Season 7, Episode 4 "The Spoils of War" Discussion Thread

[HammerDown]

The Lannister army was clearly caught off guard and where also outnumbered not to mention it was infantry vs cavalry, the terrain and Drogon. They still managed to do what they could and try and hold the inevitable. We saw that they are well organized, well armed and trained in battle. But that whole situation was a massive uphill battle and Bronn said it best when he told Jaime that he should leave.

We also saw how savage and wild the Dothraki really are. They proved to be a force to be reckoned with but in another situation and with even numbers i could see the Lannister taking the victory. This time they where just in the clear winning side.

I thought that one of the dragons would fall this episode. It didn't happen. But now at least it will serve as a wake up call for Daenerys and a decent amount of hope for Cersei and her aspirations in taking down at least one of the dragons.

 

[squeekness]

Bronn is still the best character on Game of Thrones. Jerome Flynn might very well be one of the best actors living on this planet.

It's because Bronn is so full character and not flat. That dirty sense of humor goes a long way, too.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I thought that one of the dragons would fall this episode. It didn't happen. But now at least it will serve as a wake up call for Daenerys and a decent amount of hope for Cersei and her aspirations in taking down at least one of the dragons.

I could see the Iron Bank being genuinely afraid of what Dany would do to disrupt their system of governance, so much that they'd finance whatever Cersei needs. Imagine a whole array of those scorpion ballistas on the walls of King's Landing, and each one of Euron's ships armed with at least one of those.

 

[MurkeNyou]

Bronn is still the best character on Game of Thrones. Jerome Flynn might very well be one of the best actors living on this planet.

Every appearance with his character I'm going "Don't kill him off, he is awesome". Still standing... whoo!!

 

[MurkeNyou]

Yeah, when it starts to happen, I'm just going to change the channel. It's sick that they are taking these two great characters and making a mockery of them. If this does happen, I hope the writers die in a plane crash.

Sigh, really? I see you only got 70 posts, you may want to pull back on comments like this, kid.

 

[HammerDown]

I could see the Iron Bank being genuinely afraid of what Dany would do to disrupt their system of governance, so much that they'd finance whatever Cersei needs. Imagine a whole array of those scorpion ballistas on the walls of King's Landing, and each one of Euron's ships armed with at least one of those.

Exactly.
Now the Iron Bank has their money. The debt payed in full. That will give a lot of godwill in favor of Cersei. In the end it's a bank and they rather have Cersei in power than Daenerys. They know what they are gonna get with Cersei, Daenerys on the other hand is a loose canon and still unpredictable.

Like you said. I see them financing Cersei on her war against Daenerys. And those ballistas now proven effective will be produced in large quantities. I can imagine a scene later on with a dragon being taken down by the combined shots of several of those ballistas.

 

[godisawesome]

Anyone else wonder if we should take any symbolic meaning in them pointing out that Jon is still going by Snow despite being the King in the North? Is it his wha of showing respect towards Robb and the main Stark line by refusing to supplant them entirely.

 

[KevTravels]

I kinda wished Jaime had died. What an EPIC death and shock that would have been

 

[KevTravels]

Also with Bran back, does that make him Lord of Winterfell? He is a "cripple" so how would that work? If he can't have children (back in those days, I'm sure they'd suspect his life is worthless).

Would Sansa go back to being in charge until she has a male heir?

 

[squeekness]

Every appearance with his character I'm going "Don't kill him off, he is awesome". Still standing... whoo!!

I know, right?

 

[_Superman_]

I kinda wished Jaime had died. What an EPIC death and shock that would have been

Sadly I am in agreement with you. Although I like Jaime and like that he is not all evil but kind of torn; I think this would've been a great way to kill him off.

 

[Silvermoon]

Also with Bran back, does that make him Lord of Winterfell? He is a "cripple" so how would that work? If he can't have children (back in those days, I'm sure they'd suspect his life is worthless).

Would Sansa go back to being in charge until she has a male heir?

As I recall, Bran has already declined/indicated that he can't be Lord of Winterfell, not with him being the Three-Eyed-Raven. Sansa remains in charge while Jon is gone and Jon remains King in the North.

Edit: Yup, it was last episode when he's talking with Sansa:

Sansa: You're father's last living trueborn son, you're Lord of Winterfell now.

Bran: I can never be Lord of Winterfell, I can never be lord of anything. I'm the Three-Eyed Raven.

 

[P Supreme]

with all that armor on Jaime should drown next episode

They might as well had a goodfellas moment and have Arya narrate "and that's when I killed him" Little finger is done lol

Robert said it back in season one "only a fool would fight the dothraki in an open battle field"

 

[Kane52630]

Tyrion is probably going to have someone get him out of the water.

 

[kvz5]

Jaime will be safe until he deals with Cersei. Bronn is more dispensable and should've been the one that died but we all love him so whatever.

 

[RockSP]

As I recall, Bran has already declined/indicated that he can't be Lord of Winterfell, not with him being the Three-Eyed-Raven. Sansa remains in charge while Jon is gone and Jon remains King in the North.

Edit: Yup, it was last episode when he's talking with Sansa:

Sansa: You're father's last living trueborn son, you're Lord of Winterfell now.

Bran: I can never be Lord of Winterfell, I can never be lord of anything. I'm the Three-Eyed Raven.

He said the same thing in this latest episode. Littlefinger calls him by his title and Bran says "I'm not Lord Stark"

 

[Iceman]

The Lannister army was clearly caught off guard and where also outnumbered not to mention it was infantry vs cavalry, the terrain and Drogon. They still managed to do what they could and try and hold the inevitable. We saw that they are well organized, well armed and trained in battle. But that whole situation was a massive uphill battle and Bronn said it best when he told Jaime that he should leave.

We also saw how savage and wild the Dothraki really are. They proved to be a force to be reckoned with but in another situation and with even numbers i could see the Lannister taking the victory. This time they where just in the clear winning side.

I thought that one of the dragons would fall this episode. It didn't happen. But now at least it will serve as a wake up call for Daenerys and a decent amount of hope for Cersei and her aspirations in taking down at least one of the dragons.

Agreed on the battle.

I didn't want a dragon to die from one of those bolts as it would be too easy a way to go after all this build up. Now that one is injured it is a setup for being a bit vulnerable to future attacks. Otherwise 3 flying, firebreathing, seemingly invulnerable beasts would make the Night King and his boys seem not too much of a big deal, especially given the wight's vulnerability to fire.

 

[kedrell]

I thought that one of the dragons would fall this episode. It didn't happen.

Don't be so sure. If Qyburn's as clever as he appears then he'd realize the odds against scoring a bulls-eye on a flying target were slim even under the best conditions and would have taken steps to render the scorpion even more lethal. Like coating the tips of the scorpion's bolts with some of that Dornish poison Oberyn was so fond of using on his weapons. If he did that, Drogon's as good as dead already.

 

[kedrell]

As I recall, Bran has already declined/indicated that he can't be Lord of Winterfell, not with him being the Three-Eyed-Raven. Sansa remains in charge while Jon is gone and Jon remains King in the North.

Edit: Yup, it was last episode when he's talking with Sansa:

Sansa: You're father's last living trueborn son, you're Lord of Winterfell now.

Bran: I can never be Lord of Winterfell, I can never be lord of anything. I'm the Three-Eyed Raven.

Well even if he wasn't the 3-eyed raven he couldn't continue the Stark line due to his injury. Seems to be a bit of a theme in this show. He and Daenyrys and Theon are all heirs to their noble houses who are still alive but who are effectively sterile.

 

[_Superman_]

Well even if he wasn't the 3-eyed raven he couldn't continue the Stark line due to his injury. Seems to be a bit of a theme in this show. He and Daenyrys and Theon are all heirs to their noble houses who are still alive but who are effectively sterile.

Yes he could he just wouldn't be able to feel it or enjoy it.

 

[Fist of Khonshu]

What I love about this episode is it did a very good job setting up the strategic objectives of the battle, and perhaps laying the foundation for future complexities in the show.

1. They made a concerted effort to show Drogon burning the supplies and gold of the Lannisters. The dragon would have been the most efficient way of doing that. Unlike the Lord of the Rings movies or other fantasy series, this show constantly reminds the audience that wars are fought more by logistics than by dashing men with horses and swords.

Yes but capturing enemy logistics is more valuable. This is (partially) how Rommel's Afrika Korps made a rapid advance across Libya and into Egypt during WW2 --by capturing British supply depots.

The dragonfire should have been directed solely at enemy ranks and then the Dothraki could have certainly overrun the remains (as they did anyway) and captured the goods. It was -after all- established in a previous scene that Dany needs to feed her horde! Oops!

I guess the question remains is how ****ed Cersei is with her gold, food supplies and army destroyed. Will the support of the Iron Bank fall away? Or will the Iron Bank double down on supporting the Lannisters, because of the disruptiveness and instability that Dany represents?

Does Dany represent that, or the restoration of a 300 year old ruling dynasty in Westeros?

The Lannisters have no heirs, no future. The bank wants to back a winner --for a change. They had to eat it after lending to Stannis.

 

[Jesse]

I thought Arya's reunion with Sansa and Bran was touching and liked seeing the Starks together again. It's kind of crazy seeing how much time has passed. I thought the cave paintings were interesting and wonder if that history will come up again or in the prequels. Arya and Brienne sparring was exciting to watch. Jon Snow seeing Theon Greyjoy made for a tense meeting. Daenerys flying into battle on the back of her dragon with a legion of Dothraki was epic and I was glad to see another episode end with a battle sequence. I like that there was sort of a cliffhanger and I'm curious about the fate of Jaime Lannister.

 

[Unbreakable Lex]

Agreed on the battle.

I didn't want a dragon to die from one of those bolts as it would be too easy a way to go after all this build up. Now that one is injured it is a setup for being a bit vulnerable to future attacks. Otherwise 3 flying, firebreathing, seemingly invulnerable beasts would make the Night King and his boys seem not too much of a big deal, especially given the wight's vulnerability to fire.

Remember Watchers on the Wall and the giant's bow and arrow?

 

[chamber-music]

Bronn reaction to Dickons name t:

Dickon seems like a nice dude like his brother Sam.

Poor Viserion and Rhaegal never get any love. They need their moments to shine.

I think Jon may get some shine with his papa's namesake.

When Sansa is watching Arya fight Brienne it's hard to read her. I'm not sure if she's feeling a twinge of jealousy now watching all of her siblings become greater and do the things they do. Jon is King of the North and has the loyalty and respect of an army. Arya is a master assassin. Bran is...well he's ****in Bran lol. She's just plain old Sansa, a little wiser but that's it.

Sansa has learned how to be a power player from Littlefinger and Cersei. Sansa will be the pwoer behind the scenes politician of the Starks.

D&D confirmed that Dany and Jon are starting to get attracted to each other, Davos' wish will come true.

Niece and Nephew hook up, eww. Probably not a good idea for more Targaryen inbreeding given the crazy that runs in their inbred bloodline.

 

[KevTravels]

Sadly I am in agreement with you. Although I like Jaime and like that he is not all evil but kind of torn; I think this would've been a great way to kill him off.

It really would have kept us all guessing. But next week he'll back to normal. I love the character, but we needed a major death. Bronn dying would have sufficed as well.