**SPOILER FREE**
This episode exceeds all expectations, this was an amazing episode and mind-blowing battle. We have been waiting for this battle for so long and it didn’t disappoint.
This episode is all held in Winterfell, but our time was split between Daenerys and Jon Snow with the dragons, Sansa and Tyrion in the crypts, Arya and Theon with Bran.
This was a long episode but every second was worth it. Lots of action and death and an unexpected hero. This was a long night and we wonder if anyone will survive and will anyone be left in Westeros to see the sunrise. Probably one of the most important wars that has ever mattered and the greatest war that will never be forgotten. A battle between not just good and evil, but the living and the dead, light vs darkness. The fight of our beloved characters’ lives, who lives and dies. We aren’t sure who will make it to the end of this episode or if anyone will survive. This episode was so good it felt like an end of series/season episode yet really, we still have more episodes to come. I'm not sure how the rest of the episodes in this season can top this episode as it was epic!
Whilst watching this episode, it felt like watching a sequence from a film, it was visually incredible. What is very clear in this episode is the sparse use of dialogue used in this episode. We focus more on the action of what is happening as the dead attack then the words being said. The first ten minutes very little is said but we are shown how the characters really feel. The tension is rising, and we see how the characters are putting on a brave face whilst they get ready for what could be their last moments in this world. Whilst we see them prepare themselves, but we also see we how terrified they are as they are literally fighting the dead.
We must all face death at one point but deep down we didn’t really want to say goodbye to any of these characters. We have gone through individual journeys with all these characters and it's sad to see some of them go, especially so close to end of the final season. We always knew this day was coming but you can never prepare for it.
The battle begins outside, and it is carnage but at one point we even get a battle inside the castle and that is even more scary. Outside the grounds it is full on but once we enter the castle this episode becomes a horror film not knowing when a white walker will appear. This episode is like a horror and action film. It becomes an action film when Jon starts to make his way into the courtyard. All our favourite characters appear to be in a losing battle, and no one can do anything about it. Bodies everywhere and everyone fighting for their life. Even Sam is fighting for his life, he might not be the best fighter, but he is trying. There is a beautiful moment where Jon doesn’t help Sam and he goes off for another reason and there is silent moment we see Sam crying as he is struggling to survive but we see a normal man trying to protect his family.
Arya is amazing in this episode; she is a badass woman showing us how far she has come but also there are moments we see Season 1 Arya who is terrified. Arya goes from confident strong women to running and fearing for her life like anyone else would. Arya faces the Many-Faced God of Death and we see how much of an excellent fighter she has become but at one point loses hope and the Hound saves her. It is interesting to see how this relationship has developed, at the moment she has lost hope, The Hound comes and saves her as she has given him hope. Arya gains hope and carries on the fights, this was probably my favourite line of the episode, "What do we say to the God of Death? Not today." This line for me was the turning point in the episode and it gives Arya the power to carry on the fight.
Winterfell is basically destroyed in this episode as much as possible. This is a metaphor showing us that this world is falling apart. The courtyard in particular is unrecognisable at one point. We begin our journey with Game of Thrones in Season 1 and now we watch the Stark's family home almost completely destroyed.
We get an unexpected hero, out of nowhere. We forgot about characters and we believe someone is going to save the day, yet someone jumps out of nowhere. Who will save the day? Will Jon make it? Will Theo save the day? Will it be Daenerys with her dragons? Will it be Jamie? Clearly, I won’t say anything as I don’t want to spoil anything, but this was my favourite moment but the person who saves the day was a surprise.
We say goodbye to some truly heroic characters as they die fighting for the people they love and care about. It has been such a journey for these characters and it's beautiful to see how far they have come, the journey they took to get where they are. We lose dear friends and people once considered family.
Lady Lyanna Mormont is so brave as she faces an undead giant and doesn’t run but faces him off. A beloved character that was only mentioned in the books but never met however in the show she has become of the most beloved characters in Game of Thrones and always a hero!
Theon Greyjoy, we know is protecting Bran and, in this episode, we see like many characters before him how much he has changed from Season 1 where he began his journey. Theon has gone through so much, gone through so much pain and yet he was still loved by characters in the show and loved by the audience. Theon protects Bran and faces death head on and runs towards death instead of running away. The moment Bran and The Knight King finally meet is a very scary thing to watch. The music in this scene is eerie as we have lost hope and believe everyone is going to die. No words are said but words aren’t needed, tension is rising, and we wait for the end.
Thinking onto next week's episode what is next? What will happen to the North? Cersei still has the throne for now so we know that’s where we will be going next. I had forgotten that Cersei was still alive, and we needed to deal with her as we have been so focused on Winterfell and Th Knight King. I don’t know how the next few episodes can top this episode however I am sure we can expect more major character deaths and unexpected heroes.
