We've been waiting a while, and now we're finally getting Season of 8 of Game of Thrones, where the White Walker threat has never been more dangerous!
A gorgeous new intro kicks things off, starting us north of the breached wall and showing the icing path of the White Walkers as they head to the castle Last Hearth.
As the astrolabe shows more modern events from Westeros, we take a trip through the halls of Winterfell, then to the throne room in King's Landing. The episode then begins with a young boy rushing to see Daenerys's arriving army, and Arya watches as he climbs a tree for a view, like she did when Robert came. Arya is happy to see Jon, riding alongside Daenerys, and though shocked to see the Hound riding behind them, she is again pleased when she notices Gendry. While Tyrion and Varys ride leisurely in a cart, with the dwarf taking cracks at the eunuch, Grey Worm and Missandei notice Northfolk eyeing them suspiciously. Jon reminds Daenerys that Northerners don't trust outsiders much, and the villagers run in fear as her dragons come roaring out of the sky. Entering the castle walls, Jon is amazed to see Bran, whom he calls a man; the warg cryptically says he almost is and stares at Daenerys as Jon hugs Sansa. Daenerys and Sansa get through icy introductions, and Bran interrupts that they don't have time for this, as the Night King's army is coming, and they have Viserion.
In a meeting, Sansa says she called everyone to Winterfell when they heard of the wall. She asks Ned Umber when his people will arrive, and he says they need horses and wagons; she gives as many as possible and has him return to Last Hearth.
Jon has ravens sent to the Night's Watch, as there's no point manning the wall anymore, and Lady Mormont takes ire at him still being called "your grace." She points out he left a king and came back seemingly nothing, angered when he says it doesn't matter. He admits being named king was a great honor, but he had to choose either it or the North to save everyone, and he chose the North. Tyrion steps up to defend Jon, whose courage proved the undead real and brought an army, but everyone is disgusted when he says the Lannisters will join them. He powers through and reminds them they have to fight together or die. Sansa asks how they're supposed to feed this immense army, especially the dragons; she asks what they even eat, and Daenerys bluntly states "whatever they want." Outside as the people gather supplies, Tyrion visits Sansa; they catch up, and he commends her for outliving people who underestimated her intelligence. He tries to convince her Cersei will help, but she scoffs at him for believing his sister, saying she used to think he was the smartest man alive. At the Weirwood tree, Arya surprises Jon; he asks how she sneaked up on him and she counters about him surviving a heart stabbing, though he points out he didn't. He is happy to see she still has Needle, which she admits she's used "once or twice," and he lets her hold Longclaw, jokingly asking if she's jealous; she says it's too heavy. He says he could've used her help before; she knows this is because Sansa doesn't like Daenerys, and she surprises him by saying Sansa is the smartest person she knows. Arya says she's not just defending her sister, but rather her family, as is Sansa; Jon points out he's family too, and they embrace.
Down in King's Landing, Qyburn approaches Cersei with news of the wall; she leaves pleased as Euron arrives with the Ironborn fleet.
On his ship, Euron visits Yara in the cells; he refuses to kill her because they're "the only Greyjoys left with balls," and he'd have no one to talk to. She realizes they're in King's Landing and says he's picked the losing side; he shrugs that he'll sail somewhere else if so, but not before bedding Cersei. He and Captain Harry Strickland (Marc Rissman) of the mercenary group the Golden Company meet Cersei in the throne room, where she is displeased to learn they've brought less men and horses than expected, and no elephants. He explains the animals are strong but not suited to travel by sea, and she welcomes him to King's Landing; he takes his leave as Euron steps up. Cersei calls him a true friend and honored guest, so he suggests meeting "in private;" she says this will be after the war, but he points out wars can last years. She demands he earn her if he wants her, and he asks how, considering what he's already done for her. She calls him insolent and threatens execution, but he doesn't back down, so she invites him to her room. Meanwhile, Broon has some women in his room, but grows annoyed as they continue talking about the dragon attack from last season, and Qyburn interrupts. Once the girls leave, the maester says Cersei wants to make good on promises Jaime made, saying it was his fault Bronn didn't get a castle. Qyburn offers a wagon of gold, and Bronn realizes Cersei wants someone murdered but can't send soldiers. To his surprise, Qyburn says she has other plans for Daenerys and wants him to kill Tyrion and Jaime should they survive, ironically with a crossbow. Bringing up everything Cersei made him when he thought he'd die poor and alone Qyburn asks what she would do for the man who killed her treasonous brothers. In her room, Cersei complains about not getting the elephants. Euron asks how he compares to Robert; she says the former king didn't know his way around a woman. He boldly asks about Jaime, and she says he likes risking his neck. He claims life is boring, which she admits he isn't. When asked if Euron pleased her, Cersei says she likes how arrogant he is, but wants to be alone; as he leaves he says he's going to impregnate her with a prince.
That night, Theon and his men sneak aboard Euron's fleet, killing his forces and rescuing Yara, who headbutts her brother before escaping.
Later, she points out Euron can't defend the Iron Islands while working for Cersei, so they can take back their home. Theon reminds her Daenerys went North, and she counters that the queen will need somewhere to escape to if necessary. Though he agrees to follow her, Yara realizes he wants to fight for the Starks. She gives him permission to do so, embracing him after saying their family code. The Karstarks arrive at Winterfell, and Davos tells Tyrion and Varys the family stopped fighting the Starks because of Jon Snow. Though he knows Daenerys appreciates this, he says the people don't know her like they do Jon, and she must earn their respect. Davos suggests Daenerys and Jon marry if they survive, and the Seven Kingdoms can have a just queen and honorable king. Varys worries they wouldn't listen to a few old men, and though Tyrion says they respect their elders' advice, Varys says nothing lasts. Below, Daenerys brings up Sansa disliking her. Jon jokes that she didn't like him growing up, and she says regardless if the young woman likes her, Daenerys is queen. Some Dothraki ride up, and Daenerys is upset to learn her dragons are barely eating; she and Jon go to them, and she says the problem is they don't like the North. Rhaegal takes interest in Jon as Daenerys mounts Drogon, and she gives Jon permission to ride the other dragon, shrugging off his fears until he does so. They take off over Winterfell, flying to the woods and into a gorge, then Jon ends the flight at some caves and waterfalls. Daenerys says they could stay there and no one would find them, and after some flirting they start kissing. Jon notices the dragons watching, and though Daenerys tells him not to be afraid, Drogon continues staring at him. Along with some reunions fans have long awaited, the rest of the episode sees Sam meeting Daenerys and making his choice about his knowledge on Jon, and a terrifying investigation at Last Hearth for the survivors of the Night's Watch.
There was a lot of excitement as this season was being made, and I for one feel like it has been worth the wait so far, though I was one of few who didn't mind the wait.
This episode gives exactly what I was wanting so badly last season: some reunions, specifically Jon and Arya getting to see one another again. It has literally been years since the two have seen each other, and in the first season they seemed to have one of the stronger sibling relationships in the Stark family. Jon getting to see Bran was great as well, but that was more so because he got to experience what fans call Robo-Bran as he speaks without emotion. As it is, fans are already making memes about how Bran feels a bit like a stalker since becoming the Three-Eyed Raven, always wheeling around Winterfell watching people. I'm glad they already addressed what was bound to be an issue by having the Northerners angry about Jon bending the knee to Daenerys. To be fair to them, they had just placed all their pride and hopes in Jon, and having him immediately pledge himself to Daenerys was likely a bit of a slap in the face. At the same time, though, Jon is obviously in the right with how, as he keeps pointing out, titles and ruling are unimportant now as the White Walkers march south. In the end, who really cares if Jon pledged himself to Daenerys? Without her help they'd be dead anyway, and while some people act like that's honorable because they'd have their pride, I simply call this foolish. As silly as the arguing seems, I actually like that everyone is squabbling over this, as it makes the politics of the show feel like real life. One could say the elemental threat of the White Walkers and winter arriving while the humans bicker is similar to the issue of global warming in the real world, as evidence comes out that it's real but some feel it's a hoax. There were some homages and moments in this episode that effectively showed how the characters have grown and changed over eight seasons. The first, as mentioned, comes at the start with the little boy Arya sees climb a tree; she was once just like him, watching the soldiers march along. A moment tied to this is when she meets Jon at the Weirwood, and he asks if she's ever used Needle. She says "once or twice," and they share a glance as they know she's a trained warrior herself now and has killed people. The final in what I typed up here is when Daenerys and Jon end their dragon ride, and she suggests running away from everything to hide in the caves. Jon has been afraid to be with a woman for most of his life, and has since now been with only two: Ygritte and Daenerys, and both have had this kind of moment. Speaking of the dragons, it made me giddy that Jon ended up riding Rhaegal this episode, not just because he rode a dragon, but because of its namesake. Unlike Jon, we already know at this point that his father is actually Rhaegar Targaryan, so it's rather poetic that he would ride the dragon named after the former prince. I liked how we're already getting action to keep things feeling like GoT, with Theon proving himself by rescuing Yara, which I was happy to see. Yara headbutts her brother, obviously for leaving her before, yet she simultaneously sees that he, despite everything he's been through, returned to the fray for her. Ever since his rescue, the two have struggled in trying to reach a good sibling bond, and I liked the way she tells him to go help the Starks like he wants to, even using their family motto in a sign of accepting him back as a Greyjoy. I don't really care much for Euron even now; he's certainly a crazy, sadistic guy, but he hasn't entertained me as much as Joffrey and Ramsay. It was a bit surprising that he already got in bed with Cersei, but I have a feeling this is a result of her declining mental state as she goes crazy. After her wildfire explosion of the Sept of Baelor and how paranoid she can be about those around her, it's clear she's becoming like the Mad King. This is certainly why Jaime left, seeing her go this way and ignoring a true threat, but ironically this only further pushes her over the edge. There was actually a shot of her I really liked when she talked to Euron in the throne room, where she stands in front of a candelabra in such a way that you see the candles' flames lining her. I generally assume moments like this in GoT are intentional, and to me it seemed a nice subtle way of showing how similar she is to the fire-obsessed Aerys Targaryen. The tension between Sansa and Daenerys, and occasionally Sansa and Jon, is interesting to watch, especially because they both make good points. Jon is pretty clear and firm on his beliefs, but Sansa is tring to take a more measured approach than he is, and is thinking of the logistics of their situation. At the same time, I find it laughable that Arya says Sansa is the smartest person she knows, even if Sansa has come a long way from her season one days. Sam gets a heartbreaking moment late in this episode, and it brings up a key point I enjoy about this series: that often times characters are neither heroes nor villains. I've seen before that George R. R. Martin, when talking about writing characters, said to just make them "human" in that just like real people, they should make mistakes and have good and bad days, able to do good and bad in the world. One of the best moments comes at the end as those who remain from the wall search a devastated Last Hearth, and the creepiness they find there. With the White Walkers marching south with their army, winter has come to Westeros for sure, and is bringing death and destruction with it.
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