Game of Thrones, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”, Review!

The title of the episode hints at the collection of novellas about Ser Dunk the Tall.  Last episode, we had the arrival of Jaime Lannister back at Winterfell, seen by Bran Stark, who was crippled as a boy by Jaime.  Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer, faces Daenerys Targaryen speaking to him about her father and his killer.  Cersei Lannister promised to send her army, but there is only Jaime.  He explains that Cersei betrayed him and sent for the fleet from Euron Greyjoy and the Golden Company, mercenaries from Essos.  Jaime wants to keep his promise.  Tyrion tries to vouch for him.  Daenerys' decision to reject Jaime is seconded by Sansa Stark.  Bran repeats his words, “The things we do for love.”  Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) stands for Jaime and she explains that she was captive, but sacrificed his hand for her.  Sansa takes her word and Jon Snow, Targaryen?, also seconds him for the battle.  Daenerys agrees and Grey Worm returns Jaime’s sword to him.  It seems Jaime has an important and unexpected role to play in the battle.  All stand after Daenerys leaves.  Jaime sees Brienne walk past Bran.  Dany walks with Tyrion angry that he was deceived by his sister.  She threatens to take his position as her Hand if he can’t get the throne from Cersei.  He tells Varys and Ser Jorah Monmount that they may be her Hand. 

GAME OF THRONES -- “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” -- SOPHIE TURNER, EMILIA CLARKE -- Helen Sloan/HBO.  

The forges of Winterfell, Gendry is working, and Arya enters the forge.  She asks about her weapon, but he says he is busy forging the dragonglass weapons.  Gendry says he fought with the dead.  He tells her “they are like death.”  She throws three knives telling Poderick she knows death.  Bran is sitting by the weirwood tree when Jaime walks up to him.  He tries to apologize and says he is a changed man.  Bran may have seen that Jaime is important in the battle.  I like how things have worked out between them, not redemption, but an agreement.   Preparations are going on in the Winterfell courtyard, Tyrion walks it, and sees his brother.  Jaime asks about Daenerys and they speak truths about their sister.  Jaime walks away and watches Brienne out with the soldiers.  She watches Poderick Payne (Daniel Portman) practice, the boy she trained and former squire to Tyrion, and smiles.  Jaime joins her and says she is defending the left flank.  He wants to serve in her command!  I don’t care what happens to the Kingslayer, he is not redeemed, but now is an honorable man.  Jorah meets with Dany, saying he was disappointed that Tyrion was made her Hand, and says Tyrion is an intelligent man.  He has another suggestion.  Sansa is making plans when Dany joins her.  They discuss Tyrion, they sit, and Dany sees the similarities of their rule questioned by men.  Dany says all she wanted was to take the Iron Throne, but changed that when she decided to fight Jon’s war.  Sansa asks about what happens after the war and that she took back the North and will never bend the knee to anyone.  

They are interrupted by the arrival of Theon Greyjoy!  He bends the knee to Daenerys and says that his sister is going to fight for the Iron Islands.  Theon says he wants to fight for Winterfell and Sansa hugs him!  Davos Seaworth is passing out soup says to a man who is not a soldier and tells him that he survived the Battle of the Bastards.  The man goes to get weapons.  A young girl tries to ask for soup from Davos to fight.  Gilly (Hannah Murray) convinces the girl to go to the refuge in the crypts.  The preparations for battle is in many such movies, but the one that comes to mind for me is King Arthur (2004).  A horn is sounded from the walls.  Solders rush out and Jon is there.  Sam hugs the arriving survivors from the Nightwatch.  Jon is happy to see Tormund Giantsbane.  They have escaped the Last Hearth and avoided the Night King’s army.  Tormund says they have until the next day.  Jon explains their preparations and then we see the map and the war room.  He says the army follows the Night King.  Bran says the Night King is looking for him.  He shows them the mark of the Night King.  Bran wants to draw out the Night King and Theon says he will protect Bran with the Ironborn.  Theon admits he took Winterfell and now wants to defend it.  Davos says he will protect the walls with Tyrion who will light the trench.  Daenerys wants Tyrion in the crypts, but he wants to fight.  Arya asks if dragonfire will destroy the Night King, but Bran doesn’t know.  Jon says that they should all rest.  They all leave and Tyrion talks with Bran and wants to hear his story.  

GAME OF THRONES -- “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” -- GWENDOLINE CHRISTIE -- Helen Sloan/HBO.  

Grey Worm checks the weapons.  Missandei tries to talk to two children who walk away.  Grey Worm says there is no place for Missandei and himself.  This flashes to a memory for me of Denzel Washington's character, Trip, talking to Colonel Shaw in Glory (1989).  Missandei says she wants to see the beaches and Grey Worm says he will take her there.  Jon and Sam are on the Winterfell wall and Sam asks if Jon told Dany.  Jon says he can join Gilly in the crypt.  Sam says he killed the first White Walker.  They look out to the darkness of the North.  Tyrion and Jaime are talking in front of a fireplace.  Tyrion thinks back to the good old days.  Jaime stands at the arrival of Brienne.  He gets a seat for her and Tyrion greets Davos and Tormund who says to Brienne it could be their last night, love it!  Tormund says he killed a giant when he was ten and went to bed with his wife.  Davos decides to join them in drink.  Arya sees the Hound on the wall and drinks with him.  She wants to know why he is fighting.  He says he fought for her.  They are joined by Beric Dondarrion and the Hound gives him a drink so Arya leaves them.  She fires arrows and is met by Gendry who gives Arya her weapon.  He explains the Red Woman wanted his blood.  Arya asks him about the women he was with at King’s Landing.  He admits there were three women.  She kisses him and starts to undress him!  Um, Arya grew up.  

Tyrion says it is strange that the group fought the Starks.  He goes over their battles.  Jaime says a knight can dub another as a knight.  He asks to dub Lady Brienne.  All of them turn to see the ceremony.  I love this scene!  Jaime has made her a Knight of the Seven Kingdoms!  They all clap for her knighthood.  Sam walks down steps to see Lyanna Mormont (Bella Ramsey) says that she will fight against the recommendation of Ser Jorah.   Sam has Heartsbane, the sword of his family, he offers it to Ser Jorah since his father trained him.  Tyrion asks the group for a song.  Poderick sings “Jenny of the Oldstones”, it reminds me of Pippin’s song in Return of the King (2003), end credit song by Florence and the Machine, soundtrack please.  Grey Worm kisses Missandei before joining the soldiers.  Dany sees Jon in the crypt and he is front of the statue of Lyanna Stark.  She says her brother Rhaegar abused her.  Jon admits that her brother married Lyanna in secret.  He says his real name is Aegon Targaryen!  Bran said it and Sam confirmed it.  Dany doesn’t believe it at first, but she says he will be the last male heir, and worthy of the Iron Throne!  Horns are sounded, the army of the Night King is here!  Tyrion looks out from the wall, the horsemen of the Night King look at Winterfell!  I think these two episodes are enough for me.  What was left out of the plans is how the dragons figure into the tactics and also how they deal with the Night King controlled dragon.          

Five Shards of Dragonglass out of Five! 

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