The Winds of Winter
Written by: David Benioff and D. B. Weiss
Directed by: Miguel Sapochnik
In the extra-long finale we’ve witnessed the pieces be moved upon the board both rapidly and violently. Here finally do we see Daenerys set sail towards the West, Cersei deliver vengeance upon all that have crossed her, Jon Snow become the King of the North and Arya Stark return to be a smiling Westeros assassin.
Kings Landing (or how to scratch a troublesome itch).
Everything is building up to the High Sparrows final show; first the warm up act with trial of Ser Loras Tyrell and then the pièce de résistance with the trial of the Queen Mother Cersei. The stage is set within the Sept, the Sparrows are there in force – the High Sparrow, the High Septon of the Faith of the Seven, Margaery Tyrell (The Queen and Tommen’s wife), Lord Mace Tyrell (Lord of Highgarden) and Cersei’s own uncle Kevan Lannister (Hand of the King) along with nearly all of the Royal Court and many onlookers.
After Loras admits to his sins and his crimes, he offers himself to the Gods, devoting his life to the Seven to which the High Sparrow accepts; with a nod toward Lancel the mark is then carved within Loras’s forehead. Margaery protests about Loras mutilation, then the realisation of the missing Queen Mother from her own trial is mentioned, to which the High Sparrow sends Lancel out to bring her from the Red Keep where she has been seen getting prepared for the day. As Lancel leaves the Sept he notices one of Qyburn’s Little Birds looking rather suspicious and darting around a corner to which he follows.
Grand Maester Pycelle has been called away by another one of the Little Birds now employed by Qyburn; as he follows he wanders into Qyburns lab where he is surrounded by numerous Little Birds all brandishing daggers and they all set to work on him, violently stabbing at his now bloody body.
King Tommen has already been reminded once before that the trial of his mother is due to start and as the door opens once more, he stands ready to leave but in the doorway stands Ser Gregor unwilling to let the King past.
Lancel has been led on a rather un-merry chase deep under the Sept and he becomes more frustrated as the room has become darker. As he looks around he slowly begins to see numerous barrels, then suddenly the Little Bird appears and stabs him from behind; he crumples painfully to the ground. It’s here he realises the barrels are full of Wildfire.
Margaery above in the Sept is attempting to explain to the High Sparrow that Cersei is not here, not because she is frightened of the outcome because she has a reason to not be here, though the arrogance of the High Sparrow will not let him see the danger he is in. As she attempts to get everybody out starting with her brother, the Sparrows block the doors unwilling to move until told to do so. Below in the catacombs Lancel watches a candle in a puddle of Wildfire ignite the volatile liquid with begins the chain reaction. The entire Sept is engulfed in green flame killing all inside instantly.
From across the city Cersei drinks wine and smiles, Ser Gregor turns and leaves Tommen in his room, King Tommen places his crown upon his table and quietly steps out of his window, plummeting to the city floor beneath him.
After torturing Septa Unella, leaving her at whim of Ser Gregor with the words, “Shame” being chanted at her, she makes her way to Qyburns lab to tick another box in Maggy the Frog’s prophecy as here lies another dead child shrouded in gold. To which is left:
“Gold shall be their crowns and gold their shrouds, she said. And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar (High Valyrian for little brother) shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you.”
And also:
“Aye. Queen you shall be… until there comes another, younger and more beautiful, to cast you down and take all that you hold dear”
Our final moments in Kings Landing see our new ruler of crown Cersei of the House Lannister, the First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms. During the coronation from the back of the room – in the shadows – Jaime watches on knowing that this new Queen is a dangerous Queen.
The Twins (or I think I’ll have the vegetarian option)
As the celebrations rage on Walder Frey gloats about the battle won, it’s fairly clear that Jaime doesn’t like the head of House Frey and proceeds to question his fighting history and what use the Lannisters have with the Frey’s as Allies, if they have to keep rescuing them from battles.
Much later when the guests have left and the room is bare, Walder sits alone shouting for his sons when a maid brings him his dinner. He complains to the maid about his sons, however the maid repeatedly informs him that they are in the room, it finally clicks they the maid is actually gesturing towards his dinner; looking under the pie crust we spot a tooth. The maid removes her face and Arya Stark stands over Walder, smiling at the panicking old man she tells him her name and slices his throat.
The Citadel (ode to Sir Terry Pratchett).
Sam, Gilly and Baby Sam have finally arrived at the Citadel so Sam can begin his Grand Maester’s training; as they look upon the mighty structure the witness the white ravens leaving ready to announce to Westeros that Summer is finally other and Winter is here.
Within the walls of the Citadel it is not plain sailing for our travellers – no word has been sent from the Wall that Grand Maester Aemon has passed nor that Sam is to be the next Maester for the Wall. However he is granted access to the rather splendid Unseen University-like Library whilst he waits – though Gilly and Baby Sam aren’t.
Dorne (Hush now and let the grown ups speak)
In the Water Gardens of Dorne, Olenna Tyrell and Ellaria Sand are meeting to discuss recent destructive events in Kings Landing. After berating the Sand Vipers, the Queen of Thorns speaks with Ellaria revealing Cersei has taken her future, both speak of being Allies and when our Dorne resident offers both vengeance and justice Varys steps from the shadows offering both, “Fire and Blood.”
Winterfell (Lady Mormont speaks you all listen)
With Jon and Sansa discussing the battle just past, Jon brings up that both need to learn to trust each other now. Sansa apologies for not telling him about Littlefinger and the Vale army, however the conversation moves to the head of the House of Stark, with Jon placing Sansa there automatically as he knows nobody would accept a bastard as the head of the Stark family.
Later as we find Sansa at the Weirwood tree outside Winterfell, where she is interrupted by Littlefinger who is there with a proposition, echoing the conversation earlier about the claim to the seat of Winterfell and also being crowned King of the North. Sansa herself should take the mantle and not only that marrying him they could also take the Iron Thrown together. As he moves in to kiss her, she holds him back at the last moment stopping his plan from unfolding completely.
We find Jon speaking with Melisandre in the dining hall, as his speaks about his past, for which he makes out it wasn’t so great, to this Melisandre highlights quickly how spoilt he sounds. Moments later Ser Bravos enters the room and confronts the Red Priestess about the death of princess Shireen to which she honestly responds, she is then exiled from the North under penalty of death if she ever returns.
With Benjen Stark leaving Bran and Meera at the Wall, explaining he cannot pass it due to the magic within, Bran makes contact with a Weirwood tree and travels back to the Tower of Joy to witness his father again attempting to rescue his sister Lyanna. Who it appears is in the throes of dying during child-birth to one Jon Snow; though difficult to hear the whispered words, we now know this Stark bastard isn’t Ned’s, and we also hear – ever so slightly – that Robert would kill the child. It looks more than likely the child is that of Rhaegar Targaryen, making Jon the nephew of Daenerys.
Back to present day in Winterfell and there is a meeting within the walls of the castle as the remaining families discuss who can become the head of the Stark family and the King or Queen of the North, with Littlefinger stood in the shadows, all is not going well. This is until the true Queen of the North, Lady Mormont, speaks up for the bastard and puts the other House’s in their place, it’s at this point all swear their allegiance to Jon Snow and King of the North echoes through the Castle. Everyone is smiling except Sansa who has just caught a glimpse of a very unhappy Littlefinger.
Dragon’s Bay (Heartbreak Hotel)
With the ships sails painted, the Unsullied ready and the dragons ready to roll all that’s left is for Daenerys to do is to break Daario’s heart as she informs him that he’ll be staying with a handful of Dothraki to keep the peace whilst she goes to Westeros, claims the tthrone and finds a king. Clearly he’s not happy about it but she’s the Queen, and she also has three rather large dragons so he accepts it.
However, later in a conversation with Tyrion it comes up that the only thing that Daenerys felt during the break up was impatience, as she wanted him out-of-the-way to proceed with the battle. As Tyrion discusses his time on the planet, along with his lack of belief in many things he offers his belief in her, she then gives him a gift a replica of the “Hand of the King” brooch.
Our final scene is the Iron Fleet and many other vessels setting sail for Westeros, Dragons in the air, Daenerys looking on and the Targaryen banner on each sail blowing in the wind.
A truly outstanding episode of Game of Thrones from beginning to the end. From the opening musical piece “Light of the Seven” [listen below] following the truly brutal devious mind of Cersei, seeing the eyes of Jamie as he watched the woman he loved take the Throne, the glance of Sansa towards Littlefinger in the Winterfell Hall, the arrogance of the High Sparrow, Cersei’s clothing, everything was excellent! Though yes there are issues I could raise my hand about Arya, Olenna Tyrell and also Jaime with the Lannister armies “Fast Travel” moments, along with the untimely removal of Margaery during what seemed to be the unfolding of her subtle plan. These issues I’m going to stubbornly overlook due to the fact I sat silently through most of this episode with only a brief expletive breaking the silence.
I can’t believe I now need to wait ten months to see three Dragons face the wrath of Cersei.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFK0yG8xG5I
RATING: 9/10
