1) Learn from your enemies
You have to give it to Cersei because yet again, she out outmaneuvered everyone after predicting Daenerys’ imminent attack on Casterly Rock and deploying her forces elsewhere.
In a nice throwback, Jaime Lannister said that this ‘bait and switch’ tactic was inspired by Robb Stark’s forces at Whispering Wood.
For those that need a brief reminder, the Battle at Whispering Wood was a pivotal one during the War of the Five Kings. It’s said that the Lannisters lost ten men for every Stark soldier but more importantly, they lost their stranglehold over the Riverlands.
Essentially, Robb Stark sent out a raiding party which drew Jaime from his camp. After being blindsided, Jaime refused to retreat and proceeded to head into a forested valley and fight. Ultimately, Jaime was caught in the trap that Robb set for him and was captured.
After the battle, the Lannister forces around Riverrun were left leaderless.
Jaime giving Robb Stark the shoutout. #GameOfThones
— Winter is Coming (@WiCnet) July 31, 2017
2) Where’s Bran’s head at?
We know that winter is here, but plenty of people were curious about why Bran seemed so apathetic, distant and cold after being reunited with Sansa.
In simple terms, given that Bran is now the Three-Eyed Raven, he’s almost like a god now so one specific moment in time is irrelevant when measured against the complexities and importance of every pivotal moment in the past, present and future.
Right now, he’s on a higher level of consciousness than everyone around him. In more humane terms, he has been North of the Wall for almost three seasons and has faced death at every turn.
All this without mentioning the fact that he’s still very young and was culpable in destroying Hodor’s life – hell, he caused his mental deterioration and was responsible for the wights discovering and attacking him.
Still though, of all the memories to dwell on, why did he opt for Sansa and Ramsay’s wedding night?!?!
Bran: "I can never be lord of anything, I'm the three eyed raven"
Sansa: pic.twitter.com/CycyHcyCXi
— AB (@AlannaBennett) July 31, 2017
3) The Bastard of Winterfell reunited with the dwarf of Casterly Rock
After they meet on the shores of Dragonstone, there’s a nice throwback moment to when Tyrion spent time with Jon at The Wall.
Pissing off the edge world has never been this much fun.
4) The castles on the hills
Ladies and gents, after much discussion and expectation, we finally got to see them.
Feast your eyes on Highgarden and Casterly Rock.
5) A moment on the lips
In a lovely act of symmetry, death was once again signified with a kiss and a glass of wine in Game of Thrones.
This episode really had a feel of things coming full circle and these images personify that.
Revenge has never been so morbidly poetic.
6) The Red Woman
Aside from clearly defining what we already knew – Jon and Daenerys are the very literal meaning of ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ – there was a lovely moment when the Red Priestess did the impossible, she actually shook Varys to his core and made him worry.
There was something very ominous with her promise to return when she said to him “I have to die in this strange country, just like you.” The Spider may have no clue about his imminent future, but after visiting Volantis, we have a feeling why Melisandre might return to this part of Westeros.
In the sixth episode of season three, Melisandre encountered Arya while buying Gendry from The Brotherhood Without Banners.
“I see a darkness in you. And in that darkness, eyes starring back at me. Brown eyes, blue eyes, green eyes. Eyes sealed shut forever. We will meet again,” she says to Arya.
She’s on Arya’s kill list so watch this space.
7) A brief history of Torrhen Stark
You may have heard his name mentioned because in Dany’s view, The North should still be loyal to House Targaryen after a vow that the ‘King Who Knelt’ made to Aegon I .
Essentially, after destroying Harrenhal and obliterating the forces of the Reach and Casterly Rock at the Field of Fire, Aegon Targaryen had a huge army of troops and three dragons by his side.
Knowing that he was facing a lost cause, Torrhen Stark swore fealty to House Targaryen and was ultimately named the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North in return.
Ice meets fire 👀#GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/12LRRJJ3SW
— Jon Snow (@JonNightsWatch) July 31, 2017
8) Jon’s idea of chatting a girl up
Dany described it perfectly when she said that the brooding King in the North “refused to call me queen, bow and now he’s calling me a child.” You have to admire Jon’s commitment to the ‘Northern gruff’ persona!
There’s still romantic hope for them yet though, but we’ll talk about that later.
Also, did anyone else notice how Jon refused to even look at Dany in the eye when they were in the Dragonstone throne room? It’s like he’s the one that’s playing hard to get.
We also loved Davos’ reaction after he heard the list of Dany’s titles.
What a wingman.
Daenerys has far too many titles 😂 #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/8dptyZq7Bl
— Jon Snow (@LordSnow) July 31, 2017
This begin said, you have to admire the fact that Jon’s consistently a man of his word – cast you mind back to his decision not to throw the Umber and Karstark children out of their homes in the season opener.
Speaking about the meeting with EW, Kit Harington said : “I predicted, like everyone, they would meet this season, but I don’t think I predicted it quite as quickly. But then again, you’ve got to take yourself out of the mindset of the viewer. As far as Jon knows, he’s just meeting this queen he’s heard of and trying to negotiate with her — he’s not meeting Daenerys, who the audience has been watching for so many years. That helps with the surprise of it. He walks into the room and doesn’t expect to see such a beautiful young woman of similar age to him. Any young man’s reaction is going to be, ‘Okay…’ but he puts that aside, because he has to.”
Emilia Clarke adds: “I had an idea it was coming this season, sure. It was fun to play — she doesn’t like him and she doesn’t believe him.”
9) Euron Greyjoy’s kinks.
Aside from stealing scenes and kicking ass, Euron is getting some of the best lines this season and he delivered another doozy to Jaime Lannister.
Such is the strangeness of Game of Thrones that talk of having a ‘finger in the bum’ just sounds normal at this stage!
10) “Why did you do that?”
It takes an actor of real skill to humanise a monster. Even though Cersei was about to execute a cold, vengeful and absolutely sick act of revenge, there’s a lovely moment when she finally dwells on the memory of her dead daughter Myrcella.
As we’ve previously seen, the Queen is refusing to talk about her death, even with Jaime, but for one split second, the walls came down and we saw a more vulnerable and humane side to Cersei.
She loves her children – it’s probably her only saving grace as a person – but this moment is probably the last time that we’ll see the Queen openly display the smallest segment of a soul.
Moments later, she instructed her troops to “make sure the guards change the torches, I don’t want her (Ellaria) to miss a thing” as she’s forced to watch her daughter slowly decay for eternity.
That’s why everyone loves to hate Cersei.
11) Back from the dead
After Ser Davos exalted Jon’s virtue, courage and leadership qualities by telling Dany that he “took a knife in the heart for his people,” there was a little moment of intrigue that was developed upon later in the episode.
It appears that Dany has some lingering thoughts on this issue of Jon being stabbed in the heart.
Mmm, has Melisandre left Dragonstone yet? After all, she was the one that actually revived the former Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch at Castle Black.
Does Dany need another character witness to believe just how virtuous Jon Snow is?
12) The look of love
We all saw it.
That lingering look that Daenerys gave Jon as he left to mine the dragon glass.
If these two do hook up – remember that they’re nephew and aunt – then she’ll need a new catchphrase. “You better get to work Jon Snow” doesn’t sound as good as “you know nothing Jon Snow,” does it?
13) A siege of Winterfell?
We’re purely in the realms of speculation here, but it appears that Sansa is already making provisions for the eventuality that the Northern forces may have to take refuge behind the walls of Winterfell.
Planning for the worst case scenario is good leadership, but could we be seeing the Night King’s army reach the bastion of House Stark at some point?
14) Jorah’s back in the game
Did anyone else notice that Jorah’s lower lip was quivering when he said goodbye to Sam?
Yet again, Sam’s everyday decency could have massive implications on the wars to come.
Also, it’s very likely that Sam’s ‘punishment’ for helping cure Jorah’s gresyscale could actually be beneficial.
He’s studying and copying the very oldest books and scrolls in the library.
Any chance that these might have information and stories that are so old that the info is no longer considered to be factual but rather folklore?
Say, stories about White Walkers, dragons and Children of the Forest?
15) Dragons to the rescue
Now that the Unsullied are under siege at Casterly Rock from Euron’s fleet and are devoid of resources and food, they’re going to need some help to escape the Lannister fortress.
Anyone remember this image from the season trailer?
Expect the next episode to be action packed.
16) Bronn is back.
Aside from The Hound and Tyrion, only one man can dish out the one-liners and insults with such skill and aplomb.
Even if he’s fighting for the Lannister forces, we’re delighted to see him back after being absent from the first two episodes.
An old line that he said to Tyrion even got a shout out in this episode.
Loved the Bronn shoutout pic.twitter.com/WGWObsgbTz
— Jasmin || Eras Tour Munich N1/N2 (@SunandSpear) July 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/hstahlhut/status/891853320310185985
17) Widow’s wail
Christ almighty, we’re going to miss Olenna Tyrell.
Who didn’t love the Queen of Thorns when she said that Joffrey “really was a cunt.”
Olenna just called Joffrey a cunt. I AM HOLLERING! I love this woman! #GameofThrones
— Luvvie (@Luvvie) July 31, 2017
