Game of Thrones Screencap Breakdown: “The Winds of Winter”

Game of Thrones is not only a fantastic show—it’s a feast for the eyes. From the costumes to the sets to the CGI, every episode has gorgeous moments and amazing acting beats that are well-worth freezing in time and considering.

The opening scene from “The Winds of Winter” was one one for the ages, mixing the slow build of the Purple Wedding with the blood bath of the Red Wedding, and taking out a huge number of cast members with one blow. It was also gorgeously shot. But that actually goes for all of the sequences in the episode, which echoed each other a lot.

This week’s Best Vista award goes to the view of King’s Landing we see over and over in shots leading up to that explosion. RIP the Sept of Baelor.

Let’s take this piece by piece.

Let’s talk echoes. We start with Cersei looking out at the Sept from her balcony.

Meanwhile, Margaery is being dressed by her maids, laced up in a way she couldn’t accomplish herself.

This is echoed with this shot of the High Sparrow dressing. He doesn’t wear clothes that require maids.

Manwhile, Tommen, after being dressed himself, looks out the window at the Sept like his mother.

In theater, the moment when the audience is first let in is known as “doors.” The audience takes their seats for the show.

I didn’t notice the first time through, but Loras still has his shaggy locks here. They shaved his head right before the trial.

After this scene, someone said to me, “Game of Thrones is nothing like real life. Seven uptight old white dudes who fancy themselves holier than thou, passing judgement on a woman and a gay man.”

Margaery takes her place in the play.

Tommen is not so eager, though. Even though Cersei will eventually send the Mountain to keep him in his room, we should all remember that he actually didn’t want to take his place in this farce.

Only now does Cersei consent to be fully dressed, after everyone who is going to the Sept has already arrived.