Game of Thrones – 8.03 – The Long Night
Ah wow, I
guessed right about the title of this episode!
This was a
juggernaut of an episode and one of the trickiest to record scores for. There
has never been television on a scale like this. Has there been anything as
metal as seeing two dragons claw out the throat of an ice zombie dragon? This
episode contained some extraordinary grace notes: I just love Jon entering
Winterfell as dozens of wights precipitate behind him; the smirk the Night King
gives as he emerges from the dragonfire unscathed; his “come at me bro” ¯\_(“”)_/¯
pose; Jon coming out to face Viserion; Daenerys picking up and wielding a
sword; Lyanna Mormont’s glorious charge; Beric’s sword throw; the wights
scrabbling over Drogon like frenzied ants; the Deakins-esque illumination of
the fog with fire; and Arya’s checkmate dagger move.
I could have
done with some more meaty combat from the point of view of Brienne, Jamie, Pod,
Tormund and Gendry, however. Bran was totally useless. His warging assisted in
no way, and he could have at least tried to distract TNK when Arya was sneaking
up. I like Missandei defending Daenerys. It’s hard not to think of Sansa as a
resentful Leave voter at the moment. As much as she wants the North to break
away from the Seven Kingdoms, the North only wanted their independence when
their only option was to pay fealty to the boy king who had executed their
Warden, Ned Stark. An option, lest Sansa forget, that she urged the Starks to
agree to! The circumstances are completely different now and although a woman
of the North saved everyone this night, they’d have been totally fucked without
Daenerys’ armies. I really think Arya also deserves to be knighted after her
supreme kill this episode.
One more
star deserving of recognition for this episode is Ramin Djawadi. His music in
this episode was an absolute gift. I loved the apocalyptic reworking of the
Army of the Dead theme as the battle is ramping up and the return use of piano
during the last fifteen minutes of the episode was an all timer that ranks
alongside Light of the Seven as the best of the series. Both tracks share a
glimmer of the title theme (where Margaery tries to push through the Sparrows;
here, when Theon gets impaled), the use of which is just marvellous. Put him
and director Miguel Sapochnik together and you have a marriage of musical and
visual ecstasy. They reteam one last time for the penultimate episode of this
season and I find myself most excited and hopeful that we get one more glorious
symphony before the end.
Possible points of contention
As in the
last two seasons, encounters/kills wight, encounters/kills white walker are
capped at five times.
The last
time we had seen Melisandre, she announced her plans to visit Volantis. That
occurred offscreen and between seasons so she would not gain points for
crossing the Narrow Sea to go there. However, she does gain points for crossing
the Narrow Sea back to visit Westeros in this episode.
No one gains
points for Beric’s sword igniting as that happens off screen.
Only Jon and
Ser Jorah are shown withdrawing their swords from their scabbards so they are
the only characters to gain points for doing so. Brienne, Jaime etc all apparently
draw their swords off screen.
Ser Jorah
and Ghost are at the forefront of the Dothraki army’s charge making them the
only characters to gain points for leading an army into battle. Grey Worm, Lyanna,
Tormund, Theon and Brienne have command of armies but as they are on the
defence, this does not count as leading into battle. The Night King, Jon and
Dany are far away from the fray when battle commences so none of them gain
points.
Witnesses
magic occurred five times during the episode, keeping track of who witnesses
what was tricky.
- Melisandre lighting the arakhs – witnessed by Melisandre, Ser Jorah, Ghost, Arya, Sansa, Ser Davos, Grey Worm, Brienne, Jaime, Podrick, Dolorous Edd, Samwell, Gendry, Sandor, Tormund, Beric, Jon, Daenerys
- Melisandre lighting the trench – witnessed by Melisandre, Sandor, Grey Worm, Daenerys, Drogon, Jon, Rhaegal, Ser Davos, Arya, Ser Jorah, Beric (no points for Jaime, Brienne, Podrick, Samwell, Tormund, Gendry, Bran, Theon or Lyanna as they are within the walls of Winterfell)
- Theon seeing Bran warg – witnessed by Theon (not Bran, as his eyes are elsewhere)
- The Night King raising the dead – witnessed by The Night King, Jon, Jaime, Brienne, Podrick, Samwell, Grey Worm, Tormund, Gendry, Gilly, Tyrion, Sansa, Missandei, Varys (Daenerys sees wights spring to life after they fall off Drogon, but I don’t believe the wights had died from their fall, so she does not gain points)
- Melisandre’s glamour dissolving – witnessed by Melisandre, Ser Davos
The Night
King gains points for killing wights as he commands them to impale themselves
on the flaming trench.
The dragons
gain points for encountering each other as relatives but do not gain points for
encountering each other as dragons. Encountering the dragons was also difficult
to document.
- Drogon and Rhaegal – encountered by Bran, Jaime, Brienne, Sam, Theon, Gendry, Melisandre, Tormund, Beric, Edd, Podrick, Lyanna, Ghost and The Night King (everyone else is in the crypt or has already encountered them)
- Viserion – encountered by Bran, Daenerys, Jon, Jaime, Brienne, Sam, Ser Davos, Ser Jorah, Theon, Gendry, Tormund, Grey Worm, Podrick (By the time Viserion flies directly over Winterfell, Arya, Melisandre and Sandor are indoors, Beric, Edd and Lyanna are dead, Ghost hasn’t returned to Winterfell)
Viserion’s
blue flames appear to take out both living and dead soldiers, docking him
points for humans and gaining him points for wights.
Lyanna takes
out a giant wight, which deserves double what you would normally get for
killing a wight.
Melisandre’s
recitation of her prophesy to Arya spurs her on to kill The Night King, this is
enough to gain her points for making an inspiring speech. Conversely, Bran’s
compliment and thanks to Theon don’t count as I believe Theon was already
inspired to die for him. Beric’s encouragement of the Hound is a little bit
more of a grey area but I will not award points as his words do not carry
enough weight to count as a speech.
Lyanna and
Edd die twice during this episode but as you lose so many points for dying, I’m
capping that at once per episode. The Night King and Viserion still lose points
for dying.
Sam lies on
a pile of writhing bodies while stabbing them, which gains him crowdsurfing
points.
Arya takes
out the Night King, which deserves 100 points. This is included in her 5 kills
cap. Several white walkers die because of this, they are also included in her 5
kill cap.
All
survivors gain points for winning the battle. Ser Jorah and Melisandre die
after the battle ends so they still gain these points.
Bran and
Drogon both gain last line points as Bran has the last line of dialogue and
Drogon makes the last noise.
Melisandre’s
costume slips off her torso, giving her nudity points. Her hair colour changes
from red to white, also giving her points for hair changing colour.
Character Scores
Here is a
full list of the characters and their awarded points. If one of your characters
does not appear in the following lists, this is due to their absence from the
episode, for which you shall be deducted five points per character:
Group A
Bran Stark –
445 points: appears (+5), wargs into
animal (+30), 3x encounters dragon (+20), 5x encounters wight (+20), 5x
encounters white walker (+40), wins battle (+40), last line (+10)
Daenerys
Targaryen – 520 points: appears (+5),
2x witnesses magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), rides dragon (+20), 5x
kills wight (+15), encounters dragon (+20), 5x encounters white walker (+40),
wins battle (+40)
Jon Snow – 560 points: appears (+5), 3x witnesses
magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), rides dragon (+20), 5x kills wight
(+15), encounters dragon (+20), 5x encounters white walker (+40), unsheafs
sword (+10), wins battle (+40)
Group B
Arya Stark –
855 points: appears (+5), 2x witnesses
magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), 5x kills wight (+15), gets injured
(-5), encounters dragon (+20), 5x encounters white walker (+40), 5x kills a
white walker (+65[+35 Night King bonus]), wins battle (+40)
Jaime
Lannister – 335 points: appears (+5),
2x witnesses magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), 5x kills wight (+15), 3x
encounters dragon (+20), gets injured (-5), wins battle (+40)
Sansa Stark
– 220 points: appears (+5), 2x witnesses
magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), gets kissed (+15), wins battle (+40)
Tyrion
Lannister – 206 points: appears (+5),
5x encounters wight (+20), 2x drinks wine (+8), witnesses magic (+30), has kiss
(+15), wins battle (+40)
Group C
Brienne of
Tarth – 335 points: appears (+5), 2x
witnesses magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), 3x encounters dragon (+20),
5x kills wight (+15), gets injured (-5), wins battle (+40)
Samwell
Tarly – 390 points: appears (+5),
first on screen (+15), 2x witnesses magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), 3x
encounters dragon (+20), 5x kills wight (+15), gets injured (-5), crowdsurfs
(+40), wins battle (+40)
Ser Davos
Seaworth – 255 points: appears (+5),
3x witnesses magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), encounters dragon (+20), wins
battle (+40)
Ser Jorah
Mormont – 310 points: appears (+5),
rides horse (+10), 2x witnesses magic (+30), unsheafs sword (+10), leads army
into battle (+25), 5x encounters wight (+20), 5x kills wight (+15), encounters
dragon (+20), gets injured (-5), dies (-30), wins battle (+40)
Theon
Greyjoy – 440 points: appears (+5), witnesses
magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), 5x kills wight (+15), 3x encounters
dragon (+20), 5x encounters white walker (+40), dies (-30)
Varys – 175 points: appears (+5), 5x encounters
wight (+20), witnesses magic (+30), wins battle (+40)
Group D
Gendry – 340 points: appears (+5), 2x witnesses
magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), 5x kills wight (+15), 3x encounters
dragon (+20), wins battle (+40)
Gilly – 175 points: appears (+5), 5x encounters
wight (+20), witnesses magic (+30), wins battle (+40)
Melisandre –
475 points: appears (+5), crosses
Narrow Sea (+50), rides horse (+10), 2x communicates with deity (+15), 3x witnesses
magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), 5x kills wight (+15), 2x encounters
dragon (+20), makes inspiring speech (+20), wins battle (+40), hair changes
colour (+15), gets naked (+15), dies (-30), last on screen (+15)
Missandei – 175 points: appears (+5), 5x encounters
wight (+20), witnesses magic (+30), wins battle (+40)
Sandor
Clegane – 280 points: appears (+5), 2x
witnesses magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), 5x kills wight (+15), wins
battle (+40)
Tormund
Giantsbane – 340 points: appears (+5),
2x witnesses magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), 3x encounters dragon
(+20), 5x kills wight (+15), wins battle (+40)
Group E
Beric
Dondarrion – 245 points: appears (+5),
2x witnesses magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), 2x encounters dragon
(+20), 5x kills wight (+15), gets injured (-5), dies (-30)
Dolorus Edd
– 265 points: appears (+5),
witnesses magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), 2x encounters dragon (+20),
5x kills wight (+15), dies (-30), comes back from the dead (+45)
Grey Worm – 330 points: appears (+5), 3x witnesses
magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), 5x kills wight (+15), encounters dragon
(+20), wins battle (+40)
Lyanna
Mormont – 195 points: appears (+5),
first line (+10), 5x encounters wight (+20), 2x encounters dragon (+20), gets
injured (-5), kills giant wight (+30), dies (-30), comes back from the dead (+45)
Podrick
Payne – 340 points: appears (+5), 2x
witnesses magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), 5x kills wight (+15), 3x
encounters dragon (+20), wins battle (+40),
The Night
King – 120 points: appears (+5), 5x
kills wight (+15), rides dragon (+20), 2x encounters dragon (+20), witnesses
magic (+30), 2x kills someone (-10), dies (-30)
Group F
Drogon – 485 points: appears (+5), witnesses
magic (+30), 5x encounters white walker (+40), 5x encounters wight (+20), 5x
kills wight (+15), encounters previously lost blood relative (+30), gets
injured (-5), wins battle (+40), last line (+10),
Ghost – 240 points: appears (+5), witnesses
magic (+30), leads army into battle (+25), 5x encounters wight (+20), 2x
encounters dragon (+20), wins battle (+40)
Rhaegal – 475 points: appears (+5), witnesses
magic (+30), 5x encounters wight (+20), 5x kills wight (+15), 5x encounters
white walker (+40), encounters previously lost blood relative (+30), gets
injured (-5), wins battle (+40)
Viserion – 85 points: appears (+5), 2x encounters
previously lost blood relative (+30), 2x kills someone (-10), 5x kills wight
(+15), gets injured (-5), dies (-30)
Mid-season review
At this
halfway point in the game, let’s see what character choices would gain you the
most points:
Jon Snow –
890 points
Arya Stark –
1058 points
Jaime
Lannister – 438 points
Theon
Greyjoy – 517 points
Melisandre –
465 points
Grey Worm –
380 points
Drogon – 492
points
Lyanna Stark
– 35 points
Any Group H
character – -15 points
This combo
of characters in conjunction with episode 3 as a Joker would gain you 11,200
points! With two of those characters now dead it’s likely that this lineup will
be different once we reach the end of the series.
Conversely,
here’s the worst performers in their groups:
Bran Stark –
530 points
Cersei
Lannister – 22 points
Tyrion
Lannister – 329 points
Varys – 215
points
Ser Bronn –
53 points
Ser Gregor
Clegane – -5 points
Ser
Pounce/Nymeria – -15 points
Aerys/Catelyn/Rhaegar/Robert/Brynden/Syrio
– -15 points
Any Group H
character – -15 points
That’s a
dismal 884 points! Thankfully all of us have reached at least quadruple digits
by this point.
The Leaderboard
Congratulations
to JB who gained the most points this week with 9,498! This shoots him to top
place with a lead of over 500 points.
As
horrifying as it is to say, if you’ve already had your Joker episode and you’re
still circling the bottom of the board, the chances of breaking into the top
tier are rather slim. Stranger things have happened, though! The league is half
over and there’s just one more triple Joker left. Now that wights/white walkers
are out of play, can any of the rest of us claw our way to the top? Find out
next week with episode 8.04!
No comments:
Post a Comment