I was reading a new interview with the “Thrones” showrunners and they indicate they know in great detail what will transpire in all six episodes of the series’ eighth and final season. What they don’t know is how ends “A Dream of Summer,” the final Song of Ice and Fire novel -- because author George RR Martin apparently hasn’t decided how it will end. The showrunners, of course, explained to Martin how they intended to end the HBO series.
This week. Episode #62: “Stormborn”
Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) receives an unexpected visitor. Jon (Kit Harington) faces a revolt. Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) plans the conquest of Westeros. Written for television by Bryan Cogman; directed by Mark Mylod.
Next week. Episode #63: “The Queen’s Justice” (next Sunday)
Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) holds court. Cersei (Lena Headey) returns a gift. Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) learns from his mistakes. Written for television by David Benioff & D. B. Weiss; directed by Mark Mylod.
Last week. On “Game of Thrones.”
* Arya Stark tidied up The Twins. “Tell them winter came for House Frey,” she suggested.
* Giant zombies roamed.
* Bran Stark arrived at Castle Black and announced the Night King was coming for everyone.
* King Jon ordered his subjects to mine for dragonglass and start training their females in combat. He also dispatched the wildlings to man The Wall and, much to Sansa Stark’s disdain, forgave the northern houses who sided with the vanquished Ramsay Bolton. “I’m not going to strip these families of their ancestral homes because of the crimes of a few reckless sons.” An Umber and a Karstark bent their knees.
* Sansa told Jon he has to be smarter than Ned and Rob Stark. “I love them, I miss them, but they made stupid mistakes and both lost their heads for it.”
* Via raven, Cersei Lannister invited Jon to come to King’s Landing and bend the knee.
* Atop a giant map of Westeros, Jaime correctly predicted Daenerys Targaryen would land at Dragonstone, land of the Stormborn’s birth. Jaime insisted allies were necessary to reconquer Westeros. “You think I listened to father for 40 years and learned nothing?” she asked him.
* Euron Greyjoy and his navy land at King’s Landing. Jaime reminded Euron that Euron once sailed to Casterly Rock and burned the Lannister fleet. Euron spoke admirably of the skillful manner with which Jaime killed Euron’s people. “Place was getting crowded,” Euron remembered. “Here I am with a thousand ships and two good hands.” Euron promised he’ll not return to King’s Landing before he acquires for Cersei “a priceless gift.”
* Samwell Tarley repeatedly fought his gag impulse before unsuccessfully lobbying an archmeister for full access to The Library. Denied, he accessed it anyway.
* “You’re a lucky man,” Tormund Giantsbane told Podrick Payne, just after Pod was beaten into the snow by Brienne of Tarth.
* “We need his men,” Sansa told Brienne of Petyr Baelish. “Without the Vale, Ramsay Bolton would still hold this castle.” “He wants something,” offered Brienne. “I know exactly what he wants,” replied Sansa.
* In the Riverlands, Ed Sheeran sang a “new” song about Tyrion and Shae, overheard by the passing Arya. Full of “really good” blackberry wine, Arya explained to Cersei’s soldiers she’s headed to King’s Landing to “kill the queen.”
* In the company of Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr, Sandor Clegane revisited the hut of two old victims Clegane is destined to bury. The Hound’s burnt face looked into a fireplace and saw thousands of zombies marching where The Wall meets the sea.
* Sam moved to alert Jon to a “mountain” of dragonglass buried beneath Dragonstone.
* A very gator-y Jorah Mormont asked after the arrival of The Dragon Queen.
* As Tyrion, Varys, Missandei, Grey Worm and three dragons looked on, the Mother of Dragons returned to the place of her birth and set foot on Westeros. Pulling down the Baratheons’ stag banner, she passed an old Targaryen throne and entered Stannis’ war room. “Shall we begin?” she inquired.
Last week’s “Thrones” was the highest-rated episode of anything in pay-cable history:
Game of Thrones
(adults 18-49; newer weeks to the left):
(---) (---) (---) (---) (---) (---) (4.7) 2017
(4.3) (3.8) (3.9) (3.9) (3.2) 2016
(4.0) (3.9) (3.7) (3.7) (4.0) 2016
(4.1) (3.6) (3.4) (2.5) (3.1) 2015
(3.5) (3.6) (3.5) (3.6) (4.2) 2015
(3.8) (3.7) (3.9) (3.9) (3.4) 2014
(3.9) (3.7) (3.5) (3.4) (3.6) 2014
(2.9) (2.8) (2.6) (2.4) (2.9) 2013
(2.8) (2.6) (2.4) (2.3) (2.4) 2013
(2.2) (1.6) (2.0) (1.9) (2.0) 2012
(1.9) (1.8) (1.8) (1.9) (2.0) 2012
(1.2) (1.1) (1.2) (1.2) (0.9) 2011
(1.2) (1.2) (1.1) (1.0) (0.9) 2011
