The army of the dead has arrived at Winterfell. Everyone is at panic stations. The Unsullied, the Dothraki, the armies of the north are ready. Inside Winterfell everyone is terrified. The general feeling seems to be that they are all fucked. Outside the defence forces stretch as far as the eye can see.
On the hills above the battlefield an estranged Jon and Daenerys sit waiting with her 2 surviving dragons. Suddenly out of the darkness rides the Red Witch Melisandre. Using magic given to her by the Lord of Light she turns all the Dothraki swords into flaming weapons. It is an awesome sight seeing the fire sweep across the night.
Melisandre enters Winterfell and is confronted by Ser Davos. Last time he saw her he said he'd murder her for her part in Shireen Baratheon's death. She says there's no need because she'll be dead before the dawn anyway. She's fierce mysterious.
Led by Ser Jorah Mormont, the Dothraki ride towards the dead. The horde with flaming swords! Surely they'll wipe out the dead in moments. Nope. They get absolutely decimated. Of the 1000's riding out only a handful survive. And thankfully Jorah makes it back too. He's too sound to die. Yet.
Enraged by the death of her Horde Daenerys climbs onto Drogon and flies out into the night. The Unsullied and the Northern army ready for battle. It arrives suddenly and without mercy. It is chaotic, bloody, horrific and terrifying. And then the place erupts into fire as Drogon and Rhaegar's flames cut swathes through the undead.
Aboard their dragon's Jon & Daenerys catch sight of the Night King and close in but ice clouds surround him and they get lost in the mist. At the castle Sansa and Arya prepare for the dead. Sansa in the crypt and Arya with her dragon glass spear. In the God's wood Theon and his men stand watch over Bran, the Night King's target.
On the battlefield Edd is the first major casualty, as he is run through before a horrified Sam. In the crypt Sansa hides with Tyrion, Gilly, Varys and the others who can't fight. Her face speaks volumes as to the battle above.
In the skies above Daenerys and Jon search the ground and the skies for the Night King and his ice dragon Viserion. Inside Winterfell little Lyanna Mormont leads the defences against the inevitable influx of dead soldiers. Outside the Unsullied are ripped apart in their 100's.
Then things start looking so bad that everyone starts to retreat inside the castle walls. Winterfell is surrounded on all sides by the Night's king army. Tormund leads the northern armies as Arya saves the Hound's life with a well placed arrow.
The only chance Winterfell has left is to set fire to the trench dug around the castle walls. Of course the dead induced clouds makes this impossible for the dragons to do and Melisandre is once again called on to use her magic. Between this and her Dothraki trick she looks wrecked and used up. As does a terrified looking Hound.
In the crypt Tyrion wonders would his brilliant mind make a difference if he was up in the midst of battle. Varys and Sansa scoff. Tyrion and Sansa reminisce about their marriage. It couldn't have worked. Tyrion's loyalties would have been split between Sansa and Daenerys.
In the God's Wood Theon apologies to Bran for all he did to Bran and Winterfell. Bran says everything happened for a reason. It all brought them right to here. Then Bran wargs into a pack of crows and spies on the battle from above seeing the dragons causing chaos and then the Night King atop his dragon waiting for his chance.
Outside the castle walls the dead straight to sacrifice themselves to smother the trench flames and they rush the walls. Above Jon sees the Nights King and gives chase. Soon the walls are swamped and the dead rush into the castle and the courtyard. The place fills with blood and the screams of the living.
We finally get to see the full range of skills Arya learned in Braavos as she unleashes hell on the dead with her spear. Meanwhile the Hound is gripped with terror and ignoring the desperate cries of help from Beric Dondarrion. It isn't until he sees Arya in action that he shakes himself out of it.
A dead giant bursts through the main gate and grievously harms Lyanna Mormont and her troops. She picks her up and crushes her torso as he lifts he towards his mouth to eat her. With her last breath she drives her dragon glass knife into his eye and both fall dead. What a death scene. The smallest soldier taking out the biggest one.
Above it all Jon and Daenerys finally face off against the Viserion and his rider. In the castle below Arya sneaks through rooms full of the undead showing off some serious ninja level sneaking skills on her way to the crypt. Until she gets caught rotten and the chase begins.
It's a petrifying moment. The best character in Westeros on the verge of death. In the crypt below the sounds of the undead are starting to filter down and everyone is scared stiff. Meanwhile the Hound and Beric stalk the halls of Winterfell in search of Arya. Soon enough Beric's flaming sword and the Hound's axe save her life.
Then Beric gives his life to block the path for her escape. His debt to the Lord of Light has now been paid. He won't be resurrected again. They find a hiding place in the great hall and watch as the life ebbs from his eyes. Melisandre then steps out of the shadows and her and Arya reunite after a long long time.
She once told Arya she'd become a great killer. That came true. She told her that she'd kill brown eyes (Walder Frey), green eyes (?) and......blue eyes (!!!). Armed with the strength from the Red Witch's words Arya heads up to pay a debt to the God of Death.
Back in the God's Wood Theon and his lads ready themselves for battle and it comes on them rapidly. In the skies overhead Jon and Daenerys manage to knock the Night's King off his dragon but in doing so Jon also takes a hopper off the ground. Ser Jorah hears the dragon distress and rushes to see if he can help find his queen.
She's in prime position above an unarmed Night King. Her dragon breathes his flames all over him. Surely it's all over now. NOPE. He's unharmed, not a scratch on the frosted bastard. From a distance Jon watches as the King grins an icy grin back up at the Dragon Queen.
Jon, the idiot, decides to take him on himself, but the King catches him and rises all those who died fighting to delay Jon. 100's of Unsullied and Northern soldiers revive themselves and the fight inside and outside the castle starts afresh. The King now heads towards Bran followed by his elite White Walkers.
The crypts are breached by the dead and the living scatter into the depths to hide. Theon and his men are still defending Bran in the God's wood. Daenery's dragon fire saves an outnumbered Jon. Her dragon is overrun by the dead and she's knocked to the ground but Jorah rocks up to fight by her side.
Jon fights his way through the castle to find Bran but his path is blocked by soldiers on both sides. The Iron Islanders in the God's Wood are eventually beaten and the only survivor is Theon and Bran. Bran, the useless fucker. Jorah and Daenerys fight side by side.
In the crypt Sansa and Tyrion hide together and have made peace with their imminent death. It's a nice, touching moment amidst all the blood and gore. Jon meanwhile only has a zombified dragon between him and Bran. A dragon intent on ripping both him and Winterfell apart.
The Night King enters the God's wood. The only thing between him and Bran is a wounded Theon. Jaime, Brienne, Tormund and Pod fight tooth and claw in courtyard as Jorah is grievously wounded protecting the woman he loves. Sansa and Tyrion finally find a safe place to hide with Varys and Gilly.
Bran tells Theon it's ok, that he's a good man, he did his best. Theon Greyjoy has finally found redemption. His final act is to take on the Night King and he runs at him with his spear. He of course gets killed instantly. Bye bye to a great character.
Jon is totally frustrated. He can't get to Bran, he can't save the boy he grew up with. There's a big blue hooer of a dragon in the way and it's intent on barbecuing his face.
The Night King walks towards Bran. Surely it's lights out for him. Jon has had enough and stands out in the open to face Viserion. The Dragon rears up above him to fry him. The Night King reaches for Bran.
WHEN OUT OF THE DARKNESS JUMPS ARYA STARK - SUPER NINJA. She buries her dragon glass knife in his stomach and he disintegrates. His white walkers disintegrate. The army of the dead they created collapse. The ice dragon about to kill Jon Snow collapses. She's done it. She's saved the day. Aboy the kid.
Winterfell has survived but the losses are staggering. Edd, Theon, Beric, Lyanna and Ser Jorah Mormont have died. As Daenerys grieves over the body of her best man Melisandre decides she's had enough. In front of Ser Davos she wades out into the snow, takes off her necklace, ages 100's of years and drops dead.
Magnificent television. Epic. All our heroes in the one place and all of them fighting for the greater good. And how fitting is it that Arya gets to be the hero. She's been training for this for 7 years. She has the skills and now she saves the day. Brilliant.
Next up - The Last of the Starks
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 6 7
Series 8 - 1 2
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