Season 8, episode 5 (debut 5/12/19): Liam Cunningham, Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage.
photo: Courtesy of HBO
The penultimate episode of Game of Thrones aired last night and people are freaking out. If you haven’t watched, SPOILERS AHEAD!
Game of Thrones last night was…intense? Horrifying? Shocking?
Whatever word you’re using to describe your feelings today after watching last night’s penultimate episode “The Bells,” one thing is for sure, it has people talking.
And how can it not?
The “breaker of chains” just murdered a whole lot of innocent people and for no good reason. She went from savior to crazy in a matter of one (shortened) season.
“Burn them all!” the Mad King yelled, causing Jaime Lannister to kill him. But the Mad King’s daughter actually did it.
Whatever her reasoning is to just up and destroy an entire city after they had surrendered, it’s not surprising… if you had been paying attention. More on that later!
One thing that stands out is this quote, “Every time a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin, and the world holds its breath.” This, so brilliantly said by Varys in “The Bells,” couldn’t be more topical in the state of the show.
We have been staring at both sides of the Targaryen coin all season: Daenerys and Jon. And we have finally seen just what side of the coin the only two Targaryens left in the world fall on. While Dany destroyed King’s Landing, killing the masses, Jon tried saving lives by making his men fall back.
Since many of my predictions are nearly impossible to see to fruition now, I can’t imagine how the series will end next week.
Season 8, episode 5 (debut 5/12/19): Lena Headey.
photo: Helen Sloan/HBO
Surprises of the week
1. Cersei’s “unfitting” death
Cersei was vile. She was vindictive. And, at times, she was downright despicable. Many thought Arya would kill Cersei. Others though Jaime was going back to Kings Landing to kill her (including me). But in the end, she died by getting crushed by a bunch of rocks? A bit anticlimactic, but also kind of poetic. See: Things you missed section below). Yes, those rocks were from the Red Keep collapsing, caused by Daenerys and Drogon, but I expected her death to be much bigger than it was.
2. This episode’s destruction
You will see below how I am not all that surprised by Daenerys turning into the Mad Queen. But what I am amazed by is just how insane she is. I’ve always wondered what would have happened if Jaime hadn’t killed the Mad King. Well, now we know, and it’s devastating. Watching so many innocent people die was jarring. I know I was supposed to feel uncomfortable, because (I think) I am a sane person. But Daenerys is hurting. All the people she trusted in her life – all the people that kept her in check – are mostly gone. Only one voice of reason comes from Tyrion, and she doesn’t fully trust him. And maybe Jon could haven’t stopped it, but he was too concerned with proving everyone wrong by blindly following her.
3. Jaime’s almost death
For a minute there, I though Euron killed Jaime. That would have sucked! In this case, I’m glad the rocks got him before he bled out from his Euron-inflicted wounds. So, that insufferable twit can’t check that kill off his list.
4. How did Arya survive that?!
I’ll say it again. HOW DID ARYA SURVIVE THIS ATTACK?! She was thrown around by fire and people, buildings were literally collapsing on top of her, she almost got trampled on, and she somehow survives. It seems far-fetched. Or, could she be Azor Ahai or “The Prince(ss) who was Promised?” If so, there was a divine being intervening to ensure our Night King Slayer survived.
Season 8, episode 5 (debut 5/12/19): Liam Cunningham, Kit Harington.
photo: Helen Sloan/HBO
5. Jon’s lack of action
Though his body language has said otherwise for some time now, Jon has claimed Daenerys as his queen come rain or shine. Well, it’s raining fire on a bunch of innocent people and now is the time to realize she’s a crazy person? It’s too late; the damage is done. He’s had numerous opportunities to at least try to steer her into the right direction. His family has warned him multiple times, Lord Varys warned him, but he blindly followed his queen. Will he take action next week?
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.
Season 8, episode 5 (debut 5/12/19): Marc Rissmann.
photo: Courtesy of HBO
Things you missed
1. Daenerys’ vision
Way back in season 2, Daenerys is staying in Qarth when a warlock steals her dragons. She goes to the House of the Undying to get them back and sees multiple visions, including Drago holding their baby. But the one vision that applies to “The Bells” is when Daenerys finds herself in the Great Hall of the Red Keep. The Great Hall is destroyed and covered in snow. Back then, we assumed winter had arrived in Kings Landing. But, snow looks an awful lot like ash. If it is actually snow in the vision, it could represent Jon Snow and that he will be the one taking the throne, not Daenerys.
2. Bran’s vision
A few weeks ago, I mentioned Bran’s vision when he touched a weirwood back in season 4. All of those visions seen have now come true with the shadow of Drogon over Kings Landing and the demolished throne room.
3. Cersei and Jaime’s deaths
Back during a conversation with Bronn, Jaime said he wanted to die in the arms of the woman he loves. And Cersei once told Ned Stark that they were more than siblings; they shared a womb, they came into the world together, they belong together. So, it’s fitting that they are reunited in the map room, right where their last conversation was before Jaime left for the North. Yes, Cersei deserved a worse death. But, remember, the figurative walls were tumbling around her before the actual walls were.
4. Harry Strickland vs. Jon Snow
When Jon Snow’s army rushed the Golden Army, led by Harry Strickland, after Drogon had decimated the army from behind, the captain-general turned and ran away like a coward. When Jon was shown, in the same fashion, during the Battle of the Bastards (about a minute and a half in), Jon took a heroic stance and was ready to die fighting.
5. “Look at me.”
We heard the Hound say it to Sansa back in season 2 when he urged her to leave King’s Landing with him. And now, in “The Bells,” he says “look at me” to Arya to break her trance of revenge. All Arya knew for this entire series was seeking revenge. But he saves her life once again and convinces her she has more of a life to live instead of dying for nothing. She thanks him by calling him by his real name “Sandor.” This allows him to die with dignity.
Season 8, episode 5 (debut 5/12/19): Pilou Asbæk.
photo: Courtesy of HBO
In memorium
If you were expecting a slew of main characters to bite the dust in the first four episodes, episode 5 finally delivered with the death of six, including three who have been in the series since episode 1. Some deaths were poetic, and some weren’t satisfying enough to many.
Let’s take a moment and remember those we lost during episode 5.
Cersei Lannister (Lena Heady) – We knew there was something off about her from the very beginning. And as each season grew, she cemented herself as a show villain we loved to hate. Played by the ever-talented Heady, she was able to show shreds of humanity and lost a little with every death of one of her children. Many thought she deserved a more fitting death, including me, but she died in the arms of the person she loved most in the world.
Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) – The character who I think grew the most throughout the eight seasons, Jaime also died in the arms of the person he loved. While his love with Cersei was selfish and just wrong, his love with Brienne grew from respect and selflessness. He gave Brienne certain things she needed and wanted before he died and proved he was better than his destiny. But in the end, he needed to protect the one he was with from the very beginning.
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Lord Varys (Conleth Hill) – The Spider met his end at the hands of the Mother of Dragons. Though, it was hard to believe he would ever meet his demise. The ultra-survivalist, you could always count on him for a bit of snarky foreshadowing and commentary. All he wanted was to protect the realm, and he died not knowing if he would succeed.
Sandor “The Hound” Clegane (Rory McCann) – The Hound is proof that one’s bark can be worse than his bite. He had a hard life and used his experiences to survive. Deep down, he knew right from wrong and had a heart. Maybe he developed one from taking care of Arya Stark all that time. Or, maybe he always had one. Nevertheless, he died conquering his biggest fear and reached his end goal: killing his brother.
Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) – I wish I could say I will miss this creature’s red eyes surrounded by his purple skin, but I won’t. He never had a heart and should have died at the hands of Oberyn Martell years before. Good riddance!
Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbæk) – Another “bad guy” gone. He killed his brother, he tried to kill his niece and nephew after he stole the throne from them, he kidnapped his niece and then killed a dragon. Yup, Westeros is better off without this guy in it anymore.
Qyburn (Anton Lesser) – Could the slimy, devious, rejected maester turn Hand of the queen has a better death? Nope. He gave cracked skulls a whole new meaning. He got what he deserved, having been killed by his “greatest creation,” the Zombie Mountain. I can’t say I feel bad for you.
Prediction for the last episode
Many have complained that Jon didn’t do much during the Battle of Winterfell. I feel that he did enough before the Battle of Winterfell to get the right people to the battle (::ahem:: Arya). Remember, Jon died, and the Lord of Light brought him back. The Lord of Light brings everyone back for a reason. I used to think it was to kill the Night King. But now I think it’s to kill Daenerys. There, I said it. I think Jon is going to kill Daenerys. Yes, Arya will be instrumental in helping him kill her, but I think Jon will be the one to do it. Now, whether or not he sits on the Iron Throne in the end, I don’t know. He doesn’t want it, but he’s the rightful heir.
We’ll find out next week on the series finale of Game of Thrones.
Read last week’s recap.