Game of Thrones season 8, episode 5 reactions and surprises
Season 8, episode 5 (debut 5/12/19): Emilia Clarke.
photo: Courtesy of HBO
Not surprised
1. Varys died in “this strange land.”
Melissandre told him so last season, so we knew Varys would meet his end this season. And he didn’t go down without a fight. He saw Daenerys’ descent into madness coming from a mile away, and when he learned of Jon’s true parentage, he tried to do something about it. As you could see, he was busy sending letters about Jon’s secret, to whom, we’re not sure. You have to respect a guy that goes down swinging. But if you remember, Ned Stark was doing the same exact thing back in season 1, sending a letter to Stannis Baratheon about Cersei’s kids not being Robert’s. They both ended up losing their lives. Daenerys even told Varys, “Betray me, and I’ll burn you alive.”
2. The Clegane Bowl happened!
After so many theories were debunked this season, one that everyone wanted was the Clegane Bowl, between the zombie Mountain and his brother, the Hound. It was easily the best part of the episode. When it looked like the Hound would be defeated, he took a dagger to the Mountain’s eye, throwing him off course momentarily enough for the Hound to throw them both into the fire below them. Its irony wasn’t lost on me. The Mountain, who threw his little brother into a fire as a child, thus resulting in the Hound’s fear of fire, ends up being thrown into a fire by his little brother. One other thing to note, back in season 3, episode 9, Arya tells the Hound, “Someday, I’m going to put a sword through your eye and the back of your skull.” She never does it. But, he does it to his brother.
3. How Arya actually felt about the Hound
Arya loved the Hound. He was a father-figure to her. She knew she would have never survived without him. And though he was on her list, she left him there to die back in season 4 because she couldn’t bear to kill him herself. Her thanking him proves before she leaves the Red Keep proves that for me.
4. Tyrion saves his brother.
Just as Jaime did for Tyrion at the end of season 4, Tyrion saved his brother. It’s not surprising because Tyrion has said numerous times that if it weren’t for Jaime, he wouldn’t have survived his childhood. He even says it, in a much more emotional way, in this episode. There was no way he wouldn’t have returned the favor.
Season 8, episode 5 (debut 5/12/19): Peter Dinklage.
photo: Helen Sloan/HBO
5. Daenerys ignoring the surrender bells
There was so much emphasis put on those bells at the beginning of the episode, that I had a feeling they would have a big role in the second half. I mean, the episode was called “The Bells.” Yes, they sounded. But, they were flat-out ignored. I thought for sure the Red Keep was toast after that, and all those within the walls of the castle. Never did I imagine the rest of Kings Landing would go up like that.