There was even less bloodshed in Sunday night's episode of Game of Thrones than in the previous week's (meaning there was zero), with the second installment of Season 8 serving more as a setup to the epic battle that promises to bring together all of the major characters. Vox depicts the relationship-focused episode as "a bunch of beloved characters spending one last, long night together, before the White Walkers arrive to possibly turn them into ice zombies," with a reminder that what has really captivated GoT fans hasn't been "the spectacle or the battles," or "even the crazy twists or the political intrigue." Instead, it's been "how the show's collection of characters felt just a little like real people living through massive, life-changing events." More on the recap front:
- A touch of sadness. At the Guardian, Sarah Hughes describes the episode as a "melancholy curtain raiser to the coming mayhem next week." A central theme: forgiveness, redemption, and acceptance, with Jaime Lannister offering a mea culpa to Bran Stark for pushing him out a window, Arya Stark making her peace with the Hound, and Daenerys Targaryen trying to smooth things over with Sansa Stark—though that may have been unsuccessful.