21 Details You Might Have Missed In The “Game Of Thrones” Finale

1. There’s a good chance you noticed this, but it’s worth talking about forever: The House Stark sigil is back in its rightful place on top of Winterfell in the opening credits.

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2. Cersei delivers on Jaime’s promise in Episode 8(and her own many prior warnings) and burns a big chunk of King’s Landing to protect herself and Tommen.

Cersei delivers on Jaime's promise in Episode 8 (and her own many prior warnings) and burns a big chunk of King's Landing to protect herself and Tommen.

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But Tommen dies anyway – in a scene that connects with the way Bran fell thanks to “the things we do for love.”

3. In Winterfell, Jon’s words to Sansa were the same ones Ned spoke to Arya back in Season 1.

In Winterfell, Jon's words to Sansa were the same ones Ned spoke to Arya back in Season 1.

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4. His comment that he’s not a Stark also harked back to Season 1, repeating a statement he made in the very first episode.

His comment that he's not a Stark also harked back to Season 1, repeating a statement he made in the very first episode.

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It ties in nicely with the big reveal, but the truth is he IS a Stark. He’s Lyanna’s son.

And Sansa’s comment was beautiful and touching – and showed how far she’s come – but it’s not the first time Jon has heard such a sentiment. Ned also told him he was a Stark.

And Sansa's comment was beautiful and touching – and showed how far she's come – but it's not the first time Jon has heard such a sentiment. Ned also told him he was a Stark.

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My heart.

5. Jon and Sansa’s “winter is here” conversation not only provided a payoff for every single time we heard it was coming…

6. …it also spoke to a larger theme with Ned’s character.

Lyanna’s last words to her brother were “promise me”, while Ned’s last words to Jon were “I promise”. Excuse me while I sob loudly in the corner.

7. The scene where Littlefinger approaches Sansa in the godswood echoed the scene in which Catelyn approached Ned and told him Jon Arryn was dead (which, we now know, was Littlefinger’s doing).

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8. It also highlighted Sansa’s character growth and the power she now has when contrasted with the scene in the Eyrie when Littlefinger kissed her.

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Let’s hope she continues to have one up on him, rather than the other way around.

9. Meanwhile over at the Citadel, we see the device from the opening credits hanging from the ceiling in the library.

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10. And as Reddit user SulkyShulk points out, the maester’s magnifying glasses also seem to be connected to the credits.

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11. Arya serving Walder Frey his own sons cooked into a pie enacts a story Bran told in Season 3 about the Rat Cook.

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According to Bran, the Rat Cook worked for the Night’s Watch at the Nightfort. When the royal family was visiting, he killed the king’s son and cooked him in a pie, which he served to the king. The king liked the taste so much, he had a second helping (just like Frey). Significantly, the gods cursed the Rat Cook for violating guest rights – as Frey did with the Red Wedding.

12. And the way Arya kills Walder Frey is the same way her mother was murdered. Arya’s face even reflects a similar sense of morbid relief that was seen on Cat’s.

It seems every perpetrator of the Red Wedding has now been murdered in a similar way to one of their victims.

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13. In Essos, the scene where Dany names Tyrion Hand of the Queen, and he kneels before her, is made even more powerful when contrasted with Tyrion refusing to kneel at Joffrey’s command back in Season 4.

He has finally found something – someone – to believe in.

14. Bran sees the Tower of Joy vision through the same weirwood where Jon made his Night’s Watch vow in Season 1.

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15. In the Tower of Joy scene, Ned walks in holding Arthur Dayne’s bloody sword, Dawn, and the camera focuses on it next to the bloody sheets for a significant beat.

In the Tower of Joy scene, Ned walks in holding Arthur Dayne's bloody sword, Dawn, and the camera focuses on it next to the bloody sheets for a significant beat.

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Dawn is supposed to be forged from a fallen star, AND has a sun design on the hilt, so this shot lends weight to the theory that Jon is Azor Ahai/the prince that was promised, who was born under a “bleeding star” and is destined to save the world (more on that in this post). And speaking of promise…

16. If you didn’t catch it, Lyanna seems to whisper “his name is…” followed by something inaudible, althoughsome fans have speculated she says Jaehaerys. She also talks about how Robert will kill “him”…

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…which is a massive clue that Jon is definitely a Targaryen.

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This scene from Season 1 takes on a whole new meaning when you consider Ned was probably thinking of Jon, and not just Daenerys, when talking to Robert.

17. The focus on the baby’s dark brown eyes – and the way they transition into Jon’s – is meant to signal that yes, this baby is definitely Jon, despite the fact they don’t explicitly state it.

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It isn’t the first time the colour of his eyes has been intrinsically linked to his identity.

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For Catelyn, Jon’s eyes are a reminder of Ned’s supposed betrayal, while Edd is obviously referring to the fact that he’s not a blue-eyed wight – but ultimately, the emphasis on his eyes reinforces his connection to his mother, Lyanna.

18. The scene where Jon is crowned King in the North echoed the moment Robb was also named king.

Showrunner David Benioff said in HBO’s “Inside the Episode” segment this was a deliberate evocation, designed to convey both the triumph and the danger in this moment, because “it didn’t go so well for the previous King in the North.” Eek!

Speaking of Robb’s big moment, while it was Greatjon Umber, the father of the traitor who gave Rickon to Ramsay, who first declared him King in the North, Lyanna Mormont’s mother Maege was also present at the time (she later died fighting for Robb).

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19. Tyrion wasn’t the only one named Hand of the Queen in this episode: Qyburn is also sporting a new badge thanks to Cersei.

Tyrion wasn't the only one named Hand of the Queen in this episode: Qyburn is also sporting a new badge thanks to Cersei.

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20. And Cersei’s amazing outfit is reminiscent of what Tywin wore when he was in power.

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She did say she had the most to contribute to his legacy out of all his children – in the same conversation in which Tywin tells her, “You’re not as smart as you think you are.” Things aren’t looking good for King’s Landing right now.

21. Especially with Daenerys’s fleet heading their way – complete with the Martells and Tyrells.

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There are glimpses of their ships in the final scenes (which helps explain how Varys joined Dany so quickly). She’s not even in Westeros yet, and she already has some powerful allies. Cersei better watch out.

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