Game of Thrones season 6 episode 8 'No One' review: Jaime Lannister's inner turmoil

His 'redemption arc' is becoming more of a squiggle

Game of Thrones is full of characters who are very sure of themselves. Whether it's Daenerys' Hitler-lite crusade, the Starks' belief that the North belongs to them or Cersei's refusal to relinquish control, they all, for better or worse, know exactly where they stand.

Except Jaime Lannister, who was given a considerable amount of screen time this week in order to establish a little more complexity in his character. Thus far in the show his character arc has gone from 'massive jerk', to 'still a massive jerk but admirable in how he withstands imprisonment' to 'maybe he's starting to redeem himself'. This third strand had waned a little in season 6 as he returned to Cersei's side, but showed glimpses of returning in episode 8 as he was reunited with Brienne, about the only character who can appeal to his sense of guilt and honour.

It wasn't so clear cut though, with Jaime wavering between an apparently genuine desire not to slaughter all of the Tullys and a will to do whatever Cersei wants. He showed stone cold malice when dealing with Edmure but then a softness when allowing Brienne to escape. I find his love for Cersei a little hard to get on board with at times, given how objectively abhorrent she is, but it's interesting to see a character being so unpredictable from season to season. Jaime feels destined to have to make a big decision between good and evil at some point that will likely be as pivotal to the plot as his decision to stab the Mad King in the back was, and it could well tie in with the prophecy that Cersei will be killed by one of her brothers.

Episode 8 was decidedly light-hearted and comedic (though this is Game of Thrones, so they still found time for some decapitations by axe), with The Hound getting some great one-liners, Bronn teasing Podrick and Tyrion trying again to bring Westerosian debauchery to Meereen. This was quite welcome and is all probably down to the fact that next week is set to be an absolute bloodbath.

Written by showrunners Benioff and Weiss, the episode saw an improvement in dialogue, which has been a little clunky in places this season, and again prospered by not trying to deal with every single sub-plot in the same episode.

The only major gripe was Arya's storyline - most expected last week's oddly naive attack out in the open to be rectified by some secret twist, but no, that is what really happened, and this week's subsequent face-off with the Waif was similarly underwritten. Still, at least she has finally escaped her stagnant Braavos storyline, and can return to the Stark cause.