HBO just released a batch of new photos from the upcoming eighth season of Game of Thrones, and the internet is freaking out! There is so much to process about these 14 pics, but one thing is certain: all roads lead to Winterfell. Based on the photos, it looks like most of the gang has gathered in the North and are presumably preparing for the war ahead.
One picture stood out to me: Tyrion Lannister back in Winterfell. If you’ll recall, Tyrion visited Winterfell in the very first season, first as part of King Robert’s entourage and then on his way back from the Wall, but he hasn’t been back since. Ever curious, Tyrion found his trip to the North — particularly his jaunt to Castle Black alongside Jon Snow — very interesting, but things have changed since then.
For one thing, the last time Tyrion was at Winterfell, he wasn’t married to Sansa Stark, currently the lady of the castle. Their arranged wedding in season 3 was strained at best — Tyrion married Sansa because his father wanted to claim her ancestral family lands, not for love — but the two seemed to get along all right, at least until Sansa learned that Tyrion’s family murdered her mother and brother at the Red Wedding. That made things rather awkward.
The last time these two saw each other was in season 4, at Joffrey’s disastrous wedding in “The Lion and the Rose.” Sansa left the scene as quick as possible following Joffrey’s death by poisoning, a death Tyrion was blamed for. As far as Tyrion knows, she had something to do with Joffrey’s death, but somehow we don’t think he’ll bear her any ill will for that. Who didn’t want Joffrey dead?
Will Tyrion be flustered by a reunion with his former wife? Will he feel nothing? Will he be happy to see Sansa again? Will he feel conflicted? When Tyrion saw Sansa last, she was still a deer in the woods, imprisoned by his family in King’s Landing. She’s grown a lot since then, and seeing her as an authority figure in Winterfell may throw him off. He might even feel proud of how far she’s come.
Neither Sansa nor Tyrion look particularly happy in these new photos. But then again, they both have a lot on their minds beyond each other, including an army of zombies marching south to eradicate humanity. With any luck, they’ll be able to set aside any awkwardness and fight it together.
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