The Game of Thrones Fantasy League – 8.04 – The Last of the Starks

Game of Thrones – 8.04 – The Last of the Starks

Despite a hefty amount of incident during this episode, this episode gained barely a fifth of the points earned last week. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise; now wights and white walkers are off the table and three of the four magic characters are now dead, this might be a consistent trend for the rest of the series.

It’s great to have Cersei back after an unprecedented two episode absence. Lena Headey manages to do so much despite roughly four lines of dialogue this episode. It’s also nice that Varys actually did things in this episode! Daenerys should definitely employ his skills more as she really needs a good Master of Whispers right now.

Cersei is the only person left on Arya’s list (other than Ilyn Payne who got phased out of the show). Arya is already the show MVP for killing The Night King, it will be nuts if she’s the one who also takes down Cersei. Arya was present at Ned’s beheading and saw that Cersei did try to stop it, so I think her biggest gripe is with her ordering the death of Sansa’s direwolf, Lady. If that’s the case, justice really should get served by Nymeria! Imagine that giant wolf subtly sneaking into the Red Keep. I can do without a surprise Faceless Arya reveal, though. The show’s had enough of those. I can just imagine how cheesy it would be to have a scene where a seemingly victorious Cersei receives Qyburn or Jaime in her chambers and *SURPRISE* he takes his face off to reveal he’s Arya *STAB STAB*. I think I’d be more amenable to this cheesy moment if it’s not played as a surprise on the audience a la Littlefinger’s trial last season.

Possible points of contention

In the BTS video for last week’s episode, Kristopher Hivju confirmed that Tormund and Gendry are fighting on top of a pile of bodies so they have had their points adjusted to include crowdsurfing.

Although Daenerys whispers inaudibly to Ser Jorah at the beginning of the episode, it's not loud enough to gain her first line points.

All attendees at the feast are sat with flagons and plates in front of them, gaining them all points for eating and drinking.

Davos and Daenerys give toasts during the feast but this does not gain them points for making an inspiring speech. However, when Tormund lists Jon's attributes and encourages the crowd to cheer, this qualifies as an inspiring speech.

Jon disagrees with Daenerys, Sansa and Arya during the episode, giving them all points.

Bronn's blow to Tyrion's nose draws blood, docking them both for injury points.

Both Sam and Gilly gain pregnancy points.

Although Rhaegal, Euron and Missandei do not land on Dragonstone, they all gain points for visiting it as they are within mooring distance.

Euron does not gain any battle points as this is technically an ambush.

Drogon is present when Tyrion treats with Qyburn, giving him Cersei and Ser Gregor points.

Missandei has the last line of dialogue in the episode but Drogon makes the last noise so they both get last line points.

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 – 35 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), drinks wine (+8), grimly surveys map of armies (+15)

Daenerys Targaryen – 170 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), drinks wine (+8), has kiss (+15), disagrees with relative (+10), 2x grimly surveys map of armies (+15), 2x mentions Iron Throne (+15), rides dragon (+20), visits Dragonstone (+15), visits KL (+15), last on screen (+15)

Jon Snow – 130 points: appears (+5), first line (+10), makes inspiring speech (+20), eats (+7), turns down wine (+10), drinks wine (+8), has kiss (+15), 3x disagrees with relative (+10), grimly surveys map of armies (+15), rides horse (+10)

Group B

Arya Stark – 65 points: appears (+5), has kiss (+15), grimly surveys map of armies (+15), says episode title (+10), disagrees with relative (+10), rides horse (+10)

Cersei Lannister – 70 points: appears (+5), encounters dragon (+20), reunites with previously lost blood relative (+30), last on screen (+15)

Jaime Lannister – 96 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), 3x drinks wine (+8), gets naked (+15), has kiss (+15), has sex (+20), rides horse (+10)

Sansa Stark – 45 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), drinks wine (+8), grimly surveys map of armies (+15), disagrees with relative (+10)

Tyrion Lannister – 174 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), 4x drinks wine (+8), 2x grimly surveys map of armies (+15), gets injured (-5), 2x mentions Iron Throne (+15), travels by boat (+15), visits Dragonstone (+15), visits KL (+15), reunites with previously lost blood relative (+30),

Group C

Brienne of Tarth – 118 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), turns down wine (+10), 2x drinks wine (+8), 2x gets naked (+15), has kiss (+15), has sex (+20), grimly surveys map of armies (+15),

Samwell Tarly – 40 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), drinks wine (+8), gets pregnant (+20)

Ser Davos Seaworth – 45 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), drinks wine (+8), grimly surveys map of armies (+15), rides horse (+10)

Ser Jorah Mormont – 20 points: appears (+5), first character on screen (+15)

Theon Greyjoy – 5 points: appears (+5)

Varys – 167 points: appears (+5), 2x eats (+7), drinks wine (+8), 2x grimly surveys map of armies (+15), travels by boat (+15), visits Dragonstone (+15), mentions Rhaegar (+25), mentions Lyanna (+25), visits KL (+15), last on screen (+15)

Group D

Gendry – 35 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), drinks wine (+8), has kiss (+15)

Gilly – 40 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), drinks wine (+8), gets pregnant (+20),

Missandei – 60 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), drinks wine (+8), grimly surveys map of armies (+15), travels by boat (+15), visits Dragonstone (+15), visits KL (+15), last line (+10), dies (-30)

Sandor Clegane – 30 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), drinks wine (+8), rides horse (+10)

Ser Bronn – 18 points: appears (+5), says C word (+10), injures (-5), drinks wine (+8)

Tormund Giantsbane – 40 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), drinks wine (+8), makes inspiring speech (+20)

Group E

Beric Dondarrion – 5 points: appears (+5)

Dolorus Edd – 5 points: appears (+5)

Euron Greyjoy – 105 points: appears (+5), travels by boat (+15), visits Dragonstone (+15), 2x encounters dragon (+20), visits KL (+15), last on screen (+15)

Grey Worm – 110 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), drinks wine (+8), 2x grimly surveys map of armies (+15), travels by boat (+15), visits Dragonstone (+15), visits KL (+15), last on screen (+15)

Lyanna Mormont – 5 points: appears (+5)

Podrick Payne – 20 points: appears (+5), eats (+7), drinks wine (+8)

Qyburn – 25 points: appears (+5), encounters dragon (+20)

Ser Gregor Clegane – 40 points: appears (+5), encounters dragon (+20), unsheafs sword (+10), kills (-10), last on screen (+15)

Group F

Drogon – 45 points: appears (+5), visits Dragonstone (+15), visits KL (+15), last line (+10)

Ghost – 5 points: appears (+5)

Rhaegal – -15 points: appears (+5), visits Dragonstone (+15), gets injured (-5), dies (-30)

The Leaderboard

Congratulations to this week's points champion KC, who gains a respectable 2358 points. Congratulations also to JB who manages to retain his first place lead for another week.

Next week, we have our final Joker episode. The bonus is less for this one but as penultimate episodes are typically points juggernauts, this could turn you around if you're still trailing. With the death of so many characters and magical elements, it's unlikely anything will hit the heights of 8.03 but you can't rule out anything. See you back here next week for episode 8.05!