Game of Thrones Season 7 Finale, ‘The Dragon and The Wolf’ Review: Revelations, Deaths, And The Arrival of The Night King

After everything the entire continent of Westeros has been through in “Game of Thrones” Season 7, we’re finally given a very dramatic conclusion to the seven-week long journey. Featuring a ghastly Ice Dragon, Littlefinger’s timely death, Jon Snow finally revealed to be a Targaryen (not to mention him sexing up his aunt Daenerys), and the arrival of the Wights—the longest GoT episode and the final draw for one of its shortest seasons, delivered the most breathtaking and surprise-packed.

Towards the end of a particularly uneven yet amazing season, “The Dragon and the Wolf” was a welcome conclusion to “Game of Thrones” Season 7. It gave us 79 full minutes of betrayal, minor nudity, and trickery. It was actually a nice callback to the previous style of the series back when it was still kind of following the books.

Kit Harington and Peter Dinklage in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Macall B. Polay/HBO

More than these things, the season finale gave us more reason to just accept one of its major awkward plot holes—we’ve always thought that kidnapping a Wight was a really bad idea, Jon—and saw the show go back to its majestic roots in George R.R. Martin’s original vision for the book series. The absurdity of it all was replaced by the glory of seeing the opposing sides in the ongoing dispute over the Iron Throne met in King’s Landing to discuss a “truce” and “alliance.”

This episode was a harrowing glimpse into what will happen over the next six episodes of Season 8. A blue-eyed Viserion burning the Wall to the ground. King’s Landing experiencing its first snowfall in decades. These were all apparent circumstances, yet it still makes us shiver at the fact that the Great War has come for the people of Westeros.

The White Walkers in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo via HBO

Jon Snow’s (Kit Harington) parentage was also dropped like a napalm bomb—confirming Bran’s warging during the Season 6 finale that Jon is indeed the child of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, both of whom were secretly wed in Dorne. With his name now revealed to be Aegon Targaryen, things can only get more complicated come the next “Game of Thrones” season.

One of the most shocking betrayals for this season was done by none other than Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). At last, he finally let go of his toxic, incestuous love affair with Cersei Lannister. Although not really mentioned outright, Jaime will now fight for a new Queen that is Daenerys Targaryen. Together, they will face the threat of the White Walkers currently making its stand on the North. Now, with “Game of Thrones” about to meet its own end, Jaime is one of those whom you wouldn’t expect to flip out sides.

However, the greatest thrill this season finale is knowing that there’s more—if not a little bit more than what we expected—to come. Here are the most notable events of “The Dragon and the Wolf,” the finale episode of “Game of Thrones” Season 7.

Farewell, Lord Baelish.

Maisie Williams and Aidan Gillen in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Helen Sloan/HBO

It’s crazy to think how we’ve also been duped by the end of Littlefinger’s (Aidan Gillen) life. He believed that he was successfully manipulating Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner). It turns out that the joke was on Lord Baelish after all. Then came the surprising turn of events. Just as we thought that Arya Stark (Maisie Williams), Sansa then revealed that it was Baelish was actually witnessing his own trial. And then, a list of all his crimes was then dictated by the Lady of Winterfell. The killing of Jon and Lysa Arryn and Ned Stark’s downfall among others were all revealed to be Littlefinger’s doing. Creepy Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) was also present to act as Key Witness and Arya was the executioner.

Bealish was on his knees, pleading for his life when Arya did a swift cutthroat maneuver, leaving the conniving son of a b*tch to drop dead in front of Winterfell’s allies. It’s clear than Baelish had to be terminated to make way for more zombie action next season. Nonetheless, this was a weird conclusion to what we all presumed a Sansa V Arya arc and a sad way for us to see Aidan Gillen go.

The Dragon Pit Meeting at King’s Landing Was The Best Queen Face-off Yet In Game of Thrones

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

“We’ve been here for some time,” hissed Queen Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) at Daenerys, as she was dropped off by Drogon. “My apologies,” the Dragon Queen calmly replied. This is the first time these two have met, and tension is already felt. Clearly, this was a full episode of Cersei and Dany glaring at each other.

But at least we got to see the utter shock on Cersei’s face when Sandor Clegane brought in the captured Wight. The creature lunged at Cersei, and everyone was in a total panic as The Hound chopped the Wight into pieces as the creature continued to gnaw and thrash. The Lannister Queen realized the need for a call to action and so she agreed to fight alongside Dany and Jon—under one condition, of course.

Things then came to a complication when Jon refused to lie (well, for him the alliance against the Night King had to be done in honorable terms) about his allegiance to Dany. Cersei demanded that Jon stay on neutral grounds and not take either side of Cersei and Dany. Jon said no, which led to the Lannister Queen’s walk out.

But Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) was there to save the day as he confronted his big sister and convinced her to finally take their side and fight the White Walkers. At the same time, Tyrion also discovered that Cersei was pregnant, much to the Queen’s pleasing.

These were the initial scenes of the episode, and everything fleshed out hastily. It was a crucial point in the series, and without the desired outcome for both parties involved in the Dragon Pit discussion, they would all be—in Tyrion’s words—f**ked.

Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen’s Awkward Sex Scene

A devastating parallel scene was introduced over the walls of Dragonstone and Winterfell as the power incest couple had their share of sexual intimacy towards the end of the episode. It’s weird how Tyrion was being a peeping Tom while Jon and Dany sexed it all up, but what’s even weirder is that it was happening the same time as Bran revealed to Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) the true parentage of Jon Snow in Winterfell.

Wilf Scolding and Aisling Fraciosi in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Helen Sloan/HBO

It turns out that Jon is indeed of legitimate Targaryen blood. This means that Robert Baratheon’s rebellion against the Targaryens (who were accused of kidnapping and raping Lyanna Stark back then) is actually built upon lies. The result: Jon Targaryen (or more appropriately, Aegon) just slept with his Aunt Dany. This has been a season of shocking twists and revelations, but this is, by far the sickest reveal since Jaime and Cersei had sex on top of their son Joffrey’s corpse.

Jaime Lannister Switches Sides and Almost Dies

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo via HBO

Cersei actually had no intentions of carrying out the help that she promised to Jon and Dany in fighting the White Walkers. This made Jaime gasp in horror and almost beat the hell out of his sister-wife. For some reason, he took Cersei for her words, despite the blatant show of disloyalty throughout season 7. Apparently, Cersei has something really sinister planned with Euron Greyjoy.

This made Jaime break and finally see his sister-wife as a Mad Queen. He stays his ground and is still determined to ride North. However, the only thing stopping him is The Mountain. It almost seemed as if Jaime was going to be the next casualty of the season, but of course, Cersei couldn’t bring herself to kill the only remaining Lannister heir (save for Tyrion, who’s obviously not a Lannister anymore).

Jaime is one lucky guy. He already cheated death twice this season. Oh, speaking of cheating death…

What Happened To Tormund?

Kristofer Hivju in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo via HBO

Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) saw for himself the attack of the White Walkers on the Wall. Hell, he might even be one of the first casualty today. Although it’s not directly hinted that he’s dead, it could very well mean the same thing for him.  Did he make it out alive? This seems unlikely, given the fact that the White Walker army just came marching in as soon as the Wall collapsed, thanks to zombie Viserion’s blue fire and wannabe Targaryen Night King. On the other hand, this would seem like a very poor exit for Tormund, given how he also almost died last week at the hands of the Wights. Either way, the end is uncertain for Westeros’ beloved ginger (Ed Sheeran doesn’t count because for all we know he’s dead.)

Theon Gets Himself Out of The Reek Of Humiliation (Get It?)

Alife Allen in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Macall B. Polay/HBO

Of course, the season finale wouldn’t be complete without the almost-reconciliation of Jon and Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), who grew up to be brothers back when Ned Stark was still alive. The Greyjoy prince just wanted to make amends with his brother Jon and also to cleanse himself of the reek of his betrayal (there I go again!). Of course, Jon wasn’t ready to forgive him just yet—but gave Theon the comforting solace that he will always be both a Stark and a Greyjoy.

Theon’s redemption was one of the most welcome scenes in the finale, given how he has been through so much. However, along with his glorious reaffirmation is the best brawl we’ve seen since Jon V Ramsay. Theon bludgeoning the leader of the Iron Island thugs gave him his dignity and fierceness back. Even when he was kicked in the balls, Theon didn’t flinch (looks like Ramsay foreshadowed this all along, huh?).

Overall Verdict

This season has been full of crazy twists and turns, but it all boils down to how the narrative points to a greater threat. We lost key characters, mourned the death of one of Dany’s dragon children, witnessed tearful reunions, and cheered every battle on. It’s not a highlight season for “Game of Thrones,” but it’s nonetheless impressive.

It sucks that we’ll have to wait for another two years just for us to see where all the White Walker action will lead to. But given how the end is near for “Game of Thrones,” one thing is for sure: the Great War has come, and will now inflict its snowy terror over all of Westeros.

The long winter night is here.

And now, our watch begins.