It may feel like it’s only just returned but alas, another season of Game Of Thrones has now sadly come to an end.
Along the way, alliances were brokered, armies were savaged and geographical logic was largely discarded.
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It was an absolutely storming season – every bit as action packed and eventful as we were promised.
As we begin the long countdown to the eighth and final season, let’s take a quick look back at the greatest moments we witnessed this time around.
Such was the sheer volume of major events this season; we can only offer honourable mentions to the likes of Euron Greyjoy’s blistering night-time naval attack, The Hound’s vision in the flames and Arya and Sansa’s emotional reunion:
Olenna Tyrell bows out – Episode 3
When Cersei’s plan came to fruition and the collected powers of Dorne, Greyjoy and Tyrell were all brought to heel, Olenna Tyrell made sure she went out with a bang.
After Jaime and his forces seized Highgarden, he offered the Queen of Thorns poison, as opposed to the painful fate Cersei had planned for her.
The fan favourite wasn’t about to pass up one final chance to rub the Lannister’s noses in it though, and after taking a sip she gleefully confessed to being behind Joffrey’s demise.
The cherry on the cake was the glint in her eye when she told Jaime to make sure Cersei knew it was her. Ruthless to the last.
Jon and Dany finally meet – Episode 3
The meeting of ice and fire finally came to pass as the show’s two central heroes met face-to-face on Dragonstone.
While it was great seeing them both put forward their respective cases and sound each other out, the highlight was definitely their initial introductions.
After Missandei reeled off Daenerys’ full extensive list of assorted names and titles, Davos duly retorted with a simple, ‘this is Jon Snow. He’s King in the North’.
The difference in both historical lineage and life experiences of these two prospective leaders was made abundantly clear in this one exquisitely timed exchange.
Dragon attack – Episode 4
Since we got our first glimpse of the dragons, we’ve all speculated as to how they will be utilised once Daenerys arrives to take the Iron Throne.
We have seen her ride them before, but it was episode four where we saw their full destructive force for the first time – and it didn’t disappoint.
On their return from Highgarden, the Lannister army was attacked by rampaging Dothraki and Daenerys herself flew into battle on Drogon.
Amidst the spectacular chaos and slaughter however, it was telling that Bronn did come close to taking Drogon down, showing for the first time that these huge beasts were not invulnerable after all.
Dracarys – Episode 5
We’ve seen glimpses of a more ruthless side to Daenerys this season and her occasional bursts of ferocity have at times left Tyrion visibly frustrated.
The prime example of this came in the aftermath of the Loot Train attack when Daenerys ordered Cersei’s Warden of the South, Randyll Tarly, to bend the knee.
When both he and his youngest son (Sam’s little brother) refuse to do so, she sentences them both to die.
In a gruesome display of victor’s justice, Dany utters ‘Dracarys’ and the two men are burned alive by Drogon.
It was a powerful statement of intent which showed that the Mother of Dragons is, quite literally, not taking any prisoners during her quest for the Iron Throne.
Dragon down – Episode 6
The breath-taking rescue of the great Northern suicide squad by Dany and the dragons proved to be a huge turning point for the show as a whole.
At first, the impact of dragon fire on the undead proved to be hugely effective.
However, the tide turned very swiftly once the Night King grabbed his trusty ice spear and launched it at Viserion, bringing the poor beast down.
It turns out that even dragons can’t escape the wrath of the White Walkers.
Things managed to still take a further turn for the worst however when, in the episode’s closing moments, after the lifeless body of Viserion was hauled out of the icy water, the Night King placed a hand on the creature’s head and suddenly a pair of huge piercing blue eyes flickered open.
Starks united – Episode 7
The simmering tension between Arya and Sansa appeared briefly to be in danger of bubbling to the surface when Sansa demanded her younger sister appear before her in Winterfell’s great hall during the season finale.
However, the two sisters soon revealed that they were in fact working together and playing Littlefinger at his own game.
We then heard a list of the great schemer’s crimes read out and it was a timely reminder of just how manipulative he had been since day one.
A moment of true catharsis soon followed when Arya used that brutal looking dagger to slash Littlefinger’s throat while he whimpered in desperation.
It was a small modicum of revenge for the various tragedies he had inflicted upon the Stark family.
As the sisters both fittingly observed, ‘the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives’.
The Walkers arrive – Episode 7
The final episode was filled with amazing moments, and while the assembly of the remaining major players in the dragon pit was pretty special, and Cersei and Tyrion’s showdown was an undoubted highlight, it was the final scenes at Eastwatch that proved the most powerful.
As Tormund and Beric looked on in horror, the full might of the army of the dead finally arrived at the Wall.
As if that wasn’t enough, they were led by the Night King flying in on Viserion, who proceeded to destroy the wall with his fiery blue breath.
We’ve waited seven seasons for the White Walkers to make it to the Wall, and when they did, it did not disappoint.
Nothing in the realms of men will ever be the same again.
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