Knee-Jerk Reactions to “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”: Five Best and Worst Moments
VALYRIAN STEEL FIVE: Blood brothers.
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” plowed deep into in the characters, and it really was fun to finally spend quality time with Tyrion and Jaime. We’d been fearful there wouldn’t be time left for the brothers to connect (or reconnect), but this week the boys got the quiet, reflective, warm moments we’d been hoping to see.
VALYRIAN STEEL FOUR: When a man loves a woman.
This was a huge week for Jaime Lannister, who shares a lot of screen time with Brienne of Tarth. From her spirited defense of Jaime at Dany’s trial to his respectful request to serve under her command to his decision to knight her, their reunion paid off a relationship a complicated relationship that’s been developing for seasons.
These two obviously love each other, though it’s more platonic than physical. Each respects the other so deeply, understands the other so completely, feels the other’s flaws so painfully, that their soulmate link transcends the boundaries of romantic love. Did you see Brienne’s face when Jaime knighted her? Wowza.
VALYRIAN STEEL THREE: No words are necessary.
Perhaps the most gripping reunion of all those we’ve seen in Winterfell, the connection between Sansa and Theon is tear-inducing. Both were witnesses to each other’s torture at the hands of Ramsay Bolton, yet in the end both were able and brave enough to survive. The moments between them are so emotionally raw it’s hard to watch, but also heartwarming.
VALYRIAN STEEL TWO: Arya and Gendry make love, not war.
Arya’s been eyeballing the well-muscled Gendry ever since their reunion last week, and when the girl with no name lusts after you, well, you probably don’t stand a chance. We’ve all been hoping that these two would get together and Thrones handled it well, with the very-grown-up Arya dispatching her virginity as any true soldier would.
Of all the love affairs we’ve seen on Thrones, this one, long postponed, may well among the most memorable, even if it hasn’t gotten as much attention. We’re all familiar with the trope of warriors turning to their lovers on the eve of battle, but for Arya, who has had little opportunity in her life to simply be romantic and affectionate, it’s weightier than that.
VALYRIAN STEEL ONE: Jon (Aegon) spills the Targaryen beans.
Jon just dropped the this-changes-everything info on Dany, and she’s finding it hard to accept. We really can’t blame her. Even though the fans have long known about Jon’s heritage, it was still mesmerizing to watch this scene, so kudos to Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington for a gripping performance. Watching Dany’s face as she realized the meaning of Jon’s words was a master class in transitions from one emotion to the next. This is the climax of the major identity secret carried throughout the series, and the fallout is still to come.
