WARNING: SPOILERS ARE COMING "Eastwatch" was an unfortunate casualty of the Season 7 time crunch. Still, it did what it needed to, and now we're set up for what's sure to be the most action-packed conclusion to a season we've ever had. A lot of monumental moments were crammed hastily into this week: Jorah reunites with Dany, Gendry reunites with the story, Jaime returns to Cersei, Sam leaves the Citadel, and Gilly drops the most casual atomic bomb in the series' history: JON SNOW ISN'T A BASTARD. Rhaegar had his marriage to Elia Martell annulled and was legally and properly wed to Lyanna Stark. Not only does this make him a legitimate Targaryen, but it also gives him a better claim on the Iron Throne than anyone in the known world... even Daenerys. That's a big development, and there will be plenty of time for geo-politicking in episode 7. But based on the episode 6 promo, aside from a little bit of Winterfell intrigue, we're spending most of our time north of the Wall. The Dream Team is here: Beric Dondarrion, on his seventh life; Thoros of Myr, the drunken red wizard; Sandor Clegane, the Hound; Tormund Giantsbane, last great commander of the Free Folk; Jorah Mormont, the redeemed exile; Gendry, last of the Baratheon bloodline; and the King in the North himself, Jon fucking Snow-Stark-Targaryen. The good news is that this may compete in the crowded category of best Thrones battle scenes. The bad news is we're in for a named-character bloodbath. And that's because, after lots of speculation, it looks like Jon really might play the role of the Last Hero. As legend has it (and as Old Nan tells Bran in Chapter 24 of the first book), during the fabled Long Night, when White Walkers first threatened the land, the Last Hero "set out into the dead lands with a sword, a horse, a dog, and a dozen companions" in search of aid from the Children of the Forest. His exact fate is unknown, but however it may have happened, the First Men got their assistance, formed the Night's Watch, and drove the Others back into the Land of Always Winter. We don't know what happened to the Last Hero, but we do know what happened to his companions. "One by one his friends died, and his horse, and finally even his dog, and his sword froze so hard the blade snapped when he tried to use it. And the Others smelled the hot blood in him and came silent on his trail, stalking him with packs of pale white spiders big as hounds–" And then Old Nan is interrupted by Maester Luwin, just like in the show. Now, there are some reasons to believe that this won't be the fate of our ranging party next week―the "dog" almost certainly would refer to Ghost, who Sansa mentioned is waiting patiently at Winterfell, and instead of seeking out the Children for their help, our gang is going north to try and capture a wight to bring south. (Is it just me, or is this a phenomenally stupid plan?) However, there are plenty of images and scenes we've seen in the trailers and teasers that seem to be specifically referring to the Last Hero legend. First is this, from the episode 6 promo: Now, zoom and enhance: While there are only seven named characters in this ranging party, six Red Shirts (who we saw accompanying Jon and Davos from Dragonstone) makes it an even thirteen. This was also hinted at as early as the season 7 trailer. Take a look at this group: No need for numbering here; it's easy to count twelve companions. If we aren't really going to fulfill the legend in the coming episode or two, it's curious that they would hint toward these numbers so strongly, especially since it's something book readers would quickly latch onto. Keep in mind that it's also immediately followed by this shot― ―which seems to reference the Last Hero's horse. We can see Longclaw as well, which is likely the "sword of dragonsteel" mentioned in the extended legend (and briefly by Sam in Book Four). Some last hints include this shot of Jon, Tormund, and some others: We've seen in the promos that the group stands together to face the surging wave of wights, so what are they running from here? Pale spiders big as hounds, perhaps? They've been hinted at regularly in the books and every so often in the show, so it would be somewhat disappointing to not get them somehow. There are other possibilities, though: there's popular debate over whether or not we'll see an ice dragon this season, and in the books, Sam and the Night's Watch were attacked by wight bears on the Fist of the First Men. Expect any manner of ice beasts. The final shot we'll go over isn't particularly heavy with details, but it's one of the stronger pieces of evidence we have of the Last Hero parallels. Here's the final image of the second season 7 trailer: Jon is alone, with his sword of dragonsteel, facing down... something. It's likely one of the White Walkers, possibly the Night King himself, as we see a company of wights waiting patiently on either side of him instead of rabidly flinging their rotting bodies at him. We don't know the circumstances of what will bring Jon to this confrontation, or what his eventual fate will be―just like the Last Hero himself. All we know is that here he stands, without his horse, dog, or companions, ready to end the Long Night before it can begin anew.
Not having Ghost around is definitely a knock on this theory, as are the bizarre reasons for this ranging and lack of any visible horses when our ranging party set out (where did Jon get that one, huh?). We may not be getting a shot-for-shot remake of this old legend, or maybe these are two different expeditions edited to look like one, but it's more likely than not that some parts of this story will play out on Sunday. Jon has some pretty hefty plot armor―he still needs to find out about his parentage―but he's heading north with six unknowns and six named characters that are primed to end their arcs in a blaze of glory. Except for the Hound. We're getting that Cleganebowl, even if I have to bust down D&D's door myself.
2 Comments
Anon123
8/15/2017 05:01:45 pm
What are your thoughts regarding Benjen Stark? Do you think he'll make an appearance in episode 6?
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Matt
8/17/2017 03:48:09 pm
That's a good call! Thinking about it now, this would be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce him. If Gendry can make it back into the story, then anyone can.
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