Now that “Dragonstone” and “Stormborn” have whetted our appetites for more Game of Thrones, let’s see what the trailer for “The Queen’s Justice” suggests about what’s coming. Clocking in at 26 seconds and containing 21 shots, the new trailer offers glimpses of scenes both new and familiar. Have a watch.
Okay, let’s get to the breakdown.
The first shot is from above Daenerys’ perch on the Dragonstone castle staircase, overlooking Blackwater Bay. (She’s lower-left of the center of the frame.)
As she surveys her would-be kingdom, we hear Daenerys in voiceover. “I was born to rule the Seven Kingdoms, and I will.”
Next, the dragons cavort over Dragonstone, as their ancestors once did. The show couldn’t afford them for Episode 2, but Episode 3 is another story.
Next: a wonderfully regal shot of Daenerys deep in contemplation.
Shifting west, we see Euron Greyjoy return to King’s Landing. First he’s in a wide shot being lauded by an adoring crowd…
…and then he’s shown in close-up, smiling his weasel’s smile.
The people applaud him. Everyone loves a victorious commander.
In the Red Keep, Cersei Lannister is conniving as only Cersei Lannister can. “The war’s already begun,” she says. “I’ve drawn first blood.”
A beautiful landscape shot of the Dragonstone coast, with men and boats assembling. Is this Jon and company arriving to see the Dragon Queen?
Tyrion, looking grim. “Cersei will be ready.” Notice the Dothraki guard behind him, the first time we’ve seen a Dothraki soldier this year. We knew they had to be hiding somewhere.
It looks like more Dothraki figures are walking along the causeway to Dragonstone. I can see Missandei’s frizzy black hair and Dany’s flash of blonde near the head of the procession. Varys is heard in voiceover. “They know we’re coming.”
Daenerys is still contemplating the shape of the world. She turns, and the editing speeds up alongside a swell of pulsing, foreboding music.
We get a quick shot of Grey Worm donning his helmet. The time for love with Missandei is over (only temporarily, we hope). Now it’s time for war.
Tracking shot of Jaime striding through an archway, probably at King’s Landing…but we can’t be certain. The greenery looks a little out of place for winter in King’s Landing.
Euron bowing in the Red Keep Throne Room. It looks like this is post-parade, and he’s presenting himself as the victor complete with spoils, and in this case the spoilers are named Yara Greyjoy, Ellaria Sand and Tyene Sand. We sure hope Cersei isn’t going to apply “The Queen’s Justice” to those poor women. And we really hope they aren’t going to become part of the Frankenmountain’s horror-harem. (Has anybody seen Septa Unella lately?)
A much-used shot of Sansa looking apprehensive in the Winterfell godswood. What’s on her mind here? The shot is held for a long time.
Here’s another familiar shot of the Unsullied breaching the gate at Casterly Rock.
Above is a quick shot of an Unsullied soldier leaping from a boat into shallow water. The battle for Casterly Rock will happen on land and sea.
The Lannister archers nock and draw, ready to unleash hell.
Lannister soldiers and Unsullied crash together in battle.
After all that quick-cutting action, things slow down. Fade to black and fade in on Jon Snow and Ser Davos as they are led into the Dragonstone throne room by Tyrion and Missandei.
Ser Davos and Jon are impressed by what they see …
The powerhouse Daenerys Targaryen on a throne carved from rock. Cue punchy musical finale.
There we have it. If we weigh upcoming storylines simply by screen time, it looks like we’ll spend most of our time with Euron’s triumphant return to King’s Landing, the Unsullied assault on Casterly Rock and the arrival of Jon Snow and Ser Davos at Dragonstone. But even though we see nothing of characters like Arya and Sam, we shouldn’t count them out. After all, that may just mean they’re involved with scenes HBO doesn’t want to give away in the trailer.
Next: Book-Reader’s Recap—Game of Thrones, Episode 702—'Stormborn'
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