There are several takeaways from “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” an episode where no character died and also gave us several reunions: Jaime and Bran, Jaime and Brienne, Brienne and Tormund, Sansa and Theon, Beric Dondarrion and the Hound, Podrick and everyone else… But what this episode will most be remembered for are several scenes that reinforce what Game of Thrones and its source material, A Song of Ice and Fire, have been telling us: feminism is in, the patriarchy is out.
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Arya
First thing’s first. Arya’s scene with Gendry is already the most talked about exchange in the entire episode. While fans have been wanting this to happen from very early on, it certainly shocked viewers when Arya, a character we’ve known since age 11, began talking about sex with Gendry and then flat out told him to undress.
It shouldn’t have been so shocking. First of all, like I said, the show has hinted that this would happen ever since they struck up a friendship in season 2. But most importantly, because Arya has come a long way. You could even argue that this is just another step into womanhood for her. Consistent with her storyline, Arya is all about self-determination in a fantasy universe that mimics medieval patriarchy. Take, for example, when her father tells her she will marry a high lord some day. “No,” she says. “That’s not me.” Clearly, she’s more interested in becoming a sword fighter.
Arya moves on, held captive by The Hound for some time, adamant about becoming a trained killer in the school of the Faceless Men. Either way, Arya spends most of the series living on the fringes of society, pushing through with a stone will, which is perhaps what has led to her survival at this point.
It might make sense that, however young the audience might feel both Arya and Maisie Williams are, fearing it might be her last night alive, she decides to fully step into adulthood. What’s significant about this scene is that the entire affair is her idea, her demand, her consent. Her attitude says, “This is what I want to do, so get to get it.” For once, Game of Thrones showed explicit consent before a sexual relationship.
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Brienne
The episode’s title, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” refers to many things, but most explicitly to Brienne, whose knighthood is finally granted to her before our eyes. Brienne fights like a knight, dresses like a knight, kills like a knight, and makes oaths like a knight. “So, why isn’t she one?” asks Tormund. “Tradition”, responds Brienne. “Fuck tradition.” Indeed, Game of Thrones isn’t subtle about the feminist values it upholds, but Brienne’s ceremony is an overt symbol that the times they are a-changin’.
Even before that, we see her leading the forces army, while Jaime Lannister, who used to constantly mock and insult her, surrenders to her command, if she’ll have him, that is. Brienne has been mocked her entire life for not fitting into society’s expectations of women, specially women of noble birth. We can assume that, in previous years, she would have been doomed by society, but there’s something about these years that seems to be changing for several women.
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The young women and girls who want to fight
Arya and Brienne are great role models, but this episode allows for even more optimism. Lyanna Stark, about 10 years old by now, refuses to seek refuge at the dungeons and instead tells Jorah, her seasoned-in-battle cousin, that she’d prefer to stay outside and fight, thank you very much. In fact, the “Little Bear” snapped at Lord Glover last season, when she said “I don’t plan on knitting on the fire while men fight for me.” Well, this season, she’s just as badass, if not more. In “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” Sam overhears her saying that she has trained and fought before, “I can fight again… I will not hide underground. I’ve pledged to fight for the North and I will fight.”
Even before that, an unknown little girl, presumably a commoner or whatever it is they call them in Westeros, says that all the children will be going to the crypts when “the time comes.” “But both my brothers be soldiers. I want to fight, too,” she tells Ser Davos. These girls aren’t the exception. They now seem to be the norm. From Brienne, to Arya, Lyanna, and this girl, what they form is a line of generation after generation where women are rising and claiming just as many rights and responsibilities as their male counterparts. And what’s more, it’s happening at all levels of society, not just commoners or second daughters, but even the leaders.
Power struggle between two women (Sansa and Daenerys)
It came to this: Sansa Stark and Daenerys Targaryen, two young women, leaders of their Houses sitting on a table to discuss the political future of their country. Just a few seasons ago that seemed completely impossible. Sansa was being used a strategic pawn in her betrothal to Joffrey, then to Tyrion, then to Ramsay Bolton, while Daenerys wasn’t even relevant in the political landscape of Westeros. It’s also noteworthy that, while she doesn’t appear in the episode, Cersei is queen, which means the future of this fantasy land is in the hands of three women (Jon Snow’s claim is the strongest, but things aren’t public yet).
Daenerys starts by pointing out to Sansa that they “both know what it means to lead people who aren’t inclined to accept a woman’s rule. And we’ve both a damn good job of it.” But then, it quickly turns sour: Sansa vs Daenerys is the new North vs South, Red Sox vs New York. What happens when this alliance between Danaerys and the North vanquishes all of their enemies, mortals and ice zombies alike? “I take the Iron Throne,” says Dany. “What about the North?” asks Sansa. “It was taken from us. And we took it back. And we said we’d never bow to anyone else again. What. About. The. North.” Their conversation is interrupted, and thus left on a cliffhanger, but the game of thrones was set on, and now, it’s three women who are playing it.
For a world that fights for survival between winter and summer, perhaps the true dream of spring is equality for all. Even if it’s just a fantasy kingdom.
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