Notes & Nuggets: "Game of Thrones" Season 8, Episode 2

When you were growing up, did you ever guess that as an adult you’d be glued to a TV show about dragons and ice zombies? Because I sure did! Here’s my thoughts on the last season of Game of Thrones. Um, spoilers!

· I used to want to be a writer. I primarily wanted to write short stories (don’t think there are enough short stories in the world), but like any writer I also thought up novels. I only wrote one (and it was BAD), but I had plenty of ideas, many of which made it to the outline stage. When outlining a novel, I usually focused my bulletpoints on things that moved the plot forward. Sometimes, however, I had to make a note to remember to have a scene where people got together for a discussion/exposition dump. Whenever I got there, I would put down the same note: Dudes talking. On a related note, I feel like when outlining this episode, the only thing the writers put down was “Dudes Talking”.

· So is that bad? Not necessarily. Spoiler: I give this episode 6.5 out of 10 hot dogs. But not on the strength of this single episode alone – it’s for this particular thread being the latest in a grand tapestry. When these kinds of episodes happened in the second season, where the first half of the season just seemed to be getting people where they needed to be for the second half, I ended up DVRing and binging on the season (Note: Then “Blackwater” happened and it was must-see TV ever since). Yet here we are years later, with fully-established characters, and it’s thrilling to see them interacting with each other. Daenerys and Sansa, the Night’s Watch reunion, Arya and Gendry (eggplant emoji), and of course the fireplace crew, which was spectacular to see.

· Based on not just the trailers but also common sense, I figured the trial of Jaime would be the crux of the episode. Yet…it just kind of happened, then everyone moved on. That was pretty surprising – I thought there would be enough drama in that to hang a whole episode on, but they pretty much breezed through it. Again, surprising, but not necessarily bad (since a quick resolution to the trial allows Jaime more time at the fireplace).

· The Daenerys/Sansa conference was brilliant. Very well acted and very well written. Daenerys was right – there was so much under the surface that they have in common, and there’s no reason they shouldn’t be able to work together. But I love what didn’t get resolved and threatens to keep them apart – the rule of the North (by the way, I noticed that Daenerys announced Jon as “warden of the North” in the trial – not sure if it’s happened before, but that’s the first time I remember him being publicly demoted from King of the North).

· The Jaimie/Bran meetup was just as awkward as it should have been. While watching it, my first thought was “If Jaime didn’t push Bran out the window in the first season, none of this would have happened”. But after further consideration, I don’t know if that’s true. The Starks and Lannisters were already at each other’s throats even before the push, and would still have had reason enough to go to war after Ned’s death (Ned Stark was killed because he was onto the fact that Robert’s “sons” were actually full Lannisters, not because of Bran). With war imminent, Jaime would have been just as likely to be captured as he “really” was, and his arc would have unfolded from there. As for Bran, even without the paralysis he still would not have had the strength or character to quickly muster the Starks against Theon and would still have been driven out of Winterfell. The only difference is where he would have been able to escape on his own two feet. And if that prevented him from becoming the Three Eyed Raven, it might have been better – the previous one was experienced enough to not look too far into the creation of the Night King (and thus get branded by him).

· Why was Sansa so happy to see Theon? Didn’t she remember the time he killed all those Starks and plundered Winterfell? I’m sure they had good times growing up together, but it seems to betray Sansa’s goal of keeping the Starks together. Have some perspective!

· So we spend all this time wondering what ever happened to Ghost, and then he shows up in the background of a Jon segment? What the hell?!?!

· I used to think that the reason they kept Gendry alive this long was because he would be the secret inheritor of the Iron Throne – that after a brave deed someone would legitimize him, and as the sole surviving Baratheon he would claim the kingship. Now I think they kept him alive just so he and Arya would have this one humpty dance.

· By the way, how much time has passed in canon in this story? I know Maisie Williams is 22 in real life and can make choices about her acting roles, but is her character supposed to have grown up that much as well? I know people snark it up about how they must have high-speed rail in Westeros to have everyone move so quickly from place to place – maybe it really is taking everyone months of travel time and the writers are just fast-forwarding. Because the only alternative is that someone who just like two years ago in story time was a kid taking fencing lessons is now delicately bonin’.

· Yes, the rest of the fireplace crew clapping after Jaime knighted Brienne did bring a tear to my eye, thank you very much.

· Last week I raised how flimsy Sam’s explanation to Jon about his heritage and claim to the throne really sounded – it’s all based on one guy who says he can see the past and another guy who just learned that Daenerys killed his family. I figured with the way last week’s exchange went that Jon wasn’t going to do anything (yet) with his claim. Yet, there he was in front of his true mother’s memorial, telling Daenerys about his real parents. Not only did she raise the same points I did, but she also mentioned another significant item –this is coming from his brother and his best friend, both parties who have interest in him. Why should she believe him? How could he possibly prove it (maybe walking through fire?)? Also, why would he even believe it? But this is also pretty intriguing. Jon has shirked leadership roles at every step of the way, most recently bending the knee after being crowned King of the North. Even if he absolutely believes his ancestry he could have either not mentioned it or brought it up and then said that he’s bending the knee anyway. Yet he does nothing of the sort – he puts it out there for Daenerys to deal with. Can’t wait to see how this works itself out.

· Looks like we’re going to have a lot of dead bodies at Winterfell next week. Stay safe everyone!