Contains Spoilers!
We’re truly in the endgame now as the countdown to Game of Throne‘s biggest battle yet continues…
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ is a beautiful, slow burn of an episode that’s full of tender and heart warming moments, showcasing the show’s real strength and emotional core; the character interactions and their arcs. In such an epic show that’s full of sprawling, grand battles, dragons and the undead, the quiet moments are often the best.
On the eve of the Battle of Winterfell, Ser Jaime Lannister’s moving act of knighting Brienne, his previous travel companion, was so full of emotion. The combination of Tormund’s hilarious Giant tale, the drinking and camaraderie between the group and Podrick’s singing was just perfect. Brienne is truly one of the most honourable and worthy characters in the show, and for us to witness her one true goal come to fruition was just incredibly special. For a woman who’s been constantly ridiculed her entire life by men for her appearance and stature, who mockingly coined her “Brienne the Beauty”, this was a hugely satisfying two fingers up to them. Jamie treated her as an equal, giving her the respect and validation that she’s fought for from the beginning, and it was honestly so beautiful to see how much it meant to her.
Another aspect that shone in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ was seeing just how far everybody has come on their individual journeys over the years. Jamie continues on his path to redemption by joining the battle for the living, as well as making peace with Bran. Theon Greyjoy returned to Winterfell to fight for Sansa Stark, making amends for his previous betrayal of the family, and what a beautiful reunion that was. Another fantastic reunion, albeit bittersweet, was that of the former Night’s Watch members; Jon, Sam and Ed. These characters have been through so much together protecting the Wall, and it’s heartbreaking to hear them reflect on how much they’ve lost along the way. Possibly the most poignant though was the brief reconciliation between The Hound and Arya Stark, as you can tell just how much of an impact she made on his life as he admits she gave him something to fight for.
But line of the week had to go to Tormund with his fantastic reaction to arriving back in Winterfell – “the big woman still here?” Yes this is pure fan service as it’s best, but seeing all of our favourite characters reunite before they head into the biggest battle of their lives is so important, as we know the majority of them won’t make it. It’s a perfect send off for longtime watchers, as we get some truly satisfying moments of closure, proving a contemplative calm before the storm.
A real concern though is Daenerys Targaryen and her ever growing obsession with the Iron Throne. I really thought she was getting somewhere with Sansa in their heart to heart, but as soon as Sansa brought up the issue of the North, Dany starts to show signs of that fiery Targaryen temperament. Funny that this was her same reaction when Jon broke the news about his true lineage to her, even though he’s said many times he doesn’t want the throne. A part of me believes that her drive for the throne is going to be the undoing of them both, but I could be wrong!
One feeling I couldn’t shake throughout the entire episode though was the growing anticipation of dread, especially as multiple characters repeated the fact that the women and children will be safe in the crypt. Guys, you’re fighting an army of zombies lead by a commander that can bring the dead back from life, surely that’s going to have some serious implications?!
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ was one of the best episodes to date, perfectly setting up what will no doubt be one of the most brutal and heartbreaking battles in television history next week. I’m not sure I can take it!
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