The Winds of Winter

TV-MA | 1 HR 20 MIN
WATCH NOW
Written by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
Directed by Miguel Sapochnik

The day of Cersei's and Loras's trial has arrived, and the main players dress for the
event: Cersei in a dress embellished with armor, Margaery in modest garb. The High
Sparrow pulls on his simple robe, and Lancel escorts Loras from his cell. Pycelle
dismisses a prostitute without paying her, and is stopped on his way to the Sept by a
child. Frowning, the Grand Maester follows the small messenger. Tommen, still in his
chambers, takes a moment to gather himself, but finds his path blocked by the
Mountain.

A crowd gathers in the Sept. Kevan Lannister and Mace Tyrell look on as the High
Sparrow addresses Loras. The Tyrell heir responds with a prepared statement: Guilty
of his crimes, he renounces his lordship, and devotes his life to the Seven. Margaery
holds her father back as Lancel carves a star into Loras's forehead. Unsurprised that
Cersei is not yet present, the High Sparrow sends Lancel to fetch her. Cersei, still at
the Red Keep, pours herself a glass of wine.

Pycelle is led to Qyburn's laboratory. The Master of Whispers tells the elderly man,
"Sometimes before we can usher in the new, the old must be put to rest." Knives in
hand, his Little Birds stab Pycelle to death.

Outside the Sept, Lancel spots a boy scurrying through a door at the base of the
building. Suspicious, Lancel follows the child's torchlight down a passageway. In
darkness, Lancel calls out, but collapses when the boy paralyzes him with a dagger to
the spine. Lancel drags himself towards a faint, green glow, and discovers the cache
of wildfire and a trio of candles slowly burning down to their wicks.

Margaery, sensing Cersei has outplayed them, tries to convince the High Sparrow to
evacuate the Sept. She grabs her brother, but is stopped by the Faith Militant. In the
tunnels, Lancel is unable to stop the wildfire from igniting. The explosion incinerates
the Sept, and everyone inside. Watching from her chambers, Cersei smiles with
satisfaction and toasts the destruction of her enemies.

The Sept destroyed, the Mountain leaves a stunned Tommen's room. Later a
messenger informs him of his beloved wife's death. Alone, the king removes his
crown, steps to the window, and drops himself off the ledge.

In the Red Keep dungeons, Cersei douses Unella's face with wine, and confesses to
murdering the Sparrows, among other crimes. The septa declares herself ready to die,
but Cersei has other plans; Ser Gregor steps forward, removing his helmet. Unella
screams as Cersei closes the cell door.

Cersei, standing over Tommen's body, directs Qyburn to lay her son to rest with
Tywin, Myrcella and Joffrey: "Burn him, and bury his ashes where the Sept once
stood."
At the Twins, Frey and Lannister soldiers celebrate their success at Riverrun. Bronn is
irritated when a pretty servant girl takes note of Jaime, but is consoled by two others.
Walder Frey takes Bronn's seat, overly pleased with his victory. The Kingslayer
knocks him back down, noting that it's the Lannisters who are feared in the
Riverlands. "If we have to ride north and take them back … every time you lose
them," he asks Ser Walder, "Why do we need you?"

In the days after the celebration, Walder dines alone and asks for his sons. The pretty
servant girl explains the two are present, and gestures to Walder's pie where he spots a
finger. Removing her face, Arya identifies herself and tells Walder it will be the last
thing he sees. She slits his throat in the same way her mother's was.

Samwell, Gilly and the baby arrive at the Citadel. Despite the functionary's annoyance
he was not informed of Jeor Mormont and Maester Aemon's passings, he allows Sam
inside for a meeting with the Archmaester. Allowed to wait in the library, Sam is
awestruck by its enormous collection of books. A dream come true.

Jon Snow and Melisandre stand in Winterfell's Great Hall when Ser Davos enters with
Shireen's charred wooden stag. The Red Woman reluctantly admits to the burning.
Davos requests leave to execute the priestess, but Jon exiles her instead. Melisandre
argues they will need her in the fight to come, but accepts the verdict and leaves.

Jon tells Sansa he has had the lord's chambers prepared for her, crediting her with
winning the battle. They agree only a fool would trust Littlefinger, but they have to at
least trust each other. Sansa informs Jon a white raven has arrived from the Citadel:
Winter is here.

Littlefinger approaches Sansa by the godswood tree and tells her every action he takes
is motivated by the possibility of a future together ruling the Seven Kingdoms. Sansa
gently rejects him and goes to leave, but not before Littlefinger reminds her she is the
trueborn Stark.

In mourning garb, Olenna Tyrell sits with Ellaria and the Sand Snakes in the Water
Gardens of Dorne. "Cersei stole the future from me … It's not survival that I'm after
now," she says. Understanding, Ellaria offers a different solution, and Varys enters
the room, promising "fire and blood."

Daenerys Targaryen tells Daario Naharis that he and the Second Sons will stay in
Meereen to maintain peace. Daario urges her to reconsider, "I don't want a crown. I
want you," but the decision has been made. She tells him directions will be left
regarding the welfare of the newly renamed Bay of Dragons, and they bid each other
farewell.

Attempting to console the stoic queen, Tyrion comments everything she has wanted is
now hers for the taking. "For what it's worth," he tells her, "I believe in you."
Returning the compliment, Daenerys, attaches a pin to his lapel: "Tyrion Lannister, I
name you Hand of the Queen."

Benjen explains that ancient spells are carved into the Wall's foundations and he
cannot pass, but will continue to fight for the living on this side of the Wall. Bran bids
his uncle goodbye, and drags himself to the nearby weirwood tree. Placing his hands
on its bark, his eyes roll back.

He returns to the Tower of Joy. Following Ned inside, they find Lyanna Stark, bloody
and sweat-covered in bed. Ned tries to comfort his sister, who is in obvious pain.
Pulling him close, Lyanna whispers in his ear, telling him to "promise me." A baby is
placed into Ned's arms. He looks down at the infant's familiar brown eyes.

Jon's eyes, in fact. Jon and Sansa sit at the high table in the Winterfell Great Hall
while Lyanna Mormont shames the Northern lords who did not answer the Stark call.
"I don't care if he's a bastard," the fierce young lady says, "He's my king, from this
day until his last." Wyman Manderly declares Jon the "White Wolf" and pronounces
him "King of the North." The others join in. Jon and Sansa exchange smiles, but hers
fades as Jon turns away. She glances at Littlefinger.

Jaime and Bronn return to King's Landing to find the Sept in ruins. Racing to the Red
Keep, Jaime enters the throne room and watches as Qyburn crowns Cersei, "Queen of
the Seven Kingdoms."

Drogon, Viserion and Rhaegal fly over a massive armada made up of Tyrell, Martell,
and Greyjoy ships, bearing a hundred thousand Dothraki and Unsullied inside them.
On the lead ship, Daenerys and her supporters finally sail for Westeros.