The Power of a Name

“My name—my real name—is Aegon Targaryen.” — Jon Snow

The eighth and final season of Game of Thrones kicked off on Sunday, April 14. Each week during the final season I’ll recap episodes, look at highlights and make predictions for what’s to come.

Last week the producers said the truth of Jon’s true identity an parentage was the most incendiary secret in the world of the show. Last week, to end the episode we saw Sam (John Bradley) finally tell Jon (Kit Harrington) the truth of who he really is. In the second episode, Jon shared that truth with Daenerys (Emilia Clarke). And yet, that was just one of at least a dozen breath-taking moments in an incredibly packed episode.

Next week we know war is coming, but in the second episode, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” we got the calm before the storm. A hallmark of great war movies is the battles, but more importantly it’s the quieter moments before that show the heart of these characters and make you buy into them all the more. Saving Private Ryan would be nothing if Tom Hanks and the others didn’t make you invest in their group, their stories and what they are seeking to safeguard. My favorite Civil War movie, Gettysburg, there are plenty of beautiful moments where these people discuss their views of the world and their affection for each other.

Game of Thrones has always been a show that is renowned for its battle sequences — and we’ve been promised that we’re going to get the most ambitious one year next week. But it’s also at its best in these beautiful character moments. And this episode really hit home because it’s 56-minutes of those character beats. And it was an episode that really put all the pieces in place. While Jon sharing the truth to Dany was huge, let’s take a look at some other big moments.

Brienne Gets the Recognition She Deserves

This episode draws its name from Brienne (Gwendoline Christie), or rather what happens to Brienne. First, as Jamie (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) arrives at Winterfell, he doesn’t get that warm of a welcome. Dany and Sansa (Sophie Turner) aren’t that keen to let him stay and fight, especially after he reveals the truth of Cersei (Lena Headey) not coming and instead building a huge army. And Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), on a losing streak, isn’t much help. But Jamie protests that he did what he did for his family, and he is standing in the North now because of honor.

Brienne is the one person who truly knows what honor means to Jamie. While she stands for him, and talks of the time he saved her from dishonor while they were captives — costing him his sword hand — it’s the story she didn’t share that looms large. Brienne of all people knows why Jamie earned the moniker Kingslayer, and that it was the last thing he ever wanted. But he put the needs of the realm over his own honor and future, and accepted the consequences. He is doing it again, and she honors that sacrifice. Jamie has always been a better man than most believe — his shoving Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) out a window aside — and now that he’s free of Cersei, I hope he can embrace that for however much time he has left.

Brienne saves Jamie, and he’s added to the army. Later, he pledges to fight for her in the battle to come. But their most touching moment comes near the end. One of the best sequences in an episode full of them was the fireside gathering of Tyrion, Jamie, Brienne, Podrick (Daniel Portman), Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) and Davos (Liam Cunningham). We got some drinking, some revelry and a beautiful, haunting song from Podrick. But in the midst of that, we got Jamie knighting Brienne. There is some discussion that it’s not allowed by tradition for women to become knights, and Brienne protests she doesn’t even want to be a knight. But she does. And she’s earned it. And the moment when Jamie knights her, and she rises with happy tears, pulls at the heartstrings in the best way. (By way of of update, I am in deed 2-for-2 in episodes producing tears, and we haven’t even gotten to the big battle.)

Brienne has been one of the best characters, and her story arc has been one of the most rewarding. Last night felt like a big final touch for her, which was both beautiful and alarming. What does it mean for the future? That’s something worth considering moving forward. But for now, she is finally, deservedly, a Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

The Night King is Coming

The moment that started all this off was the idea that the Night King is coming. Tormund, Edd (Ben Crompton) and Beric (Richard Dormer) arrive at Winterfell, and both Jon and Sam are thrilled to see them, but less thrilled to learn that the Umbers have fallen and the Night King is less than a day away. So they turn to their defense, and how they can win — or if they even can.

Rightly Jon notes that the Night King has a better army (both in size and scope and in the fact they aren’t constrained by mortal limits), but the weakness is without a leader they fall. That means the battle is just to keep the living alive long enough to end the Night King — their only path to victory. But how? That’s where Bran comes in.

This episode provided, perhaps, the best explanation yet of who, or what, Bran is as the Three-Eyed Raven. The Night King wants to end the world as it is and usher in a forever night. The Three-Eyed Raven is the one who holds the history of men, and that matters.

“He’ll come for me,” Bran said. Because he needs to eliminate all the Three-Eyed Raven means to the living. “He wants to erase this world, and I am its memory.”

It was a chilling response. So, too, was Sam’s follow up. “Maybe that’s what death is — forgetting, being forgotten. If we forget where we’ve been and what we’ve done, we’re not men anymore.”

So Bran will stand out to lure in the Night King. But he won’t be alone. Theon (Alfie Allen) has had a long, strange trip as a character. But it always seemed that this final season would be his redemption story. In the premiere he was able to rescue his sister. And last night he returned to Winterfell, and his reunion with Sansa was low-key more emotionally resonant than I expected. And now he and the Iron Born that traveled with him will stand with Bran against the Night King. It could also be his last stand.

Last Chance at Romance

Another hallmark of those preparing for war is to finally make their romantic move, or to make their plans for “after.” We saw some of both as folks sought comfort on their last night, perhaps ever. We saw Sam and Gilly (Hannah Murray) and little Sam together. We saw Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) and Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) gather together and discuss their future. And that moment where they kiss before he takes his place with the Unsullied was beautiful and potentially foreboding. Even Sansa and Theon found comfort in each other.

But perhaps the most interesting romantic moment was Arya (Maisie Williams) and Gendry (Joe Dempsie). They had a flirtatious relationship in early seasons, and their interactions last week were fun and interesting. Many have suggested they’d like to see them together, and that came in episode two. With the Night King closing in, and the threat of death hanging over them all, Arya made her move. It will be interesting to see if one or both of them survive the battle and where it could potentially go from here—especially since Arya knows that Gendry is the son of Robert Baratheon.

Other Episode Highlights

A lot happened in this episode, so here’s a few other news and notes.

• No safer place than the Winterfell Crypts. Really? The place full of dead Starks and their weapons? They repeated this so many times, and it sounded dumb every time. Come on Jon, really? The Crypts? The place we’re now seeing in the opening credits? Something wicked that way comes.
• I mentioned this in my pre-cap of the episode, but we did get to see Jorah (Iain Glen) and Lyanna (Bella Ramsey) discussing her position during the fight and talking about being relatives. It was a quick moment, but a touching moment. And thank goodness that charming little girl isn’t going to the crypts…
• What about Ghost? Well, for the first time in two seasons we saw him…briefly. Ghost was atop the wall with Jon, but where was our touching reunion? It looked like he just got dropped into the scene as fan service. Come on! A Jon-Ghost reunion was something we needed. Ghost better have a better role moving forward.
• The flirtations, and stories, from Tormund were incredible. Asking after Brienne, guzzling Giant’s Milk and prompting the knighting of Brienne. He is one of the most fun characters.
• We got another interesting moment between Arya and The Hound (Rory McCann). I hope it’s not their last. I am curious to see if this progresses.
• Tyrion and Bran had an interesting moment where he seemed interested in learning what it means to be the Three-Eyed Raven. We didn’t see the conversation, but it seems to have taken place. I am curious to see how that comes into play.
• I thought last night would be a time to finally see Howland Reed. It didn’t happen. I now think it will never happen.

Predictions for the Wars to Come

It seems that the next episode will be the battle at Winterfell. And that more than likely means that some (many? all?) of our favorite characters won’t make it. Prior to the season I predicted that Daenerys would fall in the battle with the Night King, and Jon would end up ruling. I’m standing by that one. But what does it mean for the rest.

We saw some touching moments for Brienne, Grey Worm, Sam and many others. Those are the kind of moments that, in many shows and movies, portend the ending is near. And I think, sadly, that will be true now. Pre-season I didn’t have it in my heart to predict any of these treasured characters to die, but it seems like that was more wishful thinking for a show other than the one we have. So here is a shot at predicting who we will lose in episode three.

• Theon. He returned to defend Winterfell, and I think that his redemption will be made complete in his death.
• Grey Worm. His relationship with Missandei is low-key one of the most beautiful in the show. And their moments together on Sunday were wonderful. But they also felt like their dream of the future is the kind of thing that you never get to realize.
• Brienne. This one guts me, but it really felt like that was her moment. She is a Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, commanding the armies of Winterfell, and I don’t have a good feeling.

It would be logical to believe Sam is in trouble, and he very well might be, but I think he might surprise some folks and make it out. That could be wishful thinking, but I’m not ready to see him go just yet. Either way we’ll find out next week.

Agree? Disagree? Have a bold theory? Fire it up in the comments and we’ll see how it all shakes out.