Game of Thrones fans, it's time to dig in.
Just
like the last episode, it's time to dive in and take a look at some of the details that may have been missed, forgotten, or overlooked from the most recent Game of Thrones episode.
As always, if you haven't seen the latest episode, consider this to be your spoiler alert warning.
1) How Euron Greyjoy got the drop
It's arguable that the biggest talking point was how Daenerys and her military alliance didn't spot Euron Greyjoy's fleet that was hiding in Dragonstone.
Ultimately, this mistake cost Dany the life of another dragon, Rhaegal.
It's worth noting that during the war room scene, Varys even warns Daenerys about the dangers of Euron's fleet.
"The Golden Company has arrived in King's Landing courtesy of the Greyjoy fleet. The balance has grown distressingly even" he said.
However, in the behind the scenes segment with the Game of Thrones showrunners, David Benioff said that Dany just 'forgot' about Euron's fleet.
"While Dany kind of forgot about the Iron Fleet and Euron's forces, they certainly haven't forgotten about her. They're just waiting for her to come back. At this point, they've gotten news that her armies emerged victorious and were going to head south. They're just waiting to ambush her return," he said.
Similarly, we learn that Jon and Ser Davos are heading to King's landing via the Kingsroad with the remaining Northern, Dothraki, and Unsullied troops.
It's worth remembering that Ser Davos has more experience at sea than anyone in Dany's alliance. Not asking him to join the fleet was a bit of a poor decision.
Similarly, it's clear that Dany and her advisors don't learn their lessons. Last season, Bronn seriously injured Drogon when he fired a Scorpion missile into his wing during The Loot Train attakc. The Night King also killed Viserion with a spear.
We've got two words for her, dragon armour.
2) Missandei's final words
To begin with, plenty of people were hoping that Missandei would grab Cersei and jump off the platform while holding the Queen.
Basically, they wanted Missandei to kill herself but take Cersei too.
It's worth noting that at the time of her death, Dany's trusted advisor did have her hands bound in chains.
Also, it's very likely that this move would result in the Lannister forces opening fire on Tyrion, Daenerys, Drogon, and everyone else that was waiting outside the walls of King's Landing.
It's fitting that Missandei's final word was the same one that freed her when Dany burned the masters and broke the chains of The Unsullied.
Dracarys.
With her final breath, Missandei reaffirms her support/love for Daenerys while also celebrating her freedom, even in the face of death.
David Benioff has also said that Missandei's final word could be the tipping point for Dany.
"What's probably echoing in Dany's heads in those final moments are Missandei's final words. Dracarys is clearly meant for Dany. Missandei knows that her life is over and she's saying, you know, light them up!"
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3) Get to the skiff
In an interview with
EW, Nathalie Emmanuel elaborated on how her character got caught by Cersei's forces.
In the episode, you can clearly hear Grey Worm telling her to get to the skiff as Euron's attack draws closer.
Essentially, after all Dany's troops had to abandon ship and jump into the sea, Missandei was a sitting duck to be captured because she was all alone in the skiff.
However, there are no ill feelings.
"She doesn’t blame Grey Worm. He was trying to keep her safe," said Emmanuel.
4) Arya's arc
In Season One, Ned Stark has a conversation with Arya where he tells his daughter that one day she will be a lady and marry someone.
Arya replies by saying: "No, that's not me."
Gendry may love Arya, but she has always been pretty clear about her intentions. She was never going to be somebody that settled down easily.
Another point, do you remember that scene in Season 7 when Arya was reunited with her direwolf, Nymeria?
Well, the direwolves are supposed to be extensions of their owners, so the notion of Nymeria wanting to be wild and free should come as no surprise. Arya is exactly the same.
Aside from this, Arya has frequently said that she's not a Lady and will never be one.
5) Qyburn's throwback line
In the very first episode of Season 8, we see The Hand of the Queen make a proposition to Bronn. We learn that Cersei wants Jaime and Tyrion dead and she's willing to pay Bronn an extraordinary amount of money to do it.
"She has other plans for the Targaryen girl," said Qyburn.
Well, David Benioff has elaborated on Cersei's tactics and the creation of multiple Scorpion missile launchers.
"While we've been concentrating on Winterfell and the fight against the army of the dead, Dany's other enemies have not been sitting still. They've been planning for the final battle. Qyburn went back to the drawing board and made even larger, more powerful Scorpions. Dozens of them are now lining the walls of King's Landing," he said.
More powerful. Well, we've clearly seen that's true.
6) Night gathers and now my watch begins...
During Jon's speech when they're all burning the remains of the dead, he manages to work in a little line from his Night's Watch vows.
"Everyone in this world owes them a debt that can never be repaid. It is our duty and our honour, to keep them alive in memory for those who come after us and those who come after them, for as long as men draw breath. They were the shields that guarded the realms of men and we shall never see their like again," said Jon.
Of course, this is a direct reference to the Night's Watch vows that state: " I am the watcher on the walls. I am the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honour to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come."
7) An awkward conversation
After telling Cersei that he killed Dany's dragon, Euron Greyjoy returns to King's Landing and learns that Cersei is pregnant.
Euron is led to believe that this child is his although at the end of Season 7, Cersei states that Jaime is the father.
Now, it's possible that Cersei isn't actually pregnant - when Tyrion comes to talk with her at the Dragonpit, she refuses to take a sip of wine but in the Season 8 premiere, after having sex with Euron, she knocks back the wine - but there's still going to be an awkward chat between Euron and Cersei.
In the most recent episode, Tyrion approaches the gates of King’s Landing to appeal to Cersei for peace.
Tyrion tries to play on Cersei's love for her children and asks her to think about the future of her unborn child.
Euron was standing right behind Cersei, and he just found out about “his” child moments before this scene.
If you're looking at things from Euron’s point of view, Tyrion should have no knowledge that Cersei is pregnant.
This could be something that plays out in the final two episodes.
8) Bran's tiny line
During the Winterfell celebrations, the Three-Eyed Raven turns to Tyrion and says: "I mostly live in the past now."
If anyone is wondering why the Three-Eyed Raven isn't giving the Jon-Dany alliance any information about future events or visions that he has seen, that could be a small reason why.
9) Storm's End
Gendry has now been made a legitimate Baratheon and he's the man responsible for continuing the linage of one of Westeros' most noble Houses.
He has also been appointed as the Lord of Storm's End. After Tyrion complimented Dany's decision to do this, she replied by saying - in a fairly snarky manner - that: "See, you're not the only one that's clever."
As for Storm's End, legends say that the castle was built with the help of Brandon the builder. One of the strongest castles in the Seven Kingdoms, Storm's End was once the ancestral seat of the Storm Kings of House Durrandon extending back many thousands of years.
The castle is said to be protected by spells woven into its very walls that prevent magic from affecting it or passing through it. It's also one of the best castles in Westeros to endure a siege.
10) The turning point?
At the banquet, the moment when Dany looks at the Northerners was extremely telling and there's some more backstory to that.
David Benioff has elaborated on her thinking in this scene.
"Daenerys is scarred by the events that took place but she's also very much thinking about what Jon Snow told her. She's really shaken when she sees everyone celebrating with him and talking about what a mad man and a King he is for getting on a dragon. She realises that his true identity is a real threat to her, if it comes out. She's in a fairly dark place," he said.
11) The Mad Queen rises
She lost Jorah, Rhaegal, Missandei, most of the Dothraki and Unsullied, Viserion, her claim to the Iron Throne, and she's now doubting Jon Snow.
Fire and blood could be imminent.
On this note, two lines during her conversation with Varys and Tyrion were very telling.
"I'm here to free the world from tyrants, that is my destiny and I will serve it, no matter the cost" and "They should know who to blame when the sky falls down on them."
It's worth remembering two things here.
1) Dany's vision when she sees a scorched throne room in King's Landing, 2) Bran's vision of a dragon that's flying over King's Landing.
Right now, only one dragon is still alive.
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12) Hug the damn dog!
What the hell is wrong with Jon?
Before heading off to King's Landing, he hugged and said goodbye to Sam, Gilly, and Tormund. Why the hell didn't Jon even pat the damn direwolf?
The man is a monster.
We're not going to go into everything that Ghost has done over the years but he's clearly the most loyal beast in the Seven Kingdoms.
You could argue though that Jon's refusal to say goodbye to Ghost shows us that he's not will to say goodbye to his Stark side, not yet anyway.
The Stark in Jon (Ghost) will live on, but the dragon in Aegon (Jon's actual name) has now died.
As mentioned previously, the direwolves have always been symbolic for the Starks.
Lady's death symbolised Sansa journey, the death of her innocence and the loss of the traditional "lady" role that she imagined.
Nymeria's life in the wild has symbolised Arya's life of independence, danger, and individuality.
Summer's death symbolised Bran losing his former identity as he took on the role of Three-Eyed Raven. Bran Stark died in that cave, just like Summer.
Shaggydog, well, that's just Rickon's arc in a nutshell.
Robb Stark's direwolf, Grey Wind, died surrounded by enemies, caged, and shot by arrows. Robb met the same fate at the Red Wedding.
Does this mean that Jon's future will lie in The North?
13) Podrick's gift
He's about to do great things again.
There he is with two women in the background.
14) The cup
Yes, that was a Starbucks cup that made an appearance at the banquet in Winterfell.
Imagine writing "Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea,Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons" on a coffee cup?
15) The new Prince of Dorne
The last time that we heard anything about Dorne was when Ellaria Sand and the Sand Snakes were captured and killed by Euron Greyjoy.
In the war room scene, we learn that the Prince of Dorne has pledged his support to Daenerys.
Now, in the TV show, they've only focused on one of Doran Martell's children, Prince Trystane - he was the guy that was engaged to Cersei's daughter, Myrcella.
We reckon this new Prince of Dorne is going to be Quentyn Martell but we've not seen him yet on the show.
16) A small touch
Sansa placed a Stark pin on Theon's body before she set fire to his funeral pyre.
He's finally at peace with being half Stark and half Greyjoy.
17) Varys' loyalty.
"I will act in their interests, no matter the personal costs" said Varys to Tyrion.
It's clear that Varys is getting more worried about Daenerys' state of mind and that he clearly thinks Jon Snow is the more suitable heir to the Iron Throne.
It was also made abundantly clear that Dany does not want to share the throne and that she does not like to have her authority questioned.
Cast your mind back to Season 7 and the uncomfortable conversation between Dany and The Spider.
Daenerys: Swear this to me, Varys. If you ever think I'm failing the people, you won't conspire behind my back. You'll look me in the eye as you have done today, and you'll tell me how I'm failing them.
Varys: I swear it, my queen.
Daenerys: And I swear this, if you ever betray me, I'll burn you alive.
Varys: I would expect nothing less from the Mother of Dragons.
18) Oathkeeper
Ned kept the secret of Jon's true identity to himself for almost 20 years
Sansa and Arya couldn't last one day.
Just needed to be said.
19) Bronn's castle
We now know that if Cersei is usurped from the Iron Throne, Bronn will be given the castle of Highgarden, the previous stronghold of House Tyrell.
During this scene, we're told that all the great houses are formed by merciless cutthroats and that the Lannisters are no different.
Well, Bronn is right because House Lannister have the blood of Lann the Clever running through their veins. Essentially, he was a legendary trickster from the Age of Heroes that swindled Casterly Rock away from its previous rulers.
Also, Bronn has previously said to Tyrion that: "You once said if anyone ever asked me to sell you out, you'd double their price."
He might be a bastard, but at least he's an honourable one.
20) Cleganebowl
Sansa and The Hound haven't shared a scene since the aftermath of the Battle of the Blackwater when Sandor Clegane offered Sansa a way out from her King's Landing nightmare.
"There's only one thing that can make me happy," said The Hound.
We reckon that it could be a fight against his brother, The Mountain.
21) Arya's unfinished business
She's currently heading to King's Landing and doesn't plan on coming back.
Remember that Cersei is still on Arya's list.
22) Tyrion and Bran's history.
After Bran was crippled in the first episode, it's easy to forget that Tyrion actually designed a saddle to help Bran.
In the recent episode, their conversation in the Winterfell banquet is a throwback to Tyrion's line that he has a "tender spot in my heart for cripples, bastards, and broken things."
23) The credits
During the opening credits, you can see that the Great Hall in Winterfell has been destroyed following the recent battle with the dead.
Also, the fire isn't lighting anymore.
