Episode 18 – The Prince of Winterfell – New Viewer Recap

After tonight’s episode of Game of Thrones, only two remain. Tell us, new viewers, what did you think of tonight’s episode? And what do you think will happen in these final two episodes? We Do Not Sow gives his thoughts and predictions below.

Spoiler note: The discussion in this post is primarily for non-book readers (book fans can discuss the show here). We ask all the series veterans to refrain from posting spoilers in the comments here, veiled or otherwise. This show is best viewed without knowing all the surprises beforehand, so please be respectful of your fellow fans. Thank you!

We Do Not Sow: War is coming! I feel like Stannis set sail years ago from Dragonstone. As I sit here remembering what this week’s episode had in store for us, all I can think about is the ships landing in King’s Landing next week. I have made this remark about previous episodes but this was truly a set ’em up episode, so over the next two weeks they can knock them all down and tease us for season three. It wasn’t a slow episode by any means either, I think the first time I looked at the clock we were three quarters of the way through. By the way, I hate knowing the episode is close to ending and knowing you won’t be able to get the answers or the conclusion you wanted for that week, but that’s why we watch isn’t it?

Let’s start beyond the Wall this week. Seriously, how dumb can Jon Snow be? He should have killed this girl in the very beginning, then he took her as his prisoner and needed her to survive and now we find out that because of him the rest of the scouts that went out except Qhorin are now dead. The only silver lining in this is if Jon actually does go double agent on the wildlings and is accepted as one of them. Otherwise, looking back at last season I was so excited for Jon and the others to go beyond the Wall but I also thought Jon would have a little more backbone than he has shown this season.

I was relieved that they didn’t carry out the Bran and Rickon question for multiple weeks. After I wrote last week I thought that they might not give us the answer until the season finale or even until next season. How clever are they to be living under Winterfell now? I loved that, now, if I can only figure out the three eyed raven and Bran fortune telling dreams.

I finally think that Arya is going to give Jaqen a meaningful name but no. It was a funny and lighthearted scene where she gives Jaqen his own name but I really did think that Arya would give Jaqen one of the names she was repeating before she slept earlier this season. I really enjoyed Jaqen and the way he cleared the gate and killed the other two names for Arya was great, I hope we do hear more from him. It would have been nice to have Arya ask for Tywin, or Joffrey but I got to say, Arya’s journey so far has been great, she is becoming one of my favorite characters now.

So Dany is all set to sail now except she doesn’t have her dragons and I think she will do whatever it takes to get them back. Over the next two episodes hopefully we get a little more progression from this side of the story.

Moms are always cramping our style, especially Robb’s. Not only does she have to go reminding him about his promise to marry another right after talking to Talisa but then she goes and sets Jaime free. Well not really free, but Robb lost his prisoner which means he now loses a little more power although I do think this Brienne and Jaime story arc could be a lot of fun. We shall see where it goes!

Is anyone else this excited for next week? I have been itching for Joffrey to get what’s coming to him and to see some great war scenes.

• Published on 05/20/2012 at 9:59 PM CDT
• Last updated on 10/20/2016 at 6:29 PM CDT