Short Summary is an original series in which I write brief reviews of movies, TV shows, video games, books, and more. Spoiler alert, just in case!

“The Dragon and the Wolf”

It’s unbelievable that 7 weeks went by that quickly. It seems like only yesterday that I was sharing my enthusiasm about the season premiere, “Dragonstone.” Now the total number of Game of Thrones episodes remaining has dwindled into the single digits; there are just 6 left.

“The Dragon and the Wolf” is easily the best episode of season 7 and another incredible send-off for a season finale. Game of Thrones tends to be strongest in the last two episodes of each season. Season 7 is arguably one of the show’s weaker seasons, but at least it ended on such a high note. I’m definitely pleased with this episode.

So let’s start freaking out about everything that happened because HOLY CRAP! I thought that other episodes were filled with many different events and interactions, and I was right. Yet this episode really doubled down and delivered a lot. Its 80-minute runtime makes all the sense in the world.

Most of the main characters arrive in King’s Landing for the anticipated meeting. There are small discussions, my favorites both involving the Hound. He faces his zombified brother, the Mountain, and he chats with Brienne about Arya. Sadly, Cleganebowl doesn’t start then and there, even though the setting is damn near perfect. But I swear, the Hound and Brienne speak like they’re Arya’s proud parents, which was amazing.

Otherwise, everyone else present gets down to business. The wight actually survives the journey south, and Cersei finally knows the truth. Yet she demands that Jon remain neutral once the army of the dead is dealt with. Being the man that he is and, you know, bending the knee to Daenerys at long last, Jon refuses. It seems like the meeting ends there until Tyrion elects to talk to Cersei alone.

Man, Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey kill it in that scene together. It’s some of the finest acting of the entire season. Cersei doesn’t kill Tyrion as soon as he walks in the room, and it seems that Tyrion truly convinces her to help. When they return to the Dragonpit, Cersei claims that she will honor the armistice and fight alongside Daenerys and Jon. Later on, though, Cersei tells Jaime that she lied, and she pushes forward with buying the Golden Company.

That turns out to be the last straw for Jaime. I’ve been waiting at least 3 seasons for him to leave Cersei for good, and I literally cheered his name when he walked away. As Brienne told him last season, “I know that there’s honor in you.” I wouldn’t exactly say that he’s officially joined the good guys. But he understands the greater threat, and he’s keeping his word. It’s awesome to see him headed in this direction. He and Brienne can team up once again, and I’m stoked!

Meanwhile, Theon has one of the greatest scenes he’s had in a long time. He physically has no balls, yet he proves to be totally ballsy in front of his men and earns their respect. They leave to rescue Yara. Then, the most satisfying Winterfell scene takes place, and ya’ll, I have things to say about that particular scene.

Apparently, Littlefinger persuades Sansa to call a trial for Arya, and she and Bran hold it in the great hall before the northern lords and the lords of the Vale. However, Sansa names Littlefinger instead of Arya and reads out his charges: conspiracy, murder, and uh, initiating The War of the Five Kings. No matter what he says to get out of it, he’s sentenced, and Arya executes him. OH MY GOD. Littlefinger meets his end by his own knife, the one thing that started it all. If that isn’t poetic justice, then I don’t know what is. I must give credit where credit is due to Aidan Gillen for that performance. One of the top players of the game is gone, and he made it a pretty emotional death for such a sinister character.

Sam and Gilly arrive at Winterfell shortly after, and Sam meets with Bran. With the powers of the Citadel and the Three-Eyed Raven combined, it’s confirmed that Jon Snow is actually named Aegon Targaryen. Rhaegar shows up for 10 seconds when Bran has a vision of him and Lyanna during their secret wedding. Once and for all, Jon is proven to be a legitimate Targaryen, the true heir to the Iron Throne, and Daenerys’ nephew. Right when this is being said… Jon and Daenerys jump into bed together. So more incest! Woo?

The episode is called “The Dragon and the Wolf” for not only Daenerys and Jon, but for Rhaegar and Lyanna, which is awesome. These revelations and unions mean more than I could possibly explain in a single post, yet I’m sure any Game of Thrones fan knows the implications. This is incredible. I can’t wait to see what season 8 does with this information.

Last and certainly not least, the whole army of the dead approaches Eastwatch. Tormund and Beric watch in horror as the Night King flies in on the undead Viserion. They haul ass as the FREAKING WALL is obliterated. We don’t know if anyone survives, and as much as we want to, it doesn’t matter. The army crosses into the realm, and that makes for an awfully suspenseful cliffhanger.

As a wise man once said, “We’re fucked.”

Well that’s it for season 7 of Game of Thrones! Thank you all for sticking with these reviews, and I hope you enjoyed them!