Here’s the synopsis for Sunday’s “Game of Thrones” Season 6, Episode 9, “Battle of the Bastards”: “Terms of surrender are rejected and accepted.”
Does Ramsay Bolton first reject and then accept surrender? Sounds good from here, but we’ll see on June 19.
Jon Snow appears to lead the charge against the artist formerly known as Ramsay Snow in the massive SnowBowl battle, but Jon is not alone. Sansa Stark Lannister Bolton (watch them make her marry a Frey next) is the true power behind this fight to reclaim Winterfell (and, fingers crossed, save her brother Rickon). Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa, sounds excited for fans to see the battle play out:
Guys not going to lie…. Saw episode 9. It’s UNbelievable.
— Sophie Turner (@SophieT) – June 14, 2016
Hype it, sister! Hopefully by emphasizing the “UN” she’s not trying to say we literally won’t believe what happens (like we still don’t quite believe that Arya Stark survived what should’ve been lethal wounds from a trained assassin in Episode 8). It probably just means that the hour lives up to the exciting trailer, stunning photos, and previous hype from Kit Harington and producers that it’s an “epic” episode and the biggest battle they’ve ever done on the show.
Watch the promo again:
The only downside is that after this epic episode we only have one more hour (actually 69 minutes for the finale) left to Season 6. What are we supposed to do for the next year?
Even though “Game of Thrones,” it’s pretty apparent what’s going to happen just from the title alone: “Battle of the Bastards.”
Jon Snow vs. Ramsay Bolton. It’s on!
The network did release eight images from the episode, which depict everyone looking intense as hell. No wonder: The two sides are fighting for control of Winterfell and the entire North.
The first image (above) features Sansa and half-brother Jon gazing into the distance. Here’s Jon brooding, wearing the clothing his sister made for him:
Jon’s new right-hand man, Davos Seaworth, also sees something he doesn’t like. Fans are speculating that he may discover that Melisandre burned Shireen as a sacrifice (which didn’t work):
And now, a glimpse at the other side of the battle, Jon’s bastard foe, Ramsay Bolton. Please, “Game of Thrones,” kill him off. We send a prayer to the old gods and new:
Here’s a jaw-dropping shot of the battle lines:
And wildling leader Tormund in battle. Let’s hope he survives and reunites with his one true love, Brienne:
Jon and Sansa’s army may be smaller than Ramsay’s, but they also have Wun Wun on their side:
In the teaser trailer, Jon says not to bring him back from the dead should he fall in battle:
“Game of Thrones” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO.
UPDATE: Yes, Ramsay Bolton finally died in “Game of Thrones” Season 6, Episode 9, “Battle of the Bastards.” Rickon Stark died before the battle started. Wun-Wun was also killed, along with others on the field. Team Stark was losing until Littlefinger’s army from the Vale showed up — thank you, Sansa’s letter — so the Starks technically “won” the battle. But Ramsay, after being beat up by Jon, was taken prisoner in Winterfell. Alive. Sansa got some great last words in and then let Ramsay’s own starving hounds be the ones to kill and eat him. So she kind of did get to kill him in the end, but it was even better, because he was killed by the creatures he thought were loyal and — as Sansa noted — were loyal until they were starving.
Original story:
Gods be good, HBO should send ravens to each individual “Game of Thrones” fan to promote Season 6, Episode 9, which airs this Sunday, June 19:
You are cordially invited to the “Battle of the Bastards,” aka BastardBowl or SnowBowl, the long-awaited epic showdown in the North between Jon Snow’s Team Stark and Ramsay Bolton’s Team Why Does Ramsay Even Have a Team?
Episode 8, bless it, was essentially forgotten the moment the Episode 9 promo aired.
As you can hear, most of the dialogue comes from Jon:
Jon Snow: “Battles have been won against greater odds. I fought beyond The Wall against worse than Ramsay Bolton. Sansa Stark: “You. Don’t. Know. Him.”
Jon to Melisandre: “If I fall, don’t bring me back.”
Jon: “Thousands of men don’t need to die. Only one of us.”
Is that last line from Jon to Ramsay, challenging him to single combat? If so, it doesn’t seem to work, based on the front line charges in the promo. But who will be victorious? We’d say obviously Jon and Sansa (whose previous letter was most likely to Littlefinger, asking him to send forces from the Vale), but GoT loves to give victories to Ramsay.
“Battle of the Bastards” was written by showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss, and directed by Miguel Sapochnik. In its latest press release, HBO simply presented the title, and the supersized finale title “The Winds of Winter,” without further comment, refusing to even offer a vague synopsis for either episode. “Battle of the Bastards” sounds like a quote Ramsay might say, maybe if/when he and Jon ride out to meet before the attack.
UPDATE: The Episode 9 synopsis has been listed as “Terms of surrender are rejected and accepted.” Does Ramsay both reject, initially, and then accept surrender? If so … well, he’d have to be alive to accept, but maybe his team accepts when he’s killed?
Since there are so many players on the field for this battle, we’re expecting casualties on both sides, certainly minor and possibly major. (Don’t kill Tormund, please!) But you don’t really think they’d kill off Jon again, do you? No one’s really buying that threat, we hope. He hasn’t even met Daenerys Targaryen yet.
Whatever the showrunners decide to do, in your esteemed opinion, who SHOULD have the honor of killing Ramsay?
Jon? Sansa? Theon, although he’s not even here? A total stranger? Melisandre with another shadow? Dany with her dragons, although they’re not around yet either? Ramsay’s own hungry hounds? No one? As opposed to No One/Arya Stark although, she kills everyone else, so why not him, too? (If you’re really curious, you can head to Reddit to try and track down battle and finale spoilers, but it’s more fun to just speculate and see.)
Earlier in the season, Kit Harington teased to Entertainment Weekly, “There’s one episode this season, which is Jon’s story, that’s the most epic episode we’ve done.” That’s gotta be this one. The Powers That Be also teased the extraordinary ambition of this battle: “It’s definitely the biggest [action sequence yet],” producer Bryan Cogman told EW. “We’ve always wanted to get to a place – story-wise and budget-wise and time-wise and resource-wise – where we would be able to do a proper battle, with one army on one side, one army on another side.”
The promo only showed the Battle of the Bastards, which hinted to maybe this being like Season 2, Episode 9’s “Blackwater,” which focused the entire episode on the Battle of the Blackwater. But there’s talk that we might also head to Meereen this Sunday, so it may not be totally set on this battlefield.
Question: If Team Stark wins, who should rule the North — Jon or Sansa? She’s the Stark, and he didn’t seem that fond of ruling after being stabbed to death by his own men. Maybe she should be the Stark of Winterfell and he can focus on keeping the fight going against the White Walkers.
A Girl is disappointed that “Game of Thrones” Season 6, Episode 8, “No One.” However, this Girl is very glad Arya Stark is finally done trying to be No One, and now on her way back home. Westeros needs 00Stark’s particular set of skills in the wars to come. Farewell, it seems, Jaqen H’ghar. You had terrible taste in assistants and assassination targets. But bye.
“No One” was an hour filled with revenge, betrayal, and Cersei Lannister‘s mic drop line, “I choose violence” — which had the unfortunate timing to air on the same day as the most deadly attack in the U.S. since 9/11. Fantasy violence = badass. Real violence = just bad.
In the end…
• The Hound got revenge against the rogue members of the Brotherhood Without Banners for the events of Episode 7, and maybe he’s going north to fight the White Walkers with Beric Dondarrion (and LS)?;
• Arya was helped by Lady Crane (who was then killed by the Waif) and got her revenge by killing Terminator Waif (Arya’s wounds healed a bit too fast, just saying), and now she’s on her way home to Winterfell;
• The Faith’s Puppet in Chief, King Tommen, outlawed trial by combat (What about #CleganeBowl, you monster?!) but Cersei and Qyburn may have a backup plan;
• Jaime Lannister reunited with Brienne (Jaime, Tormund, Bronn — she should be the Bachelorette with all of the guys who would f–k her);
• Jaime also took over Riverrun with the release of the Tully’s own Tommen, Edmure Tully;
• Shockingly, slave masters can’t actually be trusted in Meereen, but thankfully, Mhysa is back in town, with dragons, just in time for a massive siege;
• Speaking of sieges, Brynden Tully appears to be the new No One. The Blackfish, like Tyrion, was betrayed. The Blackfish was said to have “died fighting.” Did he? If we don’t see it happen, did it happen? Would they really just let this legend die off-screen? Eh.
It’s hard to now how many of those storylines we’ll be following next week in the “Battle of the Bastards.” The Episode 9 promo (see below) just showed the epic Stark vs. Bolton showdown.
GET.
FOOKIN.
HYPE.
Read on for a recap of Episode 8:
THE MAP: No cold open this time. (They should do them more often, even if they don’t have surprise returns.) This week, the map takes us to King’s Landing, Winterfell, The Wall, Braavos, Meereen.
ARYA IN BRAAVOS The episode starts with Lady Crane’s stage scene as Cersei, with Joffrey’s death. Foreshadowing to say she’ll see him again in heaven, but first she seeks vengeance. Love that she’s playing Cersei, who vows revenge against Sansa Stark, but she turns around and helps Sansa’s sister in real life. Backstage, LC sees Arya behind the wardrobe. She’s bleeding (for real, not fake, and it’s not really Jaqen or the Waif) and LC helps patch her up. OK, but those wounds seemed serious and it’s not like the Waif wouldn’t know how to inflict lethal wounds. Honestly, this is the most pedestrian of the Arya survive options. D&D should go with fan theories next time. LC took her own revenge on Bianca, who wanted her killed. LC wants Arya to come with them to Pentos and replace Bianca as an actress, but Arya says they wouldn’t be safe. What’s West of Westeros? The edge of the world? Arya would like to see that. LC gives Arya milk of the poppy but Arya doesn’t want to sleep. Still, she takes it. Is she too trusting?
Later, LC tends to Arya as she wakes up. But the Waif always finds Arya in the end. Lady Crane is killed. The Waif tells Arya if she had done her job, LC would’ve died painlessly. The Many-Faced God was given a name. He must take what is his. And now he’s been promised another name. She can’t change that. No One can. And No One does! Arya goes on the run, and we have a shaky-cam chase through the streets of Braavos. Has any good ever come from a trip to Braavos? Just saying. It’s not a place to revisit. Arya has a fruit fall on the steps of Braavos and the Waif stares her down. Anyone else getting “Battleship Potemkin” vibes? This is very well shot, this sequence, even if it’s a bit far-fetched. The Waif deserves what she gets — Arya knifing a candle so they fight in the dark, which is the formerly blind Arya’s specialty at this point.
At the end of the episode, Arya revists the House of Black and White, trailing blood, to add the Waif’s face to the wall. She points her sword at Jaqen, who apparently had no idea what was up. So the Waif always knew what Arya was doing but Jaqen had no clue? Jaqen says finally a girl is No One, but she says “A girl is Arya Stark of Winterfell, and I’m going home.” Finally! Took long enough. She leaves him alive. He needs a new apprentice now. Where’s Gendry? Maybe he can row over to Braavos.
THE HOUND + THE BROTHERHOOD We visit with the group of Brotherhood guys who killed the Hound’s group. For whatever reason, they are giving kissing and butthole jamming lessons in the woods. The Hound approaches with his axe and just goes to town, brutally slaying. He chose violence, too. Cersei would approve. Love the last words exchange. “You’re sh-t at dying.”
Later, we see Lord Beric Dondarrion (Jon Snow-ed six times, if you recall), whom we haven’t seen since Season 3. Apparently Beric was also after those Brotherhood guys, who were former men of his who disgraced the Brotherhood name. Thoros of Myrs stops the Hound from axe-ing them, he says they hang them. It turns into a how-to-kill debate. They hang. Clegane gets new boots, so that’s a win. He also asks the Brotherhood for something to eat. “I prefer chicken.” YAS. Like Arya, his female counterpart, he is asked to join them and turns them down. Lots of horrible sh-t in this world gets done for something larger than ourselves. The Hound has the best lines. But Beric says cold winds are rising in the North. He knows about the White Walkers? The Lord of Light gave the Hound the power to defeat him, why? The Hound is a fighter. He was born a fighter. The things they are fighting will destroy young and old. The Hound seems to think about it, so maybe it’s a soft no for now, with the potential to be yes.
MEEREEN We walk with Tyrion and Varys in Meereen, and watch another priestess speaking to a crowd. Varys is going on a secret expedition, and Tyrion (“the most famous dwarf in the world”) will miss him. Varys: “We need friends in Westeros, and we need ships.” Tyrion says they need their queen most of all. So now Tyrion is on his own, apart from Grey Worm and Missandei.
Later, Tyrion seems a bit cocky and overconfident, while Grey Worm and Missandei aren’t so sure. They don’t want to drink with him. They want Daenerys Targaryen back. Tyrion wants his own wine, The Imp’s Delight. (SELL IT TO US NOW) Tyrion starts telling a Stark joke, which feels like foreshadowing. Whenever they have light moments like this, you know something awful is about to happen. After some more light banter, the bells ring. Ships approach. The masters have come for their property, Missandei sees.
We see the siege on Meereen and Tyrion admits he was wrong. He asks Grey Worm what the army should do. GW says to stay there and wait for the masters to come for them. Then they will fight. Yikes. It’s a scary plan and they here a noise. Mom’s home! Dany just strolls in, and we hear what sounds like Drogon behind her.
KING’S LANDING Qyburn tells Cersei members of the Faith Militant have been allowed into the Red Keep. Tommen let them in, of course. Cersei tries to walk somewhere — to see Tommen? — but Lancel and other Sparrows stop her. He says the High Sparrow wants to see her/COMMANDS her to see him, and she refuses. The Mountain steps forward. Lancel says “Move aside, ser,” which is kind of hilarious. “Order your man to step aside or there will be violence.” Cersei: “I choose violence.” She doesn’t say it with joy or anything, though. She’s simply resolved. The Mountain rips apart one of the Sparrows and Lancel looks nervous. It’s so strange to be rooting for the Mountain and Cersei at this point. But she scored a point this week.
Later, Cersei makes her way to the throne room and is stopped by Kevan Lannister. There is to be a royal announcement in the throne room, and Cersei is just being informed. Why is Kevan appearing to side with the Faith instead of wanting House Lannister to reclaim its power? He knows Tommen is a puppet. Tommen makes his speech about the Faith and the crown being the two pillars who hold up this world. The High Sparrow decided on trial dates for Cersei and Ser Loras. Also, Tommen said “from this day forward, trial by combat will be forbidden” across the Seven Kingdoms. So that’s the High Sparrow’s chess move against Cersei and the Mountain. Dammit, Tommen. Qyburn approaches Cersei about that little rumor. His little birds investigated. And it was more than a rumor. Much more. Wildfire?
RIVERRUN Brienne and Pod have a sassy little moment at the start of the sequence, then when men show up she tells them she has Jaime Lannister’s sword. Bronn gets Podrick F–king Payne in a headlock and they banter. Bronn asks if Jaime and Brienne are f–king. He’d f–k her. So now we can add him to the list, with Tormund and Jaime. Bronn and Pod had a nice little scene (not so nice for Pod) but Bronn is still best with Tyrion.
Meanwhile, inside the tent, Brienne surprises Jaime by saying Sansa is actually alive and Brienne is working for her to get Riverrun’s army to battle the Boltons. That’s not quite what Jaime wants, since he’s currently battling Riverrun. Brienne says to take Riverrun without bloodshed, allow her into Riverun under truce to talk to the Blackfish and get him to move Tully forces north. Jaime doesn’t think it will work with the Blackfish, but his men might go north. Jaime gives Brienne his word that he’ll allow them safe passage north. Brienne also gives Jaime back his sword. He gave it to her for a purpose and she achieved it. He said it’s hers and will always be hers. Aww. Good. We need more Valyrian steel, especially steel made from Ice, to take on the Boltons. Jaime and Brienne part as friends (with some eye f–king, maybe?) but she tells him if it comes to it, she may have to fight him, since she’s Team Stark. As expected, the Blackfish turns down the offer to “abandon” his family seat at Riverrun and go north. Brienne shares Sansa’s note with the Blackfish, who says “she’s exactly like her mother.” Sansa wants her home back, but this is the Blackfish’s home, and if Jaime wants it, he can take it the way everyone else does. So Brienne’s mission failed, at least in terms of getting the Blackfish’s support.
Later, Jaime visits poor Lord Edmure, who is still tied up. Edmure knows the Blackfish will never surrender the castle. Jaime knows a good death is all the Blackfish can hope for, but Edmure has more of a future … even if he hasn’t seen his wife since the Red Wedding. (A bad beginning if ever there was one.) It’s good to hear Edmure get to talk, and he reminds Jaime (“an evil man” but a “fine looking fellow”) that the Lannisters massacred his family. Jaime reminds him this is not a negotiation. Edmure wants to know how Jaime lives with himself. How does he tell himself he’s decent after everything he’s done? He talks about Catelyn. Edmure wishes she had killed Jaime. Jaime admired Catelyn. He was awed by her love for her children. It reminded him of his sister. Is this talk of Catelyn foreshadowing LS, or is that out of the question now? The things we do for love, Jaime, says, like he did in the first episode. Bran. “I love Cersei. You can laugh at that if you want, you can sneer. She needs me. To get back to her I have to take Riverrun.” He’ll take Edmure’s son and launch him into Riverrun in a catapult, he’ll slaughter every Tully who ever lived to get back to Cersei. Because he loves her. That’s how he lives with what he does. That’s awful and creepy, but still beautiful and romantic. And it works?
Edmure goes to the gate and demands entry, as the Lord of Riverrun. Blackfish refuses to surrender and tries to block the men from letting Edmure in. He knows Edmure is just doing Jaime’s bidding. But the Blackfish is not lord of the castle, so the Blackfish loses. Sorry, man. Black Walder tells Jaime, if he’s wrong, he just surrendered their most valuable prisoner. But he’s not wrong. Edmure commands the men to lay down their arms, open the gates, and leave Riverrun to the Lannister/Freys. Edmure commands the Blackfish be put in irons and handed over to the Freys. Betrayal! The Blackfish helps Brienne and Pod leave but he refuses to leave Riverrun. He tells Brienne she’ll serve Sansa far better than he ever could. He plans to stay and fight. “I haven’t had a proper sword fight in years. I expect I’ll make a damn fool of myself.” Jaime is told the Blackfish died, but we don’t see it. We do see Jaime and Brienne waving goodbye to each other as she rows away. Who should get her final rose — Jaime or Tormund? Or Pod as the dark horse?
NEXT WEEK
YAAAAAAASSSSSSS. Episode 9, always known to be a BAMF of an episode, is called “Battle of the Bastards” and you know what that means. Yas! The epic Ramsay vs Jon fight is coming Sunday, June 19. If someone gets to kill Ramsay it should be Sansa, though, not Jon. But please show him no mercy, he has earned none.
Here’s the synopsis for Sunday’s “Game of Thrones” Season 6, Episode 9, “Battle of the Bastards”: “Terms of surrender are rejected and accepted.” 
Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa, sounds excited for fans to see the battle play out:
Even though “Game of Thrones,” it’s pretty apparent what’s going to happen just from the title alone: “Battle of the Bastards.” 
UPDATE: Yes, Ramsay Bolton finally died in 
Whatever the showrunners decide to do, in your esteemed opinion, who SHOULD have the honor of killing Ramsay?
The promo only showed the Battle of the Bastards, which hinted to maybe this being like Season 2, Episode 9’s “Blackwater,” which focused the entire episode on the Battle of the Blackwater. But there’s talk that we might also head to Meereen this Sunday, so it may not be totally set on this battlefield.
A Girl is disappointed that “Game of Thrones” Season 6, Episode 8, “No One.” However, this Girl is very glad Arya Stark is finally done trying to be No One, and now on her way back home. Westeros needs 00Stark’s particular set of skills in the wars to come. Farewell, it seems, Jaqen H’ghar. You had terrible taste in assistants and assassination targets. But bye.
It’s hard to now how many of those storylines we’ll be following next week in the “Battle of the Bastards.” The Episode 9 promo (see below) just showed the epic Stark vs. Bolton showdown.
The episode starts with Lady Crane’s stage scene as Cersei, with Joffrey’s death. Foreshadowing to say she’ll see him again in heaven, but first she seeks vengeance. Love that she’s playing Cersei, who vows revenge against Sansa Stark, but she turns around and helps Sansa’s sister in real life. Backstage, LC sees Arya behind the wardrobe. She’s bleeding (for real, not fake, and it’s not really Jaqen or the Waif) and LC helps patch her up. OK, but those wounds seemed serious and it’s not like the Waif wouldn’t know how to inflict lethal wounds. Honestly, this is the most pedestrian of the 
We visit with the group of Brotherhood guys who killed the Hound’s group. For whatever reason, they are giving kissing and butthole jamming lessons in the woods. The Hound approaches with his axe and just goes to town, brutally slaying. He chose violence, too. Cersei would approve. Love the last words exchange. “You’re sh-t at dying.”
We walk with Tyrion and Varys in Meereen, and watch another priestess speaking to a crowd. Varys is going on a secret expedition, and Tyrion (“the most famous dwarf in the world”) will miss him. Varys: “We need friends in Westeros, and we need ships.” Tyrion says they need their queen most of all. So now Tyrion is on his own, apart from Grey Worm and Missandei.
Qyburn tells Cersei members of the Faith Militant have been allowed into the Red Keep. Tommen let them in, of course. Cersei tries to walk somewhere — to see Tommen? — but Lancel and other Sparrows stop her. He says the High Sparrow wants to see her/COMMANDS her to see him, and she refuses. The Mountain steps forward. Lancel says “Move aside, ser,” which is kind of hilarious. “Order your man to step aside or there will be violence.” Cersei: “I choose violence.” She doesn’t say it with joy or anything, though. She’s simply resolved. The Mountain rips apart one of the Sparrows and Lancel looks nervous. It’s so strange to be rooting for the Mountain and Cersei at this point. But she scored a point this week.
Brienne and Pod have a sassy little moment at the start of the sequence, then when men show up she tells them she has Jaime Lannister’s sword. Bronn gets Podrick F–king Payne in a headlock and they banter. Bronn asks if Jaime and Brienne are f–king. He’d f–k her. So now we can add him to the list, with Tormund and Jaime. Bronn and Pod had a nice little scene (not so nice for Pod) but Bronn is still best with Tyrion.
As expected, the Blackfish turns down the offer to “abandon” his family seat at Riverrun and go north. Brienne shares Sansa’s note with the Blackfish, who says “she’s exactly like her mother.” Sansa wants her home back, but this is the Blackfish’s home, and if Jaime wants it, he can take it the way everyone else does. So Brienne’s mission failed, at least in terms of getting the Blackfish’s support.
