What were the 10 best moments of Game of Thrones, as endings finally came in “The Children”?
And so another season is over, all too soon. But even after the carnage of last week’s epic battle for the Wall, Game of Thrones wasn’t ready to bow out without revealing a few more twists. Every storyline had a weighty bit of development, and with all the shocks, tears, and murders, it’s hard to whittle down all of those great moments to a list of our 10 favorites. Nevertheless, we’ve done our best. Featuring some beautiful GIF magic from Tariq Kyle, you can re-live this week’s best laughs, shocks and one-liners again and again.
Check out our favorites below, and don’t forget to share your picks in the comments! This article contains strong language.
When Jon walked through the tunnel and beyond the wall last week, many of us feared the worst. One man against one hundred thousand aren’t good odds, even for the Crow who has already survived the impossible. So when he walked straight through the Wildling forces and into Mance Rayder’s tent by the King Beyond the Wall’s own invitation, it was anybody’s guess what was going to happen next.
“My people have bled enough.”
What you probably wouldn’t guess is that Mance Rayder would show compassion, respect, and a genuine desire for peace. Though he may rule armies of cannibals, savages and mindless murderers, the former Crow is the King Beyond the Wall in nature as well as name. It’s always the case in Game of Thrones that no character is truly good or evil, but it came as a shock to see such concern for the lives of Mance’s people, and respect for the fallen on both sides of the battle. His speech is also a reminder of the constant threat faced by Westeros, more important than petty politics and family feuds: Winter is coming for everyone.
Shae betrayed Tyrion when she gave evidence against him during his trial – but little did he know her biggest betrayal was about to come. After being released by Jamie, Tyrion had a bit of business to attend to before taking the long voyage to freedom. But when he arrives in his father’s chambers, he finds more than he was expecting – his former lover Shae, lying in his father’s bed.
“I’m sorry.”
Silently, the couple are locked into a tense fight to the death. Tyrion eventually wins out, tears pouring from his eyes as he strangles her. Peter Dinklage has always been brilliant, but this season in particular he has stolen every scene he is in. And none more so than here, where he quietly laments the revenge he so desperately needed.
After nearly two seasons of build-up, Bran finally arrived at his destination – the weirwood tree where the three-eyed raven dwells. Each season of Game of Thrones has introduced another fantastical concept: season 1 gave us dragons, season 2 brought witchcraft, the third saw resurrections, and so the fourth really had to up the ante. Well, they certainly did that with the introduction of ‘The Children’ – ancient, mysterious creatures with magical powers.
“You’ll never walk again… but you will fly.”
After saving (most) of Bran’s party from the animated skeletons, the mystical child leads the group down a new path altogether – as the young Stark finally comes face to face with the three-eyed raven (who looks remarkably like an old man in a tree). Let’s hope this new mentor can teach Bran a thing or two about his mysterious abilities.
Last time we saw Tyrion, he was sentenced to death by his father after the Red Viper was brutally murdered by the Mountain in a trial by combat. When his cell door opens the night before his execution, he is impatient for his impending death. But within seconds, his depression is transformed into utter bemusement and joy when Jamie enters. The bromance between these characters has been wonderfully developed, so Jamie’s rescue mission isn’t really a surprise, but it certainly is a relief.
“You’ve more friends than you thought.”
Adding to the shock factor is Varys’ part in Tyrion’s escape – the spider of King’s Landing, always so worried about keeping himself alive, has for once risked his life for that of a friend. Though Tyrion has made himself plenty of enemies during his time in the capital, he’s also made some important friends. He may be remembered as a sneaky, murderous, monster by many – but those that matter see him as the brave, compassionate and caring man we know him for.
Stannis has been mysteriously absent since the Iron Bank of Braavos granted him a loan, but it turns out he’s been busy while he’s been away. As Jon Snow and Mance Rayder seem to edge closer to making peace, the Baratheon forces descend – murdering thousands of the unprepared Wildlings and forcing the King Beyond the Wall to surrender.
“All the same, we do not kneel.”
As one King’s dynasty is dismantled around him, another demonstrates his discipline and destructive power. The Wall may be safe for now, but with a King in the North once more, Roose Bolton may not be as safe in his seat of power as he once thought…
On page 2:
Breaking chains, making chains, and murder…
Page 2: Our 10 favorite moments from “The Children”
This week’s Game of Thrones finale brought a relentless wave of twists and deaths, and one of the most frantic sequences was Bran’s arrival at his destination. Amid the mysterious, fire-wielding elf-children, the re-animated skeleton army and the mythical three eyed raven, it’s possible to forget about one of the finale’s many sad deaths: Jojen Reed.
“He’s lost. Come with me, or die with him.”
It’s been foreshadowed all season, with his greensight constantly reminding him that his death was yet to come. But after Meera says goodbye to her brother, she and her companions learn he had always known that his quest would end like this. We won’t know for a while yet just how significant an impact he has made, but with Bran being promised flight and more mysterious powers, we can only guess that Jojen made a massive contribution to the future fate of Westeros.
Daenerys Targaryen’s list of titles has been growing week in, week out. In fact, when she is introduced to her (also growling list of) subjects, it often takes longer to introduce her than it does for her to give her counsel. But after the events of the finale, she may feel she has no rights to a couple of them.
“Meet me at the catacombs.”
From the first episode of this season, we’ve seen how Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion have become wilder and more unruly as they age, but this week they finally went too far. After the former murdered a child and ran away, Dany is forced to lock the latter two in the catacombs of Mereen, where they can’t harm anyone. It’s a powerful, sombre moment to see the Mother of Dragons and Breaker of Chains become her children’s’ captor. Reclaiming her birth-right may not be such plain sailing after all…
Many of us celebrated Father’s Day with alcohol, sports, or making happy memories. But Game of Thrones has never done things the easy way – and after murdering his former lover, Tyrion decides to celebrate Tywin’s parenthood by loosing two arrows into him as he sits on the privy.
“I am your son. I have always been your son!”
In a strange twist of fate, Tywin tells his son he would never actually have had him executed – though whether or not this is true we will never know, as this confession hardly saves him. Finally, Tyrion has his revenge for a life of oppression and neglect. But just as importantly, the Lannisters lose their most powerful politician. Tyrion may never see the impact of what he’s done, but it will undoubtedly send shock waves throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
If the exciting twists and turns wasn’t enough for you this week, then the makers of Game of Thrones brought the adrenaline as two of the most powerful warriors in Westeros fought to the death. The scene started on a sweet, sentimental tone as Brienne and Arya discussed being women warriors in a world of men – but things took a turn for the worse when the Hound approached.
“You’re the wrong one to watch over her.”
Before long, Brienne of Tarth and Sandor Clegane were locked in a brutal, no-holds barred battle. They may have both wanted to keep Arya safe, but their different views on how that was best achieved led to a fight that appeared to change fortunes every few seconds. In the end, though, it was to be the tired Hound’s last battle. And we say goodbye to another character that has been with us from the beginning, bringing crude banter and creative kills like no other character ever could. R.I.P.
Since Jaqen H’ghar left young Arya Stark his iron coin, the tragic young warrior has been on a long journey to become a deadly assassin. With her mentor and tormentor bleeding out in the Vale, Arya tries to bargain passage to the Wall so she can be reunited with Jon. Unfortunately for her, the captain she negotiates with isn’t going North (which is probably for the best, knowing Arya’s luck, her older brother would be killed moments before she got there).
“Of course. You shall have a cabin.”
All is not lost, though, as she soon learns the ship is setting sail for Braavos – leading the Wolf to retrieve her strange coin and say the words Jaqen taught her. Before she knows it, she is a VIP guest with a cabin. As the ship sails out on the horizon, Arya begins an entirely new journey. We can’t be sure what Braavos holds for her, but it will surely only spell trouble for the names on her list.
