Game Of Thrones Season 6 Finale: 10 Ups And 2 Downs From 'The Winds Of Winter'

2. Wildfire

Cersei unleashing wildfire on King's Landing wasn't a surprise, given it's been hinted at ever since Bran had visions of those stores of it back in episode 6. since then we've had Jaime mentioning how she'd "burn cities to ash" and Tyrion discussing the Mad King's plan, which was very similar to Cersei's.

The way it played out, however, was utterly glorious (and gloriously horrific) to watch. I've already waxed lyrical about the music, but the whole scene was a masterclass in building to a huge payoff.

It shows us the various participants, getting ready for the big day, and slowly continues to escalate from there, intercutting between the various locations within King's Landing. The High Sparrow and most of the others are assembled in the Sept, there's Pycelle engaging in some pre-trial activities, being led astray by a little bird, Lancel goes to find Cersei, FrankenMountain blocks Tommen from leaving. It cuts and builds, with Margaery desperately trying to get people to leave, until, finally, we land on Lancel discovering the wildfire, and he's inches from the candle, but too late. The wildfire explodes, and consumes Lancel, the High Sparrow, Margaery, Loras, and the entire Sept of Baelor, all while Cersei watches on from the Red Keep. It's a brilliant, brutal moment, and the green flames look, much like they did in Blackwater, absolutely stunning.

That isn't even the end of it either. Cue Tommen, staring out the window. Then he disappears, but the camera lingers, waiting for something else to happen. And then Tommen comes back into view, launching himself out the window, because he's powerless, because his wife is dead, because his mother is mad. So many lives claimed in one of Game of Thrones' best moments of beautiful chaos.