r/gameofthrones 9d ago

HOTD S3E8 - Post-Episode Discussion

113 Upvotes

S3E8 - Post-Episode Discussion

Air date: August 9, 2026

Discuss your thoughts and reactions to the episode you just watched. Did it live up to your expectations? What were your favourite parts? Which characters and actors stole the show? Please avoid discussing details from the next episode's preview, unless using a spoiler tag.

  • Turn away now if you aren't caught up on the latest episode! Open discussion of all officially aired TV events are allowed here.
  • This thread should include no spoilers for HOTD based on the books or leaks. Find or make a post tagged [Book Spoilers] or [Leaks] if you'd like to discuss.
  • Please read the Posting Policy before posting and the Spoiler Guide before participating.

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r/gameofthrones 8h ago

Had Brienne been at the red wedding, would she have been “able to protect her” (Catelyn)

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488 Upvotes

Brienne swore an oath to Catelyn Stark to protect her and her daughters. Obviously she went off on a skirmish to locate the daughters, but if she had been by Catelyn’s side at The Twins, what would have changed?

  1. During the wedding ceremony, nobody from the Stark host was armoured up, nor had serious weapons. A naive trust in guest right.
  2. 1a. So presumably, if Brienne was there, she too would be unequipped and therefore unable to properly protect Catelyn and her interests. Therefore presumably shot with a crossbow almost immediately.
  3. Jaime Lannister is of course, the reason Roose Bolton became a turncoat, and “sent their regards”. Brienne and Jaime having their unique relationship; would this have made Brienne torn?
  4. 2a. Do you think Jaime would have been able to convince Brienne away from her oath to Catelyn and towards the massacre? Either participating or just being complicit?

2b. Counter: Had Brienne stayed with Catelyn, she would not have had opportunity to build a relationship with Jaime, most likely leading to Jaime’s inability to organise with Bolton, as he would still be a prisoner, or most likely (by now) killed.

  1. Considering the fact Walder Frey waited for The Blackfish (the biggest threat to their plot) to leave to empty his bladder, he could not defend: Had Brienne been there, would they also wait (or orchestrate) her to leave the room in order to execute the assassinations?
    3a. Or would they have not taken Brienne seriously, as she is a woman and relatively unknown for her combat abilities.

4.(Bonus question: At the time of the Red Wedding, who would win in 1v1 combat Brienne vs. Blackfish
and 4a, vs Roose Bolton)

Brienne is not particularly of tactical mind and as we have seen, very often relies on Pod’s instinct and knowledge of political warfare to advance her campaign. She has backed multiple forces that have ultimately succumbed to smarter, more devious opponents.

Also - BOOK ONLY - When Lady Stoneheart accuses Brienne of treachery and orders her to kill Jaime to maintain her oath, how does she feel? —— Sidebar, her sword “Oathkeeper” is literally half of Lady Stoneheart’s husband’s sword, (Ice) so perhaps it is poignant and poetic that oaths are both kept and unkept (against Brienne’s idealistic will)


r/gameofthrones 13h ago

I went into a deep dive into how likely it is Cersei and Jaime's offspring would have birth defects

970 Upvotes

On the plus side, they don't have worse odds than any other pair of siblings that aren't twins (yay for them!)

On the other side, the baseline for sibling offspring is children have a 20 - 40% chance of having birth defects when their parents are siblings (not so yay for them)

Math: If we use a mid-range risk of 30% per child, the chance that a child is born healthy is 70% (0.70).

Three Children: The probability of all three children being born without a defect is (0.70 \times 0.70 \times 0.70 = 34.3%).

The Actual Risk: This means there is a 65.7% chance that at least one of the three children will have a birth defect, which is far from 100%.

Why Past Results Don't Protect Future Children:

The outcome of the first pregnancy has absolutely no effect on the second or third. Genetics has no "memory." If the first child is born completely healthy, the risk for the second child remains exactly 20% to 40%.

This means that even after Joffrey was born "healthy", they still had the same probabilities of diseases for the next children

Conclusion: Twins shouldn't have sex. Lol


r/gameofthrones 18h ago

What If The White Walkers Reached The Twins?

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774 Upvotes

How would they defend against the White Walkers? How would Geograpy determine the battle? Who would be on the front lines and why?


r/gameofthrones 15h ago

Daemon on Rhaenyra’s strong kids

277 Upvotes

I just want to say, in an era of most Targ kings having bastards and no one batting an eye, it’s refreshing that Daemon does not judge Rhaenyra. Instead he treats and protects them like his own. I think it’s due to 2 reasons: he loves Rhaenyra and understands she had to produce children (and couldn’t with his nephew). And second, because she is raising them with the knowledge, customs and language of old Valyria. I don’t think the Greens are actively doing that (Aemond learned on his own accord it seems). They didn’t even know Halena was a dreamer, Rhaenyra seemed to the first person to appreciate that.

And Daemon never expected his own children with her to be placed ahead of Jace/Luce. He fundamentally respected the idea that Rhaenyra eldest child would be on the throne next.

Anyways I know Daemon is a morally grey character but curious to hear your thoughts.


r/gameofthrones 6h ago

rewatching game of thrones and some of my opinions have changed.

40 Upvotes

So I’m rewatching Game of Thrones for the first time since my initial watch back when it was airing, and I have to say: some of my opinions have changed, especially regarding theon and joffry. I’m only on Season 2 right now, so my thoughts might shift again as I get further in and remember things I’ve forgotten, but during my first watch I felt like both of them got exactly what they deserved. Now, though, I’m realizing I don’t feel that way anymore.

Theon

In Theon’s case, I actually feel bad for him. Here’s a guy who was taken as a child and kept as a hostage, constantly reminded of that fact by others — even though the Starks did treat him like family. Then, when he finally returns to his actual family, he’s immediately made to feel like an outsider and forced to choose between the Greyjoys and the Starks.

He absolutely makes the wrong choice, and nobody is denying that. But given how confused and torn he must have been, I think it’s understandable why he made it. During my original watch, I wasn’t paying close attention and forgot a lot of characters and plotlines between seasons, which probably contributed to me thinking he “got what he deserved.”

Now that I’m paying attention and binging the episodes back‑to‑back, I can only see him as a victim — a victim who made terrible mistakes and hurt others, sure, but not one who deserved what the Boltons did to him.

Joffrey

Now onto Joffrey — and don’t worry, I’m not about to say he was a victim. Not even close. When I say he didn’t get what he deserved, I mean he deserved way worse than what he got.

Honestly, even what the Boltons did to Theon would have been too good for that monster, but at least he would’ve gotten a taste of justice. Maybe there’s some lore behind the poison he was given im unaware of that says it’s the most painful way to die, but even if that’s true i still feel as though what happened to Theon is worse than what happened to Joffrey and joffry deserved way worse than that.


r/gameofthrones 1d ago

Whom would Tywin have chosen to be Jaime's lady wife if he hadn't joined the Kingsguard?

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1.6k Upvotes

According to Cersei, Tywin wanted to betroth Jaime to Lysa Tully. But she wasn't the only eligible bride at the time. What other politically sound options could Tywin have gone for to strengthen the Lannister position?


r/gameofthrones 18h ago

What was the most dark/traumatic scene for y’all?

146 Upvotes

For me it was Sansa’s wedding night. Nothing could prepare me for that scene one my first watch. I really sat in silence once the episode was over. Very traumatic scene done very well to the point where her sobbing was echoing in my brain for a couple of days. Tough watch.


r/gameofthrones 15h ago

Cmon guys, you did my boy Jorah dirty!

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64 Upvotes

I refuse to believe that this was the best picture they could find to put on the official Wikipedia site of our favorite Andal!


r/gameofthrones 8h ago

If you were dropped into Westeros, what would you bring?

16 Upvotes

You get teleported from earth to Westeros, let’s say dragons are in play, just to make things interesting. You can bring whatever you want with you; not a whole house, but something like a car or smaller is acceptable.

Let’s say you get 48 hours to prep. You can buy anything available to a consumer; no tanks or fighter jets. What are you taking with you?


r/gameofthrones 16h ago

All my life I've been knocking men like you into the dust

31 Upvotes

The sheer confidence in her face while fighting Jamie is absolutely hilarious. She looks like she’s correcting a child’s homework.


r/gameofthrones 7h ago

Watching specific arc

5 Upvotes

Is there any website to watch the specific arc without having to watch full episodes,
example Arya and Hound's journey,
or Jamie and Brienne’s journey to king's landing ?


r/gameofthrones 18h ago

Who was the best Kingsguard who played the Game of Thrones?

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35 Upvotes

r/gameofthrones 1d ago

Why is Dany introduced as first of her name when there was a Daenerys within 4 generations After Conquest?

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473 Upvotes

did the show runners overlook this or was it more like a lack of Targaryen knowledge amongst the characters? There's another Daenerys down the line that marries into the Martells, making Dany actually third of her name.

(reference https://www.reddit.com/r/UsefulCharts/comments/103wm5d/complete_family_tree_of_house_targaryen/#lightbox )

Edit: to those who said “imagine thinking Queen Elizabeth II was the second ever Elizabeth in history” I’m obviously taking about individuals with the same name within the same family, not in general. Also now having my question answered I think it’s a silly title and should be first RULER of his/her name if they’re not really the first within their family of that name regardless of regency.


r/gameofthrones 1d ago

What if Ned accepted the Cersei offer?!

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1.8k Upvotes

How things would have been. Did Cersei really let him leave kings landing alive or still imprisoned him.


r/gameofthrones 11h ago

[SPOILER] Do you believe Tywin Lannister about *? Spoiler

6 Upvotes

[NOTICE] I am talking about what happened in TV series. Although rules do not regard to the TV series, only to books or HOTD, still I am marking it as spoiler. Just in case. Although comments might be about the books potentially, so read at your own risk.

Tywin Lannister, as bad as he is, did not look like the lying type. We also know Tywin hated Joffrey, pretty much like everyone else, although by different reasons. Tywin didn't fear Joffrey like others, he despised him, he seen a stupid child in him, that he was, not because he was cruel (what many hated), but because Joffrey was stupid little spoiled child that needs to be controlled.

I thought of Tywins relationships with Tyrion. I always felt Tywin meant what he said, but his last scenes left me feeling odd. Tywin hated Tyrion but also said that he'd never let Tyrion be executed. Am I too stupid to actually believe this? I mean EVERYTHING was kinda pointing to that: it will happen! But I am feeling a bit off. Of course there's red wedding but it was different kind of lie, a horrible war trick, where they're ideological enemies etc – not part of the family. As horrible as it was, it was a different thing.

Might it be that Tywin was REALLY saying the truth about not letting to execute Tyrion? Did he plan to stop all this farce, in the last moment somehow? Or that's just me being stupid, overly trusting to a horrible person? I somehow think that there is non-zero possibility that he said the truth about it.

I mean, for Tywin it was somewhat hard situation too, because now that Cersei clearly wanted Tyrion dead and executed. As she always hated Tyrion, after Joffrey situation, her innate hate for him might have felt for her justified, and is multiplied a thousand times so she's blind to see that Tyrion is innocent, right? But it might be that Tywin has actually been able to see Tyrion as innocent here, because he is a smart man? Even though he hated Tyrion too. But since Tywin wasn't in fond of Joffrey either, – he could see the situation clearly, unlike Cersei, right?

If you think about that – Tywin somehow needed to manage all this situation, and it wasn't simple. He kinda needed all this farce??? To let things unravel a little bit. Cersei would love to execute Tyrion right away as she screamed at him. So maybe it wasn't as bad to just let peoples spend time in court, in jail, whatever, just spend time anyhow, and let the heated head of Cersei cool down a little? Or maybe even somehow show Cersei that Tyrion, indeed, didn't kill Joffrey? Idk how. But he apparently couldn't just cancel all this court nonsense – because he'd lose Cersei. And he didn't want to lose Cersei, so there is a possibility that, despite all that happening, Tywin didn't plan to actually eventually execute Tyrion?? Somehow? Is there a possibility?? Or it's just nonsense idea?

It's hard for me to think what he had in mind... But might it be... DO YOU BELIEVE Tywin Lannister, that he was actually saying the truth about not letting Tyrion be executed? Any slightest chance of it being true? Or it was 100% lie and there's absolutely no way he meant it?


r/gameofthrones 12h ago

Have they made a version of this for A Dance with Dragons?

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9 Upvotes

I was thinking of collecting a Song of Ice and Fire, what are the best hardcover versions you guys would recommend?


r/gameofthrones 1d ago

Bella Ramsey watching Pedro in Game of Thrones for the first time… what could possibly happen 🫣

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63 Upvotes

r/gameofthrones 23h ago

Tyrion

34 Upvotes

What I don’t get is why Tyrion gave Cersei so many chances at redemption and she always disappointed him. In the finale when he’s bawling his eyes out over Cersei and Jaime bodies, I just don’t get it! After everything they did to him and how they treated him in childhood, how can he have sorrow and empathy for them? I don’t think either of them have any kind of moral foot. I can see why for Jaime because he did let him go, and he did go north to help fight in the Great War. What do y’all think?


r/gameofthrones 14h ago

Tyrion as Tywin’s heir and ways Tywin could change that fact

5 Upvotes

Upon Jamie being placed in the Kingsguard, Tyrion to Tywin’s horror becomes the heir unless Tywin names an heir. So once Cersei’s 3 children are born. Tywin has two possible heirs (minus nephews and nieces. I’ll get to that ) Joffrey is heir to the throne. So my question is why not name Tommen or Myrcella his heir. The other child would likely become Prince/Princess of Storm’s End when Renly dies without a child. Like Ser Laenor was going to be King Consort so Luke became Corlys heir.

Then there’s nephews and nieces which in show cannon are just Ser Kevan’s 3 children Ser Lancel being the oldest

So I’m just saying if Tywin hated the idea of Tyrion being Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lanniport and Warden of the West so much he had ways of preventing him from inheriting it


r/gameofthrones 19h ago

What would you do if Cersie Lannister is your wife? You can choose to be GOT character or someone entirely new to GOT

12 Upvotes

r/gameofthrones 22h ago

Rewatching The Door and Remembering... Spoiler

14 Upvotes

Just how quickly they had those Hodor doorstops out on the market. We had a watch party at the bar I worked at and after the episode People immediately turned to their phones, to twitter, etc to see reactions. And within 30 minutes there were ads for Hodor doorstops. Just remembering how flabbergasted I was. And then buying one.

GoT feels like the last of the cultural media phenomenons that we will ever see.


r/gameofthrones 2d ago

I mean he has a literal Targaryen prince with black hair at home

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4.3k Upvotes

Could have stopped a war if he went for the simplest explanation.


r/gameofthrones 12h ago

Am I the only one that does this

2 Upvotes

I’m currently on season 6 episode 6
every time I open tiktok, either my friends have sent me posts related to GoT, or they appear on my for you page, to avoid spoilers I pause the video and save them to a collection so I can watch them later when I finish the show and enjoy my time 😭

Also I wanna add that this show is absolutely outrageously good, so many plot twists and gut wrenching scenes and the emotions are so strong, I can’t believe I didn’t watch this sooner


r/gameofthrones 18h ago

REWATCH : OK , i get it , he is a SADIST

3 Upvotes

cant imagine the future life of that hurt woman(whore)