It was something special.
I know that people are mostly thinking of the sequence with Daenerys, the Dothraki and the dragon when shrieking their howls of pleasure, and make no mistake - it was excellent - one of the most impressive scenes Iāve seen on television, certainly the best Iāve seen in broad daylight.
Some other highlights. The remaining Starks are mostly back together, and its striking just how much each has grown in power, especially when the episode does such a good job of illustrating it. Bran is a _proper _know it all, Arya is one of the best fighters (more of a rogue, but still) in the world, Sansa has developed or inherited a ruthlessness from her experiences, while Jon Snow may just end up saving the world.
The scenes between Littlefinger and the Starks are delicious. This is a man that has been pulling strings, shaping the world of others, who at the beginning of the episode, clearly thinks heās still in control. His chat with Bran is obviously predicated on him believing that male primogeniture was still applicable to the young male Stark. He ends up leaving it, ashen-faced. One wonders whether he might have tried stabbing Bran if Meera hadnāt turned up when she did. By the time Arya is staring up at him after her courtyard battle, he looks positively ashen faced. Chaos is starting to look like a snake, rather than a ladder. Littlefinger has also had a run in with Jon lately, and Sansa clearly doesnāt trust him. Iād be surprised if he was still around at the end of the season.
After disappointment last week that we only got to see Bronn of the Blackwater, and not actually hear him speak any lines, the show rectified that big time this week. Prior to the arrival of Daenerys and her dragons, the military convoy was basically a huge banter park for he and Jaime. Heās also involved in a tracking shot during the battle that some have already claimed is a reverse of Jon Snowās battle at Hardholme, with Bronn braving fire instead of ice. He also shot and wounded a dragon! You suspect if the man could write, heād have some memoirs to tell.
Despite all that, Cersei got her gold. She intends to get a further loan to cover the costs of the Golden Company, a world renowned group of professional sellswords.
Three episodes to go. As a season, itās been all thriller, no filler this year. This episode deserves that accolade more than any other.