3 Moments of Goodness from Game of Thrones “Book of the Stranger” 

Game of Thrones is done spending time on the process. Remember Bran spending all season getting to the Three-Eyed Raven? And how many episodes were devoted to Arya running around with the Hound? Instead, in the span of just one episode, Sansa is at Castle Black. Even Theon somehow got on a boat (it doesn’t even matter how!) and is already back at the Iron Islands. It’s a big change considering the previous pace, but not an unwelcome change. And because of it a lot of exciting things happened in “Book of the Stranger.” Here’s a rundown of a few favorites.

The Stark Diaspora is Reuniting

In a total surprise, Sansa and Jon Snow don’t miss each other at Castle Black. This has been a running theme with the Starks—Arya arrives just after Robb and Catelyn are murdered in season three’s “The Rains of Castamere,” and in season four Arya and Sansa are both in the Vale, but Lysa Arryn’s death keeps them from a chance meeting. And technically, Rickon missed Sansa in Winterfell this season (though it probably wouldn’t have been helpful if Sansa were there anyway).

But in “Book of the Stranger” two of the Stark siblings finally get reunited. It’s a soundless scene that says an immense amount about the extent of suffering these two have faced. Jon and Sansa are as flummoxed as the audience is about seeing each other after so much time, and their embrace is an emotional one. They left Winterfell as children and are reunited as emotionally-damaged adults, but sometimes being reminded of what things were like before is what we need to shake us into action. Some fans don’t care for Sansa because of her characterization early in the series (I’ve always liked her; she just acted like a 14-year-old girl before.) But here, Sansa has gained self-awareness, as you do when you grow up. She’s able to apologize to Jon for how she treated him when they were growing up together. And she’s showing that spark that she had back in season four, when she started to wake up to the game Baelish was playing. It’s reassuring that even with the extent of abuse Sansa has been put through, she has enough fight in her to convince a crestfallen Jon that they need to go to Winterfell, to save their home and their brother.

A Coup in King’s Landing

OK, so “coup” is an exaggeration, but it’s very interesting to see Lady Olenna and Cersei plot together to go behind King Tommen’s back to oust the High Sparrow. Frankly, it’s exactly the kind of thing we needed to get things going in the story wasteland that’s been King’s Landing so far. Lady Olenna and Cersei have held such contempt for each other that pairing them as allies is a great role reversal. In addition, if their plot fails, it’s going to be quite the debacle. And something tells me that Tommen’s assertion that the High Sparrow is not someone to upset hold much more importance than Cersei, Olenna, Jaime, or Uncle Kevyn are giving credit to. Safe to safe, the stakes have gone way up in King’s Landing.

Daenerys Burns Down the House

It’s a complete and utter rehash of Daenerys’s season one storyline, and it does little to actually further her character or the plot (she had the Dothraki before, and it didn’t get her very far), but damn was it fun to watch. It wasn’t a huge surprise that Daenerys’s was able to leave Vaes Dothrak as it’s ruler, in fact, I lazily suggested this was going to happen when discussing expectations for this season with friends last week. It’s what she does. Daenerys’s power is undeniable and she’s certainly proved herself a freedom fighter, but her track record in ruler is weaker. In her take over of Vaes Dothrak, is it really fair to say she’s done something good for the Dothraki? It doesn’t really matter in the bigger scheme of things; getting to the Iron Throne doesn’t mean you have a be a good person or anything. That said, Daenerys has spouted the gospel of freedom this whole time, but as one of the Wise Masters Razdal mo Eraz says rather crudely to Grey Worm, “Just because your master has silver hair and tits doesn’t mean she’s not a master.” Daenerys rushes in, disassembles an ancient culture because she thinks she’ll be a better leader. She very well might be. And no denying at least some Dothraki people were unhappy with the traditional customs, but Daenerys’ imperialism leaves something to be desired, at least until she can prove herself a capable leader, not just a capable conqueror.

But that doesn’t change the fact that Dany proving Khal Moro wrong and burning down the building after he threatened her was pretty glorious. She’s almost over-powered with her ability to withstand fire, but it always provides a visual spectacle and a full on “hell yeah” moment in this case. It was rumored things would heat up with Daenerys and Khal Moro, and how delightful that the suggestion wasn’t entirely wrong. Imagine her crossing the Narrow Sea into Westeros and setting up meetings with all the important families and then just setting everything on fire. Hey, it’s worked so far.

Game of Thrones airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.