4 Bonkers Theories That Still Might Pan Out in Game of Thrones' Final Season [Contributor: Melanie]

In any normal year Game of Thrones would have started by now, someone would probably be dead, we’d be throwing back Ommegang’s yearly Game of Thrones themed brew, and trying to make these ten weeks last as long as possible. Unfortunately, this is not a normal year. This is, in fact, the last time we will be waiting for a new season of the HBO series. And because of the nature of the last season, we’ve got a little bit longer to wait.

While the final season is only six episodes, each episode is projected to be as long as two hours in length (RIP to any productivity on my Monday morning). The combination of delayed start time on production — due in part to a disagreement between showrunners and HBO on the episode number and length — and the actual minute length of the season being longer than any of the normal 10 episode seasons, we’re still in production almost a year since last year’s premiere.

Said production is scheduled to wrap its primary shooting in June and so far we know very little about anything (compared to a massive treatment leak last year that revealed the season’s trajectory early on in season eight's production). Rumor has it they’re being so tight about information on this one that they’ve scripted multiple last episodes, which they intend to film, to confuse would-be hackers and to keep the real information at least a bit muddled if anything ever got out. We do know that there was a massive 55-day night shoot in Iceland all for a single battle scene that featured, to our knowledge, Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington. We also know that Kit Harington was spotted filming a scene with Lena Headey at the King’s Landing set and several characters returned to the Dragon Pit set (scene of last year’s epic sass battle).

But beyond that, we’re pretty much way outside the loop. There’s no telling when teaser material will come, let alone the season itself (though the rumored premiere is April 2019). Ultimately, we should really be trying to enjoy this since it’s the last time it’ll ever happen and the weeks leading up to a Game of Thrones premiere can contain some of the best cultural moments — not to mention the Twitter echo chamber we all contribute to before, during, and after episodes.

In honor of us normally getting an episode by now, I thought I’d do a quick look at some of the most out there, fringe theories surrounding the plot that — while odd — have yet to be completely disproven. So, what might we get to see when the song of ice and fire sings its final verse?

Tyrion, son of... Aerys

I’ve mentioned this theory once or twice; not only has it not died in the decades of books, but it’s actually gained more and more credence among fans — especially with the show giving some clever, quick nods to the possibility. The theory generally goes that Tyrion is the bastard son of Joanna Lannister and Aerys Targaryen, a.k.a. the Mad King. How is this possible, you ask? Well, we know that Aerys had a thing for Joanna — to the point that Tywin sent his wife away from capital to protect her from his leering eye. However a little less than a year before Tyrion was born, she returned to King’s Landing for a tournament. So the timing matches.

Further evidence for this comes in some random bits of odd details about Tyrion. His hair is described as so blonde it almost seems white (a far more Targaryen description compared to the normally “golden” look of the Lannisters) and in one of his first scenes, he mentions how he always wanted to ride a dragon, a scene echoed in the show in season six when Tyrion approached Dany’s dragons and was able to touch them, unharmed (the only other person known to do this was Jon, a Targaryen himself).

I’m not saying it’s probable — and would require a whole slew of events to happen and the hush-hush of a few people — but it’s entirely still possible that the long-held theory that Tyrion is secretly a dragon just can’t seem to die.

An out-of-place lemon tree could make Jon and Dany twins

If you thought the first one was a doozy, be prepared for how bizarre this is about to get. In the books Dany routinely recalls her childhood home with a red front door and a lemon tree just outside her window. That’s all fine and dandy but the big problem fans noticed was that this house is meant to be located in Braavos, which is geographically almost as far north as Winterfell and botanically unlikely to sustain a warm weather plant. What makes this stand out even more is that there is a place absolutely swimming with lemon trees, so much so that the air is said to smell of citrus all the time. That place is Dorne. When asked about the discrepancy, George RR Martin replied: “Very perceptive of you. It’s almost as if... but that would be telling.”

What was Dany doing in Dorne as a child, and why was she made to believe it was Braavos? One clue might lie in the another character who had some early childhood experiences in Dorne: Jon Snow. While officially Jon is Dany’s nephew, many have taken this lemon tree debacle and applied it to the long-held theory that Dany is, in fact, Rhaegar’s daughter, not his younger sister. There’s a whole plethora of reasons why people think that, but since we don’t have an hour I’ll just say that a lot of people have given that theory some thought and come away with diehard beliefs about it.

As for the lemon tree memory... well, Dany was hidden in the south while her twin brother was hidden in the north and she was, eventually, stolen or spirited away to broker a better position for the exiled prince Viserys — disguised as a legitimate child of Aerys.

Thematically, the pair being twins resolves a lot of things: like the fact that Dany and Jon seem to be the same person on paper, narratively, and they’re both the most viable candidates for the prophecies of the Prince That Was Promised. It also explains why Jon doesn’t have any Targaryen looks, despite the fact that several generations of Targaryen mixed kids show a fair amount of Targaryen genes. It also answers the mysteries around Ned Stark’s nine-month absence after Jon was born (his concern for Dany in the first book has lead many to believe he knew about the second child).

A companion theory to this is that Dany is his half-sister, by Rhaegar and Ashara Dayne. Several hints have been dropped linking Dany to Ashara Dayne who was said to have a child that was either stillborn or stolen (depending on which Westeros rumor mill you subscribe to).

Could Bran be the Night King? 

This theory has been around on the Internet for years and usual gets an eyeroll for a response, but let's assume for a minute that there’s something to it. Subject belief about the similar looks between actors aside, is it possible? And if it was... what would it mean? We know Bran can travel back in time through warging and even affect the past (create a causal loop of predestination that leaves quantum physics minded fans reeling). Perhaps he takes his arrogance as the Three Eyed Raven to the next level and attempts to rewrite the past. But we know from our original Three Eyed Raven that “the ink is dry” where the past is concerned. So if he goes back and does something... well he’s already done it. Yay time travel!

Just as he messed with Hodor and became responsible for the gentle giant’s mental affliction as an adult, perhaps he’s already created himself as the Night King in the past. Maybe he he goes to do battle with Azor Ahai 8,000 years ago while our Azor Ahai reborn (Jon, Dany, or both) must fight his reawakened version in the present. It would explain the Night King’s lack of surprise at Dany’s dragons. He already knew and was waiting for her. It thematically plays into the repetition of history that GRRM likes to play with. It also fires the Chekhov's Gun that is Bran’s time travel powers.

The “gotcha!” endings

We’ve all seen them — the endings of a book or movie or show where you find out the bonkers story you just watched is a dream (Twin Peaks recently played with this trope). They’re frustrating ways to end a story and are major cop-outs for someone who didn’t know how to narratively close their world. While it’s doubtful that Game of Thrones will find itself ending this way, there was a conversation in season one where Rob Stark mentioned how Old Nan once told him the sky was blue because everything existed inside the eye of a blue-eyed giant.

While that’s probably not the case here, there are plenty of options as to what actually might be going on. There is the possibility that this is all a dream: Bran’s specifically. There’s the chance this all ends up being a story someone in the distant future is telling. Maybe the show is, in fact, taking place inside the eye of a blue-eyed giant. While it’s most likely the story will end with a somber, bittersweet look at the lone survivors facing the ongoing threat of the White Walkers, there’s always that chance we all get duped in the end.

There’s plenty of other crack theories out there: Perhaps Jaime is the Prince That Was Promised? Dany is the story’s true villain? (That one about Rickon getting the Iron Throne at the end is obviously out). And we’ve got about a year left of waiting to do before it’s all said and done. So keep a sharp eye out, kids and emotionally prepare yourself for next spring.

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Game of Theories: The Hanging Pieces [Contributor: Melanie]

(Photo credit: HBO)

The time has come. Well, the time is coming more like 2019. But this is the final season break for Game of Thrones ever. After what will become almost 10 years on HBO, the show is drawing to a close with six final episodes — also marking a close to many of the great mysteries that have eluded fans of the books for even longer. So, how could I not take advantage of this last bit of down time (that will also be the longest season gap of the show ever) and lay out some theories and hanging pieces for the world to pick apart? Game of Thrones is nothing if not full of mysterious elements, prophecies with no clear answer, and people of questionable parentage.

Below are the biggest questions and most talked about possible answers for the last season of Game of Thrones.

Aegon Targaryen

FIRST OF ALL: Why did Rhaegar name Jon "Aegon" when he already had a LIVING, LEGITIMATE SON NAMED AEGON? Why you gotta do Ellia dirty like that? I know Targaryens cycle through the same five, vowelphiliac names (even Dany’s dragons have recycled family names) but really? I was more on board with the Jaehaerys theory. Whatever. No one is going to call him Aegon anyway.

But, the truth is out there, R+L=J is canon. But the next question I have to ask... does it matter? We’ve been building up to this for years, with fans guessing pretty quickly what was going down behind the scenes of Robert’s Rebellion. And Jon Snow has gone through hell and back since his first moments as the lowly bastard son of Ned Stark in the first episode. But what is the logistical future of this? After all, Cersei isn’t going to just hop off the throne because there’s another legitimate Targaryen out there. It isn’t likely that this really hurts Dany’s position at all considering that Jon would absolutely never even want to sit on the Iron Throne. And there’s also the matter of Jon being a raised a Stark, through and through. He’s loyal to the North, has a direwolf, and cited his own sense of justice and loyalty through the teachings of his father Ned. Why would being the son of a man who was dead before he was born suddenly matter?

It’s a personal thing.

Jon was raised to believe he was a mistake his father made when he was young — unwanted by many of his legitimate Stark family members. Tyrion does point out, however, Jon’s whining about being a bastard who was raised as a lord was a bit tiresome to people with actual problems (like his fellow brothers at the Wall who didn’t know a home at all). Still, the resentment stung. But what we learn, and what Jon will learn, is that his parents loved him; he had a purpose in the world and wasn’t some mistake in a back alley or born by happenstance. And he’s a prince. This also, ironically, bodes well for Dany who has wandered the last few years, believing herself to have no one else in the world who shares her blood. And though Dany did come to form a relationship with Jon on her own, the knowledge that she is not the last Targaryen — and just happens to have a dragon with an open seat — actually might do more for her in the long run... even if they do have an incestuous relationship that Game of Thrones somehow convinced me I’m way in favor of.

Bran and the Night King

This one has been around for a while. It was first hastened by a section in A Dance With Dragons (book five) when Melisandre looks into the flames and sees a boy, with a wolf’s head, whom she believes to be a tool used by the Great Other. We know the Great Other (the “devil” in the religion of R’holler, the Red God) is the Night King. She did not expand on exactly how she thought this boy was an asset to him, whether it was purposeful or not, but Bran’s recent behavior and the reveal of Hodor’s past last season has lead many to theorize that Bran might actually be the one responsible for many of the horrors in the show. We know he can warg into the past and that it can have dire consequences (such as when he fried young Hodor’s brain, creating a predestination where Hodor would die beyond the Wall, defending Bran).

Many believe he might have done a similar thing to the Mad King, driving him insane in the first place. It’s possible he went back farther, to other events, and caused chaos as well. The Three Eyed Raven told him not to attempt to change the past — that “the ink is dry” — but Bran’s attempts to do just that proved that he already had a hand in causing when event in the past. What’s to say he wasn’t responsible for more as he attempts to stop the devastation before it ever happened in the first place?

The Three-Headed Dragon

This prophecy seemed to have bit the dust (or snow) in episode six when Viserion was felled by an Olympic level javelin toss from the Night King. The prophecy of the three-headed dragon first appears in a vision Dany has in A Clash of Kings (book two) while in the House of the Undying. She sees her brother, Rhaegar, speaking of a “song of ice and fire” before he looks at Dany — almost as if he can see her standing there — and says, “The dragon must have three heads.” Dany, conveniently, had three dragons. Jon Snow had already claimed Rhaegal (well, as far as fans were concerned), the dragon named for his biological father, so the rider of the third was a hot debate and ranged from Bran to Tyrion to even Jaime Lannister.

But then that dragon was killed and scooped up by the enemy, seemingly dashing the theories that three dragon riders would take the field against the Night King. But, as things seem to play out, not every prophecy is exactly what it seems. There are three dragon riders; it just so happens one is the Night King. There’s also a theory that Bran will be able to warg into the ice dragon and possibly use it to their advantage. But, a theory that’s more in line with what Rhaegar seemed to mean with his message to Dany, is that the third head of the dragon has yet to be born.

The babymeter was off the rails in episode six and Dany and Jon’s, uh, intimate scene in episode seven only furthered the possibility that the pair will have a child before all is said and done. Though Dany’s ability to have children was nixed by a vengeful witch in season one, many have theorized that Viserion’s death exploited a loophole in the contract she inadvertently signed: she gave up Rhaego for Drogo, then Drogo for the dragons, and now that a dragon is gone, so is the deal. After all, only death pays for life. Dany lost one child and might be able to conceive another one in return, as per the screwed up rules of Game of Thrones blood magic.

This doesn’t solve the lack of a dragon to ride, but the term “dragon” is also a common way to refer to Targaryens themselves (traditionally, the patriarch of the family bore the title of the Dragon). Dany and Jon are both legitimate children of the Targaryen dynasty and, whether they marry or not, their child will have a massive dose of the blood of the dragon flowing in its veins. That child might also fulfill the prophecy of Azor Ahai/The Prince that Was Promised.

There is, of course, still the possibility that Tyrion is the dragon’s third head (I’ll get more into how that’s possible below) — a theory strengthened by hints that he may have feelings for Daenerys, created a similar dynamic between Dany, Jon, and Tyrion, as there was with Aegon, Rhaenys, and Visneya. Considering the teamwork the three have displayed so far, if this Three-Headed Dragon is meant to be a force for good, it would almost have to be Tyrion (if not the child of Jon and Dany).

Tyrion Waters? 

It has been a long-held theory that Tyrion Lannister is no Lannister at all. He said once “all dwarfs are bastards in their father’s eyes,” but it might just be true for him. When we first meet Tyrion, he’s described as having hair so blonde that it almost looks white (an obvious call out to Targaryen traits) and he mentions he had a childhood obsession with dragons and always wanted to ride one (unfortunately he’ll probably never get that chance, with Viserion blue-eyed and bushy-tailed up North). We know context is there, Aerys was obsessed with Joanna Lannister (Tyrion’s mother) to the point that Tywin had her sent away from the capital. However, she and Aerys crossed paths at a tournament in King’s Landing a little less than a year before Tyrion was born.

Then there is Tywin’s constant ranting that he can’t prove Tyrion isn’t his son but he secretly doesn’t believe it, and he was able to touch both Rhaegal and Viserion without getting burnt to a crisp. If this is true, it makes him a bastard, Dany’s half-brother, and Jon’s uncle. It’ll make for a great holiday greeting card.

But I ask again... does it matter? He protects and loves his family, for all their faults. Him being a bastard wouldn’t change how he sees himself and the twins are still his siblings. It might strengthen his already strong bond with Dany and would give her yet another family member to feel less alone in the world.

Speaking of Dragons... Where Did They Come From?

This isn’t a question the show or the books really pose, but it’s one I’ve become interested in. Is it important to know where those suckers came from? Dany is given them as a wedding gift by Illyrio, a benefactor of her and her brother who helped get them off the streets and brokered the arrangement with Khal Drogo. He says he got them from the Shadow beyond Asshai, which we know as the Mecha of the religion of R’holler (the Lord of Light) and one of the many birthplaces of the prophecies of the Prince That Was Promised/Azor Ahai. It probably doesn’t matter but it’s something that I’ve been wondering. My own theory, as per the book universe, is that Quaithe (a Rafiki type spirit guide to Dany in the books, who appeared briefly in season two) gave the eggs to Illyrio to be gifted to Dany, knowing the prophecy of the one who would “wake dragons from stone.”

Something to ponder these next few months.

The Prince That Was Promised

It has been a favorite pastime for Game of Thrones fans to take to message boards and blog posts and debate who our fabled messiah is. It’s actually a hotly debated item in most circles because who you support as the Prince often reveals your allegiance to characters (looking at you, Stannis the Mannis bros). So now that we’re getting ready for our final act, who are the real viable options? The first one is, of course, Rhaegar Targaryen, who believed himself to be the Prince but was untimely killed in single combat before he could even lift a finger in the upcoming War for the Dawn Redux. There is a real chance it was Rhaegar, as George R.R. Martin pointed out he wanted to write a story where the great fantasy hero died and this is everyone living in the aftermath of a legend who got snuffed out too early.

But let’s assume that’s not the case. What does this prophecy actually say?

• The Prince will be a member of House Targaryen
• The Prince will be born “amidst salt and smoke” 
• The Prince will be heralded by a “bleeding star”
• The Prince will “wake dragons from stone”
• If the Prince dies, “the world falls with him”
• The Prince will have a weapon of light and fire, sometimes referred to as a “red sword”, fabled to be Lightbringer, the sword of Azor Ahai
• The Prince may be the reincarnation of Azor Ahai, or they might be two separate people

Option 1: Jon Snow

As Aegon Targaryen, he fulfills the first parameter. The “salt and smoke” is a little harder to come by, though most agree his death scene in the book which featured smoke and salt (in the form of tears) fulfilled this requirement. The “bleeding star” is another reach, believed to be the blood covering the Dornish sword Dawn, which was forged from a meteorite that was present at Jon’s birth. As for waking dragons from stone? Jon has got nil on that one. If the Prince dies, “the world falls with him” seems pretty believable with how much Jon has defied death and his presence at virtually every major White Walker battle. The weapon? It could be anything. The show did make a big point about Longclaw recently, which is Valyrian steel, so it could be that. Or, in all likelihood, it’s the dragons. As for the Azor Ahai bit, a warrior who tried three times to forge his weapon only to have it work when he sacrificed his wife in the process, Jon has no credentials there.

The biggest thing he’s got going for him is that he just seems like he should be the Prince. And maybe that’s enough.

Option 2: Daenerys Targaryen 

Daenerys obviously fulfills the first parameter. As for “salt and smoke,” she was born on Dragonstone — a volcanic, maritime island — so that checks out. But you could also count her “rebirth” on the Dothraki Sea over Drogo’s funeral pyre which featured smoke and tears. That possibility holds even more credence since it pairs perfectly with both the “bleeding star” (in the books, Dany is the first character to see the red comet at the end of the first book and she says: “It is a herald of my coming” before stepping into the fire) and waking dragons from stone, which she literally does on the pyre.

As for the world falling if she dies, Tyrion said almost those exact words in episode six when Dany went off to rescue the Suicide Squad (“If you die, we’re all lost. Everyone. Everything”). When it comes to the red sword, most people agree, no matter what, the dragons fulfill this requirement. Several characters refer to Dany’s dragons as her “flaming sword.” And, like Azor Ahai, she tried three times to hatch them (once on the brazier the night her handmaiden’s hands were burned but hers were not, once while she was suffering from a fever while giving birth and insisting on putting the eggs over the fire, and then, finally, after she killed her husband — almost identical to Azor Ahai).

She is the stronger candidate for fulfilling the prophecy. The only thing holding people back is that, again, it just seems like it should be Jon. But maybe that’s the point — putting a twist on the trope.

Option 3: A Combination of Them Both

This could mean we will never know exactly who it was the prophecy referred to, as they both battle the White Walkers and fulfill the role (the most likely scenario) or the child they’re 100% having — after the show brought up 3849834 times in the span of two episodes that Dany can’t have children — is the fabled hero. After all, the last book is called A Dream of Spring, suggesting the war will not end when the final page is done but, as Tyrion mentioned to Dany, the legacy endures.

Who’s Getting That Iron Throne?

It is probably the least important question at this point, but one we’re not going to be able to stop asking: who will be sitting in that uncomfortable freaking chair when all is said and done? Literally tens of thousands of people have died in the show because people seem to keep calling fives on the same spot. It matters, even though it really doesn’t, in the narrative of the story, we need that chapter to be closed. The fact of the matter is, I foresee Cersei will be the last person sitting on that throne. Dany’s vision in season two confirms she will never see the throne, and King’s Landing will be bathed in death and winter. She reaches out for the throne, but turns away when the call of her dragons lead her to the Wall. Cersei, as she is wont to do, will keep her place as queen and rule over the ashes and winterfied squalor of King’s Landing until she dies. At which point, a long-held theory that Dany — in a reversal of her parallel character Aegon the Conqueror who used his dragon to forge the throne — will melt it down. The Iron Throne will have its final ruler, and then it will be no more.

Cersei’s Prophecy

We know a large portion of the prophecy the woodwitch Maggy told Cersei when she was a girl came true: she never married Prince Rhaegar but the king instead, she had three children while the king had several bastards, and she outlived all her children. What remains is the “valonqar” — the little brother who will kill her. Many have theorized it might be Jaime, since he’s seconds younger than her and has a history of killing monarchs (and finally got some sense knocked into him and turned his back on her). However, the use of the High Valyrian word valonqar for little brother seems purposeful. And, if theories are true, Cersei does have a little brother of Valyrian ancestry: Tyrion, the bastard son of Aerys Targaryen and Joanna Lannister. The use of that word may be a massive hint that Tyrion is still very much in the running as Cersei’s ultimate murderer. And there is, of course, personal reasons that this makes sense.

What about that young queen who “will take everything (Cersei) holds dear”? She thought it was Margaery Tyrell and killed her accordingly. But it’s becoming more and more obvious that queen of the prophecy is Daenerys Targaryen. After all, Dany has now taken her two brothers from her with Tyrion as her Hand and Jaime riding north to join her. There’s a theory, as mentioned above, that Dany might even take the Iron Throne from her and destroy it in an Aegon-reversal. And if Cersei miscarries this baby (as she’s likley to do) while Dany, thought to be barren, becomes pregnant with an heir, she’s effectively taken everything Cersei had and wanted. Mic drop.

Not all of these questions might get answered by the end, but a good chunk of them are essential to the plot and narrative of the story. And don’t worry — we’ve got a solid year and a half at least to ponder these things while we wait for the final season.

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Thrones and Theories For the Final Act of Game of Thrones [Contributor: Melanie]

DISCLAIMER: This was written several hours prior to the episode six leak and contains no information or theories beyond what was presented as of episode five.

Since my recaps for individual episodes have gotten too long and analytic for me to put in theories every week, I wanted to get them all out there before we move into the endgame stages of this season. As seven years of watching has told us, the penultimate episodes of Game of Thrones seasons tend to be the most important ones (though last season’s finale came very close to outshining “The Battle of the Bastards”). We’ve got a set-up of Jon leading a party into the wilds beyond the Wall to capture a wight and return with it, long enough to prove to Cersei the threat is real and hope she cares enough about literally anything besides herself (we’ll get into if that’s true or not).

So below I’ve listed out my theories and personal deadpools for the coming last two episodes and what it means going into the final season of the show. I’ll likely have a part two to this with amended theories when all is said and done. But for now, here is where things stand in my mind...

THE ICE DRAGON

At first glance, it sounds like a fanfic idea. But it’s a theory that has been floating for some time and George RR Martin himself has helped stoked those fires. Back in 1980, George RR Martin published a children’s novel companion entitled The Ice Dragon. Though Martin has claimed the stories contained in the short novel do not take place in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire many still believe it’s a massive hint to an element he decided to include in his books. Ice dragons do exist in the world of Game of Thrones — of course it’s in the same way many people thought the White Walkers existed, but look at where we are now.

Ice dragons are a completely different species of dragon from the ones found in Valyria, at least from what we know. They’re larger — where Valyrian dragons are “fire made flesh,” these ones are ice. According to legends told around Westerosi campfires, these dragons roam the Shivering Sea and the White Waste (an arctic sea north of Essos). There are theories that they’re descended, in some way, from the dragons found in the fires of Valyria, but they’re little more than myth in the world of GoT.

But will we see one this week? Or in coming episodes? I have to imagine the Night King has a lot more up his sleeve than an army of of snow zombies. Though the battle at Hardhome proved how deadly they can be, three dragon still seems like more than enough of a match when fighting from the safety of the air... unless the Night King has some aerial support of his own. From interviews with George RR Martin, we know he has had an interest the idea of an ice dragon long before A Song of Ice and Fire and it seems that interest may have even been what sparked the idea that became the book series. There’s a very real possibility that the final battle will be between the Targaryens and their dragons and the Night King and his.

After all, Dany dreamed several times in the book of the Wall, and herself fighting an army of men in armor of ice and getting the feeling that “this was the real war” and “the other had been a dream.” Jon has similar dreams as well.

THE SUICIDE SQUAD

We know not all of our buddies in Jon’s group are making it home. Tormund has cheated death enough times on GoT that he might finally be on the chopping block here. Beric Dondarrion has also been brought back so many times that it’s likely time for him to go as well. Jon’s got bulletproof plot armor and I don’t see them bringing Gendry back just to off him an episode later (but anything is possible in this show). There’s a real chance Jorah may die but he still might have some resolutions to make with his family that save him from death up North. The Hound also seems to have an important role. His fear of fire, yet his ability to look into the flames and see visions is incredibly eerie. A fringe but still, somehow, active theory in the fandom is that he might even be the Prince That Was Promised. Fat chance. But he’s important. Then again, it’s entirely possible they all die and Jon makes it out as the only survivor of the group.

That all being said, I don’t actually think they’ll get their wight. I think this episode, in conjunction with the theory above, might serve a larger purpose at revealing had big the fight against the White Walkers will actually be.

“A Targaryen alone in the world is a terrible thing.” 

When Maester Aemon died, he lamented that he was leaving his niece, Daenerys, as the last of her kind. However, we’ve gotten almost 100% confirmation that she has more immediate family than she realized: not only is Jon snow the son of her eldest brother, but his conception and birth happened under legitimate circumstances, giving him the same last name as Dany. But, that’s not the end of the growing list of secret Targaryens. Dany may not be a brotherless orphan after all.

Jon’s scene with Drogon, where the dragon allowed him to place his hand on his snout, was an obvious hint to Jon’s heritage. Dragons have an exclusive bond with those of Valyrian descent, their fellow natives to the peninsula of Valyria and the Fourteen Flames. In fact, Quentyn Martell (a character cut from the show) was descended from the original Princess Daenerys who married into House Martell. He believed his ancestry (she was, roughly, his great-great-great grandmother) gave him connection with Dany’s dragons. He was wrong and burned alive by them when he attempted to touch one. But Drogon allows Jon to touch him and Tyrion is allowed to approach and touch Viserion and Rhaegal when they are in Meereen.

The theory that Tyrion is, in fact, Daenerys’ half-brother has been around just as long as R+L=J and just got a huge boost in possibility. King Aerys had an obsession with Joanna Lannister and eventually left court, where her husband Tywin was serving as Hand of the King, out of discomfort with his attentions. However, they fatefully meet again at a tournament held in King’s Landing and, almost a year later, she dies giving birth to Tyrion — taking the secret of his paternity to her grave. But, Tyrion is described in the books as having hair so fair that it’s nearly white. Tywin makes comments that he “cannot prove” Tyrion is not his son and — with his dying breath — tells Tyrion, “You are not son of mine.” Tyrion is also introduced to us with having a lifelong fascination with dragons and the desire to ride one some day.

He might be getting his chance. We know from a prophecy Dany witnessed in A Clash of Kings (though the show omitted it) that “the dragon must always have three heads” and, as per the traditional bond between dragons and riders, Dany and Drogon are bonded for life. That leaves a dragon open when Jon finally has his. It’s entirely possible that third dragon and the final spot in the Targaryen triad belongs to him.

HYSTERICAL PREGNANCY AND CERSEI'S VALONQAR

By which I mean that Cersei is a liar. It seems a little too convenient that just when she found out Jaime went behind her back, she whips out the one bit of information that would keep him loyal to her. According to prophecy, she will have no more children. Perhaps this betrayal of Jaime’s trust and abuse of his affection for her is what will finally make him see the light, that it’s possible for her to even turn against him, in order to hold onto her power. Between the two of them, Jaime is more likely to be the one to see reason if a wight is brought before them and I could see him joining in with Jon and Dany to deal with the evils beyond the Wall.

But according to prophecy, he may also be the one who kills Cersei as the woods witch told her a “valonqar” (High Valyrian for “younger brother”) will “choke the life out of [her].” Cersei thought it referred to Tyrion, but many have come to believe Jaime — who is the younger twin — is the one who will kill her. He’s no stranger to regicide and may find himself utterly devastated when he learns she lied about her pregnancy to ensnare him into loyalty.

There is, however, a theory that the use of the word valonqar is not an accident. It is the only time the witch speaks in High Valyrian, suggesting the younger brother in question will have ties to Valyria, the homeland of the Targaryens. If it’s true that Tyrion is Aerys’ bastard son, it would not only explain her odd use of the word  but also have been a massive clue the witch tossed Cersei about the truth of Tyrion’s parentage.

BREAKING THE WHEEL

Dany vowed in season five to “break the wheel” of power in Westeros that has kept the high lords in power and the people weak. She brought this back up in episode five of this season when she promised the Lannister soldiers that she intended to unseat Cersei and the political games of the Great Houses. So far the scene has certainly been set for entire overhaul of how Westeros is run. Not only are the majority of the Great Houses now extinct, but even their replacement houses have fallen. Doing a head count from the South up: the Martells are extinct, the Tyrells are extinct, their replacements — the Tarlys — are extinct, the Lannisters are down to three with no heirs (likely down by at least one more by the end of the season), the Baratheons are extinct, the Tullys are down to one with no heirs, the Greyjoys are down to three with no heirs (likely down by at least one more by the end of the season), the Arryns are extinct, and the Starks are down to three: a bastard and some unproductive infighting.

Balerion the Black Dread — Aegon the Conqueror's dragon — famously forged the Iron Throne in his flame. Based on Dany’s goals and the way things seem to be going in Westeros, rather than sit on the throne, I foresee her using the flames of her own Black Dread, Drogon, to melt down the throne and finally break that wheel that cause so much strife in the world. Not sure if it’ll happen by the end of this season, but this week’s episode is 71 minutes long and the finale is 81 minutes which gives plenty time for some serious plays (especially with how fast everyone suddenly seems to be able to move around the continent).

THE HANGING PIECES

I’m mainly talking about Euron Greyjoy here. We haven’t seen him in a while and that’s a little unnerving. While I don’t think he’ll play a part in the campaign at Eastwatch, I don’t entirely trust Cersei’s desire to negotiate an armistice with Dany, especially with Euron still wandering around the seas. According to interviews, he might just top out Ramsay and Joffrey for the most deplorable, universally disliked character on the show. That makes his absence nerve-wracking. In the books, Euron has in his possession the Hellhorn — horn forged from an enormous dragon — covered in Valyrian glyphs. It’s said that those who blow on the horn will gain control of any dragon who hears it; and that could mean trouble. There is no mention thus far of the horn in the show but I can’t imagine Qyburn and Cersei’s ominous plans to kill a dragon would end with such a fizz. With Cersei meeting with Qyburn and refusing to tell Jaime (and thus the audience) what they were discussing, right before agreeing to an armistice with Dany, it may suggest she has a secret weapon we don’t yet know about.

Meanwhile, will Melisandre be making her return this season? We know she left for Volantis after bringing Dany and Jon together, but claims she will have to return to Westeros one day because it was prophesied that she would die there. This means she still has some part to play in the war — perhaps called back to revive someone again?

ALL MEN MUST DIE

This week’s penultimate episode, “Death is the Enemy,” will become only the third 9th episode (or in this case 6th episode) in the show’s history not to feature a battle. It will instead feature our Hateful Eight (Seven) getting WRECKED by the White Walker army waiting for them beyond Eastwatch. Which begs the question... what will it really be about? We’re not getting the bombastic battles we’ve had in the past. The only other two episodes not to feature a battle at this pivotal point in the season were ones in which some portion of the plot trajectory was irrevocably altered: “Baelor,” in which Ned Stark was executed, and “The Rains of Castamere,” which featured the Red Wedding. So what could happen this week to rival those episodes (widely considered two of the biggest plot twists in TV history)?

We don’t know much about the White Walkers. But I have a feeling we’re going to learn something this week that’s going to change the plan of attack when it comes to them and possibly take things from horribly awful to really, really effing bad. On the one hand, there is the ice dragon theory that says the Night King will be able to match Dany’s trump card. There are theories, some intertwined with that one: that we’re going to lose a dragon (Viserion seems the most likely candidate). There is also the possibility of a deep and dark look into the the nature of the wights and the White Walkers. The wights are the resurrected bodies of those who have died. We caught a glimpse of Wun Wun among them in the first episode this season which begs the question: Are we about to see some old friends back from the grave?

At one point in the book, Jon dreams that he’s fighting Robb and Ned as wights. He still carries baggage over his inability to help his family when Ned was executed and Robb went to war and, eventually, died. With Sansa and the rest of the North questioning his loyalties, he may find himself facing that guilty once again. And he’s not the only one with baggage. Jorah may be facing down the wight of his father in atonement for his own sins against the Mormont family.

There’s some logistical questions. After all, Ned’s body is in the crypts at Winterfell and Robb’s was mutilated after his death at the Twins. But we don’t know exactly how wights are brought back and find their way into the army of the dead.

There is also an Instagram post from Jason Momoa of great interest that suggests Dany may meet of her own past demons in the army of the dead. Momoa was in Northern Ireland with the Game of Thrones creators Benioff and Weiss with the cheeky caption “ALOHA DROGO.” It’s slim at best, especially with Drogo burned on a pyre thousands of miles away, but if death is the enemy then so is everything that comes with it: regrets, unrealized potential, and the ghosts of the past.

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A Comprehensive Game of Thrones Refresher [Contributor: Melanie]

It's almost time again, kids!

Actually we’re like several months past time. In fact, had Game of Thrones started this season when it normally does, it would actually already be over. Which was frustrating for a while but now that we’re almost there I’m not complaining... as much. And as we are nearing time for another batch of GoT epicness, it’s time for me to help refresh those of you less savvy with the intricate world and relationship tree of Westeros and beyond. So settle in for a refresher in everything you need to know before the premiere in less than two weeks.

THE PLAYERS

Even though it stills seems like a ton of characters are still running around, this is actually the fewest number of characters we’ve had (thanks to Cersei blowing up half of them in last season’s finale). But there’s still a shocking amount of people who are going to be running around on the screen in the coming weeks, so you’ll want to remember their faces and why they’re important…

Cersei Lannister

Talk about the little engine that could. This chick has been plugging away since episode one, serving as wife to one king, mother to two more, and finally being named queen in her own right at the end of last season. (When King Tommen jumped out of his bedroom window upon the devastating explosion at the Sept of Baelor that killed hundreds, including his wife and her family). She shed a tear-ish for the death of her final child, and gloated in her final victory over rival House Tyrell. Then Cersei, backed by her sycophant ally Qyburn, named herself Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. Not everyone seemed to share in her smirk, however...

Jon Snow

He started the show as the Bastard of Winterfell, Ned Stark’s recognized bastard who was raised as a lord alongside his legitimate siblings. But the cold shoulder he received for his status as a Snow led him to the Wall where he served as a steward in the Night’s Watch before being elected Lord Commander himself. He was then promptly killed in a mutiny and resurrected by Melisandre. Jon Snow shed his black cloak for the Stark banner and reclaimed Winterfell from rival House Bolton before he was named King in the North in a unanimous call from the Stark bannermen. He reluctantly accepted the mantle.

Surprise, surprise, however! It turns out Jon Snow is in fact no Stark bastard at all, but a Targaryen bastard by Lyanna Stark (Ned’s sister) and Rhaegar Targaryen, the one-time crown prince who was killed in single combat by Robert Baratheon in a jealous rage.

Daenerys Targaryen

The last legitimate scion of House Targaryen, Daenerys has clawed her way from the shy, obedient younger sister, to khaleesi of a Dothraki horde, and queen in her own right. She spent the last few seasons building her armies and inner circle, decimating the slave trade in Slaver’s Bay, and winning over the allegiance of several Great Houses in Westeros. She’s finally set sail to the western continent, backed by three dragons, a massive Dothraki khalasar, thousands of Unsullied troops as well as mercenaries, and the support of Houses Greyjoy, Tyrell, and Martell. Despite Cersei’s current position as queen, Daenerys attests she is the true Lord of the Seven Kingdoms by birthright.

Tyrion Lannister

The youngest son of Tywin Lannister and Joanna Lannister (second cousins) and the youngest, hated brother of Cersei Lannister. While he spent much of his time drinking, gambling, and taking prostitutes to bed, he used his sharp mind in court, serving as Hand of the King to Joffrey Baratheon and then later Master of Coin before he was exiled for murdering his father. He first joined Daenerys Targaryen in an unsteady alliance but has since become her close friend and most trusted mentor. At the end of last season, she named him Hand of the Queen.

Sansa Stark

The oldest legitimate child of Ned Stark and Catelyn Tully. Sansa has spent years at the Baratheon court in King’s Landing being emotionally tortured by Joffrey and his mother, before escaping to the Vale where she formed an alliance with Petyr Baelish, whom she is personally disgusted by but still heeds his counsel. She was forced into marriage with Ramsay Snow (after he was legitimized by his father and became Lord of Winterfell after murdering him). She was freed from Ramsay when her brother, Jon, took back the castle and the ancestral Stark lands. Baelish managed to instill a sense of dought in Sansa at her brother being named King in the North when the title rightly belongs to her.

Jaime Lannister

The middle child of Tywin and Joanna and Cersei’s younger twin brother, as well as lover. He spent much of last season fighting in the Riverlands to help keep the Frey stronghold there, despite backlash from those loyal to their ancestral lords, House Tully. He was forced to reconcile with some parts of his past when he crossed paths again with Brienne, loyal retainer of House Stark, with whom he has a complicated relationship. He returned to King’s Land to find the last of his children with Cersei dead after she destroyed the Sept of Baelor and named herself queen. He looked on, displeased at the events.

Arya Stark

The youngest living Stark child. She spent much of the past few seasons training to become a Faceless Man in Braavos. After mastering the skill, she returned to Westeros to begin exacting revenge on the names in her hit list, starting with Walder Frey. In last season’s finale, she murdered Walder and his sons in retaliation for their murder of her mother and brother during the events of the Red Wedding. It seems she’s making her way to Winterfell for a heartfelt reunion with her brother and sister.

Bran Stark

It took this Stark kid about five seasons to actually become interesting but it finally happened. He is the oldest legitimate Stark son who, in the very first episode, was paralyzed after being thrown off a tower by Jaime Lannister when he discovered his relationship with Cersei. He became more in touch with the Old Gods and the Stark’s animist roots, learning the ability to warg into other animals and have prophetic dreams. One of his visions revealed to him the true identity of Jon Snow’s parents but his curiosity got the best of him when one of his visions lead him straight to the Night’s King who left a dangerous, magical brand on Bran’s arm.

WILDCARDS TO WATCH

Not everyone in Game of Thrones is a main character. And sometimes the side characters and people who show up once a season are the ones who make the most difference. There are plenty of them running around and some you may not have seen in a long time.

Brienne of Tarth: The Stark retainer who is loyal exclusively to Sansa Stark. She acts as Sansa’s personal bodyguard and advisor. She has a complicated but close relationship with Jaime Lannister.

The Hound: This dude is back from the dead. He was formerly a loyal bully serving House Lannister but his strange obsession with Sansa and growing hatred of Joffrey made him go rogue where he traveled, for a time, with Arya before she abandoned him in the wilds to die. Or apparently not. Spoilertastic set photos suggest he might be fighting for House Stark.

Theon and Yara Greyjoy: The Greyjoy siblings fled their home after a coup put their uncle on the throne. They threw their ships and forces behind Dany in the promise that she would give them the Salt Throne.

Euron Greyjoy: The younger brother of Balon Greyjoy who murdered his brother and usurped his niece’s claim to the Salt Throne. He is loyal to no one but himself and has a bounty on Theon and Yara’s heads. According to interviews, he sees Cersei as his best bet for power this season.

Qyburn: Cersei’s psychotic, Dr. Frankenstein-esque advisor who was thrown out of the Citadel for performing horrifying medical experiments. He seems quiet and kind, but his experiments and past tell a different story.

Melisandre: The Red Priestess who is a devoted follower of the Red God (R’holler). She is banished from Winterfell when Davos reveals she burned Princess Shireen at the stake as a sacrifice to her god. She is a devout believer in the prophecy of the Prince that Was Promised.

Varys: The former Master of Whispers under Robert and Joffrey, Varys has been the wildest of cards since he was first introduced, promising his only master was the realm. He helped Tyrion escape at the end of season four and joined Daenerys as official member of her council and emissary.

Lady Olenna: While the Tyrells are gone, Lady Olenna -- the Queen of Thorns -- remains and is out for blood. She’s pledged what remains of House Tyrell to Dany’s cause.

Samwell Tarly: Jon Snow’s best friend, whom he sent down to the Citadel to be trained as a maester for the Wall. He’s claimed the son of Gilly as his own, despite it being a bastard from Beyond the Wall.

Davos Seaworth: Formally the loyal advisor to Stannis Baratheon, he backed Jon Snow and his forces when they retook Winterfell and swore allegiance to him thereafter.

Jorah Mormont: Jorah is confirmed for this season, though he’s now a continent away from his believed khaleesi. If he doesn’t die of the Greyscale first he will have some interesting surprises waiting for him next season with his child niece now Lord of Bear Island.

Benjen Stark: FINALLY. Benjen had been a topic of motivation for years for Jon Snow after he went missing on a mission. After he was killed, he was brought back to life by the primordial magic Beyond the Wall but, like the White Walkers, cannot pass through the wall.

Gendry Waters: Gendry hasn’t been seen since season three, but the bastard son of Robert Baratheon is now the only living person in Westeros descended from the Baratheon line. Rumors that he will reappear this season have been circulating all over the Internet -- though what part he really has to play is unclear.

A GEOGRAPHIC LOOK AT WHERE THINGS STAND

Things in Game of Thrones are broken up by land, which makes it both easier and incredibly confusing at the same time. But knowing which geographic factions are aligned with which helps a great deal in figuring out what the heck is going on.

In the North

Status: The Starks control Winterfell once more and Jon has been named King in the North by his remaining bannermen, wildlings, and loyal Night's Watch brothers. They’re the first line of defense against the oncoming invasion of White Walkers, though they still cannot pass through the Wall, which is defended by magic. Unfortunately, Bran has been marked by the Night’s King, allowing him to pass through magical barriers to find him. If Bran goes south of the Wall, he may take the Night’s King with him.

On the mystical side of things, we learn that the Children of the Forest were the first
creatures in Westeros and, through their use of Dragonglass, can fight back and kill White Walkers. They can even use the glass as a way to prevent one from turning into a wight after death. I imagine the massive collision here will be Northmen, Wildlings, Night’s Watch, and Children of the Forest. Dany will likely join up to combine her massive forces and three dragons in the fight.

Prognosis: There is the danger of infighting with Petyr Baelish pouring some poison words in Sansa’s ear. If it is publically revealed that Jon is Rhaegar’s bastard, not Ned’s, it’s possible the North will turn on him. And Sansa, who has always had a shaky relationship with her half-brother, might look at him differently. That being said, I also see Sansa stabbing Baelish in the back -- literally -- and doing away with him.

In the Riverlands

Status: The Riverlands are in a period of massive flux. After the Tully’s were unseated as lords of the area and replaced by House Frey, the entire area has been in open rebellion and the Lannisters have been forced to step in to help the small Frey forces keep their hold on the area. That hold ultimately slipped when Arya murdered Walder Frey and his oldest two sons. It’s unknown what’s going on there. Though the Blackfish was killed in the Siege of Riverrun, Edmure Tully is still alive in a Frey cell (though not the most popular guy around after he turned on his own men to aid the Lannisters in retaking the keep). What happens to the Riverlands will depend on whether or not Cersei wants to allot resources to trying to take it back. But, considering her paranoia, she will likely keep her armies close.

Prognosis: The Riverlands might rally around Sansa, the only officially living child of Catelyn Tully. They were once pledged to Robb, with their territory being absorbed into Robb’s northern kingdom. Jon Snow -- a bastard with not only no connection to Catelyn but a vitriolic relationship with the late Lady Stark -- won’t inspire any loyalty from the Riverland lords. If Sansa attempts to do anything with her uneasy feelings toward Jon’s kingship, they’ll likely back her.

In King’s Landing

Status: Speaking of messes... the Crownlands. Yikes. Last season, King’s Landing was still under the tight control of the Faith Militant who had found their way into the court by convincing the impressionable King Tommen of their teachings. With no alternative and all her enemies in one place, Cersei decided to just knock out every bird she could with one massive explosion. After refusing to appear for her trial, Cersei used King Aerys’ old wildfyre cache to destroy the Sept and everyone in it -- including the Faith Militant, the majority of House Tyrell, and the remaining Lannisters who stood against her.

Now Cersei has named herself queen in her own right -- no longer queen mother or
consort. It wasn’t exactly with thunderous applause either. The only true ally she seems to have at court is Qyburn, her quietly psychotic Master of Whispers who has become Hand of the Queen. But Cersei’s old prophecy from the wood witch still has some things left in it: She predicted that Cersei would have an enemy in the form of a younger brother and a younger, more powerful queen would unseat Cersei.

Prognosis: Cersei’s rule was doomed from the start and I don’t see it lasting a long time. Like Joffrey’s death came early in the season, I imagine hers will as well. Not to mention the season is down three episodes which means stuff might kick off a lot quicker than we’re used to. And there are plenty of trailer shots showing Dany and her armies storming King’s Landing. That being said, Dany may bypass the throne for the time being and focus on the Wall, while Cersei’s court implodes on itself.

In the Reach

Status: The Reach has been thoroughly cleaned out of heirs thanks to Mace, Margaery, and Loras all being obliterated in the same massive wildfyre explosion. Olenna seems to have taken control of the House in the absence of her son and grandchildren, and has pledged the Tyrell armies (the largest army in Westeros) to Dany’s claim. The Tyrells have historically supported the Targaryens and were considered among the first in line to pledge for Daenerys, should she make a gambit. That’s come to pass, so I foresee the Reach calmly bending the knee. It was Marg who had designs on the Iron Throne, not the Tyrells themselves.

Prognosis: The Reach is loyal to House Targaryen and I don’t see that changing now that they’ve lost literally everything. If Dany is promising revenge, they’ll likely cast in their lot there.

In Dorne

Status: Dorne was subject to a coup at the beginning of last season when Elaria and the Sand Snakes viciously wiped out Dornan and Trystane after they both proved to be highly passive where the transgressions against their house were concerned. After taking control, the Sands accepted a deal from Varys and Olenna to pledge their armies to Dany’s forces.

Historically, the Dornish -- specifically House Martellv-- have had blood ties to the Targaryens. Princess Daenerys made peace with House Martell by marrying Maron Martell, despite her love for her bastard half-brother Daemon Blackfyre. It seems no coincidence that Queen Daenerys returns to the place where her namesake made peace to join forces for war.

Prognosis: Dorne has always been an independent land, until about a hundred years or so before the show began. Elaria seems bloodthirsty and Dany is poised to offer all the blood and fire they could want. Things could could messy though if Tyrion finds out Elaria is responsible for the death of his niece. Besides that, it seems Elaria and Dany will get along just fine. After all, they have a mutual grievance with the Lannisters for murdering Elia Martell (Dany’s sister-in-law and the sister of Elaria’s lover).

In the Narrow Sea

Status: Dany won’t be in the East much longer. The season trailer show her touching ground in Dragonstone. She ended last season in not only the greatest position she’s ever been in, but by far the best position of any player on the board. While much of Westeros is in the midst of infighting and political strife, Dany has finally unified her forces by doing away with troublesome elements (a.k.a. Daario), unifying her forces, and forming more alliances than a game of Risk. She’s backed by Houses Tyrell, Dorne, and Greyjoy. In addition to their armies, she boasts her own forces of Unsullied troops, mercenaries, and the largest Dothraki horde in history. Oh, and the three massive dragons.

The numbers are on her side, but is the support? Dany went her whole life believing the people of Westeros would simply flock to her side. Jorah ruined that fairy tale by pointing out that, while many will likely support her, she will have to win their trust first. She seems to have won Tyrion -- who started out season five as an unhappy drunk ready to die, to admitting at the end of season six that he truly believes in Dany and her abilities to rule -- over. And with Cersei -- likely the most unpopular ruler in history -- sitting the throne, I don’t see too many people crying about her getting ousted.

Prognosis: Winning the Iron Throne will likely come swiftly to Dany, despite how much build-up there has been over the course of six seasons. She’ll land on Dragonstone, ancestral seat of House Targaryen and then her true destiny lies to the North, where her forces and dragons will be needed at the Wall. In the books, Dany has several prophetic dreams where she sees herself fighting the White Walkers on dragonback. Dany also seems to be the most likely candidate for the prophecies of Azor Ahai and the Prince that was Promised -- the ruler and warrior foretold to revive dragons and fight the White Walkers.

Also, fans have been waiting literally 20 years to find out whether the Dany/Jon ship has
any hope at being canon. It’ll be interesting to see how that plays out. Because who doesn’t love a good romance between aunt and nephew (where the nephew is technically nine months older)?

CONCLUSION

So hopefully that gave you all the refresher you need if you slacked on re-watching episodes. It’s a lot of information... but really, so is the show. Spend this final week before we return to Westeros studying up so you don’t look like a noob at your Game of Thrones watch party. Winter is finally here, the dragon has three heads, and I am hype!

Game of Thrones season seven premieres on HBO July 16th at 9 PM.

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Game of Thrones Recap 6x09: "Battle of the Bastards" (Home is Where the Heart is) [Contributor: Melanie]

Well, this is not at all how I thought things would go. The Battle of the Bastards was a messy, gory cluster$@%& that really couldn’t have gone much worse. Virtually all of the Stark forces were slaughtered before the Vale arrived to help and Rickon was murdered in front of Jon. The scenes were dramatic and, in some cases, hard to watch. Ramsay Snow’s continued smirk was even harder to watch sometimes. The way his character was handled from his arrival in season 3 has been interesting: they’ve essentially pushed us to the edge, seeing how far you can make a character so incredibly unlikable before it becomes too much. And it’s safe to say this guy trumps Joffrey for worst human being on the show.

And now he’s gone. The beauty of his demise was that he was chased back to Winterfell and, when cornered, attempted to simply shoot Jon Snow point blank. This episode was a smorgasbord when it came to depicting why Ramsay is human garbage: he’s willing to sacrifice his own men by firing on them to hit enemy forces; he refused a single combat resolution to the fight in order to save their forces; he killed Rickon after some psychological torture; and then went running back to his castle. Jon Snow doing a number on his face was lovely, but the ultimate trigger pull going to Sansa was the best part.

Ramsay’s death was incredibly poetic. Sansa, never once laying a hand on him, managed to make a completely satisfying end to this monster of a human being. As he tries to get back inside Sansa’s head, asserting that she cannot kill him, she calmly informs him his words, his memory, and his name will be wiped from the pages of history before releasing his own dogs, whom he starved for a week, on him as he assures her they won’t attack their master.

And then one eats his face.

And Sansa walks away vindicated. To be honest, I wasn’t sure they were going to let Sansa have the final victory in this scene. The show got some serious (and deserved) criticism for portraying Sansa’s rape by Ramsay from Theon’s perspective and how being him forced to watch was somehow more important than the act itself. I was fairly certain they were going to let Jon get the final say in Ramsay’s plot. But Jon backed away and Sansa was free to deal with Ramsay in the way she saw fit.

And while we’re on the topic of powerful women, Dany very calmly retook control of her city (with some needed guidance from Tyrion). When Yara and Theon came to parlay, not only did Dany recognize Yara as the commander and conduct their alliance, but there was for sure some flirting going on there. Yara is among GoT’s few female queer characters, and the only one to be portrayed so explicitly as such. So, hopefully we don’t turn this into something objectifying and portray a real power play by two female rulers.

Recap:

The episode opens in Meereen with an unhappy Dany conferring with Tyrion. She intends to burn the other two cities in retribution but Tyrion warns her father once wanted something similar for King’s Landing. She backs down and he suggests a parley with the masters. They meet and Dany informs them she intends to collect their surrender before flying off on Drogon, rallying her two remaining dragons, and burning a portion of the master’s fleet. Greyworm informs the masters one of them will be killed as punishment for the siege; two offer up the third. Greyworm kills the two who spoke up, allowing the third to live and pass on warnings back in his city about what happened and Daenerys’ mercy.

Later, the Iron Fleet arrives in Meereen, and Theon and Yara meet with Dany and Tyrion. After some back and forth (RIFE with the aforementioned flirting), Yara agrees to back Dany for the Iron Throne with the aid of her ships and Dany promises to back her claim to the Salt Throne at Pyke.

At Winterfell, Jon and Sansa parley with Ramsay the day before the battle. Jon suggests a single combat trial to end it before it begins but Ramsay, knowing he’d lose, refuses. They part ways for the night and Sansa warns Jon not to play into Ramsay’s games. They argue strategy before Sansa leaves. The next morning, Jon and his forces take the field opposite the Boltons. Ramsay frees Rickon and tells him to run to Jon and begins firing arrows at him. Seconds before Jon can get to his brother, Ramsay shoots Rickon through the heart, killing him. Jon, Tormund, and the others rush at the Bolton forces in fury.

The battle is gruesome and quickly falls apart for the Stark forces. Ultimately, Sansa arrives with the forces of the Vale who turn the tide and decimate the Bolton forces. Jon and the remaining men chase Ramsay back to the castle where Wun Wun knocks open the gate, allowing the forces to flood in. Ramsay attempts to shoot Jon before he’s overpowered and taken prisoner. Later, Jon is collecting Rickon’s body and Sansa goes to see Ramsay who has been locked up in the kennel. He tells Sansa she won’t kill him, but she quickly sends his own ravenous dogs on him after informing him she will erase his memory from history.

Secondary Material:

Meereen is saved in essentially the way most people predicted it would be after the end of Dance.  The Iron Fleet arrived, also as predicted, though with Yara taking Victarion’s place as Dany’s suitor. Hopefully now we can finally put Slaver’s Bay to the rudder and get the heck back to Westeros. But, we’ll see.

Other than that there’s not much to be said here besides acknowledging that next week’s episode is titled “The Winds of Winter” which is the title of the book being adapted this season. Fun.

Theories:

We’re closing out the season with the King’s Landing storyline, which has been pretty meh. The one interesting thing here is Qyburn’s “rumor” that many suspect may be the caches of wildfire. We’ve been reminded twice now of Aerys’ “burn them all” rants so it’s possible Cersei, who was willing to do it before, might cash in on the wildfire and just end the tomfoolery in the capital. And Jaime can’t come to her aid, and after his encounter with Brienne, may not want to.

We need to pull the trigger on this R+L=J stuff that we’ve been hinted through Bran’s strange memory walks. It will likely be a last minute reveal, if it’s revealed at all this season. Hopefully this season closes out with Dany having concrete plans to get across the sea now that she’s got the ships, the dragons, and the army. And the Stark hold over the North may not be so solid; it’s likely Jon (a bastard) and Sansa (a girl) will face opposition from other houses, especially given they won Winterfell with wildling forces.

Ultimately this was an emotional rollercoaster that ended up incredibly satisfying in a lot of ways. It may be remembered as the best episode of the show to date, overcoming the “Rains of Castamere” for that mantle. Check back here next week for one final recap!

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