Game Of Thrones fights ice with fire on a dark and terrifying "Long Night"

If last week was the calm before the storm on Game Of Thrones, then this week’s episode, “The Long Night,” was both the storm itself and its eerily still eye. As this week’s special guest, film editor A.A. Dowd, points out, for all of its chaotic, borderline incoherent battle scenes, “The Long Night” also had some compelling quieter moments: Arya’s escape from the library, for example, or the look Tyrion and Sansa give each other before they rush out to kill some wights in the crypt at Winterfell. We discuss all of this, plus hand out medals for valor, analyze how the show’s approach to character deaths has evolved, and squint to see what’s going on on the dimly lit battlefield, on this week’s Winter Is Coming With The A.V. Club.

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For more discussion, visit our Game Of Thrones experts and newbies recaps, and join us in revisiting pivotal moments in our series, Month Of Thrones. We’ll be back next Monday to see what happens when the living start fighting each other for a change.