EPISODE 4 SPOILERS!

With two episodes left I have some random thoughts on how Game of Thrones could play out.  I say “could” because I have no clue which is what makes the show so great.  Just when you think something is going to happen then something else happens.

The first three episodes played out exactly how one would think.  We all had a pretty good idea the North would square off against the Night King.  We just didn’t know who would kill him.  We spent three episodes to find out Arya was the one to do the deed.  Episode 4 finally brought some plot twists.

What happens from here I have no clue but there’s LOTS of ways this thing could go in just two episodes.  There are so many plot potentials I really think this could play out over 6 more episodes.  I hope I’m not disappointed but the final two episodes are set up to be some intense and fast paced stuff.

Here’s my random thoughts so far:

Jon, Danny, Sansa, and Arya Dynamic:

This is such a fascinating dynamic for so many reasons.

• Danny loves Jon.
• Jon loves Danny but is now confused because she’s technically his aunt.
• Sansa and Arya don’t trust Danny one bit. Their bitch radar is running full speed.
• Jon loves his sisters even if they’re not really brother and sister anymore.
• Jon’s sisters love him.
• Danny doesn’t like his sisters because she knows they don’t trust her.
• Danny is power hungry and is afraid Jon will take her power.
• Sansa just wants the North to the Starks and to be left alone.
• Arya is the silent assassin not interested in the politics but could totally kill Danny.

There’s more but this whole dynamic is fascinating to watch.  It proves no matter the time or level of power, family dynamics have not changed in thousands of years.  Jon is caught between a woman he thinks he loves and his sisters he truly loves.  Both sets of females don’t trust the other females and now they’re playing Jon against each other.

Danny wants the secret private because she wants her man and her power.  Jon thought his sisters would keep that news secret since they “swore” to do so.  He’s a moron.  Women can’t keep juicy secrets.  Especially when it’s against someone they don’t like.  That’s the just the way it is.  He messed up believing they could keep that news a secret.  The SECOND his sisters heard the news Sansa couldn’t figure out fast enough who to tell to her advantage.  Arya will keep it a secret for now but she’s going to use it later to justify something I have a feeling.

How all of this plays out I have no clue as there’s so many directions it could go.  I think it’s obvious there’s ZERO chance the storyline of Danny getting the Iron Throne while marrying Jon and having happy Starks in the North happens.  Even if Danny somehow defeats Cersei I don’t think her reign as Queen lasts very long.  The family dynamics involving the females aren’t going to let Danny have her dream.  Women are crazy, men are stupid.  It’s been that way for thousands of years and it’s not changing anytime soon.

Strategy of Cersei and Danny:

Until Episode 4 we forgot how cunning Cersei is.  She’s a bad B, y’all.  She hasn’t been sitting around waiting to see who won between the North and the Night King.  We knew she was working some stuff with Euron Greyjoy and the Golden Company but she was doing more than that.  Having Euron’s fleet ready with scorpion arrows to take out the dragons was amazing.

The difference in tactical thinking between Danny and Cersei is so different.  Danny has completely relied on power and might.  She has no real strategy other than to have a large number of fighters along with fire from her dragons.  Danny’s whole march for the series has been about acquiring numbers and assuming the dragons are invincible.  Both of those are now in major question.

Danny has thought through some basic strategy but it’s all been predicated on troop numbers and fire from her dragons.  She’s not cunning at all.  Meanwhile, Cersei has been assembling additional troops but she was clearly looking for strategic advantages.  She accomplished that with scorpion arrows and a surprise attack at Dragon Stone.  She might have more in store based on what we’ve seen in the past.  This is the same lady that burned an entire fleet and blew up an entire building of people.  She’s proven to be one step ahead of her opponent.

Right now, Danny is down in numbers of troops and only one dragon.  Cersei has numbers and a weapon system that can minimize the power of the final dragon if not completely defeat the final dragon.  To potentially gain an even bigger advantage Cersei beheads Missandei.  Cersei knows this will likely throw Danny into an emotional rage.  She’s hoping she can bait her into attacking on rage alone and no strategy.  Cersei is ready for Danny no doubt.  She’s got a big trap set for Danny if Danny doesn’t step back and think strategically.

One final thing on Danny is her response to her second dragon being killed.  She basically stays in the same flight pattern and flies directly at the ships.  She’s all but asking to be shot at losing her final dragon.  A competent strategist gets the hell out of that flight pattern either retreating or looking for a different pattern to attack from.  She eventually retreated but she completely put herself and her final dragon at risk of being lost.  All because of emotion.

Danny is very emotional while Cersei is cold as ice.  I think something happens to Cersei in the end but she DEFINITELY has the upper hand on Danny right now.  Danny won’t be able to defeat Cersei without help.  Cersei is infinitely superior at strategy.

Jaime:

The dynamic of Jaime is also fascinating.  Why he left Winterfell in this episode is up for debate but I think he’s leaving to go kill Cersei.  Jaime has seen the good side of life.  I don’t think he went to Winterfell just to fulfill Cersei’s obligation to help defeat the Night King.  I think he partially left King’s Landing for Winterfell to get away from Cersei.  Upon getting to Winterfell and seeing the Starks (especially Bran) and Breinne he was reminded of a different way of life.

He appeared to be completely content in Winterfell to live out his days with Breinne.  Upon hearing the news of what Cersei did he knew he had no choice but to head South.  I believe his comments to Breinne was about who he was and not who he wants to be going forward.  I think he regrets the things he did for Cersei (Bran especially) and he’s going to rectify all of it by helping kill Cersei if not do it himself.  As long as Cersei is alive then the bad parts of Jaime are still alive.  I think Jaime wants to live out his life as a different Jaime.

I could be wrong but that’s how I see Jaime developing the last two episodes.  I don’t know if he kills Cersei but he’s willing to die trying because Jaime can’t become who he wants to be while Cersei is alive.

Bronn:

I’ve been waiting for this moment and it was a solid scene.  Even though he’s a mercenary Bronn has an allegiance to both Tyrion and Jaime.  He doesn’t want to kill either of them.  It wasn’t about getting a bigger castle or believing Danny will win the pending battle.  He may believe Danny wins but he doesn’t want to kill Tyrion or Jaime.  He wanted those two to give him a reason to not kill them and they did exactly that.  Bronn knows he’s not a Lord.  He just wants to be a sidekick to those with power that he trusts.

Bronn doesn’t trust Cersei at all.  He better not trust her for sure at this point.  The second Cersei saw Tyrion then Bronn became a dead man walking.  Cersei ordered Bronn to kill him and he didn’t.  There’s no doubt in the back of Cersei’s mind in that moment she made a mental note to kill Bronn.

Something tells me the dynamic of Jaime, Tyrion, and Bronn with the crossbow are what takes down Cersei.  If not, they’ll all be happier dead than living under Cersei’s rule.  They’re all dead to her.

Bran:

What the hell is this guy’s role now?  He does nothing but stare into space.  It was clear the Night King was coming for him but other than that he’s done nothing this season.  He’s offered NOTHING with his unique abilities.  This dude can see all of the present and the past and it’s not utilized at all for anything.

Maybe he turns out doing something dramatic but he’s a big of nothing right now.  Shouldn’t he have been watching Euron Greyjoy and King’s Landing this entire time to see what they were doing?  His powers have not been utilized at all.  It’s a little disappointing.

Varys/Tyrion:

Tryrion has proven to not be the strategist he appears to be.  He’s like the coach that keeps getting hired because he talks the part but doesn’t actually win games.  I don’t think Tyrion has had any major contributions to winning battle strategies.

Meanwhile, Varys is as astute as it gets when it comes to awareness and strategy.  It’s pretty clear he’s dead to both Danny and Cersei at this point but he thinks they’re dead to everyone when it’s all said and done.  I think Varys dies at the hand of Danny but not before he sets up something that takes down Danny for the greater good.

Basically, Varys is Mike Leach and Tyrion is Kliff Kingsbury.  Bet on the one with the actual winning track record.

Ghost:

Ghost has played a weird role this season.  He shows up at times but has had no role.  Maybe Jon sending him north with Tormund is nothing, but I think it could be a plot twist.  Remember Ghost was the only thing in the room when Jon Snow came back to life.  There’s a theory that Jon can warg into Ghost which is what he did when he was being stabbed.  Maybe Jon sent Ghost out of harm’s way so he has a place to warg if something happens in King’s Landing.  I’m not sure how warging works and if there’s a distance limitation but I think it’s something to see if it develops.

Maybe Jon just wanted Ghost and Tormund away from harm’s way.  This way, if he survives the pending battle at King’s Landing he can go back to the North.  Jon doesn’t want to be king.  Maybe when the fighting is over he plans to find his drinking buddy and have a good wolf to pet leaving all that political ruling to the others.

Ghost may turn out to be nothing.  His appearances and actions so far lead me to believe some kind of plot line will happen with him.

Golden Company:

This group is the biggest wild card into how all of this shapes out.  Based on numbers they’re the swing play for Cersei.  Is it possible for Danny and/or Jon to swing the Golden Company to their side?  Will they walk away if Cersei is killed?  Will they look for the payment promised?

There is a theory the majority of the Golden Company is descendants of Targaryens.  If this is true it makes sense that Danny and/or Jon could sway their allegiance if it looks like a Targaryen will rule the Iron Throne.

I think whoever has the Golden Company on their side will wind up with the Iron Throne.  It will be interesting to see how their efforts play out.

 

My Prediction:

Based on what we know so far here’s what I think happens:

• The Hound kills The Mountain. I’d be SHOCKED if this doesn’t happen.
• The trio of Tyrion, Jaime, and Bronn kill Cersei with the crossbow.
• With Cersei dead Danny convinces the Golden Company to align with her since she’s a Targaryen ending the battle.
• Danny’s reign is short as Arya kills her believing she’s on her way to going mad if not already there. She likely does it as someone else I think.  Either Jaime or Jon.
• Everyone wants Jon to assume the throne. He’s had enough of all the bickering between the women so he heads North to find Tormund and Ghost so he can live the rest of his life in peace.
• Sansa assumes the Iron Throne.
• Bran is sitting at the tree wondering where everyone went.

In all seriousness I don’t think Jon heads North when the fighting is over.  I think he assumes the Iron Throne with Sansa being the Warden of the North.  I do think Bran will still be sitting at the tree doing nothing useful…