Like many episodes of Game of Thrones, 'The Spoils of War' begins fairly sedately, catching up with most of the main players for a spell, before moving into an action-heavy climax in the hour's back half. Although, this wasn't even an hour – it was, in fact, the shortest episode in Game of Thrones history. But it's unlikely anyone will be left feeling short-changed, as this was an instalment that provided a sequence fans have been waiting to see realised since the moment Dany's dragons hatched back in season one. And for book readers, it presented a picture they've been imagining only in their mind's eye for decades. And good lord, it did not disappoint. Show Before the chaos, though, the episode spends a lot of time at Winterfell, as Arya Stark finally returns home and reunites with her lost siblings. Where last week's reunion between Bran and Sansa was emotional (if only on Sansa's part), with an appropriately stirring score behind it, Arya and Sansa's reunion is played very differently. There is no music, and there are no tears. The meeting between the sisters is distinctly un-melodramatic; an indication of how mature the two have become. Two little girls – one spirited, one spoiled – have been moulded by years of plight into two very strong young women. They're both different, in very different ways, but they're still undeniably sisters, and seeing that bond standing firm after everything they've been through was very satisfying.  HBO This is a fantastic episode for Maisie Williams, as Arya gets to verbally run rings around the guards at the gate, and then do it physically with Brienne of Tarth. It's been a long time since she had lessons from Syrio, but she was every bit her mentor's pupil here; Arya has never looked like such a consummate badass. Would she really be able to hold her own against Brienne? While she is huge and powerful, Arya is small and nimble, and Brienne likely wouldn't have encountered her 'water dancing' style of fighting before, so it makes sense that she might be wrong-footed. It's not often a swordfight brings such a sense of joy on Game of Thrones, but this one did, given the knowledge that it was for real, but that neither was in any danger of being killed. And the look on Podrick's face at seeing his own mentor take a few rare hits was priceless. There's another wonderful bit of physical comedy from Tyrion and Varys, as they glance nervously at one another before breaking the news of what happened at Casterly Rock to their queen. Prior to that, Jon had discovered some particularly relevant cave paintings to support his cause, while Dany's attempts to make 'bend the knee' her latter-day catchphrase continue unabated (and it was wonderful to hear Davos call Jon out on his 'less vs fewer' grammar, in a pleasing call-back to what was the closest Stannis ever came to a catchphrase of his own). More interestingly, there were the first hints of romance between the unwitting relations; although Missandei's probing into Jon Snow's name suggests that his heritage may not remain a secret for too long. And while it seemed like Daenerys had been convinced to keep her dragons out of play, so as to avoid terrorising and/or destroying half of the country she's trying to reclaim, that frustration proved unfounded by the episode's end, as Westeros went full Western. Sky Game of Thrones has spanned many styles before, but it's perhaps never so overtly aped another genre like this before. From the moment Bronn hears the rumble of hoofbeats in the distance, the sequence is an unapologetic homage to the Western. The topography of the Reach is unlike anything we've seen in Westeros before, with its huge geological monoliths in the background; were it not so green, it might as well be Monument Valley in Arizona. Hell, the Lannister soldiers even very literally circle the wagons! By the time the Dothraki horde appears on the horizon, hollering and whooping on horseback like the Native Americans of a hundred Western films, you half expect John Wayne or the Lone Ranger to ride into shot. And if that wasn't exciting enough, they're joined by their Khaleesi, atop Drogon, in a moment that's as thrilling as anything the show has ever presented. This is not a battle that anyone from Westeros is even remotely prepared for. Jaime's army falls into line admirably, as director Matt Shakman builds the tension brilliantly, but there's never been a Dothraki horde on Westeros before, and they don't play by any rules that the regimented Lannisters are used to facing. Even Bronn, who fights as unconventionally as anyone else in the land, is thrown – both literally and figuratively – by the foreign invaders. And if that weren't enough, they have Daenerys and Drogon to wreak fiery death upon them from on high. HBO In story terms, Daenerys has her dragon primarily target the Lannister supply caravan, robbing Cersei of the precious grain that she'd commandeered from Highgarden and the Reach. Jaime fights as gamely as he's able, while Bronn takes command of Qyburn's scorpion, in a sequence that can't help but bring to mind Peter Jackson's Hobbit movies. Much like Bard the Bowman, it seemed as if Bronn was done for, but the sly sellsword survives – long enough, in fact, to save Jaime from certain doom as he charged at Daenerys, while Tyrion cut a disturbed and frustrated figure watching from the side-line, in a nice reminder that not all the Lannister siblings hate one another. The episode ends with a last-second reprieve for Jaime, and although he's seen sinking to the bottom of the Blackwater Rush – even given a version of the classic 24 silent clock treatment as the episode cuts to black – you can expect him to be dragged back to shore early next week. If he were going to die here, he'd have just died in Drogon's maw. When he does return to the surface, it will be to a war – and a world – that has changed forever. As an audience, we've been waiting so many years for this moment. The sight of a Dothraki horde charging across the green fields of Westeros while a dragon soars overhead, raining down destruction... it almost felt like we'd never get to this point. Director Shakman must have rubbed his hands with glee at seeing the screenplay he was handed, and he executes this special moment superbly. The visuals, all filled with choking smoke and evil orange hues, were a darkly beautiful tour de force. From the gory action, to the sly warping of the Lannister theme music, to the outstanding CGI, this was the show firing on all cylinders; as exhilarating an action sequence as you'll see on television. And for those who have been following this story from the start, it was a moment long-dreamt of brought to scintillating reality. Bravo. Game of Thrones airs on HBO in the US and on Sky Atlantic in the UK. Watch a trailer for the next episode, 'Eastwatch', below: What happens in Game of Thrones Season 7 episode 4?The Ironborn survivors return to Dragonstone. Jon confronts Theon, declaring that his role in saving Sansa from Ramsay is the only reason he will not kill him for betraying Robb. Theon reveals that he has come for Daenerys' help in rescuing Yara, but Jon and Davos inform him that Daenerys has gone. Why is season 7 of got so short?Benioff and Weiss stated that they were unable to produce 10 episodes in the show's usual 12 to 14 month time frame, as Weiss said "It's crossing out of a television schedule into more of a mid-range movie schedule." HBO confirmed on July 18, 2016, that the seventh season would consist of seven episodes, and would ... What is the best Game of Thrones season?'Game Of Thrones': Every Season, Ranked Worst to Best According to Rotten Tomatoes. 1 Season 4 (2014). 2 Season 3 (2013) ... . 3 Season 2 (2012) ... . 4 Season 6 (2016) Image via HBO. ... . 5 Season 7 (2017) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94% ... . 6 Season 5 (2015) Image via HBO. ... . 7 Season 1 (2011) Image via HBO. ... . 8 Season 8 (2019) Image via HBO. ... . What happens in got Season 7?Plot: Dany sentenced Dickon and Randyll to death by Drogon's fire for refusing to kneel following her victory, causing Tyrion to fear she might have inherited some of her ancestors' bloodlust. Bran had a vision of the Night King's army marching and sent ravens to every corner of Westeros with warnings. |
