GAME OF THRONES S8:E4 The Last of the Starks Review

Last week was nerve wracking, brain frying action. We knew this week would have less action because we needed exposition and set up for the great war next week, but this episode did nothing short of winding us up again for next week. We still had some deaths, but so many balls were set in motion its like watching an opening break in a game of pool.

Mourning the Lost

It was cool HBO released those pictures for this week’s episode, but who knew most of them would be from the first two minutes of the episode. I love how this scene was laid out. Instead of a big pile of bodies, the dead were laid out on pyres, and there were many!

What I thought was so touching is that each of the major dead had a major character to mourn them and light their pyre. Of course Dani lit Jorah’s, but Sam lites Dolorous Edd, Commander of the Night’s Watch, Arya had a very touching look as she gazed over Beric, and saddest of all was Jon walking up to Lyanna’s pyre. I loved how they let the smoke choke out the frame.

One side note I noticed right away – GHOST! He survived the charge into the Wights, but he paid the price. He lost an ear and had a nasty gash on his side, but he lived. Of course later in the episode, Jon sends Ghost away with Tormund, so Ghost looks to have been retired form the show – WITHOUT A HUG – JON!

Relax, Recover, and DRINK!

Grayworm and Missandei have a cute scene where they openly hold hands. The problem in Game of Thrones is that 9/10 is a death sentence. No sooner does the thought enter my head than it was 100% confirmed. I was about to verify that Yarra “took” the Iron Islands without confronting Euron when poor Rheagal gets shredded by ballista bolts. The poor guy was still recovering from the Battle of Winterfell, but sure enough here comes Euron.

He not only puts three bolts through the dragon, but then begins to shred Dani’s fleet. Tyrion does the smart thing and abandons ship, but when the survivors come ashore, there is one very important absence. Missandei cannot be found.

The Whispers Begin…

So here we are. Dani and her unsullied confronting Cersei at the gates of Kings Landing. We knew approaching this that Missandei was captive of the queen, so there she stands, in chains once more.

Obviously, Cersei will not back down. Even with Missandei’s life on the line, Dani isn’t backing down. Enter the gutsiest move in GoT history. After a few failed words with Qyburn, Tyrion marches straight to the gate. If Tyrion were to die surely it would be Cersei commanding every archer putting an arrow in him, but no. She refrains.

The Heart of Matters

Tyrion hits the one and only vulnerable spot Cersei has – her child. Cersei loves her child and that is all she cares for. He does breach her emotion defenses for a moment, but Cersei is too hard to give in to that. Instead she takes Missandei’s arm and tells her to think of her last words.

Missandei is no fighter. She was rescued from slavery by Dani and has advised her ever since. She has hidden in safety at every battle, but that does not mean she lacks a spine. We see the rage build in her face as she thinks of her last word – DRACARYS! We know this to be the word Dani tells the dragons when they breathe fire. From Missandei it has one simple meaning – “Burn this bitch!”

Of course Dani, while doing a great job of not losing control, lets the rage build within her. When the Mountain decapitates Missandei, you see the hate swell in her eyes. Dani may have walked away, but the rage is about to be released next episode in what is guaranteed to be one hell of a firestorm.

The Line At the Mountain

We also add a third name to the line of those waiting to kill the Mountain. Arya and Clegane were headed south, presumably to deal with the Mountain and the last of Arya’s list. Now I feel Grayworm will kill either of them to get his shot at the Mountain.

Next episode we get a fight that many of the actors claim will be even better than the Battle for Winterfell. One way or another, the war ends this weekend.

I know I had to skip some parts ,but what was your favorite part of this past episode? Where is that leading us next week?