Introduces: The Hound’s awareness that his brother, the Mountain, is still alive (well, reanimated by Cersei’s Hand of the Queen, Qyburn). Arya executes him with a Valyrian steel dagger - the very same one used to attack Bran in season 1, which Littlefinger had falsely claimed belonged to Tyrion in a lie that kickstarted the War of the Five Kings. Winter comes for Littlefinger especially when the Stark kids unite to expose his lies. That’s one scheme too many for Jaime, who finally leaves his sister behind just as winter begins. But Cersei is expecting (or at least wants people to think she is) Tyrion plays on her pregnancy to get her to join the alliance, though she secretly still plans betrayal. Not even Cersei can deny the threat posed by the wight in front of her, yet she refuses to cease wartime hostilities after Jon admits his allegiance to Dany. Plot: Almost every major player in Westeros unites in King’s Landing to discuss the Night King. But despite their time apart, the Stark siblings still recognize each other - even the greatly changed Bran. As usual, no one would mistake this skilled fighter for a fancy lady like Sansa. Historic moment: Arya returns home to Winterfell. Drogon survived Bronn’s missile, but the sight of him temporarily plunging from the sky opens the possibility that maybe someone else with better aim and stronger weapons could do real damage.
Only a last-minute intervention from Bronn saves Jaime from Drogon’s fire. As a grounded Dany works to remove the projectile, Jaime seizes his chance to run her down. But Bronn, utilizing Qyburn’s modified ballista, manages to land a bolt in Drogon’s side. It’s hard enough for the Lannister soldiers to contend with the vicious Dothraki, much less a fire-breathing dragon.
Riding Drogon, she leads her Dothraki army in a battle to wipe out Jaime’s forces. After learning of Highgarden’s fall, she leaves Dragonstone to settle the score herself. By paying close attention to an old book, he successfully cures Jorah of the disease with surgery - a nigh-impossible task that impresses even Archmaester Ebrose.
Historic moment: Most maesters are content to simply treat greyscale, but Sam has always been a careful reader.(Re)introduces: Nymeria, Arya’s long-lost direwolf, is revealed to be alive and well - and in command of a veritable dog army.The Sand Snakes are no match for Euron’s savagery, and Theon jumps in the water rather than try to save Yara from his uncle. Meanwhile, her military alliance fails its first test when Euron’s Iron Fleet attacks the Martells. Dany is also informed of Jon’s recent ascension after learning that he has Tyrion’s seal of approval, she invites him to Dragonstone to bend the knee. That changes Arya’s direction from south to north. Plot: Arya continues her trek through the Riverlands and briefly reunites with her old friend Hot Pie, who tells her that Jon is King in the North now.