Sky

When Dany accepted the city’s surrender and offered the Lannister army a chance to bend the knee? And one by one they all knelt while the music swelled and Drogon soared overhead? Gorgeous.

Jaime sneaking into KL to stop Cersei’s escape? The way she begged him to help her for the sake of their child? When he told her it was for that child, and all the other innocents, living and dead, that he wouldn’t let her leave? poetic - it really reminded us about the key difference in their core values.

Cersei’s trial was amazing… Dany asked who would be her champion and no one stood, but Cersei didn’t cry or beg (her eyes flicked to Jaime and then quickly back to the Throne, while Jaime held Brienne’s hand with white knuckles but didn’t turn or falter). The way Tyrion looked into Cersei’s eyes, and it was so reminiscent of when she had him on that farcical trial for Joffrey’s murder?? Chills.

Dany judging that Cersei would be held prisoner until the birth of her child, after which she would be executed for her crimes? Just and fair by Westerosi standards - and consistent with Danny’s moral code.

Watching Cersei be led out in chains, fierce and hateful as ever, with her head high and tears in her eyes, while that mournful Castamere reprisal played was so satisfying!

The scene where Dany burnt Euron (who we hadn’t seen since he fell into the water) and the remaining Lannister loyalists was intense and brutal - it reminded us that Dany is not inherently forgiving of her enemies … but of course all our other favs have killed people in cold blood (Jon, Arya, Sansa, Brienne, Tyrion, etc…), and this show isn’t about black and white morality.

It was surprisingly sad to see Jon telling Dany that he can’t be with her and won’t be staying in Kings Landing. His father may have been a Targaryen, but his mother was a Stark, and Jon’s home is in the North. His little quip about having already done enough south of the wall - ‘might as well see what happens on other side’ - neatly explained to the audience his plan to join the free folk without being corny or heavy-handed, and reminded us that Jon has done what he was brought back to do - his watch has ended and its time for him to rest. (Besides, we know he promised Ghost he’d come back for him when he gave him those good good pets a few episodes ago.)

I was riveted by that intimate scene where Sansa and Dany negotiated the North’s independence, with Sansa driving a hard bargain while offering ‘concessions’ — pledging favourable trade terms, accepting settlements of Dothraki and Unsullied as citizens, and of course not telling anyone about Jon. Dany of course pretended not to hear the implied threats (~we could disrupt the economy and supply of food, we could turn against a strange queen and her foreign mercenaries, we could undermine your right to rule~) and (publicly) graciously granted the North to Queen Sansa Stark.

I loved how, with Politics out of the way, the women struck up a wary but hopeful friendship that bode well for peace between the Queendoms.

It was bittersweet to see Tyrion on the docks, holding Varys’ rings, while the destroyed wall was being rebuilt behind him. I bawled when he tearfully said ‘proving you wrong isn’t nearly so fun when you’re not here … goodbye … old friend,” and let the rings fall. It reminded us that getting to this point was not easy, and that good people were lost along the way.

I loved that when Sansa offered Brienne a place in her Queensguard, Brienne declined. (Once upon a time it was everything she wanted … but her father is getting old and Tarth will need her to take up governance when he dies. ‘Besides,’ she said ‘the North is too cold.’ Sansa narrowed her eyes at this - ‘you never minded the cold’ - and Brienne cracked a little smile. ‘No,’ she said. ‘I didn’t.’). I felt that it was really satisfying for Brienne to be going home in high honor as both a lady and a knight -proving wrong anyone who tormented her and finally uniting those aspects of her identity (and the strong implication that Jaime goes with her made my romantic heart explode - I can’t wait for the fic that elaborates on this).

That shot of Sansa in her crown, with Arya (and NYMERIA EEEE!!!) standing in light queensguard armor on one side and Bran in his chair on the other, made me want to cheer along with all the Northern Lords. They went through so much separately, but the pack survives. I wish Jon could have been there, but the previous scene - when he said goodbye before going beyond the wall - was enough.

Dany’s final scenes … watching the wounds of war be healed with brick and patience and determination … appointing Yara, Grey Worm, Missandei (who never got fridged bc that would be stupid and racist), Davos, and Sam to her small council … pardoning Tyrion’s release of Jaime (without which Cersei would have escaped) … riding Drogon high above the city as the smallfolk first cower in fear, and then realise she has no intention of harming them, as children run through the streets shrieking - not away from the great beast, but towards it - and she slides off her Dragon to meet them. Finally, the lies have become truth and the people of Westeros cry out her name in adoration - after everything she has lost, the Dragon Queen is home, and she is loved.

Man I am so glad they didn’t screw it up and make Dany lose her mind, and Cersei die crying and pregnant.

I’m sure happy Arya didn’t abandon her family to become a pirate(?), and Bronn the Unreliable didn’t become master of coin.

I’m really glad they didn’t throw away Jamie’s character development and make him die in the arms of his evil abusive sister who just sent Bronn to kill him - it would have sucked to have come away with the idea that people can’t leave toxic relationships or become better people through hard work and sacrifice.

I’m thrilled that Brienne didn’t live the rest of her life alone, but rather earned respect for herself and found fulfilment and love in her family and in her relationships.

I’m sooo happy that Jon didn’t murder Dany in a miserable parody of love — it would have been really shitty to have the empowered survivor of rape and abuse be lied to and summarily executed by her lover because he didn’t agree with her choices.