'Game of Thrones' recap: The newest episode has several important reveals

The newest “Game of Thrones” episode centered on the continuing efforts of hopeful queen Daenerys to free slaves as well as a monumental decision by the knight Jaime Lannister and a big reveal about one of the season’s mysteries.

(Warning: Spoilers follow!)

To clear up that mystery first: Viewers discovered in this episode who was behind the murder of King Joffrey, who died in the second installment of this season. At his wedding feast, Joffrey took a sip of wine and then began to choke, but it became apparent that it was something more deliberate than a piece of food caught in his throat when he began bleeding. His uncle, Tyrion Lannister, who had handled the cup, was subsequently imprisoned.

But now “Thrones” has revealed that it was the scheming former member of the king’s council, Petyr Baelish (known as Littlefinger), who worked with grandmother-of-the-bride Lady Olenna Tyrell to kill the king. Littlefinger told Tyrion’s wife, Sansa, this and Lady Olenna revealed it to her granddaughter. “You don't think I'd let you marry that beast, do you?” Lady Olenna asked her granddaughter, Margaery.

The episode opened with the continuing conquests of Daenerys Targaryen, the daughter of the deposed king of Westeros who hopes to return and claim the throne. She’s been conquering cities that enslave others and now she’s added the city of Meereen to that list. After the former slave Grey Worm and others snuck into Meereen, they helped the slaves of the city take over. Daenerys also decided to cruelly punish the former slave masters.

Meanwhile, in King’s Landing, Jaime Lannister visited his brother Tyrion in Tyrion’s cell and, despite his sister Cersei’s wishes that Sansa be killed for what Cersei believes is her role in her son Joffrey’s death, tasked the female knight Brienne with finding Sansa and keeping her safe. Jaime asked Brienne to take Sansa to Sansa’s aunt, who lives far away from the capital.

In addition, Bran Stark, the heir to the powerful Northern family the Starks, arrived at a house where former members of the military group known as the Night's Watch were living and was threatened into telling them his identity.

The end of the episode also answered the longstanding question of what has happened to all the babies who were given to the mysterious White Walkers. A man who lived in the remote, northern area of the country, Craster, left all male babies born in his family outside in the woods as a sacrifice to the White Walkers, strange white creatures who many believe to be mythical. In the episode “Oath-Keeper,” another baby was given to the White Walkers and it was shown that the creatures carry the baby to an altar of ice. The infant is turned into a White Walker after a White Walker king touches it. 

What do you think will happen to Brienne, who must now track down Sansa? Will Daenerys continue to repay cruelty with cruelty? And can anyone take down the White Walkers?