Here at Watchers on the Wall, we don’t usually go into ‘analysis mode’ for a mere episode promo, as that is usually reserved for proper trailers. However, for the season seven finale we are making an exception, as there’s a lot to glean from the promo.
This episode isn’t special just because it’s a finale: at 80 minutes, it’s the longest Game of Thrones episode ever; and, despite that, we have only seen four shots of it in trailers. Even for those of us who dove into spoilers and leaks, there is still mystery around it.
Most of the promo focuses on the sequence that promises to be the main event of the episode, as well as the climax to the main plot this season: the meeting of Lannisters and Targaryens to negotiate an armistice in order to fight their common enemy — death.
First we see Grey Worm and the Unsullied in one of the few shots we’ve seen before, approaching King’s Landing, as well as Euron protecting the bay with the Iron Fleet. Last we saw Grey Worm, he had just easily taken Casterly Rock only to realize it was a ruse by Jaime, and the ‘Best Captain in the Fourteen Seas’ was there to besiege them in their new fort. It appears the siege has been broken for the sake of the armistice.
With a shot so reminiscent to the one in Bran’s season four vision of the Red Keep being literally overshadowed by a dragon, one must wonder if that shot will now come to life. Remember: Daenerys is bringing the dragons as well. Of course, the plan was to bring all three of them, but… — Oh, wait, I have something in my eye. It’s tears. Of sorrow.
Next up, Tyrion, Varys, and Theon approach the capital and Euron’s fleet with a troubled look on all their faces. Be prepared for lots of troubled looks in lots of faces. Tyrion is about to be in front of the woman who wants to murder him more than anyone else; Theon will face his sister’s captor; and Varys is doing his best Napoleon impression.
Just as Tyrion explained in “Beyond the Wall,” it’s not just Unsullied that Daenerys is bringing to this conference. The Dothraki ride through the formations of the Unsullied, as Jaime and Bronn look down from the city walls. They seem troubled too. Both sides are prepared for a trap, so they are all bringing their forces. If the armistice goes awry before it can even flourish, we must assume war will resume immediately.
Incidentally, the wall shots above and below clear up contradictory filming reports. The castles of Trujillo and Almodóvar del Río in Spain were said to depict Highgarden, and there were rumors of Casterly Rock as well. However, director Jeremy Podeswa was spotted on site, and we knew neither of these strongholds would feature in the premiere or finale. In the end, Almodóvar was used exclusively for Highgarden, and the Lannister stronghold was achieved purely through a redesigned Riverrun set and VFX.
So what was Trujillo Castle used for, after all? For a new part of King’s Landing’s walls, apparently. We’ll have to wait and see why the walls of Dubrovnik weren’t up to the task for this one. If I were to venture a guess, it would be that it’s a matter of space. During filming, the courtyard of Trujillo Castle was filled with extras acting as busy soldiers, and the geography of Dubrovnik’s walls don’t allow for such a shot.
In another familiar shot, Sansa looks over the battlements of Winterfell, deep in winter. She may be miles away from the troublesome affairs in the capital, but the Lady of Winterfell has her own damn good reasons to be worried for her life and the North.
We can only hope she is scheming to put an end to the conflict with Arya, preferably by throwing Littlefinger off those very battlements. But please, Sansa, make sure you get it right: throw him inside, like with Myranda, so his head gets splattered, not outside, like when she and Theon escaped, or else he’ll just run away to live and creep another day.
Theon kneels on the sands of Dragonstone in a gesture of defeat, with ironborn behind him. Few had predicted this trailer shot belonged to the finale, and even now the context is difficult to predict. Theon returned to Dragonstone to ask Daenerys for help in rescuing Yara, but we didn’t get to see this conversation take place, and now months have passed. Does this beach scene, filmed in Zumaia, take place before the Lannister-Targaryen parley or afterwards? Has Euron proven to be as terrible as he appears and is Theon mourning the loss of Yara, or is there another reason for his actions here?
In our last known shot of the day, Cersei, wearing truly winter wear for the first time, approaches some seemingly Lannister-clad men in her fancy new strategic map room. We saw the reverse shot of this one in an exclusive Greek trailer back in July, which gave us a better look at Cersei’s clothes and at the Darth Vader-cosplaying Mountain.
The promo ends with a taste of the parley between the three main Houses in this story, which takes place somewhere just as historic as this meeting of almost all the main cast: it’s the ruins of the Dragonpit of King’s Landing. Along with the Red Keep and formerly the Sept of Baelor, the Dragonpit is one of the main landmarks of the capital, but we have never seen it before in the show, and it has only featured briefly in the books.
You might have noticed one of the Lannister soldiers Arya met in the season premiere mentioned the Dragonpit, which is a first for Game of Thrones. If you’re just a show watcher, don’t worry too much about the history of this ruined landmark, as you’ll likely get it next episode, but the basics are that this is where the Targaryens once kept their dragons … until something went terribly wrong, resulting in the death of many dragons and many more smallfolk, as well as the destruction of the dome that covered the pit.
For those of us who ardently followed the production, the filming of the scenes at the Roman amphitheater of Itálica in Seville were among the most exciting this season. There has never been a meeting of this many characters. You can see Jon, Tyrion, Podrick, Dany’s bloodrider Qhono, Varys, Davos, Brienne, Missandei (that’s her fabulous hair between the shoulders of Podrick and Jon in the second photo below), Jorah, Theon, Cersei, Qyburn, and Jaime. Judging by a trailer shot, Sandor is there too.
We know of other characters being there, but those are filming spoilers, hidden here:
The last four shots imply this war might be decided with a battle of stares: Jon and Davos defiantly stare at someone passing by; Tyrion side-eyes the camera; Cersei looks pretty pleased as she looks at her enemies while Jaime looks at her worriedly; and Jon addresses someone, presumably Cersei, with the only dialogue in the promo:
There’s only one war that matters. And it is here.
So that’s it! The season finale promo, shot by shot. It’s almost here. The penultimate season finale we will ever get. In less than a week, we’ll have to wait for more than a year for the eighth and final season to arrive. Mind you, we’ll be there along the way, covering its filming as always, but that’s not half as exciting as actually getting to watch the show. So let’s savor it! Before the drought, we still have 80 minutes left of Game of Thrones!
Hodor
Cersei is the only one of the current rulers who wears a crown. Reminds me of how her father said if you have to keep reminding the people that you’re the king, you’re no king.
I love that stare from Davos behind Jon’s shoulder. He may not be much of a fighter, but if looks could kill! (Reminds me of Lady Mormont. Hope they have a mini-reunion at some point)
Thank you Luka, I really enjoyed this breakdown. 80 minutes will be a lot of time for GOT and I wonder how the events will be sequenced and what else will be in the episode. There is a whole week to ponder all the variables and get ready to savor the finale!
Such a long time ago – when I was young and innocent – I had hoped that Cersei would bite it in Season 7. Alas, now older and wiser, I realize that every plot contrivance will be pursued till the series finale (8.06), just to keep Cersei in the game. It’s really sad how once clever people like Tyrion and Varys, have failed to understand her motivations so completely, in organizing this wight capture and dragon pit meeting and parley. Especially Tyrion, who seems to have lost a significant portion of his brain cells as soon as he landed in Westeros. 🙁
At least the last episode was a tiny bit merciful, as it was minus Cersei and her pixie cut hair. Hopefully, if I am very, very lucky, I will get one Cersei-less episode next season too.
I love Lena, but am beyond ready to be free of Cersei’s perma-smirk. It has done its time.
Let’s not kill anyone I love, k?
A note on Cersei’s costume, in the past when she is in public as queen she wears those magnificent metal shoulder “pads,” but not in this dragon pit scene. One theory has been that she wears the shoulder pieces as a layer of protection against anyone attacking her, like armor. So, why is she without them here? Is she feeling that confident? If so, why? What does she have up her sleeve for this gathering?
I would hope that the threat of mutual destruction (or at least serious damage) would keep her in check but I don’t know if she sees it that way. Maybe she has set a trap and has the better position. Who knows what she could do. Well, we will see.
Kay,
I think you will get at least one Cersie less espiode as there the matter of a NK to deal with.
Great breakdown Luke, let’s hope E7 sets us up nicely for season 8 the very least 😭Season.
I was thinking of Tywin’s words too, only this time regarding Sansa when sending Brienne off to KL, as she said: “I don’t need to be watched over, or minded, or cared for. I’m not a child. I’m the Lady of Winterfell…”
The dragonpit looks awesome!!
I think this is the first and last time we will see so many characters together.
This. Please.
This season went by so fast, it’s really starting to make me sad. Everything was so fast paced, the only thing I can think of as a realistic reason in cutting the number of episodes down is so they had more budget for dragons since they have used them WAY more this year. They do look pretty fantastic though.
The wait of over another year is going to be pretty tough, but as a book reader I could do waiting a year standing on my head.
What’s really killing me, is that after this season and the next, we will still have another 5-7 years of waiting to actually read the final book that will be pretty much spoiled by the show…that is of course if GRRM even bothers to finish the books at all.
More than a year of a wait for S8? Is it confirmed it’s coming out in 2019? I thought those were just rumors and I still believe they are – it seems foolish to drag the series on even more. I understand there is a lot of work to be done but if the start now, they should be done at latest by next August, for release, at previous tempo.
Interesting to note how virtually every major character in the Dragonpit has had their father kill someone else’s father there, or themselves killed someone’s father: Jamie killed Dany’s father, Tyrion killed Jamie’s and Cersei’s (as well as his own…) father, Cersei had (together with Joffrey) Jon’s adoptive father killed, Euron killed Theon’s (and Yara’s) father. There are no Tyrrell or Martell children to mourn their parents because Cersei had them all killed.
The only one really missing to have a full house is Gendry, whose father killed Jon’s real dad and in turn was killed by Cersei.
H.Stark,
Seriously that’s most of the main cast right there
Jon
Davos
Brienne and Pod
Jorah
Varys
Tyrion
The Hound
Jaime
Cersei
Qyburn
Mountain
Theon
Euron (probably though I can’t see him)
Dany-I’m sure-though she’s not in the pics
Oh and Greyworm and Bronn are around there too
Wow.
I just had a thought. I know-clegane bowl-but I wonder if Beric came with them.
I mean, Ned Stark sent Beric to deal with the Mountain back in season 1. Beric was killed by the mountain-twice? Three times?
I think he should be there. You know, to give the Hound moral support… or maybe a flaming sword assist if Cersei’s monster gets rowdy. 🙂
I missed Cersei. Glad my queen is back.
Agreed. It’s time for Cersei to go, or at the very least, do something other than sit around and tighten her leash on Jaime.
I agree. I bet she sits there the whole time with that same damn face even though everyone knows it’s a facade. That’s more annoying than anything.
Since it pertains to the spoiler covered piece in the post I’ll cover as well…
I have to say when seeing Euron’s ships all lined up like ducks that I’d love to see Drogon and Rhaegal swing over and set ’em all ablaze.
I’d been thinking that looks like a lot more Unsullied than there should be (left), but it may not be when trying to estimate by number per fuzzy block. There should be far, far more Dothraki if she brings them all though. It would be neat to see if they show that.
It looked to me like Beric was going to stay at Eastwatch when he said goodbye to Sandor. He believes the Lord of Light wants him there so I don’t think he’s leaving any time soon.
We saw him stay behind at Eastwatch.
Clob,
Luka Nieto,
Man…
It’s probably for the best. Beric definitely would have gone for his sword.
onefromaway,
I actually think she is wearing a chainmail dress, which shows how paranoid and obsessed she is to assert her power in front of the other monarchs.
I bet Daenerys dress will also blow our minds!
The last time we had so many majors in one scene was the purple wedding. I remember how grand that scene was and how hyped everyone was because it was full of interactions. Here’s hoping it’s the same.
All of them together. Only KL and WF are left as story locations now. Just like the first episode. It feels good to be at this point of the story.
I’m not sad that this is the end. After 7 years it is time to end the story. And we still have one more season. Can’t wait until it’s over so I can rewatch the show over and over again Lol.
Looking at the landscape difference between the KL shot of Daenerys’ army and Sansa on the battlements reminds me of watching live events on tv in warm climates compared to my current situation during Winter… It’s almost September too and Winter is coming here all too soon. 🙁
There’s one issue I have with this gathering of luminaries (other than what others have pointed out). There is no effing way that Little Finger would miss out on it- every politically important person left alive in Westeros is either going or sending a representative, and he’s not??????
Cersei and Jon in one scene. I never knew I would get this LOL. This story has and had so many great characters. It would be shame not to combine them.
Dany and Cersei. Dany and Jaime. Euron and Jon. Jaime and Jon again after E2.
It just feels good somehow.
Tyrion and Cersei again together! OMG. The last scene they in wuch they spoke was in S3. So much happened after that.
When Tyrion left KL in S4 I thought it would be really shame if we never got another scene with him.and Cersei.
Anyone else really wondering what fabulous outfit Dany will be wearing for this meeting??? I can’t wait to find out! 😊
The KL parley is a curious thing, even knowing that Dany , well Tyrion, initiated it.
Up front , the only reason to talk to Cersei would be to get her to not interfere in any way, which seems moot, since Euron’s fleet is the only thing she has.
Logic says, with proper precautions, which Dany must be hyper aware of now, the remaining dragons would scare Euron away if not roast him and and some others , sending the Ironborn fleet packing. Then Cersei has really got nothing, not even the Golden Company.
Maybe the meaning of this powwow will be explained , tho logic on the show has not been it’s strong suit this season.
One guess’s Dany will put in a surprise appearance with Drogon?
(Qyburn could be in that scene , but we don’t see him?)
mau,
Reunited and it feels so good!
Dragonpit looks amazing, as do the shots of KL… are the US/ Dothraki definitely approaching KL? I don’t recall there being a flat grassy plain on the approach to the city… it’s surrounded by the blackwater estuary and hilly terrain on the landward side?
I wonder what massive twists are in store. We only have a few tidbits from the leaks, similarly from the trailer… which surely won’t cover 80mins.
My prediction is Cersei is gonna pull some insane move. She even said in ep5 that they need to behave how Tywin would’ve. Well- what did he last do when all his enemies were in one place? 😱😱
Surely we need LOTS of main character deaths, to thin the herd out? And didn’t we get reports here that
Finally- please get Cersei a new look. Her dresses this season are just awful.
If a postman is mad at Jerome Flynn and doesn’t speak to him anymore because he shot and hit Drogon, how does he (and maybe other) react to the latest Episode / Episode 6?
mau,
You already did! Cersei and Jon shared a scene in the very first episode of the first season, mau ;-). At the arrival of King Robert at Winterfell. Such a long time ago…
“When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.”, must be coming in the finale. Go, Sansa!!
I’m not sure what Cersei’s motivations are at this point.
She can’t be planning to double cross her enemies by secretly withholding her assistance before they fight the dead unless she can be sure that they’d win without her help or that she could on her own, without their help. Both of these possibilities have been ruled out.
She could do what Tywin would do, and that is decide to support the alliance so far as that will destroy the threat and weaken her enemies – that’s what Tywin would do. But in order to do that, she has to join with them in the fight and Tyrion already suspects she’d try to seize the throne at the end.
So she can either refuse to help which is stupid, pretend to help, which is stupid, or help while secretly planning to double cross her enemies at some point, which everyone expects her to do anyway.
Sansa featuring in the new ad for Scottish Widows, I see.
Every comment I’ve written for this thread I’ve immediately erased!
I’m too raw from last night and fear I am unjustly lashing out.
I need more time to stew before I discuss the next episode 😀
stew🥘 stew🥘 stew🥘 stew🥘 stew🥘…….
Yep… I don’t think Danys army are marching on KL… the terrain is all wrong..
http://www.madebymark.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/image-1.jpeg
Boojam,
No,the only reason to talk to Cersei is to not lose any more men in this pointless war when the apocalypse is coming,you talk about logic but don’t appear to understand any .
jpwf,
LF is too busy with his plans to worry about that,he’s in a life and death situation right now .
Apollo,
Oh ffs,of course it’s KL, stop making all these theories and then disappoint yourself when it’s your only fault for thinking it’s any other thing . The writer of this article just pointed out why they had to film at a different location and here you come with,oh this is a different terrain,no really ?
What theories did I make up, I’m curious to know? And why would I be disappointed if it is KL? 🤔
Apollo,
You implying that Dany’s army is not marching to KL but to another place when that’s clearly not true .
When you look at that it feels like the story was perfectly constructed. All of them together again, as different people.
Apollo,
Yeah of course i’m a troll because i’m telling you that you are wrong and your theory is clearly non sense .
What does she have to fight with?
Euron’s fleet is easily disposed of.
Then there is nothing but some odd 100 Gold Cloaks and a few Lannister men left.
Boojam,
And you still prove you don’t understand anything,it doesn’t matter how many men does Cersei still have,they need every men they could spare to fight against the dead . But whatever,i’m not bothering anymore .
Pertaining to what Cersei has to fight with, she has the lives of all those in KL and the poor souls fighting in her army to fight with.
She’s willing to die fighting. She’s willing to die allowing others to fight for her even though it means all of their deaths too.
Daeny does not want to needlessly kill civilians. Or soldiers. Cersei does not explicitly know this, but she might be able to glean as much by this season’s events.
The dynamics of the dragonpit will differ; close quarters and everyone will be in each others face. One arrow. Two arrows. And either or both are dead.
Maybe they are reverting to GRRM’s map of KL?
https://i0.wp.com/www.fantasticmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Kings_Landing.jpg
Where else would they be?
You did not answer my question.
She just flat does not have any men left.
Dany could or should care less about Euron’s fleet.
KL could be taken without any loss of small folk.
Boojam,
Quite possibly. I have no idea where it “could” be.
They did initially say it was HG or CR but the architecture isn’t the same. My point is, the detail they put into locations, setpieces etc are usually flawless. Hell, they even take photos of Dany to get the wig just right and the embroidery details they put in the dresses is hardly even visible- I could go on. So I’m surprised to see those open fields outside KL is all.
You guys need to chill and stop attacking each other. It’s gettin real old.
You emphasized “lots.” How many do you expect or desire to lose? People keep saying it like that, but really, overall there aren’t that many “main characters” left as it is. If “lots” is like ten then we’re only left with just about that many, fewer even. Do we want just a handful left for the last several episodes? We have the climax of the entire series yet to come next season – we and they will want as many mains for that as possible.
You know from that view of KL there does not seem to be even the small plain used in Ep 2 Battle of Blackwater.
Which seemed to expand into a bigger plain in order to allow Tywin’s cavalierly charge.
But if Littlefinger’s littleface gets splattered, how will Arya take it?
Good point.
Boojam,
Well we need at least one or two, don’t you think? We’ve not had a “big” death since S5… it’s well overdue, surely?
Isn’t this also the first time Cersei has gone outside since her walk of shame?
But I’m with the others. It’s time for her to die already. She’s become more overdue than Ramsay was a long time ago.
She obviously has something planned, and Dany’s people seem to have learned to expect something bad to happen this time. I’m worried about what it could be, especially with Euron resurfacing. But I also doubt they would do anything to harm another dragon after just killing one of them off. If anything happens to the other two, it won’t be until much later next season (definitely not before Jon finds out who his parents were). I’ve been predicting that Cersei will be taken out in some way in the season finale so they can focus more on the WW war next season, but I feel like I’m letting myself get my hopes up a little too high.
Another thing I can’t help but wonder- Gregor was given a new head as part of his resurrection. Does he still have his own brain or did he also get a new one of those? And how much of his old mind could he possibly still have if it’s still his brain? He already didn’t have much going on up there to begin with lol. I feel like there’s a chance he might not recognize his brother when they cross paths again without being told who he is. But I also have no idea what kind of freakshow magic Qyburn used to bring him back. So who knows lol.
RhaeTarg,
When did Gregor get a new head? When was this revealed?
The Hound said, “Careful Beric, you lost your priest. This is your last life.” Is this some sort of premonition? If the NK attacks Eastwatch, he could take down the Wall with Viserion; Beric is there, along with Tormund and the rest of the Wildlings. I cannot.
S5? The blowing up of the great Sept and every character in it wasnt big enough for you?
I’ve resigned myself to the city and terrain of King’s Landing being inconsistent. We haven’t had an inconsistency this large in years, true, but maybe in context they’ll be able to make sense of it geographically. We’ll see.
I don’t think Cersei cares if Jon and Dany lose to the white walkers. She probably underestimates what a threat the walkers are, and even if she does realize what a threat they are, she also doesn’t care if every last person in Westeros is killed, so long as nobody else can sit on her throne. She’d be perfectly happy to see every last person die if it means her enemies die too. Especially Dany and Sansa, since there’s nothing Cersie hates more than other women.
Ser Broccoli McBroccoliface,
Sure it was huge. And immensely enjoyable. But none of them were “main” characters. I’m talking Ned/Red Wedding/Jon levels of gut punching deaths. Gimme some real pain! 😝
Luka Nieto,
Possibly. Either way, I’ve got almost a week to make my peace with it.. so I promise not to bitch about it next week. I’ll be too awestruck to complain 😝
Luka Nieto,
it seems to me that shot of Theon falling on his knees is
Just give me a 20 second scene of Brienne shocked to see The Hound alive and well, and on Team Jon.
Sandor: “Brienne of F*cking Tarth. ‘The f*ck you doing here?”
Brienne: “I could ask you the same question. I killed you. You should be dead.”
Sandor: “Aye, I should be. But I keep running into dumb c*nt priests who tell me the Lord of this or god of that is keeping me here for ‘a reason’, whatever that is…..”
(Wight shrieks. Sandor kicks it until it shuts up.)
“Hey, I hung out with your boyfriend when we captured this whining dead thing.”
(Wight whimpers.)
Brienne: “Boyfriend?”
Sandor: “The ginger. The one you’re making monster babies with. Maybe you could bite his ear off. I think he’d like that.”
Luka Nieto,
How many true exterior just beyond the wall KL shots have we really had in the series? And from what angles of the city?
I feel like you just channeled the Hound and I can absolutely see that conversation happening.
Yes, thank you, Luka!
We also have Sansa’s voiceover (in the attached season trailer):
We’ve seen lots of Sansa in the godswood, but have we seen the scenes where she looks like she’s being followed? (I apologize if we have. I honestly can’t recall.)
And we seem to be getting a tad more of Jon’s dragonpit speech in this trailer, nearer to the end.
https://youtu.be/1Mlhnt0jMlg
And I know we’ve seen Bran’s supercool wheels, but have we seen them at the heart tree with the maester? https://watchersonthewall.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/30-Bran-wheelchair-maester.jpg
And then what about the Hound here? https://watchersonthewall.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/51-Italica.jpg
Have we seen this outfit? I think we see the back of it in this episode trailer, but it is nice to see the front! https://watchersonthewall.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Screenshot-2017-07-08-20.07.13.png
Jon says, “The Great War is here,” in this season trailer, which is probably a line from the dragonpit speech.
Ginevra,
Jon’s speech from the trailer is a mix of speeches we’ve already heard. You can even hear the cut; it’s from two scenes. Jon to Ned Umber and Alys Karstark, and Jon to Daenerys in the caves. I guess they thought it sounded cooler that way for the trailer, though it doesn’t make sense (Targaryens and Lannisters didn’t exist back then to fight together with Starks against the White Walkers.) Thankfully, in the actual show it all makes sense: the first part about the families fighting together for centuries is Jon talking about the Umbers, Karstarks and Starks, while the rest is all about the Children and First Men.
Jon to Alys and Ned in “Dragonstone”:
Jon to Dany in the caves, “The Spoils of War”:
Oh, and Sandor in the Dragonpit and Cersei in her new dress are linked in the text. Bran’s not there, because that shot with Wolkan is from “Eastwatch,” when he returns from warging beyond the Wall and asks Wolkan to send ravens.
And yes, Sansa with the “pack surviving” bit must be from the finale too.
So what could Cersei possibly have planned? Poison? The Golden Company since it was mentioned? Is she going to try and attack Dany’s army while their having their peace-because-zombies talk?
Did she get Daario trussed up as a hostage?
Is there a raven waiting to be sent to LF with the kill order? What?
I’m just trying to think of what she could possibly have planned at this point when there aren’t that many pieces left on the board. There’s not much family left to threaten, no one wants money…
Are they going to admit who the mole is and try to break up the band?
I don’t think one little walking dead guy is going to make her care about anyone but herself and her throne. I don’t care what she says. We know who she is and what she’s capable of. Especially now.
Luka Nieto,
Thanks!
Yep-this is one of the only things left from the initial trailer. I think the last few episodes they’ve wanted us to think that she could be calling Arya the lone wolf and that it’s sister vs sister to drag out drama-but I cannot see that happening (without losing my mind)
I think this is LF. The Stark kids will kill him and Arya will add his face to her collection.
*plugging my ears to all contrary theories* lol
RG,
Such great thoughts! We’ve yet to have the dragons flying over King’s Landing and the destroyed throne room from Dany’s visions, right? Could that happen in this episode? Is Cersei planning on burning everyone, including herself? Or will she threaten Dany and goad her into releasing fire and blood on KL?
Of course, that might be next season…
Mirri Maz Duur warned Dany in S1: “Only death may pay for life.” The death of Viserion (a magical creature) is going to lead to Dany being able to give birth again.
Dear god, please have someone release that wight on Cersei so it can rip her pretty little smug face off 🙂
If she really is pregnant (and that’s a big “if” because she is definitely the kind of person who would lie about being pregnant to manipulate someone), who else thinks there’s a good chance that Jaime isn’t really the father this time? He is away from home for long periods of time on a regular basis and we already know that she isn’t fully committed to him sexually. Unless being a Lannister is a requirement for her 😉
If she doesn’t die in the finale, I hope she’ll try to pull off some kind of plan that finally pushes Jaime away to the other side with his brother (and Bronn, please) so he can be free to become the kind of character we all know he’s capable of being.
I think that line may be just for the trailer, to be honest.
Last night after seeing the preview, I honestly thought it was Harrenhal and got excited about it…but it would be ridiculous for Cersei to venture out of KL at this point. So we haven’t seen the Dragonpit in the show yet? I guess it’s appropriate then.
Ten Bears,
funny!!
Boojam,
While Cersei’s army suffered a serious defeat, the episode made clear when the army was strung out when it was hit by Dany’s forces. The part guarding the gold had already made it to KL, before the battle started. Even without Euron, she still has significant forces in the Crownlands and the River lands.
I’m really okay if it’s Sunday lol but they love Cersei so she might last a little bit longer. But she will have losses if she does-I think-so that of course makes me worry about Jaime.
Yes!
lalalalalalalala
I can see Cersei threatening to level King’s Landing if any attempts on her life are made -not just mutually-assured destruction but “I’ll kill everyone you want to rule as well and if I can’t have the throne neither can you”. That would keep Jon and Dany in check.
The one from the trailer when you can see the weirwood tree behind her? That was the scene when she first spoke with Bran alone out there when he returned and said all the creepy, “you looked beautiful” stuff.
Clob,
Ah, I knew it was possible we’d seen it. We’ve seen a lot of her in the godswood in that wondeful fur.
I think it is the shot when Bran first comes home, they are in the godswood, and she walks away. In the episode, they cut the scene a beat before we clearly see the figure behind her as she is moving toward the left side of the screen, we just start to see it then cut. But in the promo, the shot goes a beat longer and we can see much more of the figure. I think this is right because of Sansa’s expression, tense and her looking to her side, almost as if she is going to look over her shoulder but doesn’t. But I have not gone back to look at each source, I just remember looking for that promo shot too on a re-watch and when I saw that scene it was like “oh, there it is but wait,….we didn’t get to see the figure in the background.” If this is right, those promo editors know how to build suspense!
But if I’m wrong, then we have what looks like another dramatic scene in that finale!
oops – someone already answered, sorry for the repeat!
Wondering where the mountain Is and if the Clegane bowl is at hand. Does Cerssi counter with mercenaries? Perhaps one more Dragon lost to the giant arrow? Can’t see this going down peacefully.
Eavelyns,
Cersei blowing herself up in the Red Keep rather than accepting defeat and surrendering has been a common suggestion to explain Daenerys’ House of the Undying vision of it destroyed. She’s already shown a willingness to do such a thing on several occasions, through word and action.
Cersei: I choose death.
I wish they had done more with that scene…maybe Bran saw LF pushing Lysa out the moondoor as well? Anyway, Sansa is indeed having a hard reunion with siblings (Arya and Bran) this season. Just wait until Jon comes back to WF riding Rhaegal…Sansa may be the one who has the heart attack!
But what about Ghost?! Jon, don’t forget your faithful direwolf!
I have really come to detest the perma-smirk. It’s ALL she does nowadays. No idea why D&D and/or Martin thought that a character like her could realistically still be bossing around.
From your lips to D&D’s ears! 😀 Of course, just like “Beyond the Wall”, the season 8 episode may be Cersei-less, but still revolving around her in terms of plot. I mean….. did Tyrion EVER think that a wight could make Cersei rethink??? Who is he fooling? Only himself……..
After the battle, Jaime said they would have to march back to where they came from since their ships were toast.
Sadly, Ghost heard about Nymeria and howled “Screw these humans! I’m outta here!”
Arya is gonna stalk Dany, play the game of faces with her, & slip her some moon tea.
Hah! Arya will forever have a grudge because D&D didn’t stick with GRRM’s original outline! 🙂 (J+A+T = bliss)
I hope not.
Honestly I only have a couple of asks for the finale. #1 is getting to see Ghost this season. Even for a second. Jon doesn’t look like he’ll make it back home before the season ends, but I feel like it could happen if Sam shows up at Winterfell. Ghost loves his buddy Sam.
(Other asks are LF death and Jaime breaking up with Cersei before either one of them die.)
But I’d be happy with Ghost…and LF dying. lol
Clob,
O_o oh my!
I’ll root for that. But if they use Ghost as some sort of deus ex machina mechanism to save someone from someone at the last moment at WF, I will frown.
Do you think Sam will show up at WF or will his travel north take a detour?
I definitely think he’s headed for WF. He’s bringing information and aid to Jon. Also at this point, is there time for a detour? I feel like we’re getting to the stage of the endgame where people are gathering-picking their sides etc.
He might have a mini-adventure-but I’m hoping he gets there so we’re not playing “Where’s Samwell?” for a year and a half. lol
At this point, they really just need to have a badly rendered cardboard cutout of Ghost in the background at all times in Winterfell. Like, really pixelated, with a collar that reads “Budget. That’s Right.”
My theory- Cersi has a plan to double cross Jon and Crew. It’s almost successful until Jaime intervenes and kills the mad queen. Tables are set for the final battle in season 8
I must be the only viewer who doesn’t give a shit about Ghost and where he is. I’ve just assumed that he’s stashed safely somewhere until he’s needed plotwise. The constant hand-wringing over Ghost feels unwarranted to me. It has to be a book thing, where warging is more impt to the plot and people are thusly more invested in the fates of those pets.
It’s been clear for some time that incorporating super sized wolves is problematic for the show and they’ve focused their cgi budget on the dragons – for blaringly obvious reasons.
The only reason I ask about Sam’s whereabouts is that KL is between Oldtown and WF (sort of). Given the preview and ep6, Brienne is headed south to KL, Jon/Hound/Dany/Jorah/Varys/Missandei/Tyrion are headed there, Grey Worm and the Unsullied and the Dothraki will be there…all to meet Cersei/Jaime/Bronn/Qyburn/Gregor. All the great players will be there…so why not Sam the Slayer, Reader of Texts, Cleaner of Shit, Feeder of Soup, Healer of Greyscale, Killer of Others?
Pigeon,
There are only two left and one is in the wild. I miss them! lol
Hodors Bastard,
I could see that. However, then I’d be worried about all those super important restricted maester texts and little Sam being anywhere near Qyburn or Cersei.
Did Gendry stay back at Eastwatch? I guess he must have. 🤔
LOL!!!!
I do too. It’s one of the few things that I find a bit disappointing about the show. I know they have their reasons. I was glad to see Nymeria this season! I just wish they’d kept in/completed the scene with Jon and Ghost.
Pigeon,
Well-before Davos introduced him to Jon and he volunteered to join Magnificent 7, Davos planned to send him to WF forge. To make weapons for the coming war.
Wouldn’t that be fun?
Gendry and Sam pulling up at the same time lol
Oh and look-there’s Edd. He’s come by for a visit too, just in time to avoid the ice dragon.
*happy daydream*
I wish Arya would go see Ghost. Beside budget and time issues, would there be a reason why she would not go see Ghost? It has been years since they were around each other but would he be aggressive toward her? Would it break her heart because Jon still has Ghost but Nymeria is wild? If there was more time and money I suppose they would have worked it in.
I hope Sam goes straight to WF, no detours or adventures! There he can do his research, find information that will help stop the NK, spend time with Ghost, possibly mediate things between Arya and Sansa, and Gilly and little Sam could make some new friends. (And they all live happily….scratch that, this is GOT!)
I was just thinking how I miss Edd and his awesome reaction to Brienne/Tormund last year. LOL!
Ah….totally forgot about that. Gendry showing up at Winterfell…
But can you imagine the virtual bitch-slap to Cersei’s brain if he showed up at the Dragonpit? LOL!!!! I would pay to see that. Well, I already pay to see whatever, but I’d pay MORE to see that.
Armies left on the show.
Dany:
Unsullied,Dothraki,those Lannister and Tarly soldiers,”The North”,2 Dragons, Ghost.
Cercei:
Euron, Gold cloaks, few left Lannister men.
Great Other:
Wights Galore,Giants,Bears,Mamoths,White walkers,1Dragon,Summer,Hodor
You guys, someone, I know I’ve complained about this before but I never saw an answer, how do I stop this page from dragging down to the ads playing on the bottom? I open up the article, start reading at the top, and then get sucked down to the very bottom of page and have to force it back up. It’s so annoying! Happen to anyone else?
I’m pretty hyped for the finale. Longest episode ever yay! On a superficial note, Lena’s wig is truly bad, it’s too yellow, looks damaged like straw (which short hair should never really be) and the eyebrows don’t support that shade at all.Her black cape, or cardigan or whatever the heck she’s wearing over her dress looks very fashion forward for this era. Why does Jon look like he hasa hawkish nose in the last pic? It doesn’t really look like Kit Harington, and I know all his angles pretty well lol.
midnightrose,
Yep, I’m now very curious cause she is the only main they aren’t showing in the trailer as far as I can tell. Although I think she looked beautiful in the white dress and I’d be happy with that as a contrast to Cercei’s dark, I think I’d like to see her arrive in something regal and commanding with the Targaryen colors.
Ten Bears,
Rory is that you?
Luka Nieto,
I just want Jon to be a bit more colorful, you know like use some different adjectives when he talks about the threat beyond the wall, the dead and the real war. I just want him to say hey motherfuckas they’re going to rip your ass to shreds and then raise your undead fool ass up as ice cold zombified puppets with strings pulled by a murderous mute king that lives for centuries.
At some point this show had to move away from the intricate drama it once was and more towards high fantasy.. Ice and Fire prophecies, fully grown dragon, White Walker Dragon, Night Kings, Army of the Dead.. The budget and time needed to film these kind of things is massive… absolutely massive and an incredibly long process. Due to this they needed less episodes with a lot of things that need to happen.
The Game of Thrones is stopping and a war between the living and the dead is beginning.
This transition is what everyone is struggling with.. some love it, some don’t like it. I think just be thankful they didn’t try and make it a film or two.
You are spot on with Dany’s and Jon’s message I see…to stop the infighting and get ready for the real war, a long, long winter until season 8… 😉
I have to agree with Luka about using Trujillo Castle as a new part of King’s Landing because the Dubrovnik Castle Walls are narrow AF. You have to walk single file or two people at a time at the most. Also the area surrounding the castle walls are the Adriatic on one side and roads, homes, other forts, shops and Mount Srd on the other so the GoT crew would need to CGI like crazy, and as has been mentioned in many featurettes — they like to use the real thing.
Succubint,
I’m perfectly content imagining Ghost hanging out at Winterfell, safe from zombie hordes and hungry dragons.
/\ This. A million times.
Edd will be the only one alive at the end of next season, sitting on the Iron Throne. “Why couldn’t I be dead?” thought Edd. “Why couldn’t it be me?”
This is what I am hoping for, too. Sam & Company arrive at WF. Ghost comes to greet his buddy. Bran and Sam reconnect. Arya puts away her knives and Halloween masks – for a bit – and realizes that Sam is dedicated to Jon’s cause in trying to save the world. Bran tells Sam important things about the NK and the Tower of Joy. And Sam tells Gilly to get the book that mentioned Prince Ragger’s annulment.
I also think that Sam will find out about the deaths of Randyll and Dickon while at WF.
Yes. No more death to direwolves.
I am wondering about the dagger. It keeps changing hands in similar ways. First Littlefinger haded it pommel first to Bran, attempting to win favour with it. Then Bran handed it to Arya also pommel first, as if it had cooties – seeming to endorse her using it, but also giving her cooties? Then Arya handed it to Sansa after saying she COULD kill her and steal her identity…but she won’t.
It is all kind of weird.
I THINK maybe creepy Arya was trying to say to Sansa that she should let her be the soldier that she is and fight for team Stark in her way, and that is what it meant…my blade is at our service My Lady? Or was she saying just get on with it and stab the creep already Sansa he is yours to kill?
Either way, Dramatic tension aside I do not believe these two are on different teams.
A few thoughts about the next episode: I really want a Rhaegar flashback and I think Ghost is going to get the Bran season 5 treatment this year. I don’t think Cersei is going to help them despite seeing the wight. In fact, I think when she hears they took down a dragon she will probably rather them fight on their own in hopes it takes down her other dragons making the battle between the two far easier for the throne. I hope they finish up the Arya/Sansa conflict too, my only complaint I really had this season. Did I mention I want a Rhaegar flashback? 😉
ygritte,
I installed AdBlock on a chrome browser and I haven’t noticed this problem since.
I’m looking forward to a pay off of the handshake between Jon and Jaime from series one. Even though Jamie is short of a hand.
I want to believe the Dream Team will get out of the Dragonpits safe and sound so they can head back home where the real threat it. But something tells me Cersei isn’t going to let that happen.
Well at least the trailer shows Cersei actually in attendance. Last time she was supposed to be somewhere but did not appear…. the whole place blew up. Having said that, I’m still afraid for those who are there. I think it was in Eastwatch or Spoils of War (?) that she said “there are other ways to win a war.” Ugghhhh, what crazy shenanigans is she going to pull this time?
Clob,
The unsullied took light losses in the taking of casterly rock , the rock fell quite easily , and when euron showed up burning the ships , the unsullied was already safely in casterly rock. anyway eurons fleet and the dothraki riding alongside the unsullied flanks is quite amazing , im starting to think that after the battle on the golden road , season 8 could reach peter Jackson LOTR levels , although the battles here are tougher and harsher more compelling
1) How big is the White Walker army in relation to the combined forces of the living (Unsullied, Dothraki, Euron’s ships, Northerner army and Lannister forces)? I know the White Walkers can just resurrect and replenish at will (and likely during a battle) therefore is the end game just kill the White Walkers/Night King and be done with it? I know that is what the show is pointing towards but I don’t want it to be well they have a bigger army but we just kill the Night King and win.
2) Assuming the White Walker army greatly outnumbers the living, it seems the living has the advantage that they will be able to kill more wights because of expertise, etc (see Beyond the Wall last week) so does it even matter?
IvarValyrianLord,
Yeah, I realize they haven’t had massive losses, but they have had continual losses along the way from Astapor… and they don’t replace or add to the remaining number. It’s just a guess but I’ve been assuming it could be down to 6-6.5k from ~8k. Maybe I’m overestimating the casualties a bit. It’s hard to guess how many were killed while in Meereen.
The exact number isn’t really important in what I was commenting on though. When I first looked at the picture it just seemed like a lot to me. Then I tried to get a general idea of the numbers shown and it does appear like they’ll be showing it to be between 6-8k. I had to look at the shot of them leaving Astapor to remember that it too looked like a shit ton.
“Before the drought, we still have 80 minutes left of Game of Thrones!”
Ugh. This is just so sad.
Lot of people saying that Cersei wouldn’t care about the wight and that the plan is doomed to fail because of that. I believe, though, it is important for the whole Seven Kingdoms to see to believe, Not only Cersei and her crew, but Jaime, the maesters of the citadel, all the houses of Westeros, everyone.
My personal view is that Tyrion is aiming this reveal of the wight and the danger of the NK is at Jamie, he is Cersie’s commander of the Lannister forces. Tyrion could be thinking that Jamie will persuade Cersie of the danger. Does Tyrion know just how determined she is to hang onto the throne? I don’t think.
After all the Maesters didn’t think the Wall will fall but of course they are going to do further research.
CLUGANEBOLE CONFERM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Srsly tho, what better place than the D-Pit, and what better time than NOW.
There are any number of possible contexts… trial by combat, trap laid by Cersers, zombie mountain can’t control his rage when he sees Sandor, vice versa.
It’s happening, and I hope it’s like 45 of those 80 precious minutes.
ygritte,
I had that sort of stuff happening while using Firefox, to the point that I stopped visiting this site entirely for a while. Far be it from me to recommend Microsoft products to anyone, but my user experience (at least on WotW) has been wayyyy better using the Edge browser that comes with Windows 10.
Andre Carneiro,
Agreed. Cersei will give zero fucks, but Jaime, on the other hand, might take it seriously. I really hope that even if Cersei doesn’t die in the finale, it will be the long awaited episode where Jaime cuts the cord for the good of the realm. Maybe he’ll refuse to be a part of her planned ambush once he sees the wight and grasps what is at stake.
And if Arya doesn’t cut the crap soon, I’d be happy to see HER thrown off of the battlements at Winterfell. *grumble* Winterfell is turning out to be this season’s Dorne.
Gorgeous picture of Sansa! This season is unbelievable. Such a roller coaster of emotions. I am both super excited and kind of sad about the final episode of the season.
Thoughts.
Does Grey Worm command both the Unsullied and the Dothraki now?
Interesting, the Dothraki have kind of ‘winter gear’ , gonna need something heaver.
(What they are wearing in the ‘dragon pit’ seems more costume than they were wearing earlier. )
Interesting that we see Theon in that dragon pit meeting but not Euron.
But then Dany should show up soon , so could Euron.
Dany commands the Dothraki directly as their Khaleesi. But her chief lieutenant appears to be a bloodrider named Qhono, played by Staz Nair. He was one of the two Dothraki who were leading her as a captive to Khal Moro in Season 6, and making insulting comments to her. But he bent the knee to her when she burned down the Temple of the Dosh Khaleen, and he’s made regular appearances ever since – he greeted Jon and company when they arrived on Dragonstone, he accompanied Tyrion to the battefield and told him “Your people can’t fight”, and he brought Jorah to her in Episode 5. You can see him in the trailer for the finale as well (at 0:33), standing with Jon and the rest.
Jared,
Actually Qhono only appeared in 3 episodes season 6. In 7 he will appear in 5 this season.
Thought , in S6, he would have been in the front row of Dothraki for Dany’s Drogon-locker-room speech, but he wasn’t. His last episode was 4 in S6.
Thought Ornela might be back , she was there with Qhono in the Blaze-scene and the submit to Dany deal, but nope S6E4 was the last we saw of her.
The episode is called “the Dragon and the Wolf” which is a direct parallel to episode 408- “the Mountain and the Viper” which was a trial by combat between Oberyn Martell and Gregor Clegane. Just a theory, Cersei will want to try Tyrion for his crimes against Tywin back in season 4, so they’ll hold a trial by combat. Cersei will pick the Mountain to go against Tyrion, and the Hound will volunteer as champion after he realizes his brother is about to ruin the best chance they have of beating the white walkers. Also, he’d be getting vengeance. It’d take away Cersei’s final bit of power, redeem the Hound(we all know that face off has been coming since season 1) and be an amazing battle scene. Thoughts?
I would rather have six regular sized episodes next summer than super sized ones in 2019.
So, did I miss something – is Dany in the trailer? No Dany? No dragons?
And why is Podrick walking in front of Brienne? That’s not right.
Lee Pierce,
My thoughts are : please, no. I have zero interest in seeing those two fight each other.
Excellent article! I just wrote a long post and for some reason the site crashed in my browser and I lost everything before I could hit post. Anyway in short despite knowing two plot points for this episode at 80 minutes long I feel very unsullied!
I’m going to speculate/guess the following is going to happen:
– The wall comes down.
– Jamie kills Cersei
– Euron kills Yara (this is the trigger for the Theon scene)
– We get some sort of Clegane bowl at the parlay which doesn’t go according to plan.
The above still feels light for an 80 minute episode though!
I won’t speculate about Winterfell as I partially know what happens there.
Also given the episode title do we think we are getting a Bran flash back with Rhaegar in?