‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 6 Finale: Recap Of Episode 10, ‘The Winds Of Winter’

It’s here already, the Season 6 finale of Game of Thrones and what an episode it was. So, here’s the recap for Season 6, Episode 10, entitled “The Winds Of Winter.”

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains information on the Season 6 finale of HBO’s Game of Thrones. Please proceed with caution if you wish to avoid spoilers.

Episode 10 of Game of Thrones starts on the day of the big trial between Loras Tyrell (Finn Jones), Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), and the Seven. Loras turns up and confesses his sins. Cersei, however, is not to be found. King Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman) is missing as well, taken hostage by Cersei’s Franken-guard, Ser Gregor Clegane (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson). It seems that rumor about Cersei finding wildfire beneath King’s Landing was correct and before Margaery (Natalie Dormer) can warn everyone and evacuate, the place explodes. On a side note, for those of you who saw a “leaked” clip of Episode 10 of Game of Thrones about an explosion of wildfire, The Independent has confirmed that video was actually a snippet from the movie, Warcraft.

So, thanks to the wildfire, Cersei can finally claim the Iron Throne as her own. But it is a hollow victory as King Tommen, while saved from death by his mother, is tormented and commits suicide anyway. That prophecy about Cersei seeing all her children die has finally come true. Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) arrives just in time to see Cersei crowned Queen of the Andals and protector of the Seven Kingdoms. If the second part of that prophecy about Cersei being killed by her younger brother is to also come true, it seems Jaime may now have a reason to kill his beloved sister in Season 7 of Game of Thrones.

Many people are claiming crowns in the Season 6 finale of Game of Thrones. Across the sea in Meereen, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) is getting ready to sail with the Greyjoys. But, before this can happen, Varys (Conleth Hill) has a meeting with Ellaria Sand (Indira Varma) in Dorne. Remember Dorne? It is a brutal place, much like the rest of Westeros, just with more sun. While Varys is there, he meets up with Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg), the only surviving Tyrell thanks to Cersei. It seems Cersei will face problems in Season 7 of Game of Thrones, as these three groups join forces against her. Varys then returns to Meereen in time for Tyrion to become Hand of the Queen to Daenerys and set sail with the mother of dragons.

Another person claiming their birthright is Jon Snow. Yes, not only do we finally get confirmation on the L + R = J theory, but he is proclaimed King in the North, regardless of whether they fought on the Stark side against Ramsay Bolton in Episode 9 or not. Jon’s parentage is confirmed via Bran’s greensight. After Benjen Stark (Joseph Mawle) leaves Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and Meera (Ellie Kendrick) at the Wall, Bran decides to greensight back to the battle at the Tower of Joy. In this vision, fans get to see young Ned Stark (Robert Aramayo) enter the Tower of Joy and see his sister, Lyanna (Cordelia Hill), dying in childbirth. She whispers in his ear and the young Jon Snow is brought out and presented to Ned.

Speaking of the Starks, in the Season 6 finale of Game of Thrones, both Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Arya (Maisie Williams) get their turn in the spotlight. For Sansa, it is an awkward conversation between her and Petyr Baelish about how he would like to sit upon the Iron Throne with her at his side. She disregards his advances.

As for Arya, she gets a chance to cross some names off her list, namely the Freys. First she cooks a bunch of them up in a pie and presents it to Walder Frey (David Bradley). Once she lets him know his children have been presented to him on a plate, Arya then reveals her true identity and slits Walder’s throat.

Along with Arya killing the Freys, there is more wish fulfillment. Samwell Tarly (John Bradley-West) finally makes it to the Citadel. Before he can join the ranks of the maesters though, there has to be a discussion about who is the Lord Commander at Castle Black. Yes, even in Game of Thrones, there is bureaucratic red tape. While Sam waits to speak to someone about it, he gets to wait in the maester’s library. To say Sam is impressed with the epic scale of it is an understatement.

Before Game of Thrones can finish it’s epic 69 minute finale, there is still one more loose ends to tie up. Jon must banish Melisandre (Carice van Houten) once he finds out that she burned Shireen Baratheon (Kerry Ingram) at the stake for her Lord of Light. Ser Davos (Liam Cunningham) wants to kill her outright, but Jon insists she leave. If she should ever return to the North, however, she will be killed.

Oh, and winter has finally arrived in Game of Thrones, so there is no need for the “winter is coming” mantra any more.

What did you think of the Season 6 finale of Game of Thrones? Let us know by commenting below!

Game of Thrones returns to HBO with a potentially shortened Season 7 in 2017.

[Image via Helen Sloan/HBO]