Brienne fulfills a lifelong dream during tonight’s episode of Game of Thrones, and Jaime is partially to thank.
Warning: Below, you’ll find spoilers for tonight’s episode of Game of Thrones.
The relationship between Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth has been a favorite among Game of Thrones fans, and it’s played a major role in Jaime’s redemption arc throughout the series. With Brienne’s help, Jaime has become a more sympathetic character and he’s begun to value honor—right along with oaths—just a tad more than he did during the series’ first season.
That’s part of the reason it was so exciting to witness Jaime knighting Brienne during tonight’s episode. It’s a first, especially considering that women aren’t supposed to become knights in Westeros. Brienne tells Tormund as much, to which he replies that he would make her a knight if he was king. Tormund Giantsbane for president, anyone?
But Tormund isn’t the only one willing to question the norms of Westeros during the second episode of season 8. Jaime agrees with Tormund’s sentiment—or at least we can assume he does, since he proceeds to tell Brienne he’s willing to make her a knight. Apparently any knight can make another person a knight, and that’s exactly what Jaime does. It’s fitting that he would be the one to do it, and it’s a satisfying addition to Jaime’s redemption. If there’s any way to redeem yourself, after all, it’s by giving Brienne exactly what she deserves.
This moment comes after a conversation the two of them have while Brienne is training men for the fight against the Night King. Jaime commends her on how far she’s come since they met, and he tells her that he’d be honored to serve under her command. It’s a touching moment between the two of them, highlighting not only Brienne’s development over the course of the series, but also Jaime’s.
It could also mean that Brienne will play a bigger role in the upcoming battle for Winterfell, which doesn’t necessarily bode well for her—especially if she’s going to find herself on the frontlines of the battle. With any luck, her skill in battle will get her through the big fight. But, if not, at least she fulfilled her dream of becoming a knight.
We’ll see what the Battle for Winterfell has in store for Brienne when the next episode of Game of Thrones airs on April 28.
Game of Thrones airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.
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