The latest episode of Game of Thrones acted as the calm before the storm that is to come next week, when the army of the dead and the White Walkers look set to attack Winterfell. Although no one died in “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”, there was still plenty of little details and callbacks that you might not have seen on first viewing. Some could even hold significance about the events to come or hint at the fates of certain characters. You’ll just have to read on to find out more.
Oh, and this post obviously contains spoilers about the episode and season eight in general.
The Opening Sequence Had Another Update
Last week, the opening sequence got the biggest update it has ever had. While the astrolabe didn’t change at all in the second episode, there were some changes to the world map to show what has happened during that time. The most obvious is that Winterfell has been fitted with a variety of defences. The map shows the castle surrounded by trenches, signifying the work done to help defend the Stark home from the army of the dead. Speaking of the White Walkers, the blue tiles representing them has moved further down south, passing Last Hearth on their march towards Winterfell.
Ghost Is Back
The direwolves haven’t exactly had a great time in Game of Thrones. Only Ghost and Nymeria are still alive, the rest have been rather mercilessly killed off throughout the last seven seasons. Despite still being around, Ghost hasn’t been seen on screen since season six when he guarded Jon’s body from the traitorous members of the Night’s Watch. This isn’t because of the direwolf is no longer an important part of the story, but rather because it is too time consuming and expensive to have him appear regularly. That $15 million per episode budget must have changed things because in episode two Ghost made a very brief appearance while Jon was talking with Sam on the battlements. Hopefully this means we will see more of the loyal direwolf in the coming episodes.
Jenny Of Oldstones Has Been Mentioned Before
When no one else wants to sing a song, Podrick stepped up and gave everyone a stirring rendition of Jenny’s Song – a song not heard before in the show but that has appeared in parts in the A Song of Ice and Fire novels. It tells the story of Jenny of Oldstones, someone who viewers may not remember has been mentioned by the maesters in the Citadel on one occasion. Her story involves Duncan Targaryen, once heir to the Iron Throne. He gave up his claims and chose to marry the commoner Jenny out of love. Could this be a possible hint at what Jon might do, giving up his claim as the son of Rhaegar Targaryen for Dany?
Ned’s Sword Is Now Back In Winterfell
After he was killed by Joffrey in season one, Ned’s sword, Ice, was melted down. This Valyrian steel blade was so huge Tywin Lannister had it made into two more reasonably sized swords in the form of Widow’s Wail and Oathkeeper. Jaime Lannister later gave Oathkeeper to Brienne of Tarth. Now that he has made his way to Winterfell, Ned’s old sword has been reunited and is now back in the service of the Starks, protecting their ancestral home from the White Walkers.
There Is Dragonglass Everywhere
Keen-eyed viewers will likely have noticed that Winterfell is filled to the brim with dragonglass. As one of the few known materials to harm White Walkers and the dead they have reanimated, it has become a valuable substance to craft into weapons. However, it hasn’t just been used to create swords and axes. The entire castle has been fitted with dragonglass defences so that its walls are protected from the army of the dead.
Sansa Is Wary Jon Is Making The Same Mistakes As Robb
Sansa already warned Jon in season seven that he had to be smarter that Robb. He had been blinded by love and couldn’t see the bigger picture, something that eventually ended up getting him killed at the Red Wedding. She believes the same thing may be happening with Jon who has taken something of a liking to Dany. During their conversation in this episode, Sansa points out that “men do stupid things” when they are in love and this is a clear callback to her previous warning for Jon and the events that got Robb murdered.
Three Horn Blasts
Right at the end of the episode a horn sounds to signal that the White Walkers and their army of the dead have arrived at Winterfell. If you listened carefully you may have realized that the horn could be heard three times. This isn’t just some insignificant warning, but is a callback to earlier seasons and the Night’s Watch. Members of the organisation stationed on the wall would blast their horns once for returning rangers, twice for Wildlings, and three times if the dead were approaching.
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