Knee-Jerk Reactions to “The Bells:” Six Best and Worst Moments
VALYRIAN STEEL SIX: Qyburn dies, Gregor Clegane-style.
It’s good to see that despite his grotesque reanimation, the FrankenMountain still knows how to crush a head against a wall. Did Cersei and Qyburn ever really have much control over the monster? Probably, until it came to Sandor, where apparently the elder brother’s hatred ran deeper than corrupted blood and rotted brain matter.
VALYRIAN STEEL FIVE: Jon realizes his ex-girlfriend is nuts.
A great acting moment is served up by Kit Harington as Jon Snow realizes Daenerys is going to burn the city despite the ringing of the surrender bells. His dismay is palpable as Gray Worm follows his Queen’s lead and initiates the slaughter of the surrendering Lannister soldiers. Methinks that Daenarys is Aegon’s Queen no more.
VALYRIAN STEEL FOUR: The eternal connection of the twins.
Jaime tired hard to turn to the path of goodness, but in the end he could not escape the dark side where his twin sister lived. I thought he was on his way to murder her, as he had done to the Mad King, but ultimately he could never deny his love for Cersei. It seemed she loved him too, as the world fell apart around them, and their scene in the map room was gut-wrenching, despite all the bad things they both had done.
VALYRIAN STEEL THREE: Beware a pale horse with a pale rider.
The final sequence, where Arya wakes into what feels like a dream, is a masterpiece of visual storytelling. With her ash-white face streaked with bloody warpaint, she steps forth through the apocalypse and takes hold of a pale, blood-spattered horse. Arya is death. Arya be death. Look out, Daenerys.
VALYRIAN STEEL TWO: Cleganebowl, Yeah!
Yeah, we always hoped this was coming, and it seemed certain to be on the way what with how the previous episode ended, with the Hound and Arya heading south to King’s Landing. It was a titanic battle, to be sure, with the two massive warriors fighting as the burning castle collapsed around them. I figured they’d go over the side together, but my prediction lessened the dramatic impact not one whit.
VALYRIAN STEEL ONE: Let’s hug it out, bro.
If I was going to shed a tear in this episode (I didn’t weep, but things did get in my eye), it was during the Jaime/Tyrion hug. What a stupendously touching scene between two brothers who always loved each other despite so many trials and tribulations. This bro hug actually beats the later Jaime/Cersei hugs in my book.
