‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 6: When Women Ruled Westeros

The Season 6 premiere of HBO’s Game of Thrones reminded fans that it is not just the kings of Westeros that are vying for the iron throne. Many of the women are, too, and some of them — particularly those without royal titles — may even stand a better chance of taking over the coveted chair.

SPOILER ALERT: This article discusses Season 6 of HBO’s Game of Thrones. Please proceed with caution if you wish to avoid spoilers.

HBO programming president Michael Lombardo had already said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that Season 6 of Game of Thrones will center around the female characters. But the Season 6 premiere (Episode 1, entitled “The Red Woman”) showed, without a doubt, that the women of Westeros are a force to be reckoned with.

As io9 pointed out, Brienne of Tarth may just be the one who could defeat everyone, given enough time. Already she has killed the Hound (Rory McCann) and Stannis. And while no one at all seems to be able to locate any of the remaining Stark women, Brienne managed to do so within a relatively short time. Just imagine how much she could achieve if she sided with Daenerys and her dragons?

Speaking of Daenerys, while she is currently being held by the Dothraki, her true character, her determination, and strength shone in this episode. While the Dothraki had no idea who they had captured, Daenerys bit her lip and patiently waited to find the perfect time to let the Dothraki know just who they were dealing with. Even when it turned out her words were sending her to the Dothraki equivalent of a nunnery, she was still determined to find a way around this new complication.

In Dorne (remember that place that no one really cares about now that Oberyn Martell is dead?) everything is going to hell in a handbasket for the men. Ellaria (Indira Varma) and her trusty Sand Snakes (also women) is on a mission to take down everyone. As a result of this, Oberyn’s brother, Doran (Alexander Siddig), and his son, Trystane (Toby Sebastian), are killed and Ellaria swears no more “weak men” will ever rule Dorne again. Does that mean she is planning to take the crown? Interesting to note is the Easter egg involved in the death of Trystane. As Vanity Fair points out, Trystane was killed in a way reminiscent of the Martell’s house sigil, the Sunspear. Trystane, literally, is the son who got speared. Vanity Fair posted this image to show the comparison.

Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) learns the hard way that water is cold but, when forced to, she can cross it. It is this turning point where she realizes she is actually stronger than she thinks. Once Brienne of Tarth steps in and saves her from being returned to her cruel husband, Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon), she swears an oath with her savior and steps up to take the plate she has been served.

However, some Game of Thrones fans considered it a defeat for Sansa’s sister, Arya Stark (Maisie Williams), in Episode 1 of Season 6. For others, it was seen as just another lesson for Arya to learn on the road to becoming the brilliant fighter we all know she will be. Even blinded, she still took up the stick given to her and tried her very best to defeat a hidden enemy.

But there were some other weaker women moments in Episode 1 of Game of Thrones as well. Surprisingly, they came from the two women who are considered among the strongest women of Westeros. Cersei Lannister (Lena Heady) was devastated to learn the witch’s prophecy we saw in the Season 5 premiere of Game of Thrones starting to come true with the death of her second child, Myrcella (Nell Tiger Free). While fans got to see Cersei finally soften as she tried to deal with the death of a child whom she considered too pure to be her own, it was her brother and lover, Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), that managed to lift her above her grief.

The red woman of the Episode 1 title, Melisandre (Carice van Houten) also suffered a losing blow in Season 5 of Game of Thrones when Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) died before her prophecy came true. Then, in Season 6, she arrived at Castle Black in order to oversee her new prophecy of Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) being victorious. That prophecy was also shattered when she found Jon dead in the snow. Only time will tell now just how Melisandre recovers from her religion failing her.

Regardless of their highs or lows throughout Game of Thrones, these women show they are capable of victory.

What did you think of Episode 1 of Game of Thrones Season 6? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!

Season 6 of Game of Thrones returns to HBO with Episode 2, entitled “Home,” on Sunday, May 1, at 10 p.m. ET.

The official synopsis for Episode 2 is as follows.

“Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) trains with the Three-Eyed Raven (Max von Sydow). In King’s Landing, Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) advises Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman). Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) demands good news, but has to make his own. At Castle Black, the Night’s Watch stands behind Thorne (Owen Teale). Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) proposes a plan, and Balon Greyjoy (Patrick Malahide) entertains other proposals.”

[Image via Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]