Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
lundi 6 mai 2019
Spring Scents Are in the Air, Thanks to These 77 Fresh and Floral Candles
Spring brings daffodils, blue skies, and warm weather that we want nothing more than to bask in. Things only seem to get better during the springtime - the mood is lighter, the air is sweeter, and it feels like there are endless possibilities for fresh starts. With some of the coolest makeup trends (sunflower nails, we mean you) and the hottest styles we've seen in months, it's crazy to think that Spring could bless us with more, but lo and behold, it did.
Let us introduce you to the best Spring candles on the market. With intoxicatingly perfect floral scents and gorgeous packaging, we wouldn't be surprised if we spent more money on these candles than on springtime bouquets. It's safe to say that these candles are basically a Spring day in candle form. They also make great Mother's Day gifts, so we may need to buy two of each. Let these brighten up your season and fill your home with rich scents that you'll be dreaming about long after the last flower has bloomed.
You Might Have Missed This Pokémon-Themed Detail in Blake Lively's Recent Beauty Look
We get it. We, too, have barely recovered from the news that baby number three is on the way for Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. It's such a surprise announcement, that we almost missed a delightful detail in Lively's beauty look from last night's premiere of Pokémon Detective Pikachu.
To match her yellow dress, Lively had a Pokémon-themed manicure that featured a Pokeball and an adorable illustration of Pikachu (the mouse-like character in the film who is voiced by her husband) complete with detective hat and magnifying glass. The nail art was courtesy of celebrity manicurist Elle, who said in an Instagram post that she used Sally Hansen nail polish for the look.
See Lively's nail art and electric beauty look, ahead.
53 New Bath & Body Works Products Coming to Stores This Summer
Summer scents are finally arriving at Bath & Body Works, which means soon you'll be able to swap your caramel cold brew products for some sea mist and citrus ones.
Love sweet scents? It's time to try out Island Papaya. More of a fresh-smell fan? Take a whiff of Eucalyptus Rain. Regardless of your preferences, you'll be able to find a smell you'll fall in love with in a packaging that suits your home decor tastes. You can even add a cute flamingo-shaped loofah to your shower if you're so inclined.
Check out all the fresh, tropical, fruity, and sunshine-inspired scents ahead.
These 10 Spray Sunscreens Were Made For All the Lazy People Who Don't Want Sunburns
Why do we love spray sunscreens? Let us count the ways. For one, it makes applying the product so easy. Sunscreen is something we always need, but we forget to reapply, or we don't want to ruin our bathing suit, or something else comes up, and we don't put it on. Plus, so many people don't like formulas that leave a white cast. With spray sunscreen, all those excuses go out the window. Now, there's no reason for sunburns, because spray sunscreens exist.
Whether you're working out outside, looking to get a tan, or coming in and out of the water, there's a spray made for you. The best part is, you can get all 11 of these top sunscreens at the drugstore. Summer is coming, and we have to be protected. Just keep reading to shop our picks.
I Tried a "Fire and Ice Mermaid Mask," and This Is What Happened
Occasionally, senior beauty editor Kelsey Castañon will place a cosmetic gift on my desk for me to try. I'm a fan of everything cute and colorful, so she knew what she was doing when she decided to leave me the new Boscia Mermaid Fire and Ice Cryosea Peel-Off Mask ($39).
The combination of the many marine-inspired ingredients in the mask (which include seawater, red algae, sea kelp, and menthol) give the mask an ice-cold feeling upon application, making it ideal for Summer. The sea kelp extract in the formula provides antioxidants and a brightening effect, while the hyaluronic acid hydrates. According to the box, the mask is supposed to plump, tighten, and lift, which my allergy-ridden face really needed.
I promptly ripped open the rainbow-colored box and squeezed out the sticky gunmetal liquid from the tube. In an effort to avoid getting the chrome liquid all over my desk, I ran to the bathroom to smear it on my face in an opaque, thick layer. After 20 minutes and an intense cooling sensation, I peeled off the (now rubbery) mask from my skin and stared at my revitalized complexion.
The process was so fun, painless, and refreshing that I plan to use the mask all Summer long. To make it even more cooling, I'll be popping the tube in the fridge. Check it out, ahead.
A Decade Later and We're Still Applauding These Beauty Looks From the 2009 Met Gala
When it comes to the annual Met Gala, playing it safe never pays off. It's the risk takers whose looks are remembered 10 years later, and even if some people aren't feeling their look, there are still going to be plenty that applaud it - fashion is subjective, after all! To celebrate Met Gala 2019, we've rounded up the best looks from the decade before and all of the eccentric hairpieces, metallic eyeliner, and daring lip stains that 2009 inspired. Not everyone may agree with the beauty looks we've deemed the best of the best, but hey, that's showbiz, baby.
Cardio Isn't the Best Way to Burn Belly Fat - Here's What Trainers Want You to Do Instead
If your goal is to lose fat, especially around your belly, it's not (unfortunately) going to happen overnight. Nor can you specifically spot-reduce fat from around your belly area; you'll need to target body fat as a whole. Consistent diet and exercise play a role in this, but it's true that some workouts do burn fat faster and more efficiently than others. (Though you'll need to stick to a healthy diet, like this two-week clean eating plan, to be able to see those effects.)
Cardio Isn't the Fastest Way to Lose Belly Fat
So what's the best workout for burning fat, fast? You might think it's cardio - heart-pumping, sweat-inducing cardio like running, cycling, or swimming. But although cardio plays a big role in a healthy lifestyle, it's not the most effective way to shed fat. According to two trainers, that title goes to resistance training, especially the kind that involves high-intensity circuits.
The combination of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and resistance training is seriously effective, according to certified personal trainer Ashley Kelly, NASM, who trains clients for Bach in New York City. Essentially, she told POPSUGAR, you're "performing a set of exercises designed to strengthen specific body parts, with little to no rest between exercises."
It's a pretty simple formula: you build muscle through strength training, either with weights or bodyweight exercises, and you max out your heart rate by doing it in fast, intense circuits. Or, as Angelo Grinceri, FAFS, head trainer at Performix House in NYC and Ladder personal training coach, puts it: "Resistance training with an elevated heart rate is the fastest way to lose fat." (Use this guide to calculate your target heart rate.)
Why Is HIIT Better Than Cardio For Burning Belly Fat?
What makes HIIT so much more effective? It comes down to the muscle-building aspect. Although cardio does wonders at getting your heart rate up, it doesn't engage or build muscles the way HIIT and resistance training does; in fact, cardio can actually break muscle down if you do too much of it without proper fuel.
With high-intensity resistance training, on the other hand, the whole point is to build muscle. Not only do you burn major calories throughout the workout, thanks to your elevated heart rate, but you'll also keep burning them throughout the day. "There is a direct correlation between an individual's muscle mass and how many calories he or she burns," Ashley told POPSUGAR. "Muscle burns fat even when you are resting." The more muscle you have, the higher your resting metabolic rate (RMR) and the more calories you'll burn even when you're 'chilling on the couch' sedentary," Ashley explained.
How Often Should You Do Resistance Training and Cardio to Burn Belly Fat?
What does all of this mean for your workout schedule? Both Ashley and Angelo recommended balancing your cardio and resistance training throughout the week, because even though cardio isn't the fastest way to burn fat, it's still majorly important for your overall health; a 2016 study from the Journal of Internal Medicine showed that cardio like walking, stair-climbing, cycling, and swimming decreases type 2 diabetes, some cancers, falls, osteoporotic fractures, and depression. Incorporating both cardio and resistance training also decreases your risk of injury.
Angelo said his clients have found fat-burning success by doing resistance training at least twice week, alongside cardio workouts two to three times a week. Ashley's ideal schedule, depending on the person, upped the resistance training to three times a week, with two days of cardio and two rest days. They both agreed, though, that you should do at least 30 minutes of cardio, four to five days a week. "It doesn't have to be max effort," Angelo said. "But challenge yourself!"
Ready to get started? Grab some weights and head over to our four-week workout plan for weight loss and building muscle for the perfect balance of strength training and cardio.
Excuse Us While We Buy All the Cauliflower We Can Find to Make These Plant-Based Dishes
"If cauliflower can become a pizza crust, you can do anything!" That's our motto for this year. The cruciferous vegetable is incredibly nutritious and so versatile. It can turn into rice, bread, and even be used as a thickener in smoothies, believe it or not. It also has a slight cheesy flavor and meaty texture, making it the perfect ingredient for so many vegan dish.
Enjoy these unique recipes where cauliflower shows off all its tastes, from sweet to savory.
I Work 3 Jobs Every Week - Here's How I Make Time to Exercise
I'm no stranger to working hard, but that doesn't mean I'll ever let my long days keep me from working out. Exercise doesn't sap my energy - quite the opposite. It provides me with the pep I need to go from my part-time office job to my part-time side hustle to my freelance work without losing my spark. Yes, squeezing in a workout when working three jobs presents a challenge, but one I'm well up to. Here's how I make time for a sweat.
I Break Up My Workouts Into Sessions
When I spend a long day at the office followed by a few hours tending bar, the last thing I want to do when I finish is hit the gym for an hour-long spin class. I'm dedicated to health and fitness; I am not, however, Wonder Woman. Instead, when my day stretches for 12 hours or more, I break up my workouts into several shorter bursts.
Six 10-minute workouts can work as effectively as one hour-long session, if you allow yourself to really get into them for those short bursts. I begin each day with 10 minutes of yoga to clear brain fog and get my muscles ready for the day. Then, since I generally nibble at my desk all day, I use my 30-minute lunch break to get in a short run or do Tabata. During shorter breaks, I take a walk around the building (weather permitting) or climb a few floors of stairs. When tending bar, I keep moving enough, but still manage to fit in stretches when I get a breather, which you can easily work into your own routine.
I Pencil In My Workouts
Success at fitness requires planning. I make sure to keep an eye on which days I have off and schedule my exercise goals for the week just as I plan time to work on my deadlines. It works a bit like - and often in tune with - my weekly meal prep. I get everything into containers, but leave myself leeway to select which healthy precooked meals I'll eat daily. In the same fashion, I break my weekly workout goals into 10- to 30-minute intervals and insert anything from yoga to at-home HIIT workouts, then pick and choose which exercises to do each day based on which jobs I'm working which days and what my resulting energy levels will probably look like on those days. I usually plan two to three hours of cardio weekly and split the remaining time between strength and flexibility training.
I Get Creative - and Silly
Since I've always loved fitness, I get creative and work my muscles even when my concentration lies elsewhere. My office chair is an exercise ball, so even when I'm typing, my core gets a mini-workout. When on the phone, I get up and pace. Due to my hectic schedule, biking to work isn't always practicable, but I pedal to the farmer's market or convenience store whenever possible.
I'm also not afraid to make a bit of a show of myself. Yes, I enjoy seeing whether or not I can still make it across the monkey bars, so when I pass a playground, I'll often just do it! When I'm stuck in line waiting behind someone making their monthly Costco run, I will do squats, calf raises, or stretches in line. As far as dancing like no one is watching, let's just say I seldom refrain from busting into a few Zumba moves when someone plays a Pitbull jam.
I Make Sure a Balanced Diet Is Part of My Routine
It is so important to eat a balanced and sufficient diet. I could drive the best Ferrari (I wish), but it still wouldn't go anywhere if I tried to start it on an empty gas tank - the same goes for my body. To power myself through busy days, I chow down on healthy foods that keep my blood sugar stable.
I Prioritize Sleep
Sleep plays such an integral part in overall health. I'm human and have occasional sleepless nights just like everyone, but I do everything I can to make getting at least seven hours possible.
Try kicking your afternoon caffeine habit if you have one. Caffeine consumption too close to bedtime can cost you sleep. I get jitters after a single cup of coffee, so I err on the side of caution. I also take a few minutes to stretch and wind down before bed while sipping on chamomile, and I don't allow any electronics in my bedroom other than my Kindle. I've also been practicing meditation before bed to get better at relaxing my racing thoughts.
I often hear people with far more free time than I'll probably allow myself to have until retirement age complain that they can't find time to exercise. And everyone's different - some people really don't like being busy and must adjust accordingly, and that's fine. But if you find yourself having a hectic schedule, know that it is possible to keep up with your exercise routine. For me, staying busy keeps things exciting, and I'm living proof that grinding hard doesn't have to come at the cost of personal fitness or even happiness. Life in the fast lane can truly be a ton of fun when you get creative about how to keep up the pace.
Lower Back Causing You Grief? These Hip Stretches Can Help Ease the Pain
If you suffer from an achy lower back you are not alone. Low back pain is one of the most common health complaints in the US with around 80 percent of Americans experiencing it sometime in their lives. One of the culprits creating pain might just be our sedentary lifestyle. As a nation we sit a lot! Be it at a desk, in a car, or in front of the TV, all this sitting makes for tight hips. From my time teaching Pilates, I can tell you that tight hips lead to low back pain. The reasons are varied, but sitting can create muscle imbalances, like dormant butt syndrome, where tight hips can interfere with the glutes working. Sitting also creates tight muscles around the hip joint - one in particular, the psoas, connects the upper thigh bone (aka femur) to the lower spine. When tight, this powerful hip flexor pulls on the spine and aggravates it.
On top of all this sitting, some of our favorite activities, like running and cycling, also make for tight hips. As a preventative measure, it is time to start regularly stretching all of the muscles around the hip joint, since I firmly believe happy and loose hips help your spine.
Keep scrolling for six stretches I recommend doing consistently. The best time to stretch is after working out - and that workout can be walking, which is also great for tender lower backs - since warm muscles are more elastic.
Outdoor Voices Just Dropped a Swim Collection That Will Have You Searching For a Pool
Swim season is the best season. There, we said it. What's slightly less fun, though, is shopping for swimsuits. It can be tough to find pieces that are both functional and adorable, especially if you're someone who enjoys being active in the water - like kayaking, paddleboarding, or waterskiing. Which is where we come in, or rather, where Outdoor Voices comes in. They just launched a new swim collection, appropriately titled H2OV, and you're going to love it.
The launch is filled with high-neck bikinis, cute one-pieces, and big beach towels, because there's nothing worse than a tiny towel. Plus, there's a sun hat that's packable, which is the answer to all our prayers. These options are great if you're going to be doing things all day long, or if your main activity consists of turning the pages in your latest book. Channel your inner Sporty Spice, and keep reading to shop the collection.
Game of Thrones: What the Latest Loss Means For Daenerys's Battle Plans
Warning: Game of Thrones spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution.
There was a time on Game of Thrones where Daenerys's trio of dragons made her seemingly unstoppable - but that was a long time ago, and Dany's advantage has been seriously damaged. Going into the final season, Dany was already down to just two of her three dragons, with Viserion killed and reanimated by the Night King. Ice dragon Viserion was destroyed in the Battle of Winterfell, but her other two dragons survived . . . until now. In Sunday night's episode, Dany arrives in King's Landing, but loses another dragon along the way.
As Dany and her forces head to King's Landing to force a confrontation with Cersei once and for all, they make a stop at Dragonstone and are met with Euron Greyjoy's fleet. The ships fire off a series of giant arrows designed for exactly this purpose, and they hit their target: Rhaegal. The dragon goes down, and this time, he stays down. At this point, Dany is now down to just one dragon: Drogon. Interestingly, the only dragon left alive is the one who isn't named for a Targaryen. Viserion was named for Dany's brother Viserys, and Rhaegal was named after her oldest brother, Rhaegar - who also was Jon's father.
We've seen Dany survive the loss of one of her dragons before, but at this point, she's lost a lot of loved ones all at once, which could mean a very dark turn is down the line for her. To recap: in the span of just a few days, she's lost two of her closest friends and advisors, watched one dragon die for the second time and another die right in front of her, and found out that her lover is actually her nephew and has a claim to the throne she's been fighting for. Put all of that together with the often-mentioned Targaryen temper and tendency to madness, and this latest loss could finally push Dany over the edge.
Game of Thrones: Arya Isn't Running Away From Winterfell, She's Running Toward Her Destiny
Warning: Game of Thrones spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution.
After the events of the Great War, Game of Thrones has left fans to wonder what will become of Arya Stark. During the course of eight seasons, we watched her transform from a lady of Winterfell to a world-weary warrior capable of assassinating Meryn Trant, the Waif, Walder Frey, Petyr Baelish, and the Night King - thanks to some encouragement from Melisandre about "brown eyes, blue eyes, green eyes." And as we head into the final episodes of the series, we imagine the green eyes in that prophecy belong to Cersei, who sits atop Arya's infamous kill list. So it's no surprise that at the end of "The Last of the Starks," we find Arya on the road to King's Landing. But what is surprising is that she doesn't plan to return to her familial home.
In some respects this makes sense; when she turns down Gendry's offer of marriage she uses the simple phrase, "That's not me." This phrase echoes back to an argument she has with her father in the first season. She asks him if, like her brothers, she could ever be a knight or sit on a King's council. He responds by saying she can marry a powerful knight or lord and have children who serve on councils. She replies with the same clever phrase and even uses it several seasons later when she's reunited with her long-lost direwolf, Nymeria. She finds the animal along the Riverlands in season seven after she escapes the wrath of the Faceless Men. She tries to convince Nymeria to return home to Winterfell with her, but the direwolf takes shelter in the woods. Arya realizes that the animal, like herself, has changed, so Arya smiles and says, "That's not you."
Both of those instances reflect how much the young Stark has evolved since we were first introduced to her and hint at why Arya may not want or need to return to Winterfell if and when she kills Cersei. She's not a lady, she's a warrior. And even though her work as a warrior will be done once she completes her list, she will need to do what all good warriors do - explore the world to gain the knowledge she needs for her next battle.
While We're Heartbroken, It Makes Sense That Jon Gives Ghost Away on Game of Thrones
Warning: Game of Thrones spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution.
Throughout all the stress of watching all our favorite Game of Thrones characters try to evade White Walkers in the Battle of Winterfell, we had a very important question: is Ghost alive?! As it turns out, yes, Jon's loyal direwolf survives the battle! But, like much of the show's history, with good news comes bad news. Even though Ghost is very much alive, it looks like we may not actually see him again. Um, excuse me?
While the survivors of the crazy battle all try to figure out what's next (for several of our main players, that's heading to King's Landing), Tormund tells Jon that he and the Wildlings plan to head back beyond the Wall. Even though Jon counters that they're always welcome in Winterfell, Tormund says it just doesn't feel like home. Jon seems to understand that - but then, in a heartbreaking twist, he tells Tormund to take Ghost with him.
This seems like a pretty nonsensical move at first. Ghost belongs with Jon! All the other Stark direwolves are dead or out in the wild! How will we get our cute wolf fix now?! But if you think about it longer, it does make some sense. If you compare Ghost to Jon, they both are a bit out of place among their peers. To start, Jon feels different because he thinks he's Ned Stark's bastard rather than his trueborn son. Now, Jon is struggling with the fact that he's not only a legit Stark, but also a Targaryen, and what that means for his family. Likewise, Ghost is the albino runt of his litter and goes unnoticed upon his litter's discovery. And as Jon grows unsure of whether or not Winterfell can even be considered his home, he thinks that it's perhaps not a fitting home for Ghost either and that the direwolf should be out in the wild where he came from.
Regardless, it's still ridiculously sad that we didn't even get to see Jon actually bid farewell to Ghost, especially when he and the direwolves haven't shown up much in later seasons. Maybe he's confident that they'll reunite someday? Maybe he's just terrible at goodbyes? The show initially makes a big deal about the discovery of the Stark's litter because no other direwolves have been spotted south of the Wall in over 200 years, so it stands to reason that this goodbye (or lack thereof) could very well be the last we've seen of the direwolves. Cross your fingers that Ghost comes back - or that Nymeria, Arya's direwolf whom she got separated from and was last seen in the wild, makes a surprise appearance!
Game of Thrones: Why the Hound Thinks of Sansa as His "Little Bird"
Game of Thrones season eight is serving up one epic character reunion after another, but Sansa and the Hound's may be the best one yet. The two characters have both been in Winterfell since the season began, but they don't have a proper conversation until "The Last of the Starks." Sansa sits down with the Hound after she sees him rebuke the advances of a Northern girl, and he quickly notes that she doesn't have any trouble looking him in the eyes these days. He then calls her "little bird" and proceeds to tell her that she wouldn't have had to endure Littlefinger or Ramsay if only she had allowed him to take her from King's Landing when he fled during the Battle of Blackwater. However, the Lady of Winterfell is certain that if she hadn't gone through so much hell, she would have stayed a little bird all her life.
The scene is short, but full of meaning and the weight of the history between these two characters. The only problem is their last scene together occurred so long ago, there's a chance you may have been fuzzy on what exactly the connection between them is.
Sansa and the Hound's last scene together occurs way back in season two. At the time, the youngest Clegane brother is still serving as Joffrey's bodyguard. While he's known for being ruthless, the Hound has a soft spot for Sansa that makes him act as her protector whenever he can. After Ned Stark's beheading, he's the one to stop Sansa from pushing Joffrey off the tower bridge when he forces her to look at her father's head. He's also the one who saves her from an angry mob in King's Landing. There's no doubt that she brings out the good in him, but her world is so lonely and terrifying in season two that she's not ready to see this vulgar man with the damaged face as someone who can save her.
That doesn't stop the Hound from trying, though. When the wildfire spreads during the Battle of Blackwater, his fear drives him to flee King's Landing, but he goes looking for Sansa first. He tells her that if she comes with him, he'll go North and take her home to Winterfell, but she prefers to take her chances with Stannis if he wins the war (which he doesn't). Before he leaves, the Hound tells Sansa, who can't quite meet his gaze, "The world is full of killers and you better get used to looking at them."
Six seasons later, Sansa not only meets and holds the Hound's gaze, she also places her hand on his. This Sansa is older and wiser. She's not a frightened little bird who dreams of a brave knight to come and rescue her. She's now a cunning leader who knows that good people can look like the Hound and evil people can come wrapped in pretty packages. The Hound may wonder what might have been if only she'd gone with him in season two, but Sansa knows she's traveled a darker path for a reason. She's internalized every lesson she's learned along the way, including the one that Joffrey's former bodyguard taught her, and that's why she's able to sit across from the Hound and know that there's a good heart beneath that gruff exterior.
Here's What Varys's Reference to "the Realm" Means on Game of Thrones
Warning: Game of Thrones spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution.
Loyalty is a funny thing on Game of Thrones. We've seen loyalties shift time and time again, with former allies and even families turning against one another while former enemies unite against a common foe. It's rare to find a character whose loyalty is clear throughout, and yet there's at least one character who has never wavered. Varys, the seemingly sycophantic eunuch and advisor, has advised many characters throughout the series, but his real loyalty has always been to the concept of "the realm."
It's a vague idea, as Tyrion Lannister points out when Varys talks to him. In some ways, "the realm" is just a collective way of referring to the entirety of the known kingdoms. More specifically, though, it's implied that "the realm" isn't just some geographical borders or really uncomfortable throne - it's the people themselves who make up the kingdoms. The realm stretches beyond any one kingdom (or even seven) or any one ruler or dynasty: it's the ongoing existence of the people of the land. As an abstract concept, it's something that stretches beyond specific borders or eras. That's why Varys is able to work with (or for) different factions as the war goes on: his allegiance shifts to those he believes will do the best for the realm, not those who he believes will benefit him personally.
Varys bringing this up makes an interesting point. Although some of the main players have noble intentions, most of the characters are fighting or playing the game for their own reasons: because they believe the throne is their birthright, because they believe they deserve to rule by sheer right of force, because they want to defend themselves and their families, and so on. Few, if any, have expressed genuine motivations to simply do right by the realm and its people as a whole. As the ongoing battle nears its conclusion, it's possible that the "good of the realm" may finally enter the equation. Perhaps it will motivate previously passive characters to tackle new challenges, or perhaps someone will act selflessly rather than selfishly. Whether or not doing things for "the good of the realm" will actually be considered, we'll have to see!
Game of Thrones: The Dangerous Evidence That Daenerys Might End Up Like Her Father
Warning: Big Game of Thrones spoilers below!
Did anyone else think Daenerys was about to go wild at the end of the most recent episode of Game of Thrones? The Dragon Queen is being tested in a major way, and her patience is failing. The once benevolent leader is now seething with a righteous anger that leads Varys to hint to Tyrion that their beloved queen's behavior is more than a little tyrant-esque. After losing a large swath of her army, Ser Jorah, Missandei, and Rhaegal in just a matter of days, Daenerys is tired of playing games with Cersei. She's ready to take the Iron Throne by any means necessary, but that could also mean she's about to make the Mad Queen theory a reality.
The original Mad King, Aerys, was Daenerys's father. During his reign of the Seven Kingdoms, Aerys grew paranoid, eventually seeing everyone as the enemy, and often uttering his rallying cry of "burn them all" - he even tried to use wildfire to do so. To her credit, Daenerys doesn't appear to have reached major paranoia, but the ruthlessness of her plans to take the throne hints at the worst part of her Targaryen lineage.
While all of the attention is being focused on Cersei's unquestionable cruelty, there are plenty of signs that the Dragon Queen is the one that people should fear. For example, she tries to force Jon to keep his claim to the throne a secret because she believes it's her destiny to rule the Seven Kingdoms. That desire for power can be corrupting, and there are plenty of signs that suggest Daenerys might get rid of Jon before allowing the North to champion him as the true ruler of Westeros. More immediately, she's about to show King's Landing the full extent of her strength by potentially unleashing dragon fire on a city full of innocents. With her obsession with burning her enemies alive, Daenerys is becoming more and more like her father every day. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean the Mad Khaleesi theory will come to pass, but it should give you pause.
The Theory
The Mad Khaleesi theory suggests that Daenerys has been behaving like her father for years now, but because so much of the story is from her point of view, it's hard to see her actions as cruel. After all, the Dragon Queen never targets innocents, with her victims being vicious khals, slave traders, and the Lannister army. But there is an undeniable brutality in her tactics, and nowhere is that more evident than in the deaths of Randyll and Dickon Tarly. She burns the father and son alive when they refuse to bend the knee, just seconds after she claims she's not in Westeros to murder.
In season eight, she has a character challenging her vision of herself as a savior every step of the way, and that person is Sansa Stark. The lady of Winterfell's distrust in the Dragon Queen comes from an understandable place. She sees Daenerys as someone who is manipulating her brother's love for her own gain, and as a ruler who will demand fealty no matter the cost. These are clear warning signs for Sansa, and for the audience, that it's possible that the Daenerys we know and love is more dangerous than we could ever have imagined.
The Evidence
Varys has firsthand knowledge of what it was like to work for the Mad King, and in "Eastwatch" (the fifth episode of the seventh season), he shares his experiences with Tyrion. He recalls how he would find traitors to bring before the Mad King, and then he would stand aside and watch as he burned them alive. In "The Last of the Starks" (the fourth episode of the last season), he again comes to Tyrion with his fears about their queen. This time, he points out that Daenerys's talk of destiny points to her being a tyrant in the making, because every tyrant he's known had the same ideas about themselves. He warns the Hand of the Queen that the Mother of Dragons no longer seems to have the people's best interests at heart - instead, she craves the power above all.
As her closest allies continue to fall, Daenerys is becoming more and more distrustful of those around her. She no longer seems to value the council of Varys or Tyrion, and she sees herself as an outsider on this side of the sea. Most concerning of all is her jealousy of Jon Snow. She watches as Tormund and the North shower him with praise in the aftermath of the Battle of Winterfell, and it leaves her so angry that she storms off. Later, she begs Jon to keep the secret of his parentage to himself because she knows that the people of Westeros are more likely to choose him over her. Her growing paranoia and inability to trust those closest to her mirrors her father's descent into madness in a disturbing way.
The loot train battle in season seven sees Daenerys raining fire down on the Lannister army indiscriminately. She burns them all, leaving only a handful of men standing at the end. She offers those men an option: join her or die. The lack of middle ground hints at the same extremism of her father, who showed his enemies no mercy. What's most distressing is that Daenerys claims to give these men a choice, when in actuality their only option is to bend the knee. She's ruling with fear, and fear was her father's weapon of choice. Now she's heading into another battle with the Lannisters, and there's no doubt that she will lead with terror. She only has one dragon left, but she's ready and willing to allow Drogon to burn King's Landing in retaliation for what Cersei did to Missandei.
Daenerys has always been fond of flames. It is fire that births her dragons, and fire that frees her from the khals. The Mother of Dragons doesn't just kill anyone who gets in her way: she burns them, just like her father did, and that's not about to stop anytime soon.
What It All Means
Daenerys is her father's daughter in many ways. Those who are firmly on her side have nothing to fear, but she demands absolute loyalty. If she receives anything less, she lashes out. She's made it clear through her interactions with Sansa and Jon that she wants to rule all Seven Kingdoms, and she'll accept nothing less, even if it means destroying people and houses to get her way.
There's also not doubt that she's ready to use her last dragon to kill her enemies. In some ways, this is a show of strength, but in others, it is a warning sign that if she's not careful, Daenerys could still become known as the Mad Queen. Right now, the Mother of Dragons is backed into a corner by Cersei and her own anger and frustration with the way her homecoming has gone down so far. She's about to show us who she really is, and we need to be prepared for the possibility that we won't like what we see.
You Definitely Know What the Hound's "Unfinished Business" Is on Game of Thrones
Warning: Game of Thrones spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution.
Team-ups and unique couplings have dominated the storyline during this final season of Game of Thrones, and one reunion we're dying to see is the faceoff between the Clegane brothers - the Hound vs. the Mountain. As we learn in the first season, Sandor "the Hound" Clegane is the younger brother to Ser Gregor "the Mountain" Clegane, the man who currently acts as Cersei's personal bodyguard and executioner. Despite standing on different sides in the fight for Westeros, the two men's strained relationship actually stems from a childhood incident that has forever changed how the Hound views fire.
According to a story first told to Sansa Stark by Lord Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, the older Clegane's mean-spirited and oppressive nature led him to press his young brother's face to a fire over a discarded toy the younger Clegane found and took pleasure in claiming. The punishment would have continued until his face was completed burned if not for the intervention of several family servants. That's why the Hound carries several gruesome scars on his right side. The younger Clegane has never forgiven his brother for the incident despite briefly serving under King Joffrey Baratheon alongside his brother.
The Hound eventually leaves King's Landing after the Battle of the Blackwater, using the distraction of Stannis Baratheon's failed siege to make his escape, but continues to stew over the bad blood between them, often mockingly saying that his brother's knighthood hardly makes the man noble. We get a hint of this disdain in season seven when the brothers briefly meet during the Dragonpit armistice where Jon Snow unveils a wight. The Hound comments how his brother, who has since been resurrected from the dead by Qyburn, has grown uglier than his own scarred face and promises to execute his sibling as soon as he has the chance.
So at the end of the season eight episode titled "The Last of the Starks," we find the Hound on the road to King's Landing with "unfinished business" on this mind. We have no doubt he plans to seek out his brother to fulfill the promise of retribution, and we hope he makes it out alive, even if he has no plans to return to our heroes at Winterfell.
Game of Thrones: Yes, You've Heard Missandei's Defiant Shout Before - Here's When
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Sunday night's episode of Game of Thrones!
The Battle of Winterfell may be over, but no one on Game of Thrones is safe yet. Case in point: Sunday night's episode saw Daenerys's army finally reach King's Landing to confront Cersei - only to have the Dragon Queen lose her most trusted and beloved advisor. During the invasion, Dany's translator and advisor Missandei is captured by Cersei and Euron Greyjoy's forces. In case we didn't remember how brutal Cersei can be, we're reminded of it when she has Missandei beheaded in view of everyone. Just before her death, though, Missandei shouts out a word that we've heard before, and it's incredibly significant.
Missandei shouts "Dracarys!" which is the command in Valyrian that we've heard Dany use before when she's commanding her dragons to unleash their fire. Missandei has been there before to witness the badass destruction the dragons have wrought, notably in season three when Dany freed the Unsullied and commanded her dragons to destroy a cruel group of slave masters. It's a word that belongs to Dany and her dragons, and in using it, Missandei uses her last breath to declare her loyalty one more time.
There's also the potential for a message in Missandei's use of the dragon cry. Up until now, Missandei has been Dany's closest advisor, and it's possible she was giving advice one last time with her final shout. By using the "dracarys" call, she could be signaling to Dany to treat Cersei the way she's treated enemies in the past: by burning them to the ground. Unfortunately, it might be a little harder for Dany to do that these days. Not only is she down two advisors (losing Missandei now and Jorah in the Battle of Winterfell), she's also down two dragons, with Rhaegal's death at the hands of Euron Greyjoy's fleet. Whether or not Dany is able to follow her friend's final advice, it's a bittersweet callback to the history these two women shared and a reminder of just how closely tied their stories have been.
No, Daenerys Doesn't Name Gendry a Lord Out of the Kindness of Her Heart
Warning: Game of Thrones spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution.
After an exhausting Game of Thrones battle and an inspiring speech from Jon Snow to mourn all those they lost, it's party time in Winterfell in episode four of the eighth season. In addition to celebrating the fact that the Long Night didn't come after all, all those remaining have other things to cheer on. Among these is Daenerys's decision to publicly legitimize Gendry and name him the Lord of Storm's End. He's no longer Gendry Waters, but rather Gendry Baratheon, and he's now the head of his house and its ancestral seat.
For most of his life, all Gendry has ever known in terms of his family was that he was an orphan. This changes when Melisandre tells to him that he's actually Robert Baratheon's bastard son in season three. It's a fact that we've known since Ned Stark figured it out on his own season one, but it's understandably a huge reveal for Gendry himself. It becomes even more important as the series goes own and Stannis Baratheon dies, leaving Gendry as the last known Baratheon the show has introduced. If he had any interest in taking the Iron Throne, as his family was the last to occupy it before the current Lannister reign, it could make for an interesting twist. However, as Gendry reveals, he's not legitimized and therefore has no real claims to anything. Dany, as Queen, changes this - but not solely because it's in Gendry's best interests.
In fact, naming Gendry as Lord of Storm's End benefits Dany greatly. Before she legitimized him, he didn't have much, despite being more than willing to help defend Winterfell. Now, he's in charge of a castle and region that previously had no leader. He can marry someone with a title - and he clearly has Arya in mind. His whole life will change significantly, and Dany knows this. It's an especially poignant gesture given the way their families have intertwined over the years. Like she and Tyrion quietly discuss, she's banking on legitimizing him meaning that he'll continue to serve her and feel indebted to her. Doing so in public, while everyone's in good spirits and celebrating, is like insurance. Everyone will remember that moment because it displays Dany's power and apparent kindness, and they won't forget Gendry essentially owes his new life to her.
With her armed forces cut down significantly after the gruesome battle with the White Walkers, Dany knows that she needs as many allies as she can get. Throw in the fact that Jon's true parentage is a point of conflict in her quest to rule, plus the fact that she's now lost even more important people and another dragon, and it's easy to see why she's thinking about her approach as strategically as she can. Gendry thus far seems quite loyal to both her and the Starks, so siding with one or the other may be difficult if he ever finds out about Jon's claim to the throne. As a side note, did you know that the castle Storm's End has never been shown on the series? Should he pop up again, it'd be nice to see Gendry living it up in the Stormlands!
Wow, Arya Said "No" to THAT Gendry Question, and It Looks Like Happy Endings Don't Exist
Warning: Massive Game of Thrones spoilers ahead!
Arya and Gendry shippers, prepare to be majorly disappointed. With only two episodes of Game of Thrones left, it looks like we might have just witnessed the end of one of the sweetest couples in Westeros.
After Arya's incredible victory against the Night King in last week's episode, she decides to celebrate by practicing her aim with a bow and arrow - ya know, as all teenage assassins do. While everyone else is busy feasting and celebrating their great victory in the Battle of Winterfell, Gendry goes off to find her and share the news that Daenerys has officially named him the Lord of Storm's End. Even though Arya seems genuinely happy for her friend (boyfriend? lover?), she's not expecting it when Gendry then sweetly pops the question, asking her to rule alongside him as Lady of Storm's End. That's right, everyone, a proper proposal without any incest or hidden intentions!
Then, in a truly heartbreaking moment, Arya kisses Gendry and tells him that any lady would be lucky to have him, effectively rejecting his marriage proposal in the nicest way she can think of. To be fair, they just slept together for the first time a little over 24 hours ago, so we can definitely see Arya's hesitation in committing to Gendry for the rest of her life. But Arya's main reason for rejecting Gendry? "I'm not a lady. I never have been. That's not me," she tells him before walking off. Seeing what a badass she is (she single-handedly killed the freakin' Night King!), it makes sense that Arya wouldn't want to settle down and live a life where her sole purpose is to fulfill all the duties that being a lady entails.
Arya arguably could have agreed to marry Gendry and gone on living her vigilante lifestyle on the side, but it really would have been asking a lot from her. As heartbroken as we are for Gendry, because he truly looked super crushed, Arya's decision might have been what's best for both of them. Shortly after her conversation with Gendry, we see Arya riding off on horseback alongside the Hound as they discuss leaving Winterfell and never returning.
So, where does this leave her and Gendry? Seemingly, they're broken up, but we have our fingers crossed that the Arya and Gendry ship hasn't sunk for good. Still, with only two episodes left in the series, it's difficult to expect much of anything else to happen between the pair. See how the rest of the Game of Thrones fandom felt about seeing Arya reject Gendry's proposal, ahead.
Reminder: Rhaegar Targaryen's Death Basically Caused Everything on Game of Thrones
Rhaegar Targaryen is arguably the most important Game of Thrones character, and until the season seven finale, we had never even seen him. His death marked the end of a long and complicated rebellion full of forbidden love and a plethora of fighting and murder. If you're wondering how or why he died, or perhaps you've forgotten, we are here to help, because he's definitely an important piece of the Westeros puzzle.
Rhaegar was the eldest son of "Mad" King Aerys II, making him heir to the Iron Throne and Daenerys's oldest brother. The Targaryens are allies with the Lannisters way back when at this time, and Cersei always thought she might marry Rhaegar, but the two families' peace falls apart when the Mad King instead marries Rhaegar to Elia Martell of Dorne, with whom he has two children. But everything really falls apart in the Seven Kingdoms when Rhaegar sees Lyanna Stark at the Tourney of Harrenhal.
Rhaegar is so taken with Ned Stark's sister (who was also Robert Baratheon's betrothed) that when he wins the tournament, he gives the victor's wreath to Lyanna instead of his wife. Several months later, Rhaegar allegedly abducts Lyanna, but we've known from season six and beyond that she actually goes with him of her own free will - and they secretly get married, as we found out back in Game of Thrones' season seven episode "Eastwatch" (though at the time the Game of Thrones characters still all think Lyanna was the victim of kidnap and assault).
This controversy is what spurs Robert Baratheon's rebellion, backed by the great Houses Arryn, Greyjoy, Stark, and Tully. The Lannisters even eventually join the rebellion after the Battle of the Trident, which is where Robert kills Rhaegar with his war hammer.
This defeat is the beginning of the end of the Targaryens, which is why the Lannisters finally join Robert's side - like true Lannisters, they wait to see which side emerges victorious before they make a choice.
After Rhaegar's death, the Lannisters sack King's Landing. Jaime kills the Mad King (thus his nickname, Kingslayer), bannerman Ser Gregor Clegane (aka The Mountain) kills Elia Martell and Rhaegar's two children, and the rebellion is complete. Tywin Lannister marries his daughter Cersei to Robert, and King Robert takes the throne.
However, Rhaegar's line lives on. While all of this is happening during the rebellion, Rhaegar sends his pregnant new wife, Lyanna, to the Tower of Joy under the watch of Kingsguard members Ser Arthur Dayne and Ser Gerold Hightower. Eddard tracks his sister there and is present when she gives birth to Rhaegar's son and heir, Aegon Targaryen. Ned passes the baby boy off as his own bastard because Lyanna asks him to protect the baby from King Robert (who would surely kill Rhaegar's heir if he knew the truth), and that's how Jon Snow comes to be part of the Stark family.
Now, in season eight, there are a select few people privy to this information. Bran is the first to find out, since he initially sees the vision of Rhaegar and Lyanna marrying, and then later Lyanna giving birth. Then Samwell Tarly reads about the union in the journals at the Citadel, and musters the courage to tell Jon himself in the season eight premiere. Jon, not having a lot of foresight, then decides to tell Rhaegar's little sister, his aunt, and also his boo, Daenerys Targaryen. And now Arya, Sansa, Tyrion, AND Varys all know, too.
Naturally Dany's none too pleased to discover that Jon is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne when he divulges this shocking information in the Winterfell crypts in season eight's second episode, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" and she's still not keen on it in the fourth episode, "The Last Stark." (Even if it does exonerate her brother from all those accusations of rape and kidnapping.) Will she attempt to kill him in next week's episode, since she's headed for Mad Queen territory? Only time will tell, but hopefully she's learned from her family's history of violence.
Game of Thrones Fans Are Now Rallying Behind Tormund After Brienne and Jaime's, Uh, Moment
Warning: Big, hilarious spoilers below!
Season eight's fourth episode of Game of Thrones finally gave the people what they want, but many fans are wondering at what cost. ICYMI: Jaime and Brienne sleep together after the feast that follows the Battle of Winterfell, and even though viewers have shipped the couple for several seasons now, the internet still has A LOT of thoughts about it.
The love triangle between Jaime, Brienne, and Tormund has been an underlying source of entertainment throughout much of the final season, but "The Last of the Starks" sees Brienne making a definitive choice - much to the dismay of Tormund Giantsbane, of course, who (quite hilariously) ends up pouring his heart out to the Hound just minutes after seeing Jaime follow Brienne out of the hall. Considering how Jaime and Brienne's love quickly goes up in flames, fans are naturally aligning themselves with Tormund and hoping that the newly knighted woman finally considers giving him a chance since Jaime is heading back to King's Landing and Tormund is staying up North.
Read ahead to check out what a few fans have to say about this pretty, err, complicated relationship.
Game of Thrones: Why Sansa's Final Gift to Theon Has Us Crying
Warning: Game of Thrones spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution.
As every Game of Thrones fan predicted, the Battle of Winterfell was deadly - and the aftermath is just as brutal. In the wake of the massive battle, the surviving major players take the time to pay tribute to the fallen before looking ahead to the next challenge. Among the last to die in the great battle is Theon Greyjoy, who dies in the godswood of Winterfell defending Bran Stark from the Night King's attack. Before his funeral pyre, Sansa Stark quietly slips a wolf pin onto Theon's body. It's a sweet moment, and one laden with meaning.
For much of his life, Theon lived as a "ward" of the Starks, thanks to his father having backed the losing side during Robert Baratheon's rebellion. He grew up alongside the Starks, and for most of the series, he's gone back and forth between being loyal to the Starks and being manipulated to turn against them by various enemies. Back in season one, he's the first to proclaim Robb Stark as King in the North, swearing that he is Robb's "brother" in all but blood. Over time, though, Theon goes through some seriously traumatizing events, to the point where he loses his identity and is completely controlled by his abuser, Ramsay Bolton. It's Sansa who finally gets through to him and helps him come back to himself, and they escape Ramsay together before separating to help fight for their respective families.
In the end, though, Theon chooses to fight for Winterfell instead of helping his sister Yara take back the Greyjoy stronghold in the Iron Islands. This choice cements the fact that, blood or not, he considers himself a Stark more than anything else, and he dies defending their home and their family. That's why Sansa leaves a wolf pin with him: the wolf pin isn't just any pin, but the Stark sigil. By giving the pin to Theon, she's acknowledging and honoring him as a Stark in spirit, if not in name. We're not crying, you are.
Rhaegal's Horrific Death Plays a Key Role in Igniting Daenerys's Rage in Game of Thrones
Warning: dragon-sized Game of Thrones spoilers ahead!
Since the moment they were hatched from three fossilized eggs in season one, Daenerys's dragons have been a constant source of wonder, fear, and awe in Game of Thrones. Without her three children, it's safe to say that the self-proclaimed Queen of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn't have anything she has today - her army of Unsullied and Dorthraki, her retinue of faithful followers, and her claim to the Iron Throne. As Daenerys's power grew, so did Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion, and we watched as they did everything from protect their mother to raze her enemies. But it hasn't all been white-hot flames and breaking chains. We've had to watch Daenerys mourn the loss of Viserion to the Night King in season seven, and, after season eight's fourth episode, Rhaegal joins his formerly possessed brother in death, all thanks to Cersei and Euron's battle tactics.
In the aftermath of the Battle of Winterfell, Daenerys is finally able to lay Viserion and Jorah to rest, as well as bid adieu to any threat of the Night King. She decides to look forward to her future on the Iron Throne by making her way South to King's Landing to finally contend with Cersei, Euron, and the Golden Company.
As Daenerys flies on the back of Drogon (who's looking a little torn at the wings after his close call in the last episode) back to Dragonstone, Rhaegal flies beside them. It's a sweet moment for the four seconds of happiness Daenerys is able to grab before a spear flies out of freakin' nowhere and stabs Rhaegal in the chest. Turns out Euron's fleet is hiding behind some rock formations, ready for the chance to take aim at the Dragon Queen and her remaining two children. He launches another few spears and Rhaegal goes down, another child of Daenerys's lost to her war.
Most of the rest of the retinue is able to get to safety, but not without another casualty to follow. It turns out Cersei sent Euron as a message to Daenerys and it's one that the younger Queen definitely receives. Tyrion manages to curb Daenerys's rage enough to get her to agree to give Cersei one last chance to surrender and return Missandei before she lays siege to King's Landing, but as we soon see, it doesn't work out in her favor.
Now Daenerys is down to one dragon and has lost all her closest allies, and the war for the Iron Throne has begun in earnest. And with Rhaegal dead, Daenerys's advantages shrink down to one very vulnerable remaining dragon. At this point, we have no doubt that Daenerys is going to go full Targaryen on King's Landing - what does she have to lose now? She's basically lost everything she's loved and now that she's so close to getting the Throne - she has nothing to hold her back. From the look on her face at the end of episode four, things are definitely about to get fiery.
Real Talk, the Latest Death on Game of Thrones Is the Worst For Several Reasons
Warning: big Game of Thrones spoilers below!
If anyone expected Game of Thrones to go easy on us after the Battle of Winterfell, episode four is a lesson well learned. While season eight's "The Last of the Starks" doesn't have a high body count (for our main characters, anyway), it does feature a hugely significant death that viewers are still shaken by.
Following the intense - and frustratingly hard to see - events of "The Long Night," Daenerys and whatever is left of her retinue set forward on her campaign to challenge Cersei for the Iron Throne. Despite their victory in Winterfell, Daenerys's soldiers are sorely outnumbered by Cersei's forces - she has the Lannister army, as well as Euron's troops and the Golden Company at her beck and call. But Daenerys still has her two dragons and fighters faithful to her cause, which has gotten her this far.
Confident that an immediate attack on Cersei is what's best, Dany has everyone board ships set for Dragonstone while she flies above them with Drogon and Rhaegal. Suddenly Euron's fleet appears from around a corner and they attack, killing Rhaegal and destroying many of Dany's ships. In the ensuing chaos, Missandei is captured and brought to King's Landing as bait. Unsurprisingly, it works - Dany is instantly spurred into action and desperate to get her friend back safe and sound, so she arrives in King's Landing with a small group of soldiers, as well as Greyworm and Tyrion by her side, to "negotiate" with Cersei (aka demand she surrender and give up Missandei).
We didn't need Missandei to die to teach us something we learned the moment Ned Stark's head was cut off.
All of this is happening outside the city gates, as Missandei stands up above on a platform with Cersei, Euron, and the Mountain posed behind her. Tyrion attempts to reason with his sister, but it soon becomes clear that nothing will stop Cersei's reign of terror when she gives the order to have Missandei beheaded. The horror on her friends' faces makes it obvious that they know there's no stopping what's coming next, and with a swift swing of his sword, the Mountain beheads the former slave from Narth. Both Greyworm and Daenerys react in horror, the former turning away and visibly holding back his emotions. Tyrion also looks away, though he looks remarkably more guilty than Missandei's lover.
Considering this is yet another loved one Daenerys has lost in such a short span of time (including her beloved Jorah), it's no shock that she looks positively enraged. But as a viewer, I can't help but find the scene ultimately disappointing, especially in the face of everything else going on in the season.
Missandei's death serves no real purpose to further the plot - the big players involved (Daenerys and Cersei) were always going to have a violent clash no matter who gets caught in the middle. It's made to look as if Missandei's death pushes Daenerys's to attack King's Landing, but she's been contemplating that plan all along. Even after Sansa tells her that their soldiers need time to rest, she pushes them to go ahead with their plan, which is why Euron and Cersei are able to catch them by surprise.
Missandei's death isn't necessary to motivate Daenerys to attack since her desire for the Iron Throne and hatred for Cersei is more than enough to do that. The fact that Missandei doesn't even use her own last words to do anything more than "encourage" Daenerys shows how much her own death isn't about her. It's purely for the shock value and reminding fans that any character can die at any moment. While that's all well and great, that lesson would have been better taught during the Battle of Winterfell, when people were managing to survive being pinned by hordes of mindlessly feral wights. And especially when you take into account the fact that Missandei is one of the show's few remaining characters of color.
Not only is her death another example of how dispensable Game of Thrones seems to treat women - seriously, there are so many more important people Cersei could have killed instead of Daenerys's personal assistant adviser - but it literally cuts down their number of diverse main characters to one (aka Greyworm, who is somehow still alive and kicking). Missandei could survive being in the crypts with wights popping out of concrete tombs, but she doesn't get to last in King's Landing for two minutes?! All to do . . . what? Teach us that war is a fast and loose game? We know that already! We didn't need Missandei to die to teach us something we learned the moment Ned Stark's head was cut off.
At this point, all we can do is hope that the rest of the season isn't an exercise in trying to give us a Red Wedding-level shock, rather than building up a solid ending and concluding the story in a believable, satisfying way.
Game of Thrones Fans Are Calling Jon Snow Out For What He Did to Ghost, and I Kind of Agree
Warning: Direwolf-sized Game of Thrones spoilers ahead for season eight, so stop reading now!
Hold the door, because I have a lot of emotions to work through right now, and they're all related to the most lovable character on Game of Thrones. That's right - I'm talking about Ghost. After surviving the Battle of Winterfell, the only remaining Stark direwolf might have just said his final farewell, and I'm not emotionally prepared to handle it.
ICYMI, Tormund decides to head back to the "true North" with the rest of the Free Folk now that the Battle of Winterfell has been won . . . and because their home isn't overrun by frozen zombies anymore. In an effort to do what's best for his beloved pet, Jon asks Tormund to take Ghost with him so he can run free - without even petting his loyal direwolf goodbye. Come on, Jon, seriously?!
After being MIA for literal years, Ghost definitely deserved some more screen time. In the words of Jon Snow, "It is our duty and our honor to keep them alive in memory for those who come after us and those who come after them, for as long as men draw breath." Ghost isn't dead, but it looks like fans certainly won't be letting his memory die anytime soon. See reactions to Ghost's final appearance ahead.
Game of Thrones: The Internet Is Rightfully Furious After the Graphic Death of [SPOILER]
Warning: The night is dark and this post is full of Game of Thrones spoilers, so proceed with caution!
Game of Thrones only has a handful of episodes left in its eighth and final season, and it seems showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff want to make sure each one obliterates our tear ducts. After the devastation of last week's Battle of Winterfell, episode four kicks off with Daenerys and what remains of her troops setting sail for King's Landing to confront Cersei and get the ball rolling on that whole taking-over-the-Iron-Throne thing everyone is so obsessed with. Spoiler alert: it doesn't go well. Oh, and her ill-fated journey comes with a steep price: the deaths of both her dragon, Rhaegal, and her best friend, Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel).
Missandei has been Dany's right-hand woman since her debut in season three, when the khaleesi rescues her from a life as a slave in Astapor. She warns Missandei right off the bat that being on #TeamDany might involve going into war, falling ill, or even dying, all of which the interpreter responds to by simply saying, "Valar morghulis." (Or, "All men must die.") Unfortunately, that warning comes back to haunt both of the women when Missandei is beheaded by the Mountain (on Cersei's orders, of course) in King's Landing, as Dany, Tyrion, and her love, Grey Worm, look on helplessly below.
Naturally, the death of one of the show's few characters of color - and the fact Game of Thrones has a history of repeatedly treating its female characters as garbage, to put it lightly - has fans of the series rightfully upset. Read on to see some of the most passionate responses to Missandei's heartbreaking (and frustrating) exit.
All Hell Breaks Loose in the Preview For Next Week's Game of Thrones Episode
Are you still out there, Game of Thrones fans? Or did season eight's fourth episode, "The Last of the Starks," completely destroy you? Well, regardless of whether or not any of us are emotionally prepared for the fifth episode of the eighth season of the HBO fantasy epic, it's coming. And judging from the preview above, all hell is about to break loose.
The fifth episode, the title of which is yet to be revealed, will be one of the longest in Game of Thrones history, clocking in at 80 minutes when it debuts on May 12 (for comparison, the third episode, "The Long Night," was the longest at only two minutes longer). It looks like both sides in the war for the Iron Throne are getting ready for battle and tensions are rapidly rising. Now that several people know Jon's secret and Deanerys seems on the edge of breaking down, what will come of all our heroes?
Watch the clip above and see how Westeros will recover from the major deaths of Missandei and Rhaegal, and then be sure you brush up on that unsettling theory about Dany.
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