Knee-Jerk Reactions to “The Long Night:” Best and Worst Moments

VALYRIAN STEEL SIX: Dany’s khalasar charges, swords on fire

In an episode packed with intense, gorgeous and horrific cinematic moments, the Dothraki cavalry charge, swords afire, across the dark no-man’s-land between the living and the dead was a spine-tingling first gambit, the first salvo of the masterpiece of mayhem to come.

VALYRIAN STEEL FIVE: Melisandre’s death was an astounding last note on fate and otherworldly powers

Melisandre’s last walk is mythic stuff. She and Beric Dondarrion, beings empowered by the Lord Of Light, fulfilled their purpose to prevent the world from being swallowed in darkness by helping Arya Stark serve her true purpose. And all that fire magic helped, too.

VALYRIAN STEEL FOUR: Lyanna Mormonts’s death was magnificent

We loved Lyanna and we hated to see her die. At least the showrunners gave her a great death scene, charging the giant as she did, holding her ground in the Winterfell courtyard. You knew that girl wouldn’t go easy. Without her or the disinherited (but always potentially redeemable?) Jorah, this may mark the end of the proud House Mormont.

VALYRIAN STEEL THREE: Theon’s defense of Bran was a last stand for the ages

My heart aches for Theon, even though he died well and he died complete, having rescued Yara and returned to Winterfell to atone for his past actions. We suspected he and his Ironborn were  going to be casualties as soon as he volunteered to defend Bran in the godswood. As one of Thrones’ best characters, he’ll be missed.

VALYRIAN STEEL TWO: Jorah’s defense of Dany was a worthy of a great knight

Jorah Mormont was simply magnificent. It was the greatest achievement of the dishonored knight to die defending the queen he loved. He still stood to protect her even when there was barely an ebb of life in him. He did House Mormont and his father Jeor proud.

VALYRIAN STEEL ONE: Faceless Man superweapon Arya ices the Night King.

When the Night King killed Theon and approached Bran, I couldn’t see any way out at all. Seeing Arya’s leap made my heart stop, and her ultimate destruction of the Night King proved was the emotional episode capper. (I’m gonna pat myself on the back a little for this one, since I’ve always maintained that Jaqen H’gar intentionally turned Arya into a Night King shattering superweapon).