The biggest surprises from the Game of Thrones season 7 trailer
The first trailer for Game of Thrones season 7 is here, and it packs a lot of punch. Haven’t watched it yet? Oh, who are you kidding? Of course you have. Watch it again:
The trailer is heavy on action and relatively light on unexpected plot developments, but there are still some surprising moments in there. Here’s what stood out:
Melisandre is at Dragonstone
The Red Woman returns! We knew we hadn’t seen the last of Melisandre after Jon Snow exiled her at the end of Season 6. The lady is obsessed with the idea of the Prince that was Promised and it stands to reason that she’d try to find a way to reenter the great game. But why go to Dragonstone?
To start, it was her residence for years while she supported Stannis Baratheon ill-fated claim to the Iron Throne, but it never seemed like a home for her. Perhaps it was the only place she felt she could go. Or it could be a calculated tactical move. Did she receive more visions in the fire that predicted the arrival of Daenerys and her forces? Is she planning to back a new horse in Dany, or is she trying to work her way back to Jon Snow?
The Unsullied at Casterly Rock
Although it’s been mentioned plenty of times, we have yet to actually see Casterly Rock — the ancient seat of House Lannister — in the show, so its appearance in the trailer was a treat. The sight of the Unsullied charging through the courtyard and chopping down Lannister men was mind-blowing at first, but upon reflection makes perfect strategic sense. Daenerys wants to knock the Lannisters off the board, so sending a detachment of Unsullied to their home base after arriving at Dragonstone is only natural. Plus, the place is probably undermanned as the Lannister army forms up elsewhere.
True, Dragonstone and Casterly Rock are on opposite sides of the continent, but we’ve seen Game of Thrones stretch the realities of time and space in order to serve the story before. Plus, we don’t know when exactly this happens. Maybe the Unsullied have had time for a long overland march by now, if they didn’t attack the place from the sea. In any case, it’s a slap in the face for the current occupant of the Iron Throne, Cersei Lannister.
Yara Greyjoy and Ellaria Sand get it on
Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Say no more. Both Yara and Ellaria are known to be open with their affections, so seeing them hook up shouldn’t be much of a surprise. But it startled us because we saw Yara flirting with Daenerys last season, so it sort of feels like Yara is cheating on Dany in an I-thought-you-were-gonna-be-my-lover kind of way. But they never made it official, so it’s not really a problem. Enjoy the loving while you can, ladies — those White Walkers are on the way.
Grey Worm and Missandei get it on
This one isn’t really surprising in and of itself — these two have been making eyes at each for a long time, after all. We’re more perplexed by the how of it. I’m totally shipping these two, and I’m sure they’ll find a way to make love even without all the usual equipment.
Where are the Night King and the White Walkers?
The Night King has shown up in a lot of the promos and posters for season 7, so it’s interesting that he and his minions are absent here. Their presence is implied, of course, in the sequence where Jon Snow and Tormund run and form up a defensive ring against something terrifying. Keeping the White Walkers in the shadows is a good editorial move, as it reinforce their frightening mystery.
So why is this trailer thinner on surprises than trailers for previous seasons? With HBO concentrating on hurtling towards the finish line, it looks like they’re bringing out the dragons and warriors and allowing the narrative momentum speak for itself. Plus, there’s always the possibility they’re editing around the surprises to avoid giving anything away. There’s already enough of that going around.