What to Expect Next on GoT
A Frame-by-Frame Breakdown of the Episode 10 Trailer
The Trial of the Century
Slide over, OJ. Your trial ain’t shit next to what we’re about to see on GoT. It’s a bit tough to tell from the trailer — because the visuals focus only on Ser Loras’ trial — but by following the storyline it seems as though we’re going to see a dual-trial in which Ser Loras and Cersei go before seven judges to account for their “crimes.”
We already know that King Tommen is solidly on the side of the faith, and he looks uncharacteristically confident going into the trial.
We also know that Cersei won’t be able to call on The Mountain to help her fight her way to innocence. So what will she do? If Ser Loras’ face is any indication, both defendants will likely confess and pay whatever price necessary to get the High Sparrow of their ass.
Still, I can’t see Cersei confessing to anything. Given that this is a finale, expect Cersei to pull some sort of rabbit out of her hat to get out this sticky situation. Given her close relationship with Qyburn, and his new control over the “little birds” and their “whispers,” perhaps Cersei will be able to reveal some deep, dark secret about the High Sparrow that might throw Tommen off and prompt him to side with his mother again. That might be a stretch, but you can bank on Ser Loras walking free after his trial — he’s too dejected to fight, and the trailer seems to show him heading toward the light (unless that’s Lancel. And if it is, is he walking outside to see a disturbance? And if so, could it be an army led by Jaime, The Mountain, or both? Maybe…).
Brother from Another Mother Drama
Winter is coming. How do we know? Well, aside from the fact that everyone’s been saying that exact phrase for 6 f***ing seasons, we can see a white Raven headed to Winterfell. For those of you not familiar with the books, the white Ravens (not albino, but a different species altogether) are sent by maesters of the Citadel for one reason — to announce the changing of seasons. What better way to introduce some drama and suspense leaving this season and going into the next one than by finally announcing that winter actually is f***ing coming?!
It sounds like there might be some drama brewing in Winterfell, aside from the oncoming cold weather. In the trailer, Jon and Sansa discuss the need to stick together. There’s been some talk in the blogosphere that Sansa is about to make a power play for Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, and that she has a strong ally in Little Finger. Bank on Jon and Sansa sticking together — Jon isn’t a power-hungry guy, and Sansa has been craving a sense of normalcy and family for 6 seasons now. They’ll be fine. But watch out for Little Finger trying to weasel his way into the fold (I’ll address this a couple paragraphs down).
Party at The Twins, Let’s All Get Wasted
The trailer shows us a party at The Twins, in which Walder Frey and Jaime seem to be toasting their victory over The Blackfish at Riverrun. But is that all they’re doing? Walder Frey says “The Frey’s and the Lannister’s send their regards.” In GoT, “sending regards” usually means somebody is about to get f***ed up. Are they simply referring to their recent exploits at Riverrun, or are they making more moves? Jaime has been designated to serve the King throughout the country, and he seems to relish his new role — aside from missing Cersei terribly. I thought Jaime was going to ride back to King’s Landing and try to rescue Cersei before her trial — maybe that’s a wild card play, and we’ll see Jaime outside the Great Sept of Baelor with some fighting men of the Lannister army. However, the more realistic prediction is that Jaime and the Frey’s are plotting an attack on Winterfell. No doubt the two parties are pissed that the Stark’s are back in control up North, and it’s likely that their plans will shift to regaining their power there.
“No” Means “ No,” Lord Baelish
Whether it’s pursuing power or one of the Stark ladies, Little Finger never stops. If Sansa ever dies, Arya better watch out. In the trailer, Lord Baelish basically says to Sansa — “Yo, I helped you get Winterfell back. You think that’s free? Marry me.” From the look on Sansa’s face, she’s thinking “Holy shit, do I really have to marry this guy?” I just can’t see Sansa marrying Petyr, but I also think she values her stronghold in the North more than anything. Bank on some serious reflection by Sansa as to how rejecting Lord Baelish might hurt her chances of holding the North. I doubt the two will ever wed — Jon would be against it, Sansa would hate it, Sansa already has enough Northern allies, and things never seem to go Lord Baelish’s way in the love department. However, stranger things have happened, and Sansa might feel like Lord Baelish is a safe option. In terms of this episode, don’t expect much more than a will-they-or-won’t-they cliffhanger. Still, we should see a clear indication by Baelish that he intends to wed Sansa and become Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North himself.
She Killed My Friend!!!
Last episode we saw Ser Davos piece together what happened to Princess Shireen. In the trailer, he’s out for justice. Expect Ser Davos to yell and scream in that Irish-y/cockney accent of his about why Lady Melisandre should die. Given where Jon is sitting in the trailer, he appears to be the acting Lord of Winterfell, so the decision will be his to make. But why would Jon do anything about it? After all, he’s only here because the Red Woman brought him back. Is he really going to punish her for using the same ideology that allowed him to breath again? Bank on Melisandre getting a good tongue lashing, and feeling worse than she already does about her shitty interpretations of the past, but she ain’t dying. However, don’t be surprised if Ser Davos puts Jon Snow on his shit list, which could have ramifications down the road — perhaps he’ll side with Lord Baelish one day against Jon Snow, causing a rift in the North.
#Queening
It looks like Dany is going to be a bit conflicted. We haven’t seen her and Daario Naharis smooching recently, but it appears that’s about to change. Those two actually have a good thing going, but something tells me it’s going to have to stop soon if Dany is going to focus on “entering the great game” that Tyrion alludes to in the trailer. Eventually she’s going to have to leave Meereen and move West. Remember those dragon shadows over King’s Landing? Or the images of snow falling into the Red Keep after its roofs have been melted? That’s got to happen sometime — and probably next season. Expect Dany to part ways with Daario and Meereen, and head West to take what’s hers. She may bring Naharis with her to lead the army, but he seems like a perfect fit to hang back in Meereen and control the situation there, and Grey Worm is more than capable to lead the army West. It’s “terrifying” as Tyrion says, but Dany was made for the fire. She’ll be fine.
Not in the Trailer
We see a quick snippet of Bran, and that’s probably what we’ll see in the actual episode. Bran will still be with his uncle and future wife (yea, I said it), and we’ll probably get some dialogue about how he needs to head South to play his role in the war to come.
But what about Arya? A bad feeling in my gut tells me we won’t see her at all. We know she’s going back to Winterfell, and maybe that’s enough to carry her storyline into the next season. Still, I’m holding out hope that she walks through Winterfell’s gates and hugs her brother and sister. I doubt she will, but it’s a bright thought in this cold, dark, Westerosi shit hole.
How about the Hound? It sounds like he’s joining up with the Brotherhood Without Banners, but will we see him again tonight? Again, I think it’s more likely that we see Arya and the Hound next season, and they might actually meet up again as Arya heads to Winterfell! That would be a sweet reunion — I doubt the Hound is holding a grudge against Arya after she left him for dead — he’s got a good sense of humor about those things.
The biggest question for me is still about Cersei and her trial. Is it actually going down tonight or will it get interrupted? What will it consist of? How’s she going to fight a guilty charge? What would a guilty charge even mean? What’s that rumor Qyburn referred to before, and how will it factor in? This is a way, way wild card of a prediction, but I have a feeling sooner or later we’re going to see Aegon Targaryean — son of Prince Rhaegar and nephew of Dany. It’s believed that he was killed when Robert Baratheon usurped the Iron Throne, but I’m not buying it. George RR Martin has hinted that Aegon was switched out with another infant before The Mountain could kill him. Could Qyburn have found him? Probably not — why would Cersei even want that? Wouldn’t he be against her? Still, I really think that’s going to happen soon, and what a power play it would be to drop that “rumor” tonight.
We’ll soon find all this out. As for me, I hope tonight’s episode lasts as long as possible — it’s going to be a cold, cold winter waiting for Season 7 to start.
Until next time, valar morghulis my friends.
