| "The Dragon and the Wolf" | |
|---|---|
| Game of Thrones episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 7 Episode 7 |
| Directed by | Jeremy Podeswa |
| Written by | David Benioff D. B. Weiss |
| Featured music | Ramin Djawadi |
| Cinematography by | Gregory Middleton |
| Editing by | Crispin Green |
| Original air date | August 27, 2017 |
| Running time | 79 minutes[1] |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"The Dragon and the Wolf" is the seventh and final episode of the seventh season of HBO's fantasy television series Game of Thrones, and the 67th episode overall. It was written by series co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, and directed by Jeremy Podeswa. The title of the episode refers to the sigils of House Targaryen (the Dragon) and House Stark (the Wolf) and their newfound alliance.
The episode's plot includes a negotiation between Cersei and Daenerys, and a rift between Cersei and Jaime; Theon rededicates himself to Yara; Sansa and Arya unite against Littlefinger; Jon Snow is revealed to be the child of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen; Jon and Daenerys's romantic relationship comes to fruition; and the Army of the Dead penetrates the Wall.
"The Dragon and the Wolf" received a positive reception from critics, with many praising the role and development of Cersei Lannister, as well as Aidan Gillen's performance as Littlefinger, the Dragonpit meeting, and the final scene, though the pacing and Littlefinger's fate were met with mixed reviews, and criticism was also leveled at the resemblance of Rhaegar Targaryen to his brother Viserys Targaryen. In the United States, the episode achieved a viewership of 12.07 million in its initial broadcast, making it the highest-rated episode of the series at the time.
The episode received eight nominations at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards – making it the most Emmy Award-nominated episode of the series to date –, including for its writing, direction, music, and the performances of Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey, with Djawadi and Dinklage winning in their categories. This episode marks the final appearance of Aidan Gillen (Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish).