*Contains spoilers*
The penultimate episode of the seventh season of George RR Martin’s Game of Thrones was a little hard to take in. While it was 10-15 minutes longer than the average episode, everything, somehow, seemed rushed. The timeline made no sense – especially the ridiculously quick way each character got to their destination.
Nevertheless, there were moments to rejoice and moments to cry over, now that the season is set to end. Right from the battle with the White Walkers till the final scene that would make every fan squeal in horror (or joy, depending on whose team you’re on), the end is nigh and there’s little hope left.
*****
Jon Snow
Picking up from last episode ‘Eastwatch’, the sixth episode ‘Beyond The Wall’ pretty much took place beyond The Wall. Jon, Jorah, Gendry, the Hound, Beric Dondarrion, Thoros of Myr, and a group of the Free Folk led by Tormund walk around to capture a White Walker to present to Cersei.
Things go awry when they do catch one, however. The White Walkers led by the Night King surround the men as Gendry rushes off to send a raven to Daenerys.
Stuck on a small patch of land in the middle of an icy lake, the White Walkers watch the men closely. Both parties spend the night watching each other. It almost seems like the end for Jon Snow and his men.
Beric and Thoros fire up their sword. The others are in position, too. Fewer than 10 vs 1000s of zombies. It’s a war no one has prepared for.
They fight, and fight, and down goes Thoros.
While fending off twenty White Walkers, Tormund looks at Jon, and Jon looks back. A dirge plays in the background, signalling that all hope is lost in this fight. It’s almost too heartbreaking to watch.
And then, a huge shadow falls over them. The flap of heavy wings are heard, and three squawks.
Daenerys and her dragons arrive to the rescue. It becomes a game of ice and fire, with the fire breathing dragons causing mayhem among the dead.
The Night King, watching from afar, isn’t pleased. He readies his ice spear, aims, and throws.
Night King
And that’s the last we hear of Viserion, Daenerys’ golden child named after her brother Viserys.
For a few minutes, everyone’s too shocked to react, even those fighting. But gathering up her men and her courage, Daenerys leaves on the other dragon at Jon Snow’s urging, darting away from another icy spear.
But Jon Snow has missed his “flight”. He fights the dead but is outnumbered.
Then, Benjen Stark arrives from God knows where.
And just like that, as it had happened with Bran and Meera, Jon Snow is saved. He soon reunites with Dany and company.
Heartbroken at the loss of her child, Dany and Snow share a …tender moment. But before they get carried away, other pressing issues come in the way.
*****
Meanwhie, things at Winterfell take a sour turn. Arya and Sansa are cross with each other, with the former convinced that her sister isn’t really for the Starks anymore. Considering how Arya fell hook-line-sinker for Petyr Baelish’s plan, there is chaos between the two girls with Sansa unable to explain why she had to write that scroll to Winterfell when their father was getting beheaded.
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“You don’t understand. I went through things that you couldn’t possibly imagine,” reasons Sansa, taking us back to the days when she was assaulted, captured, married off twice, and raped several times.
Arya, though, chooses to let her anger talk.
Littlefinger’s plan is clearly working, with him gaining control of Winterfell and manipulating the still naive Sansa.
An invitation from King’s Landing also arrives, with Sansa sending Brienne of Tarth in her stead. There’s not a lot of clarity over what Sansa is planning, but with Littlefinger around, it isn’t going to end too well for the Starks.
*****
The last few minutes of the episode are predictable enough to know what the Night King’s next move would be.
The new walker in town whom the Night King ‘breathes life’ into, can fly.
Viserion
*****