**This post contains spoilers from “Game of Thrones” Season 8, Episode 4**
After last week’s “Game of Thrones” episode (titled “The Long Night”), I was overcome with everything I wanted to say about what transpired during the battle for Winterfell, and the writing went quickly. Today, though, I remain stunningly silent, struggling to find any words to describe what I’m feeling regarding this week’s “The Last of the Starks.” The only word that repeatedly comes to mind is “weird,” which is unusual for me when it comes to this show. And what’s even more surprising is that this weirdness hasn’t gone away, even after rewatching it.
Admittedly, my initial thoughts on the show were generally positive. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. I thought it was a good combination of action, shock, quiet moments, and good dialogue. And yet I still felt weird. As we were climbing into bed Sunday night, I told my husband that I had no idea how to write about the episode, to which he replied, “Then you shouldn’t write until you have something to say.” So, instead of writing, I spent the past two days reading reviews/recaps and listening to a few podcasts—mostly to see if anyone else was having as much trouble processing the episode as I am. And it turns out, they are. People are confused and downright pissed, and for good reason.
I think at this point it’s becoming clear (or clearer) to everyone that the showrunners/writers/whoever are dropping the ball and rushing scenes—in some cases they’re not even giving us crucial scenes—just to get to the end, which makes me tremendously sad. And yet, when I listen to the writers and producers speak on the “Inside the Episode” and “The Game Revealed” recaps (which air immediately following each episode), I never get the sense that they don’t care. It seems like they do care and want to do right by the fans, by the show, by George R.R. Martin’s vision. I don’t know. I feel terrible sitting here critiquing the show—this show I’ve grown to love so, so, so much—because I honestly can’t (or at least don’t want to) believe they would just write it off this close to the end. But also because in those behind-the-scenes episodes, it’s clear everyone involved has put their entire being into creating the best show possible—within the budget and time constraints and whatever other limitations they are up against. Then again, if that’s the case, how can they not see all the egregious errors/issues everyone is pointing out, especially after this latest episode?
A mom has no answers. I just can’t explain it and right now I’m not even going to try. I’m going to wait and see what happens next. In the meantime, here are some of the bigger problems I’m seeing discussed all over the Internet, and my humble take on them:
1. The stunning decision not to show us Arya’s and Sansa’s reactions to the news that Jon isn’t their brother and is in fact Aegon Targaryen—WHAT?! I think I’m most pissed about this one—Jon’s parentage has been the key factor in the whole damn series and yet they don’t give us this pivotal scene?! I’m flabbergasted. I was sitting on the edge of my couch during that scene, excitedly waiting and watching for Jon to spill his huge secret. And even when I was initially annoyed and confused that he then passed that task onto weirdo Bran, I was willing to look past it and accept it. And just as we were about to get those goods…END SCENE?! We get minute after minute of party time and feasting and drinking in Winterfell’s Great Hall—scenes we’ve kinda already seen in past episodes—and yet we don’t have time to include a moment as crucial as this?! Oh yeah, I’m still pretty pissed about that.
2. Jon’s horrifying treatment of Ghost—Ghost has been with Jon through thick and thin (albeit much more so in the books) and yet he didn’t even matter enough to get a hug or a pat on the head upon parting ways?! Inexcusable. I get why Jon is sending him north with Tormund. What’s a direwolf going to do in Kings Landing? But your companion, your friend, your family just fought a bunch of zombies alongside you, is hurt and bleeding, is missing an ear, and is whimpering at your departure, and you just walk away? Wow.
3. Rhaegal’s pointless death—do the dragons even mean anything to this story anymore? The hosts of Binge Mode on TheRinger.com have long opined that the show consistently disregards and slowly kills any and all references to the magical/fantasy elements of “Game of Thrones” and I think this lends credence to that argument. Sadly. It really doesn’t make sense, though, because since the beginning of this show we’ve been told that the dragons will have a major role to play in the endgame. And that just clearly isn’t the case anymore. So, what was the point of it all?
4. Dany’s inability to see Euron’s Iron fleet from the sky, and her neglect in not swooping around to the rear and burning the heck outta everyone in retaliation for her dragon’s death—I didn’t think about this at the time, but it’s an excellent point. She loves to “Dracarys” anyone and anything any other time, but then when it really matters, she disappears into thin air. Why? And what happened between Euron’s attack on Dany’s ships and her “army’s” arrival in Kings Landing? Did they get a raven telling them that Cersei had Missendei? How did everyone else get away safely? Seems like this is another case of magical time travel within Westeros (I guess they don’t mind using this particular “magical” element, LOL).
5. The awkward coupling of Brienne and Jaime—that lovemaking scene made me so uncomfortable and I wish it never happened. I’ve never believed that Jamie is in love with Brienne. He loves her for sure, but there’s a huge difference between loving and respecting someone and being in love with that person. I just never got that from Jaime and these scenes pretty much confirmed it for me. I didn’t even feel their usual chemistry. The whole thing felt wrong. They should have left their friendship alone after that beautiful knighting scene in episode 2.
6. Bronn showing up in Winterfell, getting past any and all guards at the castle, and stumbling upon Jaime and Tyrion together and alone in an inn—laughable, and just another version of core characters randomly running into one another at bars. And what’s worse is that after some cool dialogue it seems as if the show easily and quickly wrote Bronn out of the script. Could that be possible? Let’s hope not.
7. Jaime walking away from Brienne—I don’t understand what happened here. Did Jaime use Brienne? Is he abandoning her to go back to Cersei? Is he going to kill Cersei? Did he have a crisis of conscience and now believes he is so evil that he must die with Cersei? Could he seriously be “breaking bad,” as some reviewers believe? I hope not because that would be a horrifying disservice to a great, great character and his incredible redemption. For now, I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt and hope this plays out the way it should.
8. Cersei not killing Dany or Tyrion or even Drogon as he plays on the sand after they essentially put themselves in the line of fire (again!) outside the gates of Kings Landing in the final scene—Drogon unguarded in the background is one of the first things I noticed when I watched the episode on Sunday night. As a parent, I find this neglect of a child disgraceful, especially considering he’s the only child Dany has left. But also, why does Cersei continue to let Tyrion live? Doesn’t she despise him to the very depths of her being? We’ve already seen that she is a psychopath with no values or morals, who has repeatedly brutalized and killed her enemies. Well, isn’t Tyrion the biggest enemy of them all? And why does Tyrion keep believing that Cersei is capable of redemption? It’s obvious by now that she isn’t.
9. Oh, and let’s not forget the careless editing that left a Starbucks cup in the middle of the table during the feast scene at Winterfell—I understand mistakes happen but come on. At least HBO owned up to it, although it’s not like they really had any other choice.
Other thoughts and comments:
1. The funeral pyres for those slain in the battle for Winterfell and Jon’s farewell speech were perfectly sad and heartfelt, as were Jon’s goodbyes to Tormund and Samwell. I actually teared up a little when Sam said, “You were the best friend I’ve ever had.” ☹ But then Jon went and dissed Ghost and ruined it all!!
2. I simply adore Tormund and love every scene he’s in! His line “Now, which one of you cowards sh** in my pants?” So awesome!!
3. I love the exchange with Arya and Gendry. It’s so perfectly Arya and while Gendry should have known better, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. I want a happy ending here so badly. I know there’s not a chance in hell of it happening, but a girl can dream, can’t she?
4. The scenes with Tyrion and Varys were great, too, and well-written. They were reminiscent of the good ole days on Thrones. I love these two characters together and I didn’t realize how much I missed Varys and his scheming until this episode. I hope we see a lot more of him these next two weeks.
5. I wish we could see more of The Hound, and hopefully we will now that it seems he is going south with Arya. His presence this season—much like Varys—has been sorely muted.
Well, my friends, I think I’m going to leave it at that for now. I have many thoughts warring in my head, but before I put pen to paper on those, I want to see how the next (and final) two episodes pan out. Fingers crossed that Benioff and Weiss have something up their sleeves that can rectify what’s happened here. I’m nervous about it, so I’m just going to put positive vibes out there and hope the universe answers.
And now, onto my menu! I decided to do things a little differently this time. I searched for food passages within Martin’s books and used them to create my dishes for this week’s viewing party. The “unique” names are all my own, though (with props to Ser Nick for coming up with the Iron Price and Flea Bottom names, which are arguably the best ones!).
1. “Cersei set a tasty table, that could not be denied. … Then came lamprey pie, buttered carrots, white beans and bacon.” – A Clash Of Kings (page 773)
Queen Cersei’s Lamprey Pie (This is my favorite Chicken Pot Pie recipe—I don’t remember where I got it from, but I’ve made it dozens of times and it’s always a hit!)
The Onion Knight’s Iron Price (chopped carrots seasoned with salt and pepper and drenched in butter)
Flea Bottom Beans & Bacon (white cannellini beans sautéed with bacon, garlic, and broccoli rabe—I used this recipe [the modern version] from “The Inn at the Crossroads,” switching out the endive for broccoli rabe.)
2. “Remember, she is Dornish. In the Reach men said it was the food that made Dornishmen so hot-tempered and their women so wild and wanton. Fiery peppers and strange spices heat the blood, she cannot help herself.” – A Feast For Crows (page 271)
Dorne’s Fiery Dragon Peppers (jalapeno peppers stuffed with cheese and onions and rolled in crushed corn flakes—I used this recipe from “The Inn at the Crossroads.”)
3. “The beer was brown, the bread black…” – A Dance With Dragons (page 140)
The Night’s Watch Black Beer Bread (Once again, “The Inn at the Crossroads” comes through with this recipe.)
I cannot take credit for baking this deliciously scrumptious bread. That honor goes to my one and only, Ser Nick. Thank you for giving this one a shot, babe!
4. “For the sweet, Lord Caswell’s servants brought down trays of pastries from his castle kitchens, cream swans and spun-sugar unicorns…” – A Clash Of Kings (page 348)
Ser Arthur Danish (almond cream pastries; my mom used to make these delicious bad boys when I was a kid, and they are to die for!)
Note: In this case, I couldn’t find an exact quote for my almond cream Danish but figured “pastries” and “cream” are enough to make this work. 😊
5. “The Queen took a flagon of sweet plum wine from a passing serving girl and filled Sansa’s cup. “Drink,” she commanded coldly. “Perhaps it will give you the courage to deal with truth for a change.” – A Clash Of Kings (page 850)
Queen Cersei’s Sangria (a delicious medley—once again provided by our favorite Thrones couple—of two red sangria recipes, incorporating all sorts of flavors: Spanish red wine, orange juice, lemonade, cognac, dragon fruit, star fruit, and mango)
Thanks for reading, everyone! I’ll see you back here in a week with my penultimate “Game of Thrones” menu.
Related Game of Thrones Content:
GoT Finale: A Mom’s Watch Has Ended (Episode 6)
GoT: A Thousand Lives (Episode 5)
GoT: An Ending Not Quite Fit For A (Night) King (Episode 3)