EPISODE SPOILERS! Read at your own risk.
The seventh season of Game of Thrones is in the books. Closing it out, The Dragon and the Wolf does its job, neatly ending seasonal storylines while leaving viewers with engaged questions, eager for the final six episodes. Cersei learns that zombies are real, Theon finds his bravery, Sansa and Arya take out Littlefinger, Jaime abandons Cersei, Jon and Daenerys have sex, Tyrion is mysteriously concerned about their relationship, and the Night King brings down the wall before marching south with his army of the dead. While predictable at times and never astounding, The Dragon and the Wolf is the best episode of its season, solid and concise, with many strengths and only a few flaws.
Refreshingly, Tyrion returns to form after a season of being mostly in the background. Comedic yet noble, Peter Dinklage's dialogue and delivery calls back to earlier seasons and reminds viewers how he can make the show so enjoyable. Likewise, Lena Headey delivers another perfect performance, keeping Cersei a character that oozes intrigue. Despite all of her wickedness and previous misdeeds, she is remarkably still convincing in her false truce with Daenerys and Jon. Her final scene with Jaime is particularly good as Nikolaj Coster-Waldau also delivers an equally captivating performance. Although titled The Dragon and the Wolf, referencing Daenerys' and Jon's love affair, superbly crafted dialogue and compelling characters portrayed by extraordinarily talented actors make the Lannister siblings the standouts of this finale.
Other notable strengths include the early-on character reunions and the zombie demonstration scene. With so many prominent characters and plot lines to further, the story beats impressively do not feel rushed or forced. The minimal interaction between Cersei and Daenerys is a lost opportunity, as they are the center of conflict, and this is the first time the two opposing queens share the screen, but the flow of this meeting and the character reunions that lead up to it are exceptionally well-paced. With interactions between Bronn, Tyrion, and Podrick, The Hound and The Mountain, Jamie and Brienne, Tyrion and Euron, The Hound and Brienne, Theon and Euron, and even more, along with Daenerys' intimidating dragon entrance and a suspenseful zombie demonstration, a lot happens in a short time. Everything moves with smooth purpose, and nothing is cursory or extraneous.
Also worthy of praise is the closing imagery of the episode. An academic case of showing it without saying it, the snowfall on Kings Landing, shortly followed by the Night King epically destroying the wall, ominously tells viewers that winter is truly here and with it comes an unstoppable army of the dead.
Although the best of the season, the finale is not without its flaws. Theon Greyjoy's storyline fails to make the intended impact. Whether viewers should care about his goal to save his sister and his redemption is unfortunately debatable. While the ineffective knee to his groin is amusing, Theon remains a difficult character to cheer for, making his story the least engaging amongst the episode's other narratives. The actor, however, deserves absolute acclaim. From arrogant to mentally broken to hard-fought bravery, Alfie Allen has demonstrated an incredible range throughout the series.
Similarly, Aiden Gillen impresses in his final performance as Littlefinger, but the character's end is not as ingenious as he deserves. The master manipulator, Petyr Baelish, whom set the stage for The War of Five Kings and has used intellect to weasel out of danger throughout the series, is undone by a basic, unworthy plot hatched by Sansa and Arya. Firstly, an explanation as to when Arya and Sansa began working together is never explored, leaving viewers to wonder if their previous arguments were staged or not. Second, Littlefinger has been deserving of a far superior, masterful, and intricate end since season one. Quite clearly a case of the show writers working backwards in an attempt to red herring the audience, Littlefinger's death is sadly underwhelming and disappointing.
Overall, The Dragon and the Wolf is best described as just satisfying, primarily focused on doing what it needs to- planting seeds for a memorable final season and leaving viewers with anxious questions about the fate of Westeros' compelling inhabitants. How will Jon respond when he learns the truth about his ancestry? What will Daenerys do about Jon's claim to the throne? Are the two of them going to have a child? Why is Tyrion so concerned about their relationship? Is Cersei really pregnant? Who will meet their demise in The Great War? When will The Hound and The Mountain face off? What is Bran's connection to the Night King, and what in the blue-fire-hell does the Night King want?
This writer suspects something vital is left out when Tyrion learns that Cersei is pregnant, as that scene ends too abruptly before Cersei makes her false truce. Perhaps Tyrion knows Cersei is lying and is crafting his own plan, not to the benefit of Daenerys. His previous episode conversation with her about succession suggests that Tyrion sees a bigger picture, beyond the mere question of whom should sit on the Iron Throne. When The Great War is over, it is not unreasonable to suspect that Jon will be offered the throne, and with guidance from Tyrion, will destroy it, making room for democracy in Westeros. Alas, theories are a dime a dozen and the only thing known for sure is that in six short episodes, Game of Thrones will end, and it will be greatly missed by many, this writer included.
 |
| Me as the Night King |
What did you think of the finale? What do you think will happen in season eight? How do you want the series to end? Sound off in the comment section!
No comments:
Post a Comment