I loved them both. There will be no bonding in the next episode. Just characters dying or facing death. All these scenes are great, to see characters in softer moments.
Also continued to build up Sansa as this tough but loved leader of the north, while bringing Dany down a notch again with her singular ambition. I found the contrast a bit too stark.
Earlier seasons might have picked one or two scenes and focuses on them more - perhaps longer versions of the trial of Ser Jaime, or the planning and arming of men but I thought it appropriate to show us these groups in the last night before the world changes.
Who might meet their demise?
Redeemed characters: Jaime, Theon
Brave warriors we’ve come to love but aren’t crucial to story resolution: Thormund, Brienne, Berrick, Greyworm
People we’ve come to love inside not crucial to resolution: Missandei, Varys (been a best boy grip all season)
Safe? People with unresolved stories
Dany, Jon, and Sansa - need to resolve who leads
Tyrion - leadership question + needs to prove loyalty to Dany vv Cersei
Hound - Cleganebowl
Gilly, Sam and baby - to live to tell the tale
Bran - to keep our memories
And I’m leaning in on Arya. So there you have it, the big battle won’t claim any major victims. It will be more about numbers than principals. Thoughts?