After serving up a supersized trailer for “Beyond the Wall” last week, the trailer for the season 7 finale was back to a standard 49 seconds, with 24 individual shots in all. The trailer has an atypical haunting mood and only one line of dialogue, rather than the usual series of dialogue snippets layered over a slow build to a fast-paced action montage.
Check out the season finale trailer below:
Now, let’s break it down shot by shot and we what surfaces.
We begin with a fade up from black on the HBO logo while the camera pans up to Grey Worm standing before his Unsullied on the battlefield. A piece of Ramin Djawadi’s evocative piano music plays slowly underneath.
Cut to a wide shot of Grey Worm and his impressive Unsullied battalions. I guess he and his troops found a way out of Casterly Rock. It looks like they’re prepping for a big battle…
A large fleet of Ironborn warships protect the seaward approaches to King’s Landing. Euron Greyjoy’s impressive flagship is at the fore.
Aboard a ship in Daenerys’ armada, Tyrion Lannister gazes grimly at King’s Landing, and at the fleet guarding it. Varys and Theon Greyjoy stand in the background, also looking grim.
Euron seems to be waiting for something, but what? Perhaps they’re just there to make a show of force.
The Dothraki cavalry approach on the hills behind the Unsullied. The forces of Daenerys Targaryen are forming up. They can make a show of force, too.
High in a King’s Landing tower, Bronn and Jaime Lannister eye the enemy forces. Naturally, the Unsullied are in a much tighter formation than the Dothraki.
Bronn and Jaime again, although this time they seem to be looking out across Blackwater Bay. Both of these soldiers know the horrors of war. The grim looks on their faces speak volumes about the slaughter they know is coming if battle is engaged. Can they avoid carnage?
A closeup of the legs of galloping Dothraki horses throws some action into the mix.
The Dothraki cavalry sweep behind a steely-eyed Unsullied soldier in the foreground.
The Dothraki cavalry pass through a gap in the Unsullied line.
Next is a mostly blurred shot of Dothraki cavalry hurtling past the camera.
Moving north, we see an emotive closeup of Sansa, hooded in the blowing snow. The weight of the world is on this young woman’s shoulders. She’s deep in the great game now, and in many ways, she is alone.
Cut to a wider shot of the solitary, hooded Sansa walking the ramparts of Winterfell. The expansive shot of the snowbound countryside reminds us that winter is here, even if it isn’t yet plaguing the south.
We’ve seen this shot before, in the trailers. Theon throws himself down at the edge of the sea. He’s going through it.
Another familiar silhouette shot: Cersei, dressed in warmer gear, enters her map room in the Red Keep.
Aha! New territory! This is probably the ruins of the the Dragonpit, the massive stable where the Targaryen kings and queens used to keep their dragons.
A high-angle shot of the dragonpit as one group enters.
Now we get a good look at the participants, entering under the watchful eye of Lannister soldiers. Representing Team Targaryen, we have Tyrion, Ser Davos, Brienne of Tarth (on her mission from Sansa), Podrick Payne, Jon Snow, Jorah Mormont, Theon Greyjoy and assorted Dothraki. The captured wight Jon and company brought back from the north isn’t clearly visible anywhere, but perhaps it’s still offscreen, to be revealed at a dramatic point during the pow-wow.
Wearing her crown and dressed in softer-than-usual black, Cersei Lannister mounts the dias. This is what the armies and warships are waiting for. The outcome of this parley will decide the direction of the war, and decide the fates of thousands.
It looks like Jon Snow is watching the dark Queen Cersei as she makes her entrance. Has he led his people into a trap?
Tyrion Lannister has to be the most uncomfortable person in the room. He can probably feel his neck itching, knowing Cersei wants his head removed from his shoulders.
A closeup of a confident Cersei and the ever-loyal Jaime by her side.
Cut to black and Jon’s voiceover: “There’s only one war that matters.” Fade up on Jon as he continues: “And it is here.” Will it sway the group?
Next: George R.R. Martin talks A Song of Ice and Fire, weighs in on the HBO hacks
This week’s trailer poses the question: will the seven kingdoms unite to face the White Walkers or will they continue to tear themselves to pieces? One more episode to find out. After that, the long night before season 8 begins.
To stay up to date on everything Game of Thrones, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.
Watch Game of Thrones for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels.