The Battle of Winterfell is over, but the drama on Game of Thrones is far from over. Our heroes still have another war to win and they’ll have to decide among themselves who should sit on the Iron Throne.
Since its very first scene, Game of Thrones set the stage for a great war between the living and the dead. For many fans, this seemed like it would be the show’s final conflict. But in season 8’s third episode, The Long Night, that battle came to an abrupt end. The Night King and his army were only one of the show’s main threats, but Game of Thrones is a story about people’s cruelty, not an ultimate evil power. And that’s exactly what we can expect from the show’s last three episodes.
Rather than a war against a faceless, decaying enemy, we’re back to the land of the living — and who finally gets the Iron Throne. So, with the Night King beaten, the North’s forces nearly wiped out, and Cersei in control of a massive mercenary army, what happens now?
As we see in the preview from episode 4, the North isn’t wasting much time celebrating their victory against the dead. Instead, its leaders turn their sights south, toward Cersei, Euron, and King’s Landing. But claiming the Iron Throne won’t be easy.
We all know which main characters are left, but the real question is how many soldiers are in their armies? The battle against the Night King’s wights has likely left the North’s army in shambles, and Cersei has a fresh army of the Second Sons at her disposal. Even with two dragons, for the leaders in the North — Tyrion, Sansa, Jon, and Daenerys — to take back King’s Landing, they’re going to have to rely on their wits, and out-planning Cersei.
Humanity’s best were all united under one banner to fight the Night King. He and his army was really the only thing keeping them from each others’ throats — and even that barely worked. Now that he’s gone, the show has room to explore the political maneuverings of each faction. Dany and Sansa are the two opposite sides in the North; they aren’t outright enemies at the moment, but that possibility doesn’t feel far off.
If Jon and Dany aren’t at odds now, they will be soon, thanks to his recently revealed parentage and stronger claim to the throne. Sansa would likely back him, too. Until last episode it seemed that Dany’s strongest ally was Tyrion Lannister, but his relationship to Sansa seems to be growing more complicated — that could mean that his loyalty is unsettled as well. Hopefully it won’t come to violence, but the shifting alliances of these four characters are sure to be a huge part of the episodes to come.
