Game of Thrones season 8 episode 3: Winners and losers of “The Long Night”

Night has fallen, and death has come to Winterfell. Game of Thrones delivers a tense, intricate, and endlessly ambitious battle episode in “The Long Night.”

This was the moment so many of us had been waiting for. After hearing the fight between the living and the dead hyped up by Jon Snow for season after season, “The Long Night” gives us a stunning battle episode that was as horrifying and unnerving as anyone could hope for (if a little anti-climatic in its conclusion — how many of us had the Night King surviving until the last episode in our office pools?)

In an episode with so much death and loss, there are bound to be more losers than winners. But light shines through in even in the darkest of times (even if the lighting crew on this episode didn’t get the memo!)

Winners

Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

Theon Greyjoy

OK, so obviously things could have gone better for Theon in this episode. But there’s a beautiful symmetry to his character arc. It’s lovely to think that the ending of his story is in Winterfell, Theon’s true home, where he finds courage and makes the ultimate sacrifice in a pointlessly heroic gesture to defend Bran. And when Bran tells him that he’s a good man? Forget about it.

Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

Sansa and Tyrion’s relationship

As two characters who seem genuinely well-suited for one another, it was nice to see them reconnect with affection while hiding (heroically) in the crypt. They even got their Toy Story 3 “lock eyes and embrace impending doom” moment!

(L to R) Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark and Maisie Williams as Arya Stark – Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO. Game of Thrones S8E3.

The Stark Girls Home Field Record

For those of you keeping track at home, your Stark girls are 2-0 in major battles at Winterfell. Arya is flying so high right now that it’s honestly a little terrifying to think about because this is Game of Thrones and good vibes don’t last for long. Last episode she took her relationship with Gendry to the next level, here she kills the Night King single-handedly, next week she’ll probably cure cancer. What more can we say? She’s an icon.

Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

House Mormont

Look, it’s a sad day for House Mormont, who are now facing a serious leadership crisis after losing Lyanna and Jorah Mormont in battle. And while you could say this puts House Mormont on the “loser” side of this list, you can’t not applaud Lyanna and Jorah for how bravely they fought. The two of them went down like legends — Lyanna taking out a wight giant that breached the wall and Jorah fighting through multiple stab wounds to protect Daenerys. These Bear Islanders are tough, y’all.

Losers

Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

The gods of lighting

It’s hard to say whether this episode would have been made better if the audience could actually see what was happening, or if the darkness provided a sense of tension and disorientation that benefited the proceedings. But regardless, the gods of lighting were not favored on this day. They got a few pity prayers from Melisandre, but that’s about it.

Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

The dragons

There’s something profoundly upsetting about watching the dragons forced to fight one another in a battle that isn’t theirs. Sure horses get used in battle similarly, but they’re just being asked to ride into battle, not fight against their siblings in claw-to-claw combat. They’re still mourning Viserion, for seven heaven’s sake, so this kind of treatment is patently unfair.

Game of Thrones – “The Long Night”. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO

The Night King

This one’s obvious — and well we have to say here is next time, think before you smirk confidently in Winterfell. The Starks. do. not. play.

Who do you think were the winners and losers of Game of Thrones‘ most recent episode? Share your feelings with us in the comments below. 

Watch Game of Thrones for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels.