I saw an interview floating around sometime last week of Emilia Clarke talking about how MASSIVE Game of Thrones Season 8, Episode 5 (The Bells) was going to be. Visually massive. Emotionally, fairly massive. But, like most people, I didn't set well with me. Where to start...
Obviously:
*****SPOILER ALERT!!! DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU ARE NOT CAUGHT UP*****
Tyrion
I understood every single motivation Tyrion had up until he found out about Jamie. Once he decided to free Jaime, I felt sick. It wasn't surprising, but I hated watching it. It's not so much that he freed Jamie, it's why he freed Jamie: not out of his love and admiration for Jamie. No so Jamie could make it to The Red Keep and smuggle Cersei out of town. So. Damn. Disappointed. Once a Lannister, always a Lannister. I was ok with him having a soft spot for his brother, niece and nephew (yes I'm excluding Joffrey); but Cersei... COME ON.
It WAS a touching moment, even if I was cringing inside.
(Also, Ser Davos, I know Tyrion asked you for a terrible favor and it was probably smuggling Jamie and Cersei Lannister out of Kings Landing. So we'll see if that comes to bite him in the ass next week when Dany finds out.)
Cersei
Well her death was anti-climatic. No Arya getting her revenge. No valonqar. Just this:
So much disappointment.
This though:
Jamie
Now last week, I was far too hopeful that Jamie was returning to Kings Landing to kill Cersei... because you know, character development, but:
Arya
The moment between her and Sandor was really touching. But I couldn't help but feel robbed-- I wanted Arya to kill Cersei so badly. Regardless, following her through Kings Landing was pretty crazy and emotional and one of the well done parts of the entire episode.
But, honestly, Arya had her time to shine when she killed the Night King. And, who even cares about Arya's list anymore... The show writers didn't bother with Cersei's valonqar prophecy, why would they bother with her list? I have no hopes for her killing anyone else next episode.
Dany
Oh Dany Dany Dany. People are SO upset about what happened last night. But, here's the deal:
She has lost everyone AND almost everything:
- Her entire family (Robert's Rebellion)
- Her brother, Viserys
- Her husband, Drogo
- Her unborn son
- Ser Barristan
- Two of her dragons, Viserion and Rhaegal
- Most of the Dothraki & Unsullied
- Her MOST trusted advisers and best friends Ser Jorah and Missandei
Not to mention she lost Jon and in seriously danger of losing the throne too. The moment he became Aegon Targaryen, he ceased being her lover and became a real threat. So she has lost yet another lover who she made great sacrifices for. Plus, everyone gives Jon the credit for her hard work. He may not be a threat to her, but the idea of Jon is. Then there's Tyrion, whom I love, who has done nothing but eff up (with the best of intentions). Varys made to betray her without hesitation. So she is completely alone. The only people who could have dialed back Mad Queen Danerys: Jorah and Missandei.
Probably the one thing that would've saved everyone...
110%. The show writers were told the ending. The ending is going to be EFFED up. But they did not have enough time to develop it properly and we did not have enough time to grow with it.
Yep.
But also:
(Probably the best moment of the entire episode!)
I'll leave you with this: