A time to look back and remind us how far these characters have come, ready for the battle next week!
This episode was the calm before the storm, we watch all our beloved characters have a drink and a laugh while waiting for the White Walkers to approach.
What happens after? Is a question mention throughout this episode yet not many of these characters believe they will survive this battle. A lot happens in this episode, which shows how far all these characters have come since Season 1.
There are lots of special moments in this week’s episode. We got to see Sansa and Daenerys have a connection. These are two major characters in this show, that have gone through so much to get where they are now. Sansa and Daenerys have much more in common than they do differences. Both of these characters have been abused by men and were seen as pawns to be moved and sacrificed. They were seen as weak and thus everyone underestimated them as leaders and now they are seen as the most trusted figures of their households. Daenerys tries to reach out to Sansa, and we believe that maybe these two characters will unite and help each other out yet Sansa will always put her people and her home first. Sansa wants the North to have as much freedom as possible.
We had a lot of reunions last week and we may have thought we had seen all of them for a while, but we got to see Sansa and Theon Greyjoy reunite. This reunion was wordless but full of emotion, nothing needed to be said, just the look between them and the hug spoke so much emotion.
Along with this, we finally get the reaction we have been waiting for. Jon Snow finally reveals to Daenerys his secret. It seems Daenerys takes it as well as one could, but we don’t really get a reaction as they have to go rally as the Dead are at Winterfell. It is clear that Daenerys isn't happy with this news as it questions her claim to the Iron Throne, yet we don’t know if Jon Snow wants it but isn't given the chance to say. However, I feel like Jon Snow doesn’t want the Throne, yet this could change.
Where this episode gets its title is from the scene between Tyrion, Jamie, Brienne, Podrick, Davos and Tormund Giantsbane who all enter the Great Hall looking for warmth. All these characters have now found community and friendship in an unlikely place. People who at one time may have been enemies or stood against House Stark have come together to fight. No one knows yet who will live and who will die but by the sound of the conversations not many (if any) believe they will survive this battle. It is bittersweet to see all these faces have come together to defend the North will their last breath. Tyrion believes that maybe they can all survive; however, it is known that not all our beloved characters will make it to the end, and it is likely that we will say goodbye to someone next week. This scene isn't all serious talk, there is humour when Tormund Giantsbane pours beer all down himself, most of it missing his face and talks about his tale of the windowed giant. Along with this, we get to see in this scene the transformation these characters have gone through epically Jamie and Tyrion Lannister, for example, Turion is no longer the man we met in Season 1, he now has to deal with the constraints of power and being the Queen's Hand. A Knight of The Severn Kingdoms is about Brienne who kneels a lady and rises as a knight. Originally, it was tradition that women couldn’t become a knight, yet no one is more deserving than Brienne, so in the shadow of death, Brienne gets what she has always wanted. This might be another bittersweet moment depending on what happens next week but for now this is a sweet moment to see her so happy. Other moments to be savoured in this episode is Podrick's singing and the reunion of the Brothers in Black standing on top a wall, just like old times.
In last week’s episode, we could see some possible flirtation between Arya and Gendry and this episode we got to see A LOT more. This relationship has always been there bubbling under the surface. This relationship too has gone through a transformation. Arya has gone through so much throughout Game of Thrones and she now knows who she is and what she wants. In this episode, she knows what she wants and if she is going to die tomorrow, she wants to experience sex with Gendry, the boy she has always had affection for.
This is the end of things, this battle is going to be painful, these characters will go through so much and not all will survive: Daenerys is no longer pawn in men's games but a Queen playing her own games to get what she wants; Jon Snow was once an outsider and now is loved and wanted by so many; Arya isn’t the same young girl who wants to go on adventures she's not allowed to go on, instead she is a women who has been on many grim adventures; Jamie use to be an amazing swordsman and follow his sister into anything and now he is a changed man with only one hand; Sansa, once a girl who dreamed of marrying a king and now is a trusted leader who defends the rights of her people. Starks, Lannister’s, Greyjoy, Targaryen, WIldings and Crows have all come together maybe for the last time. The Night King is coming and next week someone will be lost, he will kill these characters we love. Bran warns that the Night King "wants to erase this world and its memory", therefore he doesn’t want the Iron Throne but wants everyone dead instead.
A Knight of The Severn Kingdoms reminds us of why we love these characters and how far they come. There are bittersweet moments that we should hold onto whilst we watch the episodes yet to come. Full of reflection and humour, we have to be prepared for next week’s episode and need to get ready to say goodbye. It is impossible to say what will happen next week, but I think it might be a tough watch. These characters are so loved but it will hurt when they go.
