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ExploreThe season finale was a wild ride. We’ve got so much to talk about – and there’s so much we could talk about. I could probably spend six hours explaining and expanding on each detail of the episode and what it means for the future of Thrones. Every main character’s plot moved forward in a significant way.
We could go on about Jaime, Cersei, the end of House Lannister, the almost-Cleganebowl of 2k17, Danaerys and Cersei’s queenly rivalry, that scene between Jon and Danaerys…but we’re not going to do that today. Today, we’re just going to look at the five biggest takeaways from the Season 7 Finale. So, strap in, kids, and don’t forget: in case you’ve forgotten anything important from Season 7, we’ve recapped every episode for you:
Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6
As usual, beware: for this post is long and full of spoilers.
Let’s go:
5. What Is Dead May Never Die
Season 7 has been the season of amazing character arcs, that’s for sure. From Sansa’s rise to power as Lady of Winterfell, to Cersei’s descent into madness, we’ve seen it all. One player has emerged out of left field, though: Theon.
Ever since we first met Theon in the pilot of Thrones, he’s been a boy at odds with himself. He was taken captive by Ned Stark after the Greyjoy rebellion, that’s true, but Ned raised him just the same as he raised all of his other sons. Still, Westeros puts more stock in blood ties than friendly loyalty, and Theon was constantly reminded of his underlying true allegiance: Pyke, the Greyjoys, and the Drowned God. When Ramsay Bolton captured Theon and turned him into Reek, the character remained embroiled in an internal battle Theon was always there, just beneath the surface, but fear has kept him at bay. Even after he escaped and made it home, professing to be ‘Theon’ again, pressure always made him return to that frightened ‘Reek’ state.
In the finale, Theon has a heart-to-heart with Jon. He wants to save his sister, but he’s too afraid. He opens up about his personal struggles – the tug-of-war between Kraken and Direwolf that rages within him.
“I always wanted to do the right thing. I just never knew what that was.” – Theon Greyjoy
Jon tells him the thing that Theon has been needing to hear his whole life: he doesn’t have to choose. Ned was his father, too. Theon is both a Greyjoy, and he’s a Stark. He does belong. Winterfell is his home, and so is Pyke.
Emboldened by this revelation, Theon goes to rally the few Ironborn still loyal to Yara. When he fights their treacherous leader, he refuses to back down. He takes every blow, and then some, and then kills the leader and gains the Ironborn Fleet’s respect back. Then, he commands them to come with him. They’re going to kill Euron and get Yara back. This scene is the first time we’ve ever heard Theon’s theme in a major key. It’s clear that Theon is back, in full force. Reek no longer controls him. He’s ready to fight, and for the first time in his entire life, he knows where he belongs, and what he wants.
Theon, you’re doing amazing, Sweetie.
4. House Lannister, Divided
PHOTO: watchersonthewall.com
You’d think we’d spend a little time talking about that Dragon Pit Summit, and we will. The Dragon Pit Summit served one purpose in the show, and one purpose only: it divided House Lannister for good.
Up until now, Jaime and Cersei have been a relatively inseparable pair. Even as Cersei has descended into madness, Jaime risen to the top of the pile to become one of the most likable characters in Game of Thrones (no one saw that coming!). He’s made mistakes, but he’s trying to fix them as best he can. Up until Season 7, he was enthralled to Cersei. She had him in the palm of her hand. However, the death of their children has driven an immovable wedge in between the two.
In a last-ditch effort to secure Jaime’s loyalty this season, Cersei told him she was pregnant. Apparently that wasn’t a lie, and it did work. That is, it worked until Jon and Tyrion brought that Wight to the Dragon Pit. Cersei seemed shaken. Jaime even moreso. For a second, we really thought Cersei was going to make peace with Danaerys and Jon and help fight the Army of the Dead. Jaime was all for it. He was ready to march his army North.
…Just one itty-bitty problem:
Cersei is bat-shit crazy, and she thinks she’s invincible.
After announcing that she was going to join Danaerys and Jon to help fight in the Great War, she summons Jaime to talk in private, and tells him that she’s not going to do anything of the sort. They’re going to remain right where they are, let their enemies fight among themselves, and then crown themselves rulers of the ashes once the dust has settled. Jaime’s shocked. Didn’t she see the unkillable undead zombie?
Sensing mutiny, Cersei threatens to kill him if he disobeys her and marches North anyway. Jaime can’t believe his ears. It’s the last straw. She truly has gone mad.
After seven long seasons, the Lannister twins have finally turned on each other. Jaime leaves Cersei to her throne and rides out of King’s Landing alone as snow begins to fall. He’s going North to join Tyrion.
3. Littlefinger’s Demise
Back North in Winterfell, a storm has been brewing this entire season between Arya and Sansa Stark. It’s had fans in a tizzy. Half the fandom thought that Sansa and Arya were out-of-character, allowing themselves to be completely played by Littlefinger and turned against each other. The other half of the fandom believed something else was at work. Namely: the Stark siblings were out for revenge.
Guess what? We were right.
Arya and Sansa’s rivalry during this season was all an act to lure Littlefinger into a trap. Bran had been acting behind the scenes, feeding information to his sisters. He unveiled every single bit of Littlefinger’s treachery. Together, the siblings exposed Littlefinger, and then brought him (without his knowledge) to trial in front of a legal court. Caught in a collapsing house of cards, Petyr Baelish was stuck in a web of his own making. Every single one of his carefully-laid plans all came crumbling down. Sansa, Arya, and Bran had outwitted him.
In the end, Petyr Baelish dies on his knees, helpless and exposed as a traitor. Arya kills him with his own knife – the knife he used to try and kill Bran and start the events that led to Ned and Catelyn Stark’s deaths.
Watch some awesome recorded reactions to this plot twist below:
2. R+L=J
PHOTO: youtube.com
Here on TeeHunter, we’ve been ranting and raving about R+L=J for awhile. In case any of you are still unclear, R+L=J stands for: Rhaegar + Lyanna = Jon. Basically, it means that Jon is a Targaryen. He’s Ned Stark’s nephew, not Ned Stark’s bastard. He’s the main character of Game of Thrones, one of the story’s biggest heroes. Because his father was from House Targaryen, fire, and his mother was from House Stark, ice, his is the Song of Ice and Fire. He is the Prince That Was Promised who is going to battle the Night’s King in the Great War to Come.
The Season 7 finale not only confirmed this theory, but it added a whole new dimension. Since Rhaegar divorced his wife, Elia, and then married Lyanna secretly beneath a Heart Tree in Dorne, that means Jon isn’t a bastard at all. He’s the surviving male heir to the Iron Throne. Basically, Jon is the rightful ruler of Westeros.
Yeah, we’re still screaming, too.
1. And The Wall Came Tumbling Down…
PHOTO: jaccendo.com
And, of course, the biggest takeaway of all: the Army of the Dead has gone south of the Wall.
There’s really not much we can say to add to this scene. It’s as grim and horrifying as it is oddly satisfying. It feels like all seven seasons have been gearing up to this moment. The Wall that Bran the Builder put up to keep the White Walkers out during Winter has finally come down. The wights have gone south. They have hundreds of thousands of soldiers, at least three giants, and an ice dragon.
All we can do at this point is worry about Tormund. Maybe Brienne should ride North and rescue her ginger bae, so they can make giant babies and save the world.
PHOTO: Tumblr
What are your biggest takeaways from Season 7? Which episode was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
Listen, we know we’ve got nearly two years to wait until the final season of Game of Thrones airs. That’s a long time! Why don’t you feed your Thrones fever with our Kingsguard Collection, swear allegiance to your favorite Thrones house, or watch HBO’s official behind-the-scenes look at the Dragon Pit Summit. We’ve got it below:
See You Next Season!
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