This is the episode that everyone has been waiting for, but before we say why, we should warn you of SPOILERS AHEAD! We are going to go over the major theme that was running throughout this episode and it is the theme of power shifts (not struggles).  

So let’s talk about the important power shifts in this episode.  Game of Thrones is full of power struggles, and there is always one family trying to topple another.  This episode was much more subtler than that as it was more about power transferring or shifting with larger ramifications further on down the road.

There were three major power shifts in this episode and a few minor ones which will have a huge impact on the rest of the series especially in this season.

Ramsay Bolton

Ramsay has always been an unstable character, and one to do some of the most heinous acts in the show, and this episode will not disappoint in this department.  The shift happens when he takes control of the Bolton family, and the responsibility of holding the North by killing his father, and then brutally killing his father’s new wife and son.

What are the ramifications of this?  Several actually.  Yes, he has the Karstark’s loyalty, but can he truly say he has the rest of the Northerners loyalty especially after his father betrayed Robb Stark?  Then there is the fact that Walda, Roose’s new wife, was once a Frey.  How will the Frey’s feel about this?  Will Ramsay’s actions cost him the Riverlands considering the fact that the Frey’s hold the key crossing between the North and the Riverlands?

The other ramification is that Roose had a delicate touch on the very combustible situation which is the feat of holding control of the North whereas Ramsay clearly does not have his father’s experience or cunning.  Without his father’s shrewd sense and without Sansa, Ramsay has already dug his own grave in our opinion.

Balon Greyjoy

It has been a long while since we have seen the Greyjoys other than Theon, and it was nice to get back to that story line.  In this episode, Balon, who has lost almost all the land he tried to gain in the other seasons, is killed by his brother Euron, who debuted in this episode.

What is the long term effects of this?  Well right at the moment not much as the Ironborn haven’t been doing much, but in the future, we have a feeling they are going to have a role to play in the drama that will enfold.  As Yara pointed out (or Asha from the books), the Ironborn are supreme on the sea and in naval warfare.

The death of Balon shakes things up on the Iron Islands as now that throne is now up for grabs.  Yara assumes that the throne will go to her as she is the remaining heir of Balon Greyjoy, but she forgets that he has three other brothers (Euron, Aeron, and Victorian), all much more experienced.  Aeron won’t try to contend for the throne as he is a priest of the drowned god, but Euron definitely will as he has already proven.  And then there is mention of the Kingsmoot, and we get to see that there is a level of law and order to the Iron Islands.  If Yara is chosen, we think she will lead the Ironborn into a new age and out of the Iron islands as she seems to have a more level head.  Plus, it will fit into the women power theme that seems to growing momentum in the series with Daenerys, Sansa, Margery, Brienne, Arya, and even Cersei.  Yara may be joining their ranks.

Now if Euron wins, we may have another crazy pants on our hands like Ramsay, which may prove detrimental to events and characters in the story as they may really wreak havoc by way of the sea.  It may be one more problem that the North will have to contend with along with the onslaught of white walkers should the wall and the Night Watch fail.

Nights Watch

Never has unity in the Nights Watch been as important as it is now with the very large and dangerous threat coming at them north of the wall.  In the last episode of the fifth season and the first episode of the sixth, the mantle of power shifted in the Nights Watch from Jon Snow to Alliser Thorne and his cronies.  The death of Jon Snow was a divisive action that threatened to really pull apart the Nights Watch despite Alliser saying he was trying to save it.  He still had no clear way of defeating or controlling the Wildlings they had just let through the front gate, and this disunity of the Watch could not be at a more dangerous time.  Only Jon Snow really had the loyalty of the Wildlings, and truly knew the horrors coming, and Alliser and his cronies killed him.

In this episode, Ed gets the support of the Wildlings, and the power shifts from the group supporting Alliser to the group who would condemn him for killing Jon Snow.  This is major because the Wildlings have chosen a side, and have proven how valuable they are and will be in the coming war.

But the biggest change in the Nights Watch is the most anticipated and talked about part in the entire episode and probably for the entire season, and that is the resurrection of Jon Snow.

Aside from the obvious impact of Jon Snow’s revival on the Nights Watch, there are other implications to consider.  With Sansa on her way to the Nights Watch, it will soon put the Nights Watch to the test: do they turn their backs on the events of the realm or do they participate?  And then there is Ramsay who is sure to attack the Nights Watch despite the disapproval of Northerners.  The Nights Watch may not be able to turn a blind eye to the events of the realm as Ramsay may just force their hand.

But also consider how the north will rally to Sansa and Jon.  Ramsay may think he has the major Northerner houses under his thumb, but we think he is gravely underestimating the Northerners loyalty to the Starks as Jon seems to embody an ideal Stark.  And Melisandre saw Jon fighting at Winterfell in the flames.

And then there are the theories of his true parentage.  One of the most prevailing theories is that he is the bastard son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen.  If this turns out to be true, think of the implications.  If the truth were to get out, and Tommen’s parentage is still in question, Jon Snow would immediately be catapulted to a legitimate Targaryen heir to the throne, especially with Daenerys still MIA.  There may still be houses out there (even in the South) that may rally around Jon Snow over Tommen (especially since it looks like Tommen’s days are limited if Cersei’s prophecy is true).  Now Jon’s claim will not trump Daenerys nor would he really want to be king.

Even if this theory turns out not to be true, it is very clear that Jon Snow has Stark blood in him.  Together with Sansa (and hopefully Bran and Rickon), they may rally a powerful army to their side.  We left out Arya because it is possible that Arya may play a different role that may not involve her family as she is training to become an assassin.

Despite being absolutely ecstatic that Jon Snow is back (and could gush over it all day), there are minor shifts of power that we think are important as well in this episode.

Tyrion Lannister

Our favorite half-man with his great one liners has turned an important corner in this episode even if it isn’t as news worthy as the revival of Jon Snow.  As we saw after the events at the end of season 5, Tyrion is sitting on top of a very temperamental powder keg called Meereen.  We see at the end of the first episode of season 6 that the fleet has been burned, cutting off any feasible way of escape from the city, and then we learn the news that the neighboring cities of Yunkai and Astapor have been retaken by the masters.

With Daenerys still missing and all of Slaver’s bay now against Meereen, Tyrion needs every bit of leverage he can get, and what better leverage than dragons?  Daenerys used them to conquer, but uncontrollable dragons are not much of a leverage if they try and turn against you.  That is why we think the scene of Tyrion meeting the dragons and unshackling them may have far reaching impact in the future.  It is the beginning of what we see as a beautiful relationship between Tyrion and the two remaining dragons.  As he stated in this episode, dragons are smart and will protect those they love.  If Tyrion has control of the two remaining dragons and can prove it, the shift of power has turned in his favor where as it looked dire for him at the end of season 5.  It is such a small scene, but it is definitely not one to skip over or ignore.

Bran Stark and Arya Stark

Both characters have reached a point in their training where they are truly starting to control their abilities.  Bran still needs some more time, but his trip into the past will be more than enlightening to him, and he is well on his way to becoming an important player in the war to come.  I think seeing his past made him miss his family and home, and as we think family will play an important role, this is a beginning for Bran.  We believe the Stark family and the unification of the Stark family will make or break the war, and they will need every skill and ability they can get.  If anything, Bran may become the eyes and ears in the war to come, and his role will be important.

Now as for Arya, Arya has, in this episode, stood her ground and made her choice.  In a subtle, but pivotal scene with Jaqen H’ghar, Arya finally makes the choice to forsake her name (and thus her past) to become an assassin.  She is offered a roof over her head, food and even her eye sight if she says her name of which she says, “a girl has no name.”

Now what does this signify?  This means that Arya may never be able to connect or be with her family as she used to be ever again as she has put her past and her name behind her.  This is critical if she is to become an assassin and not allow her need for vengeance to rule her.  We still hope that she will get to reunite with her family, but Arya may just go on her own path.  She will definitely play a critical role in the coming war, but she will be much more level headed and have the bigger picture in mind.

Bren Hart has done an excellent video recap of the episode as seen below which really covers many of the major events.