Game of Thrones – The Iron Throne

By: Paige Zinaman

Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), Jon (Kit Harington) and those who survived the attack on Kings Landing walk through what is left and those who have barely survived. As they continue their walk through it’s quite somber as Jon finally speaks and tells Tyrion that it’s not safe and to at least let him send some men with him Tyrion refuses Jon’s men and continues his walk through the rubble to the castle. Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) is about to execute those who followed Cersei (Lena Headey). As Jon tries to stop him Daenerys’ (Emilia Clarke) army aim their spears, ready to attack at the slightest movement. Davos (Liam Cunningham) tells Jon that they should just go speak to Daenerys themselves and manages to get Jon away from Grey Worm and his men. Tyrion reaches the spot where Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Cersei tried to make their escape. He digs through the rubble and finds both Jaime and Cersei buried underneath dead. It is then that Tyrion breaks down at the sight of his brother and sister. Arya (Maisie Williams) is wandering around in the ruins when she spots Jon who is making his way to Daenerys emotionless as she makes her speech to her men. She applauds them on keeping their promises to her and helping defeat her enemies. She names Grey Worm the Commander of War and she goes on to tell them that they won’t just stop at Kings Landing and that there are many people who need freed from people like Cersei. She asks them if they are willing to break the wheel with her. Daenerys ends her speech as Tyrion approaches her and they talk about how he freed his brother and committed treason. Tyrion agrees that he freed his brother and tells her that she slaughtered a city and takes off his Targaryen symbol. He tosses it aside as Dany tells the guards to take him she turns to walk away looking at Jon and continues her walk. Arya and Jon speak about why she’s there when she admits that she came to kill Cersei, except his Queen got there first to which he tells her that Dany is everyone’s queen. This gets a smart remark from Arya who says, “Try telling Sansa.” Jon tells Arya to wait for him outside the city and that he will come find her. She stops him and warns him that Daenerys knows who he really is and that she knows a killer when she sees one.

Jon hands off his swords to a guard before going inside to talk to Tyrion who is being held as a prisoner for treason. Tyrion thanks Jon for coming to see him seeing as though their Queen doesn’t keep prisoners for long. He tells Jon that now Varys (Conleth Hill) can tell him “Told you” and looks to Jon telling him hat it just occurred to him that he’s speaking to the only man who knows where he will be going. Tyrion asks Jon if there’s life after death to which Jon replies, “Not that I have seen.” Tyrion retorts that is what he deserves and starts rattling off all the things he’s done. Jon tells Tyrion that he can’t justify what he’s seen and he won’t try to but the war is over. This gets Tyrion to question. Tyrion tells Jon to think about what Daenerys said in her speech. Tyrion and Jon disagree on the way to handle her. Jon defends Dany and Tyrion tells him that he knows Jon loves Dany because he loves her too but there comes a time when things need to change. When Jon makes no move to agree with him, Tyrion uses Arya and Sansa not bending the knee to Daenerys as an example.

Once he leaves Tyrion, Jon goes to talk to Daenerys. He is stopped by Drogon who sniffs him out before laying back down. Daenerys stands in front of the Iron Throne and stares at it, finally having it within reach after everything she’s been through. Jon arrives to see Dany in front of the throne, she turns to him and smiles before turning back to it.  She then tells Jon a story about when she was younger and she was told stories of the Iron Throne. Jon jumps straight to the point and expresses to Daenerys the displeasure of the ruins of the city and the women, men and children who died because of this. He also asks Daenerys to forgive Tyrion and make people see that she is a Queen of forgiveness. They talk about how the world needs to ruled in mercy. They discuss about how the world will be good because they both know what is good and right. Jon asks her what happens to the other people who think they know what’s good and she tells him that they don’t get to choose. She pleads with Jon to rule together with her and that they can break the wheel united. As he once again tells her that she is and always will be his Queen, they share a kiss before he stabs her. He catches her as she falls and dies in his arms. He cries over her body as Drogon appears and tries to nudge Daenerys awake. Once noticing his efforts are in vain he cries out and burns the Iron Throne. When there’s nothing left Drogon takes Daenerys’ body and flies off.

After Daenerys’ death Jon is taken prisoner for killing the Queen. Grey Worm meets with Sansa (Sophie Turner), Arya, Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright), Yara (Gemma Whelan), Edmure (Tobias Menzies), Brienne (Gwendoline’s Christie), Sam (John Bradley) and others as they decide what to do with Jon and who will rule the Seven Kingdoms. Sansa’s first question to Grey Worm is where Jon was seeing as both he and Tyrion were his prisoners and both were to be brought to the meeting. Sansa warns Grey Worm that if he looks outside their city they will be met with many reasons why harming Jon Snow is a bad idea. Yara is quick to tell Sansa that even though she may be quick to forgive those who are Iron Born are not, that she swore to stand behind Daenerys Targaryen who freed them from a tyrant only to tell them that Jon Snow deserves death. Arya replies, “Say another word about killing my brother and I’ll cut your throat.” Davos intervenes and tells everyone that they’ve been cutting throats far too long and tells Grey Worm that they‘ve had enough war. Grey Worm informs them that Jon Snow must not go free. Tyrion tells Grey Worm that it’s not for him to decide and that it’s for their King or Queen to decide, stating that they are the most powerful people in the Westeros and they have to decide. When Edmure tries to stand up stating reason why he could be the king Sansa asks that he sit. When no one can decide Sam offers the idea to have the people choose. It is shot down as Tyrion tells them that Bran should be King. This is met with hesitation. Tyrion explains that Bran can’t have children and has the perfect view of the past and future. Therefore, he would make an excellent leader. This reasoning is accepted and they cheer for Bran, ruler of the Six Kingdoms. It is only Six Kingdoms as Sansa tells him that the North will remain an Independent Kingdom. Bran makes Tyrion his hand. Tyrion balks at this becuase he doesn’t want it, but Bran tells him that he doesn’t want to be King either. Grey Worm objects stating that he is a criminal to which Bran tells him that Tyrion is going to spend the rest of his life fixing the mistakes he’s made. Tyrion goes to Jon and explains to him that letting him go free would start another war and that Bran is sending him to the Knight’s Watch where he will father no children or take a wife as this is a life sentence. Tyrion explains that Arya and Sansa tried to get Jon freedom, but ultimately it didn’t work out. Jon is released from prison to say goodbye to Arya, Sansa and Bran. Arya tells her siblings that she isn’t going back to the North and is instead going West where the map stops. Sansa asks Jon for forgiveness and he tells her that Eddard Stark’s daughter will speak for the people, which is better than anything they had before. They share a hug before Jon is escorted to the Knight’s Watch where he is reunited with Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) and Ghost. As the episode ends, we see Brienne complete he part of Jaime’s story,  Sansa back at Winterfell getting crowned Queen of the North, Arya leaving for her journey and Bran along with Brienne, Podrick (Daniel Portman), Davos and crew pouring over what needs to be done to get things back in order and rebuild. Bran asks where last they saw sight of Drogon to which he is told that his last sighting was flying towards Volantis. This peaks Bran’s interest and he tells them to carry on so he can try and find him.