Well kids, that was a hell of a ride, if you havent seen Game of Thrones Season 6 Episode 10, stop reading now.
You have been warned: SPOILERS AHEAD.
So what a season we have just had. Jon is back alive, back in the north, with Sansa, and the Lords of the North. Down South Cersei has killed well everyone? Basically and Danny is on her way to Kings Landing with an army of Dothraki screamers, and Iron Born reavers. Woah thats a lot of process oh yah, and also Arya is murdering her way through her list finally!
So lets break this down. First of all, this has got to have been one of the bloodiest episodes since the Red Wedding. The opening was masterfully done, Loras Tyrell’s confession and profession of his faith to the council of septum, followed up with the lack of Cersei Lanisters presence. It was all just so dam good. The attempted last minute flight of Margaery Tyrell from the sept, only to be stopped by the faith militant, hemmed in to her death. I loved how her façade of piety shattered and she tried to save them all.
Of course her attempts ended up being for nothing, the sept exploded, everyone inside died, and Cersei gained control of kings landing and presumably what ever is left of the seven kingdoms in one swoop. I loved the scene where Tommen bereft of anyone to comfort him, or help him, just walked out a window. It was masterfully done. I dont think Cersei planned that one.
So we ended up left with a kings landing on fire, and a mad queen who’s crowning ceremony may have been the darkest part of the show to date. The lighting was fantastic in this episode, and those shoulder pads! Cersei now has the wardrobe to go with her evil smile.
Meanwhile up in the North a 12 year old is shaming all of the great northern lords. At this point you have to love the tiny queen of Bear Island, shes just such an amazing character. John Snow (who we have confirmed to be a Targaryan) is now King in the North. Hopefully things go better for John then they went for the last King in the North. Perhaps he should avoid getting married?
Arya is back, this time in angry stabby mode, having already killed the Waif in Bravos, she is now back in and has made fast work of the Freys, killing the two sons, and putting them in a pie, and just slitting the old ones throat. I personally loved seeing Arya get her revenge, but cant help but wonder where shes headed now that (mostly) everyone she hates is dead.
I have no doubt left out quite a bit, as a scant 500 word summary of the most action packed 90 minutes of this year is really quite a task to complete. But, I think I hit on most of the big points, I loved the scene of Cirie being crowed while a horrified Jamie looked on. I cant help but wonder what the future holds for them, as Jamie has seemingly grown farther and farther away from his one time sister-lover. Does Jamie know his last child is dead? Will that effect his relationship with Circie since she essentially killed Tommen?
The final shot of the season is a masterfull one. We see ships, oh so many ships, With sails painted with the Red Dragon of the old house Targaryan, the rose of house Tyrell, and the red sun of Dorn all headed for an already beaten up kings landing. Since Cersei also presumably blew up most of the Tyrell hose guards and host, all thats left to defend kings landing is a skeleton force of no doubt very tired foot soldiers of Casterly Rock. Not much trouble for three dragons and the combined host of the Tyrells, Dronish, and Dothraki.
I personally love this new murdery Cersei but I see the echos of the mad king in her, the burning everyone, the lack of caring about family, and the fact that Jamie is no doubt going to be close by her side, and that he already killed one mad ruler, can not be ignored.
With only two confirmed to be shorter seasons left, and with the fate of a promised movie now in question, I cant help but wonder where all of this is going.