Review: 9 things we learned from Game of Thrones episode 4

We are just shy of the halfway point of season six of Game of Thrones and already we're wondering what we will do without it once it finishes. This week's episode four was entitled 'Book of the Stranger' and had a quite a few significant developments which have set the tone for an explosive second half to this season.

Here's nine things we learned...

1. A Stark reunion at last!

Game of Thrones have given us some horrific moments down the years but truly one of the best and most heartwarming so far has to have been this episode's reunion of Sansa and Jon Snow. This pair had not seen each other since episode two of the first season, and in fact it's the first reunion of any of the Stark siblings since season one. As Jon said, they really should never have left Winterfell.

For a dreaded moment we thought Jon may actually leave Castle Black before Sansa arrived, as would be typical of her luck really. Thankfully though, it appears that Sansa Stark's luck is changing at last, and in fact, she's becoming a badass in her own right now. She's her mother's daughter alright.

Let's watch the magical moment again here.

What? I'm not crying? You're crying!! (*Sob*)

2. Bolton kills our first Wildling friend

Long before we were watching Jon Snow be won over by Ygritte and the folk beyond the Wall, we met the Wildling Osha, who we can pretty much credit with the survival of Bran and Rickon Stark. Back in season two, Bran sent his little bro and Osha off to the house of one of their bannerman for protection, only for them to hand the pair over to the Boltons. While there is a theory that this is a ruse by House Umber, it's certainly backfired some of the way if it is as thanks to Ramsay, Osha is no more. Let's just hope the same doesn't happen to Rickon.

3. Jon Snow v Ramsay Bolton: Bastard-off is a go!

We now know the battle that will be taking up the end of season six, as two of the most famous 'bastids' of the series will go into battle. Jon Snow is at a bit of a loose end now that he's no longer the Lord Commander, and given that charming letter Ramsay sent to him, we reckon this is going to be one hell of a showdown. It also could be just the ticket to getting Jon out of his 'I've just been resurrected' funk.

Imagine if season six ended with the remaining Starks back where they belonged in Winterfell? Dare we dream it? Somebody had better tell the girl with no name it's about time she got back home too.

4. Brienne + Tormund = True love 4 eva

Why we never thought to put these two together is beyond us, but we think we have a new contender for Westeros' hottest couple. As soon as Tormund clapped eyes on the great Brienne of Tarth he was smitten, and was making eyes at her all throughout dinner. Don't know about you, but we can't wait to see how this courtship develops.

5. King's Landing - Enemies becoming Frenemies

Meanwhile, over in King's Landing, poor Margaery and her bro are still rotting away in the dungeons. Never fear though, Cersei, Jaimie, Olenna and the gang are all over it and for once have decided to all just get along for the sake of saving King's Landing from High Sparrow and that cult of his, the Faith Militant. We assume the main battle of the season will be up north, but let's not underestimate what may go down in the capital. We do seem to lose a Lannister most seasons...

6. Littlefinger is back

Not much to note here, we haven't seen Petyr Baelish yet this season but our brief check-in with him this week proved it's the same old, same old. He's still lying and meddling to save his own skin, while that nephew of his is as big a brat as the last we saw of him. He is going to help Sansa though but no doubt because Littlefinger has realised Team Stark is where it's at.

7. Tyrion in Meereen

As usual, Tyrion has proven himself to be a shrewd negotiator when dealing with the slave masters of Volantis, although whether they will hold up there end of the deal remains to be seen. We also finally found out what role Irish actor Eddie Jackson had in the series, which was a blink-and-you'll-miss it part of one of the Masters, Belicho Paenymion, (far left in the picture below) but sure you never know in the Seven Kingdoms when someone may turn up again.

8. Reek is Theon Greyjoy again

No matter what Theon Greyjoy had done, it was impossible for anyone not to feel sympathy for him by the time Ramsay Bolton was done with him. This week he returned to his home on the Iron Islands where we will see his sister Yara making her bid for power in next week's episode. Sure no better woman. As of yet, it's difficult to tell just where the story is going with the Ironborn, but we can't help but hope Theon is lurking around when Jon Snow finally wipes the smile from Ramsay's face. Or maybe it will even be Theon himself that does it?

9. Daenerys is QUEEN OF EVERYTHING

Last but certainly not least, the 'mic-drop' moment of this week's episode went to Daenerys, who pulled a Carrie and unleashed her wrath on the Dothraki lads. We have to admit, we were getting a bit bored seeing a character as great as the Khaleesi captured these last few episodes, so we're delighted to see she's back on form and can now add 100,000 Dothraki to her entourage.