The <em>Game of Thrones</em> Finale: Too Much Good Stuff?

Spencer Kornhaber, Christopher Orr, and Amy Sullivan discuss the latest episode of Game of Thrones.

Sullivan:

You hate me, you hate me, you hate me.

I’m the son you wish you never had.

You just ordered my execution.

Well, Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

A lot happened in this season finale—more than a lot, way too much—but I’m guessing that Tyrion’s murder of Tywin Lannister with a crossbow on the privy is the moment most viewers will remember months from now. In the book, the act is shocking. It’s even more momentous on the show, which has really beefed up the character of Tywin and made wonderful use of the impressive Charles Dance. He will be missed, as will his character’s repartee. But as for Tywin?

Only Tywin Lannister could make his daughter seem moral and sympathetic. At least when Cersei hates someone, she’s very upfront about it. Here is Tywin, cool as can be, lying to the very end. “I’d never let them execute you,” he tells Tyrion. “Is that what you fear? You’re a Lannister—you’re my son.” Then not a minute later, “You shot me. You’re no son of mine.”

“I am your son,” Tyrion reminds him. “I have always been your son.” And with that, Tyrion—and Varys—are off across the narrow sea, and the power in Kings’ Landing is once again up for grabs. It was not so long ago that a whole cast of major characters populated the capital, forming and dissolving alliances, and battling for position in the game of thrones. Now they are dead or scattered: Littlefinger and Sansa in the Eyrie, Stannis and his 4,000 troops are bunking at Castle Black, even the Hound is (presumably) dead, and only Cersei and Jaime are left to hold sleepovers in their royal chambers.

Oh, and Arya is headed to Braavos. Who would have thought that the cruelest, most cold-hearted thing