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scifi_rewatchIronic title, isn’t it, when we just had a major, climactic battle in the last episode, and none of the members of House Stark died. Spoiler alert! (And I should be thanking my lucky stars anyway, because I spent the whole time on pins and needles about Sansa. Remember the possibly apocryphal story about how George R. R. Martin’s wife claimed that she’d leave him if he killed Arya? That’s me with Sansa. :P …well, not really, I guess. I’d keep reading, after an appropriate period of mourning! …or watching, she writes in hindsight of having completed the series. :P)
Back on topic here, and of course there is a metaphorical way, this episode, that the Starks lost a member—insofar as he was ever an official one. What’s going to happen as Jon’s explosive secret becomes more public? That’s what one of the major story arcs of this eppy is about!
Otherwise, this is very much a transition episode. We wrap up whatever issues lie between people at Winterfell (which, as a property, is looking good, all things considering. :P) Of course, the big one with lasting consequences into the second plot is the issue of Jon’s secret. It works to undermine Daenerys further, as she pushes the survivors of the White Walkers to make post haste to King’s Landing.
And since we still have half a season left, it’s pretty obvious that Dany can’t just take King’s Landing like that. Well, first of all, should she use her dragons to sack the city? Loads of innocent people will die! Cersei certainly won’t make anything better for them. Has her headspace changed much since we’ve seen her last? (Spoiler alert…no. As D&D reminded us in the “Inside the Episode,” Cersei knew from season one that “if you play the game of thrones, you win or your die.”)
I have mixed feelings about this episode, but I might actually be a bit more forgiving of it than I remember being when it first aired! Hmm. I will delve into my thoughts (plus a lengthy summary of events—final season gave us long eppys, at least!) under the cut.
Summary
WINTERFELL
Dany is over Jorah’s body, Sansa is over Theon’s. They both say goodbye to these important men in their lives rather similarly, with heartfelt tears….well, Sansa gives Theon a Stark totem, too. There are plenty of funeral pyres for red shirts, but Ghost survived! Jon gives a very moving tribute speech, for all of my teasing. :P Arya and Sam get their goodbyes with Beric Dondarion and Ed, too. Jon lights Lyanna’s pyre—quite the double entendre there! He and Dany share a look. The smoke rises up to obscure the scene.
Later, the survivors all eat in the Great Hall. It starts as a somber affair but grows more optimistic as time goes on. Speaking of double entendres, Gendry wants to “thank” Arya for saving humanity, but the Hound won’t let him get away with being vague. As Gendry attempts to leave, Dany calls him out for being Robert Baratheon’s son! Maybe Storm’s End needs a new lord? (Dany could certainly use one less contender for the Iron Throne!) She toasts him after making him legitimate…maybe using the coffee cup that poor Emilia left on set! :P
Jaime and Brienne decide to drink to humanity’s victory together. Davos talks through his Melissandre and Lord of Light feels with Tyrion. The battle with the dead is over, but how much will all these living survivors stay in the same camp? Tyrion suggests to Bran that he’s now Lord of Winterfell…perhaps a ploy to keep Sansa, who remains distrustful of Dany, from power? But Bran, who “lives in the past,” refuses it. Tormund attempts to goad Jon into a drinking game. Daenerys may be considered queen, but is she as popular as Jon? Tormund continues to list Jon’s awesome qualities. Varys also looks concerned as Dany realizes her own isolation, and leaves.
Tyrion has joined his brother, Brienne and Pod in their drinking games/flirting. Tormund tries to flirt with Brienne, too, but it’s Jamie who goes after her after Tyrion embarrasses her about her virginity. Tormund seeks cock-blocked comfort from Clegane, but then goes off with a willing sexual partner. Sansa takes his place; the Hound notices her new hardness, but posits that she could have remained safe if she’d left with him back in season two, at the Battle of the Blackwater. Sansa counters that she had to go through, er, her “troubles” with Littlefinger and Ramsay, in order to grow up.
Gendry finally finds Arya in the forge, shooting bows and arrows. With his new title and property, he proposes! Arya, being Arya, says no, but she seals it with a kiss. Jamie starts to admit his feelings for Brienne by gauging her lack of relationship with Tormund. With that out of the way, the sexy times can begin! Dany finds a slightly drunk Jon and attempts romance, but Jon is a little more squicky with incest than others on this show. :P Dany admits to her fears about his popularity, and he swears his loyalty to her. But will he be able to keep his secret from his family, despite her pleas?
The next day, the leaders in the north talk over their losses and Cersei’s new mercenaries. At least Yara was successful in the Iron Islands, and the new prince of Dorne is a friend. Still, Dany says it’s time to move against King’s Landing! Tyrion and Jon discuss surrounding the city and cutting off supplies, and thus the people will cast Cersei aside. Sansa wants time for the northerners to rest, and when Dany disagrees, citing her own sacrifices to the north, Jon takes her side, hard. It’s enough for the Starks to call a family meeting!
Underneath the once again serene weirwood tree, Jon argues his case for following Dany’s command. Sansa remains combative; Arya plays both sides, in that they needed Dany but they don’t trust her. Arya’s circle of trust doesn’t extend far beyond the family, in which she includes Jon. As she and Sansa declaim Jon’s bastard status, Jon decides he must, er use Bran, to tell them the truth about his parentage, making them swear to secrecy first.
Tyrion and Jaime have moved to a nearby inn, where they discuss this new relationship with Brienne, and general bawdiness, before they’re interrupted by Bronn, with his crossbow in front of him! :0 But rather than follow through on Cersei’s orders, he asks them for a better offer. How about Highgarden, Tyrion suggests. From here, the boys pontificate on the nature of ruling families, how they start with nothing and advance because they’re good at killing off the competition. Or bartering their way into something, I suppose!
The Hound sets off alone to fulfill his vengeance against his brother. Arya decides to peruse her vengeance there as well, and says ominously that she doesn’t intend to come back to Winterfell! Dany takes off with the dragons. Sansa watches from the ramparts and Tyrion tries to talk up Dany’s selling points. As her hand, after all, and Jon heading south, Sansa is the true power in the north. The Lady of Winterfell visibly struggles, especially after realizing that despite Tyrion’s words, he’s afraid of Dany. Is this really the best ruler? Or, as Sansa words it, after deciding to tell Jon’s secret, does Westeros have a better choice?
Tormund wishes Jon off and says the Free Folk are heading home. Jon says Ghost should go with them! And maybe Jon would, too, but of course he has sworn himself to Dany’s cause, so. Sam and Gilly also say goodbye, after letting Jon know, humorously, that they’re expecting! Gilly says they will name the baby, if he’s a boy, Jon. Like most everyone else, I got the most wibbly over Ghost’s whimper at his separation from Jon. Always about the animals, even when they’re CGI! Jon leaves with Davos.
Sometime later, Sansa receives a raven—and relays it to her guest, Jaime, bad battle news that I detail down below. Sansa feels pretty confident that Dany will now execute Cersei…one area where she and the dragon queen might be in agreement! Jaime, on the other hand, can’t leave Cersei to die. Despite entering in a healthier relationship with Brienne, he makes the decision to return to King’s Landing. Poor Brienne is heartbroken. :(
DRAGONSTONE
On the sea, Grey Worm and Missandei hold hands triumphantly, having survived the Long Night. Tyrion, of course, shares Jon’s secret with Varys. He’s waxing more poetic about the past, yanno how the whole series is kinda predicated on Robert Baratheon loving someone who didn’t love him back. Varys is more tactical about the future. Can Jon deny his claim when so many people are drawn to him? Tyrion wants to marry aunt and nephew, but Varys understands Jon’s squick. He’s more concerned about Dany’s state of mind, which Tyrion tries to defend.
Overhead, Dany and the dragons fly to hopeful music. Dragonstone is nearby. But then…out of nowhere, a handful of arrows strike Rhaegal down! What the Iron Fleet?! There’s Euron, suddenly in frame, with Qyburn’s redesigned scorpion from last season! Dany tries to run him down, but Drogon is chased away by the arrows. With the dragon out of the way, her naval fleet falls victim to Euron’s. The survivors swim and crawl to shore. Missandei is not among them! Grey Worm is emotional!
Grey Worm and Dany want to sack King’s Landing in revenge. Varys stands up against the carnage this will cause. Dany counters that it is “her destiny” to “free the world from tyrants…no matter the cost.” With Jon’s army (and the chance of effectively surrounding the city rather than using dragonfire to attack it) still weeks away, Tyrion suggests Dany barter Cersei’s life for the Iron Throne. Dany is cool with shifting the blame to Cersei (aka, she believes it will come to violence, but if she makes a good faith effort, hopefully the commonfolk will blame Cersei. Yay?)
It’s not really enough to assuage Varys’s concerns. It’s tyrants, not anti-tyrants, who speak of destiny, he says. He’s ready to switch sides to Jon. Tyrion is fighting a losing pro-Dany battle! Varys reminds all of us of the unnamed masses who deserve to live in peace and security. Will Dany’s rulership allow for that? Or can she only sow division and vengeance?
KING’S LANDING
Cersei has brought the King’s Landing folk into the walls of the Great Keep, with the story that “the usurper” is coming. Euron is there, too, to confirm Rhaegal’s demise. Now she’s promising Euron a child! Seems like she might fudge the parentage of her baby a little. Tactical moves. Same with the move of making sure Dany can’t attack the castle without killing thousands of innocents. And as a parting shot—she has Missandei in chains!
Later, Team Cersei is on the ramparts and Team Dany is on the ground outside the city—a stand off! The two Hands of the Queens meet in front to talk. Tyrion tries to appeal to Qyburn’s better nature (er, does he have one?) to keep the city from burning. Qyburn figures Cersei can weather Dany’s depleted army, so no dice. Tyrion attempts shouting up to his sister directly, appealing to the better nature he’s seen from her in the past. Tension mounts…Missandei speaks one word before Cersei has the Mountain cut off her head. “Dracarys.” As the body falls, Grey Worm turns away in grief. Dany turns stony as she walks away, as grimly victorious as Cersei looks down at her from the ramparts. It seems like the stage for siege warfare is set.
Thoughts
There’s a lot to unpack here, as storyline 1 ends and storyline 2 begins! I mean, I guess I shouldn’t complain about storyline 1. The living defeated the dead—which, since I’m not Team Nihilism, is what I was hoping would happen all along. :P We got to see some heartfelt goodbyes to long-standing characters, and also lots of interactive, even celebratory, moments between the living characters.
Of course, not all of the moments were purely celebratory. Daenerys remains ostracized and alone in Westeros, especially in comparison to Jon’s bro energy. :P Their romantic relationship is effectively over now that they’re related. And even though he constantly swears his loyalty to her, major players might favor Jon solely based on, well, to put in in Varys’s terms, his genitalia. :P
I still think there’s a stronger story in here, where D&D made more episodes, focused less on spectacle (or who knows, maybe HBO would throw enough money at the boys to let them have their cake and eat it, too), and built up Dany’s political foibles west of the sea. But nothing about Dany’s presentation this episode—including when she turns Varys off with her self-aggrandizing so-called mission—feels out of character here.
And maybe I’m buying it a little more now than I did on first viewing because since GoT, I’ve gotten more into critiques of Great Men (Lord Asriel, Paul Atreides, Hari Seldon, perhaps. :P). Dany, with her overwrought absolutism plus fanatical following from the Dothraki and Unsullied, is definitely a Great Woman. Still wish this was handled a little better on the show. Alas.
The biggest issue, which is a book issue as well, started much earlier. The characters in Essos were never as important—and certainly never as nuanced—as the characters in Westeros. That’s why we can’t really square the circle regarding Dany’s leadership choices. There’s really no one else to root for in Essos. But this is a commentary more appropriate for the next episode, oy. (Except that Varys reminded us of the most vulnerable people in this hour.) Moving on!
I’m still also depressed by Sansa’s conversation with the Hound. Meh, I can buy that it’s in character for Sansa to believe that she couldn’t stay “a little bird,” aka innocent and naïve, forever, and hence Littlefinger and Ramsay “helped her” along that journey, with all of their rape and other abuses. But it’s still squicky and toxic and speaks to Westerosi misogyny. BURN IT DOWN, DANY! Er, wait. :P
I’m far more on board with Sansa’s other scene (other than snarking at Jamie, hee)—namely, where she betrays Jon. :/ I like the payoff (and the music choice) that Littlefinger’s lessons have left their mark. But Sansa’s reasons are her own, and they’re altruistic. She trusts Jon to be the better choice.
Arya’s reaction to the Jon news was also on point; she ran away from it. :P Kinda reminds me, too, of her scene with Gendry and the proposal. It’s almost like the last couple of seasons—including her needed action against the Night King—were kinda filler, until she could complete her vengeful mission from the rest of the show. I mean, at least that’s where she is right now. :P Which leads to more buddy comedy with the Hound, who is also embarking on his vengeful mission, so yay?
Back to Jon—it’s just obvious that he, in good conscience, couldn’t keep his big news from his sisters, even if it would be more politically expedient to stay silent. Boy may be less of a Stark than ever before, but…yeah, he’s a Stark. :P Other than that, Tormund was around to remind us all of Jon’s real path—frat dude hero for the true north. Foreshadowing!
And finally, I guess the last Winterfell character I have to talk about is…Jaime Lannister? (The only commentary I have on Bronn is how much his schtick annoys me.) Homeboy was supposed to stay in the north—and with Brienne! The two of them finally got their romance on, which I thought was pretty swoon worthy. But once Cersei was in danger, Jaime refused to be redeemed. Maybe he has more of a shot in the books, but who knows.
On the show, I think I have to go against popular opinion. I don’t think Jaime could be redeemed. It made sense to me that he’d return to Cersei. Jaime isn’t a Theon. His good behavior wasn’t in essence an attempt to make amends for his bad. Jaime was both heroic and monstrous about different things at different times. When he laid out his sins to Brienne before leaving, he hadn’t atoned for them. Most of the time, he didn’t even feel guilty. I think Jaime was meant to exist in this grey space, and I like it.
I guess I’ll use the Lannisters to transition into the new war! Fans also haven’t been happy with Tyrion this season. It does seem like the man is deluding himself about both queens. In essence, he’s becoming a version of Ned Stark. :o He’s devoted to the hope for a better future, the possibility of goodness existing in the worst people, that he isn’t really playing realpolitik anymore.
Then again, this desperate attempt to get Dany and Cersei to get in touch with their humanity might be the only thing to save King’s Landing, so. And it’s not like Tyrion hasn’t seen some empathy, from Cersei at least, before! The show very deliberately gave her a pregnancy, after very deliberately telling us for seasons that her children are the most humanizing thing about her. But…I guess Cersei is too far gone now? Binding herself to Euron of all people makes her think that life just isn’t worth it? We’re not really given enough time with this character in season 8, and that’s a downfall as well.
I hadn’t really discussed Missandei and Grey Worm much, even though the beginning of the season was fraught for them. Would they—particularly Grey Worm—survive the Long Night, so that the two of them could ultimately see through their plans together? This episode swept the rug out from under us when (after a rather convenient capture) Missandei becomes Cersei’s prisoner. She’s not long for this world. :/ And I guess, in that vein, I can forgive the woman for counseling Dany towards violence. Here she is, about to die as a pawn in a country where she has no stakes, a country that at best has been chilly towards her. Quite the shitty way for this character to go.
Though it did give her and Grey Worm some gravitas to play with as actors. In Grey Worm’s case, this will quite obviously push him further into the Dany fanaticism camp. Just file that away for the final two episodes. :P
But to end on a very critical note…the fleet attack scene. I mean what the hell. I realize D&D wanted to even the battlefield by killing off another dragon, but what a lazy way to do it! And then David Benioff had the gall to try and justify it with (to paraphrase) “woops, Dany forgot about the Iron Fleet.” As if that’s in character or otherwise supported by the show! UGH.
Overall, I think I’m more positive on this episode now than I was at airtime. But yeah, that fleet attack just sucked. (And why the hell didn’t Drogon burn Euron and his ship to ash? Oh yeah, Plot Reasons, I guess. AGAIN, UGH.) That being said, I’m still emotionally rent by Rhaegal’s death. :/ Those CGI animals, man. Get me every time.
Back on topic here, and of course there is a metaphorical way, this episode, that the Starks lost a member—insofar as he was ever an official one. What’s going to happen as Jon’s explosive secret becomes more public? That’s what one of the major story arcs of this eppy is about!
Otherwise, this is very much a transition episode. We wrap up whatever issues lie between people at Winterfell (which, as a property, is looking good, all things considering. :P) Of course, the big one with lasting consequences into the second plot is the issue of Jon’s secret. It works to undermine Daenerys further, as she pushes the survivors of the White Walkers to make post haste to King’s Landing.
And since we still have half a season left, it’s pretty obvious that Dany can’t just take King’s Landing like that. Well, first of all, should she use her dragons to sack the city? Loads of innocent people will die! Cersei certainly won’t make anything better for them. Has her headspace changed much since we’ve seen her last? (Spoiler alert…no. As D&D reminded us in the “Inside the Episode,” Cersei knew from season one that “if you play the game of thrones, you win or your die.”)
I have mixed feelings about this episode, but I might actually be a bit more forgiving of it than I remember being when it first aired! Hmm. I will delve into my thoughts (plus a lengthy summary of events—final season gave us long eppys, at least!) under the cut.
Summary
WINTERFELL
Dany is over Jorah’s body, Sansa is over Theon’s. They both say goodbye to these important men in their lives rather similarly, with heartfelt tears….well, Sansa gives Theon a Stark totem, too. There are plenty of funeral pyres for red shirts, but Ghost survived! Jon gives a very moving tribute speech, for all of my teasing. :P Arya and Sam get their goodbyes with Beric Dondarion and Ed, too. Jon lights Lyanna’s pyre—quite the double entendre there! He and Dany share a look. The smoke rises up to obscure the scene.
Later, the survivors all eat in the Great Hall. It starts as a somber affair but grows more optimistic as time goes on. Speaking of double entendres, Gendry wants to “thank” Arya for saving humanity, but the Hound won’t let him get away with being vague. As Gendry attempts to leave, Dany calls him out for being Robert Baratheon’s son! Maybe Storm’s End needs a new lord? (Dany could certainly use one less contender for the Iron Throne!) She toasts him after making him legitimate…maybe using the coffee cup that poor Emilia left on set! :P
Jaime and Brienne decide to drink to humanity’s victory together. Davos talks through his Melissandre and Lord of Light feels with Tyrion. The battle with the dead is over, but how much will all these living survivors stay in the same camp? Tyrion suggests to Bran that he’s now Lord of Winterfell…perhaps a ploy to keep Sansa, who remains distrustful of Dany, from power? But Bran, who “lives in the past,” refuses it. Tormund attempts to goad Jon into a drinking game. Daenerys may be considered queen, but is she as popular as Jon? Tormund continues to list Jon’s awesome qualities. Varys also looks concerned as Dany realizes her own isolation, and leaves.
Tyrion has joined his brother, Brienne and Pod in their drinking games/flirting. Tormund tries to flirt with Brienne, too, but it’s Jamie who goes after her after Tyrion embarrasses her about her virginity. Tormund seeks cock-blocked comfort from Clegane, but then goes off with a willing sexual partner. Sansa takes his place; the Hound notices her new hardness, but posits that she could have remained safe if she’d left with him back in season two, at the Battle of the Blackwater. Sansa counters that she had to go through, er, her “troubles” with Littlefinger and Ramsay, in order to grow up.
Gendry finally finds Arya in the forge, shooting bows and arrows. With his new title and property, he proposes! Arya, being Arya, says no, but she seals it with a kiss. Jamie starts to admit his feelings for Brienne by gauging her lack of relationship with Tormund. With that out of the way, the sexy times can begin! Dany finds a slightly drunk Jon and attempts romance, but Jon is a little more squicky with incest than others on this show. :P Dany admits to her fears about his popularity, and he swears his loyalty to her. But will he be able to keep his secret from his family, despite her pleas?
The next day, the leaders in the north talk over their losses and Cersei’s new mercenaries. At least Yara was successful in the Iron Islands, and the new prince of Dorne is a friend. Still, Dany says it’s time to move against King’s Landing! Tyrion and Jon discuss surrounding the city and cutting off supplies, and thus the people will cast Cersei aside. Sansa wants time for the northerners to rest, and when Dany disagrees, citing her own sacrifices to the north, Jon takes her side, hard. It’s enough for the Starks to call a family meeting!
Underneath the once again serene weirwood tree, Jon argues his case for following Dany’s command. Sansa remains combative; Arya plays both sides, in that they needed Dany but they don’t trust her. Arya’s circle of trust doesn’t extend far beyond the family, in which she includes Jon. As she and Sansa declaim Jon’s bastard status, Jon decides he must, er use Bran, to tell them the truth about his parentage, making them swear to secrecy first.
Tyrion and Jaime have moved to a nearby inn, where they discuss this new relationship with Brienne, and general bawdiness, before they’re interrupted by Bronn, with his crossbow in front of him! :0 But rather than follow through on Cersei’s orders, he asks them for a better offer. How about Highgarden, Tyrion suggests. From here, the boys pontificate on the nature of ruling families, how they start with nothing and advance because they’re good at killing off the competition. Or bartering their way into something, I suppose!
The Hound sets off alone to fulfill his vengeance against his brother. Arya decides to peruse her vengeance there as well, and says ominously that she doesn’t intend to come back to Winterfell! Dany takes off with the dragons. Sansa watches from the ramparts and Tyrion tries to talk up Dany’s selling points. As her hand, after all, and Jon heading south, Sansa is the true power in the north. The Lady of Winterfell visibly struggles, especially after realizing that despite Tyrion’s words, he’s afraid of Dany. Is this really the best ruler? Or, as Sansa words it, after deciding to tell Jon’s secret, does Westeros have a better choice?
Tormund wishes Jon off and says the Free Folk are heading home. Jon says Ghost should go with them! And maybe Jon would, too, but of course he has sworn himself to Dany’s cause, so. Sam and Gilly also say goodbye, after letting Jon know, humorously, that they’re expecting! Gilly says they will name the baby, if he’s a boy, Jon. Like most everyone else, I got the most wibbly over Ghost’s whimper at his separation from Jon. Always about the animals, even when they’re CGI! Jon leaves with Davos.
Sometime later, Sansa receives a raven—and relays it to her guest, Jaime, bad battle news that I detail down below. Sansa feels pretty confident that Dany will now execute Cersei…one area where she and the dragon queen might be in agreement! Jaime, on the other hand, can’t leave Cersei to die. Despite entering in a healthier relationship with Brienne, he makes the decision to return to King’s Landing. Poor Brienne is heartbroken. :(
DRAGONSTONE
On the sea, Grey Worm and Missandei hold hands triumphantly, having survived the Long Night. Tyrion, of course, shares Jon’s secret with Varys. He’s waxing more poetic about the past, yanno how the whole series is kinda predicated on Robert Baratheon loving someone who didn’t love him back. Varys is more tactical about the future. Can Jon deny his claim when so many people are drawn to him? Tyrion wants to marry aunt and nephew, but Varys understands Jon’s squick. He’s more concerned about Dany’s state of mind, which Tyrion tries to defend.
Overhead, Dany and the dragons fly to hopeful music. Dragonstone is nearby. But then…out of nowhere, a handful of arrows strike Rhaegal down! What the Iron Fleet?! There’s Euron, suddenly in frame, with Qyburn’s redesigned scorpion from last season! Dany tries to run him down, but Drogon is chased away by the arrows. With the dragon out of the way, her naval fleet falls victim to Euron’s. The survivors swim and crawl to shore. Missandei is not among them! Grey Worm is emotional!
Grey Worm and Dany want to sack King’s Landing in revenge. Varys stands up against the carnage this will cause. Dany counters that it is “her destiny” to “free the world from tyrants…no matter the cost.” With Jon’s army (and the chance of effectively surrounding the city rather than using dragonfire to attack it) still weeks away, Tyrion suggests Dany barter Cersei’s life for the Iron Throne. Dany is cool with shifting the blame to Cersei (aka, she believes it will come to violence, but if she makes a good faith effort, hopefully the commonfolk will blame Cersei. Yay?)
It’s not really enough to assuage Varys’s concerns. It’s tyrants, not anti-tyrants, who speak of destiny, he says. He’s ready to switch sides to Jon. Tyrion is fighting a losing pro-Dany battle! Varys reminds all of us of the unnamed masses who deserve to live in peace and security. Will Dany’s rulership allow for that? Or can she only sow division and vengeance?
KING’S LANDING
Cersei has brought the King’s Landing folk into the walls of the Great Keep, with the story that “the usurper” is coming. Euron is there, too, to confirm Rhaegal’s demise. Now she’s promising Euron a child! Seems like she might fudge the parentage of her baby a little. Tactical moves. Same with the move of making sure Dany can’t attack the castle without killing thousands of innocents. And as a parting shot—she has Missandei in chains!
Later, Team Cersei is on the ramparts and Team Dany is on the ground outside the city—a stand off! The two Hands of the Queens meet in front to talk. Tyrion tries to appeal to Qyburn’s better nature (er, does he have one?) to keep the city from burning. Qyburn figures Cersei can weather Dany’s depleted army, so no dice. Tyrion attempts shouting up to his sister directly, appealing to the better nature he’s seen from her in the past. Tension mounts…Missandei speaks one word before Cersei has the Mountain cut off her head. “Dracarys.” As the body falls, Grey Worm turns away in grief. Dany turns stony as she walks away, as grimly victorious as Cersei looks down at her from the ramparts. It seems like the stage for siege warfare is set.
Thoughts
There’s a lot to unpack here, as storyline 1 ends and storyline 2 begins! I mean, I guess I shouldn’t complain about storyline 1. The living defeated the dead—which, since I’m not Team Nihilism, is what I was hoping would happen all along. :P We got to see some heartfelt goodbyes to long-standing characters, and also lots of interactive, even celebratory, moments between the living characters.
Of course, not all of the moments were purely celebratory. Daenerys remains ostracized and alone in Westeros, especially in comparison to Jon’s bro energy. :P Their romantic relationship is effectively over now that they’re related. And even though he constantly swears his loyalty to her, major players might favor Jon solely based on, well, to put in in Varys’s terms, his genitalia. :P
I still think there’s a stronger story in here, where D&D made more episodes, focused less on spectacle (or who knows, maybe HBO would throw enough money at the boys to let them have their cake and eat it, too), and built up Dany’s political foibles west of the sea. But nothing about Dany’s presentation this episode—including when she turns Varys off with her self-aggrandizing so-called mission—feels out of character here.
And maybe I’m buying it a little more now than I did on first viewing because since GoT, I’ve gotten more into critiques of Great Men (Lord Asriel, Paul Atreides, Hari Seldon, perhaps. :P). Dany, with her overwrought absolutism plus fanatical following from the Dothraki and Unsullied, is definitely a Great Woman. Still wish this was handled a little better on the show. Alas.
The biggest issue, which is a book issue as well, started much earlier. The characters in Essos were never as important—and certainly never as nuanced—as the characters in Westeros. That’s why we can’t really square the circle regarding Dany’s leadership choices. There’s really no one else to root for in Essos. But this is a commentary more appropriate for the next episode, oy. (Except that Varys reminded us of the most vulnerable people in this hour.) Moving on!
I’m still also depressed by Sansa’s conversation with the Hound. Meh, I can buy that it’s in character for Sansa to believe that she couldn’t stay “a little bird,” aka innocent and naïve, forever, and hence Littlefinger and Ramsay “helped her” along that journey, with all of their rape and other abuses. But it’s still squicky and toxic and speaks to Westerosi misogyny. BURN IT DOWN, DANY! Er, wait. :P
I’m far more on board with Sansa’s other scene (other than snarking at Jamie, hee)—namely, where she betrays Jon. :/ I like the payoff (and the music choice) that Littlefinger’s lessons have left their mark. But Sansa’s reasons are her own, and they’re altruistic. She trusts Jon to be the better choice.
Arya’s reaction to the Jon news was also on point; she ran away from it. :P Kinda reminds me, too, of her scene with Gendry and the proposal. It’s almost like the last couple of seasons—including her needed action against the Night King—were kinda filler, until she could complete her vengeful mission from the rest of the show. I mean, at least that’s where she is right now. :P Which leads to more buddy comedy with the Hound, who is also embarking on his vengeful mission, so yay?
Back to Jon—it’s just obvious that he, in good conscience, couldn’t keep his big news from his sisters, even if it would be more politically expedient to stay silent. Boy may be less of a Stark than ever before, but…yeah, he’s a Stark. :P Other than that, Tormund was around to remind us all of Jon’s real path—frat dude hero for the true north. Foreshadowing!
And finally, I guess the last Winterfell character I have to talk about is…Jaime Lannister? (The only commentary I have on Bronn is how much his schtick annoys me.) Homeboy was supposed to stay in the north—and with Brienne! The two of them finally got their romance on, which I thought was pretty swoon worthy. But once Cersei was in danger, Jaime refused to be redeemed. Maybe he has more of a shot in the books, but who knows.
On the show, I think I have to go against popular opinion. I don’t think Jaime could be redeemed. It made sense to me that he’d return to Cersei. Jaime isn’t a Theon. His good behavior wasn’t in essence an attempt to make amends for his bad. Jaime was both heroic and monstrous about different things at different times. When he laid out his sins to Brienne before leaving, he hadn’t atoned for them. Most of the time, he didn’t even feel guilty. I think Jaime was meant to exist in this grey space, and I like it.
I guess I’ll use the Lannisters to transition into the new war! Fans also haven’t been happy with Tyrion this season. It does seem like the man is deluding himself about both queens. In essence, he’s becoming a version of Ned Stark. :o He’s devoted to the hope for a better future, the possibility of goodness existing in the worst people, that he isn’t really playing realpolitik anymore.
Then again, this desperate attempt to get Dany and Cersei to get in touch with their humanity might be the only thing to save King’s Landing, so. And it’s not like Tyrion hasn’t seen some empathy, from Cersei at least, before! The show very deliberately gave her a pregnancy, after very deliberately telling us for seasons that her children are the most humanizing thing about her. But…I guess Cersei is too far gone now? Binding herself to Euron of all people makes her think that life just isn’t worth it? We’re not really given enough time with this character in season 8, and that’s a downfall as well.
I hadn’t really discussed Missandei and Grey Worm much, even though the beginning of the season was fraught for them. Would they—particularly Grey Worm—survive the Long Night, so that the two of them could ultimately see through their plans together? This episode swept the rug out from under us when (after a rather convenient capture) Missandei becomes Cersei’s prisoner. She’s not long for this world. :/ And I guess, in that vein, I can forgive the woman for counseling Dany towards violence. Here she is, about to die as a pawn in a country where she has no stakes, a country that at best has been chilly towards her. Quite the shitty way for this character to go.
Though it did give her and Grey Worm some gravitas to play with as actors. In Grey Worm’s case, this will quite obviously push him further into the Dany fanaticism camp. Just file that away for the final two episodes. :P
But to end on a very critical note…the fleet attack scene. I mean what the hell. I realize D&D wanted to even the battlefield by killing off another dragon, but what a lazy way to do it! And then David Benioff had the gall to try and justify it with (to paraphrase) “woops, Dany forgot about the Iron Fleet.” As if that’s in character or otherwise supported by the show! UGH.
Overall, I think I’m more positive on this episode now than I was at airtime. But yeah, that fleet attack just sucked. (And why the hell didn’t Drogon burn Euron and his ship to ash? Oh yeah, Plot Reasons, I guess. AGAIN, UGH.) That being said, I’m still emotionally rent by Rhaegal’s death. :/ Those CGI animals, man. Get me every time.
