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'Dancing With the Stars' Finale Night Two Recap: Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold Take Home the Mirrorball Trophy


If it wasn’t obvious from night one of Dancing With the Stars, then it is now: Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold are your new DWTS champions. The Hamilton star succeeds reigning season 24 champ Rashad Jennings as the latest celebrity to get a new door stop Mirrorball. Len Goodman said Jordan is “the most complete male celebrity ever on Dancing With the Stars,” while Bruno Tonioli praised him as being “right up there with the best we’ve ever seen on this show.” The win also marks Lindsay’s first Mirrorball trophy in six seasons. She previously came in fourth with Wanya Morris, third with Calvin Johnson, Jr., and second with David Ross.

Following their victory, Jordan and Lindsay didn’t get to say anything, because, well, the show ran out of time. It was perhaps the biggest misstep of the entire season, especially for fans who propelled Jordan to victory and would have loved to have heard his reaction instead of just seeing it. Apparently, that’s what Good Morning America is for. Still, not cool you guys.

As expected, Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas came in second place, with Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson taking third. All three couples will now head to New York to appear on GMA and act as if they’re thrilled to to have to dance again on an hour of sleep.

In other news, both Jordan and Frankie were announced as the celebrity guests joining Dancing With the Stars Live!: Light Up the Night this winter. It’s the first time since the tour began that two contestants will go on the road.

In case you only turned in for the last five minutes, or want to relive the last dances, here’s what happened during the final episode…

Favorites Dance:

Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: Dancing to Wham! has never looked so good. Mark and Lindsey scored a perfect 30 to “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” but perhaps most impressive was the rehearsal package that aired right before that detailed Lindsey’s journey. Not only did she detail her struggle with anorexia, but she opened up about how the criticism from the judges on America’s Got Talent propelled her to a career she never could have dreamed of. If there’s a Mirrorball for that, this girl deserves it. Score: 30/30

Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: Len Goodman called Frankie and Witney’s Argentine Tango fantastic, and Carrie Ann said it was a “bigger and better performance” than when they performed it the first time. I’m glad he’s on the DWTS tour this winter. America needs this. Score: 30/30

Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: In Jordan’s rehearsal package, he and his parents talked about how Jordan came in second place so many times in his career before he got his first big break with the Secret Life of the American Teenager. That’s code for: Don’t let second place happen on DWTS, voters. Even Lin-Manuel Miranda makes a cameo telling him to “go get ’em!” Jordan, of course, did just that, performing a flawless Samba that Carrie Ann Inaba called “much, much, much improved.” (Side note to Carrie Ann: This is Jordan we are talking about. One “much improved” is one too many. The guy has always been stellar.) Score: 30/30

Fusion Dances:

Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: I’ve never been a huge fan of the 24-hour fusion dances, but apparently they’re popular enough to keep doing for added “suspense” each finale. Lindsey and Mark killed it, and Len Goodman told Lindsey she’s a fantastic dancer. No kidding. Score: 30/30

Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: Frankie started off by saying, “If I don’t win, this is still the most amazing experience of my life.” Seriously, someone cast him on This Is Us next…the guy knows how to bring the waterworks. He also knows how to bring the dance moves, courtesy of the Foxtrot/Tango fusion, which Bruno goes crazy for until he says Frankie lost a little bit of a control. Carrie Ann told Frankie he’s what this show is about, and she’s right. Perhaps he deserves the Mirrorball more than anyone (even Len said he’s the people’s champion). Score: 28/30

Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: Surprise, surprise, only Jordan could make a Salsa and Paso Doble fusion look like a walk in the park. Carrie Ann summed it up: “There’s not much else to say. Your skills are out of this world.” Yep. The End. Score: 30/30



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'Dancing With the Stars' Season 25 Finale Night 1 Recap: Jordan Fisher and Lindsey Stirling Dominate Their Freestyle


This season of Dancing with the Stars might go down as one of the most predictable in the show’s history, unless the last woman standing has something to say about it. Violinist Lindsey Stirling—the only female still in the competition—pulled out all the stops in her stunning freestyle (complete with a violin performance while doing jumps and twirls!) and tied for first with Broadway star Jordan Fisher. While Jordan has been the front-runner since day one, it isn’t lost on the audience that he’s a trained dancer. The Hamilton star will probably win the Mirrorball on Tuesday night, but it’s Lindsey who deserves it.

Meanwhile, Frankie Muniz continued to impress; as a result, he rounded out the third and final spot in the finale. That meant that Drew Scott and Emma Slater were sent home, which came as a shock to almost no one. “There’s no way I could have done anything I did out here without [Emma],” he said following his elimination. “I can’t even believe I’m here…you’ve made this a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Until tomorrow’s grand finale, it’s time to break down the redemption and freestyle dances! Let’s get to it.

The Redemption Dances

Drew Scott and Emma Slater: Drew said he couldn’t believe he’s in the finals, but maybe Drew doesn’t know what he’s talking about. After all, only a few weeks ago he said he had a good chance to win the Mirrorball. So which is it, Drew? Perhaps I’m being too hard on him, but I’m still shocked he’s lasted this long. Fan voting will do that for you. The judges gushed over his Paso Doble, but he’s still going home. Score: 36/40

Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: The former child star performed his week one Foxtrot and completely slayed it. Guest judge Julianne Hough said there was something different about tonight, starting with the pivots and how he made Witney move. I didn’t know pivots were anything other than something Ross Gellar screams on Friends, but that’s why I’m not a judge. Score: 38/40

Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: The last time Jordan and Lindsay performed the Charleston, Lindsay hadn’t hurt her knee, Jordan’s cornea wasn’t scratched, and Len had some harsh criticism about their lack of Charleston in the Charleston. This time around, Team FishUponAStar were not 100% physically, but they sure were there technically—and the judges rewarded them with a perfect score. Rightfully so, as the dance was brilliant. Score: 40/40

Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: Carrie Ann Inaba said Lindsey is the most improved contestant, which shocked the hell out of me considering she’s been pretty great since day one. She also poses the biggest threat to Jordan, who seems to have had this competition locked up since the premiere. Halfway through tonight’s show, she and Jordan were the only ones with perfect scores. Score: 40/40

The Freestyle Dances

Drew Scott and Emma Slater: Carrie Ann said Drew and Emma’s freestyle wasn’t entirely in sync, but the audience wasn’t having it. For the first time, I agreed with them. While Drew and Emma won’t win the Mirrorball, their freestyle was everything you could have hoped for from “a couple of quirky weirdos.” It was energetic, joyous, and the best note to go out on. Score: 39/40

Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: In an emotional rehearsal package, Frankie broke down while talking about how thankful he is for Witney and what the experience has meant to him. Their freestyle was dark and intense, or as Bruno praised, a bit of “Janet Jackson and Rhythm Nation.” It’s a departure from previous, more light-hearted freestyles, but the audience loved it. Score: 38/40

Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: “The freestyle is everything when winning the Mirrorball,” Lindsay said in her rehearsal package. Considering every dance of theirs has freestyle elements mixed in, they were probably under the most pressure of the remaining couples to knock it out of the park. And spoiler alert: They absolutely did. Give ’em the Mirrorball now? Score: 40/40

Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: Want to know how good Lindsey and Mark’s freestyle was? So good that it made me forget about Jordan and Lindsay’s freestyle. Between the violin playing and the acrobatics, the whole thing was off the charts. While I still think Jordan will win the Mirrorball, I will go on the record saying that Lindsey deserves it. Score: 40/40

See you tomorrow night for the season 25 finale!



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Mindy Kaling Says 'The Mindy Project' Series Finale Will Be 'Romantic' and 'Unexpected'


Notorious workaholic Mindy Kaling is in the midst of a life-changing experience, and no, it has nothing to do with impending motherhood. “I’m so much more relaxed,” she tells us about filming the final season of The Mindy Project. “The first season of any show is crazy. By season six, I’m not worried about those things anymore. It’s the nicest feeling.”

While we wouldn’t blame her for feeling added pressure about the finale, she’s taking the end of her ground-breaking comedy in stride. “I have my eye on about a million dresses, Louboutin shoes, and Chanel bags I hope to snag from Sal Perez [the show’s costume designer]. I would be crazy not to,” she jokes. But still, “I have to face the end of the show in a real way, and each day gets a little bit harder and sadder to be around here.”

PHOTO: Jordin Althaus/Hulu

“Here” is not only Dr. Lahiri’s office—where we conducted this on-set interview—but the Universal Television soundstage that will have produced all 117 episodes of the FOX/Hulu series by the time it’s done. “I’ve seen a lot of shows that start out great and then people think they start to fall off, but I loved that our show has just gotten better and better,” Kaling says.

She praises Hulu for giving her the creative freedom to make the show she always wanted, but Kaling had a strong vision for her character, Dr. Lahiri, since the beginning. “I’m glad we didn’t compromise on making her more traditionally palatable or boring or more familiar as a female trope that we’ve seen before,” Kaling explains. “When you are creating a show like this and you realize you’re a lot of different firsts—first Indian woman on TV in a lead role, first Indian creator—you get pulled in a lot of directions as to what you want to do. But we never compromised what this character was going to do and say because of external pressures.”

It’s true. Viewers may have envied Lahiri’s wardrobe, dates, and lavish decor, but she was no Mary Richards. “You see a lot of leads that are often plucky, goody two shoes, sweet, boring characters, and they are the leads because they have no flaws,” Kaling says. “And then they surround themselves with funny characters, typically men. What’s great about this character is that she got to do both at once—she got to be the engine of comedy, while also being the point-of-view character.”

mindy-kaling-the-mindy-project-mindy-lahiri-messy-apartment-house.jpg

PHOTO: Hulu

That character—a marriage-obsessed, stubborn, superficial OBGYN—has certainly changed since she rode her bike into a pool in the series premiere. At the start of the show’s final season (spoiler alert if you’re not caught up) Lahiri realizes that being married to Bryan Greenberg’s nurse Ben isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and the two decide to divorce. But is marriage the problem or is Ben just not the right guy for her? “I personally think she was just not with the right man,” Kaling says. “But I think she thinks she’s had this unhealthy obsession with marriage in that she’s ruined it for herself. I understand why she feels that way, but I don’t agree with that.”

It’s not often Kaling discusses her personal life during interviews, but the topic of marriage is one she’s thought a lot about—for her character and herself. “I hope America also doesn’t agree with her because as someone who is unmarried, I still have that old-fashioned feeling,” she says. “I root for it as an institution, even though I see it work so infrequently.” She laughs at her words, but quickly adds: “I still like it, though! I’ve had friends that have done both marriage and divorce, and I admire them so much. But because it seems like something that more and more people, particularly on the coasts, are losing faith in, I think it’s nice to have a character cling to those sort of old-fashioned things and have it actually be true.”

And with five new episodes left in the series, Kaling is well aware that many fans still hope Mindy hasn’t given up on marriage entirely—especially if it involves Danny now that Chris Messina has returned. Danny’s absence last season was certainly felt, in large part because of his dynamic chemistry with Lahiri. “I didn’t know Chris before we started the show,” Kaling says. “I just met him once, and I had seen him in other things, but you have no idea if that’s going to translate into actual chemistry. I look at that movie, The Mexican, with Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt, who are two age-appropriate, good-looking movie stars, and in that movie anyway, the chemistry just didn’t translate on-camera. You just can’t control it.”

mindy kaling chris messina 1

Kaling may not have expected fireworks between Drs. Lahiri and Castellano (or that they would have a child) in the very beginning, but she is happy the stars and planets aligned as they did. “Thirty percent of [the chemistry] is the work you put in as writers to make sure these are two kinds of characters that will be so different from each other, but will have some overlaps,” she explains. “Like, they both enter a room thinking they have the solution to whatever problem is ahead. Another thirty percent is making sure you put them in interesting, sexy storylines. For instance, when when one of them needs something, the other one is the solution to it.” Sometimes they’re each other’s problems as well, she notes, but the secret is “really timing that out.” And what about the last forty percent of the equation? “It’s what the actors bring,” she says. “Chris is such a great actor. He loves women, he’s a great husband, and he loves female voices and to play this kind of part. And also, it’s just weird things in the ether you can’t quantify.”

As for the final episode—and, more specifically, whether or not Danny and Mindy will end up together—Kaling is careful not to reveal too much. She does confirm that Messina is in it, but whether Dr. Castellano can redeem his season five behavior and come to his senses is still TBD. One thing’s for certain: There will be romance, in some capacity. “I love TV series finales,” Kaling says. “It’s always the episode that everyone tunes in for, even if you’ve lost track of the show for a bit. I remember loving the Friends finale because I had stopped watching in college, but the dynamic of the cast was so amazing it was like I had never stopped watching. I don’t know that I drew any direct inspiration from any single show for our finale, but I know [executive producer] Matt [Warburton] and I wanted people to watch it and feel closure but in an unexpected way. We also wanted it to be incredibly cinematic and romantic. And funny, of course! Funny first, always.”



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'Bachelor in Paradise' Season 4 Finale Recap: Derek and Taylor Get Engaged, Corinne and DeMario Reunite, and Dean Is Still Awful


You guys! It’s the end of Spring Break: The Show Bachelor in Paradise! Will we remember all of the amazing memories we made together, the good times and the bad? Are we gonna stay friends? Will you all come to my birthday party next month? It’s gonna be at the pool, and we’re gonna have pizza and a veggie platter for people who can’t digest gluten. There will be a lifeguard on duty, but if you can’t swim well please bring water wings because there’s no shallow end. This isn’t a party for babies.

Anyway, tonight’s episode shows the last night in Mexico and then a cast reunion featuring Corinne and DeMario. So let’s just get this over with.

Unlike Bachelor or Bachelorette, you can’t really “win” BiP, but if any couple does, it’s Derek and Taylor. Jack Stone asks Christen to leave “with him as a couple” and she stammers something about how they are “acquaintances” who have had “swirly” conversations (literally her word choice). Why Jack wants to get to know her better so badly is beyond me. It’s super awkward. (Also, did we ever establish if Christen is a virgin by choice or circumstance?) Ultimately, Christen walks into the ocean; Scallop Fingers returns to the sea from whence she came. Jack Stone unceremoniously goes home, his face a mask of dejection.

Jasmine and Jonathan amicably and mutually decide to part ways as friends. Adam sweetly asks Raven to go on a Fantasy Suite date, and she agrees—but honestly, she’s been looking absolutely miserable this whole episode.

Dean and D-Lo gamely continue to pretend like they’re both interested in a relationship even though they’re both clearly here just to have a good time. Until, to get out of committing to D-Lo, Dean pulls the most f-ckboy move of all time and pretends like he’s leaving her so that he can try and get Kristina back. LOL, this is utter nonsense. C’mon Dean.

Dean cries and says he hates himself for letting Kristina go and that Kristina deserves better than him. Understatement of the season. This is some teen drama-level bullshit. This is some One Tree Hill ass bullshit.

Diggy dumps Dominique for Jaimi, who just wants to be friends. Poor Diggy? Robby tries to tell Amanda how much he loves her, but she starts crying because of what happened last year (she got engaged and then dumped…or something?) and her voice becomes somehow even harder to understand. She has a real gift for sounding like what I imagine Tinker Bell’s speaking voice to be. They break up.

The three remaining couples that are staying: Taylor and Derek, Lacey and Daniel, Raven and Adam. Raven and Adam look sad AF.

On their date, Lacey tells Daniel that she’s falling in love with him. You can just tell that Lacey has watched like, a lot of romantic comedies and can’t really tell the good ones from the mediocre ones. Whenever she sees a picture of Natalie Portman, she probably turns to whoever’s around and says, “Do you think I look like her? People say I look like her.” (No one says that.) So now you know my Lacey theories. They decide to be in a relationship. Mazel tov!

Taylor, the scariest girl in your sorority, and Derek, the quietest guy on the soccer team, are falling in love, and Taylor is ready to “spiritually connect” through S-E-X. Bow chicka wow-wow.

Raven and Adam (who, full disclosure, I called “Matt” for this entire recap and then had to fix) are at a crossroads: Raven is scared of the vulnerability in the Fantasy Suite, but she knows it’s the next step. What to do!?

PHOTO: Paul Hebert

Suddenly, we cut to two months later, with Chris Harrison hosting a reunion in that warehouse someplace in Area 51 where they have all the reunions. I, for one, am very glad to see Alexis and Danielle M. and to hear everyone boo-ing Dean. Then Chris brings out Corinne because there’s “more to tell” about the incident that shut production down. Look, I agree, but the person we haven’t heard from is the producer who filed the complaint that shut the show down. But in any case, here comes DeMario! the conversation is stilted but not as uncomfortable as it could be. They’re both in therapy, which seems like a smart move. Corinne is designing a fashion line. They hug, and it’s over. Well, OK then.

Christen and Jasmine have some spat over social media? Jasmine says she is “blown away and confused” by everything, a combination of emotions I imagine Jasmine feels a lot. And we get a final answer re: scallops: Christen does indeed like scallops.

Kristina again says she was “disrespected” by D-Lo. Finally, Dean is like “it’s my fault” and D-Lo is like “yes, it is Dean’s fault” and, Kristina, do you get this yet? When a guy is bad to you, it’s his fault, not the other girl’s fault. Chris Harrison refers to Dean/Kristina as “Kris-Dean-a” which I don’t think is as good as my couple nickname for them: Deantina. Then D-Lo is like, “You didn’t miss Kristina, you called me an hour after we left Paradise” and the audience is all “ooooooh.” Ooooooh.

“Are you still flipping-flopping us?” – Kristina

CHRISTEN WHITNEY, EMILY FERGUSON, DANIELLE LOMBARD, JASMINE GOODE, JACK STONE, ALEXIS WATERS, CORINNE OLYMPIOS, DEMARIO JACKSON

PHOTO: Paul Hebert

Now for a post-mortem on the couple no one cares about: Amanda and Robby. They got together after the show and dated, but he wasn’t ready for a relationship and he cheated (per a twin). Looking pleased as pudding to be back in front of a camera, Robby comes out to explain that “there’s more to a relationship than just hanging out.” Duh? He denies cheating. Amanda gives him the benefit of the doubt and everyone in the audience is like, “mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm no.”

Finally, we’re gonna hear from the couples…

Lacey and Daniel: Daniel was lying to Lacey about falling in love with her. Daniel tries to deny it, but Chris Harrison has the video receipts! Daniel’s exact words were, “I could never change my Facebook status to ‘In A Relationship’ with Lacey.”

“You’ve done two of these shows and you’re 32 years old. What
do you think that means?” – Lacey to Daniel

Lacey tells a messy story about New York and Vancouver and someone named Vinny and girl, you need to break it all the way off.

Adam and Raven: They are still together. And surprise! Raven brings out her parents—who have never met Adam—and it’s hugs all around. Just goes to show, if you’re young and really hot and willing to spend weeks away from your job and loved ones working solely on your romantic life, you too can find love.

Taylor and Derek: Hey, Taylor, are you a rich girl I went to college with? Because you are engaged. Also, Taylor’s little black dress looks fantastic on her. Also, Derek looks great, too. Also, good for them!

And finally, in what is honestly my favorite moment from the season, we see that Stephanie Beatriz from Brooklyn Nine-Nine is in the audience!!!



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Why Adam and Raven Didn't Get Engaged on the 'Bachelor in Paradise' Finale


“Don’t ruin—or rush—a good thing” seems to be Adam Gottschalk and Raven Gates‘ motto for making their relatively new relationship work. Remember, Bachelor in Paradise only finished filming eight weeks ago—it shouldn’t be shocking they want to take their time to be a normal couple. Even so, there will be fans who are bummed Adam and Raven didn’t get engaged on tonight’s Bachelor in Paradise finale. (And see, this is why we can’t have nice things—or Peter as The Bachelor.)

But aside from Adam not wanting to propose in front of a studio full of strangers, he also wants to be smart about an engagement. For one, that means actually living in the same city as Raven. It also means making sure she has the tools she needs to transfer her successful business (she’s a small boutique owner) to a large city like Dallas. That—and, as Raven points out, “hammering out the conversations that need to be had before you get engaged.”

So what is next for the couple? Were they under pressure to go through with a proposal tonight? And how did Adam really feel about meeting Raven’s parents without advance notice? After the finale taping, we caught up with the couple to find out all that and more.

PHOTO: Jessica Radloff

How much pressure did you feel to have a proposal tonight?

Raven Gates: I didn’t feel any pressure. We’re on the same page and have really good communication.

Adam Gottschalk: There’s no pressure. We’re on a track where I think our engagement is going to be so much more magical than Derek and Taylor!

Raven: [Laughs] He promised me a really big ring!

Adam: Yeah, I had to swap numbers with Neil Lane to make sure that I got that taken care of.

If anything, you want to do this when the time is right for you. That’s nothing against Derek and Taylor, because obviously it was the right time for them, but each couple is different.

Raven: Yeah, Taylor and Derek hit it off right away. We had the shut down, so that’s an extra two weeks that we didn’t have. Adam came in later in the game, so they were a good three or four weeks ahead of us. Now, if we were three to four weeks with each other every single day and hammered out those conversations that need to be had before you get engaged, maybe we would have done it. Right now, we have to meet the parents. That’s where we’re at.

Adam, what was it like meeting Raven’s parents on the spot like that tonight? Did it freak you out?

Adam: No, not really. It was exciting and exhilarating more than anything because I love parents and parents love me, so I don’t have a problem with it. It just caught me off guard because logistically I don’t know how they made everything with her parents happen so fast so soon. It’s actually really nice because there’s never been a moment where I’ve dated somebody and she and I met each other’s parents in the same week. I think that’s special for both of us. I’m excited to finally put a face with the name, too.

You both mentioned moving in together in Dallas, where Adam currently lives. Is there a timetable you’re exploring?

Adam: It’s in the future, but the thing is with a good, thriving business [like Raven’s], it’s very hard to put an exact timetable together.

Raven: It’s very hard.

Adam: It’s hard to stop your lease and what you’re doing and move out of nowhere. I think it’s going to happen gradually in stages. She’ll travel for a week at a time, slowly taper down that, and she’ll always have an online presence because that’s where a lot of her business comes from.

Raven, it’s been refreshing to watch you talk about intimate details, like sex with Nick and what you needed from him on The Bachelor to opening up about sexual assault and consent on Paradise. What’s the response been?

Raven: I never intended to be a leader in all of these important issues, but I have gotten a lot of feedback from people around the country about everything you just said. I’m really careful with it, because I know the influence I have with it. But coming from a conservative state and a very small town, I wasn’t really worried about what people would say, but I was surprised they were so supportive. It was very funny; after my fantasy suite [with Nick], where I was very explicit about things that happened, I had people coming up to me in my store giving me hugs saying, “I’m so glad you said this; I struggle with it too.” Same with the sexual assault. I’ve had many people reach out and talk about it, and I’ve always encouraged women to get help and be your own leader. The response has been really good. I haven’t had anything negative, fingers crossed.

Adam, talk to me about the qualities—some of which I’m sure what we just touched on—that drew you to Raven.

Raven: I think I told Adam straight up that I’m a strong, independent woman!

Adam: She did. She really did!

Raven: Take it or leave it. [Laughs]

Adam: What really drew me to her was that aspect, and I think her time alone is just as important as our time together. To have somebody that can love themselves before loving somebody else is a very attractive trait, and it’s hard to find. I also think that it doesn’t hurt that the day after the fantasy suite, we were in our PJs lounging around the whole day. It was just so fun to do that with somebody and not feel like, “We have to get ready!” and “I have to look good all the time!” It’s literally just us enjoying each other’s presence.



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'Game of Thrones' Season 7 Finale Recap: A Major Death, That Jon and Daenerys Thing Happened, and So Much More


It’s hard to believe, but we’ve arrived at the end of season 7 of Game of Thrones. Of course, like all finales there’s a huge cliffhanger; still, it doesn’t quite feel like the end. That last scene was one hell of a beginning to something we do not want to wait for. On top of that, we might not see the final six episodes until 2019 (boo). So until then, let’s unpack this super-sized finale. It’s going to be a while until the next time we hear that sweet, sweet opening credits tune.

We start the episode at King’s Landing, where there are a lot of preparations for the meeting of Westeros’ leading minds. Literally anything could happen, and everyone is flexing big time as a reminder that both sides could kill each other at any minute. Charming. We see the sheer numbers Daenerys has amassed through the seasons, including this one. The unsullied stand organized as they do, and in contrast, the Dothraki come in as wild as ever. By sea, her many ships arrive, and it seems like everyone is there, including a fully mended Jon, but the Mother of Dragons herself.

It’s not long before we get confirmation that Cersei is not here to mess around; killing any of the people she’s hosting is fully on the table for her. She even has a list like Arya, and an order in which she wants her rivals killed.

The gang’s almost all here as all the sides converge towards the dragon pit. We get some reunions, a history lesson, and a reminder that this is probably a really stupid meeting because Cersei wants to chop everyone’s heads off. Everyone agrees, yet continues. Some of the cross-sides catching up really highlight how silly this big conflict can seem and how sides can change so fast. Looking at you, Pod and Tyrion. Can’t everyone just get along?!

Well, no. Everyone shares nervous glances as they wait for Cersei to arrive. It wouldn’t be the first time she collected everyone she wants dead in one place just to kill them all (remember last season’s finale?). She arrives after all, wearing her crown, and things get even more awkward. Our first sibling rivalry of many happens when The Hound comes face to face with his undead brother, The Mountain (Clegane bowl anyone?). Pirate Joshua Jackson—I mean, Euron is back and Cersei is not impressed by Dany’s late arrival…on dragonback.

Euron looks excited, and Dany doesn’t care that she pissed off the current Iron Throne resident. Pause for a second to reflect on the decision to bring the dragons. Yes, this was Dany’s personal version of flexing, but after last week, leave your babies at home! Who knows what Cersei has up her sleeve. Jaime has seen Drogon in action, and he can relay it all to Cersei without Dany showing off. Unpause.

Tyrion tries to recap the whole series of Game of Thrones as a reason why everyone is there but gets interrupted by a big Euron show asking Theon to come back or he’ll kill Yara. Both Jaime and Cersei come to Tyrion’s aid and ask Euron to sit down and shut up. At this, you wouldn’t be wrong to be curious about Cersei’s intentions. It’s not like her to defend Tyrion in any way. Jon jumps in to try to convey how serious the threat of the army of the dead is. Cersei treats it like a joke and even says as much. Not to mention the idea of a truce is nothing but amusing to her.

Enter The Hound with what looks like the most uncomfortable backpack of all time. In reality, his screeching zombie is inside but isn’t making a sound. Uh oh. It’s not until he opens it (slowly) and kicks it over that it lunges at Cersei, and too close for comfort. For once, our queen looks scared. They make a big show of cutting it to pieces to prove how hard it is to kill them. Jon gives a wight killing 101 seminar and they finally stop its fit. Cersei looks shaken by the whole thing.

Euron makes a show of cowardice and leaves everyone behind, hoping that he’ll survive on an island where the wights can’t get to him. Nothing has ever scared him before this. What seemed like a misguided plan appears to work. Cersei offers a truce in exchange for Jon’s loyalty to stay in the north and not fight her once the true enemy of the zombie army is defeated. Jon, Stark-ish as ever, says he can’t do that and Cersei is over it. She says the northerners can deal with the white walker army and see how that goes, she’s done. Everybody is pissed at Jon, but honestly less than he should be. As ever, Jon cannot tell a lie and stands by his honesty.

Tyrion insists on going to talk to his sister, knowing it’s probably a walk to his death. Jon jumps in and offers too, but it’s gotta be the Lannister. That leaves Dany, her cool dragon hair accessory, and Jon to talk about Dany’s family and her possible fertility in a cave-like inlet of the dragon pit. Dany mentions the downfall of her family while they pass a tiny dragon skull between them, and Jon notes that she’s not like everyone else, and that her family isn’t gone. Hmmm.

Tyrion has what seems to be an unsuccessful chat with his sister that’s charged with talk of family and how he destroyed theirs. She won’t hear his apologies, he pours some wine. Bold to think she wouldn’t poison it. She doesn’t care about anything but her family, or so she says. It seems pointless to fight over this kingdom, but she hints once again at her baby, building something new, and possibly following Euron’s lead of retreating.

Next thing we know, Cersei is back in the dragon pit offering up her forces to march north, and Tyrion is still alive. “The darkness is coming for us all,” she says. She also notes that she chose to send her men without promises or assurances from her enemies. Or did she?

Later, while Jaime strategizes with his men, Cersei calls him dumb and reveals that no, in fact she does not plan on sacrificing her army for certain death. The rest of the people can play their games with the white walkers while she and her growing family stay out of it in King’s Landing. Jaime is not thrilled with her trickery. Cersei reveals that Euron leaving was the plan all along, and as their father taught, money really is power. Euron is going to get all the resources money can buy because nobody walks away from Cersei. Once again, she uses her pregnancy as currency with Jaime, but he is appalled she would go back on her word. He’s legit concerned about their ability to win both against dragons and a dead army with huge numbers, and she is not so much. She noticed that Dany was down a dragon, but Jaime won’t hear it and tries to walk away. Cersei repeats that nobody walks away from her and threatens to sick The Mountain on him. For a moment, we truly thought this was how Jaime would die, but he tearfully escapes, only to find snow, and winter, have arrived in King’s Landing.

Speaking of winter, up in Winterfell, Sansa is still at odds with Arya’s behavior. Littlefinger is counseling her once again with the idea of Arya wanting to kill Sansa for betrayal and to take her power. He also suggests she kill Jon for pledging loyalty to Dany without consulting Sansa. After all, he can’t be unnamed King in the North. Like Arya last week, Littlefinger suggests Sansa play a game. Why would Arya want Sansa dead? Let’s list the reasons! He goes through a comprehensive list, and we’re thisclose to being convinced Arya is wearing Littlefinger’s face and just trying to get Sansa to prove she’s loyal to her family.

I’m not convinced this isn’t the case until Sansa calls Arya to a super awkward family meeting, and Littlefinger is also there. Arya appears to be on trial for a bunch of things she maybe was thinking, but after Sansa recites a long list of offenses (playing the game he taught her earlier), it turns out that they are actually aimed at Littlefinger. This whole time, the Starks have been working together. Yes!

It’s more satisfying than I could have ever imagined to see Littlefinger taken completely by surprise. For once, someone has out-planned him, and he has nobody to back him up. Sansa knows all of his offenses thanks to Bran, who sees everything. Even when Littlefinger thinks nobody saw what he did, Bran was there, in a way, and Sansa enjoys listing his many betrayals against her family. Littlefinger begs for his life, tries to be taken back to The Vale, but even his own men aren’t loyal to him.

Finally Arya gets her kill, it’s swift, in the neck, similar to how Catelyn died. Arya’s wearing her own face for this kill, on behalf of the Starks. Sansa says, “There’s no justice in the world, not unless we make it,” something he taught her. She thanks him for his lessons and watches him die, expressionless.

When Arya and Sansa recap, they’re back to playful sisters and all is right in the world. For a moment. The line from the trailer that Sansa remembers from Ned came true, “When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.” They are protecting themselves and looking after one another, all while missing Ned.

We find out Sam was headed to Winterfell to figure out what to do about the white walkers with Jon. His re-introduction to Bran is pretty funny, but turns serious real quick. Bran reveals for the first time what he knows about Jon’s parents, and he turns out to be telling it to the exact right person. Sam can confirm he’s not a bastard after all, and Bran puts himself at Lyanna and Rhaegar’s wedding. He’s neither Snow nor Sand because of Gilly’s finding. Together, they establish that, “He’s never been a bastard,” Jon is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne—and his real name is Aegon Targaryen! Oh, and that’s not even the most delicious part. This all is being narrated while JON AND DANY STRAIGHT UP GET IT ON. Important to note: Tyrion sees it happen. It’ll be interesting to see how Jon receives this news that his steamy new love is actually his aunt.

We visit Dragonstone briefly (before said getting it on) while the group strategizes how to get to Winterfell. Jorah suggests Dany fly because the north remembers, and they’re not too thrilled with the Targaryens. But Jon says the north needs to see them unified, that they’re there to help and she sides with him. They will sail north together.

Before they go, Theon has a heart to heart with Jon about loyalty. Jon basically forgives Theon for being sort of the worst to his family after all they did for him, and Theon, after seeing his uncle (seemingly) retreat like a coward is inspired to Do The Right Thing. His sister was the only one there for him when he was being flayed and castrated by Ramsay, and she needs him now. Jon gives him his blessing to go save her, that he doesn’t have to choose between Starks and Greyjoys and can be loyal to both. The Greyjoy men aren’t so sure, and he gets beaten to a pulp before beating one of them to a pulp. That changes the rest of the group’s mind, they’re here for Theon and his new mission. He cleanses himself with water, true to the Greyjoy name, and they sail into the sunset…in a way.

The episode ends back at Eastwatch. Some of the men are still there, and they’re looking out beyond the wall. Instead of nothingness tundra, they see the army of the dead start to come out of the forest in very large numbers. Such large numbers that you don’t really notice that the night king is missing. Then, like Dany, he makes an entrance on (dead) dragonback and we know what we’re dealing with. The dragon shoots icy fire that is much more powerful than ice. Guess what the wall is made of? Ice. Not good. While the men at the wall put two and two together and start yelling at everyone to run, dead Viserion starts breathing away at the wall. It’s not long before that sucker comes down, taking some of the men at Eastwatch with it (but we can’t be sure who quite yet). The thousands of years old wall comes down like nothing, and we end the season with the giant army stepping right into Westeros towards the only partly suspecting humans south of the wall. Winter, indeed, is here.

This season was cinematic in more than just impressive CGI, big battles, and extra-long episodes. Our heroes mostly made it out of sticky situations alive when in the past they might not have. We had some perfectly timed saves with dragons and family reunions that warmed our hearts (if only temporarily). Fans have accused the show of giving in to fan service, but amidst dark times, I can’t always complain about getting a little bit of what I want, even if it’s cheesy. TV is an escape and sometimes our favorite characters wins are our wins. Plus, I’m never going to be mad about Jon Snow living to see another day.

Some stray observations since SO MUCH HAPPENED in this episode:

-Dany’s cape in King’s Landing looked like a dragon egg, which was super cool.

-Jon’s comment about stuffing a million people into a city not being for him was funny. He’s fully a northerner and a country boy.

-When Cersei says, “I know Ned Stark’s son will be true to his word,” that leaves it open to a major loophole, given he’s not Ned Stark’s son. He hopefully will learn that soon for himself.

-Sweet of Sam to react nicely to Bran saying he was the Three Eyed Raven instead of just looking at him like he is crazy. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Sam at peak Sam. Welcome back!

-Before we go, an in memoriam for our season 7 major character losses. It was a relatively low death count when considering what it could have been, but all deaths sting. Sorry, there’s no slideshow like at the Oscars. RIP Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish, Lady Olenna Tyrell, Thoros of Myr, Benjen Stark (probably), Tyene, Obara and Nymeria Sand, Dickon and Randyll Tarly, and last but the opposite of least, Viserion. You will not be forgotten.

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