Episode:
The Winds of Winter
Rating:
4.5/5
Vengeance, new alliances, double-crosses, and deaths — it’s all happened in the season finale of Game of Thrones. The Winds of Winter is the perfect end to the rather weak season this year, and the show pretty nearly redeems itself with this finale.
By far the longest episode in the series yet, the episode mostly deals with Ser Loras and Cersei’s trials, but if you thought the High Sparrow would have his way, you’re in for a surprise. George R.R. Martin and Game of Thrones, as a whole, have a penchant for lulling not just the viewers but also the unsuspecting characters into a false sense of security, going on to smash it into pieces. And the delectable way it unfolds in The Winds of Winter will have you smacking your lips in anticipation of more.
Setting up the storylines for the next season, plots in the North and in Mereen move ahead smoothly. The calm and collected Daenerys is taking bolder steps towards laying claim to the iron throne in King’s Landing and is willing to stake everything for it. With Tyrion by her side as her counsel, the Mother of Dragons seems to want little more on her journey towards greatness. The Stark kids too seem to be consolidating their victory in the Battle of the Bastards, charting out their next move, even as Littlefinger lurks in the background, watching each step Sansa makes.
Besides being a visual treat, this episode features some spectacular acting by the whole cast; not one note is out of place in this episode of highs. Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau’s Jaime Lannister has been endearing throughout season six and this episode is no exception. Lena Headey’s slow descent into madness is spectacular, but the show belongs to Bella Ramsey who portrays the young Lady Lyanna Mormont. You rarely see a young character in Game of Thrones give such a measured performance without inviting patronising thoughts.
But if there’s one person The Winds of Winter owes it all to, it has to be Ramin Djawadi, the music composer of the series and the man who gave us the legendary opening theme song. Right from the word go, the slow mournful tune in the Sept of Baelor to the more pumping music in the dying minutes of the episode, Djawadi’s score will leave your heart racing.
Yet again, director Miguel Sapochnik makes the right moves, leaving little room for dissatisfaction or error with an all-important episode. The Battle of the Bastards was a tough act to follow but The Winds of Winter manages to tie all stories in neat bows, making for a satiating ending for the season. What’s more, the fan theories are starting to get confirmed after an arduous wait. Talking of long waits, it’s going to be a long year till season seven begins, but at least we know one thing for sure —winter has finally come!
