How Game of Thrones Season 8 Should Have Ended - Episode 5: The Trident
"At King’s Landing, Cersei discusses battle plans..."
This is a 4-episode treatment I wrote [very quickly] straight after watching the much-disputed finale to Game of Thrones in 2019.
It picks up at episode four, because the opening three episodes were fine — more than fine, in the case of The Long Night, which was stunning. I also added this extra episode.
The Trident
At King’s Landing, Cersei discusses battle plans with the Commander of the Golden Company, warning him not to underestimate Daenerys. However, she urges him to obliterate her army when he gets the chance.
On the ride south, Jon discusses the upcoming battle with Varys, who hints that he knows about Jon’s true parentage. Missandei and Grey Worm talk about their future plans in Naath.
As Dany and her fleet approach Dragonstone, Euron Greyjoy ambushes them with the Iron Fleet and wounds Rhaegal with a scorpion arrow, crippling one of his wings. Drogon torches several of Euron’s ships before Dany is forced to retreat in order to save Rhaegal. Most of her fleet is destroyed in the ensuing battle with Euron, who is the far superior sea-master.
At the Trident, Jon’s forces are also ambushed by part of the Lannister army, but the Tully forces arrive to turn the tide in the battle. Ghost, who had been tracking the army from Winterfell, also reappears and saves Jon. In the chaos, Missandei and Varys are captured by Bronn, who takes them straight to King’s Landing.
On a hill overlooking Dragonstone, Dany comforts the injured Rhaegal. A soldier informs her that Jon’s army was ambushed and Missandei and Varys have been captured by Cersei.
Euron reports his success to Cersei, who claims to be pregnant with his child. She orders the gates of the Red Keep to remain open, making the citizens hostages to deter an all-out assault on the city.
Tyrion is rescued from the sea. As he recuperates at Dragonstone, he speaks at length with Dany, urging her to think carefully about her next move. She says she will burn King’s Landing to the ground if it means Cersei is defeated. Tyrion reminds her of Jorah’s wise counsel and keeps her anger at bay, temporarily.
Jon’s army arrives at King’s Landing (Arya and the Hound are already there) and sets up camp. Jaime arrives shortly afterwards and learns what Cersei and Euron have done. Believing Tyrion to have been killed in the sea battle (as the news of his rescue hasn’t yet reached the camp), he resolves to murder his sister. As the sun rises, he leaves early to infiltrate the city.
Daenerys and her army arrive at the walls of King’s Landing. Cersei and Daenerys demand each other’s surrender, with Cersei threatening to kill Missandei. Varys appears next to Cersei and reveals he was a traitor all along, passing on information that helped Bronn and the Lannisters ambush Jon and Dany. A still-injured Tyrion attempts to appeal to Cersei’s humanity to get her to surrender, but Cersei refuses, and has Gregor Clegane behead Missandei, an act that horrifies and enrages Grey Worm and Daenerys. Dany pulls her army back and begins planning the attack.
In Winterfell, Sansa and Bran talk about who will rule the North, regardless of the outcome of the Last War. Sansa admits she fears Cersei will win. Bran says he can see hope on the horizon.
On a hill overlooking Dragonstone, Rhaegal watches as a new fleet approaches in the distance.
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I adore this show.