As the mortal enemies of the Seven Kingdoms sit down to discuss a greater threat, intrigue is brewing at Winterfell. As old enemies and friends (sometimes a little of both) reunite, there’s plenty to discuss, catch up on and resolve, but meanwhile, the Army of the Dead does not sit idle.

Finishing off with a bumper-length finale, it really does feel like everything happens in this instalment, and then some. The meeting between Cersei, Jon and Daenerys, their respective allies backing them up, is every bit as electric as a long-term fan of the show might expect. There’s more than one surprise that emerges from it though, and yet again the show proves that, while it can do large-scale action and destruction as well as any Hollywood movie, it works best when it’s delivering personal drama and intrigue.

Two themes emerge, as is the norm for this season. The first is ‘Frenemies’ – there are quite a few lovely little interactions between characters who have not necessarily seen eye-to-eye in the past, and it serves to emphasise the larger peril facing them all. Characters who were literally trying to murder one another not all that long ago are able – and willing – to converse in respectful, if not friendly, terms, and it adds to the realism of the piece.

The second theme is surprise, and by the old gods and the new, there are a few of those to go around. As ever, I will avoid spoilers studiously – suffice it to say that there were several moments that came out of nowhere (in a good way) and at least one that had this viewer literally punching the air in triumph. It’s a very ‘gotcha’ sort of an episode, but the shocks are delivered well and never overdone.

And there’s talking, oh so very much talking. In any other show, that might be a criticism, but here it’s a true joy. The dialogue sparks, and the relentless pace of it all might leave you breathless by the end. I guarantee this is one that fans will want to watch at least twice, just to make sure they’ve caught all the nuances, as well as to relish some of the juicier scenes.

If there’s a standout actor among all this, it has to be Lana Headey. Cersei continues to be an endlessly complex and fascinating character, and every time you think you’ve got her figured out, she’ll surprise you. It’s clear that Headey is enjoying her current turn as the baddie everyone loves to hate, and her scenes here are all superb. Mention must also go to Peter Dinklage and Niklolaj Coster-Waldau, the latter of whom continues to make Jaime a character you’re never quite sure whether to admire or revile.

Despite the extra length of the episode and the largely dialogue-heavy nature, it still positively flies by, and by the end, you’ll scarcely believe it’s over. Now, if rumours are to be believed, we may have to wait another two years to see the finale of the whole show. I, for one, will be waiting on the edge of my seat.

Verdict: Ending on fine form, this was the finale that a season like this deserved. For me, this has been the strongest season of the show to date, and whereas this wasn’t the best episode of the season, it’s up there in the top three for sure. 9/10

Greg D. Smith