Originally published on July 4, 2016
Spoilers, obviously.
This has been a season of uncertainty, surprises, and a
couple amazing battles culminating in one of the best episodes this series has
put out. From the opening credits until the last scene, every moment had me completely
invested and emotionally all over the place. Since so much happened, I will be
touching on only a few main points in great detail.
The first twenty minutes were amazing. The wildfire had been
teased for a few episodes and made for a delightfully fitting parallel between
Cersei and the Mad King Aerys. Mad Queen Cersei is now a thing and King’s
Landing had better watch out. The destruction of the sept and the murder of
many of the major characters in King’s Landing was a good way to close out the
season and wrap up the story. As I will mention later, this helps bring about a
mood shift on the show.
On the subject of Cersei, I was not expecting her to be
crowned Queen, but it made sense. Now that she has power I am not quite sure
what she will do with it except wait around for Dany to show up. Jaime, on the
other hand, will have quite a task trying to keep her under control (if he even
sticks around. I would be getting out of there). I am now a firm supporter of
the theory that Jaime is the “little brother” who will eventually kill Cersei,
becoming the Queenslayer and becoming once again the person he has been trying
to become more of since Robert’s Rebellion.
I must say the music in the opening, the simple piano
building with the cellos and voices and organ, was beautiful. (The song is
called “Light of the Seven” if you want to listen). And the second
interpretation of the melody, mixed with the “Castamere” theme during the
coronation, was even better. I have not actively listened to the soundtrack,
but I will have to start doing so.
Next we’ll head North, where Winter has finally arrived. Ser
Davos has his emotional confrontation with Melisandre about the murder of
Shireen and I am surprised Jon let her go. Her story is apparently not over
yet. I am guessing she will run into the Brotherhood and/or Arya as she travels
into the Riverlands. Or Brienne will catch her and revenge-kill her. Speaking
of Arya, let me just insert here I believe she will take on the role of Lady
Stoneheart as the series finishes and she makes her way north.
North of the Wall, we have Benjen Stark just plopping Bran
in the snow next to a weirwood tree. My question is without a horse or sled,
how will Bran keep moving around? Anyway, we are finally shown the
much-anticipated Tower of Joy scene and R+L=J was confirmed! It was a really
touching scene and I am looking forward to hopefully more flashbacks of younger
Lyanna, Ned, and even Rhaegar (Tourney at Harrenhal, anyone?).
In a slightly ironic twist, the next scene has Jon declared
King of the North by the lords (and lady) of the North in a very real callback
to Robb’s scene several seasons ago. I was not expecting this at all,
especially since it seems like Jon did not really want to be King. He was not
brought back for that reason. I am all for Sansa becoming Queen, if it keeps
her out of Littlefinger’s clutches, and especially if Bran shows up and rocks
the known world with the fact that there’s another possibly legitimate Iron
Throne contender. I was surprised how open Littlefinger became in this episode
and I got really nervous for a second that he was going to stab Sansa. Luckily
that didn’t happen.
“I believe in you…I’d swear you my sword but I don’t
actually own a sword.” If there is one character who can consistently make me
laugh and smile it’s Tyrion, and his whole scene with Dany had me smiling for
sure. He definitely deserves to be Hand of the Queen and by her side as she
makes her way to Westeros. We get the scene we have literally been waiting six
seasons and five books for, with a fleet made up of ships with several different
banners. I wonder how long it will take them to reach King’s Landing.
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