Game of Thrones season 7: Photo analysis for episode 5, ‘Eastwatch’

What do the photos for “Eastwatch,” the next episode of Game of Thrones season 7, have to say for themselves, and what do they mean?

All in all, HBO’s officially-released photos for “Eastwatch,” the next episode of Game of Thrones, focus quite heavily on Daenerys Targaryen and her faction, with the addition of Jon Snow since he’s still hanging around her.

But that doesn’t mean that they don’t have some hints about what’s to come for the fifth episode, so let’s dive right in.

Here’s one of the non-Dany photos:

Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister – Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

This photo of Cersei makes her look, dare we say it, a little old or maybe even haggard. Gone is the smiling woman who toasted the ruined Sept of Baelor. Then again, considering she just had a good chunk of her army slaughtered by an actual dragon (and her brother maybe possibly among the casualties), it makes total sense that she’d be a little shaken here.

This picture is also seriously busy, with all the different patterns competing for your attention. Here we thought Cersei had some taste.

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister – Photo: Macall B. Polay/HBO

We’ll keep to the “sad Lannister” theme for a bit here with Tyrion walking among the wreckage. The fact that there are still flames in the photo suggests that “Eastwatch” will pick up on the same day that “The Spoils of War” ends.

The question is: is he actually looking for Jaime, or is he just walking to get a sense of the damage a dragon can do?

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister and Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen – Photo: Macall B. Polay/HBO

Spot the Dothraki in the side of the frame. The light here also makes it look as though the sun is setting, lending credence to our running theory about when the episode starts. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if the scene of Daenerys demanding loyalty from the preview actually opens the entire episode.

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister and Conleth Hill as Varys – Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

With the Dragonstone throne in the background, it looks like the Targaryen plan is to let the gravity of the situation settle in for Cersei instead of pressing on to King’s Landing itself or making a play for another major castle.

Conleth Hill as Varys – Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

This photo of Varys also worries us. Again, there’s a sense that he’s getting old or perhaps worn down by the constant scheming, much like the photo of Cersei above. His expression is a little strange, too. We’re reading open concern, unlike the half-smile he has for Tyrion.

John Bradley as Samwell Tarly and Hannah Murray as Gilly – Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

There is nothing disgusting about reading, and for that we are grateful. We’ve talked more about Sam’s literary pursuits already.

Kit Harington as Jon Snow – Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

There’s a lot more fur and padding here for Jon Snow, costume-wise. Check out the quilted stuff he has on under the leather. Is it getting colder on Dragonstone already? Presumably there’s no grass at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea.

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen and Kit Harington as Jon Snow – Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

This photo of Dany and Jon is curious indeed. She looked to him for advice in “The Spoils of War.” Is she about to do so again?

Next: Game of Thrones season 7: 5 predictions for episode 5

Game of Thrones will air its next episode, “Eastwatch,” this Sunday, Aug. 13.