I'm inclined to agree with what others have said about this episode: too much cliches. It is by all means a filler/bottle episode, but that wouldn't necessarily have been a bad thing; it can work to build up the emotional stakes before the coming battle. But in this episode, as in the previous one and also even in season 7, everything was so on the nose! I mean, I challenge you to find one of Tyrion's lines in this episode that isn't explaining the subtext of the scene out loud. And all the 'funny' and 'anticipated' meet ups: We get it already! "Those characters do have history", and "it would be awkward for those characters to meet now under these circumstances". But by all means, make it awkward, make it painful, make everyone not get along (instead of just two extra's spitting on the ground). Make people have nothing to say to each other, make them unable to get over the history between them so fast. But no: all sources of conflict are smoothed over in mere seconds this season. What is left is a bunch of people that by no means should get along, even if it wasn't for the fact that they've been enemies for quite some time, just for the fact that they have not much in common. But in this episode, those people seem more like besties having a sleepover, rather than complex character with complex relationships on the verge of battle. Everything is just too sweet, too nice and neat and funny. It feels like a teen girl writing fanfiction, wanting all the bad things to be dealt with as quickly as possible, so everyone can get married and have babies and live happily ever after. While it may be heartwarming at moments, and while it made me laugh at certain points, it's not the quality I expect from GoT.
Review of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
