what happened to jaime lannister in season 7

One could argue that none of the character transformations on Game of Thrones have been pulled off with as much authenticity every bit that of Jaime Lannister

Whenever Daenerys Targaryen has used her dragons against an enemy, nosotros've e'er rooted unequivocally for her.

When her muttered 'Dracarys' got Drogon to spew flames at Pyat Pree, Kraznys mo Nakloz, at endless Sons of the Harpy, and the slave masters of Mereen and Yunkai, there was nothing only a feeling of they-so-had-that-coming.

Game of Thrones season 7 episode 4 — The Spoils of War — perhaps marked the start time in the history of the epic that Dany rode into boxing — and we hoped that her enemy would get away.

That was due entirely to who was on the other side of the battlefield — the Tarlys, yes, a bunch of Lannister soldiers (who, equally we discovered in episode ane of flavour seven, count Ed Sheeran amidst their numbers), Bronn, and perhaps well-nigh significantly, Jaime Lannister.

Jaime at the Battle of Tumbleton aka the 'Loot Train Battle'. Image via HBO/Still from Game of Thrones season 7 episode 4

[Note to readers: Spoilers for Game of Thrones S7E4 ahead. This column is restricted to a discussion of the TV show and may not include details from the books.]

That emotion — wanting Jaime to make it out of the battle unscathed (or dripping wet and with a bit of singed skin, if that last shot of The Spoils of War was anything to go by) — indicates simply how far the 'Human being Without Honour' aka the 'Kingslayer' has come up from his pushing-children-out-of-windows days.

Also read on Firstpost — Game of Thrones Season vii Episode 4 review: The real winners of 'The Spoils of War'

Game of Thrones has seen its characters modify tremendously over the class of its (now) seven-flavour run. They've all anile of class; but beyond the physical, we've seen them become stronger/more evil/bent on vengeance/omniscient/nearly omnipotent. We've seen 'victims' transform into gritty survivors. Nosotros've seen 'regular' folks develop superpowers. Nosotros've seen decease come upon the living, and life brought unto the dead.

One could contend that none of these transformations take been pulled off with as much authenticity equally that of Jaime Lannister.

When we first met him, Jaime was Cersei'southward twin, and not just in the literal sense of the term. He could friction match her callousness and cruelty, her disdain for/indifference to the fate of all but family unit. He was arrogant, with neither admiration nor patience for the moral codes of honourable men similar Ned Stark.

Being with Cersei, a chance to show off his considerable prowess with a sword — Jaime seemed not to be motivated by much beyond these.

When he quipped "the things we exercise for dear" earlier casually shoving a young Bran Stark off the ledge of Winterfell'southward tower, to go on his tryst there with Cersei subconscious, Jaime won himself the championship of the biggest blackguard in all of Westeros. Even with our propensity for existence more forgiving of the transgressions of skilful-looking people, few of usa would have categorised Jaime as anything but a heartless villain — that handsome face (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, sigh!) nevertheless.

Jaime, circa season 1. Image via HBO

We'd probably have cheered had Jaime been laid low with a well-aimed blow from Lord Eddard Stark at that bespeak.

And so how did we get to wanting him to survive, and meet a better fate than Drogon'due south fiery breath?

The Jaime Lannister Redemption Project can probably be traced back to the time his hand was chopped off past Roose Bolton's henchman Locke (Vargo Hoat in the books). Sure, nosotros'd seen him feel a serious alter of fortunes — losing the battle against Robb Stark and existence taken prisoner, his grubby eyebrow a far weep from his usual glorious, golden self. Think of the wisecracking, cousin-killing prisoner he was then, to his time as a earnest (along with Brienne) of Locke and his band of surly men. When Locke and his gang endeavor to rape Brienne, Jaime buys her a temporary reprieve by challenge that her homeland of Tarth is rich in sapphires, and her father would be but too glad to pay a rich ransom if she is returned unharmed. Brienne is saved — only Jaime'southward needling gets to Locke, who lops off the Kingslayer's manus to teach him a lesson.

In a evidence noted for its loftier gore quotient, Jaime'southward 'amputation' is still amidst the most difficult scenes to sentry. (In instance you are of a listen to refresh your memory, however, here it is:)

Every bit in real life, loss is what transforms many Game of Thrones characters. Sometimes, the loss is emotional (such as the deaths of Khal Drogo and her child, for Dany), merely very ofttimes, it is physical: Lord Varys, the Unsullied, and well-nigh notably Theon are all transformed by castration; Sansa by her rape at Ramsay'due south hands; Bran — to a degree — by the loss of his legs.

Jaime is transformed by the loss of his hand — his sword hand, the very foundation of his identity. With the severed limb tied to his neck, he spends his days in Locke's captivity hovering betwixt life and death. Brienne coaxes him to stay conscious, 'to fight back, take revenge'.

When Jaime later rushes into the bear pit to rescue Brienne, it is amidst the get-go ethical, donating choices we meet him make, equally a character.

Of course, as we later find out (when he tells Brienne about information technology), the action he is most reviled for — killing the 'Mad King' Aerys Targaryen, which earns him the 'Kingslayer' moniker — is besides amidst his most righteous.

Brienne is the key that primes Jaime for his transformation. Her upright presence, superior skills with a broadsword, and devotion to Catelyn Stark making an unexpected impression on him as they travel together to King's Landing, and every bit A Song of Ice and Fire fans have pointed out, she'due south the perfect foil for Jaime. (How people are paired up on Game of Thrones to give united states an idea of their respective characters is worth a discussion all its own. Cases in point: the Hound and Arya, Brienne and Jaime, Brienne and Pod, Tyrion and Bronn, Jaime and Bronn, Jon and Sam — to name just a few.)

Brienne perchance reminds Jaime of who he used to be or aspired to be.

While Jaime and Cersei are like in many ways, there is an essential divergence between them. Cersei has ever wanted power, only one could construe Jaime'due south prime demand every bit being a desire for glory: Which prompts him to enter jousts, much to Tywin Lannister's disapproval.

There is that moment Ned Stark refers to, when he walks into the Red Keep afterwards King'due south Landing has been conquered during Robert's Rebellion, only to find Jaime sitting on the Iron Throne. But at no other time in the serial have nosotros seen Jaime display any covetousness towards the Fe Throne.

Perhaps a marker of how invested fans were in Jaime'south redemption/reformation could exist seen in the outrage over the forced sex scene between him and Cersei by Joffrey's corpse: The backlash directed at showrunners DB Weiss and David Benioff wasn't simply over — hey, that was rape yous just showed us — but likewise about (what was perceived as ) Jaime's slide dorsum to the dark side.

Apart from that sketchy episode, yet, Jaime has by and large had fans' sympathies. His handing of Oathkeeper to Brienne and tasking her with looking for the Stark girls, his trip to Dorne to save Myrcella (only to have her die later, in his arms, later on they've shared a sweet father-daughter moment), his disapproval of Cersei's blatant power-grab — all of these actions take been in line with his reformed self. The not-so-benevolent acts — such as the taking of Riverrun, and most recently, executing Lady Olenna Tyrell — practise non fifty-fifty brainstorm to compare with the excesses of violence that villainy on Game of Thrones generally covers.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister in 'The Spoils of War'/Still from Game of Thrones flavor 7 episode 4. Epitome via HBO

Coming back to The Spoils of War, from the moment he calls for the 'spears and shields' (on hearing the thundering hooves and whoops that signal the arrival of the Dothraki horde), to his refusal to leave the battlefield and abscond for King's landing instead, and even his reckless charge at Dany in the face up of sure expiry — the Battle at Tumbleton (aka the 'Boodle Train Battle') brought out all that is all-time in Jaime Lannister'due south character. Is information technology whatsoever wonder and so, that fans didn't want him to die then ignominiously?

Going by the foreshadowing on Game of Thrones, Jaime has a way to journey yet earlier he bows out.

There are chances that he could be taken prisoner by Dany — in which case, Tyrion (who Jaime now knows was wrongly imprisoned for Joffrey'south murder, but there's however that little matter of Tywin'south death between them) will probably repay the favour his older brother once did him, and spring him from prison house. (Fans have also pointed out the curious mirroring between Jaime and Tyrion's well-nigh-drownings.)

Considering he also has one of the few Valyrian steel swords in Westeros (information technology is believed that Jaime has Oathkeeper'due south sister-blade, Widow's Wail, that was presented to Joffrey by Lord Tywin before his decease), he could exist of corking help in the fight against the White Walkers. His sins confronting the Starks, however, are far too many for him to ever serve every bit an marry.

The theory that has maximum support (and which seems the most plausible) is that Jaime will impale Cersei. Merely as he once killed Aerys to save Rex'south Landing and all its residents from being turned into a pile of rubble, Jaime will slay Cersei — who's been christened the Mad Queen considering of her very Aerys Targaryen-like deportment (her propensity for using wildfire to kill critics, for example, or chaining Ellaria Sand and her daughter Tyene in the Carmine Go on's dungeons). It would satisfy Game of Thrones' penchant for mirroring important scenes and the valonqar prophecy — which foretold Cersei'south expiry at the hands of her piffling brother (and the irony of her having fitted Jaime with that golden prosthesis).

If Jaime does impale Cersei, he will accept completely redeemed himself in the optics of fans. And something tells united states, the song that was written for Tyrion and Shae (and the bitter terminate of that relationship), volition plow out to be even truer for Jaime:

He rode through the streets of the metropolis,
down from his hill on loftier,
O'er the wynds and the steps and the cobbles,
he rode to a adult female's sigh.
For she was his undercover treasure,
she was his shame and his bliss.
And a chain and a continue are nothing,
compared to a woman'due south kiss
For hands of gold are always cold, merely a woman'due south easily are warm...

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Source: http://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/game-of-thrones-season-7-why-were-rooting-for-jaime-lannister-and-what-that-says-of-his-reformation-3906415.html