansa for the first time since the Starks left Winterfell for King's Landing, and they embrace. Later that night, they converse and reminisce on their childhood. Sansa proposes they take Winterfell back from the Boltons but Jon says he's done fighting, especially after hanging Olly. Davos Seaworth asks whether Melisandre will stay at Castle Black and she replies she will do as Jon Snow, The Prince That Was Promised, commands. Davos asks what happened to Stannis and she replies he was defeated in battle. When he asks about Shireen, Melisandre is reluctant to speak. Their conversation is interrupted by Brienne, who recognizes Davos and Melisandre as Stannis' former entourage. Still bitter over the death of King Renly Baratheon, Brienne warns Melisandre that she does not forget or forgive. She also tells them that she executed Stannis after he admitted using blood magic to assassinate Renly.

Some time later, Jon receives a letter from Ramsay Bolton stating that he has Rickon Stark at Winterfell and if Sansa is not returned, he will slaughter every Wildling at Castle Black, let his men rape Sansa, and feed Jon and Rickon to his dogs. Tormund says he has 2,000 able fighters, far less than the estimated 5,000 Ramsay has. Sansa says that they have to try to retake their home and rescue their brother and that the houses of the North will unite behind Jon as the son of the true Warden of the North. Jon resolves to take Ramsay down.

In the Vale
At Runestone, Robin Arryn trains at his archery in front of Lord Yohn Royce. Petyr Baelish arrives with a retinue of Arryn guards and a pet falcon as a belated name-day gift. Royce reminds Baelish that he told him that he was taking Sansa with him to The Fingers, but he received word that she had been married to Ramsay Bolton. Baelish tells him that on the way to The Fingers they were set upon by a large force of Bolton men. A confrontation ensues, in which Petyr accuses Royce of giving away the information regarding the location of Sansa Stark to House Bolton. When Royce accuses Baelish of slander, Petyr reminds him that Robin is the Lord of the Vale, and asks for his judgment. Robin then asks Baelish if they should throw Lord Royce from the Moon Door, which prompts the surrounding knights, including those loyal to Royce, to muster themselves. Royce swears his loyalty to Robin, and he is let off without punishment on Baelish's recommendation. Royce comes onto the dark realization that Littlefinger has control over Robin. Petyr and Robin decide they have to muster the Vale knights to march North and aid Sansa.

In The North
At Winterfell, Osha is brought before Ramsay Bolton, who says that while her fellow captive Rickon Stark has value to Ramsay, he is unsure of her worth. Osha denounces the Starks, saying that her servitude and loyalty to them were forced. She also attempts to seduce Ramsay, climbing onto his lap and kissing him, all the while trying to get the knife he had been using to peel apples. Ramsay seemingly falls for it, saying that it took much longer for him to get Theon Greyjoy over to his side but that Theon told him everything, including how Osha had seduced Theon in order to help Rickon and Bran Stark escape Winterfell. Osha realizes that she has been lured into a trap, and tries to stab Ramsay, only for him to slash her throat. She dies shortly thereafter.

In the Iron Islands
Theon Greyjoy returns home to Pyke, where he learns of the death of his father, Balon Greyjoy. His sister, Yara, is unhappy about his return and his refusal to leave the Dreadfort when she made an attempt to rescue Theon from Ramsay Bolton. Theon explains that Ramsay "broke him into a thousand pieces," which Yara affirms "yes, he sent us one of those pieces" referring to the box containing Theon's penis that she and Balon Greyjoy received. Yara then suspects that Theon has come back to declare himself King of the Iron Islands, but he insists that he does not want the crown, instead wishing for Yara to rule, with him helping her in any way that he can.

In Meereen
Tyrion Lannister along with Grey Worm, Missandei, and Varys meet with representatives of the Good Masters of Astapor, the Wise Masters of Yunkai, and the slave-trading city of Volantis; who have arrived by sea. As the diplomatic mission enters the harbor, Grey Worm advocates using military force. When Tyrion explains that he is able to empathize with slaves because he spent one day as a slave, Missandei counters that he has not experienced slavery. The emissaries are Tyrion's former slave master Yezzan zo Qaggaz, the Yunkai'i Wise Master Razdal mo Eraz and the Volantene triarch Belicho Paenymion. In their meeting chambers, Yezzan marvels at how Tyrion went from being a nearly-worthless slave to the de facto ruler of Meereen. The slave-trading cities offer to give Daenerys Targaryen and her mercenaries a large pot of money if they sail away from Slaver's Bay. When Missandei defends Daenerys's actions in liberating slaves, Razdal contends that slavery has existed for centuries. After hearing their offer, Tyrion proposes a counter-offer. He offers to give them a seven-year grace period to phase out slavery and to compensate slave owners, however they must end all backing for the Sons of the Harpy (regardless of whether they admit this backing or not). He then cautions them that they will not get a better offer. Tyrion then gives them time to consider his offer, though Grey Worm and Missandei insist on abolishing slavery.

Tyrion and his entourage are later confronted by a crowd of former slaves in the Meereen throne room. A freedman demands to know when Daenerys will return while another is appalled at the idea of Tyrion negotiating with slave traders. Tyrion insists he is doing his best to rule the city in Daenerys's absence. The freedmen do not trust Tyrion, a foreigner and a newcomer, and look to Grey Worm and Missandei for reassurance. Despite their misgivings, they both publicly back Tyrion's diplomacy in front of the freedmen. In private, Grey Worm and Missandei warn Tyrion that the masters will outmaneuver him, despite his best efforts to do the same to them.

In Vaes Dothrak
Ser Jorah Mormont and Daario Naharis approach the outskirts of Vaes Dothrak and discard their weapons, as drawing a blade in the city is considered sacrilege. Within the city itself, Jorah and Daario run afoul of Akho and Iggo who see through Jorah's claims to be a wine merchant. Daario takes care of Iggo while Akho tackles Jorah. The knight is nearly undone, but Daario saves him at the last minute with the stiletto he smuggled in. At Jorah's insistence, Daario smashes Aggo's skull with a rock so that no one will think he was killed with a bladed weapon. Meanwhile, the High Priestess of the Dosh Khaleen gives Daenerys a commentary on the other crones. Some of them hate Daenerys, thinking the Dothraki should not interbreed with other races, but the high priestess dismisses them, saying that the Dothraki have always interbred and have never been concerned with blood purity. To illustrate her point, the high priestess indicates another of the khaleen, a Lhazareen girl (Ornela) taken from her village at the age of twelve. Daenerys asks to relieve herself, and the high priestess sends Ornela with her. As they walk, Daenerys learns that Ornela's khal died when she was only sixteen. The pair are interrupted by Jorah and Daario, who take the Lhazareen hostage. Daenerys, unsurprised to see them, cancels their plans for escape – they have a slim chance of leaving Vaes Dothrak, let alone getting back to Meereen – and tells them that she has a plan of her own. She asks Ornela if she is willing to help them, calling her a Khaleesi (queen) instead of a khaleen (crone). The girl reluctantly agrees.

During the Khalar vezhven, the khals argue about how to deal with Iggo and Akho's deaths; Khal Moro defuses the situation by reminding them that Ahko was a member of his khalasar, and he does not care about finding the killer if he was stupid enough to get himself killed. Daenerys is then brought in by the two priestesses she befriended before. Moro insists that she join the dosh khaleen, but another khal expresses interest in making her his khaleesi, while another suggests giving her to the Wise Masters in exchange for ten thousand horses. Daenerys dismisses all of them; she claims that they are all petty and weak, and reminds them that Khal Drogo was willing to cross the "poison water" in "wooden horses" for his conquests. Stating that none of the khals is fit to lead the Dothraki, Daenerys declares that she will lead them herself. After a pause, Moro and the khals burst into laughter. Dany reminds them that her husband, in the same temple in which they all now sit, declared that he would lead a Dothraki army across the Narrow Sea to retake the Iron Throne for his khaleesi and that all the khals have done since is to raid and plunder villages in lieu of any meaningful conquest. Disgusted with her insolence, Moro declares that she will be raped by each of the khals, then by all of their bloodriders, and then, if she is still alive, by their horses. He mocks her once more, declaring disbelief at the notion of them serving her.

Daenerys is unfazed by the threats; indeed, the smile never leaves her face. Still smiling, she calmly reaches over and clamps her hand on a burning brazier, which doesn't affect her at all to their shock and slight fear. Still holding it, Daenerys tells the khals that they aren't going to serve; they're going to die. With these words, she topples the brazier and it sets the floor of the hut alight in seconds. The khals desperately attempt to escape the rapidly-spreading fire, only to find the temple's only door barred, the bodies of the two men guarding it lying dead outside. Khal Moro is the only one left as he turns to face Daenerys, who topples the last brazier so that it engulfs him in flames; his screams don't last long.

As the flames climb higher, the dosh khaleen and khalasars gather in confusion, watching their temple burn. Eventually, the doors collapse and Daenerys emerges, her clothes burnt off her back but otherwise untouched by the flames, with the entire leadership present at Vaes Dothrak dead. Awed, horrified and fearful in equal measure, the crowd of thousands bow to her almost immediately, with the high priestess and the rest of the dosh khaleen following after a moment. Jorah and Daario move to the front of the crowd and bow last.

First

 * Belicho Paenymion
 * Ash
 * Kesh
 * Iggo
 * Khal Rhalko
 * Khal Forzho
 * Khal Brozho
 * Khal Qorro

Deaths

 * Iggo
 * Akho
 * Osha
 * 10 Khals including:
 * Khal Rhalko
 * Khal Brozho
 * Khal Qorro
 * Khal Forzho
 * Khal Moro


 * Moro's bloodrider
 * Moro's bloodrider

Cast
Starring
 * Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
 * Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Ser Jaime Lannister
 * Lena Headey as Queen Mother Cersei Lannister
 * Emilia Clarke as Queen Daenerys Targaryen
 * Kit Harington as Jon Snow
 * Natalie Dormer as Queen Margaery Tyrell
 * Aidan Gillen as Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish
 * Liam Cunningham as Ser Davos Seaworth
 * Carice van Houten as Lady Melisandre
 * Sophie Turner as Princess Sansa Stark
 * Nathalie Emmanuel as Missandei
 * Conleth Hill as Varys
 * Kristofer Hivju as Tormund Giantsbane
 * Jonathan Pryce as the High Sparrow
 * Michiel Huisman as Daario Naharis
 * Dean-Charles Chapman as King Tommen Baratheon
 * Iwan Rheon as Lord Ramsay Bolton
 * Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth
 * Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy
 * Iain Glen as Ser Jorah Mormont

Guest Starring
 * Diana Rigg as Lady Olenna Tyrell
 * Ben Crompton as Eddison Tollett
 * Jacob Anderson as Grey Worm
 * Natalia Tena as Osha
 * Gemma Whelan as Princess Yara Greyjoy
 * Finn Jones as Ser Loras Tyrell
 * Julian Glover as Grand Maester Pycelle
 * Ian Gelder as Ser Kevan Lannister
 * Rupert Vansittart as Lord Yohn Royce
 * Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne
 * Hannah Waddingham as Septa Unella
 * Lino Facioli as Lord Robin Arryn
 * Enzo Cilenti as Yezzan zo Qaggaz
 * George Georgiou as Razdal mo Eraz
 * Eddie Jackson as Belicho Paenymion
 * Yousef Sweid as Ash
 * Michael Heath as Kesh
 * Joe Naufahu as Khal Moro
 * Tamer Hassan as Khal Forzho
 * Souad Faress as a High Priestess of the Dosh khaleen
 * Hannah John-Kamen as Ornela
 * Chuku Modu as Akho
 * Staz Nair as Qhono
 * Deon Lee-Williams as Iggo
 * Elie Haddad as Khal Brozho
 * Andrei Claude as Khal Rhalko
 * Darius Dar Khan as Khal Qorro
 * Fola Evans-Akingbola as a Moro's wife
 * Wuese Houston-Jibo as a Dothraki widow
 * Angelique Fernandez as a Dothraki widow
 * Diogo Sales as a Moro's bloodrider
 * Junade Khan as a Moro's bloodrider
 * Michael Hooley as a Night's watch man
 * Robert Fawsitt as a loyal Night's Watch man
 * Portia Victoria as a Dothraki woman having sex
 * Oliver Stockwell as a Dothraki man having sex

Cast notes

 * 20 of 28 starring cast members appear in this episode.
 * Starring cast members Indira Varma (Ellaria Sand), Rory McCann (Sandor Clegane), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark), Isaac Hempstead-Wright (Bran Stark), John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Jerome Flynn (Bronn), Hannah Murray (Gilly), and Tom Wlaschiha (Jaqen H'ghar) are not credited and do not appear in this episode.

The Bastard Letter

 * The episode introduces the notorious "Bastard letter" that Jon receives from Ramsay near the end of the fifth novel, in which Jon's reaction to it is actually what leads to the mutiny against him.
 * In the show, no doubt is introduced that Ramsay wrote the letter, for its contents are consistent with the previous scenes. In the book, however, there are several anomalies about it - the most conspicuous is that no piece of skin is enclosed, like most of Ramsay's letters - which led to fan speculations that it was not Ramsay who wrote it.
 * A line from Ramsay's letter was spoken by Iwan Rheon in one of the first teasers for the sixth season, "Winterfell is mine. Come and see." Though in the letter, the line is "Winterfell is mine, bastard. Come and see.", the "bastard" was omitted to hide the spoiler that Ramsay was saying it to Jon Snow, who at the time was believed dead. It did, however, serve as a spoiler regarding Roose Bolton, who would have to be dead in order for Ramsay to claim that Winterfell was his and not Roose's.
 * For full information see the main article on the "Bastard letter"

In the books

 * See: Differences between books and TV series - Season 6


 * The episode is adapted from the following chapter of A Feast for Crows:
 * Chapter 41, Alayne II: Petyr Baelish reveals his intentions to claim Winterfell.
 * The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Dance with Dragons:
 * Chapter 36, Daenerys VI: Daenerys is informed about the Yunkai's terms for peace.
 * Chapter 50, Daenerys VIII: The Yunkai'i lords are welcomed in Meereen and fragile peace is achieved.
 * Chapter 62, The Sacrifice: Having fled Winterfell and Ramsay's control, Theon is reunited with his sister.
 * Chapter 69, Jon XIII: Jon receives a threatening letter from Ramsay, who demands his bride back, and Jon instead decides to challenge Ramsay.
 * The episode is adapted from the following chapter of The Winds of Winter:
 * Theon I: Ramsay's bride is sent to Castle Black.


 * The remaining material appears to be based on what will come in the sixth novel, The Winds of Winter, particularly the storylines of King's Landing and the Faith, Daenerys getting control of the Dothraki khalasars, and loosely Petyr rallying the Knights of the Vale as well.

Memorable Quotes
Eddison Tollett: "I was with you at Hardhome. We saw what's out there. We know it's coming here. How can you leave us now?"

Jon Snow: "I did everything I could. You know that."

Eddison: "You swore a vow."

Jon: "Aye, I pledged my life to the Night's Watch. I gave my life."

Eddison: "For all nights to come."

Jon: "They killed me, Edd! My own brothers. You want me to stay here after that?

Jon Snow: "We never should have left Winterfell."

Sansa Stark: "Don't you wish we could go back to the day we left? I want to scream at myself, 'Don't go, you idiot.'"

Jon Snow: "How could we know?"

Sansa: "I spent a lot of time thinking about what an ass I was to you. I wish I could change everything."

Jon: "We were children."

Sansa: "I was awful, just admit it."

Jon: "You were occasionally awful. I'm sure I can't have been great fun. Always sulking in the corner while the rest of you played."

Sansa: "Can you forgive me?"

Jon: "There's nothing to forgive."

Sansa: "Forgive me."

Jon: "All right. All right, I forgive you."

Jon: "If I don't watch over you, Father's ghost will come back and murder me."

Sansa: "Where will we go?"

Jon: "I can't stay here, not after what happened."

Sansa: "There's only one place we can go. Home."

Jon: "Should we tell the Boltons to pack up and leave?"

Sansa: "We'll take it back from them."

Jon: "I don't have an army."

Sansa: "How many wildlings did you save?"

Jon: "They didn't come here to serve me."

Sansa: "They owe you their lives. You think they'll be safe here if Roose Bolton remains Warden of the North?"

Jon: "Sansa."

Sansa: "Winterfell is our home. It's ours and Arya's and Bran's and Rickon's. Wherever they are, it belongs to our family. We have to fight for it."

Jon: "I'm tired of fighting. It's all I've done since I left home. I've killed brothers of the Night's Watch. I've killed wildlings. I've killed men that I admire. I hanged a boy younger than Bran. I fought and I lost."

Sansa: "If we don't take back the North, we'll never be safe. I want you to help me. But I'll do it myself if I have to."

Yara Greyjoy: "Men died trying to rescue you. Good men. My men."

Theon Greyjoy: "I'm sorry."

Yara: "You were my brother. You were a spoiled little cunt, but you were my brother and I risked everything for you and you betrayed me."

Theon: "I know. I know and I'm sorry."

Yara: "Stop saying that."

Theon: "He broke me. He broke me into a thousand pieces."

Yara: "I know."

Theon: "You don't know."

Yara: "He sent us one of those pieces. That's why I came for you. Why did you come here?"

Theon: "Where else could I go?"

Yara: "You heard Father was dead and you thought you'd claim the crown?"

Theon: "No, no. I only heard he died after we docked."

Yara: "You happen to show up on Pyke right before the kingsmoot?"

Theon: "I didn't know."

Yara: "You think any ironborn wants you to be king after what you've done?"

Theon: "I don't want to be king."

Yara: "What do you want?"

Theon: "I should have listened to you. You're the only one..."

Yara: "That doesn't matter anymore. Stop crying! Look at me! Tell me what you want."

Theon: "You should rule the Iron Islands. Let me help you."

Ramsay Bolton: "You've seen my banners? The flayed man. Does that worry you at all?"

Osha: "You eat them after?"

Ramsay: [chuckles] "No."

Osha: "Then I've seen worse."

[Jon receives a letter from Ramsay.]

Jon: [Reading] "To the traitor and bastard Jon Snow, You allowed thousands of wildlings past the Wall. You have betrayed your own kind and you've betrayed the North. Winterfell is mine, bastard, come and see. Your brother Rickon is in my dungeon. His direwolf's skin is on my floor, come and see. I want my bride back. Send her to me, bastard, and I will not trouble you or your wildling lovers. Keep her from me and I will ride North to slaughter every wildling - man, woman, and babe - living under your protection. You..."

Sansa: "Go on."

Jon: "Just more of the same."

Sansa: [Reading] "You will watch as I skin them living. You will watch as my soldiers take turns raping your sister. You will watch as my dogs devour your wild little brother. Then I will spoon your eyes from their sockets and let my dogs do the rest. Come and see. Ramsay Bolton, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North."

Jon: "Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North?"

Sansa: "His father's dead. Ramsay killed him. And now he has Rickon."

Jon: "We don't know that."

Sansa: "Yes, we do."

Tormund: "How many men does he have in his army?"

Sansa: "I heard him say five thousand once when he was talking about Stannis's attack."

Jon: "How many do you have?"

Tormund: "That can march and fight? Two thousand. The rest are children and old people."

Sansa: "You're the son of the last true Warden of the North. The northern families are loyal, they'll fight for you if you ask. A monster has taken our home and our brother. We have to go back to Winterfell and save them both."

Daenerys Targaryen: "And here, now, what what great matters do the Great Khals discuss? Which little villages you'll raid, how many girls you'll get to fuck, how many horses you'll demand in tribute. You are small men. None of you are fit to lead the Dothraki. But I am. So I will."