The third episode of Game of Thrones season 7, “The Queen’s Justice,” delivered on a big promise to viewers Sunday. And the virtual applause on social media was massive.
Spoiler warning: Stop here if you haven’t watched season 7, episode 3 of Game of Thrones.
Not only was #GameOfThrones trending, but so was “Olenna,” “Euron,” and “Tell Cersei.” And while each of those moments were highlights of the episode, the highlight was the meeting between Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and his aunt Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke).
What a great beat in the series. We were all so focused on Jon meeting Daenerys, we didn’t stop to think what Jon’s reaction would be when he met her kids. The scene also gave Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) a nice moment, smirking as Jon and Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) hit the ground.
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Then the meeting that was promised finally happened.
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Ser Davos’ folksy charm doesn’t go over well in this environment; for one, in announcing Jon’s status as King in the North.
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In an aside, Jon’s masterful brooding makes Tyrion feel like a failure at brooding over failing.
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Later, at Dragonstone…
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After granting Jon his dragonglass request, Daenerys does the over-the-shoulder look back at him. Everything about this dude is different — most notably, this is one of the few times a male leader hasn’t come at her penis first.
We saw this parade in last week’s preview of this episode, so we knew there would be some epic gloating involved. But when Euron (Pilou Asbæk) marched triumphant into King’s Landing, he had a few of us at home — some reluctantly, some not — cheering for him, too.
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You may not have liked Myrcella and Tristan’s Game of Thrones–style Romeo and Juliet tale, but Myrcella really was an innocent and didn’t deserve to die. Plus, you know, Ellaria (Indira Varma) also violated guest right and all.
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We should’ve known what the Sand Snakes were in for it when we saw Cersei’s off-colored lips. Cherry-red isn’t her usual look.
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(Just a thought: Wasn’t Tyene Bronn’s favorite? Think on the possibilities for a minute.)
Also in the Cersei dept, it was also nice to see Mark Gatiss return as Tycho Nestoris, representing the Iron Bank of Braavos.
Who flat-out cried when Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) reunited? Everybody but Bran apparently.
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The Archmaester’s (Jim Broadbent) inspection of Jorah Mormont’s (Iain Glen) healed grayscale-scarred skin was thankfully much less moist than Sam’s (John Bradley) treatment of the disease last week. Sam took another risk and won again, and viewers applauded his rule-breaking ways.
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Talking smack straight to the grave. Rest in shade, Lady Olenna. #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/Upc7Bj0fqX
— michelle (she/her) (@michellleromano) July 31, 2017
RIP legend.#GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/m0euHh0Ynq
— 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐚; (@househarington) July 31, 2017
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It takes Jon 1 ep to go far south.
White Walkers have been heading south for 7 seasons and haven't hit the Wall yet. #GameofThrones
— Mark Alvarado (@FineHijinx) July 31, 2017
Euron: kings landing, dragon stone, kings landing, casterly rock
Arya: halfway through the river lands maybe?#GameOfThrones #stopmessing— KO Nicholai (@knicholai) July 31, 2017
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Gendry been rowing since season 3, he gonna roll up on shore next week like…. #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/tj20169cER
— Domenic Z (@DomZenga) July 31, 2017
#GameOfThrones is the greatest show ever made. The direction… the acting… the writing… the cinematography… incredible. pic.twitter.com/1bGC3deg2b
— Dan Palmer (@Daniel__Palmer) July 31, 2017
Tyrion built himself a HOE-DOOR #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/vHilIvaqmy
— Lindsay (@bacontater0911) July 31, 2017
#NoConfederate was also trending, as a contingent of GoT viewers mingled their episode 3 observations with protests of producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss’ announced next project: an alternate universe in which the Confederate States won the Civil War and slavery remains.
Did social media’s top moments match your own? Tell us in the comments below or join our Debate of Thrones Facebook group to start an in-depth discussion with fellow fans.
Game of Thrones airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO.
