Just the name of this episode makes me happy. A knight of the Seven Kingdoms? It's about Brienne, who finally became a knight even though she's a woman, and Jaime was the one who knighted her. Did you see the smile on her face when she stood up?! When the idea was proposed, she was reluctant and I think that's because part of her thought it was a joke. She's been teased her whole life, and now she was surrounded by all these people who saw her value, of course it's unbelievable. Tormunds "fuck tradition," Tyrions encouraging smile, and the way Jaime was looking at her as he knighted her - ahh. It was everything Brienne deserved.
Her and Jaime are so in love, and they're the best knights in the kingdom.
Tormund crushing on her is funny, but he makes her uncomfortable, even though he isn't trying to and most likely isn't aware. He sees her strength and was dumbfounded when he was told she wasn't already a knight. Supportive as he is, they shouldn't be more than they are now. Jaime is her man.
Just look at his trial. Brienne defended him, saying she trusts him with her life. They always have each others backs.
Also that night, we had a Tyrion and Podrick reunion. Tyrion filling his wine glass after Brienne reluctantly said only half a glass was funny, they were back to their old selves. And then later, Pod sang out of nowhere. That kid never stops impressing! The singing led to a montage of everyone before the battle, and seeing Sam and Gilly lay in bed with their kid reminded me of The Titanic.
But back to the happy battle preparations, the wildlings and night's watch make it to Winterfell after seeing them last episode in Last Hearth. How they made it to Winterfell before the whitewalkers is beyond me, but thank god they did. Tormund running and hugging Jon saying "my little crow" was so precious, and Edd joking around and teasing with Jon and Sam was too. I'm glad Sam said he wanted to fight, now more than ever he has a reason to.
Another notable person who wanted to fight, despite not being much of a fighter, is the girl in the bread line. Davos was looking at her, clearly thinking of Shireen, and Gilly came along to save the day. I loved how she handled it, telling the girl that she'd feel safer if the crypts were defended. That kid better not die in the next episode because she's going places.
Now Dany, who was recieved formally if not coldly last episode, has been accepted as the "Queen" in charge. Jaime arrives in Winterfell and she gets to hold the trial for him, but isn't exactly free to do what she wants with him. Sansa and Jon both agree that Jaime should be cleared and allowed to fight alongside them, and because Dany is in a fragile position, she agrees. But it didn't look like she wanted to. I can understand that, she explained her brother told her stories as a kid about how they would one day get revenge and kill the man who killed their father. Dany was raised seeing Jaime as an enemy. Being able to let him go show's she is still a reasonable person, although, the comment about having one hand (which she later found out he lost protecting Brienne from rape) was funny but uncalled for.
This episode made me pity Dany. Her conversation with Sansa was cringey, she was trying so hard and her smile was so fake. It's been brought to my attention that Dany has never really had interactions with women and doesn't know how to act around them, which makes sense because this was a failing attempt at 'sisterhood.' Sansa won't be manipulated like that. Actually here, Sansa reminded me on Margery, who would try to be open and touchy to make her open up. Sansa learned from the best, so try again Dany. Maybe be more genuine next time.
Dany also had the realization that Theon would not be on her side, but Sansa's, if ever they were against each other. Theon shows up and Dany looks happy to have an ally, and then Sansa runs to hug him and you see it drain from her eyes. She's in a foreign place, surrounded by people who don't like her, and she's slowly become lonelier. She thought when she came to westeros, the common people would love and support her. And maybe they would in other places, but not the north.
As bad as this was, at the end of the episode when Jon tells her the truth about who she is, it gets so much worse. Yes, the northerners didn't like her, but they had to. But if the truth is revealed, they won't have to... they would choose Jon, and she would be cast aside.
There goes her throne.
Now for Arya. As if she couldn't get any better, she shows off for Gendry by throwing knives and saying death has many faces and she can't wait to see this one. Did you see his face when she left? Impressed, scared, in love. You bet he started on her weapon immediately. And when she finally got it, well ... you go girl.
I'm excited to see how all of this plays out in the next episode. It looks like there will be some Dany vs. Jon drama even though the two idiots should get married and work together. Restore that Targaryen bloodline!
Also, holy crap - Tormund's story about the giant was hilarious. Gotta love him.
Feel free to discuss with me below!