HBO has released the second and final trailer for Game of Thrones season 7, and we’re all over it. If someone you haven’t watch it yet, check it out below.
Today, let’s walk through it and see if we can spot connections, easter eggs and callbacks. First, let’s check in with Beric Dondarrion, who had one of the trailer’s most buzz-worthy moments when his sword burst into flame.
Fwoosh! That’s just fun.
Fans will remember that Beric pulled this trick back in season 3, as well, when he fought the Hound in single combat. Only then, he had to do a little flourish with his hands to make the sword light up.
Now all he has to do is grip the hilt. Apparently he refined his technique in the interim.
Speaking of swords, let’s track how often Longclaw shows up in this trailer. Longclaw, of course, is Jon Snow’s Valyrian steel sword, gifted to him by Jeor Mormont way back in season 1. Although we get several shots of Jon in the trailer, he’s often shot from behind. Zero-ing in on Longclaw helps us identify where and when he pops up.
For example, this is definitely Jon battling the White Walker somewhere in the far north.
Oddly, this White Walker looks a lot like the one Jon fought and killed at Hardhome. Or maybe we just have trouble telling White Walkers apart. We’re speciesist like that.
Then there’s this shot towards the end of the trailer, where a bedraggled figure rides away on a horse. If anyone out there had any doubt, the presence of Longclaw at his hip confirms this figured is Jon.
We also have an interesting note on the horse. And be forewarned: there are SPOILERS from here on out.
Redditor dragonmcmx noticed that the headgear on the horse Jon is riding in the shot above is very similar to the headgear we see on Benjen Stark’s horse when he saves Bran and Meera from a pack of wights back in season 6.
This implies that Benjen is present for whatever kerfuffle Jon and company get into north of the Wall (between all the snippets of people fighting in snowy areas, it’s clear something goes down up there), and that he lends Jon his horse. Or Benjen dies and Jon takes the horse. Or the horse is just wandering around. We’ll have to wait a while to be sure.
Heading down south, we’ve matched up a shot of Daenerys looking pensive on Dragonstone with a behind-the-scenes shot from during filming in Spain.
Whatever will those two kids talk about?
Next, take a look at these two shots:
The first one is Grey Worm sailing toward a fissure in a rock face, and the second one is a small group of Unsullied soldiers opening a pair of giant doors to let another, larger group inside. Based on other shots, we know they’re likely attacking Casterly Rock. The implication is pretty clear: a few Unsullied sneak into Casterly Rock through that opening (remember, Tyrion used to be in charge of all the drains and cisterns in the castle, so he would know about its weak points), and open the Rock to the rest of the army from within. Bad news for the Lannisters.
Speaking of the Lannisters, how about that scene where Jaime rides pell-mell across a field of fire, heaving a lance at an unknown enemy? Some fans have suggested he’s tilting at a dragon, which would be a pretty knightly thing to do. Here’s a funny spin on that:
Then again, it might not be the best idea for a one-handed man to charge a dragon. Redditor VisceralVarys brings in a shot from the first trailer and wonders if Jaime’s headlong charge into the jaws of death doesn’t end with Bronn swooping in and plunging Jaime into the nearby lake, just as a jet of dragonfire shoots overhead.
Whatever happens in that scene, it’s bound to be epic.
While we’re talking about dragons, several fans have noticed that, in the brief second we see him, the Night King is looking up at something. Should we be nervous?
Finally, we have to mention this shot of a silhouetted figure drawing a sword.
The sun is in our eyes, but the hair definitely makes it look like the Hound. And the scenery makes it look like he’s standing in the ruins of Italica, where the production filmed a crucial sequence set towards the end of the season.
Image credit: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, License CC-BY-SA 4.0
In season 7, Italica will stand in for the Dragonpit of King’s Landing, where characters from several different factions will gather for a summit meeting. If the Hound is there and drawing his swords, odds are that his hated brother Gregor “the Mountain” Clegane is somewhere in the area.
Next: Sophie Turner discussing the many meanings behind Sansa Stark's hair
So there’s a lot to mull over here. What else did you see in the trailer? Let us know!