Hey guys and welcome to my review for Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 4, titled the
Spoils of War.
And what a great episode this was, they are really pushing things forward this season
at a rapid pace which I really like, it seems like every episode this season is better than
the last one and this episode in particular has one of the best battle scenes in the show’s
history.
Moving on to my top 5 moments of the night, I’m starting with the mention of the Golden
Company, during Cersei’s discussion with Tycho Nestoris of the Iron Bank.
As a big fan of House Blackfyre and the Blackfyre rebellions, I really loved hearing that the
Golden Company may play a larger role in the war moving forward.
From what we know about them in the show, they are a strong mercenary group of 10 000
soldiers who are known for never breaking a contract.
However from the books we also know that the company was founded by the Westerosi exile
Aegor Rivers, known as Bittersteel, one of the Great Bastards of king Aegon IV, who joined
his half brother Daemon Blackfyre in Rebellion against the Targaryen crown.
After their defeat, Bittersteel led the survivors to Essos, where he eventually founded the
Golden Company.
This group then went on to support the Blackfyres in several more rebellion.
Before passing, Bittersteel ordered that the struggle continue after his death, asking
that his skull be dipped into gold and carried before them when they finally cross the narrow
sea to retake Westeros.
In the books, some of the words associated with their house are,
"Our word is good as gold" "Beneath the gold, the bitter steel"
At number 4: There is the fight scene between Arya and Brienne of Tarth, where everyone
learns of Arya’s skill with a blade, as she fights in the braavosi style, with her
thin sword and rapid movements.
Brienn was clearly impressed by her skill and the two seem to share a bond, stemming
from Arya witnessed Lady Tarth defeating the hound in single combat.
Although we’ve seen Arya fight and kill before, seeing her go up against one of the
best warriors in Westeros really makes it clear just how deadly she has become.
Unfortunately Sansa did not seem to enjoy their interaction as much, seeming disturbed
that Brienne now has to obey both the stark daughters.
At number 3: I chose the meeting between King Jon Snow,
and Queen Daenerys targaryen in the dragonglass mine on Dargonstone.
It was awesome seeing the simple cave drawings supposedly made by the children of the forest
during the long night thousands of years earlier, displaying a number of strange symbols, as
well as the alliance between the children and the first men, when they joined together
to fight the army of the dead.
Although I disliked Daenerys speech, where she seemed to threaten that she would allow
all the white walkers to destroy humanity, unless Jon Snow bent the knee, I liked this
scene overall and actually agreed with Dany at the end, as I have never believed Tyrion’s
plan for the war was sound, and believe that Dany should in fact be far more aggressive
in her campaign.
At number 2: I’m extending the definition of moment quite a bit by saying the entire
final battle sequence, referred to by many as the second Field of Fire, where Daenerys,
mounted on Drogon, reign fire upon the Lannister and Tarly army, before her Dothraki horde
charged in to slaughter the enemy.
This clearly is meant to remind us of the first field of fire, when Aegon the conqueror
unleashed his dragons upon the armies of House Lannister of the Westerlands, and House Gardener
of the Reach, ending in the burning of over 4000 men before the surrender of the enemy
armies.
The way these sequences were shot and the the visceral feel of the battle was pretty
much as good as anything we’ve ever seen, and the dragon looked very realistic, the
scene with Bronn being chased throught the chaos of the battle was especially noteworthy,
and it ended perfectly.
Although I do wonder why they didn’t build more of those scorpions.
I suppose it’s specially constructed and difficult to make, but they should be producing
as many of those as possible as quickly as possible.
Since Cersei now has the gold to pay her debts, cause it was brought into the city before
the battle, she should use some of the money she gets in new loans to make dozens of those
weapons, give them to all the field armies and place them throughout King’s Landing.
She should also start training soldiers whose sole task it will be to take down dragons.
I also found it interesting she burned the supply train, in a sense saying that if she
cannot have the supplies of the reach, no one could, and if they still plan to lay siege
to King’s Landing this does make sense, though it is the small folk who will primarily
suffer because of this action.
But again I tend to agree with Daenerys on this issue more than say Tyrion.
If Dany is really going to wage this war then half measures won’t do the trick, I think
attacking the army and supplies was a reasonable compromise to her desire to burn the red keep.
Her strength, in my opinion, is not her name, or her army, it’s her dragons.
People need to learn to fear her dragons and this, I suspect will go a long way to making
people understand what she can do.
And finally at the number 1 spot, I chose the final charge of Jaime Lannister against
Daenerys and Drogon.
Similar to another courageous fool Jon Snow who did something similar during the battle
of the bastards, Jaime charged in on his horse, alone, determined to take out the queen.
Although nearly burned alive, someone I suspect was Bronn, dove in at the last second and
saved his life, knocking him into nearby waters.
At first I thought it might be Dickon who rescued Jaime, but after seeing the episode
again I noticed the man who save him rode a white horse, similar to the one Bronn saw
after the destruction of the scorpion weapon.
The Best kill of the night this time, is a tie, between the Dothraki shot with the Scorpion
by Bronn, pinning him to a wagon, and the Lannister Soldier who dutifully held the line,
and knelt to eliminate an enemy, only for Drogon to appear above and burn him and his
fellow soldiers to ash.
The best Line of the night, for me goes to Meera Reed, when she leaves Bran and Winterfell
to return home, and becomes upset when she sees how little Bran cares.
As they talk, she reminds him of those who sacrificed themselves to see him safe, but
still he does not show interest.
As he speaks, she responds “That’s all you’ve got to say… Thank you? My brother died for
you, Hodor and Summer died for you, I almost died for you, Bran? …You died in that cave.”
With all the great stuff this episode had I gave it a 9.5 out of ten.
So now what did you guys think of the episode, be sure to let me know in the comments below, and leave your rating as well.
and like always be sure to check out the episode recap already out. And I'll see you guys again next week.