Game of Thrones 5-8, Hardhome.

We finally have Tyrion,  as advisor to Daenerys, getting the respect and position he always desired. This is good for the both of them. Tyrion finally gets a queen to advise worthy of his talents, and she gets a voice of reason to replace the one she lost with death of Ser Barriston. This also gives the viewers a different dynamic, for Danny has thus far surrounded herself with mostly lovers and warriors, The grizzled Ser Barriston, the lovelorn Ser Jorah, and her current foppish lover/champion, Daario. Tyrion's great strength is his mind.

And, poor Jorah, back to the fighting pits. What's he up to now?

Cersei still stews in prison and her options continue to get worse.  She can't count on a rescue from her weak-spirited son, Tommen, who is now under the sway of his uncle, Kevan Lannister. Tommen and Jofferey are two sides of a single character that were unfortunately separated. A character with Joffery's will and governed by Tommen's empathy could be an ideal king. We could name him King Toffery!

And, how awesome is it to have the High Sparrow played by Jonathan Pryce?

Things get interesting for the Stark sisters. Sansa learns the truth about the fate of her younger brothers and Arya embarks on her assassin career.

The most important development, however, occurs north of The Wall. Jon and Tormund Gianstbane go to the aptly named town of Hardhome to make an alliance between the Wildlings and the Crows (Yes, the Freefolk have towns) when an army of thousands of the dead attack. We even got to see Jon fighting alongside a Thenn. And a Giant!

If you didn't know the difference between a mere wight and a whitewalker before, you know now. Whitewalkers are the badass ones, and King whitewalker was the creepiest thing in the show yet. But, then, Jon discovers that "Longclaw" is a much needed +100 attack against whitewalkers. An obsidian point isn't the only thing that will take one out (eat Valyrian steel, motherfuckers!).

So, NOW, we have the true perspective. We see how petty realm politics really is. All the maneuvering by everyone else for the Iron Throne is completely besides the point. None of them even see what is coming for them. Jon Snow knows a lot more than nothing. By trying to bring the Night's Watch and the Freefolk together, he is literally fighting to save the world. It is the Long Winter and Stannis is not Azor Ahai, Jon Snow is,