Even during its worst seasons, Game of Thrones still managed to produce moments of excellence, including one of its greatest episodes. Listen, I’m not going to sit here and defend all of Game of Thrones season 8, or even a lot of the nonsense in season 7. There was some tragic stuff in those final episodes, and I’ve written extensively about the Battle of Winterfell and the Suicide Squad trip beyond the Wall. However, I also think it’s worth acknowledging that there were still positives to take away from the final runs.
Game Of Thrones Season 7 Is Divisive, But “The Spoils Of War” Is One Of Its Best Episodes
“The Spoils Of War” Is The Best Episode Of The Final Two Seasons
Compiling a list of the best Game of Thrones episodes would be like ranking my favorite pets or friends. If I’m in the mood for Westeros politics, there’s “The Laws of Gods and Men.” If I want to celebrate, there’s “The Lion and the Rose.” If I want to feel complete and utter misery, I’ll boot up Max and tune into “The Rains of Castamere.” If it’s battles, there are a few options, but one that never fails to stir excitement in a way that only George R.R. Martin’s beautiful A Song of Ice & Fire universe could, is “The Spoils of War.”
This is the fourth episode of season 7, following up on Jaime Lannister’s maneuver that allowed him to capture Highgarden and eliminate the Tyrells. While season 7’s war and strategy are filled with logical issues, I’ll give “The Spoils of War” the benefit of the doubt and focus on its highlights. This includes the sequence with Theon Greyjoy arriving on Dragonstone, as well as the final confrontation between the Lannister army and the Dothraki, along with Daenerys Targaryen riding Drogon into battle.
Nearly eight years after its release, “The Spoils of War” still holds a 9.7/10 score on IMDb, making it one of the top performers in the series. Of season 7’s seven episodes, I think it’s by far the strongest, with a powerful emotional core as well as some of the best action the Game of Thrones franchise has achieved. Like I said, season 7 fluctuates in its logical reasoning, but I still consider this particular episode to be outstanding television for its pure entertainment value and how it embraces the tone of Martin’s world.
“The Spoils Of War” Features Some Of The Greatest Action In The Entire HBO Series
The Field Of Fire V2 Is An Exceptionally Orchestrated Battle Sequence
Aside from “Blackwater,” which is primarily just the City Watch defending King’s Landing, we rarely get to see the formidable Lannister army in action. This is the force Tywin Lannister built, or at least what remains of it, under the less assuring leadership of Jaime Lannister. With all the torment this army caused the Riverlands and some of our most beloved protagonists, it’s pretty enjoyable to watch them get stomped on their own turf, not standing a chance against a Dothraki charge and, of course, a dragon.
The stakes were rarely more vivid in all eight seasons, enhancing the action.
This is also the first time we see Daenerys riding Drogon into battle in Westeros, with the scene creating evident parallels to Aegon the Conqueror’s Field of Fire victory against the Houses Lannister and Gardener (the former rulers of the reach before House Tyrell), as well as to a Robert Baratheon scene earlier in the show. “Only a fool would meet the Dothraki in an open field,” the late king said, and Jaime Lannister turned out to be that fool, believing he could hold the line and nearly drowning for it.
The action in “The Spoils of War” is as intense and visceral as the franchise has to offer. Dickon Tarly is the audience insert character, watching in horror as his forces are burned to a crisp around him. There’s also a fantastic Jaime moment, where he summons the courage of the storybook knights he read about as a child, hoping to end the war with a horse and spear, jousting his way toward Daenerys as she tries to pull a scorpion bolt out of Drogon. The stakes were rarely more vivid in all eight seasons, enhancing the action.
The Moral Dilemmas Of This Game Of Thrones Episode Capture The Heart Of The Show
Jon & Theon’s Scene Is Fantastically Written
Beyond just the action, this episode has one of my favorite scenes in the final two seasons: Theon and Jon Snow’s reunion. To me, this scene embodies both characters in a profound way, encapsulating some of the moral variability that defined Game of Thrones. It’s neither here nor there whether Theon actually redeemed himself, but I believe this exchange captures a critical element of his and Jon’s dichotomy. Theon, who feels immense guilt for betraying Robb and the Starks in season 2, suggests that Jon always knew how to do the right thing and made it seem easy.
Just as Jon has sacrificed so much throughout the series, he sacrifices his disdain for Theon, forgiving the man who betrayed his family because it’s the right thing.
Jon responds by saying it was never easy. This is the critical difference between these characters. Jon isn’t just a perfect man who does good things because he knows how. He’s a man who’s made constant sacrifices, watching his romantic partners die twice in the series, in order to do the right thing. He doesn’t have some inherent gift; he’s making choices and suffering consequences. Just as Jon has sacrificed so much throughout the series, he sacrifices his disdain for Theon, forgiving the man who betrayed his family because it’s the right thing.
“The Spoils Of War” Proves That The Show’s Last 2 Seasons Weren’t All Bad
There Were Diamonds In The Rough
We can talk endlessly about how Game of Thrones’ ending isn’t the ending George R.R. Martin planned for, but I don’t think that’s entirely true. I believe the showrunners reached many of the same conclusions he was planning for, only they jumped the gun and rushed it, missing many of the finer details. That said, when it comes to production value, performances, and entertainment value, Game of Thrones’ final seasons were still far superior to almost every other TV show out there. “The Spoils of War” is just one example.
The final seasons of Game of Thrones had some truly exceptional moments, such as Jaime knighting Brienne, Jorah Mormont’s sacrifice, and the season 7 finale offered several exciting meet-ups fans had been waiting years for. We’ve got to give credit where it’s due; Game of Thrones had greatness in it even during its darkest times.
