Consider it EW’s small council, made of two people far too obsessed with everythingThrones.
This week’s burning question:Will Dany and Jon save each other?
It’s too bad!
That’s so much more thanI thought we’d get!
Jon went from arguing with Sansa to arguing with his bannermen to leaving Winterfell.
Dany went from redecorating Dragonstone to, well, very quickly losing all of her allies.
But here, they didn’t launch immediately into talk of the Great Wars.
The question now is what they’ll do for each other next.
My gut says productive conversation calls for a Bran-tervention, but I’m guessing Mr.
I Took More Westerosi History Classes Than You won’t make it to Dragonstone.
Darren, any thoughts on how aunt and nephew should proceed?
And what did you make of their first date?
DARREN:I hate to start sentences aboutGame of Throneswith “As a reader of the books.”
and “Hmmm,” in equal measure.
(Also: Torrhen Stark shout-out!)
(We’re not even talkingBatman v Superman.
Like, imagine Christian Bale’s Batman meeting Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.)
We’re just seeing him prepare for a big battle.
Which, in fairness, is maybe half the drama ofGame of Thrones.
But can we talk about those military defeats, Shirley?
But to see Casterly Rock, at last, was… confusing.
I kind of enjoyed Tyrion explicating the assault on the fortress viaOcean’s 11narration.
(So actually, it was more likeOcean’s 12narration.)
How did you feel about the Great Lannister City-Swap Strategem, Shirley?
(Mining in Westeros, meta or otherwise so hot right now!)
They’re like solid ROI for seven years ofThrones-watching.
We’re going to do thatagain?
Aren’t there more people in Dorne?Won’t someone think of Dorne?!
Is there any other character left who holds a trump card like Queen of Thorns'?
Would Arya be up for a confession list to match her kill list?
And more importantly, what do you think Olenna’s reveal means for the Lannister twins, Darren?
But the best workaround is also the simplest: Make it about the characters!
I loved the Battle of Highgarden rendered entirely via Jaime-Olenna conversation.
(In the episode where Jon and Dany first met, somehowthiswas the De Niro/PacinoHeatshowdown we all wanted.)
I loved how the Queen used a secret from three seasons ago to stage a final assault.
How will Cersei take this revelation?
It seems specifically designed to re-open old wounds.
How willJaimereact, you ask?
Yeesh, how is Jaime reacting to anything lately?
Surely there is a reckoning coming on that particular point?
I want to wrap up by shifting northward, to winter and the oncoming army of the dead.
Bran’s return to Winterfell was a long-promised moment that immediately turned all kinds of sour.
(Hell, do we even think that information will ever go public?)
And how should we interpret Bran’s current vaguely Vulcan state of being?
As you point out, Bran clearly knows his Westeros history.
Does that mean he can do telepath flashbacks foreverycharacter?
Whyhasn’the brought up how similar Cersei is to the Mad King?
Which brings me to the North.
but it makes sense.
He’s transcended this plane!
He’s the IBM Watson!
Here’s to the power of knowledge!
(I swear fealty to House HBO.)
), and another surprise appearance from Euron’s fleet, because why not.
DARREN:“Ice and Fire!
And although we’re being led to expect a great big battle scene ride, Horse Lords, ride!
I do wonder if the simmering Littlefinger-Sansa tension will finally boil over.
Heck, maybe Arya’s arrival will spur that boiling-over.
Petyr Baelish isn’t on her kill list, but there’salwaysmore room on a kill list.
Come on, Last Greyjoy Standing, redeem yourself!
