When enough people make false promises, words stop meaning anything. Then there are no more answers, only better and better lies. Compared with the rest of Season 7, the plot progression of this finale was pretty slow, but this only ensures that we get a full taste of the mayhem that ensues inside. The Dragon and the Wolf is a very dramatic season finale, jam-packed with twits, revelations and one of the tensest scenes in the show's history. Apart from some deception involving Cersei, however, this was a generally more satisfying than shocking finale, but the spectacular final scene does direct us towards a more hectic final season in the future, one that will be defined simply by the living fighting the dead. In summary, the future looks dark and devastating.
The King's Landing scenes were brilliant, laying out the tension beforehand as Daenerys' mighty army surrounds the capitol. We've never seen so many main character congregating in one place before, and it's incredibly exciting to see Cersei surrounded by her enemies. The use of the Dragonpit as the meeting place is a masterstroke and has symbolic resonance in that it brought about the demise and reputation of the Targaryen Dynasty - perhaps a wound that Queen Cersei wants to add salt to. But, when Daenerys arrives late on her massive dragon, it's a massive slap in the face, proving that the Dragon Queen certainly has talent for entrances. Internal conflicts ensue, and there's a lot of superb interactions between characters. Bronn and Pod are reunited and get a chance to enjoy a drink together. The Hound and the Mountain face off in the Dragonpit and Euron gets a chance to jibe at his nephew, Theon, informing him that he still has Yara captured. The all-important moment though is the demonstration with the wight. Jeremy Podeswa does well to show this scene, and it turns out to be more intense and convincing than I first thought. It's great to see Cersei genuinely frightened by something for once - whether she's plotting with or against her former enemies, you can't help feeling she's been convinced of the threat. Jon, as usual, points out the importance of the meeting and states that the war between them is pointless when the dead are coming south. It's interesting to note that Daenerys does not mention the death of her dragon - this could be because she feels she'll lose her pride in front of the person she most despises, or simply because it wouldn't strike much hope in anyone's heart. When Cersei refuses, it's up to Tyrion to change her mind. Possibly the best conversation of the season goes to the Lannister siblings as they confess, unreservedly, their animosity towards one another. Lena Headey and Peter Dinklage should be commended for their performances in the scene as they emulate how the characters feel for each other. Tyrion informs his sister that whilst he did harbour hatred for her and his father, he would never have harmed her children - he loved them. That's a poignant moment for his character, because despite everything - all the lies and the hatred that the Lannister built up around them - Tyrion never once questioned his sister's flaws. The fact that Cersei doesn't order Ser Gregor to cut him down there is proof enough that family still trumps everything else in her life, and even though Tyrion is a monster to her, she still couldn't murder him. In the North, we have possibly one of the most satisfying developments since Ramsay was eaten by his own dogs, or even back to when Joffrey was poisoned at his own wedding. Either way, Littlefinger's demise has all the hallmarks of being pivotal in Game of Thrones' history of deaths. It was clear in the last episode that Sansa and Arya had difficulties - that has always been clear since the first episode. But, when you've got a brother, who's all-seeing and all-knowing, it's not very difficult to discover the truth. Though Littlefinger still attempts to push the sisters against each other, Sansa is now in the know. The twist is incredibly unexpected and Aidan Gillen's transformation is instant. He's always been known as a slimy worm, always choosing his path carefully, for the sake of his own survival and the enjoyment of seeing others fall. Now, to see all his bad deeds and all his questionable decisions thrown back in his face, there's nothing more pleasing. Arya may have slit his throat, but it was ultimately all three Stark siblings that passed the sentence as they ended the life of someone who was more dangerous alive than dead - and he was the first person to play the game of thrones. Back in King's Landing, it at first seems as though Cersei has agreed to cooperate and intends to send troops north to help battle the White Walkers and their dead. But, under further consideration, Cersei reveals to Jaime that she intends to do nothing other than continue to thwart her enemies. Apparently, Euron's exit from the Dragonpit meeting was pre-arranged, and he was already sailing to Essos to pick up the Golden Company. Naturally, Jaime is pissed off, seeing as his sister has fallen into utter madness. Once again, Cersei is given the option to kill a sibling as Jaime decides to leave the capitol anyway. But, as is the makeup of her character, she can't kill a member of her family. The atmospheric shot of Jaime leaving on horseback is stylishly shot, and leads us into a beautifully haunting montage of snowfall at King's Landing. Jeremy Podeswa has really outdone himself here. Possibly the largest revelation of the episode comes from Jon and Daenerys as their relationship swells to unimaginable boundaries. In Wintefell, as Sam and Bran discuss their findings concerning Jon's heritage, the King in the North himself has grown to more than like the Dragon Queen. As they travel on a boat to White Harbour, Tyrion's face says it all. We are given a much-needed explanation on the true ties of Jon Snow, and a flashback to Rhaegar and Lyanna's marriage is evidence enough for Jon's strong claim to the Iron Throne. But, whilst reinforcing the information we are already aware of, we are equally disturbed by the fact that Daenerys and Jon are consummating their love for each other, even though they are Aunt and Nephew. Whilst their sudden attraction for one another can easily be explained in the events leading up to this moment - especially their time on Dragonstone - the consequences of their love-making could be fully revealed when they return to Winterfell. Needless to say, despite everything else, the biggest was yet to come. At Eastwatch, Tormund and Beric await the inevitable at the so-called end of the world. In spectacular fashion, as is expected on this show, the Night King has arrived with his army, and his newly-revived dragon - Viserion. Seeing the Wall - the incredible structure that has been monumental in protecting the realms of men, and has been featured in pretty much every episode of the show since it began - fall is heartbreaking. Whether Tormund and Beric survive this relentless onslaught from Viserion's fire is hard to tell, but the end result is quite obvious - the Night King has broken the spell placed on the Wall thousands of years ago, simply by melting it. More than a highlight of the episode, this is the show-defining moment that everyone has been waiting for. Nothing could be more unprecedented than this, even in this unpredictable show. To conclude, whilst Season 7 has opted to speed things up in all corners of the world, the sentiment and style of its execution is unchanged. All the main characters are still in danger (even more danger now really), and all the conflicts continue to bubble up within each of the key players. I haven't mentioned Theon much, who has finally regained his composure and willpower to try and save his sister - this is another great development that is overshadowed by the sheer enormity of the events already happening. The character moments may be few and far between, but the writers continue to show that they care about them, and they care about their journey to the endgame. Season 4 and Season 6 are still better in my opinion, but Season 7 will forever be remembered as the season that brought us the ice dragon, and the first proper battles involving dragons. Here's to more of those next year (I hope). 9.5/10
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Death is the enemy. The first enemy, and the last. The enemy always wins, but we still need to fight him." A groundbreaking episode that continues to show why Game of Thrones is one of the best shows to ever be created. This could all be down to pure spectacle, but there's greater importance in the writing as we make final preparations for the final battle against the Long Night. Whilst most of Season 7 has been fast-paced, the opening half-hour of Beyond the Wall gives us a chance to breathe a sigh as we await the oncoming storm and what could possibly be the most dangerous mission any character has attempted before.
The opening shot of the map and fireplace at Dragonstone is beautiful, giving us symbolism for the events ahead. Having just left the Wall, Jon and his group are now in the barren lands of the far North, with one mission: to capture a wight and take it to King's Landing to prove that the threat in the North is real. It's almost a suicide mission, considering they're entering the lands of the Night King and his army. But, it still must be done. We have a number of conversations between the key characters in the group. Jon and Jorah's contemplation of Jeor Mormont has the most significance, as Jorah completely relinquishes his birthright to Longclaw, as he believes his father made the right choice. Gendry may not completely understand Beric's perspective on selling him to the Red Woman, but he's content enough to know that they're both on the same side when it comes to the great battle. Tormund gets another chance to point out his pining for Brienne of Tarth and the Hound's priceless reaction gives us something to laugh about. However, the Hound causes a lot of problems as the episode unfolds. The first is related to a wight bear. As an audience, we've never seen many beasts controlled by the White Walkers, apart from horses, and this is a surprising new addition. In the mirky, blizzard-filled landscape, Jon and his men attempt to kill the creature with fire, but this of course doesn't sit well with the Hound. Inadvertently, this leads to Thoros' lethal injury as he tries to stop the bear from attacking the Hound, leaving his stomach and chest completely charred. It's amazing that he still manages to go on. It's important to note that despite the fact that they haven't encountered the army of the dead yet, they've already suffered casualties. Indeed, the true test comes when they ambush a group of wights with a White Walker. After Jon succeeds in killing the Walker, the dead it converted at destroyed with it - conveniently leaving one left for them to capture, but he turns out to be a noisy bugger. Unfortunately, the main army hears the creature's cries, and the group are soon to be ambushed. Jon sends Gendry back to the Wall to send a message to Daenerys. Meanwhile, there's a meaningful conversation between Tyrion and Daenerys at Dragonstone. Tyrion is still worried about the decisions that Daenerys has made concerning the Tarlys and what other terrible things she might try to accomplish. Nevertheless, he convinces her that when they execute this plan at King's Landing, with their dominant army and three dragons, they will be safe. That is to say, from Cersei. On receiving the message from Eastwatch, however, Daenerys decides to be impulsive again, as she realises that Jon could be the greatest asset she had, and he's now in complete danger in the North. This time, she takes all three dragons with her, and Tyrion is left to contemplate his own worst fears, alone at Dragonstone. At Winterfell, the Stark sisters are at each other's throats, as Littlefinger's letter has struck a dark cord in Arya's mind. Whilst I believe she's knows Littlefinger's cunning side, she's still trying to test Sansa, with a few threats of her own. The exchange on the battlements where their father used to stand was very well written, and hits hard with nostalgia as we recall the first episode of the series. Since then, the sisters have been in entirely different scenarios, but both in mortal danger. You do question whether Arya is going too far with her accusations, as we know Sansa has been through a lot of trauma, some she will never forget. But, the final scene as Arya reveals the horde of faces she's been keeping and informing Sansa of her assassin-like skill does beg the question of whether Sansa will see this as support or a threat. She's going to need all the support she can get, now that Brienne is heading to King's Landing, presumably for the wight demonstration. The significant moments of the episode come thick and fast towards the end, however, as Jon and his men are briefly trapped in the centre of a lake, awaiting support from their allies. Sadly, Thoros suffers badly from his wounds and dies overnight, prompting Beric to burn him at the hands of the Lord of Light, the God he so honourably served for his life. But time is short, and as the lake freezes over in an embarrassing realisation by the Hound, who makes the second mistake he's made in one episode, the wight army attack, and the group of remaining six mortals seem hopelessly lost. There's a nail-biting moment when it seems Tormund is about to be mercilessly killed, but he is desperately returned to the centre. There's a wonderful shot of Jon standing helplessly on the top of the crag, as the wights surround their small band, and all seems lost. But, in a very un-Game of Thrones manner, Daenerys arrives to save them in another fire-infested display, and pretty much burns the entire army - if only she'd stayed a little longer, she might have dispatched the Night King and his fellow Walkers too, but we realise why that's not a good idea. Questions are asked during the episode as to why the Night King waits, and doesn't attack the group of men and be done with it, and the answer is plain and simple. He uses these brave men to capture a dragon. Whether the Night King has greensight like Bran or not is questionable, but he's definitely an intelligent being, with a calculating mind, and it seems this entire plot may have been turned on its head so that the Night King could capture a dragon, the final piece of the puzzle in which to take down the Wall. With dragonfire, perhaps the Wall is completely vulnerable. Anyhow, in typical emotional fashion for this show, Daenerys loses a dragon, and we sadly see its hopeless corpse slip below the surface of the lake, and its siblings whining hopelessly above. Before the Night King can cause more damage, Jon demands Daenerys to leave immediately and leave him behind. As this is so far the longest episode of the show, of course, the drama doesn't end there. Now alone, amongst the lands of the dead, Jon could be in dire trouble. It all seems useless when the wights spot him again, but we as the viewers are in for another surprise. Benjen, the last senior Stark remaining in the world, arrives to give his nephew one last chance to escape. And escape he does, back to Eastwatch and safe and sound in the warmth - well as warm as it can get. Whilst we know that Jon's story is not over yet, it still pains us to see him weak and battered on his bed as Davos pulls away the clothes that have frozen onto his body in the time he spent north. But, there's a warming effect as Daenerys arrives to console him. Now, their relationship has been brewing for quite some time, and despite the fact that we know that they are family, these two very important characters have no idea. Thus, the handholding, and their emotional agreement to help each other seems innocent enough, but you can tell that their are some affectionate hints underneath the words. The consequences of the mad adventure are clear as daylight in the final scene, as the Night King revives the fallen dragon (Vyserion) with his own power - this creature is now the greatest weapon that White Walkers have ever wielded and could be the final nail in the coffin of every character in Westeros and beyond. After all, there's nothing stopping the Night King from reaching Essos now. Indeed, Littlefinger's convoluted plot at Winterfell may seem pitiful compared to the danger coming from beyond the Wall, but there's a semblance of animosity that thrives between the Stark sisters that needs to be erased. No Jaime and Cersei this week, but we are already aware of the problems that they share now that Daenerys has pretty much eradicated her foot-soldiers. I'm not sure whether we'll get a conclusion to the Night King's plans next week, but we'll certainly be seeing a big confrontation nonetheless as it all kicks off in King's Landing. Breathtaking is the only word to describe it. Beyond the Wall may not outdo the series greatest episodes: I'm looking at The Rains of Castamere, Battle of the Bastards and The Children, but it's testament to the scale and impact of the series that it still has the capacity to shock and scare in the most imaginative ways. A lot of people may be criticising the pacing of this series, but if you take into account the time passages for each scene, it can all be justified. Daenerys' arrival may be deemed convenient on a story level, but it is far from impossible. I certainly can't wait to see how this elaborate scheme pans out, and how quickly it will take for the Night King to strike the wall. 10/10 I'm tired of reading about the achievements of better men." We've known for a while that things would be moving at incomprehensible speeds in Season 7, but Eastwatch has taken that speed to a new level. This isn't a problem though, because if we revisit the very first episode of the series, back to when things seem quieter and safer, then you'll notice that Jaime and Cersei in the space of less than one episode travelled from King's Landing all the way to Winterfell. Other characters it takes almost a season to cross the continent. When you understand the geography of Game of Thrones, you don't really need to be reminded of the distances, and when a story needs to be told, it needn't be elongated to unnecessary stretches of dialogue or travelling - you'd lose the drama and the excitement of the imminent war against the army of the dead.
Eastwatch gives us a lot to ponder in terms of developments. Most of all it sets up one of the most dangerous missions any character has attempted on the show. But let's start with the aftermath of the Loot Train Attack. As always Daenerys is showing two sides to her personality by sparing the lives of the Lannister soldiers, but demanding they bend the knee simultaneously. Interestingly, Randyll Tarly continues to support Cersei despite betraying his previous House, the Tyrells. Bravely, Dickon also disobeys his conqueror and joins his father. Despite the fact that Tyrion is Hand to the Queen, he can't persuade Daenerys to choose some other punishment for the Tarlys. In fiery fashion, they are both burnt to death just like most of their soldiers. This sets up another significant arc in which Daenerys' advisors start to question wether she is becoming like her father. Varys in particular is reminded of the terrible things that happened to the people who disobeyed the Mad King. Will they be able to find the confidence to inform her of their worries though? Jon seems to have made himself at home at Dragonstone. The mining of Dragonglass seems to be going well, and despite his refusal to bend the knee, his relationship with Daenerys is thriving. There's clearly some affection between them, especially in that moment when the Mother of Dragons notices Drogon allowing Jon to stroke him. But there's not much time for further bonding as Jon receives word from his brother, Bran, that the White Walkers are almost upon Eastwatch. This leads to a massive conference in which Tyrion suggests that they try to convince his sister of the northern threat by giving her one soldier from the army of the dead. After persuasion, Daenerys agrees and allows Davos and Tyrion to travel to King's Landing to inform Jaime of their plan. The fast-paced storytelling seems unfitting for Game of Thrones, but it somehow also seems perfect for this episode, as we're only setting up the places for one big event in the impending future. All we get a few surprises along the way as Davos is reunited with Gendry, a blacksmith who has not spent this entire time rowing, but working for the family that has persecuted him. His eagerness to get away is grounded in his feeling of usefulness, and I'm sure that his warhammer will come in handy at some point during his service to the Seven Kingdoms. Simultaneously, we have a very tense meeting between brothers Tyrion and Jaime, and the latter feels scorned. Their reunion is ill-advised, but this could be the last chance to convince Cersei of the ultimate danger - the White Walkers. It's time for Jaime to take matters into his own hand and start opposing Cersei. That would've been easier if Cersei hadn't now become pregnant. Typical. It seems the more Jaime attempts to make the right decision, something else significant comes along to put him right back into Cersei's control. If he's not careful, he may find himself becoming her servant and unconditionally doing her bidding. Back in Oldtown, Sam is still trying to convince the other maesters that the threat in the North is real. The Archmaester does seem to have a soft spot for Sam, but being a rational and scientific person, he needs absolute proof before he can believe something completely. We get another hint at Jon's true lineage as Gilly reads from an extract of a book Sam is forced to copy, but Sam's too angry to listen and unfortunately impulsively decides to leave the Citadel before he can learn anything further. This was a very good performance from John Bradley in my opinion, as he provides one of the funniest lines the show has ever given. The tragedy, I suppose, is that he doesn't know what's happened to his father and brother. In the North, we seem to be dealing with something completely different. Littlefinger is clearly up to no good and is now pitting sister against sister. I'm not entirely sure what the scroll states, but I can guess that it is related to Sansa attempting to acquire the role of Queen in the North, leading Arya to believe that she's trying to steal Jon's position. Hopefully, Arya will come to her senses, confront Sansa and beg to kill Littlefinger immediately. In truth, he is more dangerous than valuable to be kept alive and he should've been dispatched a while ago. Nevertheless, knowing Sansa's flaws, things may go the opposite way and Arya could be looking at betrayal. Above all else, Eastwatch sets up an alliance unlike anything the show has seen before. After leaving Dragonstone, Jon, now joined by Gendry and Jorah Mormont, as well as Davos, are travelling to the easternmost castle on the Wall to join Tormund and capture a wight. But, upon arrival, Tormund reveals that a group of three men arrived just south of the Wall and are attempting join the fight against the dead. It's great to see so many factions of characters in one room, Tormund from the Wildlings, Jon from the North, Gendry from King's Landing, Jorah from Daenerys, Beric and Thoros from the Brotherhood and the Hound once loyal to the Lannisters. Each one has been slandered in some way by the developments of the War of the Five Kings and each has a purpose in fighting the White Walkers. I couldn't think of a better group of characters to face the dangers ahead. Jon comes to his senses, and realises that they are all allies and they set off beyond the Wall to complete the mission. If the show can keep up this incredible momentum, we could be looking at some massive episodes to follow. It's sad to think that only two episodes remain this season, but the pieces have been set for a superb conclusion. Some big questions remain though. Will Arya and Sansa be able to put aside their differences and serve Littlefinger justice once and for all? Where will Sam go now and how will he serve his friend, Jon? Can Cersei be convinced once Jon and his new allies have captured a wight and shown it at King's Landing? Will the maesters finally be convinced of the threat? Will Tyrion be able to help Daenerys complete her goal to take the Iron Throne in spite of the threat from the North? Will Bronn finally be repaid, and receive his castle? 8.5/10 Chaos is a ladder." Game of Thrones has always been known as the show that can turn an episode from a quiet, banter-filled discussion into an unprecedented sea of blood. This is one of those episodes that you won't want to miss. Not only are there revelations, reunions and the return of a notorious dagger, but a great big dragon causing mayhem to the Lannister army. At first, it seems like one of the happiest episodes in a long time, until the final fifteen minutes as we are plunged into an infernal chaos. Perhaps not as consequential as Hardhome was back in Season 5 or as intricate as Blackwater and The Watchers on the Wall, but it says a lot about Game of Thrones when I consider this to be the fifth best battle sequence in its history. Battle of the Bastards unequivocally is still number one.
The Winterfell storyline has reached an interesting stage in its development as not only Bran has arrived to his home, but Arya now as well. Reunions are left right and centre - there's just one more significant one to look forward to and that's Jon and Arya. Indeed, the Stark children once scattered to all four corners of the world are now trickling back together again, but not everything is entirely content. The writers are continuing to address Bran's emotionless state, giving us a sad departure for Meera as she receives no gratitude for the gruelling period she spent looking after Bran. Whatever and wherever she goes next, let's hope she hasn't been completely disheartened by Bran's uncharacteristic lack of emotion. But, it's clear, as Bran meets Arya and Sansa, that this state is brought on by exposure to the Three-Eyed Raven's powers - a tool that has given him immense foresight. With it, he is able to nicely quote Littlefinger's perception of chaos, mention Arya's list of names and even perhaps see the future of Winterfell as it stands. It's testament to the character development that we now see how Arya has grown. No one or not, her wisdom and training has brought her through thick and thin - a killing machine, yes, but not a heartless one at that. Her meeting with Sansa in the crypt is an emotional one, giving us a chance to see the difference between the sisters and the transformation that has happened since they were separated all those years ago back in King's Landing. When Jon returns to Winterfell, we won't know what's hit us considering the amount of Starks now populating their home. It was also great to see Brienne meet Arya properly, both giving each other a hard time in a duel. Arya certainly seems to equip that Valerian dagger with surprising skill. There's still the old problem of sorting out Littlefinger however, who continues to impose his greedy eyes on Winterfell and its inhabitants. At Dragonstone, political proceedings are ongoing as Jon still refuses to bend the knee for the sake of his people. However, he does get a chance to convince Daenerys of the truth of the White Walkers. Firsthand, as an audience, we get to see the caves in which Dragonglass is mined, and a whole host of carvings made by the Children of the Forest and the First Men. This is a clever way of showing us the origin of the alliance that brought the Children and men together against the White Walkers, but it also gives Jon a chance to make Daenerys see that all he has been saying is true and the greatest danger is to the North. The Mother of Dragons remains stubborn, however, as the news is broken that Casterly Rock was taken, but to the detriment of Lady Olenna Tyrell and the Reach. Naturally, Daenerys feels that her only alternative of finding some foothold in the war, would be to use her dragons. However, most of her advisors seem against this decision, which is interesting considering the fact that she's not endangering any innocent civilians. Jon himself does feel that using dragons at all is bringing the past back into the present and using fire as the Mad King once did to strike fear in the enemy. The singularity of the episode, in superlative quality, is the consequences of the sacking of Highgarden. Now that the Lannisters have acquired the gold to repay all debts to the Iron Bank, Jaime, Bronn and the Tarlys are on the verge of getting around the Blackwater Rush when disaster strikes. In a wide angle shot that could rival the charge made in Battle of the Bastards, a Dothraki horde heads at breakneck speed to slaughter the Lannister forces. Every image counts as we see the foot soldiers organise themselves into rows and Daenerys appears riding on the back of her largest dragon, Drogon. In the following minutes, I don't think we've seen so much fire before. The production does not hold back as countless soldiers are set alight by Drogon's deadly fuel and with the ruthless Dothraki on horseback, the Lannister army is quickly guttered before they have a chance to breathe. The masterstroke of Thrones battles is that it's not all individual soldiers battling it out one by one - we get to see the full picture as the leaders make decisions during the battle that could turn the tides. Jaime makes one of these decisions as he orders Bronn to take control of the sole scorpion the army had brought with them. Bronn is a fascinating character - always known as the joker of the show - a dear friend of Tyrion and a man who has more wits than he lets on. In the amount of sticky situations he's been caught in, this could perhaps be the worst, but it doesn't phase him as he deftly avoids a Dothraki soldier and still manages to catch Drogon in its neck mid-flight. His resilience is unmatched. But it's his relationship with Jaime that is most important in this situation and I think both Bronn and Tyrion had the same idea when they witnessed Jaime stupidly charge Daenerys as she attempted to pull the arrowhead from Drogon's skin. Ever since Bronn started training Jaime's left hand after his misunderstanding with a group of Boltons, they have grown a rapport in which the former sellsword is almost his right-hand man. That's why the final moment of Bronn knocking Jaime from his horse and falling into the lake is such a defining moment. This is what we've been waiting for in terms of their mutual agreement. Despite continuously demonstrating a flaw in following Cersei as the new ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, Bronn still has great respect for Jaime no matter what. Those finale fifteen minutes may outshine the rest, but it's testament to the build-up that allows us such an outstanding payoff to the beginning of the war. Cersei seemed pretty much sold as the winner until Daenerys makes this blow that could be the end of the Queen's best Generals, including her brother. Even though Tyrion may be looking on in despair as his brother and great friend could be on the verge of death, he'll be content in knowing that Cersei has received an almighty blow to her rule. We've had so much exchange in the south that I think it's time to look north again. The Wall beckons and I'd like to see how Tormund and Edd are coping with the winds of winter and a potential onslaught of White Walkers and their loyal dead. 9/10 I trust the eyes of an honest man more than I trust what everybody knows." Another busy episode of Thrones, another plethora of deceit, strategy and revenge. Season 7 has really upped the conflict beyond any previous season, and it seems Queen Cersei is currently winning the game of thrones. Despite being entirely outnumbered, and outmatched when you consider three dragons, she has already foiled two of Queen Daenerys' plots and killed one of her opponent's commanders. It seems, so far, that the Targaryen army has yet to make a mark on Westeros. Daenerys' kind heart may be her downfall if she can't find at least one foothold on the mainland and her war could very wel be null and void.
The significant event of the episode that will be talked about thoroughly is Jon's meeting with Daenerys. A pivotal meeting in the history of Thrones as they both are unaware that they are related. Nevertheless, their meeting is still signficant considering the fact that these two main characters have experienced their own versions of hell and pulled through and now they're exchanging words to possibly form an alliance against the oncoming storm. Unfortunately, negotiations aren't proceeding as planned. Understandably, Jon will not bend the knee because his people named him King in the North and it would be disrespectful to their loyalty. On the opposite perspective, Daenerys struggles to believe the White Walkers and army of the dead exist and could not hope to allow Jon Snow to rule in the North as King during her reign. It's a predicament that lasts the whole episode, with some wonderful exchanges between Tyrion and Jon, then Daenerys and Jon that could lead to some history-defining alliances. At the moment, however, we can settle for simply allowing Jon to take Dragonglass to the North with him to forge as weapons against the Night King's army, but the question remains of what Daenerys would want in return. The most notable segment of the episode though is Tyrion, as usual, played with unparalleled dexterity by Peter Dinklage, who continues to show that whilst his strategies may sometimes be unsuccessful, his logical mind will always will out as he persuades his Queen to make allowances for Jon. Cersei must be feeling elated at the moment, considering the amount of suffering she's causing. Her new ally, Euron Greyjoy, has proven himself an invaluable sea commander and with the delivery of Ellaria Sand and her daughter, she could not have hoped for a better soulmate. In fact, whilst their tastes may differ, Cersei and Euron and both equally bonkers and definitely deserve each other. What happens to Yara is left unsaid, but suffice to say it will not be a pleasant time with her uncle. For Cersei, revenge (or justice in her eyes) is on the rise. Now with Ellaria and a Sand Snake locked up in her dungeon, she decides to milk the moment. Despite all the stupid things that Ellaria has done since Oberyn's death, you can't help feel gutted for the suffering she's experiencing now. Watching her daughter die from the poison on Cersei's lips may be sweet justice for the Lioness, but it will be hell for the Viper's paramour. This episode was good at reminding us that entire houses can so easily be decimated as long as those ruthless characters still exist. Cersei exudes herself as someone with ultimate power and almost invincibility. The finest example of her confidence is the fact that she's willing to show the world that she's still sleeping with her brother. Having Tycho Nestoris come to King's Landing is an interesting turn of events, and it keeps the audience in line with all the ways of the world even over in the Iron Bank of Braavos. Naturally, the bank is desperate for their money and it seems Nestoris, despite his heavy questioning, believes Cersei and House Lannister to be the best chance of receiving it. Whatever mathematics has helped him come to this conclusion is non-existent, but it's an interesting proposition considering the amount of promises that have been made in the past, including financing Stannis' army in the North before it was thoroughly dispatched by Ramsay Bolton. Speaking of the North, Sansa is showing her capabilities as a ruler as she works with Yohn Royce and Maester Wolkan to ensure that there are enough provisions for everyone coming to defend Winterfell. Littlefinger, meanwhile, continues to influence her with his notions of how he anticipates his next step without knowing his foes'. In truth, it's a good lesson, but Sansa's too wise to trust his wise words anymore. This interaction is thankfully interrupted by the arrival of a special someone. These Stark reunions are getting more and more frequent as we reach the endpoint of Game of Thrones, however, this one might appear meaningful at first glance, but after further examination, Bran is a changed person. His Three-Eyed-Raven status has given him a power beyond men, and to Sansa's dismay, it has turned him into a blank-faced wordsworth who every now and then tells a story about something he's seen. It just happened that the story he chose for Sansa was one that she has been hoping to forget. The final scenes for The Queen's Justice help to depict the progression of the war. Grey Worm and the Unsullied, now arriving at Casterly Rock, have been given instructions by a well-informed Lannister about how to infiltrate the seemingly impregnable fortress once constructed by Tywin Lannister himself. The siege that ensues may be short, but this is important to show the distinct lack of Lannister men guarding the castle and how many Unsullied have died in the process. Now that their ships have been destroyed thanks to the Greyjoy fleet, their only way out is inland towards King's Landing. As I've already mentioned, Queen Cersei and her advisers have already anticipated this attack, and have instead taken their army to Highgarden to end the Tyrell reign. Lady Olenna awaits her fate in the castle with as much resilience as she's always possessed. Her exchange with Jaime is perhaps the core of the episode, with vast consequences. In her final moments, Lady Olenna succeeds scolding Jaime for continuing to follow his sister and insults him by revealing that she was culprit who poisoned his son Joffrey. Merciful though he had been, Jaime will feel bitter following the last words spoken by the head of the Tyrell family. Despite her death, her untempered spirit and unrivalled ferocity will live out for many ages as the Queen of Thorns. This was a dialogue-heavy episode, akin to some of the early episodes of Game of Thrones, giving us the power plays and discussions that the rulers of the land have to parley for their rightful ownership or survival. The only disappointment, I suppose, was how quickly Sam was able to cure Ser Jorah Mormont. Indeed, he should be proud of his achievement, but if curing greyscale was so easy, I believe more practised hands would have done much the same countless time before. Nevertheless, it's great to see one of our heroes getting to live another day. As usual, Davos Seaworth is the man of the hour as he once again shows his aptitude in negotiation and at least convinces Daenerys of Jon Snow's true intentions. The Targaryen-Stark alliance could be the chance for change in Westeros, but with Cersei making waves on the mainland and winning battles, it might not amount to anything in the end. 9/10 You're a dragon. Be a dragon." Game of Thrones is progressing nicely with one of its busiest episodes yet. Apart from one major battle at the end, the clashes are still at a minimum, but you can easily tell that the atmosphere of the show has changed. With so many enemies is such close proximity, the danger levels and the excitement levels are at an all-time high. And Cersei's right at the heart of the danger, causing trouble where there need not be. Whilst I feel the writers may be speeding up the plot progression, it is equally necessary considering the high stakes involved in these wars to come - the smaller frays don't matter anymore, it's only the big picture that is of any importance.
Alliances are being forged left, right and centre as Daenerys not only ensnares Melisandre in her flock of supporters, but now calls for Jon Snow to bend the knee. Being a forward-thinking warrior, Jon is quick to decide to leave Winterfell and travel to Dragonstone, but there are reservations that threaten to dismantle his alliances in the North, seeing as he is the King of the divided factions. There's now the interesting factor that Sansa is in control of Winterfell and Littlefinger watches over proceedings with her. She may have Brienne by her side, but the question remains whether Sansa can remain as strong as her new self to keep the conniving cretin at bay without being influenced to make rash decisions against her brother's wishes. Daenerys' alliance is a vast one and, thanks to Tyrion's strategic skill, they are all agreed on a new plan set out to lay siege to King's Landing. Desperately trying to avert a rule like her father, Daenerys has opted to be calm and collective when 'conquering' the Seven Kingdoms. She does not want bloodshed at every corner, she wants to earn the loyalty of the people by being the best ruler she can be. The plan set out is an exciting one, seeing as Yara Greyjoy and Ellaria Sand must work together to travel from the South, whilst the army of the Unsullied along with Grey Worm attempt to take the home of the Lannisters - Casterly Rock. It's incredibly satisfying to think that Tyrion has planned the demise of his own family's seat and it could be falling down at any moment. In the capital, Cersei is planning to win back the noble houses surrounding Highgarden following Olenna Tyrell's allegiance to the Mother of Dragons. One of her subjects, Randall Tarly, rightly points out that it may be difficult to face up against dragons considering their strength and ferocity. As always though, Qyburn may have a plan. The scene in the dungeon of dragons is stylishly filmed, with that eerie shot Balerion the Dread's hollow skull appearing from the shadows. Cersei may have tricks up her sleeve after all. Jaime, meanwhile, attempts to gain the loyalty of Randall Tarly, one of the most feared and respected Lords of the Seven Kingdoms. His backing could be key to protecting his sister's reign, whether he wants to or not. In Oldtown, Samwell has started making his own way, finding favour in the Archmaester. However, he has already started disobeying his mentor in an effort to save the son of his former Lord Commander. Ser Jorah Mormont is a great character and it's sad to see him suffering and possibly on the brink of losing his mind due to greyscale - but Tarly appears to be here for the rescue. Also, in the Riverlands, Arya has two reunions. The first is with an old traveling companion, Hot Pie, who has previously crossed paths with Brienne and Podrick. The second is with her closest friend, Nymeria - the Direwolf she was forced to give up back in Season One because it had attacked Joffrey. Whilst the reunion may not be complete as Arya realises that she was never one to like company on her journeys - it's nice to know that Nymeria has found her and will hopefully seek to protect her in any coming danger. This week's episode is all about the final scene though as Euron Greyjoy makes his first move that could be the life-bringing spark of the final war. As the Greyjoy fleet escorts Ellaria Sand to Sunspear, he ambushes them - presumably, in the Narrow Sea - and attempts to capture the leaders. Wonderfully shot by director Mark Mylod, the sea battle is a fiery maelstrom of death as Euron demonstrates his durability as an experienced warrior. He successfully dispatches two Sand Snakes in the turmoil and ridicules his nephew. The Dornish people may not be the most-loved characters on the show, but you can't help wondering whether they've suffered enough now. Indeed, as we should have expected, Ellaria Sand was the gift Euron was talking about - ultimate vengeance for the death of Myrcella. It's a definitive final scene that reminds us of the brutality of this show once more. And, once again, Theon has regressed back into his broken identity, unable to see the indignity in his cowardice. There's a lot to take in in this spiralling hour of drama, but with that final scene, proceedings are starting to tie together as the prominent pieces of the board start colliding together. Daenerys is going to find it much harder to conquer the Seven Kingdoms than she first believed - it may take the supreme wrath of the dragons to finally do it. But, suffice to say, her possible alliance with Jon Snow could be the deciding factor and according to the next time trailer, we're already getting it next week. 9/10 We're not the like the people south of the Twins. And we're not like the people north of the Twins. In the Citadel, we lead different lives, for different reasons. We are this world's memory, Samwell Tarly. Without us, men would be little better than dogs. Don't remember any meal but the last. Can't see forward to any but the next. Every time you leave the house and shut the door, they howl like you're gone forever." Game of Thrones has returned - and with it comes winter! Everything about this episode seems darker, colder and unfamiliar. The environments are changing for the worst and all our favourite characters are forced to adapt with it. The creators clearly made a good decision when pushing the filming later to provide that extra feeling of danger. They also remind us of the true enemy beyond the wall as the White Walkers and their horde of undead march ever closer to the Wall.
In truth, this is an incredibly busy episode, filled with reintroduction, rediscovery and revenge. From the beginning to the end, there's a sense of chaos that is linked entirely to the characters' desperation. As Cersei points out, she has enemies everywhere, surrounding her from all sides. Everyone's desperate to find their enemies and start taking revenge. The most obvious example of this is depicted in the cold opening before the titles. What is seemingly a resurrected Walder Frey hosts a second feast for the prominent members of his family under the pretence of celebrating their continued survival. Of course, this is merely Arya Stark wearing Walder's face in order to ultimately complete the avenging of the Red Wedding. It's an awesome way to start the season and gives those gearing for the Starks (which I hope is everyone) the satisfaction that we so deserve after all the suffering. In the North, Jon Snow is starting his plans for the defence of his new kingdom as King in the North. Now that most of his disparate factions are all in agreement about the oncoming storm, loyalty is strong amongst the leaders. Sending the Wildlings to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea will be an interesting development in the story and will probably be the early warning that Westeros needs. However, it's not all simple and easy, as Sansa has her doubts. Whilst there's definitely a family bond between her and Jon, she still has reservations towards his leadership and the decisions he's making. This could turn things complicated later in the series. Sophie Turner has really transformed for me though - there's a sense of maturity in her acting ability now that is astonishing and it goes hand-in-hand with Sansa's savvy mind. One of the most interesting scenes of the premiere involved Sandor and his new reluctant friends, Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr. The writers take us back to the Riverland house with the farmer and his daughter whom he stole from back in Season Four. It's evident that whatever the Septon did to Sandor, and whatever thoughts he possessed in the wake of his near-death experience, the younger Clegane has changed for the better. Seeing the decomposed bodies of the father and daughter struck a guilt in him that persuaded him to bury their bodies. Seeing Thoros accompany him with the burial was a nice touch and gives us a fleeting sense that they will become close friends. This seems even more viable coupled with the fact that Thoros helped Sandor see into the flames just like so many others have done before him. What he saw could be hinting at Tormund Giantsbane's new destination in the North and he could be in real danger. Oldtown becomes a new location on the iconic map as Samwell Tarly begins his service at the Citadel. His scenes concerning his duties as a bookkeeper and lavatory cleaner may be humorous, but it shines a grim light on the trials and tribulations of maesters. Most of them are in old age due to their long years of service to perhaps a Lord or a Lady across Westeros. But, it's the introduction of the Archmaester that satisfies me the most as Jim Broadbent gives us a taste of his deceptive wisdom. It's a defining scene in the premiere as Sam attempts to complete the task he was sent down to the Citadel for. The Archmaester is clearly incredibly perceptive, but points out that a maester's job is to be doubtful. Nevertheless, Sam makes two worthwhile discoveries already - that Dragonstone could be the key to a miser's hoard of dragonglass, and there's a mysterious man in Oldtown with greyscale wondering whether Daenerys Targaryen has come to Westeros. We feel for Jaime in King's Landing as it becomes apparent that Cersei is indeed lost in her own madness. She attempts an alliance with Euron Greyjoy, but seems more content to mock him rather than join him. Euron himself is proving to be a curious character with a penchant for murder, not dissimilar to the new Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. They would make an ideal match, but the question remains, do they have enough forces to oppress all their enemies, or are they just sitting ducks. As meanwhile, just off the coastline to the East in the Narrow Sea, Daenerys has made her first landing on home soil, in the great castle of Dragonstone. Jeremy Podeswa creates a wonderful spectacle of her arrival as no words are exchanged during their long walk to the keep. As this is her ancestral home, there's great history and meaning in her arrival here, and that's why it's a defining moment in the series. This could be Daenerys' first step to conquering Westeros. The premiere is a rather quiet episode in its own right, but is necessary for bringing us into a whole new era of this epic show. There's a sense of grandeur in every shot, especially with the final Dragonstone sequence. With Bran now back south of the Wall, everyone's seems to be closer and isolated, but the scale and scope of the series is still far-reaching. Undoubtedly, all the opposing factions will start colliding and as per usual for this show, things will turn bloody. Winter is finally here. 8/10 |
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October 2017
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