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Game of Thronesis a story about how structures shape individuals, societies, and even stories themselves.
As in this years spiraling dramasRussian DollandBandersnatch, one central motif of thereunion-filledWinterfell is the loop.
Winterfell further establishes this looping pattern by closing with a reminder of how this whole saga began.
Youre a man now, Jon says upon embracing him, eyes welling.
Almost, says the Three-Eyed Raven.
Poor Samwell Tarly is hit with the news about his father and brothers death or murder, as D.B.
This zooming in allows us to focus on the loveliest, most lived-in performances weve seen in a while.
The scene is so quiet, you might hear insects chirping.
Even Pilou Asbk got a chance to show something like a human smile.
But Headey adds another layer of interiority by giving us glimpses of what Cersei will not show Euron.
As he walks out she swallows ever so slightly and looks down at her wine with an inscrutable look.
Does this meanshes no longer pregnant if she ever was?
How exactly are we supposed to read this message?
Like the showsnumerous prophecies, our Big Badsrepetitive riddling patternsbeg to be decoded.
Is it merely a display of force?
A schematic of the deadly and unseasonal weather pattern that trails in his wake?
Maybe its a drawing of the wheelDaenerys has come to break.
What is dead may never die.
