The third episode of Game of Thrones Season 8 was as epic as we hoped. With an 82 minute running time, it was the longest episode in the final season. There was good reason for it, as it was one of the bloodiest battles in the show’s history and too good fit in an hour. David Benioff and Dan Weiss know what the fans want and they delivered with an episode that reportedly took 55 days to shoot.

The Living Army meets the Army of the Dead outside of Winterfell, but are quickly overwhelmed by the dead's superior numbers. The entire Dothraki army is decimated, and Edd is killed after saving Sam. The living retreat into the castle while Melisandre uses her magic to ignite the protective fire trench surrounding Winterfell to delay the advancing horde. Jon and Daenerys, riding Rhaegal and Drogon, engage the Night King on Viserion. After breaching the fire trench, the dead soldiers attack Winterfell, scaling its walls. The defenders are swiftly overwhelmed and scattered, with Lyanna Mormont and Beric dying in the fight. Melisandre helps Arya realize her destiny to defy the God of Death this day. Jon knocks the Night King off Viserion onto the ground where Daenerys commands Drogon to burn him, but without effect. The Night King raises the slain Winterfell defenders as his fighters, including those entombed in the crypts who then attack the sheltering civilians. After Daenerys is pulled from Drogon by swarming dead soldiers, Jorah is mortally wounded defending her. The Night King arrives at the Godswood for Bran, and kills Theon as he bravely protects Bran. Arya leaps onto the Night King, who turns and grabs her by the throat, but she stabs him with her Valyrian steel dagger. The Night King and his wights disintegrate, and the Army of the Dead falls. With her purpose served, Melisandre wanders away from Winterfell and dies from her advanced age.

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