Where there is smoke, there is usually fire and there sure was a lot of fire in this week’s episode. “The Bells” featured one of the most memorable and significant battles of the entire GoT series. The Battle for King’s Landing was bound to be controversial as the hand of death reaches multiple characters in various ways. So, let’s get into it and dive into to the penultimate of the series.
Growing Concern & Betrayal
The concerns that everyone had about the Dragon Queen that were expressed in the previous episode reach a tipping point. As the episode begins with Varys secretly writing a letter which contains phrases such as “Eddard Stark” and “true heir to the Iron Throne”. Hmm… Who could he be writing to? With everyone on their toes worried about Dany, supposedly she’s been holed up alone and not eating. Varys converses with Jon about his apprehensions on how Dany will approach King’s Landing. Throughout the series, Varys has always been a pillar of right judgement and his perceptions about people and how the realm operates have been vital for the Queen. That is all about to change however, as he mentions to Jon that “we both know what she will do.” Jon as usual is neglecting the idea that he is the rightful heir and like a man in denial keeps reaffirming that “She is my queen.” Jon can be quite the buckethead but at least we give him credit for being consistent.
Elsewhere in the castle, Tyrion and Dany discuss the secret about Jon and how it has spread like wildfire. What’s the old saying? Loose lips, sink ships? Well if so, then Dany is irritated beyond recognition. With little to no contention, Dany decides Varys has betrayed her and that he will be sentenced to death. Death by fire that is!
The glum group gather on the beach, including Drogon. Tyrion approaches the condemned Varys and says, “Goodbye old friend.” The dragon emerges from the shadows and roasts Varys to a crisp. Kind of a harsh goodbye for such a balanced and vital character.
Just A Queen
Later on, in the castle, Jon and Daenerys have some alone time together where it’s clearly visible how distraught Dany is. She says that Sansa “killed Varys just as much as I did” and mentions how she is feared more than loved. Well who would have thought people would be petrified of a pet dragon. Like a broken record, Jon says that he loves her and that she will always be his queen. “Is that all I am to you? Your queen?” Well no, you are also my aunt, but anyway Jon’s plan to comfort her stands on shaky ground.
Later on, Tyrion tries to request to Dany that roasting everyone in King’s Landing is not a great plan. A more peaceful approach would show mercy is his direct plea. Dany seems to be considering his advice, but she also looks like she has made up her mind already. Tyrion grabs Ser Davos the greatest smuggler ever, (at least that’s what they say) and asks him a favor. Tyrion trying to run barrels of wine out? Nope just one Jaime Lannister, who has been caught by Khaleesi’s guards and is held captive in a tent. Tyrion visits the prisoner and they have a very heart to heart moment. Oh, where have the days gone Jaime? What ever happened to those simpler times, the whores, the wine, oh how I yearn for thee. Anyways, Tyrion embraces Jaime and says that “You were the only one who didn’t treat me like a monster.” A genuinely warm moment for the two. Tyrion asks Jaime to save Cersei and leave through an escape route that he has used before. Somehow you can sense that this escape plan will not be executed and that this is the last time the two brothers will be together.
Fire, Water, and Euron
Out on the sea, Cersei’s fleet and boytoy pirate Euron are patrolling the coasts. Cersei herself is at a vantage point in her tower. Gazing upon her city, the civilians scramble in a frenzy knowing that all hell is about to break loose. Amongst the crowds, Arya and the Hound blend in and try to make their way to assassinate Cersei. Jaime has made it there too, concealing his golden arm as if anyone cares about the king slayer in such a moment.
The armies are having a staring contest and Euron is searching the skies. When he notices a dragon way up above, he readies the ballista and fires on Drogon. This time, Dany has brought her A game. Drogon swoops down as fast as lighting and obliterates all of Euron’s pool toys. It’s about time Drogon has been used properly as we witness the true power of such a weapon.
As pandemonium ensues, the Unsullied army charge the bulldozed gates and we have a very action-packed sequence. In a Private Ryan like montage we see horse-back riding, burning mayhem and hoards of screaming people and soldiers. Jaime is scrambling around various alley ways and streets. Jon and his crew are slashing away and taking names. Drogon continues to destroy all the turrets. As Cersei watches her kingdom crumble, Qyburn pleads for his queen to get below. Finally, she waves the white flag and rings those darn bells we’ve been hearing about all episode.
Relief on many faces is short lived. Dany has a rampage to continue and when you go full rampage you never go back. She and Drogon continue to roast everyone and everything in sight. Cut to Jon where he’s wondering, uhh maybe the bells weren’t loud enough? Nope, what we are witnessing are the actions of a “mad” queen, and our perception of the blonde savior diminishes into a pile of ashes.
Throughout her reckoning, Jon tries to control his troops and set moral boundaries. Well in this kind of situation, his efforts are futile. Perhaps he has finally realized that his “Queen” has gone off the deep end. Meanwhile, Cersei continues to stand like a statue and look upon a city ablaze. I suggest you move and leave the unstable tall building that can fall any second, but that’s just me.
Jaime makes his way to the escape cove where out of nowhere, everyone’s least favorite asshole pirate Euron pops out. He taunts Jaime about how he wants to be the man that kills the famous Lannister. I’m glad his priorities are set as the freaking city is burning around them. After a slow and stabby fight, Jaime manages to muster up an effort of valor and finishes Euron off (finally).
The Red Keep
Inside the castle, Arya and the Hound are making their way to Cersei. The Hound realizes that this might be the last time to enlighten his little follower and he turns to Arya and says, “You want revenge?” In a moment of clarity, the Hound tries to sway Arya from this path and tells her that this doesn’t have to be her course. Arya concedes and in a touching moment calls him out, “Sandor…” as the Hound looks back at her, “Thank you.” Off she goes.
With everything crumbling apart and falling all over, the Hound makes his way to Cersei, Qyburn and his brother, the Mountain! As they are all stuck on a ruined staircase, Qyburn dies as he tries to command the Mountain (not a good idea ever). Cersei realizes that these two have beef and makes her exit.
Finally, the long-awaited battle between the two enraged brothers is about to begin. The Mountain removes his armor and face plate to reveal his Darth Vader like appearance. Well, nobody ever said that these two were a pair of Brad Pitt’s. After a bit of a scuffle, the Mountain grasps Sandor by his face (oh no, more head crushing) and drives his thumbs into his skull. With any strength and hope left, the Hound pulls a dagger out and stabs the Mountain in the face. To his amazement, he watches the Mountain fall back but then slowly extract the blade right out Why can’t he just die already!!! In a moment of “you’ve got to be kidding me” the Hound’s last idea is his worst nightmare. In a fit of rage and pain he tackles his brother as they spear forward off the crumbling structure. Both of them landing in the massive fires below.
Buried Alive
Down below in the tunnels, Cersei has managed to find Jaime. As they embrace, she is freaking out, and Jaime tries to calm her down, “Nothing else matters, only us.” With the tunnels crumbling around them, our favorite incest lovebirds get engulfed by their surroundings and disappear in the ruins. Not quite the way we all would have imagined Cersei’s exit, and I can assume that many would have wanted her to suffer a more brutal death. Jaime’s final scene also felt like a cop out, running back to his infatuation and succumbing to his will.
Outside the keep, the city resembles that of a nuclear disaster. Ashes rain down like snowflakes and sweltering flames simmer the corpses that lay thick. Arya has survived however and with a dusty and bloody face she manages to stumble around the ruins. In the distance she notices a beautiful white horse. Is this a dream? Is she actually dead? Who knows, as she gets on the horse and gallops off.
With such a controversial and heavy episode, we near the conclusion to the series next week. All is left is to decide who will rule Westeros and claim the throne. Who will survive and what will become of our heroes…?