Game of Thrones review: Season 7, Episode 7, 'The Dragon and the Wolf'

NZ Herald·

28 Aug, 2017 05:19 AM5 mins to read

Game of Thrones just delivered its most satisfying finale ever. Photo / HBO

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains major spoilers for Game of Thrones Season 7, Episode 7: The Dragon and the Wolf. Do not read if you haven't seen the episode.

Game of Thrones has done it again. The season seven finale was arguably the show's best closing episode yet, made all the more satisfying for the way it tied up the frustratingly uneven episodes that preceded it. Let's take a look at what went down.

King's Landing

As all the storylines on Game of Thrones begin to converge, there's nothing more surreal than seeing the show's main characters meet for the first time after seven seasons. The attempt at diplomacy in the Dragonpit was immensely satisfying for the fact that we got to see the show's two most fearsome queens, Cersei Lannister and Daenerys Targaryen, size each other up.

Tyrion and Daenerys in the Dragonpit. Photo / HBO

Apparently last episode's completely illogical trip north to capture a wight was worth it, kind of - Jon and Daenerys got what they wanted when that rather vociferous dead man came charging at the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Cersei (who, by the way, was rocking the best outfit this show has ever seen) now cannot deny the threat that lies to the north; she was visibly terrified by the monster, despite looking nonchalant moments before when Daenerys lumbered in, fashionably late, on a noisy Drogon.

But of course, things didn't go all that smoothly. When Cersei laid out her terms to Jon Snow, his refusal to break his loyalty to Daenerys struck me as uncharacteristically dumb. For a man that has been harping on about "the only war that matters," it was confusing that he couldn't just lie to Cersei for the sake of convincing her to fight with them.

Anyway, that was all thrown out the window by Cersei's ensuing double-cross. Tyrion's one-on-one confrontation with Cersei was one of the episode's best scenes, harking back to the fiery dialogue that made earlier seasons so fantastic - but despite her resulting agreement to fight the White Walkers alongside Jon and Dany, she later revealed to Jamie that she was lying. And then it seemed like she was a moment away from killing him when he questioned her decision.

Cersei Lannister's villainy is disappointingly one-dimensional. Photo / HBO

The brilliance of Cersei in previous seasons was that her treachery was always interlaced with surprising moments of empathy - and even vulnerability - as she acted as a woman and a mother in a man's world. But now, childless and sitting on the Iron Throne, it's power or nothing, and it makes for a frustratingly one-dimensional character. Her arc makes sense, but I can't help but miss pre-wildfire massacre Cersei. She's too drunk on power now to put aside her pride, and with the Golden Company and Euron apparently on her side, but without her brother's allegiance, who know how much longer she can keep it up?

Bow down, b****es - the Stark sisters are back

This was the moment I literally cheered at the screen. Season seven had us all expecting a violent showdown between the two Stark sisters, engineered by the dastardly Littlefinger - but the power was gloriously flipped this episode, a moment brilliantly foreshadowed last week when Arya literally flipped that troublesome dagger and handed it to Sansa. Littlefinger no more; Stark women remain supreme.

This was perhaps the most satisfying kill in the history of this show. After spending most of this show at the mercy of awful men, it was deeply rewarding to see Sansa, now a political genius, punish the root of essentially all her troubles (and the entire Seven Kingdom's troubles, to be honest). Last season, she won the Battle of the Bastards and saw to Ramsay's demise; Sansa Stark has been a strong character from day one, but to see it be continually manifested in violent power plays makes her character arc one of the best in the history of television. Sansa for Queen in the North, please.

Incest 2.0

I guess we shouldn't be surprised that Thrones went there. As Jon and Dany consummated their growing attraction with some love-making (and baby making?), the show drove home just how truly messed up this was by intercutting the scene with proof, via Samwell and Bran, that Jon Snow is actually Aegon Targaryen, son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Icky. And Tyrion standing outside Dany's bedchamber just added to the awkwardness - was that a jealous look on his face?

Samwell and Bran's piecing together of Jon's true identity basically explained what everyone already knew, but it doesn't make it any less significant. Jon's true namesake Aegon the Conqueror was the founder of the Targaryen dynasty, who brought the Seven Kingdoms under one rule on his giant dragon Balerion the Black Dread alongside his two sisters and their dragon. Guess who else has two sisters? (Though I suppose Arya and Sansa are actually Jon's cousins. One can dream).

Jon's true identity also makes him the rightful heir to the Iron Throne - which is likely to complicate his relationship with Daenerys next season, as the Mother of Dragons firmly believes that it's hers and hers only. This could be one short-lived romance.

The Wall

And it's down. Dead Viserion destroyed the Seven Kingdom's last defence with some fearsome blue fire, and The Night King's army finally reached Westeros. It looks like season eight is going to be one epic battle of ice and fire.