'Game of Thrones' recap: Queens and sparrows

Spoiler alert! The following contains spoilers for Sunday's episode of Game of Thrones.

Early in the latest episode of Game of Thrones, Jaqen H'ghar asks Arya why she came to the House of Black and White. He was asking because she was complaining about her exciting sweeping duties, but the question of why a person is on the path they're on could be asked of anyone on this week's episode, as the world still tries to come to terms with the death of Tywin Lannister, surely the show's biggest death since we lost Ned back in season one.

But while Ned's death set the Thrones characters on firm, distinctive paths and missions, Tywin's death (and the ripple effect from it) has left many flailing and directionless, not sure what to do next. And in a world as dangerous as this, not knowing your next move is never a very good idea. We recap the biggest moments from "High Sparrow."

THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD

So far at the House of Black and White, things haven't been quite as exciting as Arya was hoping. Mostly she's been sweeping floors, when she really wants to be learning from Jaqen as his apprentice. But it's clear that Arya is not actually quite ready to join the Faceless Men, to be "no one." When another girl living in the house picks a fight with her, the first thing Arya does is go for Needle. She keeps saying that she is "no one," but as Jaqen points out, how did "no one" happen to be in possession of so many of Arya Stark's things?

So Arya ditches her clothes (thank goodness because they're probably pretty rank after being worn for three seasons) and her money, but when it comes time to say goodbye to the sword Jon Snow gave her, she just can't do it. Most of Arya's life has been downright horrible, but there were some things she really loved about being Arya Stark, and she's not ready to let that girl go completely.

Instead of dropping the sword in the river, Arya hides it in some rocks (the hiding place looks pretty easy for a thief or a Faceless Man to find, but we'll give her the benefit of the doubt) and heads back to her new duties at the House (first thing: cleaning the body of a dead man). She may be getting closer to "no one" but she definitely hasn't left Arya behind.

A NON-LETHAL WESTEROS WEDDING

Be honest, when you saw Margarey and Tommen taking their wedding vows you held your breath for a second just to make sure everyone was going to live through the ceremony. But just because there was no murder doesn't mean that there wasn't something going on beneath the surface, or, er, the covers of this marriage.

The rest of Westeros could take a lesson from Margarey Tyrell in the art of manipulation. This girl knows how to get what she wants, which is why she waited to bring up her least-favorite mother-in-law to her new hubby King Tommen until their wedding night (by the way, there's no age listed for the actor who plays Tommen on IMDB, but goodness if it wasn't mildly disturbing to see him in bed with a naked Natalie Dormer).

Like Tywin did last season, Margarey is making use of the young king's naiveté, playing on his desire to be an adult (because, you know, he's not one) and his pure simplicity. It pays off in the next scene when Tommen suggests that Cersei head back to Casterly Rock, just for her happiness. Cersei gets her own taste of Margarey's power games when she goes to visit the new queen, who is quick to call her "mother," slyly mentions her drinking habit and reminds her how close she is to being a grandmother. Cersei is none too pleased but plays nice, although the look of pure bile she wears as she walks away might give Margarey pause if she could see it.

THE BOLTONS ARE BACK IN TOWN

Remember the Boltons? We haven't seen them in a few episodes, but they're still there, ruling the North, flaying people alive and being unerringly creepy (is it just us or Ramsay eating food just the grossest/most disturbing image in the world?). Since their alliance with the Lannisters and their participation in the Red Wedding, the Boltons' control on the North has been uneasy. And it's no wonder, considering Ramsay turned a tax collection visit into a mass flaying (were you as disturbed by the hanging bodies as I was? I'd stick them in the show's top five graphic moments).

Bolton the elder is quick to remind his son that they struck their deal with Tywin Lannister, not the rest of the brood, and that if the North revolts there's no way the lions will come to their rescue. So what better way to build more alliances and solidify their new position of power? Why marry crazy Ramsay off, of course! And as for the lucky bride, well…

THE NORTH REMEMBERS

Quick poll: If you'd have to marry one, who would you pick: Joffrey Baratheon or Ramsay Bolton? The correct response is Tyrion Lannister, of course. Sansa Stark has the distinction of being the first girl to be betrothed to both Joffrey and Ramsey, two of just the finest gentlemen in all of Westeros. It turns out the marriage that Littlefinger had brought up was not to him but to Ramsay, an idea Sansa, rightfully, disdains at first, given that Roose Bolton father quite literally stabbed her brother in the back.

But Littlefinger convinces Sansa that this is more than that, that this is an opportunity to avenge the ones she loves. There aren't a lot of words said, but it's clear that Littlefinger isn't marrying off Sansa because he thinks Ramsay is such a good match. And Littlefinger may not be the only one in on the plan. The kindly old lady who shows Sansa to her new chambers at Winterfell welcomes her home by saying "the North remembers."

Littlefinger's intentions are also brought into question when he and Bolton meet later in the episode, when he just happens to get a letter from Cersei Lannister. Bolton the-ever-wavering is ditching his Lannister alliance for a Baelish one by marrying his son to Sansa, but despite what he said earlier to Ramsay it's clear that the Lannister name still carries some power, even if Jaime only has one hand, Tommen is a boy and Cersei is the Queen Mother, as Littlefinger is quick to remind him. Still, whatever intentions Littlefinger actually has for this betrothal, it's not going to be an easy road getting there.

'NOTHING'S MORE HATEFUL THAN FAILING TO PROTECT THE ONES YOU LOVE'

While plenty of characters this episode were at a loss for a mission, Brienne of Tarth has decided to keep plodding away at hers, even if it seems a little pointless. After being rejected by not one but two Stark daughters, Brienne has decided to follow Sansa on her journey with Littlefinger, which might not seem fruitful right now, but considering whose waiting arms she's about to walk into, might be a good idea in the long run.

But like Sansa has not forgotten the Bolton's involvement in the Red Wedding, Brienne has not forgotten Stannis's involvement in the death of the person she loved, Renly Baratheon. Brienne the Beauty finally explains how she got that nickname, and how she came to love Renly (not because he loved her, but because he was just a good person).

She tells Pod that she will definitely find a way to exact her vengeance some day, although it isn't clear how soon that someday might be. (Speaking of Pod, is there anyone in Westeros more positive than Podrick Payne? The ever-loyal, ever-suffering squire takes all the shade Brienne can throw at him and responds more happily each time.)

THE SHIELD THAT GUARDS THE REALMS OF MEN

Jon Snow is not taking his new position as HBIC (head bastard in charge) at the Wall lightly. After refusing, once and for all, the mantle of Jon Stark from Stannis, Jon vividly exercised his rule when he was forced to dispense his first bit of justice.

The new Lord Commander was assigning some new duties, and after a fake-out where for a hot second we thought he was going to put Ser Alliser in charge of digging a latrine pit, he gave his enemy the position of First Ranger, which you'll remember Benjen Stark had when we first encountered the Night's Watch in season one.

The trouble didn't come from the perennial thorn in Jon's side but rather the occasional one. When offered command of another Night's Watch tower, Lord Janos Slynt (who you'll recall has now had run-ins with Ned Stark, Tyrion and Jon) flatly refuses, insulting Jon and denying his rule. Jon's reaction is calculated and swift. He tells the men to bring Slynt outside and asks his new steward for his sword. There's a moment when it looks like Alliser might try to stop it, but he happily stands aside and allows Slynt to be taken.

It might be because he's happy with his new assignment, or, more likely, because he's a man who picks his battles, and he has something else up his sleeve (and honestly, the fact that Slynt is just such an enormous tool can't be that much help). So like his father and his older brother before him, Jon takes the life of a man who defied him, because the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. How much this bit of justice will solidify Jon's rule remains to be seen, but it certainly shut some people up.

OF SPARROWS AND QYBURNS

Cersei Lannister needs a new ally. As is clear from the flashback in the first episode, her hatred for Margarey is more than just conflicting personalities. And while the new queen is quickly gathering more and more supporters, Cersei seems to be losing them one by one. So when the latest religious cult pulls the corrupt High Septon out of a brothel and parades him around the streets naked, Cersei smells an opportunity.

Instead of arresting the leader of the "sparrows," as the red-faced Septon demanded, Cersei arrests the Septon, goes to visit the "High Sparrow" in his impoverished corner of the city and begins to forge a relationship. It's a testament to how far Cersei has come (fallen?). Can you imagine a season two or even three Cersei walking around among the dirty peasants? She's either becoming more desperate or smarter.

Oh and speaking of Cersei's dwindling allies, let's take a moment to talk about good old not-a-maester-Qyburn. It appears the new master of whisperers is having some fun in his laboratory (please someone make a mashup of Thrones and Dexter's Laboratory ASAP). When he's not chopping the heads off of rats for no discernible reason, he's working on some really sketchy progress that involves what we thought was probably a dead body but is something…else. This is a world where zombies definitely exist, although it usually needs to be a lot colder… Regardless, Mr. Qyburn, we'll be keeping an eye on you.

ONE MORE DRUNK DWARF

Is there anyone more at a loss this season than Tyrion? So far he's mostly been drunk and allowed himself to be shuttled off to Mereen with Varys. In this episode he finally shows some agency: He wants to go to a brothel (surprise!).

He and Varys take a pit stop at a Volantis brothel (but not before running into another Red Priestess, in case you didn't realize how important religion is going to be this season). Unfortunately, after wooing a brunette prostitute that's just his type with his wit, Tyrion can't actually bring himself to sleep with her, which might have something to do with the fact that he murdered his last prostitute-lover. It's more concerning for Tyrion than anyone else (although he does find the humor in it, asking "what will I do in my spare time?").

The encounter pushes our self-destructive dwarf to both relieve himself and keep drinking at the exact same time, where he comes into contact with a certain Westerosi knight who we haven't seen since he was kicked out of Meereen. Jorah Mormont is back, and he seizes the opportunity to grab Tyrion, who either doesn't recognize him or has no idea who he is.

Ser Jorah says that he's going to take Tyrion "to the queen." And OK, maybe he's taking him to Cersei so he can get a pardon and some money and go back to Westeros, but we don't think this knight, who left Mereen only to set up camp in nearby Volantis, has given up on Daenerys yet. He may be traveling while tied up, but I'm guessing Tyrion is still heading towards the Mother of Dragons.

Miss last week's recap? You can read it here.