Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 6 Questions Answered

Major spoilers as we dig into the background of what went down in the Game Of Thrones season eight finale…

This Game of Thrones article contains spoilers. It comes from Den of Geek UK.

If your memory of previous seasons is at all foggy, we’ve assembled the below to help answer any questions you may have following the Game Of Thrones series finale, “The Iron Throne.

Who died?

The headcount in this episode was remarkably low. Just a few Lannister soldiers (executed by Grey Worm) and the Queen of Dragons (stabbed in the heart by Jon). We have a more comprehensive list of who died, who survived, and where they all ended up here.

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Further Reading: Game of Thrones – Who Lived and Who Died

Who were all those people in the Dragon Pit scene?

You’ll have recognized Sansa, Arya, Bran, Gendry, Yara, Brienne, Samwell, and Brienne, but the other, less familiar eight were the new Prince Martell of Dorne, Lord Royce of the Vale, Lord Robin Arryn of the Vale (the son of Lysa Arryn), Edmure Tully (Catelyn Stark’s brother), plus four newcomers to represent the last of the Great Houses of Westeros.

Are there going to be t-shirts made saying “Uncle, please sit?”

We expect so. Coffee mugs, too.

When did Maester Aemon tell Jon that “love is the death of duty?”

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In season one, episode nine “Baelor,” after Jon temporarily deserted the Night’s Watch to seek retribution for his father’s execution, Aemon confessed his true identity as Aemon Targaryen, uncle to Mad King Aerys, to show Jon that family love has to be denied in the name of duty. Aemon later repeated the words to Samwell Tarly after Sam brought Gilly and little Sam to the Castle because he sensed from Sam’s voice that he was already in love with Gilly.

Further Reading: How Game of Thrones’ Ending Reinforces the Status Quo

Dany’s season two vision was fulfilled this episode then?

Yes, it seems that the vision was in part presaging her death. In season two, when the Warlocks stole Dany’s baby dragons and she went to the House of the Undying to retrieve them, she saw a vision of the King’s Landing Throne Room in ruins and snow falling on the Iron Throne. It foreshadowed the locale in which she died.

Was Jon Azor Ahai, the Prince who was Promised?

Prophesies are rarely helpful, this show teaches, but there’s certainly an echo of Azor Ahai’s story in Jon’s. According to legend, Azor Ahai had to sacrifice the wife he loved by stabbing her in the heart with his sword Lightbringer in order to release the mystical sword’s true powers and then use it to defeat the darkness. Jon, for the good of the realm, has to kill the woman he loves, too. Make of it what you will.

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Further Reading: Game of Thrones – What’s West of Westeros?

Why did Drogon burn the Iron Throne and not Jon?

It’s difficult to assess the extent of a dragon’s understanding of politics, but it seems Drogon took out his grief over Dany on the Iron Throne because he thinks that’s what really killed her, or rather, her ambition for it and all the warfare it involved. Jon’s a Targaryen, so has a natural affinity with dragons, perhaps that extends to protection from them too. The Iron Throne was reputed to have been forged in the breath of one dragon and now, fittingly, it’s been destroyed by one.

Where did Drogon go?

East, as King Bran is going to find out, no doubt with the help of a spot of warging.

When did all this “breaking the wheel” business start?

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In season five, episode eight “Hardhome,” Tyrion explained to Dany precisely what opposition she’d face invading Westeros. She replied, “Lannister, Targaryen, Baratheon, Stark, Tyrell, they’re all just spokes on a wheel. This one’s on top, then that one’s on top and on and on it spins crushing those on the ground.”

Tyrion replied, “It’s a beautiful dream, stopping the wheel. You’re not the first person who’s ever dreamt it.”

Dany told him, “I’m not going to stop the wheel, I’m going to break the wheel.”

Further Reading: Game of Thrones Spinoff Possibilities

What happened at the Plaza of Pride?

It’s where Dany and Grey Worm first met in Astapor when Missandei’s slavemaster, Kraznys mo Nakloz, tried to exchange the Unsullied for one of Dany’s dragons, but instead, she burnt him to death, commanded the Unsullied to kill their masters, and gave the Unsullied their freedom.

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Why is Grey Worm taking the Unsullied to Naath?

Because it’s the birthplace of Missandei, his one love, and her dream was to return there as a free woman.

When was the North an independent kingdom?

Before Aegon Targaryen’s conquest, three centuries ago. And now, thanks to Sansa Stark, it is again.

Why was Tyrion talking about “pissing off the edge of the world?”

It refers to his visit to Castle Black in season one. From Winterfell, Tyrion accompanied Jon Snow on his journey to join the Night’s Watch because of his curiosity about the Wall and the North. When at the top of the Wall, Tyrion relieved himself over the edge, so he could say that he’d pissed off the edge of the world.

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What does Sansa ask Jon’s forgiveness for in the Starks’ goodbye scene?

Instantly betraying the sworn secret Jon made her promise never to tell about his true parentage.

Further Reading: What Happens to Arya at the End of Game of Thrones Season 8?

What was the book Brienne wrote in?

The Book of Brothers, which details the exploits of every member of the Kingsguard since its inception. It was previously mentioned in season four, when Joffrey mocked Jaime for the relative shortness of his entry compared to other Knights, then again when Brienne read Jaime’s entry aloud to him before the two said goodbye and she was sent on her way with Oathkeeper, the sword Jaime gifted to her. It’s the responsibility of the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard – currently Brienne –  to keep the entries updated.

Did Bran know he was going to be king all along?

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That is the question. He suggests so with that swaggering “Why do you think I came all this way?” line, even though it’s thought the Three-Eyed Raven can only see into the past and the present, not the future. Bran’s dreams and visions have been known to include images of events still to come, however (i.e. Cersei blowing up the Sept of Baelor with Wildfire). And if Bran can’t see the future, why did he know to give Arya the Catspaw Assassin dagger she used to kill the Night King?

What was Tyrion’s “a jackass and a honeycomb” last line in reference to?

A long-running joke. Back in season one, when Tyrion was on trial for the assassination attempt on Bran’s life in the Vale, he made a speech confessing to various crimes, including once bringing a jackass and a honeycomb to a brothel, before being stopped in his tracks by a disgusted Lysa Arryn. Then in Meereen in season eight, while attempting to engage the not-known-for-their-banter Missandei and Grey Worm in a bit of chat, he started the joke again before being cut off. Finally, he’s about to finish the joke, when who should cut him off but showrunners Weiss and Benioff, those scamps.

How many times has Tyrion been Hand to the King/Queen now?

Three. Or two and a half. The first time, he was made Acting Hand to King Joffrey in place of his father Tywin, the second he was Hand to Daenerys Targaryen, and this is the third, Hand to Bran the Broken.

Further Reading: The Real History of Tyrion Lannister

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Where are Tormund and Jon taking all those Wildlings?

To resettle in their villages now that the Night King and the White Walker threat has been vanquished, then presumably onwards to roam the North. It’s a circular ending for the series, the very first scenes in the pilot being of a party leaving Castle Black to go North of the Wall. Now that the Night King’s been defeated though, Jon and company will face a happier ending than those chaps.

Was the book Sam gave Tyrion in the Small Council meeting the story we’ve been watching?

Samwell presents Tyrion with Archmaester Ebrose’s A Song of Ice and Fire, the book of modern history he was writing in the Citadel, detailing the period after Robert Baratheon’s rebellion. (Sam came up with the title.) Despite sharing a name with George R.R. Martin’s novel series on which this show was based, it’s not quite the story we’ve been watching because Ebrose’s version doesn’t mention key player Tyrion. It’s a nice Tolkien-ish tribute, though.

Listen to our Game of Thrones season 8 discussion on the Sci Fi Fidelity podcast:

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