Postcards from Westeros Volume 9
By Kelly Lawler
Some rulers are loved. Others are feared. Daenerys Targaryen is either, depending on who you ask.
"The Spoils of War" started with a whisper and ended with a bang, as Dany brought a dragon into battle in Westeros for the first time, and Jaime possibly lost his life in the fiery battle. It's the forward momentum we've been waiting for all season.
Truly, the battle sequence was 'Game of Thrones' at its very best. Not only was it an exciting and superbly shot sequence, but the character arcs made the stakes, both large and small, vital and thrilling all on their own. Jaime, as redeemed as he can be after entering the show a villain, never gives up. Dany comes one step closer to losing her humanity. Tyrion reveals he has not completely forsaken his family. Bronn is forced to choose between life and riches. Even scared Dickon Tarly gets his moment.
"The Spoils of War" made exactly the kind of big impact the series needed at this point. And now, with Jaime's life hanging in the balance, more Starks in Winterfell than there have been since Season 1, and only three episodes remaining in Season 7, the ramifications should be swift and decisive. There are those pesky White Walkers to deal with.
However, as 'Thrones' begins its inevitable sprint towards the finish line of both the season and the series, it's worth remembering that dragon battles and cliffhanger endings aren't the only things that make the show great. Good plotting, strong character work and smart writing are all necessary, and while "The Spoils of War" was bombastic and well-paced, all that dragonfire distracts from some of its messier elements, be it clumsy dialogue (Bran and Arya deserve better) or inconsistent rules (Dany and the Dothraki are using that same teleport to get around Westeros that Littlefinger and Varys used, it seems).
If we're flying at dragonspeed towards a conclusion, it's worth not letting the details fall by the wayside. Here's to hoping there will be more moments like Tyrion watching Jaime on the battlefield, and fewer awkward conversations between Bran and Littlefinger.
The game is all about the players, after all.
Read the full recap here.
Have thoughts, questions or just want to geek out with other fans? Join Kelly Lawler on Facebook Live tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET. Also, follow Kelly on Twitter @klawls.
In other news:
-Who will survive Westeros? 'GOT' stars offer their best guesses.
-Turns out, hackers weren't responsible for leaking Episode 4. It was this broadcaster.
-Want to relive Season 7 through photos? See 87 shots here.