Just when you thought last week’s episode of Game of Thrones was contentious, along comes “The Bells”, to barrel down your door (see picture above), divide your friends, and perhaps even align you with some of your enemies. Every Facebook and Twitter this side of the Narrow Sea has thoughts and opinions about our favorite show’s penultimate episode. But I’m not here to talk about your cousin Peter who thought the episode was “cool because the dragon lady burned stuff.” I’m not here to talk about your friend Sarah who thinks it was terrible because “it was too long and violent.” I’m also not here to talk about your Great Aunt Sally, who wants to know if you DVRed that great Hallmark movie that aired last night. No, friends, I’m here to gather up the critics’ thoughts and see what they thought about the decimation of King’s Landing. And whoa boy, did they have some THOUGHTS. And FEELINGS.
Game of Thrones Post-Mortem of “The Bells”
The penultimate episode of Game of Thrones featured betrayal, triumph, and tragedy. In “The Bells,” we saw a grieving and despondent Daenerys finally win her victory over Queen Cersei – only to have it turn to literal ashes. Many characters were taken from us, while others were traumatized by the unleashing of “fire and blood.” Where does the story go from here? We have one more Sunday to find out. In the meantime, let’s break down this episode like Drogon broke down the Red Keep with today’s interviews and videos!
Unsullied Recap Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 5: The Bells
Spoiler note: The discussion in this post is primarily for non-book readers (book fans can discuss the show-only here). We ask that all Sullied book-readers refrain from posting any mentions/references to the books in the comments here, veiled or otherwise. No spoilers, at all! This show is best viewed without knowing all the surprises beforehand or afterwards, so please be respectful of your fellow fans. Thank you!
The biggest can of fucking worms ever opened has just been opened (no pun intended). A Man brings you a recap of it.
If we’re being honest, that was probably not what you were hoping for. But now, it is what it is. You can choose to accept the story as it was told or you can choose to deny it and pass it off as bad writing, or fan fiction, or whatever else makes you feel better.
But we got what we got. And regardless of whether or not you agree, you have to admit that this episode was terrifying, and horrid, and surreal, and something that will make you reflect for a long time. In that sense, “The Bells” was monumental.
Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 5 “The Bells” Recap
Hear the tolling of the bells—
Iron bells!
What a world of solemn thought their monody compels!
Spoiler Note: This is our book reader’s recap, intended for those who have read the A Song of Ice and Fire series. The post and the comments section may contain spoilers from the novels, whether or not that material has appeared on the show yet. Because no, we are not all Unsullied now. If you have not read the books yet, we encourage you to check out our non-book-reader recap, by Oz of Thrones!
Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 5 Open Chat, with Night’s Cast Livestream!
Game of Thrones Season 8, Episode 5
Writers: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
Director: Miguel Sapochnik
Runtime: 1 hr 18 minutes
Content Warnings: TV-MA: Adult Content, Adult Language, Graphic Violence
Video Preview: Season 8 Episode 5 Trailer
Judging Jaime: Reconsidering the Kingslayer
In Game of Thrones season eight’s fourth episode, “The Last of the Starks,” rakish cad Jaime Lannister broke more hearts than just Brienne of Tarth’s when he turned his back on a cozy life at Winterfell. A section of the fanbase had been very invested in Ser Jaime and Brienne forging a romantic relationship; but word from the south of Daenerys Targaryen’s vengeful intentions towards Jaime’s sister Cersei apparently prompted the Kingslayer into sneaking out of bed, saddling up his horse to head away from the North and his Night’s Watch vows. Luckily, Sam and his black brothers caught up to Ser Jaime and convinced him to stay. No wait. That was Jon Snow in season, when he had planned on heading south to join in on a fight with the Lannister regime, but had responded to the pleas from his fellows to remain where he was.
Ser Jaime is not like the heroic and selfless Jon Snow.
But we knew that already. Or had we forgotten?
On The Fandom Road: Someone
I was a latecomer to the world of George R.R. Martin. Unlike many of my colleagues here at Watchers on the Wall, I watched the show before I read the books—sort of.
Technically, I was introduced to A Song of Ice and Fire on high school by my then girlfriend. She had a crush on Jon Snow. I was only dimly aware of what the whole thing was, despite numerous recommendations by her and a few other fellow geeky friends of mine. I was busy reading I-don’t-know-what. By my first year at uni, I’d idly kept track of the show’s development and I remember telling my ex about it once the first teaser trailer was released. That’s when I thought, “what better time to read the books?” I got about halfway through A Game of Thrones before getting distracted by the very important task that occupied most of my time during university: being depressed in bed.
“Game of Thrones” Season 8, Episode 5 Preview
The Battle of King’s Landing is upon us and if Emilia Clarke’s interview with Jimmy Kimmel is anything to go by, then you might want to find the biggest television screen you can to see how the climactic battle of Game of Thrones comes to a head.
Curtain Call: Nathalie Emmanuel
In a show that is often (if sometimes wrongly) defined by the cruelty and short-sightedness of some of its characters, Missandei’s kindness, perseverance, and loyalty made her stand out from the cast. Indeed, many of us hope to ever be as worthy of the kind of loyalty that Missandei so thoroughly inhabited.
Nathalie Emmanuel made her first appearance in the Season 3 premiere “Valar Dohaeris” as the translator owned by the cruel Kraznys mo Nakloz (Dan Hildebrand). Instantly we could see that there was a deeper brilliance and complexity in the character than how she was initially presented and that in large part was due to Emmanuel’s charismatic performance. She added an instant depth to the character, a depth she would build upon beautifully as the series progressed.
Ramin Djawadi’s Game of Thrones Live Concert Tour Returns to North America!
If you missed Emmy Award-Winning Game of Thrones composer Ramin Djawadi’s Live Concerts in 2017 or 2018, or you merely want to relive it with final season additions, you’ll get the opportunity this Fall, on a 20-city amphitheater tour throughout Canada and the US. If you wish to know the dates for your nearest city, check the details below!