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Home / Entertainment

All the deaths, alliances and major plays from Game of Thrones' season six finale

By Siena Yates
NZ Herald·
27 Jun, 2016 09:40 AM5 mins to read

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Dany and Tyrion cement their partnership. Photo / HBO

Dany and Tyrion cement their partnership. Photo / HBO

Warning: This story contains spoilers. Do not read if you have not seen Game of Thrones season six, episode 10 - the season finale: "The Winds of Winter".

We were all thinking the same thing: after that last episode, what else could they possibly cram into the finale?

The answer: Just about everything you wanted and stuff you didn't even know you needed.

As predicted, Cersei unleashed the wild fire, but not in a "Mad King" kind of way, more of a "classic Cersei" kind of way. It was planned and carefully thought out.

She made sure all her enemies were in the sept and tied up loose ends by having the little birds of Kings Landing kill Grand Maester Pycelle.

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Game of Thrones meets Ghostbusters as the High Sparrow is burned alive. Photo / HBO
Game of Thrones meets Ghostbusters as the High Sparrow is burned alive. Photo / HBO

The High Sparrow was engulfed in wild fire like something out of an 80s sci-fi film, all his little cronies are dead, Margaery and Loras are dead, and Cersei made good on her promise to the nun who tortured her.

However, rather than killing her, she left her to The Mountain, who finally took off his helmet to do ... well actually, it's unclear what he did, but it sounded painful.

Tommen - having watched the city burn - realised his wife was dead and no doubt assumed his mother was too, and as a result, launched himself out of the window in the Red Keep, to his death.

After his mother set the city on fire, Tommen only saw one way out. Photo / HBO
After his mother set the city on fire, Tommen only saw one way out. Photo / HBO

As Jaime swore an oath to the Kingsguard, this left the Iron Throne to Cersei, who gave a satisfied smirk, which blew Sansa's out of the water.

Elsewhere, Sam made it to the Citadel where he will learn to be a Maester - as per Jon's request - but this is all we get from this scene so we have to assume Sam's going to play a bigger part in the next season.

Back at Winterfell, Davos ratted out Melisandre for burning Princes Shireen at the stake, and Jon Snow exiled her from the North, threatening to have her executed should she return.

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That awkward moment when someone saves your life and you have to exile them. Photo / HBO
That awkward moment when someone saves your life and you have to exile them. Photo / HBO

Now, call me crazy, but I don't think banishing the woman who gives birth to shadows and raises people from the dead, is a super smart idea. Particularly not when you're the one she raised from the dead.

But hey, who knows these days?

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More importantly, Lady Olenna travelled to Dorne to dominate the Sand Snakes. They might be fancy warrior women, but they're no match for Olenna the Shade Thrower.

The Sand Snakes get a lesson in throwing shade from Lady Olenna. Photo / HBO
The Sand Snakes get a lesson in throwing shade from Lady Olenna. Photo / HBO

After telling Keisha Castle-Hughes she looked like an angry boy and to shut her mouth while the grown women talk, it seemed House Tyrell was teaming up with the Sand Snakes because the one thing they all have in common is wanting Cersei dead.

But that's not even the best bit; Lord Varys was also in Dorne to align the Sand Snakes and the Tyrells with Dany and Yara.

And back in Meereen, Dany made Tyrion Hand of the Queen and if there's one person Tyrion hates, it's Cersei.

So that's Dany, three dragons, a tonne of Dothraki and Unsullied, all of Yara's men, the Sand Snakes, the Tyrells, the smartest Lannister and the king of gossip - all on one side.

They weren't the only ones buddying up though. In Winterfell, Jon and Sansa met with the Lords of the North to make alliances.

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When they all tried to back out (again), Lyanna "the Childlike Empress" Mormont called them all out for refusing the call last time, and was the first to step up and swear her allegiance, forcing the others to follow the suit of a 10-year-old girl.

Lyanna Mormont, speaker of truth and shamer of grown men. Photo / HBO
Lyanna Mormont, speaker of truth and shamer of grown men. Photo / HBO

When it was all said and done, Jon Snow was named the King of the North, directly after he was revealed to be Lyanna Stark's son (courtesy of Bran-vision).

So not only is he a true Stark, but - as has been previously established - Lyanna either ran off with or was abducted by Rhaegar Targaryen (which is what prompted Robert's Baratheon's rebellion), so Jon is likely Dany's kin, making an alliance between the two more likely.

Which leaves Cersei. If you weren't already singing AC/DC's Back in Black in your head as she strutted toward the Iron Throne, I implore you to re-watch and do so, because it's perfect.

Cersei is finally back to her old self. Photo / HBO
Cersei is finally back to her old self. Photo / HBO

However, it's lonely at the top, and even Jaime was giving her the side-eye. Either way, two Lannisters against Dany's army and whatever Jon's got going on? It's not looking good for Queen Cersei, no matter how badass she is.

The episode - and the season - ended with Dany and her army finally making their way across the sea to Westeros, so you know season seven's about to step things up.

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And guess what? That's not even all, because special mention this episode goes to Arya Stark, who is back in Westeros and using her training well.

She disguised herself as a maid in House Frey, and set back to work checking names off her hit list.

First, she killed the Frey children, butchered them (literally) and baked them into a pie, which she then served to Walder Frey in some type of Sweeney Todd-level vengeance.

She then proceeded to peel off her fake face, and announce: "I am Arya Stark", before slicing Frey's throat open.

All hail Arya Stark. Photo / HBO
All hail Arya Stark. Photo / HBO

With Arya on their side, team Stark is about to get a much-needed injection of bad-assery.

So in short: it appears to be Cersei vs the world, which can't last too long. So it would seem season seven must largely get into the world vs the White Walkers, particularly with Bran being so close to crossing the Wall again.

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At least this time we don't have to put up with wondering if certain characters are dead or alive between seasons. Silver linings, eh?

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