Beyond the wall we see Jon Snow, Beric Dondarrion, Thoros Of Myr, The Hound, Gendry, Tormund and Ser Jorah Mormont on their way to catch a zombie from the army of the dead. There's other blokes there too but you just know they are all going to get butchered. Poor Gendry is frozen and Tormund is slagging the arse off him. The Southern wuss.
Tormund talks to Jon about bending the knee to Daenerys and how he shouldn't let pride get in his way. Survival is more important. Gendry whinges to Thoros and Beric about them selling him to Melisandre. But a verbal smackdown from the Hound helps him realise the past is the past and to get on with things.
Jon and Jorah talk about Jorah's father and Jon tells Jorah that his death was avenged. This gives Jorah a semblance of peace. Jon tries to give his Valyrian sword that he got from Jorah's father to him. Jorah can't accept it. It was a gift to Jon. It's right place is with him.
In Winterfell Arya is raging with Sansa about the note she found that Littlefinger (ugh) planted. She accused Sansa of playing a part in their father's death. Sansa is of course as horrified as Arya is wrong.
She tells Arya she was a child when Cersei made her write that note to Robb. Arya is being a melt now and won't believe anything Sansa says. Sansa also finds out that Arya was in the crowd when Ned died. Sansa asks her why she didn't save Ned. Arya says she couldn't because she was a child. Which proves Sansa's point. They were both helpless kids.
While arguing they both let spill the horror's they've undergone since they last saw each other. It's a horrible, cutting moment. Two siblings poking at each others wounds. Littlefinger the motherfucker caused all this. His plan is working.
In the North more people are getting to know each other. Tormund and the Hound talk about Brienne of Tarth. Tormund is in love with her but the Hound is very wary of her. She's the only person who ever beat him in battle. This scene is a joy. All the world's of Westeros are clashing at once.
Jon and Beric get to know each other now. Jon's father Ned once tasked Beric with leading the Brotherhood with Banners and taking down the Mountain, Sandor Clegane. Plus both have been resurrected by the Lord of light and there's a higher purpose for both of them. They just don't know what it is yet.
The Hound recognises a mountain in the distance. He saw it in the vision Beric showed him. They must be getting near the White Walkers.
In Dragonstone, Tyrion and Daenerys converse. Tyrion tells her Jon has fallen for her. She knows already. They speak of Cersei and how she'll set a trap during their truce meeting. They also talk of the legacy Daenerys wants to leave. She takes offence and thinks Tyrion is plotting to take the crown. It's a conversation to revisit in the future.
Back in the snow, the gang come across their first danger. A huge bear/zombie turned by the White Walkers. It attacks, killing one man and mortally wounding Thoros Of Myr. Beric seals his wounds with his flaming sword but the damage is done. When Thoros dies Beric becomes a mere mortal. We see the Hound is still freaked out by fire too.
In Winterfell Sansa asks Littlefinger where Arya got the note. Scumfinger denies all knowledge of it but promises Sansa that Brienne will protect her. She's the ruler. No one will hurt her. He's worming his way into her affections again. GGGRRRRR.
The gang in the snow every come across a small group of the dead led by a White Walker. It's the only chance they have of capturing a zombie. It's risky as hell though and their ambush shows just how dangerous the dead are. Until a miracle happens.
Jon slices the walker with his Valyrian sword and it shatters to a million pieces just like before. Then all the other zombies collapse too apart from one. That's lucky. They surmise the collapsed zombies were created by the walker and his death means they die too. The living zombie must have been created elsewhere. It's loud screech attracts attention though.
In the distance they see storm clouds forming. It's a sign the army has heard the screech. Shit. They bag and tie up their capture and Jon tells Gendry to run back to the wall and get a message to Daenerys. Then they all run for their lives. OK, this is getting scary. They take refuge on a rocky outcrop in the middle of a huge frozen lake.
Thousand of dead men swarm the lake but thankfully the ice cracks under their weight and they sink. Phew. This also means there's no escape for our heroes. Feck. That night Gendry barely makes it back to the wall and a raven is rapidly sent south to Dragonstone. The next day the men wake to find poor Thoros Of Myr dead.
A heartbroken Beric cremates him to stop him reanimating. Jorah and Jon talk about the White Walker death. They realise if they concentrate on killing walkers they might have a chance. It's then Beric spots the Night King watching them. If they can kill him off the entire army will fall. He is the daddy of them all. A seed of an idea is planted in Jon's head.
In Winterfell Sansa is invited to the truce talks in King's Landing. Despite her objections Brienne is sent in her place. Now Sansa has no one to protect her, from either Littlefinger's machination's or Arya and her scary smile.
On Dragonstone the raven has arrived and despite Tyrion trying to stop her Daenerys takes flight with her dragons. She's about to see snow for the first time in her life. It's not going to be a happy trip for her.
At the lake the water has refrozen as the army of the dead finds out when the Hound stupidly throws a rock at one of them. Silly Hound, you've gone and doomed yourself and your only friends. The dead approach with no hesitation this time and the lads ready themselves for the fight of their lives.
The scrap is immense. The dead charge in in their 1000's and the gang bravely fights back while protecting their capture. It's overwhelming and the minor members of the group are soon ripped to shreds.
Tormund is saved from certain death by the Hound and while Jon is saved by Jorah. It's genuinely petrifying stuff and all seems lost. 6 heroes against a thousand, no ten thousand bad guys. This can't be the end can it?? Would Game Of Thrones kill off all it's male heroes like that???
Of course it wouldn't. Daenerys and her ultra rapid dragons are here. Their fiery breath cuts through the dead like a hot knife through butter. Woohoo. IN THE BATTLE FIRE AND ICE, FIRE WINS!!!!
The men climb aboard Drogon as Jon provides cover for them to escape. Above them the Night King armed with an ice spear takes aim at Viserion and throws. The spear bloodily pierces his side and down he goes to Daenerys' horror. He can't stop and crashes into the ice, then sinks rapidly below it. A dragon has died. My heart is in pieces lads.
An enraged Jon sees the Night's King is near and starts towards him like an eejit. It's madness, it's suicide, but he still goes for him. A group of zombies knock him into the water and thinking him dead, Daenerys, Drogon, the gang, their capture and the other dragon, Rhaegal depart the lake.
As they leave a second spear thrown by the Night King barely misses them. Daenerys is a broken woman. She's just lost a dragon and her new ally Jon Snow. Everyone aboard the dragon assumes he's dead by now. But he ain't. Oh no. Jon Snow ain't going out like a punk.
He emerges gasping from beneath the ice. He's alone. Him against the dead. Just as he's about to die a man on horseback rides in and saves his ass. It's his uncle Benjen. The man who brought him into the Night's Watch. Benjen sends Jon to the wall on his horse and sacrifices himself to save his nephew. A very noble end.
At the wall the Hound bags up their capture and sets off to deliver it south. A saddened Daenerys sits atop the wall in the hope Viserion will rise up and follow her home. It's a lost cause but from high up they see Jon Snow arrive just before they leave. A miracle. They'd all assumed him dead. He's banjaxed, nearly frozen, but he's alive.
In Winterfell a very stupid Sansa searches Arya's room. She discovers Arya's collection of faces. Arya catches her and tells her about her training as a faceless assassin. While doing so she pulls out the dagger Bran gave her and subtly threatens to add Sansa's face to her collection. Ok, i hate this. Thankfully Arya gives her the dagger and leaves.
Jon recovers from his injuries onboard Daenerys ship. He apologises to her for the death of her dragon but it's the price she had to pay to find out the truth about the White Walkers. Then he bends the knee to her. With this allegiance the lords of the North will join her cause.
Back beyond the wall, the White Walkers drag Viserion's dead body from the frozen lake. The Night's King anoints him with his touch and Viserion awakes. The White Walkers now have a dragon. Fuck.
Magnificent TV. The Winterfell battle of wills between Arya and Sansa is gripping but this was all about the trip north. Seeing all the reunions and new encounters was brilliant and the battle scenes were terrifying. Is all of Season 8 going to be like this?? I won't be able to cope at all. Plus a dragon died. With 3 dragons Daenerys seemed invincible. Now it looks like 2 vs 1. The White Walker's odds of success are rising. I don't like that one bit. Next up, the season 7 finale.
Next up - The Dragon And The Wolf
Series 1 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 2 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 3 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 4 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 5 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 6 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 7 - 1 2 3 4 5
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