Dedicated watchers of “Game of Thrones” are accustomed to the heartbreak and torturous events that litter the HBO series, but no one could prepare for “The Dance of Dragons.”
Just over seven million viewers tuned in for the second to last episode of season five of “Game of Thrones.” With the end result of episode eight, the climax of the season, the usual “Game of Thrones” formula is to follow up with a slow aftermath, currently being Jon Snow’s adventures at Hardhome. Instead, viewers were given a closer look to the religious practices of Stannis Baratheon.
While watching episode four, “Sons of the Harpy,” viewers see the main focus of the episode surrounds Jamie Lannister’s attempt to rescue his niece/daughter Myrcella from the viperous fangs of the Sand Snakes of Dorne. The writers also threw in a small conversation between Stannis Baratheon and his daughter, Princess Shireen.
Stannis’ conversation with his daughter humanized his character and made viewers believe he isn’t the brainwashed fake king, courtesy of Melisandre, that you think he is. The writers of the show constantly force an emotional connection with viewers and the show’s characters before you watch them die. Stannis is now seen as a loving father who didn’t abandon his terminal daughter with Greyscale. In episode nine, this connection is revisited, as Stannis must make the decision to sacrifice his daughter in order to march on Winterfell with the Lord of Light behind him.
His ultimate decision to kill his only daughter and heir is a horrifying one but vital for the show. What makes “Game of Thrones” so beautiful is its ability to manipulate your emotions. And if my emotions aren’t properly manipulated, the episode is not successful. Every move made in “Game of Thrones” is made for a reason: All men must die.