L-R: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jamie Lannister and David Bradley as Walder Frey; Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO(NEW YORK) — (SPOILERS AHEAD!) It’s been six seasons since Ned Stark declared “Winter Is Coming,” and now “The Winds of Winter” are here. In the season six finale of Game of Thrones, Jon Snow and the North plan for the future, Daenerys plans to sail to Westeros and a popular fan theory is confirmed. But first, we start in King’s Landing, where Cersei Lannister and Loras Tyrell are to face trial for their crimes against the gods.
King’s Landing
Loras’ trial is up first, and he immediately confesses. He is marked with the symbol of the Faith, the seven-pointed star, which worries his sister, Queen Margaery. The Queen also realizes that Cersei has not arrived at the trial. Margaery tries to warn everyone that something bad is about to happen, but before she can, the entire courtroom blows up thanks to the rumored stash of explosive wildfire Cersei uncovered in the Red Keep. Everyone in the courtroom dies, including Margaery, Loras and the High Sparrow.
Cersei celebrates her victory by torturing Unella, a member of the Faith who tortured Cersei when she was kept in captivity. She doesn’t have long to celebrate, however, as King Tommen, who watched the courtroom explosion from his room in Red Keep, jumped out of his window and killed himself. With yet another King of Westeros dead, Cersei herself is declared Ruler of the Realm.
Riverrun
Walder Frey celebrates retaking of Riverrun, thanks to the Lannisters. He plans a dinner with his sons, but when they don’t arrive, he asks a servant where they are. He then realizes with horror that his sons have been killed and cooked into his meal, and the servant reveals herself to be none other than Arya Stark, who’s now gone rogue with her powers as a faceless assassin. Arya then kills Frey, and declares vengeance for the Red Wedding.
The Citadel
Sam and Gilly finally arrive at the Citadel, where Sam is to study to become a maester. He is allowed to enter the library, where it is clear he has found his new home.
Winterfell
While the Starks have retaken Winterfell, Davos confronts Melisandre about the death of Shireen Baratheon, the daughter of Stannis. The Red Priestess admits that she had Shireen burned at the stake. Davos demands that Jon execute Melisandre, but Jon instead banishes her from the North.
Jon then meets with Sansa. She apologizes for not telling Jon about the Nights of the Vale, who helped them reconquer Winterfell in last episode’s “Battle of the Bastards.” Sansa also tells Jon that a White raven has arrived, which means that, finally, winter is here.
Later, Sansa meets with Petyr Baelish, who tells her that he wants the Iron Throne, and he wants Sansa as queen. However, she rebuffs him. It’s just as well, since the rest of the North has rallied around Jon Snow, and declares him to be the new King of the North.
Dorne
Hey, we’re back in Dorne! After nine episodes away, we return to the much ignored region to find Olena Tyrell meeting with Ellaria Sand to plot revenge against the Lannisters. Varys is also at the meeting, implying that they will be aligning with Daenerys.
Mereen
As Daenerys plans to sail to Westeros, she orders that her lover Daario stay in Mereen, as she plans to make alliances by marriage. Tyrion tries to console her, telling the Mother of Dragons that she’s finally ready to take Westeros and is part of the “great game” now. And it only took six seasons! Thankful for his council, Daenerys names Tyrion the Hand of the Queen. Then she, her new ships, and, of course, her dragons, begin their journey to Westeros.
In the North
Bran and Meera prepare to cross back over the Wall to return to Westeros. But before they do, Bran returns to his visions to see what is in the Tower of Joy. He sees a young Ned Stark enter the tower to find his dying sister, Lyanna. She makes Ned promise something, and she brings out a baby. That baby is Jon Snow, confirming the popular R+L=J theory, meaning that Jon is the son of Lyanna and Rhaegar Targaryen.
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