The pace of Game of Thrones Season 7 accelerates like a direwolf and runs toward some epic moments.

And a few disappointing ones too.

ThisGame of Thronesreview contains spoilers.

Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 2

Well that picked up steam, didnt it?

Tonight, it looks like I just wasnt whistling The Dornishmans Wife.

In a scant 60 minutes, we saw the conceivable end of the Dornish subplot (praise the Seven!

Seriously, are their shippers for Jon/Dany yet?

Maybe theyd go by the name Jany or Donaerys?

In any event, the dragon and direwolf will meet.

(Oh and the direwolves!)

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So yes, tonightsGame of Throneshad a lot going on in it.

So here we are and it is enjoyable to see Varys sing for his supper.

Hence why it was so satisfying to see him be put on the hot seat.

These are the scenes where Emilia Clarke is at her best.

And he is right that those in power should not reward incompetence with loyalty.

However, what Varys is suggesting is actually anathema to the ruling class of any feudal model.

I suspect this indicates Daenerys endgame will be quite a bit different from sitting on an Iron Throne.

And in all honesty, I think Tyrion is giving the Silver Queen poor advice.

He even masterminded a brilliant defense of the city in one of the series very best episodes.

His aim to use the Dothraki and Unsullied against Casterly Rock is couched in a personal vendetta.

Even if its winter, I bet its still a lovely time of year for a barbecue.

Daenerys is going to regret chaining the dragons at the wars outset.

Just keep on keepin on.

It really doesnt look all that different than the standard medieval weaponry used to combat siege towers.

And he was right to on a certain level.

Tyrions advice proved more prudent in attempting an alliance with the King in the North.

And in this turn of events, it worked fairly well.

Jon Snow receives a raven from Dragonstone asking for a meeting.

Beyond that though, the North doesnt have the weapons to win the war.

This is their one and best hope of winning the inevitable battle to come with the Night King.

Do they actually believe in Jon Snows stories of White Walkers?

If hes their king, surely its time to put a Stark on the end of his name?

And they scoff at the idea of needing Dragonglass.

And that might be to Littlefingers advantage.

We see him whispering in Jons ear at his most Luciferian.

Im sure he liked him most when he saw his head rotting on a spike.

But then again, Littlefinger wants Jon dead, even if he hasnt said it.

Or more accurately, it was just him testing to see if Jon really is his fathers son.

However, Sansa is about to get some unexpected company…

Either way, it will likely be the scene to beat next week.

In the meantime, Arya has two fascinating reunions tonight.

Hot Pie finally realizes, perhaps for the first time, that Arya really is a girl.

Yet what came afterward was infinitely worse.

Hot Pie gives her wonderful news.

Jon Snow is alive and King in the North, and she is going home.

Everything that has happened to her next crystallized more than any other scene her entire journeyand it involved Nymeria.

And terribly, Arya understands.

Even the Hound left by getting his ass kicked.

Now Nymeria too leaves her.

In season 7 shes self-sufficient and needs no savior, but how much is there left to save?

She is alone in the woods, and feels completely abandoned again, even by the family dog.

This scene is Aryas life in vignette, and it is a crushing one.

Now that part of her died just a little more.

The greyscale is severe and Maester Broadbent is ready to wash his hands of him.

But Samwell Tarly knew a Mormont well, and more or less saves the poor bugger.

Is this traditional TV plotting?

Martin ever resort to this kind of twist?

Did I love the sequence?

You bet your decomposing hand I did.

And in a series short on so many such twists, itll be well earned.

But its not done!

He knows that if she couldnt defeat Euron, then he is almost certainly doomed.

Yet he found his steel for Sansa and couldnt for Yara.

But the moment strangely had little dramatic underpinning to it.

And when Theon jumps overboard, its almost like all the character work for him is going with him.

Like Yara, we just kind of watched it with disgusted pity.

But the ending was itself a bit of a flameout for an otherwise strong episode.

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Rating:

3.5 out of 5