As I'm seeing a lot of criticism online about this sixth episode it seems a portion of the audience doesn't care for the large time jump between the fifth and sixth episodes, the longest one yet at ten years. The recasting of two major characters, namely the two for which the episode is titled sees Olivia Cooke and Emma D'Arcy step in for the two younger actresses we got to know in the first five episodes of the season. As good as they were, it leaves large shoes to fill but I think both new actresses prove more than capable here. It's best to think of this second half of the first season as a new beginning, or even as a second season that you didn't have to wait long for. This whole season is more of a prologue to the meat of the story which is what this is building to, The Dance of Dragons that was detailed in the Fire and Blood book and alluded to in Game of Thrones. This is all crucial backstory for the fallout of these two former friends now turned bitter enemies and the allies they make and break along the way. The important characters to play in the upcoming war have been fleshed out so we know why they are going to do the things they do. This episode was a great reintroduction to characters that we are still getting to know and it was a nice juxtaposition of Cooke as Queen Alicent chewing through her dialogue calculating out in the open while D'Arcy brought quiet and calculated movements as they both begin to put their pieces in place to play the ultimate game. Even though the younger versions will be missed, I'm excited to see what the older versions will bring.
