Ryan Shoots First: Game of Thrones (S8 Ep5) “The Bells”
The penultimate episode of Game of Thrones seems to be the big one every year. With this being the end of the series I’m sure next weeks finale will pack a punch but this week certainly will go down as one of the biggest and controversial episodes in the series as some big time characters die in some ways “hardcore” fans surely will not like. As always with our recaps spoilers ahead. The episode is titled “The Bells” but also could have been titled “Arya’s No Good Very Bad Day”.
The episode starts with Varys really overplaying his hand more than we have ever seen him as he attempts to get word out and back Jon. It seems he can sense the tipping point is coming and this is his last ditch attempt. He confronts Jon and tries to convince him to make a claim but Jon refuses. Tyrion turns in Varys and Dany executes him by fire with little more than a huff. The early scenes this week show an obviously slipping Dany. She is not eating or talking to anyone after the events and losses of last week. She does have a conversation with Jon where he pledges to him but she admits he is loved and she will never be loved so fear it will be then.
We then find out that Dany’s forces caught Jaime attempting to leave and have him prisoner. Tyrion puts it all on the line by pleading with Jaime to get in and get Cersei out and flee Westeros. Jaime agrees and Tyrion risks everything by setting him free. They share a nice moment with Tyrion recognizing how close they were and how Jaime always took care of him. Tyrion can sense what is coming but is in too deep and still believes Dany can be saved if they surrender. He makes a deal with Dany that if the bells are rung and the city surrenders she will stop the assault.
The Hound and Arya leave the camp together with intentions to kill the Mountain and Cersei. These two are the stand out all stars of the episode and there time on screen together was stellar. The two and Jaime are trying to get into the city as more and more villagers flee into the city walls.
We cut to the Iron Fleet in the bay and the clip from the episode preview that had everyone speculating of Euron staring up in the clouds. It turns out it really just was Dany on Drogon roarig into the fight and it turns out the Scorpions are only really good when coming from out of nowhere because Dany makes quick work of every one of them both in the fleet and on the city walls. She opens up the front gates and the Golden Company is dealt with in seconds. Jon his troops and the Unsullied storm into the city. Jon doesn’t seem as enthusiastic about this battle as he did at Hardhome or the Battle of the Bastards. If it seems like everything is happening to easy it’s because it is. Qyburn tells Cersei the situation and that everything is over and she still refuses thinking the battle will turn. Dany perches up on the edge of the city as Cersei relents and the bells begin to ring. In the city Jon and Grey Worm stand Opposite the Lannister Army as they lay down their swords. In this moment Dany is fixated on the Red keep and goes full Villian. She begins her assault on the city burning everything and everyone soldier and civilian. In the city the troops take this as meaning sack the city and begin slaughtering everyone. Jon tries his best to maintain order but quickly loses control.
Outside the city walls Jaime is attempting to enter the city through the secret passages but runs in to Euron who has washed up on the shore. They battle it out and Jaime eventually wins but not before taking a fatal blow from Euron. In the city Arya and the Hound are getting ready to head up the steps with the city crumbling around them. The Hound stops Arya and tells her to get out of there and that being like him will only get her one thing. He grabs her head unlike he ever has in a caring way and Arya’s look at him is one of compassion. On his way up she uses his real name Sandor. Arya begins her quest of getting out of the city trying to go the longest way possible. She is blown up multiple times and see’s multiple groups of survivors burned alive. Meanwhile the Hound confronts his brother and we finally get the definitive Cleganebowl. The Mountain is so driven by this hatred he ignores commands from Cersei and kills Qyburn instantly. The two fight on a stairway to nowhere as the city burns behind them. The Hound land multiple killing blows for a normal man but the Mountain grabs him and lifts him up with the Hound laughing and imploring him to just die. The Mountain goes for his patented Eye Hole Push Kill move but The Hound gets out with one eye in tact. He plows over the Mountain as they both fall to their deaths in the fire.
In the tunnels under the Castle Cersei and Jaime are trying to flee but all of the tunnels are sealed with debri. Cersei begins to break down as Jaime holds her close and reiterates his line that they are all that matters. They embrace as the ceiling collapses killing them both. On the outside Arya awakes coated in ash and sees a white horse standing in the ruble. She mounts the horse and rides off as the episode ends.
Observations:
- Add Breaker of Hearts to Dany’s names
- Arya now has one name on her list and one only
- Odd that the opening credits changed this week to reflect a broken Winterfell but last week didn’t.
- Jon seemed to see things slipping but Jon is “Ned Stark” levels of loyal.
- So I was KINDA right about my Jaime killing Cersei prediction.
- I was going to be pissed if Euron took out Jaime clean.
- “Thousand of innocent lives for the life of a particularly not so innocent Dwarf”
- Hell of a scene between Tyrion and Jaime.
- Golden Company are the Houston Rockets of Westeros.
- Sansa back in Winterfell like “Tried to tell ya”
- Dany’s vision in the house of the undying coming true with the shadow of Drogon.
- Seems the Iron Throne with Snow from her vision was Ash all along.
- Jon on autopilot killing anyone who came close
- Seeing the Wild Fire that was still in the city going up randomly was cool.
- Does Bronn still get High Garden?
- People are going to FLIP about Cersei going out like that. That will be the story this week even more than Dany’s heel turn.
Predictions:
One episode left and you have to think Dany cannot be redeemed and Jon has no choice but to take her down. Except not if Drogon has anything to say about it.
Other Episodes:
