'Game of Thrones' Mini Recap: Karma Comes for Cersei

Warning: This recap contains storyline and character spoilers for this week’s episode of Game of Thrones.

After what felt like weeks of anguish and unpleasantries, it’s nice to know Game of Thrones still knows how to please a crowd. This week began as more of the same — tears, murder, gore — but ended with a zinger worthy of a standing ovation: Cersei was arrested by the very same fanatics she helped create!

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Yep, after she paid a visit to Margaery in the black cells, the High Sparrow took her aside to pontificate about the ugly truths that lie beneath the fineries of the upper class. We could all tell where this was heading, but it still managed to thrill…

Lancel emerged from the shadows with a few tales to tell about Cersei’s extramarital (and perhaps abomination-laced) dalliances with certain family members, including himself. The episode ended with Cersei taken into custody, thrown into a dingy cell, and screaming bloody retribution to anybody who’d dare touch her. But to paraphrase that classic line: Payback’s a queen mother.

While Cersei’s arrest was the most immediately pleasing moment in “The Gift,” a few other scenes also hinted at better things to come for our characters. First, Sansa pocketed a corkscrew during a tense walk with Ramsay, so one can only hope she’ll be using it productively soon. At Castle Black, Jon Snow’s beloved direwolf Ghost appeared and scared off a couple of would-be sexual assaulters going after Gilly.

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And Ser Jorah finally managed to come into contact with Dany by first impressing her in the lower fighting pits, then presenting Tyrion to her as a mea culpa. Also, there was an extremely Cinemax-y scene in which one of the Sand Snakes nearly killed Bronn by flashing her nether regions at him. As one does.

All in all, “The Gift” was a pretty strong episode! There were arguably fewer scenes to write thinkpieces about, but that’s probably for the best. It’s just refreshing to see good and even entertaining things happen on this show for a change. Let’s just see if that trend continues in the final three episodes!

In the meantime, check back soon for our full photo recap. Believe me, there’s much more to talk about.

Game of Thrones airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO.