SPOILER ALERT: Warning, this article contains spoilers from Season 7, Episode 4 of Game of Thrones, entitled The Spoils of War. Proceed at your own risk.
We are at the halfway point of Season 7 (sob!) and after three episodes of being on the back foot, Daenerys finally shows Westeros why she is the Mother of Dragons! Here are five shocking moments from Episode 4 of Game of Thrones Season 7.
Bran Isn’t Really Bran Anymore
After safely delivering Bran to Winterfell, Meera Reed finally takes her leave after several seasons of protecting him and dragging his butt through the frozen North beyond The Wall. With Bran back amongst the Starks, Meera plans to rejoin her own family for when the war with the White Walkers finally arrives. Bran doesn’t need her any more.
Bran bluntly agrees, and gives her an emotionless “thank you” for everything she has done. After Meera angrily points out that Jojen, Hodor, and Summer all died for Bran, she comes to the realization that Bran “died” back in the cave when the White Walkers attacked them.
Bran tells her that he remembers what it was like to be Brandon Stark, but now they are only one set of memories amongst many. He truly is the Three-Eyed Raven now.
Jon Believes Daenerys’ Has A “Good Heart”
Jon and Daenerys are moving closer to actually teaming up in this episode, if only either of them could get past the whole pesky “bending the knee” issue. Still, while they make us wait for the team-up of the century, why not throw a little ship-teasing into the mix?
When asked by Ser Davos what he thinks of Daenerys, Jon tells him that he believes she has a good heart. Davos wryly remarks that he has seen Jon staring at her “good heart.” While Jon does not deny that Daenerys is attractive, he points out that it is not the time for such matters.
Why is this important? Because of the theory that Daenerys and Jon will end up married to unify the South and the North against the White Walkers. So is this foreshadowing of what is to come? Or did the producers just casually shoot down the theory with Jon’s remark? Still, both Dany and Jon are Targaryens, and marriage between family members is traditional, if a little bit … icky.
Well, This Is Awkward
Of all the reunions between characters so far this season, the most unlikely one popped up this week. After six seasons apart, Jon finally comes face-to-face with Theon Greyjoy after the latter ends up on Dragonstone. Since their parting, many things have happened, chief among them Theon betraying Robb Stark and invading Winterfell.
Their reunion is tense and awkward to say the least. Several seasons ago, just before Winterfell was sacked by the Boltons, Maester Luwin suggested that Theon escape and join the Night’s Watch. Theon refused because he believed that Jon would kill him for everything he had done. It seems he was not far off the mark.
On the beach, Jon makes it perfectly clear he has not forgotten what Theon has done, or even remotely forgiven him. The only reason Jon doesn’t kill him is because Theon helped Sansa escape from Ramsey Bolton. With Theon one of Daenerys’ (dwindling) number of allies, will he and Jon be forced to fight side by side?
Arya and Brienne
Game of Thrones has no shortage of awesome female characters, from the charismatic Daenerys to the cunning Cersei, to the pint-sized powerhouse Lyanna Mormont. In The Spoils of War, two of the series’ most badass female characters – Brienne of Tarth and Arya Stark – once more crossed paths in Winterfell. When last they met, Arya watched Brienne beat the Hound in single combat before she headed off to Braavos to join the Faceless Men.
Older, wiser, and considerably more ruthless, Arya finds Brienne at Winterfell and the two engage in a sparring session. While it is clear at first that Brienne is holding back for fear of hurting Arya, Arya’s skills soon convince Brienne not to go easy. The two women’s differing fighting styles serve to showcase their individual personalities – Brienne is all power and strong blows, while Arya is quick and nimble. Their duel is a joy to behold, and ends in a draw with their blades in killing positions.
Impressed, Brienne asks Arya who taught her.
“No One,” Arya replies.
The Bigger They Are …
Back in Episode 2, we got a glimpse of Cersei’s secret weapon to counter Daenerys’ personal air force: the awesome Scorpion Ballista devised by Qyburn. This week, we got to see it in action. During the climatic battle sequence, the Lannisters showed just how prepared they are for a dragon attack on their forces. A single Scorpion Ballista is hidden amongst the carts carrying food and loot from the Fall of Highgarden.
With the Lannister–Tarly army under attack from Drogon (ridden by Daenerys herself) and the Dothraki, Ser Bronn of the Blackwater manages to reach the cart containing the Scorpion during the confusion of the battle. His first shot at Drogon misses, alerting Daenerys to the weapon’s existence. After frantically reloading while Drogon bears down on him, Bronn’s badass credentials skyrocket as his second shot strikes home.
The massive bolt lodges in Drogon’s chest near his right wing, forcing the mighty dragon to land. Although Drogon is merely injured and not killed, the damage is done. Cersei has a working weapon against Daenerys’ dragons. While Drogon proved how effective a single dragon can be against an army, can Daenerys risk her dragons in open combat?
