Jaime leaves Brienne for Cersei and Game of Thrones fans are heartbroken

6 May 2019, 21:08

By Emma Clarke

Spoilers for season 8, episode 4 lie ahead. Read at your own risk.

In episode 4 of season 8, entitled 'The Last of the Starks', Game of Thrones fans finally saw Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) get it on.

While it's fair to say Jaime and Brienne have gone through more than most couples have over the last seven seasons (he defended her against her would-be rapists, Jaime lost his hand to the Boltons, he jumped into a bear pit to help Brienne and, more recently, Jaime knighted Brienne and they fought the White Walkers together), their scenes in this week’s episode were a little…unsatisfying for many.

Some viewers couldn’t even bring themselves to watch J and B kiss, but those who did manage to get past the sex scene were left outraged by the fact Jaime decided to leave Brienne to head south to King’s Landing, back to Cersei.

What’s more, Brienne was reduced to tears by Jaime’s untimely departure - and anyone who’s anyone knows that just ain’t a look for this badass knight.

So why did Jaime leave Brienne, exactly, and why was this week’s episode so problematic?

READ MORE: Here's a recap of last night's episode

Tyrion cruelly called out Brienne and shamed her for being a virgin

Tensions were high during the jubilations at Winterfell this week: Dany sensed she's losing power and desperately clutched at straws to win the affections of the north ("What's your name again? Gendry?"), The Hound looked as though he'd rather pull his teeth out than get laid, and Bran was sitting in the corner staring everyone out (oh wait, that's every episode).

But amidst the awkward power struggles and drunken slurs, our favourite winos - Brienne, Jaime, Tyrion and Podrick - decided to have a medieval game of 'Never Have I Ever', where they revealed things like Brienne being an only child, and that Tyrion does truly does prefer wine over ale. Tee hee.

Then things turned, as Tyrion outed Brienne in front of a group of men and shamed her for being a virgin (not cool, dude).

Jaime revealed his favourite artist is Nelly

After Brienne abruptly left the table to go pee and not dignify Tyrion's mean-spirited question, Jaime tracked her down in what was conveniently the hottest room in Winterfell - so hot, apparently, he just needed to take off all his clothes.

He then made his move, attempting to undress Brienne. Never one to take let a man take charge, though, Brienne smacked his golden hand away, opting to undress herself. An awkward sex scene ensued.

Speaking to Harpers Bazaar, actress Gwendoline Christie defended the romance between her character Brienne and Jaime: "It's two-pronged, because we have an unconventional character that hasn’t had to fulfill the traditional role of love interest. She’s done something else and existed outside of those realms.

"At the same time, as the seasons roll on, we see her as a human being and someone who wants to experience more of life. So why shouldn’t she have that and explore that?"

Jaime is to stay at Winterfell with Brienne

Soon after Jon Snow, Dany, the Starks and co pore over the map of Westeros trying to establish the best plan of action to bring down Queen Cersei, it is announced that Jaime will stay behind at Winterfell with Ser Brienne of Tarth, who is sworn to protect Sansa and Arya.

Tyrion teases his older brother about the decision, relishing the opportunity to tell "tall jokes".

And for once, it seems like all is well in Westeros and these two might actually make a go of it.

But, ohhhh no, they couldn't let us have it

We're used to not getting our way with Game of Thrones - that's kinda the point. But we're not usually toyed around with so much in one single episode.

Just as we believed Jaime and Brienne were endgame and he was finally rid of Cersei once and for all, Jaime sneaks out of the bedroom while Brienne sleeps and gets his horse ready to head to King's Landing.

Catching him in the act, Brienne quite rightly demands he tell her where he's going, before trying to convince Jaime he's no longer his twin sister's pawn, but a decent guy.

Jaime then coldly leads Brienne to believe that he's chosen Cersei over her, and not gonna lie, comes across as a bit of a dick. I mean, he was the one that encouraged Brienne to let her guard down, he was the one that pursued her and knocked on her door in the middle of the night, and now he's had his way with her, he's scarpering off.

Brienne then cries. Seriously??

Believing he is about to choose Cersei over her, Brienne implores Jaime to change his mind and stay with her at Winterfell.

She states: "You don't need to die with her", before she begs him, "Stay here. Stay with me. Please. Stay."

But Brienne's breakdown is as likely as Cersei handing the Iron Throne to Dany - it just wouldn't happen. So, naturally, fans were a bit miffed about this reaction.

But is this really the end of their relationship?

Before riding off, Jaime tells Brienne: "You think I'm a good man? I pushed a boy out a tower window and crippled him for life, for Cersei. I strangled my cousin with my own hands, just to get back to Cersei. I would've murdered every man, woman and child in Riverrun, for Cersei. She's hateful. But so am I."

Sure, it's possible he is actually a nasty man who wants to return to his sadistic sister and make more blonde babies with her, but that doesn't seem to be the full picture.

It is more likely he's going to King's Landing to end Cersei's reign of tyranny once and for all, fulfilling Maggy the Frog's prophecy from episodes past, in the hopes he will escape with his life and return to Brienne's warm embrace.

But sis, after the way he's treated you, we hope you tell him where to go.