Game of Thrones S08E06: The Iron Throne

Tyrion walks through the destruction of King's Landing to the Red Keep, following the path he told Jamie to follow for him and Cersei to escape, where he finds their bodies and begins to cry. Their demise was quick in 'The Bells' so for more time to be spent of these important character deaths was nice, and while I've never fully comprehended Tyrion's relation ship with Jamie and Cersei respectively, his loss garnered sympathy.

Jon and Ser Davos find Grey Worm executing prisoners in the streets under order of Daenerys and Jon tries to stop them, but Davos intercedes telling him that they should talk to the Queen.

Atop the remains of the Red Keep Daenerys addresses her army, the Unsullied and the Dothraki, and thanks them for giving her the Seven Kingdoms. She anoints Greyworm her Master of War, and tells her army that the war is not over - they will not lay down their spears until they have liberated all the people of the world. Tyrion and Jon watch on in fear at her speech, and Tyrion approaches her. She accuses him of freeing Jamie, and he tells her that she slaughtered a city and he throws his hand of the king pin down the steps of the Red Keep. Daenerys orders her guards to take him and she follows after them. Jon goes to take his leave when Arya approaches him, warning him that he is a threat to Daenerys and she believes she will kill him.

Jon visits Tyrion where he is being held and tells him that he can't justify what Daenerys has done but that the war is over. Tyrion assures Jon that Daenerys is not done fighting, and explains that on her journey mostly evil men have died and she has been cheered for it so much that she can no longer see herself as anything but good and right. She thinks she is destined to build a better world for everyone, so of course she is willing to kill anyone who stands between her and paradise. Tyrion reminds Jon that he is the shield that guards the realms of men and that he always done the right thing, no matter the cost, to protect people and asks him who the greatest threat to the people is now. Like Arya, he tells Jon that he's dangerous to Daenerys. Jon tells him that will be her decision, as she is the Queen. Tyrion reminds Jon of his sisters, asking him if he sees them bending the knee, and tells him he needs to choose now whether or not Daenerys will be Queen.

Jon passes Drogon on the way to meet Daenerys in the throne room, and she is admiring the throne as he enters. She starts to tell him the story her brother used to tell her about the throne when she was a little girl, but he interrupts her, angry about the execution of the Lannister prisoners in the streets, and the children she burned. Daenerys says she tried to make peace with Cersei and that Cersei tried to use their innocence against her. She tells him that the world they need won't be built by men loyal to the world be have, and that's it's not easy to see something that's never been seen before. She tells him that they know what is good, and he asks of the others who think they know, and she tells him that they do not get to choose, but that they they can do it together. As they kiss he stabs her and she dies. Drogon flies in, examining Daenerys' lifeless body, before burning down the Iron Throne. He picks her her body and flies away. Unlike others I have actually enjoyed Daenerys' character arc this season, but her death here is a bitter end to her overall character story. While Jon makes the most sense to have killed her, the scene is made a little less fulfilling because the pairs love story has never been fully believable, and the fact that Daenerys' love for Jon is what essentially kills her is also a bit painful when both Arya and Tyrion convinced Jon that she would kill him. I also thought Jon could have used a little more convincing by Daenerys, perhaps through a mention of his sisters.

Some time after an imprisoned Tyrion is removed from his cell by Greyworm and taken to the Dragon pit where are the heads of the houses of Westeros are gathered. Sansa asks where Jon is and Greyworm responds that King's Landing belongs to the Unsullied now and they will decide what happens to their prisoners, and Sansa tells him that it would be in his best interest not to harm Jon as they have thousands of northmen waiting outside. Yara supports the Unsullied in Daenerys' absence, but Arya tells her she'll cut her throat if she talks about killing Jon again. Ser Davos intervenes, offering the Unsullied land, but Greyworm demands justice. Tyrion says that Jons fate is up to the King or Queen, and in the absence of one, perhaps they, the most powerful lords and ladies in Westeros, should choose one. Edmure Tully starts to talk about himself, but Sansa tells him to sir down. Samwell suggests a democracy, which is laughed off. They suggest Tyrion wants the crown, but he says he would not be a good King considering the amount of people that want him. He says that a good story unites people, and that no one as a better story than 'Bran the Broken'. Bran asks them why do they think he came all this way. Everyone agrees, except Sansa, who maintains that the North will nevermore bend the knee to another King and will remain an independent kingdom. Bran tells Tyrion to be his hand, but he doesn't want to accept, and Bran says that neither did he. Greyworm demands Tyrion be punished, and Bran says that he will spend the rest of his life fixing them.

Later, Tyrion informs Jon that he will he sent to the Night's Watch to ensure peace between the Unsullied and the North. Jon asks Tyrion if what he did to Daenerys is right because it doesn't feel right to him, and Tyrion tells him to ask him in ten years. He says goodbye to Sansa, Arya, and Bran before he sails for the Wall; Arya reveals she will be travelling West of Westeros, where all of the maps stop. At the same docks, Greyworm and the Unsullied sail for the Isle of Naath, Missendei's birthplace.

At first small council meeting with Bran as King, Bronn has been appointed Master of Coin, Ser Davos Master of Ships, Brienne head of the Kingsguards, and Samwell as the Archmaester. Jon returns to the Wall and is reunited with Torment and Ghost, later he and the Freefolk head north of the wall.

Game of Thrones S08E05 Review: The Bells

At Dragonstone Varys writes numerous letters informing those that receive them of Jon's true lineage.
Jon arrives at Dragonstone to console Daenerys and is greeted my Varys, who expresses his concern about Daenerys to Jon. He tells Jon he would be a good ruler, to which he replies that Daenerys is his queen. Tyrion informs Daenerys of Varys' betrayal, but she laments that Jon betrayed her by telling Sansa, who in turn betrayed him by telling Tyrion, and Tyrion by telling Varys. Tyrion reasons they are all trying to help her and share her interests for a better world. Varys is sentenced to death and he lets Tyrion he hopes he is wrong about Daenerys, before he is set alight by Drogon. Varys' fate seemed sealed last episode when the master of whispers started to openly express his concern at Daenerys sitting on the Iron Throne. It's unfortunate, though, since he has been a long time supporter of hers - going back to the very first season. His sudden distrust in her ability to rule is a injustice to his character, spoiling what could have been an otherwise fitting end for him.

Later Daenerys confronts Jon about Sansa's betrayal, and tells him Varys is an example of what will happen if people find out the truth about Jon. She tells him that the people of Westeros love him more than her and that she has no love - only fear. Jon tells him he loves her, but as she makes advances he pulls away, to which she responds: alright then, let it be fear. Tyrion begs Daenerys not to burn King's Landing to the ground and informs her that if they surrender the city will ring the bells. She nods in agreement and tells Greyworm to return and lead the Unsullied army and to wait for her signal. She informs Tyrion that Jamie has been captured trying to get into the city, and warn him that the next time Tyrion falls her it will be the last time.

Upon arriving at the army's camp Tyrion finds an imprisoned Jamie and tries to convince him to sneak into King's Landing and talk sense into Cersei. Jamie doesn't believe that he will be able to, so Tyrion tells him to take Cersei and escape into the dungeons of the Red Keep and take a dingy on the beach to Pentos. He promises to Tyrion that he will, and that he will also try and ring the bells to inform Daenerys of their surrender. Tyrion isn't concerned of the repercussions of letting Jamie go as long as it stops her from killing all the innocents in King's Landing he is willing to risk his life. While   trying to use Jamie to talk sense into Cersei isn't the worst plan, it's tedious here because Tyrion has been trying to talk sense into Cersei for the last season. His conversation with Jamie here just echoes the one-sided discussion Tyrion had with her at the end of 'The Last of the Starks', which was ultimately fruitless. As Daenerys has pointed out his love and faith for his family has resulted in him making mistake after mistake for as long back as season six's 'Stormborn'. It's made that much more difficult to understand since Tyrion has no reason to love Cersei or want her to live, and while Tyrion has always shared a brotherly bond with Jamie, I've never felt Game of Thrones did a good job at developing this relationship (both characters' subplots ensuring there was entire seasons where their characters didn't even interact). The same can be said for Jamie and Cersei, and this conversation between Jamie and Tyrion becomes even more tedious not knowing Jamie's true intentions once he is reunited with Cersei.

At King's Landing citizens are hoarded into the Red Keep as it defences, the Iron fleet lead by Euron, and the Golden Company, prepare for Daenerys attack. Aria and The Hound manage to enter before the gates are shut, while Jamie is locked outside. Riding Drogon Daenerys decimates the Iron fleet and burns down the entrance to King's Landing from behind allowing Jon, Ser Davos, Greyworm, and the Unsullied army to attack the city. In the Red Keep Qyburn tries to convince Cersei to flee, but she is adamant it will not fall. When Jon and the armies reach the Lanister army guarding the Red Keep they throw down their swords in surrender. The people yell for the bells to be rung - and they are - but Daenerys continues to burn the city to the ground. This prompts her armies to continue their attack on the city despite Jon's protests. Daenery's decision to show King's Landing no mercy is not a surprising one, as I think her transformation into 'The Mad Queen' has been well alluded to throughout the series. Her decision does seem ill-timed though. Had she attacked immediately following Missendai's beheading in 'The Last of the Starks' that would have made more sense, but allowing her to retreat to Dragonstone for several days does make her decision less impulsive (which is something Daenerys has always been shown to be), and therefore it makes less sense. The idea of the Bell's tolling, while a nice motif, also strikes wrong since they have never been mentioned or used  in Game of Thrones before, and nice Cersei did not give the order for them to ring, nor did we see anyone (maybe Jamie?) ringing them, their effect becomes convoluted.

Unable to enter the Red Keep Jamie goes to shore to find the dingy Tyrion spoke of and enter through the dungeons up to Cersei. Euron washes ashore, the pair fight, and Jamie is fatally wounded, but not before he kills Euron. It's a frustrating fight because ultimately you don't care and it's delaying Jamie's reunion with Cersei. Euron has been a vastly under-utilised character brought in far too late in the series for anyone to truly care about and only there to help bolster Cersei's threat against Daenerys.

As the Red Keep begins to collapse The Hound convinces Arya that Cersei won't leave the city alive so she should save herself if she doesn't want to end up like him - wanting revenge all his life and having that as the only thing he cares about. She thanks him and runs. In an overall disappointing episode, this was a stand out moment. Arya, whose motivations for eight seasons has been to kill Cersei, decides not to when given the opportunity for no reason whatsoever other than she might die in the destruction of King's Landing or end up like The Hound (who Game of Thrones tried to convince us was actually a good man for a very long time).

Qyburn finally convinces Cersei to leave the Red Keep and he and The Mountain accompany her escape but they are stopped by The Hound. Cersei orders him to stay by her side so he can shield her from falling debris, but he ignores her to face off with his brother. Qyburn interjects and The Mountain throws him into what remains of the Red Keeps walls, killing him. Cersei brushes past The Hound and him and the Mountain fight. Both are ultimately killed when The Hound throws himself and the Mountain of the Red Keep into the flames below. This fight has long been awaited on Game of Thrones, and for what reason I don't know. Qyburn's revived version of The Mountain has been shown to be virtually indestructible, and the feud between the characters never fully explored.

Jamie finally finds Cersei as the Red Keep continues to crumble around them. He takes her down to the dungeons but the tunnels leading to the dingy have been blocked by rubble. Cerise tells Jamie she wants their baby to life, and pleads with him not to let her die, not like this. He whispers to her, 'nothing else matters, only us', as the roof falls on top of them. As mentioned before I've never felt Game of Thrones did a good job at developing Jamie and Cersei's relationship, but was holding out for a final scene between them that might shed some more light onto their torrid relationship. Unfortunately this was not the case, as they held each other and succumbed to their rather unsatisfactory deaths.

Game of Thrones S08E04 Review: The Last of the Starks

After saying goodbye to those that died in the battle against the White Walkers with funeral pyres, those who survived celebrate at a feast at Winterfell. As Gendry leaves the feast to find Arya, Daenerys calls out to him, revealing she knows him as Robert Barartheon's son, and names him Lord of Storm's End in a move to secure his loyalty to her. Gendry finds Arya practising archery and asks for her hand in marriage, which she declines.

Jamie, Tyrion, Brienne and Podrick play Tyrion's drinking game, and afterwards Jamie follows Brienne to her quarters where the pair make love.

After the feast Daenerys finds Jon in his room and tries to reconcile their relationship after the revelation of their heritage by trying to convince Jon to never tell anyone. Always the honourable man though, Jon is insistent that he must tell Sansa and Arya.

The following day at the war council Daenerys is eager to move their armies to King's Landing, while Tyrion continues to caution against any irrational decisions, and Jon agrees that if they wait Cersei out the people of the city will rebel against her, while Sansa is adamant that their armies get rest after the battle of Winterfell. Jon and Ser Davos plan to take the King's Road with the Northern troops with the remaining bulk of the Dothraki and the Unsullied, while a smaller group return to Dragonstone with Daenerys and her dragons. Jamie decides to stay at Winterfell with Brienne.

Sansa, Arya and Bran take Jon to the Godswood to caution him against Daenerys, and tell him that they don't trust her. There he feels compelled to confess the truth about his true heritage.

That night Jamie and Tyrion are confronted by Bronn, who reveals Cersei has sent him to kill them, but admits he knows that Cersei is on the lovely side, so he has come to them to ensure he gets a better offer from those he thinks will win the war, and Tyrion offers him Highgarden.

Arya, on horseback, approaches The Hound as he rides out of Winterfell heading for King's Landing. They both have unfinished business and don't plan on coming back, and they leave together.

Tyrion tries to convince Sansa that she should trust Daenerys, as he needs them to be allies, and she reveals to Tyrion Jon secret.

Tormund farewells Jon, telling him he and the free folk are returning to the true North, and Jon offers him Ghost, who he thinks also belongs there. Sam and Gilly also say goodbye, revealing that they are pregnant.

As Daenerys returns to Dragonstone her ships are attacked by Euron's Greyjoy fleet. Rhaegal is killed, and her boats are destroyed - Tyrion, Varys, and Grey Worm wash ashore - but Missandei is captured and Euron takes her back to King's Landing.

Varys speaks candidly with Daenerys after the attack and tells her, like Tyrion earlier, that she risks becoming what she swore to defeat if she attacks the Red Keep and kills thousands of innocents to get to Cersei. Tyrion suggests that they wait for Jon and the armies to arrive at King's Landing and demand Cersei's surrender, offer her her life in exchange for the throne. Later, Varys reveals he no longer trusts Daenerys to be the best ruler of the realm.

Back at Winterfell under cover of night Jamie prepares his horse to leave and is confronted by Brienne. She tries to convince him that he's a good man and that he doesn't need to return to King's Landing to try and save and ultimately die with Cersei. He tells her that he is not a good man, and that he has Cersei are both hateful and rides away.

At the walls of King's Landing Tyrion, accompanied by Daernys, Varys, Grey Worm and a small group of Unsullied, tries to convince Cersei to surrender for her unborn child. She ignores him and has Missandei killed by The Mountain atop the walls of the city.