Game Of Thrones has millions of fans across the world that can probably be divided into only two categories: the ones who prefer the episodes with epic battle scenes, and those who don’t. Thrill-seekers with short-attention spans that like action sequences with thousands of extras and ropey CGIs of dragons, or more sensitive, intelligent, aficionados of actual actors (like the excellent Peter Dinklage or Lena Headey) performing brilliantly witty dialogue.
You can probably guess which category I’m in.
Yes, the first! All-time favourite: The Red Wedding, although that was more a massacre than skirmish between armies. (Basically just a fight at the bride and groom’s reception party.)
Action: Game Of Thrones has millions of fans across the world that can probably be divided into only two categories: the ones who prefer the episodes with epic battle scenes, and those who don’t
Having said that, The Battle Of Winterfell in last week’s show The Long Night left me cold - until Arya Stark’s late strike in injury-time secured victory. It was too murky, dull, and, um, long.
You can tell what type of episode you’re in for by how much Dinklage and Headey feature.
Largely absent in The Battle Of Winterfell, Tyrion and Cersei (GoT’s best characters) dominated The Long Night’s follow-up.
20 Great Moments from this week’s Game Of Thrones.
Thrilling: Largely absent in The Battle Of Winterfell, Tyrion and Cersei (GoT’s best characters) dominated The Long Night’s follow-up
1. ‘You shouldn’t envy me. Mostly I live in the past’
- Bran’s role as GoT’s weird existential poet/pretentious prat continued with his forlorn statement to Tyrion. Cheer up mate!
2. ‘If it’s a boy we want to name him Jon !’
‘I hope it’s a girl’
- Jon Snow sets a new Personal Best for being A Miserable Git, quashing Gilly and Samwell’s intended tribute.
‘If it’s a boy we want to name him Jon !’ Jon Snow sets a new Personal Best for being A Miserable Git, quashing Gilly and Samwell’s intended tribute
3. ‘He’ll be happier up there’
- Jon Snow gives Ghost to Tormund to take North, although to be honest his direwolf didn’t look that happy being abandoned by him.
4. ‘I’m not a Lady, I never have been. That’s not me’
- Arya rejects Gendry’s proposal of marriage by pointing out why she can’t become his Lady of Storm’s End. Sure enough he didn’t argue.
5. ‘We need a word...’
- Arya’s curt command/request to Jon after Daenerys made a speech (‘we have won the Great War. Now, we will win the next war. In all seven kingdoms, men will live without fear and cruelty, under their rightful queen!’) mostly aimed at Sansa Stark and her sister.
‘I’m not a Lady, I never have been. That’s not me’: Arya rejects Gendry’s proposal of marriage by pointing out why she can’t become his Lady of Storm’s End. Sure enough he didn’t argue
6. ‘I need to tell you something but you need to swear you’ll never tell another soul !’
- Jon Snow prepares to take the plunge and tell Arya and Sansa that, as he’s a Targaryen, Daenerys is his Auntie. A build-up you only hear when the secret is really juicy and guaranteeing you won’t keep it. ‘I swear,’ Sansa muttered eventually, clearly with her fingers crossed behind her back.
7. ‘She’s his aunt. Do you think she wants to share the throne?!’
- Varys points out the two problems with Tyrion’s idea that Jon and Daenerys could rule together if they married, correctly sensing
