Wow. I'm really trying to appreciate the last episodes we have of this show because I don't believe there will ever be another show like it. For most of its run, Thrones has been a pleasantly slow-paced series. Part of its charm was seeing the show build out character arcs and plots so that when they finally paid off, it would have immense rewards. This season is an entirely different animal. Characters all of a sudden have teleportation abilities going from one side of the map to the other in merely an episode. Some people may be turned off by such a thing, I myself am just enjoying this ride. Things needed to happen faster this season and next, and the pace hasn't slowed down since the season 7 premiere. 'Eastwatch' was perhaps the least eventful episode in terms of action, but it nonetheless was full of goodies from beginning to end.
There's so much to dig into, so I'll try to keep everything brief. Let's begin with Jon and Daenerys, because obviously. Let's just establish the fact that this show is ACTUALLY going there with them romantically. Don't tell me nobody else noticed how enamored Dany looked when Jon started talking about how he put his trust in her a few episodes back. I mean, wow, talk about a look. Putting aside the heritage issue, I'm all for this relationship. Which, brings me to Sam because him and Gilly literally came across the biggest bombshell of the show's history, and just swept it under the rug. I guess it's not technically official just yet, but Rhaegar and Lyanna apparently did have a secret marriage that only one maester knows about. So, in other words, Jon is a legitimate Targaryen!
Speaking of bastards, Gendry finally made his return to the show tonight as he all of a sudden joined the main story thread. I would say it felt random and out of place, but his weapon is just too damn cool to say anything bad about him. This all lead to Jon, Gendry, Tormund, Jorah (yes, he returned too!), Beric, Thoros, and the flipping Hound heading to Eastwatch to try and capture a white walker to provide Cersei with proof of who the real enemy is. I'm sorry, but we just have to appreciate the Magnificent Seven of Game of Thrones taking on the army of the dead by themselves. We may not have gotten a battle this episode, but ending with them walking out into the abyss was good enough for me.
I guess this brings me to Winterfell, where Bran had the vision of the army and Littlefinger plotted a little more. It seems fitting that Arya will eventually kill Littlefinger, but I'm enjoying just watching them two spy-each other-out for now. Having him set her up with the message Sansa wrote to Winterfell back in season 1 is frustrating (because who the heck would care about that at this point?) but it will provide enough weight for the tension between sisters to result in a bada** Littlefinger death scene, I just know it.
There were a few Lannister reunions this week. Jaime returned to Cersei with bad news and Tyrion tried to convince Jaime to agree to talk to Cersei about a meeting between Dany and her. I almost highly doubt that meeting will ever get to face-face, wildfire is sure to play some sort of factor, but the direction they're going with this war is intriguing to say the least. To make things even more complicated, Cersei claims she is pregnant with her and Jaime's 4th child. I say claims because this could just be another ploy for her to gain Jaime's trust back, but it could also very well be real. If it is, doesn't it seem fitting that someone kills her through the gut just like the Lannister's did to Robb and Talisa back at the red wedding? Brutal, yes, but this show often provides great payback.
Among other things, some great tidbits include: Jon petting Drogon! The combinations of Tyrion & Davos, and Jon & Gendry. Loved seeing a Stark and Baratheon reunion. And I'm glad Sam is finally leaving the Citadel, too bad he never found out about the fate of his father and brother. Overall, not as monumental as I thought it might be, but so dang effective. Game of Thrones has perhaps never been better than it is right now. Everything is hitting on all cylinders.
+All these great dynamics
+The Magnificent Seven of the North
+More surprises
+Jon and Dany potential romance
+Gendry is back
10/10
There's so much to dig into, so I'll try to keep everything brief. Let's begin with Jon and Daenerys, because obviously. Let's just establish the fact that this show is ACTUALLY going there with them romantically. Don't tell me nobody else noticed how enamored Dany looked when Jon started talking about how he put his trust in her a few episodes back. I mean, wow, talk about a look. Putting aside the heritage issue, I'm all for this relationship. Which, brings me to Sam because him and Gilly literally came across the biggest bombshell of the show's history, and just swept it under the rug. I guess it's not technically official just yet, but Rhaegar and Lyanna apparently did have a secret marriage that only one maester knows about. So, in other words, Jon is a legitimate Targaryen!
Speaking of bastards, Gendry finally made his return to the show tonight as he all of a sudden joined the main story thread. I would say it felt random and out of place, but his weapon is just too damn cool to say anything bad about him. This all lead to Jon, Gendry, Tormund, Jorah (yes, he returned too!), Beric, Thoros, and the flipping Hound heading to Eastwatch to try and capture a white walker to provide Cersei with proof of who the real enemy is. I'm sorry, but we just have to appreciate the Magnificent Seven of Game of Thrones taking on the army of the dead by themselves. We may not have gotten a battle this episode, but ending with them walking out into the abyss was good enough for me.
I guess this brings me to Winterfell, where Bran had the vision of the army and Littlefinger plotted a little more. It seems fitting that Arya will eventually kill Littlefinger, but I'm enjoying just watching them two spy-each other-out for now. Having him set her up with the message Sansa wrote to Winterfell back in season 1 is frustrating (because who the heck would care about that at this point?) but it will provide enough weight for the tension between sisters to result in a bada** Littlefinger death scene, I just know it.
There were a few Lannister reunions this week. Jaime returned to Cersei with bad news and Tyrion tried to convince Jaime to agree to talk to Cersei about a meeting between Dany and her. I almost highly doubt that meeting will ever get to face-face, wildfire is sure to play some sort of factor, but the direction they're going with this war is intriguing to say the least. To make things even more complicated, Cersei claims she is pregnant with her and Jaime's 4th child. I say claims because this could just be another ploy for her to gain Jaime's trust back, but it could also very well be real. If it is, doesn't it seem fitting that someone kills her through the gut just like the Lannister's did to Robb and Talisa back at the red wedding? Brutal, yes, but this show often provides great payback.
Among other things, some great tidbits include: Jon petting Drogon! The combinations of Tyrion & Davos, and Jon & Gendry. Loved seeing a Stark and Baratheon reunion. And I'm glad Sam is finally leaving the Citadel, too bad he never found out about the fate of his father and brother. Overall, not as monumental as I thought it might be, but so dang effective. Game of Thrones has perhaps never been better than it is right now. Everything is hitting on all cylinders.
+All these great dynamics
+The Magnificent Seven of the North
+More surprises
+Jon and Dany potential romance
+Gendry is back
10/10