Game of Thrones recap: Winter is here

A brutal massacre raises the stakes for the rest of the series — and raises intriguing questions about the HBO drama's endgame

Game of Thrones season
(Image credit: Helen Sloan/HBO)

In her first real meeting with Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen outlines her full, grandiose scheme to alter the fundamental state of power in Westeros. "Lannister, Targaryen, Baratheon, Stark, Tyrell. They're all just spokes in a wheel," she says. "I'm not going to stop the wheel. I'm going to break the wheel."

It's an undeniably rousing speech, and one that heralds what could be an optimistic, life-affirming ending for the series. Crucially, Daenerys doesn't leave her own family's name off the list. She's going to upend the entire system — even the part that allowed her ancestors to establish a political dynasty and create the iron throne. Is that realistic? Varys believes she can do it. Tyrion wants to believe she can do it. I want to believe she can do it.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Scott Meslow

Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.