Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers! This is the episode that the Game of Thrones fans, especially the original fans who first read the very fir...
Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers!
This is the episode that the Game of Thrones fans, especially the original fans who first read the very first book in the Song of Ice and Fire novel, A Game of Thrones, have been waiting for. Mainly because of two major things. The sailing of Daenerys Targaryen back to Westeros with her armies of the Unsullied, Dothraki, Greyjoys' and the three massive fire-breathing dragons, and of course the revelation of Jon Snow's parentage, confirming one of the most popular fan theories after two decades since Jon Snow was introduced.
More spoilers below, so in case you have not seen The Winds of Winter episode yet, you migh want to stop reading for now and come back when you are done watching the episode or if spoilers don't bother you anymore, please feel free to proceed and let's talk about season finale of Game of Thrones in the comment section below. Let me know, which ones I got wrong and which ones I missed in this article. : )
Ready?
So it was yesterday, June 27, 2016, the last day of Game of Thrones Season 6. Episode 10: The Winds of Winter was just aired on HBO here in the Philippines and it was an explosive of a season finale. I mean literally, metaphorically and visually!
Light of the Seven
The episode opened with everyone, in the morning, preparing for the trial. Cersei, Tommen, Margaery, High Sparrow. All in silence with a great musical score playing in the background. In case you are wondering what the music in the background was for this scene, it's called Light of the Seven.
The Trial of the Faith started even without the presence of King Tommen Baratheon and his mother Cersei Lannister. Even though, we saw them preparing and dressing up at the beginning of the episode, they did not come. Obviously, Cersei was actually preparing something. She ordered Ser Gregor Clegane (aka The Mountain aka Ser Robert Strong in the book), to guard King Tommen at his chamer and not allow to leave.
Back at the trial, Ser Loras Tyrell, while in front of many people from King's Landing with Kevan Lannister, Margaery and Mace Tyrell, confessed all of his sins and pledged his life to become one of the warriors of the faith like what Lancel Lannister did, renouncing his name and claims to the Tyrell family. High Sparrow accepted his offer and right then and there the faith militant tattoo was carved on his forehead with a knife. Can't imagine how painful it was.
Cersei has Gone Full Mad Queen
Cersei Lannister did not attend the trial because, she was to blow the Great Sept of Baelor up. She did, using containers of Wildfire stored right beneath the Sept of Baelor, killing almost half of the characters in King's Landing.
RIP Margaery Tyrell
RIP Mace Tyrell
RIP Loras Tyrell
RIP Kevan Lannister
RIP Lancel Lannister
RIP High Sparrow
RIP Maester Pycelle (killed by Maester Qyburn's "little birds")
RIP Septa Unella (tortured and probably killed by the reanimated The Mountain)
RIP Tommen Baratheon (or Lannister, killed himself)
Poor King Tommen, there was nothing he could do but to watch the Great Sept of Baelor, through his chamber's window, collapse to the ground knowing that his wife and Queen Margaery was in it. The next thing I saw, he walked away from the camera screen, I heard he put down his crown, went back to the window, climbed up and flatly jumped to his death. To be honest, I felt so sad for him, killing himself because there nothing he could do and because of his own mother's action.
Maester Qyburn and Cersei learned King Tommen's suicide. Soon, she was crowned the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. From afar within the Throne Room, Jamie Lannister was looking at her witnessing what Cersei has become. She's gone full mad queen mode, burning people alive at the Sept using Wildfire, the very same reason why Jamie Lannister killed the Mad King Aerys (which was quickly shown through Bran's flashback scenes a couple of episodes ago). Is this a foreshadowing? Is Jamie also going to kill Cersei?
The Freys and the Lannisters Send their Regards
At Riverrun, Jamie Lannister, Ser Bronn, his men were having a celebration with Walder Frey and his people. Discussing things about their defeated enemies and mocking each other. The settings of this scene and the words uttered by Walder Frey "The Freys and the Lannisters send their regards" of course reminded me of the Red Wedding and I had a feeling that there will be death by the end of this victory party.
The Grand Citadel
Samwell Tarly and Gilly reached the Grand Citadel where all the to-be-maeasters study. Upon arrival, Sam and Gilly seen looking at the what looked like the main tower of the Citadel where thousands of white ravens were sent out to all of Westeros, sending of white ravens signals the change of season. So yeah, THE WINTER HAS FINALLY COME!
Winter is Here
Winter is here, Sansa told Jon Snow as they were having a discussion. But prior to this, back at the banquet hall Ser Davos Seaworth confronted Melisandre in front of Jon Snow about the burning of Shireen and accusing her of murder. Davos, asked Jon Snow to execute her for this reason. However, Jon banished her instead and ordered to ride south, if she returns north Jon said he will hang her as murderer.
Martell, Tyrell and Targaryen Join Forces
Ellaria Sand together with the Sand Snakes invited Lady Olenna Tyrell to Dorne and talked about joining their forces together against the Lannisters. This scene was so great seeing Lady Olenna Tyrell hitting on the Sand Snakes one by one making their mouths shut and just hear the words of proposal straight from Ellaria Sand. Olenna seemed to agree, right after Varys suddenly summod in the discussion table and only said "Fire and Blood". So this was Varys' mission when he left Meereen in the previous episode, to make alliances with other houses before having Daenerys go back to Westeros and reclaim her throne and to secure fher victory. Hopefully, everything will fall into proper places and we'll see a Targaryen sitting on that uncomfortable chair made out of melted swords.
Daenerys Says Goodbye to Daario Naharis and Helo to her First Hand of the Queen
The Mother of Dragons prepared for her sail across the Narrow Sea with her massive fleet. Unfortunately, she told Daario Naharis not to come with her and she needs someone to keep the peace in Meereen and keep alliances from the east. Daario Naharis, with full of self pity and burdened with a heavy heart, accepted his queen's decision without shedding a tear.
Next scene, Tyrion and Daenarys had a little talk about her being "in the great yet terrifying game". And appointed Tyrion Lannister as her Hand of the Queen with matching The Hand badge pinned to his chest. It was a great moment. Tyrion has clearly earned Dany's trust... and the Dragons'.
The Stark's Revenge
Back at the dining hall at Riverrun, Walder Frey enjoying his mid-day meal. A serving wench brought him a pie. Walder recognized that this girl was not one of his, grabbed her ass as he always did to other girls of his house, and asked where his two sons were as they were supposed to meet each other by this time in this place.
Walder: "Where are my damn moron sons?"
Girl: "They are here, my lord"
She answered as she served a slice of pie to Walder, and revealed that she killed his sons and mixed their meat into the pie. She even commented "They weren't easy to carve, especially Black Walder.". Walder, looking shocked while checking out the inside of the pie, then stared back at this unknown girl. The girl removed her mask.. it was Arya! And she said "My name is Arya Stark. I want you to know that," "The last thing you ever going to see is a Stark smiling down at you as you die." Arya grabbed his head from behind, and sliced her throat, mirroring the way Lady Catelyn Stark was killed at the Red Wedding.
R + L = J Confirmed
Or half of it. Bran Stark and Meera Reid have parted ways with Benjen Stark. After Benjen has said his goodblye to the two, Bran, lying near a Godswood, decided to go greenseer and see what actually happened at the Tower of Joy with his then young father Ned. There it picked up from where he and the Three-Eyed Raven left off, Bran followed his father up the castle. They entered in a room where Lyanna lying in bed, weak and with blood all over her dress. As Bran was standing near the door, he watched Ned talked to Lyanna. Lyanna whispered some barely hearable words to Ned. Dying Lyanna said something about "Robert would kill if he finds out," and said her last famous words "Promise me, Ned."
As Lyanna said these, a baby was handed to Ned by one of Lyanna's helpers at the Tower of Joy. Nothing was said anymore after this. The camera focused on the face of the newly-born baby and as soon as the baby opened his eyes, the next scene was slowly panning out from Jon Snow's face at banquet hall. Confirming Jon Snow's real mother. The famous R + L = J theory says, it was Prince Rhaegar the real father of Jon Snow. Lyanna asked Ned Stark to keep Jon's real identity because if Robert Baratheon finds out, he will kill Jon Snow. Robert Baratheon hated the Targaryens and really wanted to kill every Targaryen he could lay his hands on.
This episode has officially confirmed that Lyanna Stark is Jon Snow's mother but not yet his father's identity. The Game of Thrones TV show's doing some things off the books. They maybe changing this particular thing (Jon Snow's father's identity) in the show, or maybe following this actually that Rhaegar Targaryen was Jon Snow's real father. If I were to ask, I think it is Rhaegar that fathered Jon Snow, it is very important to his character. We'll find out the truth in the last two seasons of Game of Thrones.
The King in the North 2.0!
At the banquet hall in Winterfell, Jon Snow and Sansa Stark were meeting with the lords of other houses in the north. Lady Lyanna Mormont was there too, and she nailed this scene like a boss. Other lords realized their mistake in not fighting with Jon Snow against Ramsay Bolton's army. They regreted it and swore allegiance again to Jon Snow and house Stark declaring him King in the North.
With this King in the North scene, I am excited and worried at the same time. You know this was like the same scenario when Rob Stark was also crowned King in the North, but was later killed horribly at the Red Wedding. I hope Jon Snow's fate is different this time.
Daenerys sails back to Westeros
Finally... finally... Daenerys is sailing back to Westeros to claim the Iron Throne and become with her massive army of Dothraki, Unsullied, Theon and Yara's force and her three mighty dragons. And of course with the help from other big houses in Westeros too. Dorne and Highgarden.
The end! and the Game of Waiting begins for Season 7.
I maybe wrong but my list says it is going to be Daenerys' army together with the Greyjoys' (minus Euron's of course), Dorne's, Tyrell's and Jon Snow's versus the Lannisters and those of Riverrun. And then, all of humanity versus the White Walkers.
Right at this very moment we are left with two more seasons for 2017 and 2018. Unfortuantely, that's only going to be 7 episodes for Season 7 and 6 episodes for Season 8. So some of my predictions here are we are to see one more big war between Daenerys Targaryen vs The Lannisters, then the great war against the White Walkers in the final season.
While I am very sad to realize that only two more seasons are left for us, I am on the other hand is also very excited to see how everything will fall in their places and how the whole series will end. I am hopeful that this is going to be a very epic and satisfying ending regardless if our beloved characters die or live.
What do you guys think of this Season Finale? Pag-usapan natin sa commecnt section sa ibaba! : )
