We’ve spent most of Game of Thrones season 7 in Westeros’ leading strongholds, including King’s Landing, Dragonstone, and Winterfell. But as we close in on the penultimate episode of the season, we’re about to head into the ominous tundra north of the Wall.
A new set of photos released for the upcoming episode “Beyond the Wall” gives us a snowy look at our band of heroes. The plan is for Jon Snow and his ragtag team—Tormund Giantsbane, the Hound, Beric Dondarrion, Thoros of Myr (and his flaming sword), Gendry, and Jorah Mormont—to collect a wight as proof that there’s an army of dead men bearing down on Westeros. Jon hopes the reality of the situation will force Westeros’ leading families to unite in this battle, despite their personal conflicts. But first, he and his men face a perilous mission.
In preview photos, Jon and his men face the harsh northern elements. Curiously—and concerningly—we don’t see the Hound in the mix.
This last scene seems particularly action-packed, and we know from previous encounters that the army of the dead tends to show up in the thick of a snowstorm.
Here we see Jon and Beric taking a moment to chat. Seeing as how they’ve both been resurrected (Jon by Melisandre and Beric by Thoros of Myr), they might find some irony in their fight against the undead.
We also get a good look at Beric wielding his flaming sword. We hope it’s as intimidating to White Walkers as it is to ordinary men.
This last photo of Jon is especially concerning. The last time we saw him looking this serious was last week when he was nose-to-nose with Drogon. That encounter turned out OK, but in the perilous land beyond the Wall, it can’t mean anything good.
Back at Winterfell, it seems like we might find out if Littlefinger’s plan to set the Stark sisters against each other will actually work. We see Sansa solemnly reading a parchment, though it seems like a different document than the narrow scroll of paper Littlefinger planted for Arya to find in his room. Perhaps Sansa got word from Jon about his plans, or she’s tallying Winterfell’s readiness for winter and war.
Here we see Sansa and Arya together, though it seems like their attention is on something other than each other.
Finally, we get a look at what’s happening at Dragonstone. In one photo Daenerys Targaryen is clearly listening to Tyrion Lannister’s counsel, after dismissing his objections to her burning Randyll and Dickon Tarly for failing to bend the knee last week.
In another photo, Dany seems to be preparing to ride out on her dragons again—and she’s sporting a significant costume change.
We’ve previously seen Dany in a sensible and warm-looking gray dress, modestly decorated with her dragon broach. Westeros is chillier than Essos, especially with the coming winter, and Dany’s wardrobe has been practical for planning a war inside Dragonstone’s drafty castle walls.
Here we see Daenerys sporting a new dress we haven’t seen before. It’s still looks warm, but it’s certainly fancier than her attire earlier this season. Game of Thrones costumes tend to be carefully chosen and layered with meaning, so we suspect her new duds serve some significant purpose.