Watching the first five seasons of Game of Thrones has been a rollercoaster ride, with short-lived ups that are so wondrous I do not mind the almost unending and tragic downs to get to feel the high once more. Season 6 of Game of Thrones was not an exception, with heartbreaking deaths, reappearances of almost-forgotten characters and an expected resurrection of a brooder. Established characters continued to claw their way to the Iron Throne or out of the shithole they dug themselves in, while new ones, especially an outspoken youngster, stole their thunder.

After a frontal nudity I cannot un-see and will forever be seared on my eyeballs, and with a perfectly angled leg to cover the nudity I wanted to see, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) resurrected with only two scars on his face and the remnants of eight dagger marks on his Greek god statuesque-abs. With the not-so-subtle clues from last season’s finale, the resurrection and the person who made it were not so much a surprise as Melisandre’s (Carice van Houten) true physical form, which reminded me of Filipino actress Lilia Cuntapay. I will digress if I continue this train of thought.

For the first time, I finished a season within striking distance of the explosive finale. I can still smell the smoke in the air Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion created. On this note, I give you my random rambling:

My Favorite Game of Thrones – Season 6 Characters

Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) – Since Season 2, Ser Davos Seaworth has been this close to power, but he has never been front and center in the overall game of thrones. Not until he became the default wise old man for Jon Snow and his army of Wildlings has he proved his true worth as a pragmatic man who has seen the world. With other people to interact with aside from the cold Stannis Baratheon and young Shireen Baratheon, Ser Davos turned out to be, well, not bland and an overall nice guy, as his conversations with Lyanna Mormont and Tormund Giantsbane showed. Can I say that I love him as early as Game of Thrones - Season 2? 🙂

Tormund Giantsbane (Kristoffer Hivju) – I think after Daario Naharis, Tormund Giantsbane is the sexiest character in Game of Thrones – Season 6. Only a sexy character could pull off all that facial hair and ill-fitting tattered clothes and have the courage to eyefuck Brienne of Tarth. Also, he is a fierce warrior and a loyal friend to Jon Snow. His pecker dig at Jon Snow was the first gold quote I had on my notes. In the Battle of the Bastards, I prayed for him and Ser Davos to survive.

Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) – It took me five seasons to warm up to Daenerys. At first I just thought that she was just “tits and dragons” with flowing silver mane and kilometric titles who depended too much on the grace of others to survive, but her fiery speeches that could rival even Drogon’s breath completely won me over. Yes, it is hard refuse a beautiful woman riding atop a ginormous firebreathing dragon asking one to cross the sea and fight for her, but the passion in her voice was worth more than a three-headed dragon. Or maybe not.

Lyanna Mormont (Bella Ramsey) – Lyanna Mormont has the deadly stare of Tywin Lannister and the unbridled tongue of Olenna Tyrell and as such, she won the most burn per minute award. Jon Snow, Sansa Stark and the Starks’ bannermen were recipients of her lashing, and deserved every bit of it.

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) – The resurrected version of Jon Snow is better than the one who died. He retains his Stark honor and loyalty and is still on the brooding side, but now he does not give a flying fig about authority and establishments. It does not hurt that from being born a “bastard”, he is now the King in the North (and is possibly more than that in the future). His zero-to-hero success story is worthy of an episode in Maalaala Mo Kaya. My only criticism of Jon Snow, why did he not punch Olly to death before hanging the traitor? Para double dead.

My Favorite Game of Thrones – Season 6 Moments

Khal Moro (Joe Naufahu) and the five best things in life

Khal Moro claimed that nothing is better than seeing a beautiful woman naked for the first time, but his bloodriders disagreed. One said that killing another Khal is better. The other added that, “conquering a city and taking her people as slaves, and taking her idols back to Vaes Dothrak”. The first conceded that, breaking a wild horse and forcing it to submit to one’s will is better. Later, Khal Moro, with annoyance in his voice said that seeing a beautiful woman naked for the first time is, not the best, but among the five best things in life. And these Dothraki have filthy imagination and filthier mouths, but they follow their laws to the letter (no lying with a Khal’s widow is one of them).

Jon Snow and the end of his watch

After hanging the traitors who stabbed him in the back, front and sides, with the camera lingering on Olly’s face, Jon Snow (yes, I like typing his full name), gave Dolorous Edd his outer garment, and to do what he deemed fit for it. He also gave Edd the Castle Black, before adding that his “watch has ended”. If he dropped the imaginary mic and walked out of scene, it would have been perfect.

Daenerys Targaryen in Vaes Dothrak

According to Dothraki laws, the best case scenario for Daenerys would have been to live out her days in the Temple of the Dosh Khaleen with the widows of the dead khals. But Daenerys had other plans. After calling the Khals “small men” and giving them a maddening smile, she burnt the place to the ground with her in it. She came out of the inferno, naked but unscathed. She stood in front of the Dothrakis, Jorah Mormont and Daario Naharis for 2 minutes and 7 seconds, staring them down to submission, still naked. That, people, is how you conquer thousands of armies.

Lyanna Mormont welcomes Jon Snow, Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) and Ser Davos Seaworth to Bear Island

Lyanna Mormont gave Sansa Stark a three-degree burn when she disagreed that she would grow into a beautiful lady like her namesake, Sansa’s aunt. Sansa and her courtesies failed her, so she just stared at Jon Snow in disbelief. Jon Snow used his history with Lyanna’s uncle, but Lyanna told him to stop beating around the bush. That was only the start of Lyanna’s tirade. This 10-year old girl can go toe to toe against Tywin, Olenna, Evelyn Powell and Jessica Huang. Oh, she contributed fighting 62 men to Jon Snow’s cause. I repeat, 62 men. Imagine the verbal tussle she could give if she had 1000 men?

The Targaryen – Lannister – Greyjoy Alliance

Theon (Alfie Allen) and Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan) visited Daenerys in Meereen to ask her help to overthrow Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbak) and his big cock in exchange for their fleet. The three of them, in addition to Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), are the second generation of leaders shown in the show. They wanted to right the wrongs made by their fathers and leave the world a better place than they found it. The understanding between Daenerys and Yara and their support for each other to be queen of their respective territories showed women empowerment. I cannot wait for a possible War of Four Queens (Cersei, Daenerys, Yara, and Sansa).

My Saddest Game of Thrones – Season 6 Moments

So many deaths, so little time to mourn them. Of all the deaths that happened this season, the heroic death of Hodor (Kristian Nairn) and the sudden death of Osha (Natalia Tena) touched me the most. I will miss Hodor’s Hodoring, and I blame Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) for it, even though I used to adore younger Bran. Since I read The Song of Ice and Fire series, I am attached to Bryden “The Blackfish” Tully (Clive Russell), and I am sad by his offscreen death in the hands of common soldiers. I hope he will do a Jon Snow or The Hound.

I-would-have-the-same-reaction Moment

When Samwell Tarly (John Badley) saw the length, width and depth of the Citadel’s library, his mouth dropped to the floor. It I feel you, Sam.

I-told-you-so Moment

Bran Stark should have stayed in the cave under the tree and not ventured out alone. “Meera, they found us.” YOU THINK, BRAN??? RIP Three-Eyed Raven (Max von Sydow), Leaf (Kae Alexander) and Hodor.

My Favorite Poetic Moment

Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) dying at the paws of his hungry hounds did not make me feel anything, but it was poetic justice. He lived, tortured and died surrounded by the “ladies” he killed. My only gripe was Roose Bolton (Michael McElhatton) and his cool voice met their demise before this caricature of a villain.

My Favorite Awkward Moment

Tyrion Lannister is a good bureaucrat and can make his way in and out of trouble with his gift of gab, but Tyrion’s sense of humor was a failure in Meereen. Surrounded by Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) and Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson), Tyrion had no banter partner. His attempts at drinking or telling a joke were mostly denied by the two.

My Favorite Coolest Moment

Grey Worm killed two men with one swing of his weapon.

In the Battle of the Bastards, Tormund Giantsbane did a Rick Grimes and bit the throat of his enemy.

Cannot-deny-it Moment

The baby in the Tower of Joy was brooding with wrinkles to boot. Then the scene cut to Jon Snow’s brooding face. Jon Snow was born to brood and carry the world on his shoulders.

Nagging Question

What happened in Dorne? Prince Doran Martell (Alexander Siddig) is so much calculating and a big picture thinker and Areo Hotah (DeObia Oparei) seems formidable and infallible in the book. They perished without a fight.

Awesome Twosome

Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) and Daario Naharis (Michiel Huisman)

They bantered and bonded while looking for Daenerys. They exchanged romantic notes about the woman they love. Daario made fun of Jorah’s age and stamina. I did not know that Jorah had it in him to be a good banter partner, and they fought well together. I cannot wait for Tyrion and Daario to spend more time together. Ooopsss, not happening with Daario the unwanted mistress staying in Meereen.

Tormund Giantsbane and Ser Davos Seaworth

They bonded over their failed ex-leaders, Jon Snow is not a king, and what to do the night before an important battle. I hope they continue with their “happy shitting” and not die in Season 7. Game of Thrones has the propensity to kill good men, and they are the best men in Westeros!!!

Ser Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Ser Bronn (Jerome Flynn)

The visit to Riverlands would have been a dismal experience if not for Ser Jaime Lannister and Ser Bronn. Sure, every other word that comes out of Ser Bronn’s mouth is an insult, the other is “fuck”, but hearing him praise Ser Jaime’s good looks and belittle his fighting skills are amazing. Ser Bronn would be a great leader for Khal Moro’s bloodriders. Their filthy mouths can make millions of ladies blush.