Note: This article contains spoilers for Game of Thrones season 8, episode 4, 'The Last of the Starks'.
After the intense Battle of Winterfell last week, the most recent episode of Game of Thrones is a well-deserved breather. Or, rather, it is at the beginning.
Spoilers follow below Cersei Lannister, so don't read on if you haven't seen the episode yet.
Related: Game of Thrones' prequel spin-off shows – cast, release date, ideas and everything you need to know
By the time the credits rolled, we've got a dead Missandei and another dead dragon. But perhaps even more tearjerking is what happened to Brienne of Tarth.
The character finally consummated her relationship with Jaime Lannister by losing her virginity to him, in a moment that saw her take control and enjoy herself after the battle with the dead.
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But that happiness wasn't to last, as Jaime decided to go to King's Landing for Cersei, despite a tearful Brienne's protests.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, actress Gwendoline Christie talked about the scene, stating: "I was so upset for her. I know it's just a character and I'm an actor who’s lucky to do her job. It's so heartbreaking.
"But it's life isn’t it? Life is heartbreaking. I never assumed they would be together. I didn't think that would happen. And now I can feel a million hearts breaking."
She continued: "I know it's silly. It's just a character, not a living human being, but I feel for her so deeply. I love that she doesn't crumble from it. She goes back to work. Because she always loves work — that feels refreshing, a woman can be happy without a companion.
"Woman don't have to be defined by their partner and that's good. But my god. That's the Game of Thrones, isn't it? Just when you think things are going to go well it punches you harder than ever in the guts…"
When asked why she thought Jaime made the choice he did, Gwendoline said that the siblings' relationship was "dysfunctional", which is putting it nicely.
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Game of Thrones season 8 airs on HBO in the US and Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK. Tune in to Digital Spy's Game of Thrones livestreams on Monday evenings, straight after each episode, on Instagram and Facebook.
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Joe Anderton is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy, having worked there since 2016. In his time, he's covered a host of live events and interviewed celebrities big and small. A big fan of TV and movies both mainstream and obscure, Joe also enjoys video games and in particular PlayStation. Joe currently does not use Twitter, but he only ever used it to tell people to watch the film Help! I'm a Fish.
