What I’m Watching: Game of Thrones (Season Finale)

Game of Thrones: Season 6, Episode 10 “The Winds of Winter” (A-)

Now this was an awesome episode. I’m equally impressed with this hour as a whole as I am with the fact that I watched it a full two weeks after it aired and didn’t have a single thing spoiled. And there was plenty to spoil! At the end of last season, Cersei was publicly humiliated for everyone in the kingdom to see. She got her revenge in the most destructive and brutal way possible, tormenting the septa who shamed her in private and wiping out everyone who had dared to attend her trial and see her punished even more. Margaery realized what was going on far too late, and there wasn’t anything she can do about it since the High Sparrow took even longer to come around to the conclusion that they had been played in a major way. Tomman was collateral damage, compelled to suicide by the loss of Margaery, and Cersei’s coronation was appropriately melancholy since her gloating was tempered by terrible grief for the loss of a third child. It’s interesting to see new alliances forming against common enemies, with the Lannisters as the almost universal target. Ellaria and Olenna are intriguing allies, and Lord Varys only make things all the more alluring. There were a few subordinates who gave some stirring speeches in this hour, like Daario when Daenerys tried to cast him aside at Tyrion’s recommendation and Davos when he got Jon to excommunicate Melisandre because she burned Stannis’ daughter at the stake. Arya got her first bit of revenge, and it’s good to see her embracing her anonymous identity. I’m also eager to see how Samwell and Gilly do in their new roles. I’m sure I’ve forgotten half of what happened in this episode – what a fantastic way to end a strong season.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Peter Dinklage as Tyrion