Game of Thrones Season 7, Episode 4, ‘The Spoils of War’ Review: Setting The Battlegrounds On Fire

We’re all still reeling from an intense, fire-breathing episode of “Game of Thrones” as the story continues this week with “The Spoils of War.” This was one of HBO’s most epic and adrenaline-inducing episodes ever with the central focus on death, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), death, dragons, and death. Capping the episode off is Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) attempting to charge at Daenerys to seal off his King/Queen slayer title once again, albeit ending in disappointing results.

But in the midst of the tumultuous war and death, “The Spoils of War” definitely made a definitive point in season 7 of “Game of Thrones.” As Daenerys went head-to-head with the Lannister and Tarly army with Drogon breathing fire all over, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) stood mouth agape, as he witnessed the sheer power of the Dothraki and Daenerys’ wrath. This was the first time he saw his Queen in action, so was he aware of the chaos that Tyrion himself is planning together with the Mad King’s daughter?

Photo via HBO

And when it comes to Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), are her reunions with her siblings simply turning into a worse case scenario episode of Dr. Phil? She’s still trying to make sense of Bran’s weird transformation to a psychic ingrate and now her sweet little sister Arya is now a glorified kill bill fighter.

With everything shifting for our beloved “Game of Thrones” characters, it’s kind of ironic to know that Jon Snow (Kit Harington) remained as brooding as he was last week. He did not negate what Ser Davos (Liam Cunningham) now sees of Daenerys as “pleasing to behold,” but he went on to ramble about the Night King. He’s becoming the show’s stagnant character so far; but considering what happened to everyone this week, maybe it’s just a disaster relief and we have yet to see him go crazy with the war soon after.

The Spoils of War: The Greatest ‘Game of Thrones’ Battle Since Jon and Ramsey’s ‘Battle of the Bastards’

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Macall B. Polay/HBO

Blackwater Bay, Hardhome and Battle of the Bastards have all been great war episodes of “Game of Thrones.” But the latter’s title as the best war entry in the saga for Westeros might just be over as it hands it down to “The Spoils of War.” From the moment Jaime and Bronn freaked out at the sound of the Dothraki army arriving, to Daenerys flying over the Lannister army and scorching everyone in her path, it was clear that this battle was going to be beyond epic. It went on to prove its title as Bronn tried his best to chuck Drogon with a giant crossbow, only to enrage the dragon, sending more flames in his path.

Amid the intensity of the battle, a lot of moments stood out. The Dothraki warrior leaning low to cut Bronn’s horse’s legs, sending him tumbling down. Daenerys genuinely looking “mad” as she went back and forth to torch the Lannister/Tarly army. Jamie’s face, from the very beginning, as he knew that his ass was going to be whooped so bad.

So is this goodbye to Jaime Lannister?

“Walk away, you f***ing idiot,” was Tyrion’s mantra as he watched his brother from a distance. Jaime, realizing that this could be his Queenslayer moment building up, picked up a spear and charged at Daenerys and Drogon. Little did Jaime know that it was only going to end badly for him either way: he could be torched or killed—if not for Bronn grabbing him as they both splashed (and sunk) into the river.

Peter Dinkalge in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Macall B. Polay/HBO

The final shot of him sinking to the depths, however, is not enough to convince us that Jaime is indeed dead. True, swimming to the surface with him donning a heavy armor would prove to be nearly impossible, but we still have some Tarly and Lannister men left unburnt to save their… king? prince? (at this point, I don’t even know anymore).

So, Jamie is probably still alive. If the showrunners were going to kill him off this early in the season, then they would have given him the honor of being burned alive by Daenerys.

Whatever Happened To The Jon-Daenerys Chemistry?

When not burning everything in her path, the Mother of Dragons is supposed to be building up the relationship with Jon at Dragonstone. What happened to last week’s spark? Obviously, Jon finds Daenerys pleasing to the eye, but with him knowing nothing, Ser Davos had to point it out. Idiot.

Nathalie Emmanuel, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Macall B. Polay/HBO

Meanwhile, Daenerys still insists on Jon bending the knee so that she could also fight for the North. Cue Jon’s stone-cold pride. He refuses to bend it yet again and rambles on about the White Walkers once again. True, Daenerys was impressed and amazed at the cave paintings that Jon discovered, but it wasn’t enough to build on their chemistry again. Well, if “Game of Thrones” is planning for these to kiss and tell, they’re surely having a very hard time trying to get that point across.

So Jon-Daenerys shippers, I guess this isn’t your episode yet.

Arya Is The ‘Zorro’ Of Winterfell

Ever since getting away from the Faceless Men, we’ve all been cheering Arya along as she went along slitting throats and killing off entire houses. Until now, we all long to see the day where Arya stands above Cersei as she is about to kill her too.

Gwendoline Christie, Maisie Williams in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Helen Sloan/HBO

But for this week’s episode, we see Arya through her big sister’s eyes. Sansa, at first, thought that the kill list was a joke. But upon learning about it from creepy Bran, the list turned out to be a very dark thing for Arya to want to accomplish. Far from the lame underdog in the previous seasons, Arya has now evolved to a young woman who can only express what she wants by killing (or, in a more toned-down version, extreme violence).

Still, as she made her return to Winterfell, she makes this episodes best line—saying to Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) that “No One” taught her how to fight.

This is obviously a Jaqen H’ghar reference. Duh.

This Week On Twisted Bran Episode 2

Isaac Hempstead Wright, Maisie Williams in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Helen Sloan/HBO

Bran Stark (Isaan Hempstead Wright) wasn’t as creepy and ominous as last week, but he did turn out to be a huge dick. Last week, he was all about reminding Sansa of her wedding with Ramsay. Now he’s on to Arya (he also made that flat, boring, unenthusiastic face when Arya leaned in to hug her long-lost brother).

He also broke Meera Reed’s heart by being a total ingrate, She was going to leave and be with her family, and all she got from Bran was a thank you (and a flat, boring, unenthusiastic face). What. The. Hell. This was the girl who almost died trying to bring your ass back to Winterfell. This was the girl who went through hell for you and all she ever got was a thank you? Unbelievable. Oh well, I guess Bran isn’t really Bran now.

Of all the unfortunate things to have happened to the Stark kids—beheadings, rape, emotional abuse, and even death and reincarnation—Bran’s is just the weirdest and spookiest.

The Jon Snow-Theon Greyjoy Reunion Was Awkward As Hell

Kit Harington, Alfie Allen in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Macall B. Polay/HBO

We have all dreaded the family-get together where you’ll be meeting your half brother who went against your entire family to slaughter each and everyone just so he could get the throne. Honestly, I thought they were both going to kiss and make up, but obviously, it didn’t come to that as Jon slowly approached Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen). Reek was kind of seen in him as he was evidently scared for his life. You never know what the King in the North could do to you. Once they were at hugging distance, Jon collared Theon and said, “what you did for my sister is the only reason I’m not killing you!” Capital A-W-K-W-A-R-D.

Is Tyrion Having Second Thoughts About His Queen?

As Hand of the Queen, Tyrion has been going through some major lapses of judgment when it comes to his battle tactics. They’ve lost the Dornian and Greyjoy fleet, part of the Unsullied and then came the sacking of the Tyrells (which then led to key ally Lady Olenna’s death). All they ever got was Casterly Rock as a consolation prize.

Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo via HBO

“Perhaps you don’t want to hurt them after all,” said Daenerys of Tyrion’s Lannister siblings. You could tell that it did sting Tyrion once Daenerys said those words. Because it might turn out to be the case.

The flash of horror on Tyrion’s face as Daenerys torched every single one of the Lannister army was, in the context of Daenerys’ suspicions, indeed interesting. His brother Jaime had slain the Mad King—but is Tyrion now writing out a death wish by his alliance with a Deranged Queen? With Daenerys opting for a full-on scorched kingdom battle strategy, Tyrion might just be wondering what he has got himself into.

Overall Verdict

“The Spoils of War” definitely gave us what we were all waiting for as Daenerys flew over armies and burned them alive. But it did raise a few questions as to how she could rule as the future Queen of Westeros. Will any of her loyal followers defect? Will Jon finally bend the knee? Our answers are coming soon, but one thing’s for sure: this episode delivered more than what was expected—setting the battlegrounds on fire.

“Game of Thrones” continues next week with “Eastwatch,” Sunday at 9 PM on HBO. Watch the preview below: