Game of thrones episodes
Not just the blazing agony Daenerys' biggest dragon, Drogon, unleashed on Dany's Sons of the Harpy attackers in the fighting arena of Meereen, but also the cruel flames that Stannis condemned his sweet daughter, Shireen, to so that the Lord of Light would bless his army in his quest to conquer the North. The name of the game in this harrowing penultimate Season 5 episode was FIRE. And man, those scenes between Arya and Tywin are still some of the best moments from the entire show.
What "The Old Gods and the New" is probably most-known for, however, is Tyrion smacking the ever-loving smirk off of Joffrey's face (once again) following a riot in the streets of King's Landing and Arya scrambling to cover her snooping in Harrenhal by asking Jaqen H'ghar to smite Ser Amory Lorch. This spectacular Season 2 entry introduced us to the Wildling Ygritte, Qarth-napped Daenerys' baby dragons, and made us bear witness to the fall of Winterfell at the hands of Theon Greyjoy (RIP Ser Rodrik). It's amazing that, even with all the information that was heroically hurled at us in "Winter Is Coming," it was still just a small peak into this wicked and wonderful world. All while, across the sea, a young Daenerys Targaryen was sold off to a barbarian by her older brother, who believed he was the rightful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Stoic Warden of the North, Ned Stark, agreed to help his old friend, King Robert, down in the capital city so that he could secretly look into the death of his childhood mentor. "Winter Is Coming" invited us into Westeros, back when the dire wolves were all pups and the Stark kids were.well, they were all pups too. Winter is ComingĪh, back where it all began.
This was very much a "calm before the storm" episode, executed with grace, humor, and heart. In the chapter's most rewarding scene, Jaime knighted Brienne, giving her the honer she never knew she always wanted. Arya decided to take Gendry as a lover, Tormund tried his best to woo Brienne, and Tyrion opted to drink and listen to the long saga of Bran the Broken. AKA "the last episode before some fans started to seriously sour on Season 8," "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" focused on the final hours before the Night King's undead assault on Winterfell, with each character having to come to terms with what might be their last moments alive.