Game of Thrones – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

By: Paige Zinaman

There is nothing quiet like trial in the face of a war and that is exactly what Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) got as a welcome to Winterfell as he stood before Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), Jon (Kit Harington), Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright). He is told all of his wrong doings from his past. Daenerys informs Jaime that Cersei (Lena Headey) lied about their army following him to fight to which Jaime informs them that he was lied to as well and told of the troops Cersei has and that even if they survived the Night King that she would have enough people to destroy the ones who remained. When questioned about him fighting with them he tells them that he pledged to fight for the North and he intends to keep that promise. Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) stands up to Daenerys and defends Jaime, to which Sansa agrees about not trusting Jaime and how he tried to destroy her House.  Jaime says he won’t apologize for it. As the conversation goes on Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) stands up for Jaime telling Sansa that if not for Jaime she wouldn’t be alive because he owed a debt to her mother. After hearing from Brienne, Sansa agrees to let Jaime stay in Winterfell to which Jon and Daenerys agrees to as well. After the little meeting with Jaime, Daenerys walks out of the hall with Tyrion right behind her. She tells him that if he can’t do his job that she will find someone to do it for him.

Meanwhile, Gendry (Joe Dempsie) and the rest of the men are working hard to get the weapons made before the Night King’s arrival. As he’s working Arya (Maisie Williams) shows up and watches him work before going over to him asking about the weapon in which she requested. He tells her that he will make it as soon as he’s done making the weapons for the troops. She responds that he should make her’s first and stronger than the others. Gendry tells her that it’s going to be safer in the crypt to which Arya asks him if he’ll be fighting. She inquires if he’s fought one of the dead and he tells her that he’s fought a few and that they are really bad. Arya keeps asking him questions on what they were like and she tells him that she’s seen death and they have many faces.

Jaime finds Bran outside and the first thing he does is apologize for pushing him out the window, telling him that he’s not that man anymore. Bran states that he wasn’t sorry then and that he was only protecting his family. He goes on to say that if he hadn’t pushed him out the window he would still be Brandon Stark. Jaime asks why Bran didn’t tell them of what he did to which he says that he wouldn’t be able to help them if he had let them kill him first. Tyrion walks around the ground watching all the people work when he runs into Jaime and comments on how they are back together. He watches as a man spits from the walk away above them. Jaime asks how they feel about their new Queen andTyrion explains that she’s his Queen, too. He goes on to say that they will see how much she’s changed soon to which Jaime asks if she’s truly changed. Tyrion tells Jaime that Cersei told him that pregnancy changed her and that she lied about the baby. Jaime states that that part was true and that she was always good at using the truth to manipulate people. The bright side of the war for Tyrion is that Cersei won’t get the chance to kill him. Jaime looks out to Brienne who is helping the warriors train for fighting before going to speak to her. She asks what he really wants and he tells her that he’s not the fighter he used to be and that he wants to train with her.

Daenerys and Jorah (Iain Glen) talk about how she named Tyrion her right hand. Daenerys tells him that she did so because she didn’t know if she would ever see him again. Jorah says that she made the right decision in naming Tyrion her right hand, but warns her of him. Jorah defends Tyrion and tells her she should forgive him and he offers her one piece of advice. Daenerys finds Sansa and the two talk about how they were almost on the verge of an agreement with Jaime. Sansa states that Brienne is good for her word. Daenerys tells her that she wishes she could trust her advisers as much, which causes Sansa to slightly defend Tyrion and tell her that he was a good man once and that he was nothing but kind to her. Daenerys tells Sansa that Tyrion should never had trusted Cersei to which Sansa tells her she shouldn’t have either. Daenerys compliments Sansa on how she has ruled her people and yet they seem to be at odds with one other before bringing up that it has to do with her brother. Sansa tells Daenerys that Jon loves her and when asks if that bothers her she tells Daenerys that, “Men do stupid things for women. They’re easily manipulated.” Daenerys shares that she’s only known one goal in life and that is taking back the Iron Throne. The goal was to get back at the people who destroyed her family and tried to destroy Sansa’s and that was before she met Jon. She goes on to tell Sansa that she is now at Winterfell, half a world away, fighting Jon’s war right beside him. She asks Sansa who manipulated whom. Sansa apologizes for not thanking her upon her arrival to which Daenerys tells her that she’s there because she loves and trusts Jon. Sansa asks Daenerys what happens after the war is over and she defeats Cersei. Daenerys responds that she’ll take the Iron Throne to which leaves Sansa asking, “What about the North?” Daenerys and Sansa are summoned to the hall to be greeted by Theon (Alfie Allen) who tells them that he wants to fight for Winterfell if they will have him. It is a bittersweet reunion for Sansa who runs to Theon with tears in her eyes.

Davos (Liam Cunningham) is passing out food to the men and people of Winterfell while everyone is getting ready for battle. Gilly (Hannah Murray) steers a little girl away from the battle lines and tells her that she and her son will be in the crypt and that she would feel better if she was there to protect them. Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) and crew arrive back at Winterfell with news that the Night King and his army are coming and they will be there before sunrise. Jon gathers everyone and goes over battle plans with those of importance while the army and warriors prepare for  war. Jon tells everyone that if they can kill the Night King that his army will fall. When it’s said that he won’t be unprotected Bran tells them that he will come or that they need to use him as bait. This suggestion is strongly disagreed upon by the Stark siblings who do not want to leave Bran unprotected for the Night King to get. Bran tells everyone that the Night King has tried to get him before with three eyed ravens. Sam (John Bradley) asks why the Night King wants him so badly and Bran explains that he wants to bring about an endless night. Theon says that Bran won’t be alone and that he will go with him. With that, the planning goes on as Tyrion and Daenerys disagree over him fighting and staying in the crypt. Daenerys tells him that he goes to the crypt because she’s going to need his intelligence. Jon dismisses everyone to rest and quickly leaves before Daenerys has a chance to speak with him. This leaves only Tyrion and Bran alone to talk. Grey (Jacob Anderson) goes to Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) who tells her that when the war is over there will be no place for them there. He wonders that if his Queen has won if there is anywhere Missandei would want to see. She tells him she would love to see the beaches again and they agree to go.

Sam asks Jon if he’s spoken to Daenerys yet about the truth of his true parentage and Jon tells him not yet. They begin the Night Watch as Jon tells Sam he can go to the crypt to be with his wife and son to defend them. This insults Sam who states that they tend to forget he’s the first one to fight and kill a White Walker. Jaime and Tyrion talk about how they wish their father was still alive to witness his two sons about to fight and die for Winterfell. They talk about their pasts and and drink when Brienne and Podrick (Daniel Portman) come in and join them for a little bit. Davos and Tormund soon join them as they have a little bonding moment before the battle starts. They talk about their dreams and share stories. Arya finds Gendry who gifts her the weapon she asked for before Arya’s questions lead to them having an intimate go before they possibly die. Meanwhile, back in the hall Brienne shares with them that she never wanted to be a knight and that it would never happen because of tradition. Jaime draws his sword and tells Brienne to kneel as he names her “Brienne of Tarth, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” As the episode comes to a close the people of Winterfell gather together with loved ones before the battle begins while saying goodbye to the men and women who are already leaving to man the grounds. Daenerys finds Jon looking at the statue of Leanna Stark. It’s at this moment Jon tells Daenerys of the truth of this birth parents. When the truth comes out the only thing she can think is denial. She then faces the fact that Jon is the last male heir of the Targaryen House and has a claim to the Iron Throne. Before their talk can go further they hear the battle horn as the Night King has arrived in Winterfell.