If there’s one thing Game of Thrones knows how to do, it’s to leave its viewers in complete shock, then patiently wait for the next week’s episode as if life will only continue until that moment comes. This season was a roller coaster and a bittersweet realization that the ride is almost over.
Whether it was the family reunion we had all been waiting for, or watching show favorites Jon Snow and Daenerys come together, viewers were never quite sure what was going to happen, and who was going to die.
With much to digest and discuss, let’s talk about the main points.
Arya chose to go home to her family rather than continue with her list of people to murder, signaling the importance of what the “pack” would mean this season. There should have never been a point where we questioned her intentions, because Arya decided to be Arya, no longer a “girl.”
Reclaiming her identity meant reclaiming her loyalties.
As for Sansa, it is important for viewers to realize that she is not a victim anymore, but a woman taking her femininity and control back. The death of Littlefinger/Petyr Baelish symbolizes the death in Sansa that was childish, lost, afraid and a pawn in the big game.
The lone wolf dies, but the pack does survive in terms of what lessons Ned and Catelyn Stark taught their children.
Next, there is Bran and the white walkers.
Bran has fully conformed to his role of Three-Eyed Raven, and will be a huge player in the next season because of the information he holds for Jon’s true origin, and to keep tabs on the white walker development.
The Night King has taken hold of Daenerys’ dead dragon, Viserion, fully equipped with new blue fire to counter his brothers.
Can we expect a wild Viserion, or are we to be surprised that despite his rise from the dead he can still recognize his mother’s call?
Cersei stays as crazy as she always has been, and does not yield when presented with proof of the Night King’s army. She never seems to see the bigger picture if it does not fall under her version of it, and fails Jamie with her final selfish act of lying about helping out the North and Daenerys.
Children or not, Cersei still remains willing to have others die so that she may stay in control.
Will this be her final downfall? It would be appropriate, that the “true enemy” to her family is herself.
Last but not least, we have Jon and Daenerys.
With the revelation in season 6 that Jon is the child of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, season 7 confirmed this and revealed that he is not a bastard child at all, but the true heir to the iron throne due to their secret marriage. As his relationship developed with Daenerys, viewers had to ask themselves, are they weirdly OK with incest because the characters are so great together?
Whether viewers were cool with it or not, there is no denying that there were some Oedipus themes going on there!
Also, what will this mean for Tyrion and Daenerys? He gives that longing look to Daenerys’ door as he watches Jon walk in.
Was, perhaps, he in love with her himself? Or is he worried how their relationship will affect the coming wars?
With many questions for season 8, we can assume that Game of Thrones will continue to keep viewers at the edge of their seats until the remaining moments of the series.
However, one thing is for sure–winter has come.
