These are random thoughts that are kind of all over the place...I haven't read the books, unfortunately, so my rambling is less informed. I'm not expecting a "happy" ending, but I've read that the aim is for a "satisfying" ending. I like that about the actors guessing incorrectly about the ending, because I feel like there are several different but valid ways it could go. I'm hoping the ending makes narrative sense given what's come before. I'm thinking it may be along the lines of "Buffy" - not "happily ever after" and the loss of some beloved characters, but at least for me, satisfying and generally making sense.
I think there will be some survivors next week, partly because there are three more episodes and someone needs to fight Cersei's army.
I think there has been a lot of foreshadowing and symbolism along the way, especially the last few episodes. What I think is cool about it is that a lot of it can be interpreted in different ways and might support different outcomes. It does seem like they like callbacks to previous ideas/themes, particularly with the character arcs, so it would surprise me if some of the symbolism doesn't come into play. Like, I really liked the Shireen callback in this last episode and how it plays into Davos' (and Gilly's) story. Also, he mentioned multiple times about how he's not a fighter and how he's avoided fighting, so it will be interesting to see his role.
I have enjoyed the Hound's character arc and I think even though he's a secondary character his role seems important and maybe not over? There a lot of fire imagery with him - Tormand calls him "kissed by fire", he sees the vision in the fire, he's frozen up a couple of times in battle due to fire...I'm wondering if he gets over his fear of fire (since wights can be killed by fire) and moves on to deal with the Mountain (also kind of dead/undead).
Arya - She has talked of the idea of being something she's not "supposed to be" - and I think that's a theme with several female characters. She told Sansa a story last season about shooting arrows while her father watched and how she knew it was "against the rules" but not wrong, that the rules were wrong. And it reminds me of what a pp was saying about possible multiple rulers or something. Or an unexpected ruler and by unexpected I mean not by the "normal" means of succession of that world. Speaking of which, I feel like there must be a reason that Gendry is still around, considering his parentage. But back to Arya...I think that she'll make it to King's Landing. She's (we've) invested so much into her training and her list and such - she still has her Bag O' Faces and I feel like she's going to pull one more out. Maybe she'll get a new one to fool Cersei? Kind of a turn around on Cersei's plan to use Bronn's trust/relationships with her brothers to catch them unaware.
I have more rambling, but it will have to wait - if only I had a dragon to take my daughter to dance...
Perhaps things will still be put aright - both in the story lines and the execution of how they've been written and filmed.
