# GoT Season 8 Redux Episode 8

- Title: `Southron Ambitions`
- Script: `e08_southron_ambitions.txt`
- NSS total: `138`

# GoT Season 8 Redux Episode 8: Southron Ambitions
## Cold Open
The episode begins with Tyrion and Varys discussing Daenerys's recent actions and the potential betrayal of Jon Snow's loyalists. Tension rises as Jorah and Grey Worm join the conversation, revealing underlying conflicts, particularly between Grey Worm and Missandei. Daenerys confronts her advisors about a betrayal regarding Jon's secret, suspecting one of them has informed Sansa Stark. Missandei ultimately reveals herself as the betrayer, expressing her disillusionment with Daenerys's choices. Daenerys, feeling betrayed and guilty, orders Missandei to leave Winterfell, giving Grey Worm a choice to stay or leave with her.

## Major Beats
- Beat 1: Daenerys reflects on her choices regarding Jon Snow's fate and her future as queen during a private moment with Jorah, showcasing her internal conflict.
- Beat 2: Arya names her targets for revenge, including Daenerys, indicating a significant shift in her priorities and foreshadowing potential conflict.
- Beat 3: In King's Landing, Cersei receives news of Daenerys's approach and discusses plans with Euron and Qyburn, revealing her manipulative nature and strategic mindset.
- Beat 4: Grey Worm supervises the departure of the Unsullied from their camp, demonstrating his loyalty and urgency to find Missandei.
- Beat 5: Grey Worm rushes to the Broken Tower but is unexpectedly killed by an unknown assailant, marking a significant shift in the power dynamics.
- Beat 6: Jaime discusses his plans with Tyrion, revealing his intention to confront Cersei, indicating his emotional struggle and desire for closure.
- Beat 7: Varys admits to betraying Daenerys by informing Sansa about Jon Snow, leading to a final confrontation with Tyrion about loyalty and power.
- Beat 8: Euron explores Qyburn's laboratory, discovering children with ice-blue eyes, hinting at Qyburn's experiments with reanimation and potential future threats.

## Closing Image
The episode concludes with Sansa observing the return of women and children to Winterfell, noting Gilly's distress. Varys confirms all are accounted for and presents Sansa with an application for a new maester, showcasing her leadership. Meanwhile, Jon Snow awakens bound on Viserion, realizing he is with the Night King, who is taking him to King’s Landing, leaving viewers with a sense of impending doom.

## Character Turns
- Jon Snow: Awakens bound on Viserion, realizing he is with the Night King, indicating a precarious situation.
- Daenerys Targaryen: Feels betrayed and guilty regarding Jon's fate, leading to her decision to expel Missandei.
- Sansa Stark: Demonstrates leadership and strategic thinking in managing the aftermath of the battle.
- Arya Stark: Focuses on her revenge list, indicating a shift in her priorities.
- Bran Stark: Not central in this episode.
- Tyrion Lannister: Faces a moral conflict regarding loyalty to Daenerys and the realm.
- Jaime Lannister: Expresses guilt and a desire for closure with Cersei, indicating emotional turmoil.
- Cersei Lannister: Displays her calculating nature as she prepares for Daenerys's arrival.

## Unresolved Threads
- The fallout from Missandei's betrayal and its impact on Daenerys's rule.
- The fate of Jon Snow and the implications of his capture by the Night King.

## Resolved Threads
- Missandei's betrayal reveals her discontent with Daenerys's actions.
- Grey Worm's unexpected death marks a significant shift in the power dynamics.

## Why This Episode Works
This episode effectively heightens the tension as characters grapple with betrayal, loyalty, and the looming threat of the Night King. By intertwining personal struggles with political intrigue, it sets the stage for future confrontations and alliances. The emotional stakes are raised through the characters' decisions, particularly Daenerys's and Arya's, while the revelations about Cersei and Qyburn hint at further conflict. The balance of character development and dramatic conflict creates a compelling narrative that propels the story forward while maintaining anticipation for the battles to come.