S5E9
The Dance of Dragons
⚠ Spoiler alert This recap gives away what happens in this episode.
Episode Summary & Review
Summary
Stannis confronts a troubling decision. Jon returns to The Wall. Mace visits the Iron Bank. Arya encounters someone from her past. Dany reluctantly oversees a traditional celebration of athleticism.
Our Take
A slow build to one of the show’s most gutting decisions, and Stannis’s choice lands hard precisely because the season earned it. The Daznak’s Pit sequences look gorgeous even if Dany’s storyline mostly treads water. A rough hour to sit through, but a memorable one that rewards viewers who’ve stuck with these characters.