10 August, 2017
"The Spoils Of War" was one of the most powerful (and expensive) episodes of television in history, and viewers can definitely feel the stakes ratcheting upwards as we barrel towards the conclusion like Jaime barreled toward Drogon and Dany. The next episode's title has also been officially confirmed for the first time: "Eastwatch". We're probably going to get some type of confrontation between the forces of the North and the White Walkers, along with resolution about whether or not Jon Snow will bend the knee to Daenerys - and at long last, the pair might even discover that they're actually long-lost relatives.
At the end of last season, Daenerys' (Emilia Clarke) dragons and her huge army were finally on the way to Westeros, where Cersei (Lena Headey) has now become Queen after the death of her children. But flame-broiling a significant chunk of the Lannister army is not without consequences, as these photos released by HBO from the upcoming "Eastwatch" episode attest.
Next, Tyrion is standing with Daenerys, presumably before the remaining members of the Lannister army. That will certainly be the penultimate episode, which always had the best battles. His confidant, Tyrion, appears in three.
The strategizing continues, as Tyrion and Lord Varys confer in Daenerys' temporary throne room.
And finally, we see Samwell Tarly and his partner, Gilly, studying books at Oldtown.
Based on what we know about Jon's general outlook on life his glum facade could mean impending death, certain destruction, or he's hungry.
This brings us to the most glaring omission from these pictures, more than a lack of Jaime and Bronn or of Winterfell and the Stark children, it's the missing photos of Eastwatch we can't help but notice.
War (with dragons!) truly came to Westeros last week on an explosive episode "Game of Thrones".
We'll find out more together when "Eastwatch" airs on HBO this Sunday, August 13, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. CST.
