WARNING: Major Game of Thrones spoilers ahead! Continue reading at your own risk…
On the surface, the latest episode of Game of Thrones was one of the most important in the history of the series. Fans took notice when Gilly tried to tell Sam that Jon wasn’t a bastard after all, or when Gendry returned from his rowing trip to fight alongside his Northern King.
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However, between all of these major reveals, some subtle details went unnoticed.
Some small moments could be hinting at big things in the future of Game of Thrones, but you had to be paying attention to see them unfold. Many of these were callbacks to earlier seasons, so a little homework could’ve helped as well.
Here are five important details in “Eastwatch” that you might have missed.
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Cersei’s War Plan
The big reveal that came from Cersei and Jaime’s conversation was that the queen is pregnant again, so another inbred Lannister baby is on the way. However, if you were listening closely, Cerseiย also laid out her plan to defeat Daenerys.
When Jaime talked to Cerseiย about his meeting with Tyrion, he said that their brother wanted them to form some kind of truce with Daenerys. They needed to work together to defeat the Night King before waging war with one another.
To everyone’sย surpise, Cerseiย didn’t hate the sound of that plan.
She noted that they didn’t have the numbers to defeat Dany’sย army, so that they would have to be smart about it. They would have to fight “like father would.”
If you recall, Tywinย was a cunning man. He would make allies with his enemies and play the long con, ridding the world of his enemies after gaining their trust. This is what he did with the Mad King, the Baratheons, and what he attempted to do with the Starks. By forming a relationship with Dany, Cerseiย can buy some time and strike at the most opportune moment.
Jon’s Farewell
After spending a few episodes bonding, Jon and Daenerysย parted ways. When Jon said goodbye however, it seemed as though he didn’t plan on seeing Danyย ever again.
Jon said, “I wish you good fortune in the wars to come.” If you thought you’d heard this before, you were right.
In Season 5, Manceย says it to Stannisย Baratheon before being killed. One season later, during one of Bran’s flashbacks, Arthur Dayneย says it to a young Ned Stark, just outside the Tower of Joy.
After uttering this phrase, both men went on to die. It seemed as though they knew that their fates had been cast when they said the words, making it a bit of a finalย goodbye. They are hinting that they wish someone good fortune in future wars because they won’t be around to fight alongside them.
Hopefully, Jon’s use of the phrase doesn’t meant that the same future is in store for him.
Gendry’s Axe
Everyone celebrated when Gendryย returned, and celebrated even harder when it was revealed that Robert Baratheon’sย bastard would fight alongside Jon Snow.ย
If you paid close attention, Gendry’sย warhammerย told an even bigger story about his potential character arc.
Where the handle of the weapon meets its head, Gendryย placed a stag, the symbol for House Baratheon. The symbol of his father’s house.
It seems as though Gendryย is owning his father’s name, despite being a bastard. Since Jon is a king, he could legally reinstate Gendryย into the house, making him the head of the Baratheons.
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Jorah’s Old Friend
When Jorah, Davos, Gendry, and Jon arrived at Eastwatchย by the sea, Tormund told them that they had found some other men trying to go north of the wall.
In a jail cell sat The Hound, Bericย Dondarrion, and Thoros of Myr. Instantly, Thorosย and Jorahย recognized each other and talked like old allies.
This may have been a bit of a surprise, but their ties to each other were actually addressed earlier in the series.
Back in Season 3, Jorahย talked about fighting for King Robert during the Greyjoyย rebellion. During that time, he fought alongside Thoros. When the army took Pyke, the duo were the first two men to enter the breach when the walls came down.
“Thorosย of Myrย went in alone waving that flaming sword of his.”
Littlefinger’s Trap
Aryaย thought she had pulled one over on Littlefingerย when she snuck into his room, but it turned out to be exactly the opposite. As she left, Littlefingerย was seen watching her, and it was clear he wanted Aryaย to find that letter that Sansaย had written years ago.
How would Aryaย know to where to find it?
If you think back to Season 3, Sansaย told Tyrion a story about her playful experiences with Aryaย when they were children. She said that Aryaย would hide sheep dung in a small hole in her mattress.
Littlefingerย knows just about everything there is to know in Westeros, so it’s completely likely that hiding the note in the mattress was his way of putting it someplace that he knew Aryaย would look.
