I Drink and I Know Things: Game of Thrones Sn 7, Ep 4 – “The Spoils of War”

The Spoils of War

Dragons, Dothraki, and Daggers oh my! This episode really delivered a mid-season punch! The Spoils of War really spoiled us fans in every way. Who cares if the timetables don’t make much sense! Let’s get started. 

The Loot Train

The Lannister army takes what remains of Highgarden as they begin to make their way back to King’s Landing. Jaime oversees the train of grains, gold, and other provisions, and yet, he doesn’t appear to be too happy about any of it. It seems that Lady Ollena’s final words have stuck with him. Bronn (Welcome back! I love this guy.) notices that something is amiss and begins to pry as only he can. Some characters just seem to get better lines of dialogue in this show and he’s near the top of that list. I would love to see Bronn and Tyrion reunite this season, but judging by the way this episode ended I don’t know if that will happen. At this point who knows if either of them will make it to the end of the season… Wait. What am I saying?! Of course they will! Good old uncle George R. R. Martin wouldn’t dare dispose of either of these beloved characters right? Right?! Look, all I’m saying is that if Bronn or Tyrion die we riot. Who’s with me?

King’s Landing

Cersei discusses future business with the Iron Banker and he seems willing to help her. As long as their debt is paid of course. I couldn’t help but notice that during their conversation he mentions the Golden Company in Essos (A renowned group of sellswords) to which Cersei replies, “I too would like them to recover some things that belong to me.” What “things” did she mean? I can’t quite put my finger on that yet, but little bits like this tend to come back in a big way with this show. Curious to see if this little seed blooms later on. 

“Rest assured Your Grace. You can count on the Iron Bank’s support… As soon as the gold arrives.” — Scrooge McMoneybags 

(OK. I haven’t bothered to learn this character’s name yet, but the actor plays Sherlock Holmes’ brother, Mycroft, in the BBC show “Sherlock.” Have you seen that show? It’s amazing! It’s a great modern retelling of… hmmm… maybe for another blog. One show at a time.)  

Winterfell

Bran continues to creep people out. Littlefinger presents him with the very dagger that was meant to cut his throat in the first season because… You know what? I have no idea. Littlefinger is one of the best players in this game no doubt, but this doesn’t make much sense. That’s like giving Harry Potter the wand that killed his parents. (Too soon?) Thankfully Meera walks in to interrupt this awkward scene, but not before Bran drops a knowledge bomb on Lord Baelish. In a nice callback to Littlefinger’s monologue from season 3 Bran reminds him of his own words. “Chaos is a ladder.” What else does this emotionless Three Eyed Raven know? Littlefinger wants to find out.

Meera doesn’t want to leave Bran, but she has no problem reminding him of who died for him. (Pour one out for Hodor.) Bran “died in that cave” as she says and was reborn as the monotoned husk of a person we have come to love. Can you tell I’m a fan of this character? He’s got some badass powers I’ll give you that, but his people skills have taken a steep decline. Live long and prosper, Bran. 

Arya Stark of Winterfell comes home. She hasn’t been there since the first season and it’s a very different place nowadays. It has the same bumbling guards mind you, but it’s different for the most part. Her reunion with Sansa in the crypts is bittersweet. Two sisters who were at odds with each other in the beginning have grown up (in very different ways) to respect one another. They stand in front of their father’s tomb which, as they point out, looks nothing like him. While many who knew Ned’s face are dead, Arya points out that they (the Stark children) are not. She does know her faces after all…

The two siblings meet up with Bran in the grove where he gives Arya the same dagger Littlefinger gave him earlier. What’s the significance of this dagger? It’s Valyrian steel as Arya points out, but beyond that I can’t tell why it’s being showcased in this episode. Bran does seem to give a certain look towards Arya as he gives the dagger to her. Almost as if he knows that she will need to use it for something, or for someone. 

Arya and Brienne! This is one of those scenes that we didn’t know we were waiting for, but it felt like we should have been. Arya utilizes all of her skills from her many teachers (Syrio, Jaqen H’ghar, and even The Hound) and battles to a draw with Brienne. Perhaps she has found another sensei to help her complete her list.

Dragonstone

Jon shows Dany what lies underneath her castle. A huge cache of dragonglass…and some very plot convenient cave drawings of different groups of people coming together to defeat the White Walkers. As Jon rubs the fresh chalk off of his hands the two exit the cave to hear some bad news from Tyrion and Varys. (They look like two kids having to tell their mom about her favorite vase that they accidentally broke.) Dany accuses Tyrion of underestimating his family and has had enough with the “clever plans.” She asks Jon for advice and he suggests that she not burn everything around her to the ground. She seems to like that sentiment…although she doesn’t seem to listen to it. 

“Will you forgive me if I switch sides?” — Davos Seaworth

The Loot Train II (Electric Boogaloo)

Spears and shields are not enough for a Dothraki army and Drogon! This is a battle I wasn’t expecting so soon, but I was not at all disappointed. Dothraki warriors jumping off of horses mid stride, Lannister infantry turning into ash in an instant, Bronn finding a way to be sarcastic in the middle of a bloodbath? Yep. This battle had everything. We finally got to see what a dragon can do to an army in the open field. The Lannisters brought a knife to a nuke fight. We also got that giant crossbow payoff we weren’t waiting for. OK. It winged Drogon and injured him, but I’m glad it wasn’t  Cersei’s solution to her dragon problem. Jaime takes advantage of the injury and makes a dash towards Dany with a spear in hand. Drogon notices and spews fire at Jaime who is saved at the last second by Bronn. The two sink to the bottom of the convenient pond in the middle of the battleground and it fades to black. 

“Dracarys.” — Dany

Thoughts and Theories

• That dagger. We saw a picture of it in the first episode of this season in Old Town. How important is it?
• Jon totally should have punched Theon. 
• Was it hot in that dragonglass cave or is it just me? It would be a little wrong if those two got together wouldn’t it? Probably just the show having fun with us. 
• Ser Davos. (Another character at the top of the “best lines” list.) 
• Littlefinger looks to be in between a rock and a hard place. I think he’ll worm his way out, but I’m waiting to see how. 
• Ha! Another Dickon joke. I love Bronn. Have I mentioned that?
• Dragons and Dothraki horses… The fastest way to travel in Westeros. Who cares? It was awesome!
• That’s not going to be how Jaime goes out. Stop worrying. Although that golden armor is heavy and he’s sinking fast… Nah. Bronn will pull him out. Jaime still owes him that castle after all.
• A nice touch (and a little ironic) to have the Lannisters house song, “The Rains of Castamere,”play in a more somber tone when both Jaime and Tyrion watch the Lannister army get defeated so soundly.
• More Dragons please! I need to watch that battle again. Right now!

As always, thank you for reading and feel free to leave your own thoughts and theories in the comments below. Can’t wait to see what else this season has in store! 

“That’s what I do. I drink and I know things.”

Cheers.