GOT Season 8 Episode 5 Music Analysis

Published May 15, 2019 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hey Guys,

The music in Game of Thrones has always been one of my favorites parts. You can hear a song and know exactly what tones are being set before any characters actually respond to the moments. The music tells such a good story and is the heart and soul of the show. This episode was as excellent at portraying this as any: The first eery song selection that I heard was when Jon, Davos and the Northern armies are on the boat to King’s Landing. The song playing is “The Truth” which is considered Dany and Jon’s theme song. It played in season 7 in the cave with the dragonglass (I believe) and again on the boat after the expedition beyond the wall. This time, however, the tones are much deeper than I’ve ever heard, which to me suggested some possible future conflict between Jon and Dany, that almost sounded like a tragedy.. One part that I know my husband glanced over was when Jon, Greyworm and (hilariously) Davos led the troops into the city, meeting with the Lannister forces. There was a quiet, and slightly changed performance of “The Light of the Seven”. At that point in time, I knew that the city would be up in flames by the end of the episode, whether it was by Cersei or Daenerys. My initial thoughts were that Cersei was luring in Dany and her army in order to destroy the city with wildfire, but maybe the writers thought that would be too repetitive. Either way, I knew we were in trouble when I heard that composite. In the last scene of the episode, Arya awakes to find King’s landing in, literal, ashes. The thing that caught my attention most about this scene was the ominous instruments dancing back and forth in the scene. One sound you hear, that I’ve only ever heard during one man’s seen before, was Ramsay’s. The House Bolton theme song always played a very high-pitched instrument (maybe the violin, not sure) that would send chills down your spine. The scene then bounces to the House Stark theme song, that we know so well. The chilling sound occurs again but then cuts to finish out the House Stark theme song again, as Arya rides off to exit King’s Landing.. At the end of the episode during the end credits, there is a combination between “The Light of the Seven” (which is played during Cersei’s master set in season 6 episode 10, as well as “The Reynes of Castamere”. Sorry for the long email, but I just thought this was so interesting. Maybe we should just listen to the music in the episode and start trying to predict what will happen. I guess it’s too late for that now. Lots of love and thanks for doing such great work!

Andie from Kentucky

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