Game of Thrones, Season 7

I'm not sure the Hound is marked for death in the next episode. Not saying he is safe like Jon Targaryen Snow, but as some have speculated, he may be due for a Mountain vs. Hound showdown. That would be the reason the keep him around.

 

That's true, and I actually kind of forgot about that potential showdown. I think after the Mountain "died" and the Hound started feeling bad about the people he had killed, I had written it off as "never gonna happen." But if it were to happen at this point, it would require The Hound to end up back in King's Landing, and that would be a long journey in both distance and story. I'm not sure we have enough episodes left to get him there.

 

Does distance even matter any more on this show? As much as I love the faster pace this season, these characters are covering a hell of a lot of distance in very little time.

I don't think The Hound vs. The Mountain is as important as some make it out to be. I'm more interested to see the Hound encounter Arya, Sansa and/or Brienne.

 

I think the Hound is the one who helps bring the wight/White Walker to Kings Landing. Then we have the long-awaited Clegane Bowl.

 

I think we all knew about Ed Sheeran's appearance on the show, but I completely missed Noah Syndergaard last week. He was a Lannister soldier who we see throwing a spear that kills a Dothraki warrior.

 

And the "only I get to kill you" line by Bronn to Jamie was a little out of place and I bet will come back to haunt us in the next 8 episodes.

 

Big question: which one of the major characters will we see as a white walker before all this is done?

 

I think Jorah might rise up as a walking dead this next week. Beyond him, I don't see others being killed and rising again as walkers among the big cast.

 

What if a white walker touches a dragon and turns into a dead dragon that breathes fire and melts the wall?

 

I keep coming back to the Maesters saying these threats to end the world never do, but the wars and politics never end. I think that's where we're heading, especially with them off to address the White Walkers before Dany and Cersei settle their beef. Maybe the Army of the Dead isn't the end game after all.

But it will come out Jon has his claim to the Iron Throne, and there's conflict with Dany. It's essentially Renly and Stanis again. The Northern houses know no (Queen) but the (Queen) in the North, whose name is Stark. They take up for Stansa over a Targaryen. Arya, like Tyrion, abandons her house to support Jon. Cersei and Jamie, knowing they've lost, take steps to protect their baby, who someday may come back into the picture with a claim.

The world keeps turning and the noble houses keep playing the great game.