Game of Thrones S8 E4: The Last of the Starks

*Note: I will try to avoid spoilers but it would probably be safest to read this review after you’ve seen the episode

I feel conflicted after watching “The Last of the Starks.” On the one hand, last night’s episode featured some MAJOR happenings, including two shocking moments that I was not emotionally prepared for after everything that happened in episode 3. But on the other hand, I think I was expecting more action to occur, though to be fair I was pretty spoiled by The Battle of Winterfell.

In a lot of ways, this episode felt like “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” in that a lot of the episode felt like set up for the final battle between Daenerys/Jon and Cersei. The difference is, I feel like episode 2 did it better. That isn’t to say that this episode was bad, it just didn’t leave me going “OMG” at the end like the previous three episodes. Instead, I actually felt disappointed that the episode was already over (minor spoiler: I was expecting a little more dragon action at the end based on what happened). One thing is for sure: this was an episode of farewells, in more ways than one.

Assuming the rest of the series goes the way I think it will, I think this was the episode that established once and for all that Cersei is doomed. There was a key scene towards the end where I could see that last shred of Cersei’s humanity in her face. Despite everything she’s done, there IS one piece of Cersei that isn’t a monster, and I thought it was a nice touch for the show to bring that out. Unfortunately, that part of Cersei is also the smallest piece and it’s not going to save her now, not after this episode. Pieces are in motion now that I am almost positive will lead to her death one way or another.

My one big complaint in this episode is Sansa and her actions throughout the episode. Maybe I’ve missed something, but I do not understand why Sansa is acting the way she is. I’ve always been Team Stark and Team Dany since season one, but after this episode, I have a sinking feeling I’m going to need to choose between them (and I don’t know if that’s a choice I can make). Also: I understand that Sansa was trained by no less than Littlefinger in how to play the game of thrones, but I couldn’t believe she didn’t keep quiet on THAT little detail after promising to never tell a soul.

This episode really brought home to me the expression that’s been going around about the end of Game of Thrones: “If you think this story has a happy ending, then you haven’t been paying attention.” Nowhere was this more true than in “The Last of the Starks.” Many of the happy endings fans have fantasized about were teased, only to be ripped away. How I feel about this episode in the future will greatly depend on how the last two episodes play out. This will either be seen as a good episode, or a missed opportunity. I sincerely hope it’s the former, but for now we’ll just have to wait and see.

What did you think about “The Last of the Starks”? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below and have a great day!