Game of Thrones: 5 talking points from season 7's finale

It’s come around quicker than usual, mainly down to a shortened season, but Game of Thrones is over for another year.

Season seven has felt a little rushed in places. Its time shifts haven’t felt as epic and drawn-out as previous seasons, with many of the elements that made Game of Thrones such a gripping show, such as unexpected deaths and massive revelations, seemingly absent.

Well, this season’s finale offered plenty and didn’t disappoint. So let’s get started, as we now await the LAST EVER season of the fantasy show… *sobs uncontrollably*

MEETING OF MINDS

Despite seeing other big names meet for the first time this season – specifically Daenerys and Jon – here we have Cersei Lannister thrown into the mix when her, Jon, and Dany, Tyrion, Jaime, et al meet at King’s Landing Dragon Pit to discuss the very real threat of the White Walkers’ undead army.

Suffice to say Cersei was immediately convinced after having a wight charge at her, but the real spectacle was seeing her interact with Daenerys for the first time. Queen to Queen was, shall we say, pretty goddamn intense and a big power struggle that had been a long time coming.

We also had a fantastic reunion with the Clegane brothers (below). Hopefully we’ll see the square-off in season 8…

CERSEI’S BETRAYAL

After some convincing, both in part by Jaime and Tyrion, Cersei agrees to a truce and to send her army north to team up with longstanding enemy forces to battle the White Walkers… only, we learn that she was, of course, lying through her teeth and unwilling to trust or align with said sworn enemies.

During one of two scenes where she reveals this to Jaime and has a heated discussion, things get enormously tense when he voices reasonable concern about how irrational his Queen/sister/lover is being.

Things culminate when we think The Mountain is about to execute him, at the order of Cersei herself. She gives him the nod; The Mountain beings to unsheathe his sword; dread overcomes Jaime; then it all stops and he storms out after calling Cersei’s bluff.

In fact, we see Jaime on his horse leaving King’s Landing just as it begins to snow – but where’s he heading for?

STARKS UNITE

Just when we believe Littlefinger has successfully manipulated Sansa and Arya against one another, we discover they’ve been playing him this whole time. In truth, it all seemed a little too easy for slimy Lord Baelish to drive a wedge between the sisters. So when Sansa summons Arya and looks set to charge her with murder and treason, she flips the accusation over to a shocked Littlefinger.

It’s a glorious scene involving Bran, too. With his Three-Eyed Raven insight calling out all of Littlefinger’s lies, we finally see the biggest swindler in Westeros out-smarted and on his knees begging for his life. Not only that, but it’s a real fist bump moment to realise the Starks have all been conspiring to bring their dishonest uncle down this whole time.

Then Arya slits his throat with the dagger he threatened their father, Ned Stark, with. Beautiful.

TARGARYEN CONSUMMATION

Yes, it happened!

Jon and Daenerys got it on, after several episodes of simmering sexual tension and the fact that every fan already knew who Jon really was and that the chances of them getting together was an inevitability.

However, Bran verbally reveals to the newly arrived Samwell Tarley that Jon is actually named Aegon Targaryen. With news that Jon is in fact a legitimate Targaryen – his father Rheagar Targaryen and mother Lyanna Stark were lawfully married in secret – we’ve known for a little while that Jon is the true heir to the Iron Throne and rightful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms but it’s nice to have tht confirmation in the GoT world.

ICE, ICE, BABY

Sweet Jesus.

The final, prolonged scene of the seventh season saw Tormund and the rest of the men at The Wall witness the power and destruction of the Night King’s new acquisition: an undead dragon. The sheer brutality in how it obliterated that age-old wall of ice is beyond devastating.

And while we were in bits about The Wall being so easily – and for the first time in history – breached, we’re also left to ponder the fate of fan fave Tormund and the rest of the Night’s Watch. Everyone appeared to get buried amongst the mountains of ice that came crashing down – but surely he can’t go out this way?

What did you think of the Game of Thrones season seven finale? Share your comments below…