featuring

PILOU ASBAEK as EURON GREYJOY / RICHARD DORMER as BERIC DONDARRION / DANIEL PORTMAN as PODRICK PAYNE

ANTON LESSER as QYBURN / HAFBOR JULIUS BJORNSSON as GREGOR CLEGANE / RUPERT VANSITTART as YOHN ROYCE

AISLING FRANCIOSI as LYANNA STARK / WILF SCOLDING as RHAEGAR TARGARYEN / ROBERT ARAMAYO as YOUNG EDDARD STARK

STAZ NAIR as QHONO / BRENDAN COWELL as HARRAG / RICHARD RYCROFT as MAESTER WOLKAN

TOM CHADBON as HIGH SEPTON MAYNARD and VLADIMIR FURDIK as THE NIGHT KING

king’s landing

The Unsullied, led by a grim-faced Grey Worm, line up in tight formation outside the walls of King's Landing. On the walls, Ser Jaime Lannister and Bronn discuss how the latter is unnerved by the idea of soldiers without genitalia, as he's been around enough soldiers to know why they fight, and that the idea of soldiers who fight for no promise of sex is alien to him. As they talk, hordes of Dothraki ride in, a stark contrast to the disciplined Unsullied who don't even blink as hundreds of horses flood past them; but the two ancient enemies are united in cause today. On the harbor, Tyrion Lannister, Jon Snow, Lord Varys, Missandei and Ser Davos Seaworth nervously sail past Euron Greyjoy's fleet. Sandor Clegane goes below decks to check on the captured wight they’ve brought from beyond the Wall. In her solar, Queen Cersei Lannister is informed by Qyburn of the arrival of Jon and Daenerys Targaryen’s party. Cersei promptly instructs Ser Gregor Clegane that if anything goes wrong at the summit, he is to kill Daenerys, Tyrion and Jon in that order, then dispose of the rest as he pleases. The group arrives and are escorted to the Dragonpit, the location of the summit. Tyrion reconnects with Ser Bronn, who concedes it is good to see him again. The pair greet Podrick Payne, who had arrived earlier with Brienne of Tarth. As Podrick goes off with Bronn, Brienne hangs back to talk with Sandor. They both acknowledge that they only fought to protect Arya Stark, and she informs that Arya doesn't need looking out for anymore; rather, he should reserve his concern for whoever is unfortunate or stupid enough to stand in her way, which seems to amuse him. At the Dragonpit, the various factions meet: Cersei, Jaime, Qyburn and Euron representing the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, Jon, Ser Davos and Brienne represent the North, alongside Daenerys' court that includes Tyrion, Ser Jorah Mormont, Missandei and Theon Greyjoy. When Cersei demands to know where her rival is, Daenerys makes a suitably dramatic entrance on Drogon's back, with Rhaegal flying overhead. Getting the meeting on track, Tyrion and Jon attempt to convince the Lannister queen of the greater threat coming for them all. Cersei refuses to believe the claims, dismissing them as a ploy to trick her into lowering her defenses. To prove their claims, Sandor returns with the crate containing the wight and gives the crate a massive kick and knocks it over; the enraged wight promptly clambers out and charges toward the nearest target - Cersei, appropriately enough. Stunned at the sight of the undead creature, Cersei and her allies recoil in horror as Sandor pulls the wight back on a chain and manages to slice the creature in half as Jon then steps forward and takes the wight's severed hand, using a torch to demonstrate how fire can be used to stop them. He then uses a dragonglass dagger to kill the wight's upper half, bluntly stating that if they don't win the coming war, such a fate awaits every person in Westeros. Daenerys states that she didn't believe it herself until she saw them all personally. A horror-struck Jaime asks how many wights are coming, and Daenerys informs him the army of the dead numbers at least one-hundred thousand. Euron then asks if the wights can swim and when Jon responds, "No," Euron announces to Cersei his intention to withdraw his fleet back to the Iron Islands, declaring that he has been around the entire world and has never been terrified until now. Seemingly convinced, Cersei immediately offers terms: she will not withdraw her troops, but guarantees they will not hinder them in any way during the battle. She refuses to deal with Daenerys at all, however, and calls on Jon to keep the truce and to stay out of any future conflict between Cersei and Daenerys. Jon, however, says that he cannot serve two queens, announcing to all that he has bent the knee. Declaring that there will be no truce if it is just her and Daenerys, Cersei storms out, content to let the Starks and Targaryens battle the undead alone and then deal with whoever emerges victorious from that conflict. After Cersei’s departure, Daenerys and Tyrion criticize Jon over declaring his allegiance in public. Daenerys points out that if they leave without an alliance, everything they've sacrificed, including her dragon Viserion's death, will be made worthless. Tyrion is then sent to speak with his sister himself, in hopes of convincing Cersei to change her mind.

Tyrion is escorted by Ser Gregor to Cersei’s office where she then accuses him of having tried to bring down House Lannister from the very beginning. Although she finally acknowledges that Tyrion did not kill Joffrey Baratheon, she reminds him that he did kill their father Lord Tywin, and holds him responsible for the deaths of her other children, as she believed no one would have touched Tommen or Myrcella Baratheon if Tywin had been alive. Tyrion expresses sincere regret for the deaths of his nephew and niece, but Cersei does not care. Tyrion then wonders why she allowed him to arrange the parley in the first place, as Cersei turns the question back at him, wondering why he supports Daenerys as loyally as he does. She then expresses the horror she felt seeing the wight, and her desire to keep her loved ones safe at any cost. From this statement and her gestures, Tyrion correctly deduces that she is pregnant with another child by Jaime. Meanwhile, at the Dragonpit, Jon and Daenerys discuss the dragons and how her ancestors caged them here. Their discussion turns to Daenerys’ belief of infertility when they are interrupted by the return of the Lannister siblings. Queen Cersei has agreed to work with Daenerys, but not by keeping her troops back: the Lannister army will march north to fight alongside the Starks and Targaryens in the coming war.

After Jon, Daenerys and their forces depart from King’s Landing, Ser Jaime wastes no time assembling the commanders of the Lannister army in preparation for the march north. He is outraged, however, when Cersei reveals that she lied about aiding the North in the war and leaked the news of her pregnancy to Tyrion so he would believe their truce. She also boasts of Euron’s ruse of taking his fleet back home, as he is actually sailing to Essos to bring hired mercenaries back to the capital. Jaime is beside himself that Cersei and Euron plotted this behind his back, only to be left reeling when Cersei accuses him of plotting with Tyrion to advance the cause of their enemies. Jaime then declares that he intends to travel north alone to honor his pledge. As he turns to leave, Ser Gregor blocks his path, causing Jaime to wonder if Cersei is actually going to have him executed. It is in this moment that Jaime finally sees Cersei as a power-hungry, narcissistic tyrant who will betray anyone in order to secure her own dominion. Nodding to Clegane, Jaime informs Cersei to give the order. After a moment's hesitation, she nods and Ser Gregor draws his sword, but Jaime calls her bluff and storms out, leaving a saddened Cersei behind. Afterwards, as Jaime departs from the capital, snow begins to fall as winter has finally come to King’s Landing.

dragonstone

After returning to Dragonstone from the Dragonpit Summit, Jon, Daenerys and her court discuss logistics in traveling to Winterfell.  Ser Jorah points out that the North is not really safer for her than anywhere else, as someone with a memory of Robert's Rebellion and an idea of becoming a hero could easily take her out with a single crossbow bolt. He suggests she fly to Winterfell to avoid any potential setback. However, Jon counters that Daenerys ride with them so that the North can see her as a liberator and ally. After a moment's consideration, Daenerys decides to sail to Winterfell with Jon. Jorah, suspecting a different reason for her decision, throws her a look, which she notices but avoids. After the meeting, Theon Greyjoy talks privately with Jon, telling him that, even when they were growing up at Winterfell, Jon always seemed to know the right thing to do. Jon explains he has made mistakes and has done things he regrets. Theon replies, "Not compared to me, you haven't," and confides that he has always felt torn between his Greyjoy heritage and his Stark upbringing, tried to do the right thing, but was uncertain about the right step to take. Jon is angry about Theon's betrayal against House Stark and tells him that his father Eddard Stark was more a father to Theon than Balon Greyjoy ever was. However, Jon relents and tells Theon that he never lost Ned, as he is part of both of them, and Theon is both a Greyjoy and a Stark. Jon asserts that he can forgive Theon for what is in his power to forgive. Theon then confides that when he was Ramsay Bolton's prisoner, his sister Yara Greyjoy tried to save him and he needs to save her now.

Afterwards, Theon returns to the remaining Ironborn on the beach, who continue to regard him with disgust. Theon declares Yara’s rescue mission, however, Captain Harrag shuts him down, declaring Theon a coward, and proclaims that they are going where they can rape and pillage as they usually do. Theon reminds them that Yara has forbidden the Old Way, but Harrag threatens Theon and begins to assault him, telling him to stay down. Although he is knocked down, Theon barely reacts to the blows, as he has experienced far greater pain at the hands of the late Ramsay Bolton. He gets up to attack, but Harrag continues to beat Theon, again insisting that he stay or be killed. Theon once more defies him and attacks Harrag, who then grabs Theon and kicks him several times in the crotch. However, as Ramsay had previously castrated Theon, there are no testicles for Harrag to injure. Theon smiles as he gains the upper hand, smashing the captain's face practically to a pulp, and beating him into submission. The other Ironborn finally relent, accepting Theon and his mission. As they prepare to set sail to King’s Landing, Theon wades into the sea to wash his wounds in salt water, embracing his identity as an Ironborn.

winterfell / the narrow sea

Meanwhile, at Winterfell, Sansa Stark and Lord Petyr Baelish discuss Jon’s absence, as Littlefinger comments on the fact that a marriage alliance between her brother and Queen Daenerys might be mutually beneficial. They then discusses the potential threat of her sister Arya Stark. Baelish tries to manipulate her as usual, encouraging her to think as he does. He tells Sansa to ask herself what Arya's worst possible motivation is. Seemingly overcome with horror at the thought that Arya would want to take her place and reign as Lady of Winterfell, it seems that Sansa decides to do something about it, to Baelish's silent delight.

After a long time reflecting on her next course of action along the battlements, Sansa orders Arya be brought to the Great Hall. Inside the hall, Sansa and Bran Stark are seated at the great table, as the hall is lined with House Stark and House Arryn men, as well as Baelish, who waits with a malicious smile. Arya is brought in and asks Sansa if she "really wants to do this?" Sansa asserts that it's not about what she wants, it's about justice. She then proceeds to rattle off a list of crimes perpetrated against House Stark whilst staring at Arya. Sansa declares: “You stand accused of murder, you stand accused of treason,” as she then suddenly switches her line of sight to Littlefinger. Sansa then asks Lord Baelish how he intends to answer the charges. Completely thrown, Littlefinger tries to figure out what is going on. Sansa reveals his murder of her aunt Lysa Arryn, as well as his use of Lysa to poison and murder her husband, Jon Arryn, the former Hand to Robert Baratheon. She then correctly accuses him of orchestrating the conflict between the Starks and the Lannisters that has engulfed the Seven Kingdoms for the better part of the last decade, including the death of her father Eddard. Littlefinger tries to deny this, but Bran uses his greensight to recall the exact words Baelish once said to Eddard before his arrest. Swiftly realizing that the trial is an elaborate ruse, as was Arya and Sansa’s staged rivalry over the last few days, Baelish demands that Lord Royce take him to safety. However, Royce refuses him. In desperation, Baelish falls to his knees and pleads for his life, asserting his love for Sansa and the late Catelyn Stark. Sansa, however, is unswayed by his pleadings and sentences him to death. She asserts to Littlefinger: “I'm a slow learner, it's true. But I learn. When you brought me back to Winterfell, you told me there's no justice in the world, not unless we make it. Thank you for all your many lessons, Lord Baelish. I will never forget them.” She then shares a look with Arya. As Littlefinger tries to speak again, Arya walks up and slits his throat with the same Valyrian steel dagger that lay at the heart of his plotting over the years. Baelish bleeds out on the floor while the lords and ladies watch dispassionately. At last, the War of the Five Kings has now ended, with justice served to the person responsible for it all.

Afterwards, on the battlements, Sansa and Arya discuss Littlefinger's plots and how much they as people have changed. Sansa confides in Arya that she believed Petyr really did love her, similar to the love he carried for their mother Catelyn. Arya assures her that she did the right thing. Arya then insists that she wouldn't have been able to survive the traumas Sansa has experienced. Sansa disagrees, asserting that Arya is the strongest person she knows. The sisters then muse on another of their father's sayings: “the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.” They both confide in how much they miss their father as they realize the truth of his words. Their remaining family need to stick together for the coming war.

Some time later, Samwell Tarly and Gilly arrive at Winterfell. Upon hearing that Bran has returned, Samwell meets with him. Amidst their discussion, Bran is unable to keep Jon’s secret any longer, revealing the truth of his parentage: he was born to his aunt Lyanna Stark and the also-deceased Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, and is not a Snow at all, but a Sand, the surname for all bastards born in Dorne. Samwell realizes that this isn't true either, recalling an entry from a high septon’s private journal he stumbled upon about annulling Rhaegar's marriage to Elia Martell. Bran expressed his doubts, but Sam encourages Bran to use greensight to confirm it. To his own surprise, Bran easily finds the memory of their secret wedding, where he witnesses Lyanna marrying Daenerys’ brother. Then warging forward to the Tower of Joy in Dorne, Bran finally hears his aunt's dying words to his father Eddard after birthing Jon. Now piecing the truth together, Bran declares that Rhaegar never kidnapped and raped Lyanna from Robert Baratheon. She loved Rhaegar and bore him a son: Aegon Targaryen. Bran’s voice breaks a little as he realizes that Robert's Rebellion was all built on a lie, and Jon who was raised as his illegitimate brother is, and always has been, the true heir to the Iron Throne.

Meanwhile, after setting sail in the Narrow Sea, Jon knocks on the door of Daenerys' cabin. She answers and meets his gaze without words. After a moment, he enters and with their eyes still locked, he then shuts the door. Unaware of the truth of Jon's heritage and relation to Daenerys, they give into the burgeoning passion between them and consummate their relationship. Unknownst to them both, Tyrion Lannister had also been on his way to speak with his queen, and had seen Jon enter the cabin. Silently concerned at the possible implications of what may occur from their union, Tyrion walks away.

eastwatch by the sea

At Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, Tormund Giantsbane and Ser Beric Dondarrion review the defenses atop the Wall, as Tormund remarks that “the crows” say he'll get used to the height, but admits that it'll be a while. Suddenly, the pair sees movement at the edge of the Haunted Forest. A White Walker emerges atop an undead horse, followed shortly by hundreds of wights. More White Walkers emerge as the Night’s Watch horns sound three times. Despite their numbers, the dead don't have anything that could possibly get them past the barrier. However, Tormund and Beric stop in horror as they hear a familiar sound: a screeching roar mixed with the heavy thumping of huge wings beating the air. Suddenly, the resurrected dragon Viserion swoops down with the Night King riding on his back. In a burst of bright blue flames, Viserion demolishes some of the scouting platforms atop the Wall and then turns his flames against the Wall itself. Tormund shouts for them all to run and the Night's Watch brothers and wildlings alike desperately try to evacuate as the Wall begins to crumble. Tormund and Beric witness the entire eastern extremity of the Wall collapse into the sea, leaving a gap between the Wall and the sea large enough for the army of the dead to cross. A road now open to them, the White Walkers direct the wights to begin their march into the Seven Kingdoms. Wights, undead giants and other monstrosities march by the thousands into the North as Viserion and Night King soar overhead to lead the march. The Great War has now begun.

*Episode descriptions from GOT Wiki