Image courtesy of Global Panorama's Flickr page: Game of Thrones: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121483302@N02/13473480295/in/photolist-mwB7hp-fUKAEN-SKrKYw-2dtQHx6-2dkJEJa-fUJgRc-cgA5Sy-fUKCZA-fUKyaX-fUKJzc-a81sou-fUJz2f-fUKACn-fUJqGu-fUKyBB-fUKhx5-fUJAdx-fUKybN-fUKgxC-fUJBUu-aUsxpi-fUKjYM-2cV2oDM-fUKwRc-fUKAWZ-o6qZcK-2en2hvd-qGqZRf-Z2ojy8-nswyFf-q6mUhZ-WBwpd3-UuF5gY-pkuVPx-qeXPWY-KBtRrh-dGiyJX-ojWHsz-JJdevp-LguB5P-pZNXKP-ff4xSH-23zryP2-28vo2HW-rdcKuq-pZNY32-qeYsJA-pZGpZY-2e6fbtm-qhfqX4
Creative Commons License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
Well, I finally managed to see the latest Game of Thrones episode, and although I had assumed that this would be a relatively slow episode, more setting up then anything else, that proved not to be true.
Now, before I really get into this, I have to do my standard warning for those of you who have not yet seen this (or some of the more recent episodes, to boot), but intend to. So, if you have not yet seen the most recent episodes, please stop reading at this point.
We saw the survivors of the Battle of Winterfell mourn the recently departed, and then we saw another battle, and another dragon go down. But that happened a bit later in the episode, so let's start with the beginning. We saw Jon Snow deliver a moving speech about those who were departed during the battle. Daenerys Targaryen was grieving for Jorah Mormont, Sansa Stark grieving for Theon Greyjoy, Samwell Tarly grieving for Eddison Tollett, and the Hound grieving for Beric Dondarrion. We saw them light the ceremonial fire in saying their final goodbyes to those who heroically defended not only Winterfell, but all of humanity.
Then, we saw the evening meal, which seemed a bit somber at first, but then turned into a well-deserved celebration. There was a lot of drinking and merriment and, not surprisingly, a lot of sex. Jaime Lannister got intimate with Ser Brienne, and we learned that this was his first time ever with anyone, which was not entirely a surprise. Tormund looked distraught for all of five minutes, before a young woman approaches him, and he takes his opportunity for merriment with her. Jon Snow and Daenerys hooked up again, or almost did. Daenerys expressed her love for Jon, although once again, Jon seemed a bit more reluctant.
Yet, not everyone was celebrating. We see Arya still preparing herself as a warrior, although she was proposed to. Yet, she rejects the offer, and we then see her going off from Winterfell, and saying that she will never return. She was speaking to the Hound, who also was going away, and had not been in a celebratory mood, either. An attractive young woman had offered herself to him, but he had rejected her, and then Sansa approached him, and the two had had an interesting conversation. The Hound said that Sansa could have avoided all of the suffering and terrible things that she had seen and endured, but Sansa responded that she was stronger and wiser for her experiences. He leaves Winterfell by himself at first, but is joined, once again, perhaps fittingly, by Arya.
They are not the only ones to leave Winterfell. Tormund Giantsbane says his goodbye to Jon Snow, telling Snow that he has "the True North" within him, and that he himself needs to return back to his home, although he wishes Snow well. And then, we see Jaime Lannister also heading off, even though Brienne, who clearly has fallen in love with him, trying to dissuade him, and telling him that he is better than Cersei. But Jaime answers by telling her that he is not the good man that she thinks he is, and that he has done much evil for Cersei. He ends by saying that Cersei is hateful, and so is he, before riding off, leaving Brienne behind, crying from a clearly broken heart. One thinks that they might meet again, however.
We see the preparations for the inevitable battle to come. They have to come to terms with how exhausted and depleted their forces are, but Daenerys is adamant about attacking immediately, feeling that any hesitation will only allow Cersei Lannister to reinforce her position on the Iron Throne by reinforcing her forces. And so, there is little rest for the weary.
Which brings us to the sea battle, when they approach the Iron Islands, with the intent of taking them. But they are met by Euron Greyjoy and the Iron Fleet. It is at this point that we see one of the two remaining dragons taken down by a giant harpoon launched from one of the ships, and one of the ships is destroyed. Tyrion Lannister is almost killed, but he survives. We see several Unsullied also struggling to reach the shore, and then Grey Worm is screaming and searching for Missandei. Unfortunately, we find out that she has been captured by Euron and the Iron Fleet.
Suddenly, it is clear that Cersei and Euron at least appear ready for the war to come. And the clear advantage that Daenerys Targaryen had with two dragons seems not so certain, as the last dragon, which is her child, now seems vulnerable.
Yet, there is another, perhaps even bigger problem, as we have to begin to question just how power hungry Daenerys has become. She has increasingly seemed intolerant of anyone who does not unconditionally view her as the ruler of all and the deserved heir to the Iron Throne, and this has not gone unnoticed. We see Lord Varys trying to persuade Tyrion that Jon Snow would clearly be a much better choice for ruler. And even though it is never actually spoken, we begin to see a possible conspiracy forming. Earlier in the episode, Daenerys had told Snow that she loved him, and he had reinforced his loyalty her her, recognizing her as the queen, and expressing absolutely no interest in his own, more legitimate claim to the throne. She tries to persuade him to keep the secret, to swear Bran Stark and Samwell Tarly to secrecy, yet Jon feels that Sansa and Arya should know, as they are family. Daenerys does not like this idea, and we see that she does not full trust them, and wishes to keep this strictly a secret. But by the end of the episode, eight people already know the secret, that Jon Snow is actually the rightful heir, including Tyrion and Lord Varys, who discuss this, and we are made to understand that this thing will continue to spread. This could undermine the claim to the throne of Daenerys, and they also make clear that Jon Snow is much more well-liked, and that even though he does not want to rule, perhaps this lack of desire to rule reveals a quality that would, in fact, make him a better, wiser ruler than Daenerys.
Now, before I really get into this, I have to do my standard warning for those of you who have not yet seen this (or some of the more recent episodes, to boot), but intend to. So, if you have not yet seen the most recent episodes, please stop reading at this point.
*** SPOILERS****** SPOILERS****** SPOILERS***
Okay, you have been warned. If you are still reading by this point, then you either have already seen the episodes, or for one reason or another, do not mind the spoilers to come. Just don't say that you were not warned!
We saw the survivors of the Battle of Winterfell mourn the recently departed, and then we saw another battle, and another dragon go down. But that happened a bit later in the episode, so let's start with the beginning. We saw Jon Snow deliver a moving speech about those who were departed during the battle. Daenerys Targaryen was grieving for Jorah Mormont, Sansa Stark grieving for Theon Greyjoy, Samwell Tarly grieving for Eddison Tollett, and the Hound grieving for Beric Dondarrion. We saw them light the ceremonial fire in saying their final goodbyes to those who heroically defended not only Winterfell, but all of humanity.
Then, we saw the evening meal, which seemed a bit somber at first, but then turned into a well-deserved celebration. There was a lot of drinking and merriment and, not surprisingly, a lot of sex. Jaime Lannister got intimate with Ser Brienne, and we learned that this was his first time ever with anyone, which was not entirely a surprise. Tormund looked distraught for all of five minutes, before a young woman approaches him, and he takes his opportunity for merriment with her. Jon Snow and Daenerys hooked up again, or almost did. Daenerys expressed her love for Jon, although once again, Jon seemed a bit more reluctant.
Yet, not everyone was celebrating. We see Arya still preparing herself as a warrior, although she was proposed to. Yet, she rejects the offer, and we then see her going off from Winterfell, and saying that she will never return. She was speaking to the Hound, who also was going away, and had not been in a celebratory mood, either. An attractive young woman had offered herself to him, but he had rejected her, and then Sansa approached him, and the two had had an interesting conversation. The Hound said that Sansa could have avoided all of the suffering and terrible things that she had seen and endured, but Sansa responded that she was stronger and wiser for her experiences. He leaves Winterfell by himself at first, but is joined, once again, perhaps fittingly, by Arya.
They are not the only ones to leave Winterfell. Tormund Giantsbane says his goodbye to Jon Snow, telling Snow that he has "the True North" within him, and that he himself needs to return back to his home, although he wishes Snow well. And then, we see Jaime Lannister also heading off, even though Brienne, who clearly has fallen in love with him, trying to dissuade him, and telling him that he is better than Cersei. But Jaime answers by telling her that he is not the good man that she thinks he is, and that he has done much evil for Cersei. He ends by saying that Cersei is hateful, and so is he, before riding off, leaving Brienne behind, crying from a clearly broken heart. One thinks that they might meet again, however.
We see the preparations for the inevitable battle to come. They have to come to terms with how exhausted and depleted their forces are, but Daenerys is adamant about attacking immediately, feeling that any hesitation will only allow Cersei Lannister to reinforce her position on the Iron Throne by reinforcing her forces. And so, there is little rest for the weary.
Which brings us to the sea battle, when they approach the Iron Islands, with the intent of taking them. But they are met by Euron Greyjoy and the Iron Fleet. It is at this point that we see one of the two remaining dragons taken down by a giant harpoon launched from one of the ships, and one of the ships is destroyed. Tyrion Lannister is almost killed, but he survives. We see several Unsullied also struggling to reach the shore, and then Grey Worm is screaming and searching for Missandei. Unfortunately, we find out that she has been captured by Euron and the Iron Fleet.
Suddenly, it is clear that Cersei and Euron at least appear ready for the war to come. And the clear advantage that Daenerys Targaryen had with two dragons seems not so certain, as the last dragon, which is her child, now seems vulnerable.
Yet, there is another, perhaps even bigger problem, as we have to begin to question just how power hungry Daenerys has become. She has increasingly seemed intolerant of anyone who does not unconditionally view her as the ruler of all and the deserved heir to the Iron Throne, and this has not gone unnoticed. We see Lord Varys trying to persuade Tyrion that Jon Snow would clearly be a much better choice for ruler. And even though it is never actually spoken, we begin to see a possible conspiracy forming. Earlier in the episode, Daenerys had told Snow that she loved him, and he had reinforced his loyalty her her, recognizing her as the queen, and expressing absolutely no interest in his own, more legitimate claim to the throne. She tries to persuade him to keep the secret, to swear Bran Stark and Samwell Tarly to secrecy, yet Jon feels that Sansa and Arya should know, as they are family. Daenerys does not like this idea, and we see that she does not full trust them, and wishes to keep this strictly a secret. But by the end of the episode, eight people already know the secret, that Jon Snow is actually the rightful heir, including Tyrion and Lord Varys, who discuss this, and we are made to understand that this thing will continue to spread. This could undermine the claim to the throne of Daenerys, and they also make clear that Jon Snow is much more well-liked, and that even though he does not want to rule, perhaps this lack of desire to rule reveals a quality that would, in fact, make him a better, wiser ruler than Daenerys.
At the very end, we see a small group of the Unsullied, let by Daenerys, Grey Worm, Lord Varys, and Tyrion at the gates, with Cersei, Euron, and their army looking down upon them, literally and symbolically. Missandei is standing near Cersei, basically as the ransom. We see the gates open very briefly, and Qyburn comes out and walks towards the small group. Tyrion then walks towards him to parley. Both demand the unconditional surrender of the other's queen. Tyrion also demands the immediate release of Missandei, while Qyburn warns that if Daenerys does not immediately surrender, Missandei will be put to death here and now.
Tyrion tries to rationalize with Qyburn, saying that he really wants to avoid the war to come, which he feels still can be averted with some reason. But Qyburn explains that he is merely the mouthpiece of the Queen, and so Tyrion goes past him and approaches the gate. We see the guards preparing to strike him down with bows and arrows, but Tyrion, although clearly nervous, is determined to try to talk some sense to someone in order to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. Cersei raises her arm, and we think for a second that she will go ahead and order him killed. But for the second time in the series, she backs down, and we see Euron looking almost disappointed. Tyrion then talks directly to her, telling her that he knows she is no monster, that she loves her children, and that there is no reason her unborn child, which she said was Euron's, should die.
It appears that she is thinking about it. She looks visibly moved, almost to tears. And she pauses, then approaches Missandei. We get her answer, though, when she asks Missandei if she has any last words. Missandei defiantly yells out "Dracarys!" Literally, this means dragon fire. This, clearly, is a form of resistance, as well as a message to Daenerys, who clearly knows what it means. We see The Mountain then taking out his sword, and slicing off Missandei's head, and both her head and her body fall from the tower and to the ground, not far from Tyrion. Clearly, it is war. And we see Daenerys with an incredible expression on her face, both nearly moved to tears, but also with a level of anger that we had not seen before.
Obviously, there is a war coming.
No comments:
Post a Comment