A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms | Film Music Central

*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!

My Thoughts on: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (GoT S8 E2)

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*I know I’m going backwards here, but deep down I wasn’t expecting my review of the Battle of Winterfell to be so popular (so thank you for that). I will try to keep this review objective given that I know who makes it out of the battle alive and who doesn’t. It goes without saying that some spoilers follow.

There is so much that happens in “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” it’s hard to know where to begin. Just like the season premiere, there are multiple characters who are meeting for the first time, and some who haven’t met since season one. Most of the episode centers around everyone preparing themselves for the battle to come, knowing that there is every chance they’re all going to die. I enjoyed this episode very much, but I could always feel the tension hanging over the story.

One of my characters to follow in this episode was Jaime Lannister. From the previews, I really thought this might be it for the former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Jaime’s been on a redemptive arc for quite a while now, but I always had a feeling that this would not be enough to overcome his past sins (and he may yet still die before the series is over). If nothing else, I thought that Jaime would finally have a chance to explain to Daenerys why he killed her father (he’s told the story to Brienne, but I don’t think anyone else knows). That’s a scene I’ve imagined in my head many times and hopefully it may yet be told before all is said and done.

The biggest moment by far in this episode is when Jon talks to Dany in the crypt and they have THAT conversation. I love Jon Snow, I really do, but right before the battle of the ages is NOT the time to tell your lover that you’re actually related (and you know, that he actually has a better claim to the Iron Throne than she does, never mind that he doesn’t actually want it). I expected that there would be a lot more arguing once this was revealed (hopefully they have a more in-depth conversation later).

And then I need to talk about what happened with Brienne and Jaime. For one, this scene actually made me cry (and I don’t cry easily, not for television shows anyway). For another, as awesome as this moment was, it practically guarantees that ONE of these characters will not make it to the end of the series alive. If I’ve learned anything from Game of Thrones, it’s that you don’t have happy moments like this without someone paying for it sooner rather than later. And honestly, it could easily be either Jaime or Brienne who dies in the end, or both (I don’t put that past the writers). But if both of them make it to the end of the finale alive I will be shocked.

Lastly, I loved that we got to hear “Jenny of Oldstones” (sung by Podrick no less). Any time that one of the book’s songs is brought to life always feels special to me (I do study music after all) and this song is just beautiful. It completely brings home how everyone feels: they would rather stay in this moment, this last perfect moment together, before Death comes to rip them apart.

All in all, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” provided the perfect set up for the battle to come. Aside from the questionable timing of a certain family connection, I really have no problems with this episode. Let me know what you thought of this episode in the comments below and have a great day!