Last night brought the penultimate episode of Game Of Thrones, ominously titled "The Bells." And with it came the words of house Targaryen incarnate: fire and blood. Naturally, Dany making such a brutal decision led to many fans feeling utterly shook, a response not unlike the one evoked by The Red Wedding or Oberyn Martell's demise. The response to "The Bells" has already proven divisive. Some fans appear to feel like Dany's decision was out-of-character, while others have been viewing her transition to the "Mad Queen" as long-expected. Her arc has long seen her grappling with the darker elements of her character, and occasionally giving into them.
Now, with Dany's reign in jeopardy, her decision to "let it be fear" will likely make up the "bitter" part of George R.R. Martin's oft-foretold bittersweet ending. While the fan debates have swept across the internet like Dragonfire, the cast of Game Of Thrones have taken to social media to celebrate the most recent episode, which served as a sendoff to many fan favorites. The mother of Dragons herself showcased her episode-ritual, which found her sporting a new, Varys-inspired look for the occasion.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister) ultimately met his demise this episode, and took to Instagram to let his excellent facial acting speak volumes. "I LOVE YOU" comments Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), who opts for the double-entendre hashtag of "#crushed."
At least Jaime had one last duel before he went, with none other than Euron "Finger In D'bum" Greyjoy. Actor Pilous Asbaek took to IG to share his own reaction to "The Bells," which felt eerily in-character.
Raleigh Ritchie, the man behind Grey Worm, remained unwavering in his loyalty. Taking to Twitter, he continued to stand firm behind Team Targaryen, invoking the fury of Arthur the Aardvark for emphasis. Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei) chimed in, proving her ride or die status.
Halfthor Bjornsson, aka The Mountain, finally took part in the long-awaited "Cleganebowl," which ultimately concluded in both Fire and Blood. The world's strongest man in both Westeros and our own reality took to IG to showcase some disgusting behind-the-scenes footage of his makeup transformation.
What did you think of "The Bells?" A worthy conclusion to the arc of Daenerys Targaeryn? Dad and big bro would have been so proud. Respect to the cast and crew, including Emilia Clarke who turned in an excellent performance, for their work in this new season. Look for Game Of Thrones to come to a close next Sunday, with an as of yet untitled episode.