#especially the battle of winterfell ep

[katherine-mcnamara-archive]

[blasphoeme]

My Little List of Comfort Fics

In light of all the crap we've been put through, I’ve decided to compile a list of fics I’ve written during the two year hiatus. These fics cover majority of the major events that happened throughout and post season 8 with my own take on how certain things should have went. Not to mention, Jon and Dany are more true to their character. At least I think so.

They are FLUFFY and occasionally SMUTTY. NOT MUCH ANGST. Therefore, I hope they serve to act as a balm for our broken hearts :). I think these can be considered fix it fics at this point?

Fics under the cut. I hope you guys feel better after reading them! :3

1) Flowers of Faith, Resilience and Thankfulness

Set during ep 1. Dany urges Jon to become a dragon rider. After days of training, he succeeds. As a thank you gift, Jon gives her flowers and some encouragement for the upcoming battle. 2) Fun in the Snow (SMUTTY)

Set between ep 1 and 2. Jon brings Dany on an outing during her stay at Winterfell. He teaches her how to enjoy the snowy weather. They spend a day out having fun in the snow and when nightfalls, a certain talented wolf helps her get warm. 3) Flowers of Love & Forgiveness

Set during ep 2. Jon’s parentage and identity is revealed and he doesn’t really know how to deal with the news so he avoids everyone, including Dany, leaving her feeling lonely and sad without him. Thankfully with a nudge from two scaly friends, Jon comes to his senses. Bringing with him flowers as apology for his queen. 4) Falling

Set during ep 3. In the midst of battle, a queen falls from the sky, off of the back of her injured child. With nothing to curb her rapid descent to the earth. From the ground, the Warden of the North watches with his heart in his throat and dread in his veins. How will he save the love of his life?  ~FICS BELOW ARE POST EP 6~ 5) Flowers for A New Beginning 

It’s the night before their wedding. Jon has a surprise prepared for his love. A bouquet of roses that signify the start of everything that changed the history of Westeros. Most importantly, the union of fire and ice. 6) Flowers of Jealousy & Apology (SMUTTY)

Jon and Dany have been married for a month now and are on their honeymoon trip around Essos. What happens when the current husband meets a certain ex lover in Meereen?  7) Heroic Idiocy (SMUTTY MAKE UP SEX POST FIGHT)

As her anxiety faded, she could see clearly why he did what he did. If any harm were to befall him, she would protect him with her life too, just like how they’d always done. Except, she couldn’t afford to lose him, now more than ever. But if he wanted a fight, she’d give it to him, if it meant he would think twice before doing something so reckless, so heroically idiotic.How do you stay mad at someone you love? The answer is – you can’t. At least not for long anyway. Especially, if all they wanted was to keep you safe. 8) Splish Splash

Here’s an introduction to Jon and Dany’s first little Targling~ Just a day in the life of two fairly new parents and their little baby. A story filled with heart-warming fluff and teeth rotting adorableness as the King and Queen of Westeros attempt to raise their little Targling. 9) We Will Be Alright

Amidst their surprising realisation that they were going to be parents again for the second time, Jon and Dany wonder if they were truly ready to be parents to another baby whilst looking after a toddler and their kingdom.  10) Flowers for Mama 

After, a tiring birth of not one but two babies, Jon brings Dany flowers~ This time with a little helper by his side. This is a fic consisting, basically of family time, of adorable children and their very much in love parents. Lots of fluff and cute babies hehe. 11) Flowers for Papa

For so long, it's always been Jon who brought her flowers but this time, Dany decides that it should be her turn. While Jon is on his way home from a journey to the North, she prepares his welcome home surprise and requires some help. Thankfully, three young Targaryens are more than eager to lend her a hand in laying out the finishing touches to welcome their papa home.

12) Flowers for His Queen (SMUTTY BATH TIME FUN)

The King and Queen of the Seven Kingdoms take their three young dragons on a trip to visit their ancestral stronghold, Dragonstone. Their first day there is spent on the beach, full of wholesome fluffy, family fun. However, when the children are tucked away for the night, what will their parents get up to? ;)

New fic added! If i write more in the future I will add them here :) That’s all for now! XD

[reidandweep]

Stranger or Stark?

Theon Greyjoy x Stark! Reader (female)

A/N- I have really enjoyed Game of Thrones so far this season and episode 2 just gave me some really good ideas. So here it is. My first Theon imagine.

Word Count- 3712 words

Warnings- Angst, mentions of murder, castration, and other gory GOT stuff. Spoilers for ep.2?

PART 2

Dead. That is what many thought she was. After the execution of her father, Ned Stark, Y/N had been kidnapped. Taken whilst her family were weak and grieving. Expected by many to have never be seen again. Whilst her siblings had faced their trials and troubles, so had she. Escaping the hands of her capturer’s, surviving alone on her travels, killing when necessary; Y/N was now on her way back home. Having heard from a young man in an inn between Kings landing and Winterfell that her half-brother, Jon Snow, was raising an army. An army to defeat the White Walkers. It did not take her long to travel home.

Arriving into Winterfell felt as though she was meeting an old friend. One who had changed; who had seen twisted things. The air felt tense. People scattered around building armour and weapons. Working together to get ready for the impending battle.

People had heard of the infamous Kytestone. But many had failed to meet them. More specifically, meet Y/N. Taking on an alias, so no one could use Y/N for a way to the throne. Her alias had been heard across the kingdoms. Excellent with a sword. No remorse with her kills, but for what she stole had always ended in the hands of the right person. The ones who needed it the most.

Jon had heard tales of Kytestone during days in the Nightwatch. Sansa hearing stories from guards whilst under the torture of Ramsay. The Hound had recounted tales to Arya, on days where life seemed simpler. Tales of Kytestone and how they were not after the throne, the Starks, the Lannister’s, or the Targaryen’s, but for the wars to be over. For the kingdoms to be at peace. To arrive back home.

She had changed drastically since leaving. Y/N were no long a naïve 15-year-old girl. she had seen blood-shed and violence. Some from herself and from others. Her once (Y/H/C) short hair had now become long. Just like her mothers. Becoming a master swordsman. Learning her craft along your travels, from the friends she had made along.

Whilst some foes were made on the way, friends were made also. For many Starks, Theon Greyjoy was walking the thin line between friend and foe. ForY/N, the label of friend could be questioned as something more. Having grown up next to the man, she had admired his ability and charm. While at times his arrogance would take over, she was always there to reel him back in. The relationship that they held was one of trust and respect.  He was two years older than her. Experience in areas she was not. Broken in areas she was as well. They found solace in each other. A bond, unlike any other. That was all broken when word had gotten to her of his betrayal to Robb and the House of Stark. She did not know the Theon that would do such a thing.  

Walking through the town, Y/N kept a watchful eye on those surrounding her. Keeping the hood over her head, she manoeuvred stealthily through the courts. Her aim was the castle, where she only hoped someone from her family would be. Approaching the east wing, she walked straight for the guards who monitored the doors.

“I demand to see a member of the Stark household. I have urgent matters to discuss.”

The guards looked at the women in front of them. The hood of her cloak still raised over her head.

Standing up straight, the guards towered over the woman.

“Listen her lady, Winter is coming. The Starks have no time for that little problem of yours.”

Rolling her eyes, Y/N unsheathed the sword from its holster, holding it to the neck of one of the guards.

“Well the last time I was here, I vaguely remember that threatening to kill a worker of the castle would lead me to jury. Jury of those in ruling, If I’m correct?”

Not even a second after her words, the second guard had grabbed her sword. Shoving her hands behind her back, he passes her weapon to the former soldier in which she threatened to kill. Pushing her forwards through the east wing doors and to the required location.

Swerving and winding through the halls, she takes a look at the guard holding her sword. A small smirk taking over her features.

“Didn’t expect you to still be a man of the castle Richard.”

The guard was shocked to say the least.

As they continued on to their path, they came to a halt at the door. Quickly turning her to face him, Richard passes her sword to the guard holding her hostage. He leans towards Y/N’s face.

“How do you know my name?” he seethed.

The woman looked into the soldier’s eyes. The smirk never once leaving her face.

“I never forget a face or a name. Especially a man who has served the castle for as long as you have. Do you still make that pie every Thursday night? You did always make it better than the cooks.”

Recognition and shock took over his features. Without giving a chance to respond, the guard holding her arms pushed Y/N through the doors. Closing as Richard stood in his space. Not believing to see the young Stark alive.

At the sound of the door slamming open and closed, the gaggle of eyes laid onto the guard and his prisoner. Pushing her head further down, keeping her face mostly covered, but still allowing herself to see, Y/N moved forward.

At the head of the room she could see her brother, Jon Snow, sitting to the left of some woman. She knew who she was. The Khaleesi. Mother of all Dragons. She knew more than people knew. She knew of all and none knew of her.

To the left of the Khaleesi was her sister, Sansa. Arya standing to the side, close to their siblings but also to the soldiers. Y/N smiled. She always knew Arya was strong.

Between Arya and her sister sat Bran. His face expressionless and his body rigid in his chair.

“My Queen. I am sorry to interrupt. But this woman just threatened to kill a soldier at the entrance of the East wing.”

Jon urged the guard to continue.

“She said she had urgent matters to discuss. She said something to Richard. Standing there, outside the doors, frozen in shock. Brought her straight here.”

All eyes were on her. She wasn’t one for a dramatic entrance, but she was a Stark after all.

“Bring her forward.” The Khaleesi demanded.

The guard pushed her forward, until she was at the centre of the room.

“State who you are.”

Keeping her head low, Y/N gained eye contact with the Queen.

“My name is Kytestone, your majesty.”

The room erupted into quiet mumbles and chatter at the sound of her name. Nearly all had heard of her. But nearly none had seen her face.

Khaleesi kept Y/N’s gaze.

“And what is your reason for threatening the guards?” she questioned.

“As I said to them, your majesty, I have urgent matters to discuss with the head of the castle.”

Sansa looked towards Jon to see whether he would step forward or allow Daenerys to continue.

He sat in silence. Staring forward.

Daenerys cleared her throat.

“And what matters are so urgent that you had to threaten your way in? To risk being imprisoned at such a time like this?”

A smirk, once again taking over her face. Y/N’s eyes bored into the Khaleesi’s.

“The urgent matters I speak of is to tell the Starks…”

She raises her hands, pulling down her hood slowly.

Finally letting it fall, she speaks.

“That I am home.”

The sound of the room elevates. Shouts of confusion and surprise.

Y/N looks between her siblings. Seeing that they were all frozen in shock.

Turning to grab her sword out the hands of the guard, it glints in the light. Valerian steel.

She sheathes her weapon and turns back to the Queen.

“I am Y/N Stark, your majesty. I want to fight for Winterfell. For the House of Stark.”

She looks between her siblings. Acknowledging their shocked appearances. She bowed her head.

“If you’ll have me.”

At the sound of footsteps and chairs scraping, she lifts her gaze, only to be knocked onto her back by the forces of her sister’s bodies.

Laughter and cries of happiness fall from the trio. Holding each other as closely as possible.

Once the three of them had calmed down, Y/N pushed yourself up. Helping your younger siblings off the ground as well.

Turning to her right, Y/N saw her brother in front of her, waiting for a moment of his own.

“I thought you were dead.”

“Didn’t everyone?”

He shook his head.

Walking towards her, Jon pulled Y/N into a suffocating hug.

She eagerly reciprocated.

Letting go, Jon placed his hands on her shoulders, taking in her appearance.

“How did you survive? Last time we saw you, was just after...”

“After father was executed.”

Silence feel upon them, as so did the rest of the room.

For the first time since she had entered, Y/N looked among the faces in the room. She knew of the Red Wedding, of Cersei’s tirade, of Ramsay’s carnage. She knew all that had happened. More so than they did.

Walking past her sisters and Jon, she caught her gaze with Bran.

Kneeling down, she stared deep into his eyes.

“Throughout my travels there was one thing that was always with me. It followed me everywhere. Past Castle Black. Past Kingslanding. And back to Winterfell.”

Bran continued to stare.

“A raven. As dark as the night. With eyes as grey the symbol of our crest. Watching over me and never leaving.”

She leant forward, embracing Bran the same as she had the others.

Leaning so only they could here, she whispered.

“Thank you for watching over me Brandon. Thank you for showing me everything.”

For the first time in a while, his expression softened. That was all Y/N needed to know, that he was there.

Taking a step back she went to stand before her family.

“So, will you have me?”

Her siblings laughed, all feeling a part of something good for the first time in a long time.

“I believe discussions can be left till later. It seems that Jon can fill you in with the plan of action.”

At the sound of the Khaleesi’s voice, the siblings turned towards her.

“Everyone may proceed to leave. All of you rest. We need everyone as strong and ready as they can be. Ready for the inevitable.”

The room emptied out. Khaleesi following the herd and walking towards her chambers. All whom was left was the Stark siblings… and Theon.

The man had been situated amongst the crowd. Only having pledge support to the House of Stark a mere few hours ago, he had found himself unworthy to stand with those he once called family. Choosing to mix with the faces of fighters and knights.

Y/N had sensed he was there from the start. His presence was different. A man who was so cock sure, now so broken. Broken but willing to fight.

Her siblings could sense the tension between the two.

“Do you want him to leave? Because I will make him leave Y/N.”

She smiled at Arya’s words.

Shaking her head, she grabbed onto Arya and Sansa’s hands.

“Let me just have a moment with him alone. Then I will come find you both and we shall talk.”

Just as they were about the let go, Y/N grasped their hands tightly.

Tears prickling her eyes, she looked between all her siblings once more.

“I am sorry I did not come back sooner. I am sorry for all that you have all gone through. I should have been there. And I wasn’t.”

The four siblings basked in her words.

“You’re here now.” Sansa replied.

“You do not need to apologise” Arya continued.

Jon nudged Y/N’s shoulder.

“We’ve heard your stories. We know life for you wasn’t easy going either.”

She smiled faintly.

Looking at Bran’s direction, she watched as he wheeled his way forward.

“You came back. And that will prove to be beneficial.”

Y/N’s expression became serious.

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. She let go of their hands.

Opening her eyes, they held determination.

“Now If you will excuse us. I think I need to have words with Ser Greyjoy.”

Arya and Sansa nodded. Sansa grabbed Bran’s chair as the three headed towards the door.

Jon walked towards Theon and gripped his arm tightly.

Leaning close to his face, he whispered.

“You better not mess this up. No more chances if you do.”

For the first time since she arrived she heard his voice.

“I promise.”

Jon let go walking past the pair and towards the door.

It slammed closed with a deafening bang.

Her back was still towards him.

She had faced murders and rapists, kings and queens. But never did she think she would be facing Theon once more.

“You’re alive.”

She turned to face him.

Silence.

“Of course, I am. Did you expect me not to be?”

“I wasn’t sure.”

“Well then you underestimate my ability Ser Greyjoy.”

He stepped towards her.

“Do not call me that. Please.”

She laughed.

“What do you want me to call you instead?”

Silence.

“Would you like me to call you a traitor? A monster? A coward?”

As she spoke she stepped closer and closer, until their feet almost touched.

“What about a Eunech? Is that a better name for you?”

Theon licked his lips, letting out his breath of frustration.

“How do you know about that? What do you know?”

She leaned towards him, sneering in his face.

“I know everything. About anyone. About anything. I know it all.”

Theon shuffled in his space. His head angled to the floor. Sadness taking over his tone.

“I felt alone.”

Anger took over her emotions.

Pushing Theon with all her strength she began to raise her voice.

“Alone? You had us all there for you?”

He raised his voice back.

“I wanted to prove myself to my family.”

She pushed him again.

“We were your family and you betrayed us.”

“I was a prisoner.”

She pushed him harder.

“What prisoner is given chambers better than the King’s daughters? The finest clothes in the kingdom? Trained as well in combat as the future Kings of the North!”

Theon did not reply.

Her blood boiled. She pushed him. Again. And again. And again. Until his back hit the wall. Her frustrated grunts were released as she pounded on his chest continuously.

“You betrayed him! You betrayed us! Killed by the Lannister’s! Because you wanted the support and love from a father who did not give it to you!”

Theon had had enough of her punches. Grabbing her wrists, he flipped their positions, pushing her against the wall.

Y/N’s breathing was haggard. She knew she could fight him. But she chose not to. She was tired. Physically, mentally, and emotionally tired.

Encaging her wrist in his hands, Theon held them above her head. Both of them breathing heavily.

All that could be heard in the room was their breaths.

Leaning her head against the wall, Y/N allowed for her eyes to scan Theon’s face.

His hair, like hers, was longer than when they had last seen each other. His face littered with small scars; some barely noticeable unless one was to search for them. His eyes. His eyes had changed the most. The cockiness and arrogance of a 17-year-old Theon was now replaced by sadness and loss. But also, determination. His eyes blazed with blazed with the feeling. Through all that he had been through, she could not deny that he was still so handsome.

Biting on her lower lip, she catches his gaze.

It had been so long since he had seen her. 6 years of believing she was dead. Hoping that she had not received atrocities like he and her siblings had. But by looking at her face, and into her eyes, he could tell that she had faced challenges just as bad. She had grown into a beautiful and strong warrior. But she had always been beautiful to Theon.

Moving his right hand from her wrists, Theon cupped Y/N’s face. Stroking her left cheek with his thumb, he waited for her to move away. She didn’t. He took it as consent to continue the action.

Looking at the woman before him, tears began to fill his vision. Chocking back his breaths, Theon whispered.

“I am so sorry.”

Y/N exhaled a deep breath, standing in silence.

“I cannot say how sorry I am. For betraying Robb. For what happened to Sansa. For turning my back on the Starks.”

She bit on her lips, tears rolling down her cheeks as Theon wiped them away.

He continued.

“For not looking for you.”

He heaved out a sob.

“I should have looked for you. I should have left the moment I realised you were gone, and I should have searched for you. But I didn’t. And I can never expect you to forgive me for all the things I have done, and for all I have caused. But all I can ask for is for you to accept my apologies.”

He let go of her arms. Mimicking the hold of his right hand to his left, Theon cradled Y/N’s face in his grip. Not wanting to let go. In fear that she would disappear.

Silence.

“Can you please accept my apologies?”

Silence.

He tried once more.

“Plea-“

Before Theon could finish his final apology, his plea was halted by the pressure of lips upon his own.

Y/N hands travelled around Theon’s neck, entangling into his hair. Theon gripped her face, pulling his body closer to her own. Their lips moved against each other in a fight of desperation. 6 years of sadness, anger, lust, and so much more being poured into their first kiss.

As her lungs began to beg for air, Y/N pulled back. Leaning once more against the wall. Only this time, instead of her wrists being trapped by Theon’s hands, her body was trapped by his own. Still leaning his body against Y/N’s, Theon moved his hands to hold the woman’s waist.

Her own hands now rested on his chest, watching him as he too tried to regain his breath.

“This does not mean I forgive you, you know?”

Theon laughed.

“I know.”

Grabbing onto his robes, she pulled him even closer; to his surprise.

“I am also not the same girl as I was 6 years ago.”

“I am not the same boy either. We are both very different people. Yet we stayed alive and found each other.”

The woman scanned the Eunuch’s face. With her hands on his chest, she exuded her force into one more push; moving him away from the close proximity they had previously held.

Theon’s hands fell limp to his side in defeat. Watching as Y/N walked towards to door.

Stopping just before her hand would reach to open the door, Y/N turned back to Theon.

He waited.

“I have not forgiven you, and if I ever do it will take a long time to even build the smallest amount of trust.”

Theon bowed his head in acknowledgement.

The door opened. He waited to hear it close.

Silence.

“But if this is to be our last night, I would like to spend it amongst those I love. Friends, family, and all in between.”

Theon raised his head, keeping his emotions at bay. Trying not to grasp onto any hope.

“You can repay me by joining me tonight. For if we both survive this battle, then I shall consider forgiveness in the future.”

Theon face beamed with a smile, laughter spilling from his mouth. Y/N’s lips tugged up at the sound.

“Are you coming or not? Hurry before I change my mind.” She called.

Briskly walking towards the entrance, Theon held the door open for the Lady Stark; gaining a thank you in reply.

The pair walked down the halls in silence. Travelling down stairwells and through corridors until they arrived at the courtyard.

The sky now dark. The only sources of light radiating from the staffs lighted across the walls of the castle and the court yard.

Following the sounds of voices, they ventured to the pub, where they could hear Y/N’s sibling loud and clear.

Pulling up two chairs, Theon placed one next to Jon, and the other next to Arya. Sansa and Bran sitting across from the empty chairs. The duo sat down, quickly becoming encompassed into the discussion.

Y/N ignored the stares from her sisters, whilst Theon glanced towards Jon. Theon nodded his head to Jon, watching as a smile took over the man’s face. He had gained back his trust a short while after saving Sansa. Jon knew that Theon now had to gain back Y/N’s.

Slowly as the night drags on, her siblings depart. Wanting to spend their final nights with others also. Jon left to find Daenerys. Arya going to approach Gendry. Whilst Sansa and Bran left to find company in the friends they had made on their own travels.

For all whom was left at the table was Y/N and Theon. In silence they sat, dreading for what was to come.

The pair turned to each other, their eyes locked in an embrace.

Placing his cup down, Theon reached out and grasped Y/N’s hand. Holding it tightly in his grip.

Bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed the back of her hand. Lowering them back to the table.

Squeezing his hand, she whispered.

“For the future?”

He replied just as quietly.

“For the future.”

With the Starks all now home, The battle’s begun. The battle for the Iron Throne. For so much they have lost, And so much they have gained. Due to the actions that many have shown. More blood will be shed, And more bodies will be slain, Some bodies of those of their own. For the price that is paid, To defeat the decayed. To end the story of the Game of Thrones.

To the last season of the Game of Thrones.

[thelawyerthatwaspromised]

Hi there! What did you think of Greyworm in the battle of Winterfell – there seemed to be a few moments, the scenes around the lighting of the trench especially, where it almost seemed as though he was questioning his loyalty? Thoughts?

I loved the Grey Worm content in this ep! It was…………..very raw and real.

Dude is doing his best. Serving loyally. And he’s fucking TERRIFIED. 

There’s a great moment when he makes it back into Winterfell and he’s seemingly suffering a nervous breakdown. This battle has scarred him like nothing else has before. I felt more strongly for him this episode than I ever have..which is a lot of credit to the creators and directors. I’ve never seen GW in battle look like he was terrified by what he was seeing.

And it immediately made me think of his talk with Missandei about Naath and the peaceful people there and the beaches. I want that for him very badly. 

And at the risk of sounding overly anti-Dany, I cannot fathom seeing that and STILL believing that anyone should be in any kind of haste to continue on with yet another military campaign of conquest. I think you saw GW maybe for the first time question whether he wanted to just give up. There’s more to life than stabbing and patrolling. I really want this to become an issue because he deserves it and so do the Unsullied.

[ansheofthevalley]

7, 11 and 16 for the salty asks!!

7. Is there anything I used to like but can’t stand now?

TWD as a whole

Man, I loved TWD. I was so invested on that show, on those characters. When Lori died and Carl had to shoot her? Man, that fucked me up. When the Governor killed Hershel in front of Maggie and Beth? U G H. The second half of S4 when they’re all divided into groups and find each other in Terminus? Talk about relief. Daryl and Beth? THE FEELS, NONNY. THE FEEEEEEELS. When they reach Alexandria, after being through hell? Again, talk about relief. Like I said, I was super invested on the show. But from S6 onwards, it just went downhill. Somewhere during S8 I stopped watching because I didn’t see the point in watching a badly written show that was way past its prime when I could be doing other things, things that brought me some kind of joy. I didn’t even watch when Carl got bit and died. That’s when the show jumped the shark, IMO. Then losing Rick and Maggie? Nah. I’ll stick to the comics. 

When I was a part of the TWD fandom, I was a huge believer in the “Beth survived the gunshot” theory (AKA Team Delusional/Defiance - I still see you, fam!). I read a lot of metas, I even wrote some of my own in my old blog. But seeing how all those very specific clues were there but there was no real resolution... IDK. I didn’t give up per se; I like to think she’s out there kicking walker ass with a crossbow, looking like a total badass with those scars. But far away from the Atlanta group, since the show (as far as S8) was a complete mess. 

I never felt so cheated in my life as I did with TWD (that is until GOT S8, lmao)

11. Is there an unpopular character you like love that the fandom doesn’t? Why?

Sansa Stark and Beth Greene

They’re both hated because the fandom thinks them weak. They’re both hated because they think them useless. They’re either too dumb and girly or too bossy. They’re either reliant on other people (which makes them a liability) or they’re suddenly too strong for their own good. They either cry too much or they’re stoic. They’re either stupid for believing or they’re stupid for not having hope. They’re either too weak or not strong enough. They stand up to the male fave and call them on their bullshit, but ofc nobody can do that, especially stupid girls like Sansa and Beth.

At least one of them got a happy(ish) ending.

I gravitate towards those type of characters. The ones that fandom likes to shit on just for existing. So I claim them as my faves and swear to protect them. I guess it’s in my nature. 

16. If you could change anything in the show, what would you change?

The two last seasons of GOT

Apart from the writing, which I think we can all agree that is the one thing that needs changing the most, I’d make them a 10-episode season each. Have more time to properly develop the story without rushing it. 

But if we’re talking about the writing exclusively:

Season 7

The Winterhell plot. Don’t show Littlefinger do The Creep™ around Winterfell. The plot is about the Starklings working together, so let’s show that. Let the audience know that Littlefinger is fucking clueless about what’s coming for him.

The Dany-Cersei war. Give Cersei more to do than just drink wine and look at KL from her window. She’s Tywin’s daughter, FFS. Show her scheming and double-crossing people. Have Lannister forces take Dragonstone the minute Daenerys heads north. 

Bran. Let him have emotions, y’know, since he’s still a person. Show the conflict of having to live with the world’s past in your mind while still being a young man that defends his family fiercely.

Show Jon to be a player, be manipulative, in other words, make Pol!Jon a lil bit more obvious, for the people in the back. Also, give him his POV.

Make Dany feel more torn about the political conflict and the supernatural conflict, and not make it a line in the final episode of the season.

Season 8

Again, give Jon his POV.

Make RLJ about Jon, not Daenerys.

Show how RLJ changes different dynamics, not just J/onerys.

Show Sansa bonding with someone, anyone (her sister, Theon, Jon, Gilly) instead of her talking to the Hound about her abuse.

Have the Battle of Winterfell have more emotional impact.

Jon doesn’t ride Rhaegal.

Show the reactions of Arya and Sansa to RLJ.

Show the Starklings doing something else than fight.

Again, give Cersei more to do than just drink wine and look out of her window. Definitely don’t make her sleep with Euron.

Mention the burning of the food and the Tarlys.

People (Varys, Tyrion, Cersei) find out about what happened to Littlefinger.

Show that the North as a whole has legitimate reasons not to want Daenerys as their Queen.

Show Dany sharing some moments with Missandei and Greyworm, not just Jon.

Not kill Missandei (especially like that).

Have Arya use her faceless man abilities.

Let people (by people I mean northern lords and the like) find out about RLJ.

Have Dany and co. flee Winterfell in anger after people find out about RLJ.

Have Dany burn both Tyrion and Varys.

Cersei-Sansa reunion.

Sansa tries to raise her banners (and the Vale’s and the Riverland’s) against both Cersei and Daenerys.

Euron dies after killing Rhaegal.

Bran tells Jon about what Dany might do in KL, so Jon leaves to find her in time.

Jon finds Dany but she imprisons him under the charge of high treason.

Ep 5 plays out exactly the same, only that Missandei witnesses it all and from then on questions her loyalty towards Dany.

The massacre of KL is bigger. There’s a lot more losses.

Have Arya kill Dany instead of Jon.

Dragonpit meeting in which the lords and ladies of the different kingdoms declare the 7K to be independent again, the way they were before Aegon’s conquest.

Jon is liberated by the northern forces with the help of Missandei.

Missandei goes back to Naath, trying to find peace after seeing so much bloodshed and thirst for power.

The Starks go back to Winterfell. Sansa is named QITN as the oldest legitimate daughter of Eddard and Catelyn Stark. Jon and Bran are her closest advisors. Arya decides to go west of Westeros.

Send me a salty ask

[winterisfinallyhere]

Last episode...

Probably last ever Game of Thrones episode will begin with Dany’s trope marching into the city - the Unsullied lining up, etc. Her coming out to name herself Queen.

Possibly we then move onto Tyrion's trial. This was leaked a long time ago and I have a hard time believing word about Tyrion having let Jamie go (even if he & Cersei died in the end) won't reach Dany's ears quite quickly even in the chaos.

Imagine her first act as Queen being burning Tyrion. I don’t like him but I’d still hate for him to go out burning. 

Maybe that's even the reaction shot we get of Arya, looking up in disgust/ anger at something from the promo. Or maybe that's "only" of Dany declaring herself Queen. Or her looking at Drogon. 

But maybe there won't be a Tyrion trial until later (or at all if some leaks are to be believed, I firmly feel he needs to pay for enabling Dany for so long + betraying the Starks + Shae) BUT maybe he'll have a chance to do something about not siding with Varys (and Jon) earlier and somehow help Jon before being put on trial. They were friends of sorts once and that would be a bit of a call back to season 1. It’s clear we’ll be getting some of his POV as he walks through the city and realizes his mistake, in the promo. Maybe he’ll tell Jon to ride north before Dany decides to execute them both.

I wish I could predict Jon will have had some sense and taken his remaining men north but I’m not sure. He’s not in the trailer so it’s possible. But unlikely. But he's at least figured out he can't just sit back and let Dany be Queen. Not when she’s just gotten done killing thousands of civilians, in a city that had surrendered to her. I mean he has to have realized this! He just can’t keep walking around with his head in the sand.

But maybe we will get him killing Dany and going to the wall like some leaks suggested? I’d hate it but it’s a possibility. Especially if he’s staying in the city. But if they do that who is going to rule? Who is qualified? Is there anyone left (but Sansa, who has no claim). Would they really attempt the whole Bran & remaining folks rule together as a council? I feel like Bran as king would be the biggest let down ever. 

IDK, depends on the timeline. If after Dany’s initial “I’m the Queen bow down to me” as she takes control of King’s Land we get a time skip? Then things could be very different. If she calls all remaining lords to KL, including Bran and Sansa, and we get some politics...IDK. Then maybe a council of some sort could be believed.

But it doesn’t seem likely, does it? 

Besides, we don't have any conflict BUT Dany/ Jon left, all the other baddies are dead. Cersei, Euron, Golden Company. And Dany has won. She’s claimed the throne. She still has one dragon. All the dragon killing balistas are gone. She’s gonna be hard to beat. Especially in one ep.

I guess the real question is, what will she do now. How will she rule? 

What is her first course of action? Execute Tyrion? All remaining Lannister soldiers? Attempt to kill Jon? Exile him? We don’t know at this point, all we know is that she is officially the Queen of Ashes. We know she doesn't like mercy so she’s hardly going to pardon anyone, now is she?

My favorite theory (that I’m hopeful for and would enjoy would be) Arya killing Dany. That would mean she gets to kill the most bad guys (with her taking down Walder Frey and the Night King in the last few seasons) out of everyone which would be cool! Or even more interesting and useful would be Arya killing Drogon. Then Dany would execute her, or try to, making the Starks truly and fully her enemies. And the horse does foreshadow her going after DT, both with Dany’s own white horse, back in season 1 and the whole horsemen of the apocalypse and the Prince Charming on a white horse off to slay the dragon motif.

Behold a pale horse and he that sat upon him, his name was Death.

Arya taking down Dany or Drogon makes sense and would be satisfying. She’s seen the horror of what Dany and her dragon did up and close. This would also mean Jon would not have to kill Dany, which I’d prefer. We have enough of men killing women they’ve slept with/ “love”. I like this idea more and more and it feels in character and like it makes sense with what happened during episode 5. I don’t feel like this would be Arya backsliding into vengeance like some have mentioned. She decided to live when she talked to the hound but she also wants to live free. Killing Dany is not a personal vengeance it is justice and something that will contribute to a better future.

Arya taking out Dany or Drogon while Jon goes north, might also fit in with the Riverland clash we saw in the first trailer with the fire and ice meet in the middle of Westeros. Sansa could meet Jon halfway, having gathered the remaining men / the ones that have healed up enough to reinforce Jon’s army? Because Bran saw it in his visions or Vary’s little birds got word of things and decided they would prefer Jon.

Who else forgot all about this trailer? It still might have some foreshadowing...

If Jon doesn't go North and all we get is a cluster fuck in KL. Well, maybe once word that Dany is dead (maybe Arya kills her) reach them, the Northen Lords just decided to name Sansa Queen. Because f*ck those Targaryan bastards, Jon did side with D, gave up his crown and fought by her side in King’s Landing. They might not want him for King and who’d blame them at this point?

So we might simply get Queen Sansa in the north. I wouldn’t love this, but at this point, I’ll take anything I could get. But really Jonsa makes a lot more sense and is basically the only way for the story to have a tiny bit of a positive end. 

So let’s say Jon do go north, possibly to Riverrun and met up with Sansa and the remaining lords (are there any?), the north/whole of Westeros would be all “we don’t want a Targaryan ruler because they’re clearly into burning shit” and Sansa would be all “What about a Stark?” and a Jonsa political wedding could go down.

Jon would be re-named king (in the north or all of Westeros)? after this, with Sansa as his Queen (because if she’s not going to be Queen, what was the point of Sansa’s arch really? We need also succession and she is the only one that makes sense.)

 Dany targeting Sansa and Jon stepping in somehow would also be fun and could happen instead of a wedding but feels unlikely with how he’s been for the past two seasons. But maybe the reveal is in this ep.

Then maybe just as they have the wedding sorted out, news that Arya killed Drogon reach them (or she killed Dany herself, maybe she’ll wear Grey Worm’s face doing it? Feel like he’s the only character actually fully on D’s team left.) Dany and her remaining soldiers against Jon’s remaining ones? I don’t think we’ll get another big battle so not sure. Maybe Arya kills Dany and Drogon just flies off? Or goes crazy so the Unsuild have to kill him or something? 

Both Dany and Drogon should be dead by the end at least. Else they’re doing some good old dystopian shit. A terrible, history repeats itself and you can’t escape it. The big superpowers will always have the weapons of mass destruction and people in power will always be able to do what they want with the small people thing.

I do believe we will get dead Dany and Drogon and that the last scene is something reminiscent of Winterfell’s opening with the kids shooting arrows or Samwell Tarly reading to/telling the story of the Song of Ice and Fire the next generation.

Only how do they make even half of this happen in 80 minutes? Maybe they can, but really, I'm preparing for a very depressing ending. Something fitting with the whole "you can't escape your destiny" vibe that seems to be happening this season. Still, I have a little bit of hope we'll get some sort of "sweet" ending since 1/2 million people dying (or whatever the population of King’s Landing was) feels like enough bitterness.

[medschoolash]

Since now all characters go to KL, and Sansa is left alone in WF. What do you think she's going to do? After the last ep I really don't understand what D&D are doing with her. They portayed her as the most unpleasant and unsympathetic character. How are we supposed to root for her in her fight with Dany, when she behave heroically and bravely? And the North accepted Dany. I don't see Sansa's role at all exept maybe she'll be plotting to crown Jon. So now her only purpose is prop Jon up?

I think Sansa is going to begin to rebuild her home and strengthen the north and I think she’s going to start actively plotting against Dany and Cersei. Sansa knows that no matter which one of then wins they will want the north and will do anything to get it. Her sites are on Dany at the moment but we can’t forget that she’s also the only character who doesn’t underestimate Cersei and she knows Cersei will do anything to get to her and the north just like Dany will do anything to secure the throne and the north as well. We’ve seen the wheels in her head moving but we haven’t seen her make any outright moves yet so I think that changes. I think it started with Tyrion in the crypts and it’s going to continue now that the war is over. Northern independence is her agenda and we are gonna see her make sure that agenda remains a priority. 

I have to disagree about Sansa being portrayed as unpleasant and unsympathetic. They made a choice not to have sansa in the crypts at the start of the battle. They made sure the audience knew that Sansa didn’t want to abandon her people and intended on staying at the battle with them. They wouldn’t add that in there when everyone expected Sansa to be safely tucked away in the cypts if they wanted her to be seen as unpleasant. They had her have a soft moment with Tyrion where she talked about their past marriage and he openly admired her. The only thing “negative” they did towards Sansa this last episode was Missandei’s clapback and even with that Sansa could have been way harsher and shadier but she wasn’t. Out of all the things Sansa has said about Dany her comment to tyrion was the mildest. They also went out of their way to show Sansa huddled up in fear behind her father’s tomb ready to die. That entire scene with Tyrion where they stared at each other with pain and fear because they knew there was a good chance they were gonna die but they were going to go out there and try anyway was to make her sympathetic to the audience. 

Ultimately you’re supposed to root for Sansa in her fight with Dany because Sansa is right. No matter how heroic Dany was Dany still has ZERO right to the north. No matter how brave she was the north deserves to be free of rule they do not want. No matter what Dany did, Sansa deserves her home and her lands and all the autonomy a free and independent North gives her. There is only ONE right side of this argument and that’s Sansa’s. If that wasn’t the case they wouldn’t have had Sansa show dissent with Dany’s rule at every turn. They wouldn’t position Sansa as the mouthpiece for the will of her people. 

We also still have no clue about how the north feels about Dany post war. The promo for next week makes it appear as if they have accepted her but we have no clue about the context of the clips we’ve seen. There is nothing to indicate that the north will suddenly welcome Dany with open arms because she flew around on a dragon for a little while and still couldn’t save them, especially when Arya, a northern woman, daughter of their former liege Lord, sister of the Lady of Winterfell, was the one who saved them all from imminent death. Dany has done nothing to suddenly make the north perfectly content with subjugation. 

As far as Jon goes. I do think her political efforts will end up getting Jon crowned King. However, I don’t think that this will be the motivation behind her efforts, it will just be a byproduct of her efforts so no I don’t think her role going forward will be a Jon prop. I think her role going forward will be to protect her family and her homeland and Jon’s position will be a part of that agenda but it won’t be her entire agenda. 

[littlebird-whitewolf]

s8 ep 2

after the trial!!! dny was waiting for jon to comfort her or give her some sort of confirmation that he was as upset about the situation as her but jon just walked out of there with fire at his heels

it looked like he hurried out the quickest way behind sansa

dny seemed angrier after being brushed off , but i believe tyrion was in need of that scolding. he has been making stupid mistakes repeatedly

i’m just so glad jaime didn’t fall to his knees and act all apologetic about killing the mad king even though he knew he was walking a thin line

‘i’m sorry. i should have thanked you the moment you came to winterfell’

ummmm??? sansa played dny like she has been playing her captors since kings landing and look how d@nita fell for it

‘you know he loves you’

‘and that bothers you’

dny was gonna freak out sansa is in love with her brother . sigh. girl when you find out

sansa-theon reunion??? i cried T_T guhhh

when dadvos was feeding people and the little peasant girl asked where she should go to fight -! gilly handled it so well by making sure she would be safe without breaking her little heart :,)) 

tormund hurtling himself at his little crow XD

uuunhhhhh?? BRAIME RISE! 

he kNIGHTED HER!! she was so so happy! guh

arya spending a while with the hound was surprisingly heartmelting. especially considering my distaste for him. 

i’m so glad arya didn’t play around and her first time was with gendry the lil dumbass forger XD also she even interviewed him before to see that he was experienced but not a player xD smart little stark . was i shocked???? yes! am i happy?? YES

i didn’t like that poor sam had to give his family sword to a guy whose q/ueen killed his family but i understand and respect him wanting to help the living in every way

idk if it’s just me but jon really looked a bit frightened and oh shit i shouldn’t have told her at dny’s expression when he told her

tbh she did look livid and even now she’s caring about the IT. she couldn’t stand the thought of someone having a stronger claim :/

like, you could discuss the matter after the battle. if you ask, you’ll find out jon doesn’t even want the ugly throne

[sheikah]

I’m seeing a few people suggest that the whole reason that Emilia and Kit were flown to Iceland was to shoot the dragons by the waterfall scene in 8.01. I think some of the posts are kind of joking and just reveling in the production value and time that went into such a fluffy, shippy Jonerys scene, but others seem more serious on this point. So I’m just curious, do we have any evidence to suggest that this is the only reason that Emilia and Kit flew to Iceland? Because for those posts treating this idea as a legitimate one, I’m a bit doubtful. To my knowledge we only have definitive leaks of ep1 and a single scene later in the season discussed by Friki, so I don’t think it’s at all certain that Jon and Daenerys don’t go North of the Wall again for other reasons. The Land of Always Winter, if visited, would be shot there imo. And I just have a feeling they’ll be going there at some point. The high fantasy aspects of the story could take them there, as a way to discover the origins of the WW, the NK’s motives, etc. Idk. I know that we have an idea of the general structure of the arc of s8 and that it goes something like:  Ep 1: Winterfell exposition, Cersei + Euron and GC at KL, brief look at fall of Castle Black, Jon’s parentage reveal Ep 2: Aftermath of parentage reveal, strategizing for War for the Dawn, more progress of NK’s army toward WF, more KL drama/ possible progress of GC toward WF Ep 3: Battle of Winterfell Ep 4: Aftermath of battle of Winterfell, presumably a migration South for Jonerys + Stark forces and Team Dragonstone, possible returning TO Dragonstone, possible team-up of GC with the rest of the “living” forces? Strategizing about rest of War for the Dawn, dealing with Cersei’s treachery via GC Ep 5: Dance of Dragons 2.0 with Dany/Drogon vs Night King/Wight!Viserion, battle on the ground of the living vs wights, presumably as far South as King’s Landing, other stuff. At some point treachery of some kind from Tyrion? Idk lol Ep 6: Aftermath, Tyrion trial, birth of boat!baby, epilogue and Dream of Spring So yeah, it seems based on this that there wouldn’t be much time for Jonerys to head North on the dragons and into Iceland filming territory again, but there’s some room for this sort of thing to happen in the long episodes of 5 & 6, and I feel like it’s kind of necessary to the story, especially since some leaker somewhere said we do learn at some point about Night King’s origins and motives. I have to say that I’m going to be really disappointed if we don’t get to see the Land of Always Winter in more detail and if we don’t learn more about the place and the history of the WW. The little glimpse we get of the area in season 4 is so cool and intriguing and reminds me of Minas Morgul somehow with the darkness and sinister quality coupled with the glow.

The nerd in is me so excited to see more of this area.

[alemoncakelife]

Thoughts about Bronn’s Mission

So I’m a pretty big fan of the Sansa Kidnap Plot. Like most people, I hated it at first but the more I’ve thought about it, the more I love the idea of everyone still underestimating Sansa and thinking she can just be a damsel in distress only for her to play them all like fucking lutes and come out on top as per usual! 

I think the main theory about it is the Golden Company will come and take her during the White Walker attack on Winterfell, which I can definitely buy! But I’ve been thinking a bit about Bronn’s mission to go and kill Jaime and Tyrion.

I’ve also seen the episode descriptions for ep 3 and 4. In 3 it said ‘Sansa plays a game’ and in 4 it said ‘Cersei receives and unexpected guest’. So I’m thinking that...

In ep 3 maybe Bronn turns up during the White Walker Attack on Winterfell and while looking for Jaime/Tyrion he finds Sansa, alone (maybe she’s running from white walkers and hiding or something?) She recognises him from King’s Landing and through tactical chat, she figures out what he’s doing here and tells him how Jaime and Tyrion are out there fighting the dead. I know Tyrion is meant to be in the crypts but Sansa isn’t likely to tell Bronn where he can kill Tyrion because he was always kind to her and she’s just not like that tbh.

Bronn being Bronn would rather do anything than purposefully go out there and get himself killed looking for Lannisters and figures they’ll probably die in battle anyway. Yet he can’t go back to Cersei empty handed, especially since she’s paid in advance and would kill him if he failed etc etc. So knowing of Cersei’s hatred for Sansa and knowing she still considers her largely responsible for Joffrey’s murder, he decides to kidnap her in an act of self-preservation. 

Sansa, having no one to protect her at the time and Bronn probably threatening her with the crossbow, decides to play along and allow him to take her hostage. Playing the scared little bird to make him think she’s helpless. Little does he know he’s taking the YMBQ to Cersei Lannister and this time Sansa Stark is a master of the Game of Thrones. Ep 3 would end with her being taken and in ep 4 her and Cersei meet again. Sansa will play the game and win. After all...

“Many underestimated you. Most of them are dead now.”

[shiredwarf]

okay, so here's the long ass rant that was promised. It's very much centered around Jaime and Brienne/Jaime because apart from Tyrion they're like the only reason I'm still invested (and this blog will stan book!Jaime to the bitter end) though don't expect any sort of Cersei bashing. Jaime/Cersei is complicated and boils down to more than "OMG SHE'S A TOXIC BITCH!!!" but more on that later. Obviously, there will be spoilers behind the cut and speculations regarding the rest of the show + a reference to a potential leak for ep 5 that's basically been going around since even before the show started so I don't know how big of a surprise that is to anyone.

Starting off with a couple of plot points:

The Funeral Scene Dany and Jorah were heartbreaking :( I loved those two together so much :( Jon's speech was fantastic but you know it would have been more moving if literally ANYONE apart from the people in the North + Cersei's gang had been aware of the danger heading their way. Like I bet you could talk to any peasant in King's Landing and they wouldn't even have a clue what White Walker means.

Gendry Baratheon of Storm's End & The Feast A++ scene, would watch again. Loved that Dany gave a shoutout to Arya and drunken Tyrion leaning on drunken Jaime warms my heart. Love my dysfunctional Lannisters. Also as much as I dislike certain aspects of the drinking game (see below) I appreciate Tyrion's match-making. He's a good bro. And seeing Brienne so relaxed with her friends is just... good stuff. Tormund is a cutie as always and Tyrion pouring him a drink after he realizes he has no chance with Brienne was the best. So was the Hound acting as Tormunds relationship counsellor. Poetic cinema. The token and conveniently available Northern women throwing themselves all over any male single character wasn't on the other hand. Loved that Sansa and Sandor finally got a scene together. Didn't love the 'glad I was raped so I could become the woman I am now' bullshit. Gendry is the fucking cutest! Smitten to the core. I am tentatively confident that he and Arya will work it out if they survive.

Tormund's & Sam's Goodbye Glad they got a goodbye with Jon, glad Tormund got Ghost cause Jon sure as hell doesn't deserve him. Like not even a pat. How the direwolves were treated pisses me off so much. At this point, I hope we'll never see them again just so they can be alive and happy wandering around with the best boi.

Missandei & Rhaegal No comment tbh. What's even the point anymore.

Onwards to relationships & characters:

The Starks & Dany I AM SO SICK OF THIS. SO SICK OF IT. Arya did not cut Littlefinger's scheming throat last season so that they can now scheme and bicker amongst themselves. Yes, Sansa has a right to worry about the North. Yes, Dany fucked up more than once since she came to Westeros. But those characters faced a tsunami of undead together and them still being too stubborn to even entertain working together without a hidden agenda to bring down Cersei is stupid and PLAIN BAD WRITING!     Now Tyrion is being dragged into this shitshow as well and I just... ugh Varys why

Dany Listen, I'm not the biggest Dany fan, far from it. But they're treating her like shit! She lost so much during that battle and there she is at the table watching others bond while she's alone. Like jfc Jon I'm not saying I approve of this whole thing but go hug her or something, she's given her all in the battle. Again I don't approve of most of the things she's done since coming to Westeros but can you imagine how isolating this experience must be. Apart from a select few survivors, everyone close to her for the past years is now back in the company of people they've known for far longer. They belong, they have bonds, friendships, loves, family and she's not part of it, has no place in this. She must feel so lonely right now. And instead of highlighting that (or btw dealing with the PTSD that everyone surely suffers from after that battle) they make her go all MAD QUEEN! Because that's how you write female characters isn't it. As soon as they show strong emotions due to trauma you can label them as crazy! jfc Then she loses another dragon, large parts of her fleet and Missandei. I honestly can only feel bad for her. And all that by the hand of fucking Euron the most annoying and flat villain out there. Honestly, at this point, I support "MadQueen!Dany". Just burn everything to the ground, preferably the entire show with the exception of Brienne being knighted.

Jaime & Tyrion Not much to say here except: I love them. I just want to watch them sit around in front of a fire and drink and tease each other for the rest of my life. I just love their sibling dynamic.

Jaime & Tyrion & Bronn I don't know really... usually I love those together but that scene was just... off? I don't know. So Bronn just rode North for a 3-minute talk and then he just... fucks off? (I mean I assume he doesn't, he will be around in some form but it just irks me. Inconsistent writing and people teleporting in and out of the plot.)

Euron & Cersei Yeah, I love watching Euron creep on Cersei. Totally cool. Not like this is what she wanted to escape since the very start. Yeah, it's cool.

Jaime & Brienne Oh boy.... ok, let's start with the stuff I liked

the two of them just enjoying each other's company during the feast and just smiling at each other so free of their usual burdens. seriously Brienne has smiled so many times over the past episodes (and she melts my heart every time she does. Gwen is stunning!). In case it wasn't obvious until now: I really hate so much about season 8 but the absolute avalanche of good Brienne/Jaime content in ep 2 and 3 will be cherished forever.

Jaime's character arc is putting up a good fight at the beginning coming to Brienne's defence when Tyrion asks about her virginity

Jaime was so freaking nervous when he showed up at Brienne's door and I'm so here for that. I'm also here for Brienne doing most of the undressing. Get it, Brienne, you deserve this. No seriously though it matters to me that she pushed his hand away and then started to undress herself. It was her choice. She wasn't passively just taking what he was offering. I appreciate that in a show that has a less than stellar record with consent.

and listen I'm so bitter about so many things but I can't help but love it. I just love those two so much and I will cling to that one moment of happiness.

now the stuff I didn’t like...

right, so this is just a pet peeve of mine but I HATE the whole 'sex jumpstarted by a never-have-i-ever drinking game'-trope. I just hate it. I don't know what it is about that but I just don't like it and whenever I come across it in a fanfic it just throws me off. Now this scene itself was cute, not denying that but I just hate that THAT's the thing that sets it all off. especially since there was no need? and I should know I've read like every Brienne/Jaime fanfic published in the last two weeks. making two people hook up after a battle should be the easiest thing but no they go for this mediocre modern college AU plot? (and I'm not joking, I've read a fic like that a year or so ago...)

I really dislike the fact that they focused on Brienne's virginity because it's not in character for her to be worried about that. Apart from the fact that she is unmarried and highborn and therefore unlikely to have slept with anyone in the first place Brienne has never been ashamed of that. She is ashamed of her looks and her mannerisms and she thinks no one will ever love her or desire her. That's her insecurity. Not the fact that she's a virgin. If that were the case she could have fixed that with Tormund ages ago. Brienne yearns for acceptance (she got that now thanks to the knighting) and love (which can come with sex but is not exclusively tied to it) not some hookup. Now Tyrion doesn't know that so I can kind of understand his line of thought and her reaction I just don't like that this again is what triggers the development of Brienne's and Jaime's relationship. She's not flawed because she's a virgin and he doesn't need to "fix that". What they do need to do instead is face their feelings, share them and if that then leads to sex, all the better but it's not the point! Brienne being loved is the point and I'd have rather had an "I love you" than 10 sex scenes.

Speaking of circumstances... I would have prefered them not to be drunk but I guess I can kind of accept it. Both of them are damaged and insecure and would probably doubt the other's intentions in their sober state. Still... would have been nicer (and at least they weren't like REALLY drunk... to the point where consent would have been debatable)

I am still a bit upset that we didn't get a scene between them talking through what's going on in their heads (e.g. a discussion of what Jaime will do now and what he meant when he didn't finish "I came to Winterfell because....") but then again both Brienne and Jaime have always been more about actions than words so I'll accept it.

Did not get a scene with Brienne taking his hand off and showing him acceptance  :/

Jaime

My first response to the episode was as you can guess very negative. Jaime's been my fave for a decade or so now and it's been beyond painful seeing his character development grind to a standstill for years on end. I was willing to forgive it though. I realize they needed someone to humanise Cersei and a screen partner for Lena that isn't a zombie or a creepy necromancer and when Jaime rode North at the end of S7 I thought: Ok here we go, we're finally back on track. Should have happened years ago during the siege of Riverun but at least it's happening at all. Then we get two episodes of Jaime distancing himself from Cersei and following Brienne around like a puppy. Quality material. Now though there are two options Either D&D decided to fuck him over and just obliterate 9 years of character growth for the sake of shock OR this is a very clumsy attempt at increasing the suspense and making people question whether Jaime is bad after all. Personally, I believe (and will always believe) option 2 BECAUSE THAT'S THE FUCKING BOOK CANON. Realistically though, I'm expecting option one.

Anyway, most of Jaime's scene can be interpreted one way or another and that's the only thing giving me hope here. For example

The sex scene with Brienne could just be him letting off steam, feeling alive after a battle etc and he doesn't truly desire and love her as much as he loves Cersei. BUT Jaime has never been about sex, Jaime has always been about love. Misguided and utterly toxic love from time to time but it's always been about love. He's had women throwing themselves at him left and right and yet he's always been faithful. Always true to Cersei. Why on Earth would he stop being faithful now? I believe sex and love are 100% intertwined for Jaime and he will not have sex with anyone he does not fully love. I always believed Jaime would have to put his relationship with Cersei behind him for anything to happen between him and Brienne (which is why I was so happy they didn't immediately kiss in ep 2). Whether that's the way the show sees it is another question...

When Jaime watched Brienne sleep afterwards that again can be read as regret or him thinking of Cersei and feeling guilty, wondering what he's done.  I'd like to think instead that he's really wrestling with his own demons here (and that btw is why I would have rather had a scene with them having a heart to heart and fucking sorting this shit out once and for all). First of all: Jaime hates himself and I'm 100% sure he doesn't think he deserves Brienne. I think he feels guilty for not being able to keep his distance. I think he's aware that he's still on thin ice both with the Starks and Dany but also with Cersei. A lot of people would rather see him dead. What would that mean for Brienne's reputation? And what would happen if Cersei found out about this? So I'd like to think he's realized that he's involving her in something very dangerous that could leave her dead or emotionally damaged. (And btw why would he be planning and discussing their future with Tyrion later when he's already considering Cersei straight after sex? He would have put a stop to it because again love > sex for Jaime).

I don't know how Jaime staying in Winterfell would make any sense if he was still madly in love with Cersei. And I'm not saying this through my Brienne/Jaime googles. This is completely independent of Brienne. He knows they will go to war against Cersei. He's not part of the war council because obviously they don't trust him and maybe he also doesn't want to be directly involved in the killing of his own blood. No matter what she will do, no matter how much he will fall out of love with her she is still family, still his blood and there will always be a part of Jaime that loves his family and his blood no matter what they do (see Tywin, see Tyrion). Him jumping at the chance to kill Cersei would be out of character regardless of whether he now loves Brienne or not. In any case, Jaime knows what's coming, has no illusions there so if he's truly still bound to Cersei why not leave then. It's been days? I really can't explain this one if the writers go with option 1.

now about the scene with Sansa and Brienne. Could be that he is worried about Cersei and it's only now sinking in that she will die. Could be that Sansa's snide comment triggered something in him. Buuuuuut he does not look happy when he learns about Cersei's success. He looks worried, he looks like he didn't expect that. I'm not saying he's not shook by Sansa's comment. As I said I believe he will never truly not care about Cersei, she has made him who he was, she has been the focus of his life for so many years, you can't just forget that. But there is a difference between him losing it and doing a 180 because he still wants Cersei and him feeling conflicted because he knows what Cersei is and what needs to be done but that doesn't erase their history.

and then finally the goodbye scene. Again this could be in line with option 1, in fact it seems very much in line with it. I'm not saying it's not. But there are signs that it might not be. Like "Have you ever run away from a fight?" for example. Cause that's what he's been doing! He stayed behind in Winterfell because leaving would have meant fighting on one side or the other. He was trying to avoid that I think. And I also think he's now realised he can't. I think he didn't expect Cersei to kill a dragon or capture someone close to Dany. I think he thought it would be easier to take her down but apparently, it's not and I think he's worried now. Worried that Cersei will win and what that will mean for everyone he loves (Tyrion, Brienne). He probably decided that he's got the best chance of finishing this or at least contributing to the end. He might have realized that they do not have the luxury of keeping him out of it. Then Brienne brings her hands to his face and starts to beg and you know what he does? HE NODS TO HIMSELF. You know when Jaime usually nods to himself??? When he realizes how good, and pure, and honourable and true Brienne is. When he realizes he will have to stop her from giving too much because of that (e.g. when she tries to give Oathkeeper back. He does this little nod that says "of course she would do this" and then he has to tell her to keep it!). I honestly think this is him going "right, of course, she would do this. Of course, it's not going to be that easy. Time to bring out the big guns." He then goes on to confess all of his bad deeds and yeah again this could be option 1. Him driving home how much he loves her and not Brienne. But honestly, does it seem like that? He's not gloating, he's not admitting to this easily (the way he used to when Cat had him). To me, it looks like he has to force himself to do this because he hopes that will convince her to a) let him go and b) not follow him. I think he's trying to cut ties because he doesn't want her with him for what he's about to do. I think he's trying to make her hate him because he doesn't expect to come back and he thinks this way will be easier on her. This is Jaime's version of throwing stones at Nymeria. And as much as I try and read this any other way I just can't.  Nevertheless, he made my girl cry and boy that's testing the limits of my love for him^^

What I think should (and could) now happen: I think it would make perfect sense for Jaime to go South on his own, infiltrate the capital, get to Cersei and play some part in her demise. I can even see them dying together as suggested by (unconfirmed) leaks but I doubt it will be in the spirit of  “We came into this world together, we'll leave it together”. If they die together, I think it's more likely that he will stay with her because of the love he still feels for her even though that love is nothing compared to what it used to be. Looking at the episode I feel like this would make so much sense and most importantly it would not butcher his arc.

What I suspect will happen instead: I'm bitter and sad and based on the crap D&D have done to Jaime and others in past seasons, based on this constant need for cruelty and shocking twists I fully expect them to go with option 1. They've had this hard-on for Cersei/Jaime since forever and even though that relationship is way past its expiration date they keep shoving it into our faces. I hate this for many reasons, especially for nullifying Jaime's arc, for turning Brienne into I don't even know what, his rebound I guess. I'm willing to forgive them much but not this. I'm okay with my faves being killed off but not if everything they have become through trauma and hardship is erased within 5 minutes. And the thought that this could very well be the last scene between Brienne and Jaime and that Brienne is either right to believe that Jaime has left her or might never know his true intentions if he does switch but dies beside Cersei is too much. I want to believe guys but I'm so bitter and I don't trust them with Jaime and I do not want to get my hopes up just to be utterly disappointed. So yeah, this is what I'm preparing myself for.

So to summarize: It was not as bad as it could have been and I do think the hate is a bit much but that always happens when you get incomplete spoilers and have HOURS to freak out and hate it even before it starts but jfc they still fucked up. Character assassinations left and right, bad writing and plot holes (Euron anyone???), unnecessary drama and the usual mix of racism and misogyny. In any case, I want to end on a positive note here, so let me just point out the ONLY things I will take away from this episode:

Brienne being beyond precious!

Jaime is GONE, my friends. GONE! (seriously though through the entire thing they kept stealing glances and it's so obvious Jaime talked to her about his family. We missed so much of their relationship in season 4  :( )

Probably not what I'm supposed to be focusing on but that entire scene just screams domestic old married couple. I'm a big fan of Jaime showing weakness in front of her and Brienne accepting and helping without a second thought.

I can't get over how much THEY TOUCH each other. It's been years with nothing but his hand on hers when she was going for the knife and now they're all over each other. And the best thing about it: It's so natural. It's so new but they act as if they've been doing this for years! No hesitation, no doubt and Brienne accepting that she’s allowed to do this now, that he wants it :) (also look at thiiiiiis)

[luviebear]

GOT SPOILERS!

I’m gonna rant & share my thoughts because my partner can’t stand me talking about GoT anymore.

So even though season 8 of Game of Thrones was disappointing, I’m fucking tired of these people complaining about every single thing about it. “This was the worst episode of the season” for every episode since the battle of winterfell?? I thought the first two episodes were kind of good, we needed the reunion episode and then the next episode that made us love the characters before they made us believe they’d die in Ep. 3.

To everyone that says Jon deserved better, shut the fuck up. That man did not want the iron throne. He did not want to be King in the North. He did not want to be Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. So if you watch the episode again, you can see he is clearly happy going back to Tormund and Ghost like he wished before the last war. He just didn’t deserve having to kill Dany but it had to be done or they would’ve still had a war to fight and im sure he’s tired of war.

Disappointed that Daenerys is dead? Gonna riot? You should’ve expected it after she slaughtered an entire city that already surrendered. The Lannister Army didn’t even fight! They dropped their swords beforehand. Almost every batshit crazy character has been killed by someone. The Mad King was stabbed in the back. Joffrey was poisoned. Ramsey was eaten alive by hounds. But (thankfully because she’s my favorite) Cersei didn’t. And I find funny seeing them complain that Dany never got to sit on the throne. Maybe that was the point? Also I find it ironic how Cersei and Dany, the women who desired the throne (despite Cersei already on it) never ended up on it. So therefore, no one won.

Also a lot of people are disappointed that Bran is King. When Tyrion asked if he’d be King, he said “why do you think I came all this way?” So it’s confusing since he didn’t want to be Lord of Winterfell. Maybe he knew he’d be king? But I always thought he couldn’t tell the future. And I guess it kind of fits that he’s King because no one else wanted it. Tyrion would’ve never wanted to rule, he’s just better at guiding from the sidelines. Sansa cared more about the North and became Queen. Arya had no desire to rule so she does what she wants and goes out to discover America (poor Gendry tho).

But I’m pretty okay with all of it. Sam is a fucking Grandmaester like he wanted. Brienne gets to serve a king as a named knight. Bronn gets his castle and is lord of the wealthiest kingdom. Daavos is still there to be the voice of reason like always. I thought that scene with them all together was funny and heartwarming because it feels like it’s all back to normal especially from all the chaos that happened the past few seasons. And they don’t even have to make a throne because Bran has his own seat. And I’m glad the iron throne is no longer there. The ones who desired it became greedy and destructive.

Don’t complain that it was rushed either because what do you expect when it was only 6 episodes? Maybe if it was a few hours instead of an extra 20 minutes, it would’ve been better but there are still so many questions to be answered and there wasn’t enough room for all that. Yes it would’ve been nice to see how Sansa and Arya reacted to Aegon or how everyone reacted to Dany’s death but that stuff just had to be left out.

I’m gonna miss Game of Thrones for sure. I watched it at 14 and now I’m 21. I’ve never been so attached to a show (& the book series). Especially one that helped me realize that writing and filmmaking are my true passions. Now that it’s ended, it’s like my heart and soul have been ripped away because I definitely cried for a straight hour afterwards. But at least the series isn’t gone forever, I hope the prequel is just as good and I hope one day they make one about Aegon’s conquest.

Farewell, GoT.

[99vernon]

Arya and Theon!

Warning Season 8 ep 3 spoilers- s8 speculation

This is what Ned Stark prepared them for - the long Night! The beauty and unity of the Stark family  (including Theon) was on full display. However, after watching episode 3,  we have to again face the truth…. The endgame for Jon and Sansa is unpredictable. 

Major highlights and analysis  from episode 3 -

1)  Dany’s dragon fire did not kill the Night King and the Night King refused to fight Jon – in fact, as Jon charged towards him the overly confident Night King raised the dead to fight Jon and then turned his back on Jon…refusing to fight Jon. The big surprise is Arya and Theon’s actions that killed the Night King!- Theon charged the Night King sacrificing himself -  giving Arya the chance to see how the Night King kills. The Night King did not have a weapon in his hand. He grabbed Theon’s own weapon to kill Theon. Arya disguised as the dead saw the pattern the Night King uses to kill. He uses his opponents own weapon -  so she attacks and drops the knife as the Night King reaches for it. (The big mistake the overly confident Night King made was not having his weapon in his hand- he was so eager to get to Bran and the weir wood tree) Theon’s action saved Arya’s life as it gave Arya a chance to see how the Night King kills.  The Night King overconfidence did him in. We can draw the following conclusions from this: 

a.   Arya was the Prince that Was Promised all along. She is of Targaryen and Stark decent.

b.   Arya is officially No One.

c.    There is a strong connection between Arya and the Hound. The hound would die for Arya…He totally loves her!

d.   The war is not over. The Starks still have major challenges.  Brown eyes, Green eyes and blue eyes.

e.   Interesting observation Arya in many ways has Ygritte’s fighting personality!

f.     Jon was right they needed Dany’s Dragons and Army to win the war (Not to mention the dragon glass). Jon and Dany had to knock the Night King off the dragon to give Arya Theon a chance. All the little things everyone contributed to defeating the Night King.

g.   I still believe Dany’s role is to ‘break the wheel’ – Prevent another Night King from surfacing.

h.   I am disappointed we did not get any background information about the Night King. However, we did see the Night King display the same overconfidence Ramsey did during the Battle of the Bastards.

2)  Big surprise - Dany stayed and fought beside Jon – despite the parentage reveal.  We have to face the truth. We finally saw Dany fight for the people again; plus, Dany almost lost her life fighting the Night King. She could have easily left. However, she did not leave. In addition, we saw who Dany really loves  – Jorah. Did anyone ever wonder why Jorah looked as old as his father Lord commander Mormont?  Jorah died in Dany’s arms. Jorah’s death will greatly impact Dany’s decision making – especially if she is pregnant. Now that Jorah is gone, she will rely more on Jon. Tyrion will have an even harder time with Dany.

3)  Interesting observation – Bran selected the weir wood tree to meet the Night King. In addition, Jon was anxious to get to the Night King and then Bran as oppose to fighting the dead. My theory is the Night King wanted to kill Bran and the weirwood tree.

4)  Disappointments – Jon and Dany got significant screen time together because they were fighting the Night King together. However,  I can’t believe we have not seen a one on one interaction between Jon and Sansa since episode one. Did they say goodbye to each other before the war began? Instead, we are getting multiple one on one scenes with Sansa and Tyrion. By doing so, are they trying to dilute Jonsa? Here is my analysis:

a.   Was Tyrion and Sansa’s conversation suppose to be the Jonsa goodbye. They have teased a Tyrion Sansa relationship back in Season 2. I just feel like Tyrion’s mistreatment by his father and sister has affected his mental state. He chose to murder Shae, someone who loved him, that was unforgivable.  In terms of Jonsa, I don’t know if they are now teasing a love triangle with 3 episodes left.  My fear is Sansa dying similar to Joanna Lannister -  in childbirth -delivering an child like Tyrion. Only  a kind hearted Queen like Sansa can change the way people treat the perceived misfortunate-including bastards.

5)  The Stark heros…need a strong love story-We need Jonsa.  Sansa and Jon won - The Battle of the Bastards and now Theon and Arya defeated the Night King. Jonsa has to happen before the final episode! Jon was on the verge of dying before Arya’s heroism, yet Jon made no connection to Sansa that the audience can see. Before dying everyone thinks about their loved ones. This again is diluting the excitement of JONSA.

5. Melisandre’s death was surprising. If Jon or Sansa dies, Melisandre won’t be the ones to bring them back.

6. We have another episode without Cersei. I am not giving up on my prediction that Cersei will die a hero.

7. Needless to say Jorah fighting to protect Dany was very emotional. Jorah died with honor. His father would have been proud.  Jorah and Dany loved each other! Dany was just too blinded by the quest for the Iron Throne to see it. I think Jorah’s death was more painful for Dany than Drogo’s death in season 1. She spent a lifetime with Jorah.  

Theon’s death was very emotional. He went through hell. I actually thought he would survive the Long Night. Theon died defending his brother and sisters - and Winterfell.

Much love to Beric and his flaming sword. He made the Hound continue to fight death! And Eddison Toilett died defending Sam.. Wow! Proof that we cannot ever give up on humanity and love!

[dellaliz19]

A couple (hindsight mediated) suggestions that could have maybe improved the fan reaction to Season 8 of GoT

So, the unpopular opinion first; I have really enjoyed Season 8 so far 🤷‍♀️😅 I understand that seems to be a contentious opinion, but yeah, I’m still excited to see how this ends. I understand some of the vitriol; there’s no way you’re going to be able to please everyone, all of the time, but I also know that’s not what this is all about. This season is absolutely not without its flaws, I fully acknowledge that. I think the people who have been saying that the plot might have been foreshadowed but not properly given the time to develop most align with my view; this season seems rushed, and I think that’s significantly affecting how people are even interacting with this season.

So, how could they have fixed that?

Do 10, 50ish min episodes.

The average GoT season was about 9.5 hours long and 10 episodes long; this season is shorter with 6 episodes and 7.5 hours of media. It’s been mentioned several times that they could have had the funding for the usual 10 episodes, but that they felt that longer, shorter episodes would do better (I personally think that likely came from being able not to pay the cast that reported 1 million/ep extra but hey 🤷‍♀️).

Making this season 10 weeks and 10 episodes long gives you; 1) 2 more hours to develop and wrap stories up. It’s jaring to go from 8x3 where Dany is a valued ally helping in the fight to 8x4 where we’re already whispering about her Targaryean madness.

And 2) 4 more weeks for audiences to actually absorb and discuss the episodes, getting used to the concepts. GoT is a huge fan community frankly almost OVERSTUFFED with fan theories. But that takes time; those two arcs (the Night King and Cersei) could totally work in 1 season, but to have only 7 days between that switch doesn’t give viewers time to let that concept sink in, like it might have with 2-3 weeks.

Look, the show isn’t under any obligation to give me what I want as a viewer, and I’d never suggest that they should rewrite the season and actually re-air it. I’m not entitled to that.

But personally I would have left the episodes mostly they were, and simply split the 6 episodes they have aired into 8 episodes and add 2 more hours worth of material. With the two new; I’d add them in between the Night King and Cersei arcs, and FILL them with Targaryen madness. Have Jon and Varys and Tyrion agree with Sansa that the armies needed rest after the battle and have one more episode in Winterfell where Dany starts to hear voices and see things that might not be there. Have her haunted by her ghosts, and have her become explicitly paranoid that Jon and Sansa are holding the armies at a rest specifically to threat her throne. Then have her insist, against all of her advisors advice, that they take the armies South too early, and when they do and meet Euron who ambushed them and kills her dragon, it’s explicit to the audience that this was a rash action specially made because of madness. Then have one more full episode at Dragonstone where Dany is again seeing and hearing things (especially her father and Missandei), and have Tyrion or Varys catch her having one of those episodes sowing their seeds of doubt. If you just give it a little more time, and just made her descent into madness a little more explicit and little less of a “twist” then I think a lot of people wouldn’t be so mad.

Show don’t tell, basically!

[labime]

Maybe I am already too detached from the show but seeing the fight in ep 5 was boring. Like alone from a fighting perspective it wasn't very spectacular especially after ep 3, which wasn't the greatest imo. Apart from all the shit writing even the action sucked. It felt kinda empty and it lacked.

the cinematography and editing were breathtaking and i respect immensely the cast and crew for putting so much work into it, especially the battle of winterfell that must have been very hard to film and synchronize, yet i couldn’t fully enjoy it too. there were battles sequences from the other seasons that were much more satisfying to me like ‘the spoils of war’, ‘blackwaters’ or ‘the battle of bastards’, and that’s because these confrontations had a proper build up and good writing, unlike most of season 8.

my favorite—and only—episode this season was ‘a knight of the seven kingdoms’ because i thought it was a beautiful tribute to the characters and their journeys. it was simple but well-written with solid characterization.

i can’t enjoy battle scenes when there’s no logic behind it and it’s basically just some self-indulgent use of cgi. it’s visually stunning and spectacular but the context and lack of logic surrounding these scenes make it impossible for me to appreciate them.

[letbarbieshavedragons]

As a fan of Sansa i kept telling myself that okay next episode is when she and Dany will get to realize they could probably be friends. Or since Arya is rediscovering her self a bit get excited that here’s a dragon riding lady since she was so excited about them as a kid, either 3 or 8 years ago with how time works on the show. After all the best bud guy friendships in the show it would have been nice for one pair of female friends to exist. I guess this is more of a vent than an ask

I feel you so much anon. Trust me, you arent the only one. I was so excited when I thought Danny and Arya would meet. Arya idolized Visenya and she was fascinated by the dragons skulls. And she seemed so excited to see those dragons. She should be dying to meet one and Danny would be super excited to meet the hero of winterfell, whos a woman. AND JON’S SISTER. But I guess DnD were playin us. 

And for the first few ep I understood Sansa’s mistrust. She has learned to be wary of others, especially ambitious people that all of a sudden have power over her. Just like you I figured she’d see Danny meant her no harm and finally start to put the animosity aside. But after the battle and she still is set against Danny I just don’t see them getting along anymore. Plus I don’t even think they will meet again before the season is out since Sansa doesn’t seem like she’s leaving Winterfell. But whatever man. DnD would rather see women cat fight than actually get along i guess. Its stupid. They would have made a great tag team. Either two of them or better yet all three. Thanks for the send in. I’m glad I’m not the only one disappointed with this.