One Piece Chapter 940 Review/Recap

When you read One Piece long enough, you’ll learn not to freak out over every little problem that occurs. The reason being that it will either work itself out or turn out to be to Luffy’s advantage. In this case, I’d say getting thrown in Udon Prison’s working to Luffy’s advantage.

Recap

After his argument with Shinobu, Trafalgar storms off in order to bust the Heart Pirates out of prison, despite knowing that it’s likely a trap or they already talked. Usopp and Nami don’t blame them; they’d do the same thing.

The quiet’s interrupted by three newcomers to Ebisu Town: Bungo, Bongo, and Bingo. These three stooges lived in the Flower Capital running an arson scam, burning down buildings and then getting the money to rebuild them and from the families of people who died.

Komurasaki swindled them out of all their money, and when they tried to kill her a few chapters back, they got thrown out. I love karma. They’re now living with Tonoyasu.

Speaking of Tonoyasu, he tells the others that he will provide all the support he can when the Alliance launches their rebellion, then goes on his merry way. Shinobu and Kanjuro still have no idea who he is, though.

Regardless, it’s clear that everyone in Ebisu Town loves Tonoyasu and his smile. He doesn’t have any money of his own since wages are virtually nothing. He even had to sell his own daughter to the Flower Capital. To everyone’s surprise, his daughter’s actually Toko.

Toko sends all the money she earns back to her father, but her dad feels bad about it, so he gives it to everyone else in town so that they can get by, even if it means he goes hungry. So he’s beloved by everyone in town as their Buddha.

Meanwhile, in Udon Prison, Luffy and Hyogoro have managed to beat the stuffing out of everyone Queen throws at them. Fed up, Queen decides to call it a night and continue tomorrow.

While the guards are knocked out, Luffy tells Hyogoro why he’s so determined to beat Kaido: so he can be King of the Pirates. Not surprisingly, Hyogoro actually met Gol D. Roger when he came to Wano years ago. Their conversation’s cut short by the appearance of Caribou and Raizo. That key Raizo stole turned out to be for Caribou’s shackles, so now he can he use his Swamp-Swamp powers.

Caribou then begs Luffy to let him be his subordinate, and that he’s changed. (So lying). So what does Luffy do?

The implication is that if Caribou tries anything again, Luffy will kick his ass. That will be enough to keep him in line for a while.

Hyogoro, meanwhile, nearly cries tears of joy when he learns that the Kozuki Clan and the Nine Red Sheaths are still alive. Combined with Luffy’s compassion to him, the old man decides to throw his lot in with them and help take down Kaido and Orochi. And he won’t be alone. Udon Prison is bigger than they know.

There are four other mines that make up Udon Prison, each as big as the one they’re in, and home to tens of thousands of prisoners. Most of them were imprisoned for attempting to rebel against Orochi. On top of that, the former bosses of the Yakuza are in Udon as well; they will follow Hyogoro and the Kozuki Clan. Luffy makes it clear to everyone what they need to do: destroy Udon Prison and join forces to defeat Kaido.

The hour of freedom may be closer than the group thinks: Chopper and Big Mom’s group has just arrived outside of Udon.

Review

If you read my recap of the First Act of the Wano Arc, then you’ll remember how I said that Luffy would be running Udon Prison within a few days. That’s largely come true. I also predicted that when Luffy escaped, he would bring all the prisoners with him for the rebellion. This has turned out to be even better than I hoped for. Tens of thousands of people in one place, and all of them hate Orochi. If they were to escape, they would have the numbers they may need to crush Kaido.

They may not have a choice, though. With Big Mom already at Udon Prison’s gates, they may end up getting out that night. Oh well, just improvise.

There is a downside to this, though. If everyone was to escape, then Orochi and Kaido would become too paranoid to hold their yearly meeting. For all we know, Kaido could decide to call whatever forces he doesn’t already have in Wano to his location. This could lead to an even bigger war than I anticipated.

This chapter ended up getting me seriously pumped for what is to come. If done right, this will be the second mass prison break that Luffy’s responsible for. There are still a lot of unknown factors to worry about, but I know Luffy can handle anything.

I Give “The Spark of Rebellion” a 5/5. I am so pumped for the next one!

Sword Art Online: Alicization, Episode 11 Review/Recap

If you haven’t watched the rest of the anime yet, then last episode will have gotten you confused: how is Alice an Integrity Knight now?

Well, that answer will be revealed in due time. For now, though, Kirito and Eugeo are about to go through a literal boss tower in order to find the answers behind the Axiom Church and that stupid Taboo Index.

LINK, START!

Recap

Picking up where the last episode left off, Eugeo’s positive that the woman before them is his childhood friend, Alice. Alice, on the other hand, doesn’t even recognize him or Kirito. Kirito advises that they do what she says until they get inside the Central Cathedral, and after a brief farewell to Ronye and Tiese, they are hauled back to the tower.

The scene then switches back to the Ocean Turtle, where Asuna is lamenting the fact that she has no role to play in this part of the story. She also encounters a prototype robot that RATH has built.

Once they manage to get one of the Underworld residents to develop into a full bottom-up AI, they plan on transferring them out of Underworld and into a robot body for them to inhabit. Fortunately, the newer models are becoming more human-like. Remember this for later: it will come in handy in the final part of the arc. Oh, and Asuna passes these two guys in the hallway that made my Spider-Sense go into overdrive, so I’m guessing they’re enemy spies or something.

Back in Underworld, a full day has passed since Kirito and Eugeo got thrown in the slammer. Bored with sitting around, they decide to finally break for it. Using their chains durability against it, they’re able to shatter the chains, and then walk right past the sleeping guard.

After making it onto the ground floor, their next step is to retrieve their swords. They also come to the conclusion that the Axiom Church has been erasing people’s memories in order to turn them into Integrity Knights, which explains why Alice seemed like a completely different person than what Eugeo remembers. To add onto the mystery, they run into Alice’s junior, Eldrie Synthesis Knight Thirty-One. According to him, he was only “summoned” a month ago, but Alice put him in charge of stopping Kirito and Eugeo once they busted out.

Review

Continue off the theme of comparing this to an RPG, this would be the point at which the hero ends up going through the wave of bosses in a dungeon tower. If this were a normal game, this may be the final act of that game. But since this is only the first half of the fifty episode Alicization Arc, this would be the end of the first disc, like with Final Fantasy VII.

I skimmed through what happens next, but I can tell you this: from here on out, Kirito and Eugeo are going to be spending the rest of the season fighting their way through the Integrity Knights in order to learn what happened to Alice and the truth behind the Axiom Church. From what my fellow blogger, Karandi, wrote, these next few episodes are going to be either really fun to watch or a snooze-fest. Either way, I am going to keep doing this series.

I would normally criticize the pacing of this episode, but I understand that’s done in order to set for what’s to come. As long as the payoff ends up being good, then I will consider this worth it in the end.

I give “Central Cathedral” a 3/5

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Eden’s Zero Chapter 40 Review/Recap

….Holy crap, that was dark. Is this what Xiao Mei meant when she said that this story was going to get sadistic? Because it crossed the line from sadistic to moral event horizon. In this chapter, we see how Hermit went from the happy young girl/machine to someone who despises humans.

Recap

Most of this chapter is told in flashback, but in the present, it’s the same old thing: Jamilov is tearing the ship apart. It’s the past that should be focused on.

That project that those scientists asked Hermit to be a part of was apparently a giant ether battery. Supposedly, it’s to provide ether to the neighboring Planet Hook (the thing with the hooks in the upper left corner). It’s a planet filled with machines without any purpose who are running short on ether. But this battery thing is supposed to fix that.

Hermit worked harder than anyone to make sure the plan would work, and then came the day of the test.

That “battery” thing was a giant ether cannon, and those scientists used it to blow Planet Hook and all the machines on it into space debris. They used Hermit so they could finish the project and fulfill their machine genocide. Then they decide to imprison Hermit and take her apart.

Review

Those who treat others so deplorably forfeit their own humanity. No wonder Hermit says that humans have no souls. If I went through what she did, I would think so, too! I have seen some messed up things in manga before, but this is one of the most sadistic, cold-hearted things I’ve ever read.

I honestly don’t know what’s worse: the fact that those scientists just blew up a planet, or how guilt-ridden Hermit must feel for being fooled into helping them. This was one of the darkest things Mashima has done in a long time, and I came away with a genuine sense of shock and sorrow. Anything that can make a person feel genuine emotion is a sign of good storytelling, and Mashima has that in spades.

I Give “Plan C7” a 5/5. Sadistic indeed

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Edens Zero Chapter 39 Review/Recap

What’s worse than a troll/griefer that abuses the power of technology to make other people’s lives miserable? One that doesn’t give up on anything. It would seem that the Digitalis Arc has not quite wrapped up, and since I am a week behind on this due to working on my Game of Thrones stuff, I will doing this back to back with the new chapter.

Recap

Years ago, Ziggy told the Four Shining stars that he was retiring to his hometown of Granbell to raise Shiki, and that they were free to decide their lives from then on. While Hermit initially wanted to join Ziggy, she decided that she wanted to become friends with people.

In the present, the crew of Eden’s Zero was able to bring back Hermit, but she’s still in her state of depression. Also, for some reason, being in those suits in stasis made them all really, really sweaty.

As Sister and Witch explain, she may be back physically, but she’s still not back to the cheerful self that she was in the past. Just as Shiki decides to go talk to her, alarms start blaring like crazy.

As it stands, they need Hermit and her computer skills to protect the Eden’s Zero from within cyberspace. Without it, it’s easy prey to hackers like this ugly mug.

According to Rebecca, he’s one of the top five hackers in the Sakura Cosmos. In Digitalis, he was Jamilov. Now he has hacked into the ship as payback for them ruining his plans. As a result, the ship is tearing itself apart. The only one who can stop Jamilov is Hermit, but she still refuses to do anything while being locked in the Clothes Factory

The chapter then ends with another flashback where it’s revealed that a group of scientists asked for her help in creating a device that can help machines. Hermit happily agreed to help at the time.

Review

I have been wondering since we first met her how Hermit got to be so sad and hate humanity so much. Now I’m starting to get a clearer picture. Whatever those scientists promised her turned out to be a lie that hurt a lot of machines. That’s why she hates humans so much.

This is just a theory, though. Until the next chapter comes out this week, I can’t be sure of anything. Given that this is a Shonen manga, though, Shiki will end up making her realize that some humans are worth trusting. I’ve read this “tragic backstory” scenario long enough to become genre-savvy at it. That said, I’m still looking forward to seeing what it has in store for us.

I Give “The Genius Spider Hacker” a 3/5

Some Stray Observations

• Anyone notice how bummed Pino was to be back in her robot body?

• BABY SHIKI!

• 

One Piece Chapter 939 Review/Recap

I am so sorry this wasn’t out sooner, you guys. I too busy last week working on my stuff for Game of Thrones, so I had very little time to focus on anything else on my blog. My apologies. But I’m here to make it up to you with the most recent chapter of One Piece, and it was a good one indeed.

Recap

After revealing herself as Momonuske’s littler sister, Hiyori’s overjoyed by the fact that Zoro knows her brother. As for Toko, Hiyori had told her years ago; she was one of the few people who knew Hiyori’s true identity. Which would explain why she was so attached to her as Komurasaki.

As to why she didn’t go with her brother and his other retainers into the future, it was a contingency plan to ensure the Kozuki Clan’s survival if something went wrong. She was then raised by one of her father’s retainers, the self-proclaimed Kawamatsu the Kappa.

He did more than that, though. He helped her learn how to smile again after Kaido and Orochi killed her parents, singing and dancing to make her laugh. They got separated when she was 13, but she’s confident he’s still alive (he is in Udon Prison right now).

Out of the Kozuki Clan retainers known as the Nine Red Sheaths, the only one that the Alliance hasn’t met yet is the one called Denjiro. All others have either been recruited or located (at least, the readers know this).

Back in the capital, Orochi’s hunt for the Kozuki Clan loyalists is getting worse and worse. They’re arresting so many people that the jail house is full to bursting, the Heart Pirates among them. Should this continue, all their supporters will be captured.

Back in Udon Prison, Queen is busting out the big guns: he’s sent in an Armadillo SMILE user. And the user has guns filled with Seastone bullets. With Luffy’s Haki ability to see into the future, though, he and Hyogoro are doing fine. Luffy’s just frustrated he can’t master that advanced armament Haki that Rayleigh used. Once he makes that known, Hyogoro offers to teach it to him.

In Wano, there’s a technique for Haki that Hyogoro knows, called “Goken”. Using Luffy’s Haki to predict the enemy, Hyogoro uses his own Haki and shows the technique, sending one of their opponents flying.

Review

Like my title suggests, never underestimate the abilities of the elderly in anime and manga. I’d say don’t underestimate the elderly in general, but in the case of a lot of Japanese cartoons and comics, the elderly are tough. Shonen has a long tradition of having old men and women with crazy strength, and a lot of them have been from One Piece.

The more we see of Hyogoro, the more convinced I am that he’s going to be one of the deciding factors in the coming war against Kaido. If this is how strong he is after being in prison for years, then imagine what he can do once he gets proper care? People will flock to him!

No matter what happens, I can only see Luffy’s time in prison ending in one way: he and all the other inmates bust out, and Luffy will be far stronger than he was before. If he can master this “Goken” technique, it might be enough to put him on equal footing with Kaido in the final battle. Otherwise, he won’t have a chance.

I really enjoyed this chapter. We got an update on the Kozuki Clan’s retainers, we saw a glimpse of Hiyori’s past, and we are seeing how all the pieces in this game are ending up where they need to be. The climax to this arc is going to be amazing!

I Give “An Old Leopard’s Claws are Always Sharp” A 4.5/5

Sword Art Online: Alicization, Episodes 9 and 10 Review/Recap

I knew this day would come, but I’ve dreaded it all the same. Why on earth did Reki Kawahara think that this was a good idea? I even put off watching these episodes for a week because I didn’t want to deal with what I saw. Well, there’s no point in delaying the inevitable. Here are the episodes of Sword Art Online: Alicization that caused controversy before Shield Hero was a thing. And unlike Shield Hero, these episodes were legitimately controversial.

LINK, START!

Recap

“Nobleman’s Responsibilities”

Time has passed since Kirito and Eugeo became elite swordsmen at the Sword Mastery Academy, and Eugeo’s skill continues to grow. After realizing that he doesn’t have that spark to his attacks that others have, Eugeo begins to train himself even further.

Then these wastes of human flesh show up: Humbert and Raios. They’re the Nobles who wrecked Kirito’s flower bed last episode. They also represent the worst kind of upper class people: the kind that gets off bullying everyone beneath them, like Eugeo. That’s probably how they get the number one and two spots in the academy. In order to gauge how powerful he is and how strong they are, Eugeo duels Humbert. The brat’s power is formidable, and literally fueled by his arrogance, but Eugeo manages to fight him to a standstill.

A few days pass, and Kirito and Eugeo are taking their valets, Tiese and Ronye, for a picnic. After a while, Tiese and Ronye bring up a big problem their friend, Frenica, is having. Humbert’s her mentor, and ever since their duel, he’s been forcing Frenica to do things that are borderline sexual harrassment. He’s been forcing her to massage him in the baths in her underwear. Just typing this makes my stomach churn.

It all goes back to the Taboo Index and how flawed it is, and Kirito doesn’t buy it. Doing what one knows is right is more important than following some dumb rules.

When the two confront Humbert and Raios, they admit it, but they can get away with it because of the Taboo Index.

I can’t stand it. Watching people in power abuse it for their own sick desires makes my blood boil and my stomach churn. The worst part is that this isn’t limited to fiction: this happens in real life.

That evening, Tiese confesses to Eugeo that, she graduates, she will be forced to marry someone of higher status, and she’s terrified that it will be someone like Raios and Humbert. If Eugeo were to rank high enough in the future Four Empire Unification Tournament, he’ll be granted a rank of nobility. I think you know where this is going.

“Taboo Index”

A few days later, Eugeo gets a knock on his door and meets Frenica. The poor girl reveals that Tiese and Ronye went to confront Humbert and Raios and never came back.

Yep, the two have been kidnapped by the monsters, and as they punishment for their “disrespect” they’re going to violate them. When Eugeo tries to stop them, the cowards invoke the Taboo Index as justification. Remembering his inability to save Alice and what Kirito said in the last episode, Eugeo overcomes the Taboo Index through sheer willpower and slashes Humbert’s arm off.

When Raios tries to kill Eugeo for attacking them, Kirito intervenes, and proceeds to slice Raios’ hands off. The living pile of crap then bleeds to death while his fluctlight tears itself over using Humbert’s life to save himself and violating the Taboo Index.

As Kirito, Eugeo and their valets process what just happened, that creepy face that showed up when Alice broke the Index appears again. The boys know what this means. The next morning, an Integrity Knight shows up to take them to the Central Cathedral for punishment. The knight in question shocks Eugeo, though. She looks just like Alice.

Review

I don’t know what Reki Kawahara was thinking when he thought that this moment was a good idea, but it may not have been any good. I was already pushing it with what happened with Asuna back in the Fairy Dance Arc, but this was just as bad. That’s why I put off watching it until now.

That said, the original Web Novel version was actually worse. What Humbert and Raios planned to do to Tiese and Ronye actually happened in the Web Novel. Which is just as bad!

After watching this, I have to admit that it was as cringeworthy as I thought it would be. The worst part, though, is that part of the story wasn’t even included. In the Light Novel, Eugeo had this internal struggle over defying the Taboo Index. In here, we barely even see it..

I mentioned back when I started this that I loathed the Taboo Index with every fiber of my being. This moment is why. It’s a rule that literally keeps people from doing anything when they see something they know is wrong happen in front of them. I’m proud that Eugeo was able to do what he did. I would have done the exact same thing.

As for the Integrity Knight who looks like Alice, I can assure you that its really her. Read the wiki, remember? How she got to be like this is going to be revealed over the remaining episodes this season. Next week, we begin the second half of this season.

I Give “Nobleman’s Responsibilities” and “Taboo Index” A 2/5.

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I meant to publish my review and list of favorite moments from the first episode the day after it aired, but I couldn’t think of what it is I wanted to say. I want to make this count. I was a latecomer to Game of Thrones; I didn’t join until the end of Season Six. After going back and watching it in its entirety, I understand a little of why it’s the greatest show in the world.

Every so often, mankind will come up with a story that not only entertains people, but redefines how we tell them. Something that pushes the boundaries of what our collective imagination can do into places that we may never knew it could go. A story so great, that people will be telling it for centuries after the original storyteller is dust. Greece had The Iliad and The Odyssey, England had the works of William Shakespeare; our parents generation had the original Star Wars. And now we have Game of Thrones.

What D.B. Weiss, David Benioff, and the countless people behind this show has redefined what can be done in a TV show. It’s done things that people would have called impossible. It’s not just one of the best shows of all time; it’s one of the best stories of all time. If mankind lives long enough to see the next few centuries, I hope that will still be talking about this show. That’s why I want to make this as perfect as possible, as a fan and as a writer.

Now, though, a week has passed, and the next episode airs tonight. the time for reflecting/fanboying is over. You can expect the review and best moments for episode 2 on Tuesday.

Click here for my review of Episode 1: “Winterfell”

P.S.- Happy Easter Sunday, everyone!

Game of Thrones, Season 8, Episode 1 Review

After eight years, sixty-eight episodes, and more deaths than I can name off the top of my head, the end is here. The Wall has fallen, and the Night King leads his undead army south to conquer Westeros. Now the Seven Kingdoms must put aside the fact that they’ve been at each others throats for years and fight as one. With only six episodes left, the final season of Game of Thrones needs to end in a way that will please most of the fans.

Despite the urgency in the show and in real life, the first episode of Game of Thrones’ final season is a slow burn. That’s a good thing, though! Given what’s about to happen, now is the time to wrap up any remaining plot threads before the final battle. With almost all the surviving cast converging on or at Winterfell, this was the right time to focus on tying up loose ends.

The first scene was a virtual book-end to the first episode. Mirroring King Robert’s arrival in Winterfell in the first episode, Jon, Daenerys, and all the people in their camp arrive in Winterfell. Daenerys’ arrival is as different from Robert’s as summer and winter. The North remembers, and while we know that Daenerys isn’t a tyrant like her father, it will take time to earn everyone’s trust.

Speaking of trust, Euron came through for Cersei and got her the Golden Company. What’s more, she seems to be willing to fulfill her promise to marry Euron, her only big ally left. As for Jaime, she now considers even him an enemy, to the point where she tries to convince Bron to kill him and Tyrion if the White Walkers don’t. Aboard the Iron Fleet, a smaller reunion takes place as Theon manages to quickly rescue Yara.

I’ve long considered the Greyjoys story to be among the show’s weak points, but in spite of that, I had hoped otherwise. I thought that Theon would rescue Yara and they would end up killing their uncle, but I’m quickly remined that that doesn’t happen in Game of Thrones. With Yara departing to retake the Iron Islands, we may not even see her the final episode, if at all. As for Theon, he’s going to fight at Winterfell, and I’m almost certain he’s going to die there.

The rest of the episode, though, focuses on what it needs to: reunions, revelations, and first meetings. A lot of the show’s caast met each other for the first time in years, and it was fun to see. The moment that made the Internet lose it, though, was the reunion between Jon and Arya. Arya’s road has been dark and bloody and has hardened her heart. Yet when I saw her face light up as she ran into Jon’s arms, I could see the little girl she once was. Which made me even more upset at when Arya subtly told Jon to never forget who his family was.

Now, let’s talk about the scene we’re all here for: Jon Snow knows something. I admit, I did not expect it to happen the way it did, and it was upsetting that Sam had to tell Jon right after learning that Daenerys killed his father and brother. It almost like it was done out of spite, something I didn’t think Sam was capable of. But my concerns over that, though, vanished when I saw the look on Jon’s face when Sam told him the truth: he was the son Rhaegar Tarygaryen and Lyanna Stark. His face twisted into one of confusion, then shock, and then disbelief.

What he did next I didn’t expect: he was shocked, but about the fact that Ned Stark lied to him his entire life. If you know Jon Snow, then you know that Ned Stark wasn’t just his father-figure, he was his hero and role model. From the moment he left Winterfell, he’s tried to honor what Ned taught him. Once that sinks in, he refuse to accept the truth of his heritage, declaring Daenerys to be his Queen, despite Sam’s insistence.

Earlier in this same scene, Sam told Jon that he’s “always been a king”. Sam was right: time and time again, Jon has proven himself to be a king. When he sees something wrong, he’s the first to speak up about it or fight over it. He’s the first to jump into battle, and inspires loyalty in those who follow him. And unlike a lot of the king’s on this show, he has a moral compass and will follow it.
Jon has many of the qualities that would make for a good king; given practice and help from Sansa, he could learn how to deal with politics.

There’s one quality about Jon that Daenerys, Cersei, and Euron don’t have, though: he doesn’t want to be king. He’s smart enough to know that being a king stinks. It’s a lot of hard work that involves making morally questionable choices and putting up with people you hate. And now that he’s being told that he’s the rightful king of the Seven Kingdoms, he wants nothing to do with it.

He might not have a choice, though. I’ve come to the conclusion that either he or Daenerys will not survive the final season, and that the one who survives will be the best claimant to the Iron Throne. It’s just a question of whom, and we have five episodes left to answer that.

So yes, this episode was slow, and considering what’s at stake, that might not be for everyone. I understand how important it is for this episode to be a slow burn: because of what’s coming. In one week’s time, the Seven Kingdoms are going to experience the biggest storm television has ever seen. We need these last moments of calm before that happens, and I’m grateful the show knew this.

In short, I loved this episode. Everything was well-written and thought out, moments fans have dreamed of for years happened before our eyes, and the actors gave it their all. Even the one part I didn’t like with Theon and Yara didn’t last long.

I Give “Winterfell” a 5 out of 5.

Stray Observations

• Cersei really wanted those elephants.
• Remember Ed Sheeran and that awful cameo he made last season? Turns out his character’s alive, but he got his eyelids burned off by Drogon
• Rest In Peace, Ned Umber, the first casualty of the final season

My 8 Favorite Scenes from Game of Thrones, Season 7

After seven seasons, winter has come. Yet the Seven Kingdoms remains as divided as ever. Dorne and the Reach are in revolt against the Iron Throne, which Cersei Lannister now controls. The North has declared its independence once more with Jon Snow as king, with the Free Folk and the Vale backing him. The Riverlands are in chaos. Daenerys Targaryen is about to make landfall. But the biggest issue at this long list of problems is that the Night King is marching on the Wall!!!

This season wasn’t as epic as the previous one, to be sure. But with only seven episodes this season, and six in the upcoming final season, it was more important that all the remaining pieces be put in place as the storm approaches. And now that they had moved beyond the books, the show was in uncharted territory. There was no telling what would happen now, but it turned out to be awesome.

With one day left before the final season, here are my eight favorite moments from Game of Thrones. That’s right, I’m going one up for this season!

#8- The Band of Seven Moves out, “Eastwatch”

When Jon realizes that he will be unable to convince Cesei and Jaime (or fully convince Daenerys) without proof, he comes up with the craziest plan ever. He will go beyond the wall, capture a wight, and bring it back as proof for Westeros that the threat is real. He won’t be alone, though. Six other battle-tested warriors join him in the Wight Hunt: Ser Jorah Mormont, Gendry, The Hound, Beric Dorrdarrion and Thoros of Myr from the Brotherhood Without Banners, and Tormund Giantsbane of the Free Folk.

Once upon a time, this team up was the kind of thing that only existed in fan fiction. Now, it’s making the fan fiction writers drool. Seeing them together isn’t even the best part, though. That happens in the next episode, where we see the seven of them talk about their experiences, both shared and separate, is amazing to listen to, and one of the best parts of this season.

#7- Daenerys arrives in Dragonstone, “Dragonstone”

Since the moment she was born, Daenerys Targaryen has been living in exile from her homeland. Making her way back to Westeros and taking back the Iron Throne has always been her objective, and at the end of Season Six, she set out with her massive army, her allies, and her dragons. In the final scene of the first episode, Daenerys arrives in Dragonstone for the first time since she was born.

This scene lasted for several minutes, but not a single word of dialogue was spoken. Instead, the actors let their bodies speak for them. From when Daenerys silently kneels down on the beaches of Dragonstone to feel the ground of her home, to her looking around her family’s castle (and tearing down Stannis’ banners), you can feel so much emotion behind it. All while not saying a thing, until the very end, when Daenerys looks at Tyrion and says “Shall we begin?”

#6- Gendry’s Back, “Eastwatch”

When we last saw Gendry, he was rowing all the way back to King’s Landing back in Season Three. After that, he just dropped off the map. It got to the point that people had made memes about Robert Baratheon’s last son.

Knowing that Jon needs all the help he can get, Ser Davos sneaks into King’s Landing to find Gendry, laying low and working as a blacksmith for the people who killed his father. When Davos mentions he has something planned up North, Gendry’s happy to come along… with his giant war hammer

Unlike Joffrey, Gendry is the spitting image of his father: he’s strong, brave, and a good fighter. And since he grew up a commoner, he doesn’t have his father’s vices. So it was disappointing to see him leave in Season Three. The fact that the show chose to bring him back so close to the end means one of two things: either they’re trying to tie up loose ends, or Gendry has a role to play in the Great War.

That said, I hope Gendry lives. After Jon and Daenerys, Gendry’s the person I want to see sit on the Iron Throne. At the very least, he can be legitimized and we can start calling Gendry Baratheon, Lord of the Stormlands. To be honest, I’ve been calling him “Gendry Baratheon” for years now.

#5- Jon Snow and Daenerys First Meet, “The Queen’s Justice”

After Melisandre tells Daenerys and Tyrion about Jon Snow being the King in the North, Daenerys decides to ask him to come to Dragonstone and recruit him in her fight against Cersei. Jon goes to recruit her in the fight against the White Walkers, because she has her dragons, and Dragonstone has a mountain of dragonglass. Their first meeting is awkward and filled with tension, and while the Dragon Queen isn’t convinced about the White Walkers, she does let him mine for dragonglass.

Another moment that once existed only in the annals of fanfiction, this is a major moment for the show. Unknown to all but the audience, Jon and Daenerys are the last members of House Targaryen, and thus blood-related. Which makes the romantic tension growing between them all the more regrettable..

#4- Jaime Finally Leaves Cersei, “The Dragon and the Wolf”

Cersei Lannister doesn’t care about anyone except herself, her children and Jaime. So when Jon and Daenerys ask her to join forces with them, she refuses, then seems to agree when she thinks her unborn son is at risk. Later, Cersei reveals to Jaime that her real plan is to let Jon, Daenerys and the Nigh King exhaust themselves, then fight the winner using her new army of mercenaries.

Just when I thought I wouldn’t find any more reasons to despise Cersei, she pulls this off. She’s willing to let Westeros be destroyed if it means keeping her throne. She’s selfish, short-sighted, spiteful, and worse. Everything that I despise in a ruler. Disgusted at his sister’s willingness to let Westeros die, Jaime finally abandons his sister and rides north by himself to fight in the Great War.

The Jaime Lannister we met in Season One would never have done this, but he’s been through a lot since then. Being captured by Robb Stark, losing his sword hand, and traveling with Brienne have changed him into something better. He finally realizes that his sister has become as evil as the Mad King and wants nothing to do with her anymore. I hope he lives through the Great War.

#3- Jon Proves the White Walkers are Real, “The Dragon and the Wolf”

For years, the Lords of Westeros scoffed at the idea that the White Walkers were real, let alone a threat. If they knew the truth, then maybe they wouldn’t have exhausted themselves in the War of the Five Kings. Jon Snow silences those doubts for good at the meeting in King’s Landing when he presents a captured wight to the Lannisters and Euron Greyjoy.

I will never forget the look on Cersei and Jaime’s faces when they first saw the wight charge at them. When Jaime asked them how many there were, I could tell that this was the most terrifying thing that he had ever seen. Then Euron Greyjoy, who we’ve never seen be scared of anything, pretends to run back to the Iron Islands and hide. Ploy or not, I think that he was truly terrified by what he saw.

This moment makes everyone in the Seven Kingdoms realize that they are facing Armageddon. Regardless of how much they’ve hurt each other over the years, if they don’t fight as one, then there will be nothing left for anyone. Yet Cersei still refuses to help because she’s an idiot.

#2- Battle on the Goldroad, “The Spoils of War”

After her attempts to use her Westerosi allies to take the Seven Kingdoms falls flat, Daenerys loses patience. Forgoing clever plans, she decides to take the late Olenna’s advice and be a dragon. She launches an all-out attack on the Lannister-Tarly army using her Dothraki and Drogon. The result is a total rout of the Lannister-Tarly forces.

I had thought that the Battle of the Bastards was impressive, but this was one of the most amazing feats in the shows history. Dozens of actors, world-class cinematography, and the fact that this is the first true battle that the dragons have been in, all made for one of the best scenes in the entire show, a personal favorite of mine. Years from now, film students will study how they pulled of this scene.

#1-Jon Snow’s Not a Bastard, “The Dragon and the Wolf”

Last season confirmed that “R+L=J” was true: Jon Snow is actually the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Bran never anyone this, vowing only to tell Jon when he returned. Then Samwell remembered what Gilly read in the High Septon’s diary: Rhaegar had his marriage to Elia Martell annulled. All Bran needed to do was confirm it with his greensight.

Lyanna was never kidnapped: she and Rhaegar fell in love and ran away together to get married in secret. That means that Jon, whose real name is Aegon Targaryen, is legitimate. All this time, all this fighting over who should be on the Iron Throne, and the rightful king has been under everyone’s noses.

To be fair, I disagree with Bran when he says that “Robert’s Rebellion was built on a lie”. I consider it a tragic mistake. I doubt that Rhaegar and Lyanna meant for it to get so out of control. It’s the Mad King’s fault for starting a rebellion. Whether or not this will affect who gets the Iron Throne has yet to be seen. I do know this, though: if Jon and Daenerys keep sleeping with each other, they’re repeating the mistake that brought down the Targaryens in the first place!

Agree with my picks? Ready for the Final Season? Let me know what your favorite moment from this season was.

Click here to see my favorite deaths from this season

The 6 Biggest deaths from Season Seven of Game of Thrones

If the first three seasons of Game of Thrones were the first act, and seasons four through six were the second, then Seasons Seven and Eight are the final act. With the Great War upon the Seven Kingdoms and all who live in them, Season Seven was about putting all the remaining players and pieces of the game into their roles. It also meant clearing away the pieces that weren’t needed for the war to come.

One day remains until the final season of Game of Thrones, and we are going to look at the six biggest deaths of the penultimate season to this legendary show.

#7- House Frey, “Dragonstone”

In the opening scene of Season Seven, there appears to be a flashback of Walder Frey meeting with his sons to discuss House Frey’s plans for the winter. After a quick toast, he then reminds them how they murdered Robb Stark, his army, his wife and unborn child, and mother at the Red Wedding. One by one, the Freys fall to ground, spewing up blood from drinking poisoned wine. It’s then that we see that “Walder Frey” was, in fact, Arya Stark wearing Walder’s face.

While I was already satisifed with the masterminds behind the Red Wedding dead, Arya took it a step further and wiped out everyone who took part in the massacre. The fact that it’s not revealed until the end that it was Arya in disguise was a very satisfying twist. What makes this even cooler, though, is what Arya tells the women who witnessed what happened: that the North remembers, and that winter came for House Frey. That last line’s turns House Stark’s words into not only a warning of bad times will eventually come, but a threat to anyone who incurs House Stark’s wrath.

#6- Olenna Tyrell, “The Queen’s Justice”

After her entire family is killed when Cersei blew up the Sept of Baelor, House Tyrell’s was doomed to extinction, and Olenna Tyrell knew it. So, she decided that she would take Cersei down before she died, allying with House Targaryen to get revenge. Sadly, Jaime Lannister is one step ahead of her, and marches the Lannister army on Highgarden before she can rally her forces, then allowing her to commit suicide by poison.

Olenna Tyrell was one of my favorite characters in the entire show, and I was really sad to see her go. She dished out the best insults! But my sorrow turned to joy when Olenna used her final moments to troll Cersei one last time. She let Jaime and Cersei know that she was the one who killed Joffrey. She may have died, but she got the last laugh!

#5- Randyll Tarly, “Eastwatch”

Despite claiming to be a man of honor and loyalty, when Jaime offered House Tarly the chance to become the new Wardens of the South, Randyll Tarly turned on Olenna Tyrell. Forutnatley, he didn’t get to live long enough to enjoy his new status. After being capture by Daenerys’ army at the Kingsroad, Daenerys burns him and his son Dickon for refusing to bend the knee

This one’s on here less because it helped drive the plot forward, and more because of personal feelings. From the moment I saw Randyll Tarly, I hated him and his Q-ball hairdo. He was a cruel and abusive father who constantly bullied his son Sam because he couldn’t fit his idea of what it means to be a man. He even went so far as to tell Sam that if he didn’t join the Night’s Watch, he would make sure he would “accidentally” die on a hunt.

What’s more, he was also racist, deriding Gilly once he found she was a wildling, and calling her “a thing”. If I were there, I would walk right up to him, punch him square across the jaw, and tell him “Sam may not be perfect, but whatever his faults, he’s more of a man than you’ll ever be”. I’m only sorry that Dickon died with him.

#4- Ellaria and Tyene Sand, “The Queen’s Justice”

When we first met Ellaria, she was Oberyn’s lover and the mother of their children, the Sand Snakes. After the Mountain killed Oberyn, Ellaria became filled with hatred and became determined to destroy Cersei, even killing her innocent daughter, Myrcella, and Oberyn’s brother and nephew to seize power in Dorne. This comes back to bite her when she and her daughter are captured by Euron Greyjoy. Cersei then sentences Ellaria to life in prison, watching as her daughter dies from the same poison used to kill Myrcella.

I may have felt genuinely bad for Ellaria and the Sand Snakes for Oberyn’s death, but that turned to disgust when they murdered Myrcella and their own family. Ellaria was so consumed by her hatred for Cersei that she became that which she hates the most. Ellaria may not have died, but her character’s been written out of the show, so she’s basically dead. And personally, I think that she and her daughter got what they deserved.

#2- Viserion, “Beyond the Wall”

After Jon leads an expedition beyond the Wall to capture a wight as proof of the threat of the Night, they are cornered by his army. Somehow, Daenerys gets word of it in time, and, through the magic of plot convenience, shows up with Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion to rescue Jon’s group. Before anyone can react, though, the Night King wields a icy javelin, takes aim, and pierces Viserion straight through the chest.

I knew for a long time that the three dragons were going to be a major factor in the war against the White Walkers It’s probably why they hatched when Daenerys’ family failed so many times. But I never thought that the White Walkers would be able to kill a dragon so easily. I shared the look on the group’s faces: shock, then howling rage, and then sadness.

The worst part is that even though he’s dead, Viserion’s not gone. The Night King brought him back as a wight, and it seems he’s more powerful than he was in life. If Drogon and Rhaegal were to fight him now, they could end up losing. I hope that they do not.

#1- Littlefinger, “The Dragon and the Wolf”

Given everything that has happened since Season One, it’s easy to forget how the entire show started with the death of one man: Jon Arryn, King Robert’s Hand and Lord of the Vale. The mystery of his death didn’t even get solved until Season Four when Lysa admitted to poisoning her husband on Littlefinger’s command. And that was before the show even started.

Since then, Littlefinger continued to work in the shadows to amass more power, but all his schemes come undone when he tries to turn Arya and Sansa against each other. With their knowledge, and the fact that Bran can use his greensight to see everything, they finally corner him for everything:

• Getting Lysa Arryn to murder Jon Arryn
• Getting Lysa to lie to Catelyn and Ned, saying that the Lannister’s were behind Jon’s murder
• Betraying Ned Stark and letting him be wrongfully executed
• Murdering Lysa Arryn to gain power in the Vale
• Trying to turn the Stark children against each other.

With the overwhelming evidence, Arya then executes the snake using his Valyrian Steel Dagger, avenging the tens of thousands of deaths that he brought about.

Littlefinger has been on my “GOT Hate List” since I started watching the show, and next Cersei and Euron, he was the one I wanted to see die the most in Season Seven. When I saw the stunned look on his face as Sansa and Arya outed him, I grinned from ear to ear. When he finally died, I wanted to shout out, “YES!! HE’S GONE! HE’S FINALLY GONE!!! I’M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW, I DON’T EVEN CARE THAT CERSEI’S STILL ALIVE!!!!”

That was one of the best moments of my life. The only thing that can top it is seeing Cersei Lannister bite it in the final season.

Do you agree with my picks? Were you as happy as me to see Littlefinger die?

Click here to see my favorite moments from Season Seven

If you guys want to see which characters have the best odds of survival in the final season, click here. It will take you to a website featuring an advanced algorithm that predicts who survives.