'GoT' S08E05 review: One season to destroy them all
Chaos isn't a pit. Chaos isn't a ladder. Chaos is what this show has become now. The writing in each episode seems worse than the previous one. This is a pattern that this season has been following, and its penultimate episode is no exception. It did prove one 'mad' theory right though! Here is our review of Game of Thrones S08E05, The Bells.
The most sensible character, killed in the first 5 minutes
The secret of Jon's lineage is out, and Daenerys isn't too happy about it (gets way angrier later). Tyrion, of all people, betrays Varys and tells Daenerys about his actions. Varys is executed for treason (read: burned to death) in an impressively filmed scene. His last goodbye to Tyrion was touching. This is where we know that Dany has changed for the worst.
Exploring Daenerys' relationship with the key people around her
Greyworm shares Daenerys' feelings, and both let their anger get the best of them. The scene where he throws Missandei's belongings in the fire signifies his detachment. Jon Snow, as always, doesn't want the crown. However, now that he knows his lineage, he doesn't want the queen either. At least not in the way she wants him! Tyrion pleads to let the citizens surrender.
Tyrion and Jaime and the best scene of the episode
Tyrion frees his brother Jaime (who was captured by Dany's soldiers), and gives him a chance to escape with Cersei. In an emotional scene, he accepts that Jaime was the only one who didn't treat him like a monster. All Tyrion wants is everyone's safety and no loss of life, and everyone to get along. In GoT's world, it's too much to ask for!
What she couldn't do with two, she does with one
In the last episode, Dany had two dragons. One was killed in a few seconds by Euron Greyjoy's fleet. In this episode, she laid waste to his entire fleet with the remaining dragon. Wow! The Golden Company was being teased as one of the best armies in the world. They were finished off in mere seconds. But wait, the writing gets even worse.
I guess we know how the 'coin' landed after all
There's a popular GoT saying, "Every time a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin in the air, and the world holds its breath to see how it will land." Daenerys' coin landed on countless corpses in King's Landing. Cersei's armies surrendered. They even rung a bell to send the message across. The 'Mad Queen', however, burned them all. The Burner of Innocents?
Thousands die as Arya, Hound, and Jaime infiltrate King's Landing
Daenerys destroys everyone and everything, and the viewer can see the fear in Cersei's eyes. Innocents are killed as Jon Snow watches in horror. Arya is completely useless in this episode and spends most of her time buried in the rubble. Jaime tries to search for his sister who is proceeding to safety with The Mountain and Qyburn, but The Hound finds them first.
After the funniest death ever, it's time for Cleganebowl!
Qyburn dies the funniest death ever at the hands of the Mountain while Cersei casually walks away. Sandor and CGI Gregor face each other. The Hound stabs him multiple times but he is a zombie and they don't die easy. It is an epic fight that ends with the Hound jumping with his brother in an all-encompassing fire. Cleaganebowl ends in an unfair draw.
A lot of key characters die unceremonious deaths
Euron has a duel with Jaime that ends with the latter killing the former. It is an unfitting end for a villain who was being set up as the worst of them all. Jaime finally gets to Cersei where she panics and shows weakness. Both embrace and get buried beneath rocks in a bittersweet end. The episode ends with Arya leaving on a horse.
Opinion: Subverted expectations galore
Wildfire, Valonqar, Arya killing Cersei, Golden Company's elephants and several other interesting and plausible theories have gone down the drain with this episode. GoT used to be a politically dark show with heaps of mysticism and intrigue. It now remains a mere shell of its past glory. Verdict: Someone somewhere must've named their daughter Daenerys/Khaleesi after the first season. My sympathies are with them.
