HERE BE SPOILERS! ENTER AT YOUR OWN PERIL!
This was a good episode the first half being a good releasing of tension after the battle with the Night King. My wife and I have been arguing what George R R Martin could pull out of his imagination that could top the battle of the undead, but first, a few points:
The funeral scene was moving (although there was nowhere near enough wood to burn all those bodies – perhaps the dragons were going to clean up afterwards). Sweet to see Jon laying Lyanna Mormont to rest – if she had risen as a White Walker, she probably would have dethroned the Night King and be leading the zombie army as 140 cm of blue-eyed badassery.
It was sweet seeing Jamie and Brienne end up together (albeit briefly). I’ve never thought they had a lot of chemistry, but they do have a lot of good companionship. In another universe they could be a good, happy, solid couple. However I’m not surprised Jamie left. He has too many sins left to redeem and he has to settle things with Cersei. Will the Kingslayer once again live up to his name and kill Cersei?
I’m sad to see Tormund go, Kritofer Hivju was obviously have a lot of fun hamming it up as the love-struck Wilding before he took his people back to the north of the Wall. A solid goodbye to a well-loved character. That said, Jon, why didn’t you at least pet Ghost or something on the way out? That’s just COLD, man.
Talking of cold, poor Gendry has a broken heart. Daenerys is obviously securing her future by giving Genry the Baratheon lands, but the poor guy was never going to live happily ever after with Arya. However the sight of the zombie-slayer and Clegane riding south together to face off against Cersei is solid gold. I’m not sure Arya will get to kill Cersei, but she might help the Hound with his own vendetta. BRING ON CLEGANEBOWL!
I don’t know about you, but the death of Rhaegal just came out of nowhere! Classic Martin, he hits you when you least expect it. The death was, sadly, a much-needed way of balancing out the scales in the lead up to the next battle, and the fact that Cersei now has anti-dragon turrets mean this isn’t the walk in the park they thought it was going to be. Unfortunately for us, this means ANOTHER climatic battle where the dragons sit on the sidelines – they’re just too powerful to create a good story. Drogon better pray he stays on George R R Martin’s good side.
The death of Missandei was kind of expected once she’d been taken, and it serves a greater purpose. Daenerys is becoming more “Targeyen” with each passing day, and the death of one of her moderating influence is setting up the final battle.
That’s right, I’m calling it, Cersei will end up being another death. The final battle is going to be between Jon and Danny. I know there’s a lot of fans who would have liked to see them stay together, even with the Aunt/Nephew relationship, but Daenerys is going off the deep end getting power, and if Varys is looking to jump ship in favor of Jon, then I think this is that the final conflict will entail. After all, Jon has already been the semi-willing King of the North, and while he doesn’t have Daenerys’ intelligence or statecraft, he has a big heart and the ability to inspire people.
Here’s my prediction: we will end up having a reprise of Jon and Tyrion’s conversation from their time together in the first book, and Tyrion will finally jump ship with Varys in favor of Jon. From there, the final battle will be decided. Whether I’m right or wrong, I can’t wait to see how it turns out!
EXTRA: What the hell was with that scene where Bronn appears, waves a crossbow around and vanishes? Has Bronn slipped through Martin’s deathly clutches?
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