All aboard the Loot Train Battle!
Probably the most insane development to come out of the fiery Loot Train Battle that closed out this week's episode of HBO’s TWX, -0.09% “Game of Thrones” isn’t so much that Daenerys Targaryen is on a fast track to madness — but that neither she nor Jaime Lannister died just now.
Most of the episode, titled “The Spoils of War,” was on the slow-burn-y side, which could only mean that yet another visual punch to the gut was quietly lurking as we approached the final few minutes. It came in the form of what can best be described as Dany’s Dwindling Empire Strikes Back: Upon hearing the news that much of her armada was destroyed in last week’s Casterly Rock occupation at the hands of the Lannister army, the Mother of Dragons told her advisers (i.e. Tyrion) to shove it — “Enough with the clever plans!” — and staged her own retaliation.
What followed was a Dany-on-Drogon-led ambush of the Lannister army, with the queen’s two other dragons and Dothraki army following close behind. Now, while Dany clearly won this battle — much of the Lannister army was incinerated by repeated commands of “Dracarys!” — one has to wonder how many times she can keep evading death.
Related: Fire kills the Lannister army in 'The Spoils of War’
This inferno of a final scene made it pretty easy to forget that a few other things happened in “The Spoils of War,” so read on for our biggest takeaways from this week’s episode:
is this the dragon?
Somehow, some way, both Dany and Jaime survived the Loot Train Battle
After Drogon is nearly killed thanks to a giant crossbow arrow wielded by Bronn (Remember how there was a cryptic mention last week of how Cersei was going to deal with the fact that her greatest enemy had three dragons in her possession? This was it), Dany is saved from a charging Jaime by her loyal dragon. But, just as Drogon is about to turn Jaime into a pile of charred ash, the Kingslayer himself is saved at the last minute, thrown into the water and out of Drogon’s line of fire. “Game of Thrones,” you’re keeping people alive now? That’s the biggest mind bender you’ve thrown at us to date!Tyrion might be turning on his own queen
Tyrion Lannister was suffering from plenty of his own mind benders tonight, from watching his meticulous war strategies turn to dust, to realizing Dany is a narcissistic fool. As he observes his queen from afar frantically trying to pull the arrow out of Drogon’s wounded body, he mutters, “Flee, you idiot!” At first it looks like he’s referring to Jaime, whose own army has fallen like a stack of dominoes. But then it becomes evident Tyrion’s words are meant for Dany, as he realizes her recklessness and refusal to listen to counsel haven’t done her — or him — much good since they landed at Dragonstone. Plus, blood is thicker than water — he was really feeling for Jaime as he watched his brother and his soldiers collapse in defeat.
The Stark siblings’ long-awaited reunion was beautiful — and tragic
Oh, come on, you expected to feel something warm and fuzzy inside? The three surviving (non-bastard) Stark siblings, Bran, Sansa and Arya, reunited tonight after being separated since season 1, but considering everything they’ve been through, their respective internal damage will likely prevent them from re-forming the bonds they once had. Bran appears to have had any traces of humanity and compassion snuffed out of him (the trade-off for becoming the Three-Eyed Raven?), and while Arya and Sansa appeared to fall back into their old sisterly banter with no problems, there might be forces poised to drive them apart, because….
We can’t ignore that sparring session between Brienne and Arya
I am really, really hoping that this meeting of the swords between two of Sansa’s greatest champions is not going to devolve into a catfight over who gets to be Lady Stark’s bestie. It should remain a scene that establishes the mutual respect of Sansa’s most trusted confidantes, and nothing more — but then again, this is “Game of Thrones,” and Littlefinger was watching them intently (with Arya wisely on to him), so the idea that this was solely a pure moment is likely a naïve one. The dagger made of Valyrian steel, which was used in an attempt to kill Bran in season 1, was given to Littlefinger by Catelyn Stark (after she fended off the would-be assassin). But the fact that Bran wound up giving the dagger to Arya gives Littlefinger even more of an incentive to get inside her head and control her now that he can’t do so via Bran. We have to be prepared to see Littlefinger try to pit Brienne and Arya against each other, because why wouldn’t he? Especially considering how vulnerable Brienne is right now. Also, much as I feel for poor, jealous Brienne in this scene, Arya totally bested her with her answer as to who taught her what she knows: “No one.”