In the second episode of Game of Thrones season 8, preparations were well underway at Winterfell for the upcoming battle against the Night King and his Army of the Dead.
If you haven’t seen Game of Thrones season 8 episode 2 yet and don’t like to read spoilers then please stop reading now. If you are up-to-date and want to relive the action then keep on reading.
What to do with Jaime Lannister?
The episode wasted no time in dealing with the arrival of Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) held court and asked him about his sister Cersei (Lena Heady) lying about pledging to send her army north. Jaime said that she had lied to him as well and explained that she now had Euron (Pilou Asbæk) and the Golden Company fighting for her.
She was obviously unhappy to now be faced with the man who murdered her father and told of the stories her brother would tell of what they would do to him. He said he was at Winterfell to keep his promise to fight for the living. Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) tried to stick up for his brother but Dany was unhappy that Tyrion believed Cersei.
Sansa (Sophie Turner) said she couldn’t trust Jaime who fought her father Ned in the streets. Jaime said he wouldn’t apologise for the past when they were at war. Creepy Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) chimed in “The things we do for love” but didn’t speak of Jaime pushing him out of the tower window which crippled him.
Jaime said things were beyond loyalty now, it was all about survival. Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) stood up and spoke of how she knew Jaime as a man of honour. When she was his prisoner, he defended her which lost him his hand. Without Jaime’s oath to her Sansa’s mother, Catelyn, Gwendoline wouldn’t have been tasked with looking out for her and Sansa would likely be dead. Sansa asked if Brienne would vouch for Jaime and be happy to fight beside him. She said she would so Sansa decided she’d be happy for him to stay.
Dany seemed pissed off and tried to get Jon (Kit Harington) involved but he said they needed every man they could get. Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) returned Jaime’s sword and he thanked Dany. She stormed out of the meeting and chastised Tyrion, calling him a fool for believing Cersei.
Gendry gets busy
Meanwhile, Gendry (Joe Dempsie) was working flat out to create enough Dragonglass weapons for everyone. Arya (Maisie Williams) watched him work and he asked if she had something better to do. She inquired about the progress on her fancy weapon and he said he’d get to it after the thousand or so more spear tips he had to forge. He told her she’d be safer in the crypts but she said she was a fighter. Gendry explained that he’d fought some of the Dead and they were bad, really bad.
Arya wanted more details and he said they were like death. She said she knew death which had many faces. She looked forward to seeing this one. As she spoke she grabbed some Dragonglass daggers and through them with precision into a wooden post. I bet she’s a mean darts player!
Jaime apologises to Bran
Jaime found Bran sat by the weirwood tree in the godswood. Jaime said he was sorry for what he did to Bran but he replied that he wasn’t sorry when he did it. Bran knew he did it to protect his family and told Jaime that he was no longer Brandon Stark. Jaime was surprised that he wasn’t angry and that he hadn’t told anyone what he did. Bran said that Jaime wouldn’t be able to help them if he was murdered. Jaime spoke of after the upcoming battle and Bran asked how he knew there was an after.
Lannister brothers reunited
Tyrion and Jaime caught up with one another. Jaime asked his brother how he felt about Dany and he replied that she was different. He asked Jaime if he believed Cersei about the pregnancy and he said that it was real. Tyrion commented that she was good at using the truth to tell lies.
Tyrion said that Cersei never managed to fool Jaime and that he always loved her despite knowing what she was. Tyrion said they were going to die at Winterfell and said it was different to how he pictured himself dying in his bed at 80, drunk and with a girl. He was pleased that at least it wouldn’t be Cersei who murdered him as he’d be ripped apart by the dead. If that happened he said he might then go and rip her apart.
Jaime has his eye on Brienne
Jaime looked across the courtyard and watched Brienne giving fighting lessons. He went down to her and was impressed by how well Podrick (Daniel Portman) was fighting. Brienne said she was in charge of the left flank which had a slight advantage due to the higher ground. She noticed Jaime was being nice and not insulting her. He offered to but she said no. Jaime said while he’d come to Winterfell he wasn’t the fighter he used to be. However he said he would be honoured to serve under her command.
Ser Jorah gives Dany some advice
Ser Jorah (Iain Glen) popped in to see Dany. He knew she was upset at Tyrion but pointed out that she forgave him. He said it broke his heart when he heard she chose Tyrion to be her Hand but she’d made the right choice. Dany said Tyrion had made serious mistakes but Jorah explained that Tyrion owned his mistakes and learned from them. He advised her to forgive Tyrion and also to speak with Sansa.
Girl Power
Dany took Jorah’s advice and went to speak with Sansa alone where she pointed out that Sansa had almost agreed with her about Jaime. Sansa explained that Tyrion was a good man and that no one should have trusted Cersei. She told Dany that families were complicated. Dany tried to point out things they had in common such as knowing how difficult it had been for them to rule as women.
Dany asked Sansa why it felt like they were at odds with each other and asked if it was because of Jon. Sansa said he loved her and that men would do stupid things for women. Dany said she had one goal which was to take back the Iron Throne from those who destroyed her family. She also pointed out to Sansa that she had come to Winterfell to fight Jon’s war. Sansa realised she should have thanked her when she arrived. Dany explained she loved Jon and trusted him because he was true to his word.
Sansa did a little digging to find out what would happen after defeating the dead and Cersei. She asked about the North because after taking it back they vowed to never bow to anyone again. Dany didn’t answer.
Theon joins the fight!
Having saved his sister Yara (Gemma Whelan), Theon turned up to fight for Winterfell. Sansa was pleased to see him again. He explained that Yara was off to take the Iron Islands back should they need them.
Ser Davos the Onion chef?
Davos (Liam Cunningham) got stuck in serving food to the many soldiers. One man said he wasn’t a soldier but Davos said he was now. He told him how he’d survived battles despite not being much of a fighter. He pointed the man at the forge where he could get kitted out.
Gilly (Hannah Murray) was giving advice to the women that the crypts would be the safest place. A young girl with a scar on her face came to Davos for food. She reminded him of Shireen and explained that she wanted to fight. Gilly asked her to come and protect them in the crypts and she agreed.
Tormund makes an entrance
A horn sounded as a group approached the gates. It was Beric (Richard Dormer), Edd (Ben Crompton) and the remaining Night’s Watch. Jon went to greet them and was almost knocked over and Tormund (Kistofer Hivju) charged him affectionately.
Tormund explained they only just survived the Night King’s assault at Eastwatch when the Wall came down. He said they met the Night’s Watch at Last Hearth where the Dead had been first. Jon asked about the Umbers and Tormund said they were fighting for the Night King now. He explained that they had to travel around the Army of the Dead to get to Winterfell. Jon asked how long they had and Tormund said before the sun comes up tomorrow. He then asked if the ‘big woman’ was there.
A plan comes together
Jon was pleased at the progress on the Dragonglass weapons and defences, plus they also had some Valyrian steel weapons. However, the Army of the Dead were too great in numbers, didn’t tire, wouldn’t stop and couldn’t be beaten in a straight fight. He thought their best bet was to try and take out the Night King.
Bran explained that the Night King was coming for him and knew where he was at all times due to marking him previously. He suggested he stay exposed in the godswood. He said the Night King wanted endless night and to erase the world. Theon said he would guard Bran.
Davos said the troops would hold off the attack as long as possible. Tyrion said he and Davos would give the signal to set fire to the trench but Dany wanted him to stay in the crypts. They hoped that the dragons would give them the edge and wondered if they could use their breath on the Night King. Bran said no one had ever tried. Tormund said they were all going to die while giving Brienne the eye.
After the meeting some went for rest, while Tyrion asked Bran to tell him his story.
Looking to the future
Grey Worm inspected the Dragonglass weapons then spoke to Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel). He wondered what they would do after the war and Dany took the Iron Throne. Missandei said she’d like to see the beaches of Naath. Grey Worm promised to take her there and to protect her peaceful people.
Ghost returns!
Sam spoke to Jon to see if he had told Dany yet who he really was but he hadn’t. More importantly is that behind Jon was his Direwolf Ghost who we haven’t seen for ages! Edd joined them and said now their watch began. Jon offered for Sam to stay with Gilly and little Sam in the Crypt. Sam pointed out that he was the first one to kill a White Walker and a Fenn plus he’d stolen books from the Citadel. They reminisced about the Night’s Watch. Edd said the last alive should burn the rest.
A drunken lock-in
Possibly not the best idea before the biggest battle ever but Tyrion cracked open the wine. Jaime joined him and Tyrion wondered what their father would have thought of them defending Winterfell. They remembered the first time they had been there.
Brienne and Podrick joined them in search of somewhere warm for the night. Podrick said he’d have some wine which Brienne said wasn’t wise before allowing him half a cup. She then agreed to have some too.
Ser Davos and Tormund also joined them and Tormund made a point of telling Brienne that it might be their last night in this world. Brienne ignored his suggestion but said she was glad he was there to fight. Tormund turned down a drink because he’d brought his own and called Jaime the King Killer.
He then asked if anyone wanted to know why he was called Giantsbane. With no takers he decided to tell everyone anyway. Apparently when he was 10 he killed a giant and climbed into bed with the giant’s wife. He said when she woke the next morning she thought he was a baby and breastfed him for 3 months. The giant’s milk made him strong. He then attempted to impress Brienne further by downing the drink from his horn but spilled most of it on himself. Davos decided he would have a drink as well.
Arya and the Hound
Arya found the Hound drinking alone on the ramparts and joined him. He wondered why she no longer constantly spoke and she said she’d changed. Arya wondered why the Hound had come to Winterfell as she thought he only fought for himself. He said he had fought for her in the past.
Beric appeared and began gushing over the Lord of Light. The Hound told him to shut it or be thrown over the wall. He pointed out that Thoros was no longer around to resurrect him. Arya decided she didn’t want to spend her last night with “Two miserable old shits” and left them to it.
Gendry gets busy again
Arya went to practice her bow skills and Gendry turned up with the weapon she requested. She had a quick play and decided it would do what she wanted (whatever that is!). She quizzed him over the red woman, Melisandre (Carice van Houten) and he said she wanted his blood for a spell as he was the son of Robert Baratheon. She asked if that was his first time and wanted to know how many girls he’d slept with.
He was cagey about it but revealed the number to be 3. Arya said as they were to die soon she wanted to have sex with him to know what it was like. The pair kissed, stripped off and slept together.
A Knight to remember
Back at the lock-in, the wine was flowing freely. Tyrion announced that he thought they might all live. Davos laughed but Tyrion pointed out how many impossible battles they’d all got through. Tormund asked if Brienne was a knight and she said only men could become knights. Tormund with his one-track mind said he’d knight her ten times over.
Jaime said that it was possible for any knight to make another knight. He stood up and requested that Brienne kneel before him if she wanted to be a knight. In an emotional scene, she knelt and Jaime swore her in as Ser Brienne of Tarth, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
After they ran out of wine, Jaime suggested rest but Tyrion wanted to keep the party going. He asked if anyone knew a song and Podrick sang to the group.
Lyanna readies for battle
Back in the courtyard, Jorah tried to convince his young cousin Lyanna Mormont (Bella Ramsay) not to fight. She wasn’t having any of it and was already in full armour and ready for battle.
Jorah gets a new sword
Sam told Jorah that his father had taught him to do what was right. He gave Jorah, Heartsbane, the Valyrian steel sword he stole from his family. Jorah promised to wield it in his father’s name. Sam said he’d see him after the battle and hoped they would win.
Jon tells Dany the truth
Jon and Dany met in the crypts at Lyanna Stark’s statue. Dany commented that her brother Rhaegar was decent and kind yet he had raped Lyanna. Jon revealed that Rhaegar actually loved Lyanna and that they married in secret and had a son.
Jon then revealed that his true identity was Aegon Targaryen. Dany said it was impossible and wasn’t convinced when Jon explained that he found out from his brother and best friend.
Dany realised that if it were true that Jon was the last male heir and had a greater claim to the Iron Throne than she. He told her it was true.
A horn sounded and everyone scrambled to see what was going on.
They’re here!
At the end of the episode, Tyrion and those on the ramparts looked out into the night. The Army of the Dead had arrived.
Episode 3
Can’t wait for the next episode? Watch the trailer and read our preview for Game of Thrones 8×03.
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Game of Thrones season 8 episode 3 will air on the 29th April at 2am and 9pm on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV. Need to recap on the story so far? All episodes of Game of Thrones from series 1-7 are now available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV.
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