Cersei and Jaime are literally the only two characters who ultimately weren't failed by the writing this season since his choosing to go back to her and die in her arms is actually 100% in-character for him.
Spoilers Game of Thrones: The Final Season
- Thread starter The Nth Doctor
- Start date
Except my view of Jaime is that he should have her in his arms so he can break her neck.
She always had the potential. She a rage, a sense of entitlement, anger, and ruthlessness throughout the series. It was usually somewhat in check thanks to her advisors and friendships. She has lost those through death and betrayal. She was feeling isolated and that she only had fear to go on. If things had gone a little different, she might not have gone all berserk. But, she was a tinderbox ready to go off!
I think them witnessing the events was the point and that we'll see the fallout in the next episode!
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From the little bit I've read, no. Revulsion regarding incest is due to the Westermarck effect - basically you don't see anyone who you are raised with prior to age 6 as a sexual being. When family members raised apart are reunited - adopted people meeting their biological siblings or parents - there is often a strong sexual attraction which is difficult to resist. It's a matter of inborn human psychology, not cultural conditioning.
Bet you never thought the Valonqar would be a ceiling, huh? Expectations subverted!
I thought we were going to get an Hitler/Eva type scene in the bunker! But, the roof collapsed on them in a timely manner instead!
The Valonquar storyline was never going to be part of the television series, and people ought to have realized that 3 seasons ago when it was omitted from the flashback depicting Maggy the Frog's prophecy.
The writers actually telegraphed Jaime and Cersei dying in each other's arms in dialogue several seasons ago when they had Jaime tell Bronn that he wanted to die in the arms of the woman he loved... which is exactly what happened.
I don’t see why she would wear Jon’s face, I doubt Daenerys will trust Jon anymore.
What you mean to say is, "Cersei and Jaime are literally the only two characters whose outcomes matched my preconceived notions for what should have happened."
Basically, you guessed a whole lot wrong about how things were going to end!
I'm wondering if it will be Grey Worm's face? There's not many others she'll trust.
Except real life people have found out they were siblings and reacted with horror and disgust.
Also Cersei said (to Ned I think): we came into the world together, we belong together. I thought it was fitting that they left the world together too.
I won a dead pool at my viewing party by guessing three of the deaths.
I did think their destinies were tied together. I was not all surprised they died together. I just expected different circumstances. I didn't expect Jaime to go back to save her. But, oh well. He's made a lot of bad choices and this is just one more!
I honestly didn't mind the episode much. I liked some aspects of it - like Jamie's final talk with Tyrion - quite a good deal. And while it might have seemed a bit unearned, I liked that in the end Cersei was given a more complicated ending than merely being a cackling villain. Cleganebowl, as others noted, was fine.
The main issue with this episode though is I think D&D were torn between two different elements. One is the desire to play to fan favorites over the course of the series. The other was the document that GRRM gave them regarding the endgame - which undoubtedly included Dany being the final villain of the novels. They kinda soft-pedeled her bad points compared to the books (where she is a lot more morally gray), which makes this ending seem a bit surprising for people who were buying into this heroic narrative for her.
But in terms of the themes of GRRM, it's exactly on point. A Song of Ice and Fire was always a gritty deconstruction of fantasy. The idea that someone would be able and willing to wield near absolute power (which is what having dragons means in the world of Westeros) and be able to stay "good" is totally off-brand.
Also, I can see now why Jon will likely walk away from the throne. It's like coming forward and saying you were Hitler's nephew in postwar Germany.
The main issue with this episode though is I think D&D were torn between two different elements. One is the desire to play to fan favorites over the course of the series. The other was the document that GRRM gave them regarding the endgame - which undoubtedly included Dany being the final villain of the novels. They kinda soft-pedeled her bad points compared to the books (where she is a lot more morally gray), which makes this ending seem a bit surprising for people who were buying into this heroic narrative for her.
But in terms of the themes of GRRM, it's exactly on point. A Song of Ice and Fire was always a gritty deconstruction of fantasy. The idea that someone would be able and willing to wield near absolute power (which is what having dragons means in the world of Westeros) and be able to stay "good" is totally off-brand.
Also, I can see now why Jon will likely walk away from the throne. It's like coming forward and saying you were Hitler's nephew in postwar Germany.
My friend named her car 'Carleesi' pretty sure even she wants to change the name of her car after this episode.
Agreed.
People ignored the copious amount of in-series evidence that Jaime was never going to leave Cersei behind permanently because they saw what they wanted to see in his 'redemption' even though he made it clear throughout the series that he wasn't the 'white knight'.
I don't know. I haven't read the books, but in the series there were enough warning signs. I think it's fair to say that she wasn't 100% predestined to go mad like that. However, there was definitely the pre-existing tendencies and then throw in a course of events that provoked it--the constant weakening of her forces since arriving in Westeros, threats of rebellion in the North the death of two of her dragons, the death and betrayal of her trusted advisors and friends, a growing sense of isolation. She had the tendency, and those events happened, and then in the heat of the battle the flip was switched. Agree with the point about absolute power with the dragons, which I mentioned in my review. That exacerbated the whole thing because she knew she could it.
Not a lot of reason for him take the throne. I still think he'll be popular afterwards, although maybe not. Depends on the nature of the story that first starts spreading. But he sure as heck won't want the throne regardless! The question is, will he do something to help Westeros before going, presumably, north?
Other people ingored the copious amount of in-series evidence that Dany was never going to get the throne because they saw what they wanted in her "goodness" even though she made it clear throughout the series that she wasn't the "White Queen."
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