Game of Thrones – The Dragon and the Wolf

By starrymag | September 1, 2017

By: Tara Donahue

 

 

Everyone’s preparing for the summit in their own way. We see Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) and the army of the Unsullied, standing at attention, outside the walls. Inside, Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Bronn (Jerome Flynn) are preparing their troops for the worst. The Dothraki ride in, in their typical fanfare, to join the Unsullied. Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), Jon Snow (Kit Harrington), Ser Davos (Liam Cunningham), Varys (Conleth Hill) and Sandor Clegane (Rory McCann) are on a boat, sailing for King’s Landing. The Hound goes below deck to make sure the very important passenger is still surviving.

 

At King’s Landing, Cersei (Lena Headey) is preparing for the summit in her own way. She asks Qyburn (Anton Lesser) where Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) is, but no one’s seen her. The others are on their way to the Dragonpit, he tells her. She looks at her always present bodyguard, The Mountain (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) and tells him: “If anything goes wrong, kill the silver haired bitch first. Then our brother, then the bastard who calls himself King.” The others, she doesn’t care what order. Good to know you’ve got your priorities straight, Cersei!

 

Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) is asking why the Dragonpit was built. Ser Jorah (Iain Glen) explains that dragons don’t understand the difference of what’s theirs and what isn’t. Letting them roam freely was a problem. Though, as Tyrion points out, at the end, the dragons were sickly and smaller than dogs. But in the beginning, when it was home to Balerion the Dread, it must’ve been the most dangerous place in the world.

 

There are a few, long awaited reunions as they champions make their way to the Dragonpit for the summit; Tyrion and Bronn, Tyrion and Podrick (Daniel Portman) and finally The Hound and Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie). She tells him Arya is still alive and safe at Winterfell. He seems pleased to hear this news, though he wonders who’s protecting her if she’s there. Brienne tells him the only one that needs protecting is the person who gets in her way.

 

As they arrive in the Dragonpit, Bronn and Podrick take their leave to ‘let the fancy folks talk’ and moments later, Cersei and her entourage enter. There’s lots of side-eyeing and glaring as they all get settled. The Hound approaches his brother, asking if he remembers him and wondering what they did to him. But none of that matters, this isn’t how it ends for Gregor Clegane, his brother reminds him, cryptically. “You know who’s coming for you. You’ve always known.”

 

Cersei wants to know where Daenerys is. Fashionably late, of course, but arriving like a rock star, riding in on Drogon with Rhaegal accompanying them. She dismounts and takes her seat, apologizing as Cersei complains about the wait.

 

Tyrion starts to speak, but is quickly interrupted by Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbæk), who starts taunting Theon (Alfie Allen), reminding him that he has Yara (Gemma Whelan) and will kill her if he doesn’t submit. Tyrion reminds him they have larger concerns to deal with and Euron spouts out a few insults about his size. You know it’s embarrassing when not only does Jaime speak up, but so does Cersei, who tells him to sit down or leave. He sits.

 

Tyrion starts again, talking about calling a truce and Jon stands up, explaining the dire situation they are facing. Cersei isn’t buying it. She thinks it’s another bad joke and doesn’t believe they truly want a truce. Daenerys gives her word.

 

Then, to prove they are telling the truth, Sandor brings out the Crate O’Wight and opens it. The wight inside, charges towards Cersei, who looks completely freaked out. They all do. After Sandor cuts it into pieces to demonstrate how it can’t be killed, Jon goes on to show, with fire and dragonglass, just how it can be. Euron wants to know if they can swim and, upon finding out they can’t, announces he’s taking his Iron Fleet and going back to the Iron Islands.

 

Cersei is willing to accept the truce and focus on the Great War until the dead are defeated. But, only if Jon accepts a truce with her. But Jon’s already bent the knee to one queen, he won’t go back on his word. Cersei doesn’t like this and tells them to enjoy dealing with the Army of the Dead, since they’ll be in the North first. They begin to leave.

 

Brienne tries to plead with Jaime. This isn’t about houses, honor or oaths. She wants him to talk to the queen. “And tell her what?” He asks, before leaving.

 

Dany is grateful for Jon’s loyalty but her dragon died so they could be there. If it’s all for nothing, then the dragon died for nothing. But, Jon can’t lie. He’s a man of honor and his word. He’s a Stark.

 

Tyrion decides to go talk to his sister. It’s the only way they might get anywhere. Which if that’s the only solution, they might not get anywhere, given Cersei’s hatred for her brother. That one, at least. But he has to try.

 

Jaime tried talking to her, but she kicked him out. The Mountain escorts Tyrion into the Queen’s chambers. They recap life events; you killed our father, it’s your fault this, it’s your fault that. We get it, Cersei, everything’s Tyrion’s fault. Accept none of your own. He goads her into ordering Gregor to kill him, but she can’t do it. He tries to apologize about the children, he loved them too, but she’s not interested. Instead, she wants to talk about Daenerys. He thinks she will make the world a better place and she has an advisor who checks her worst impulses. Cersei doesn’t care about having her impulses checked or about making the world a better place. She only cares about her family, she explains as she presses her hand to her stomach. “You’re pregnant.” Tyrion says, catching on to what she’s saying.

 

Back in the Dragonpit, Jon and Dany talk about the downfall of her family and the dragons. He tries to assure her her family hasn’t seen its end, but she tells him she can’t have children. That’s what the witch told her, anyway. Jon tells her that she might not have been the most reliable source of info. Could this mean Daenerys can still have kids?

 

Tyrion returns from his chat with Cersei and she’s right on his heels. She will march her armies north to fight alongside them in the Great War. When it’s over, she hopes they remember she chose to help them without any promises or assurances from them. Because Cersei does selfless things without wanting something in return. Right.

 

At Winterfell, Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) are talking about the raven that arrived from Jon. He’s pledged his allegiance to Daenerys Targaryen without consulting Sansa. Littlefinger implies it might be because he wants to marry her. He was named King in the North, he can be unnamed. But Sansa knows Arya (Maisie Williams) won’t go along with it, she would kill anyone who betrayed family. He points out that she’s family too. She tells him about the Faceless Men and Arya being one. Then he tells her that when he’s trying to understand a person’s motives, he plays a game and assumes the worst. Then plants in her head that Arya wants her dead so she can be Lady of Winterfell.

 

Back at Dragonstone, Team Targaryen are discussing their journey north. Jon feels that Daenerys sailing with him sends a better message of unity. She agrees.

 

Theon wants to talk to Jon. They talk about things that happened and how despite the things Theon has done, Ned Stark (Sean Bean) is still part of him. He doesn’t need to choose, he is a Greyjoy and a Stark. It isn’t Jon’s place to forgive, but what he can forgive, he does. This gives Theon the motivation he needs to go get Yara. She tried to save him once, now it’s his turn to do the same.

 

He finds the Iron Island sailors, preparing to leave. He tells them they’re going to save Yara, but they don’t agree and one spits in his face. They fight, but thanks to his talk with Jon, Theon doesn’t back down, even when the man tells him to stay down or he’ll kill him. He defeats the man. “For Yara!” He cries and the others join in.

 

After the talk with Littlefinger put doubts in her mind, Sansa has sent for Arya to be brought to the Great Hall. She’s waiting there, with Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and some of the army. Arya enters, confused, looking around and seeing Littlefinger looking smug. Sansa begins, listing off the accused crimes. “How do you answer these charges…Lord Baelish?” She asks, to his surprise, before pointing out all the examples of his crimes. He pleads, but Sansa won’t hear it. He’s done too much and caused too much damage and pain. She sentences him to death, which Arya carries out immediately, slicing his throat with the dagger he gifted Bran.

 

Jaime is talking to the generals at King’s Landing when Cersei interrupts, wanting to speak with him. She wants to know what he’s doing. He’s preparing for the expedition north, he explains. She calls him the stupidest Lannister before announcing she never had any plans to fight with her enemies. She lied. Is anyone surprised? No? Didn’t think so. Cersei has other plans. She’s used the gold she took from Highgarden to buy the most powerful army in Essos; The Golden Company. They have 20,000 men, horses and even elephants. Euron Greyjoy didn’t flee to go back to the Iron Islands, he’s on his way to Essos to bring them back. Jaime is not happy that she plotted behind his back and she’s not happy he met with Tyrion behind hers. So, she thinks that makes them even. Jaime, however, has pledged to ride north and he intends to honor that pledge. Cersei will charge him with treason. He starts to leave, but the Mountain blocks him. “I told you, no one walks away from me.” She says. Jaime wants to know if she’s going to order Gregor to kill him, he’s all she has left. Not all, she reminds him, there’s one more left to come. “Give the order then.” He challenges and Cersei nods, giving the order. The Mountain pulls out his sword, but Jaime doesn’t believe him and walks away anyway.

 

Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) has arrived at Winterfell and comes to speak to Bran, who tells him he has become the Three-Eyed Raven. Sam explains he’s there because he believes Jon is the one to lead the fight against the dead and he wants to help. Bran tells him he’s on his way back to Winterfell now, with Daenerys. It wasn’t a vision, he got a scroll. Jon needs to know the truth about himself, though. He isn’t Ned’s son, he’s actually the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Sam tells him about the annulment and secret wedding in Dorne.

 

Bran goes all Three-Eyed Raven so he can see this moment and we see Rhaegar and Lyanna getting married. Robert’s Rebellion was built on a lie. Rhaegar and Lyanna were in love. Bran explains this over a scene of Jon and Daenerys finally giving into all that sexual tension that’s been building between them.

 

Jon isn’t a bastard at all. Nor is his name Jon. His real name is Aegon Targaryen and he’s the heir to the Iron Throne. “He needs to know.” Bran says. “We need to tell him.” Yeah, maybe before he was hooking up with Auntie Dany?

 

Sansa and Arya are talking at Winterfell, after Littlefinger’s execution. They reminisce about their father in a sweet scene. “When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.” They remember Ned’s words. They both miss him. So do we, girls. So do we.

 

Bran is at the Weirwood tree, warging so he can see what’s going on at Eastwatch-By-The-Sea. Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) and Beric (Richard Dormer) are keeping watch when they see the Army of the Dead approaching the wall. That’s not all, though. The Night King is riding on newly resurrected Viserion, who is (as I predicted) shooting blue flames. Within moments, the dragon has melted a big chunk of the wall, allowing the dead to start marching through.

 

It’s going to be a long wait until the next season of Game of Thrones! But, plenty of time to rewatch, speculate and discuss! What do you think is going to happen next?