Winterfell throws an emotional house party as Game Of Thrones prepares for battle

Despite its compressed episode run—the final season of Game Of Thrones is only six episodes—the show is taking its time. Season eight’s second episode let us bask in the presence of most of the show’s remaining characters, gathered at Winterfell and passing a long existential night of the soul before taking their stand against the dead. Senior Writer Katie Rife and Managing Editor Caitlin PenzeyMoog discuss this Game Of Thrones’ version of a bottle episode, in which tradition is fucked, character history is exploited to its full potential, and the show delivers one of its most emotionally rewarding scenes as Jaime knights Ser Brienne.

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