Second 'Game Of Thrones' Season 7 Trailer Proves The Starks Are Ready For War

The second, and probably final, Game of Thrones Season 7 trailer arrived at high noon today. A careful parsing of the war-centric images for the upcoming season gave us a very interesting look on what the show is focusing on heading into the season.

There are three major quotes from the coming season revealed in the trailer.

The opening speech is spoken by Littlefinger, and as it plays we see Sansa walking out of the Godswood in Winterfell; the assumption is this speech is one he makes to her.

The second is Jon Snow telling someone there's only one war, and they must fight together. The last speech we hear is by Sansa, and she speaks the Stark family quote.

Why all this focus on the Starks? Let's break down the trailer and see what they're up to.

1. Sansa in the Godswood

As noted earlier, our trailer opens with a lingering shot on Sansa as she exits the Godswood. We hear, "Don't fight in the north, or the south. Fight every battle everywhere. Always... in your mind."

For Baelish, the fight is one for the Iron Throne (for power) and the battle is to create vacuums he can then fill.

It's completely the wrong battle and exactly everything that's wrong with what's happening in Westeros during this time of crisis. Let's hope Sansa doesn't listen.

2. Back To The Wall

Didn't Jon just leave the Wall? Ah yes, but another Stark has arrived...

3. Bran And Meera's Arrival

It's not news Bran and Meera were going to cross through Castle Black on their way back to Winterfell. But it will be good to see if Edd managed to keep the Lord Commander position.

4. Jon Is North Of The Wall

What is news is seeing Jon Snow back in a setting that is not Winterfell, or the lands around it, but North of the Wall. Considering the alliances he needs to make are down South, this is concerning. After his political failures at the Wall, one would hope he'd be working to make alliances, not going North to fight alone.

5. Arya On Horseback

Our only shot of Arya is the one we've already seen: She's on horseback, riding (we assume) to Winterfell. Maybe this is the moment she sees her home again for the first time? I'm just wondering why we've been seeing this shot over and over.

6. Littlefinger In The Shadows

Littlefinger is so creepy crawly in this shot. I know they call Varys "The Spider," but here it's  Littlefinger who feels like one. (Sansa, don't follow the spiders!)

7. Sword Sharpening

So, who has a sword they might be readying for battle? That doesn't look like Jaime's hand, and besides, you don't need to sharpen Valyrian steel. It looks feminine. Arya maybe? It certainly looks like Needle.

At this point, we hear Jon's voice over, with several shots of Dany, as well as the Lannisters.

For centuries our families fought together against their common enemy. Despite their differences: together. We need to do the same if we're going to survive, cause the enemy is real. It's always been real.

One might presume he's speaking to Daenerys, but note he says "their families fought together" the last time the Long Night came. But the Targaryens weren't in Westeros back during the Age of Heroes, which is that last time the Night King's army came to conquer.

Only one other major family traces their lineage back that far: the Lannisters. Could he be speaking to Jaime and Cersei? Or perhaps, Tyrion?

8. Brienne And Pod In Winterfell

I've been worrying about Sansa sending Brienne and Pod away, and in this shot, it looks like they're getting ready to leave Winterfell. Personally, I think that's a terrible idea.

9. The Hound Is North Of The Wall

So we know from above Jon has a posse (let's call them the SnowCo), and has gone north of the Wall. What's surprising is who is in that posse. One would think Davos or Tormund or maybe some other large Northern soldiers. Instead here's... the Hound. Not that I'm complaining about Jon getting a nice faithful dog by his side, but the Hound?

(How's he going to react to seeing Sansa?)

10. Ravens

I assume Bran controls the ravens now. Or at least wargs into them, which would explain this shot

11. The Night King Startled

Now, we don't know if the ravens flying over is what makes the Night King look up. But we do know what happened last time Bran startled the Night King.

12. Bran Warging At The Weir Tree

And since the next shot is Bran pulling out of warging with a jolt, I'mma go with "Bran Started the Bloody Night King Again." He really needs to *not* do that.

That's not the Three-Eyed Raven with him. I assume that's whatever passes for a Maester in Winterfell since Luwin died. Also, good to know Bran will get a nice chair to roll to the Godswood and back in once he gets home. I'm guessing Sansa's next step is to make Winterfell ADA compliant.

13. Beric North Of The Wall

Another surprise member of the SnowCo!

Well, since the Hound was in it, I suppose Beric would be too. And he's got his flaming sword. That's going to come in handy with White Walkers.

14. Tormund Fighting North Of The Wall

This is not a surprise member of the SnowCo. Tormund might make fun of Jon's pecker, but he'll also follow him to the grave.

15. The SnowCo Facing Down The Wights

And this, my friends, is why Jon and the SnowCo going north of the Wall was a bad idea. Next time, go south first and bring dragons.

16. Jon And Davos In The South?

Oh, Jon did go south? To Dragonstone? And he doesn't have dragons when he goes north? Awk-ward.

Let's hope Dany changes her mind about that. (Even though other shots in the trailer suggest the dragons are *rather* busy winning wars on the battlefield for her. So maybe she just didn't have any to spare.)

17. Jon Vs Another White Walker

It's looking like we really are going to have Hardhome part 2 this year, with Jon and his Valyrian steel sword hopefully shattering another White Walker general like he did in Season 5.

18. The Snow Co. Under Winter Attack

Speaking of Hardhome Part 2, we've even got a shot of the SnowCo getting the Night King's calling card of blizzard white out conditions. Note there are all of 12 of this SnowCo alliance on this expedition. Was the idea to like, sneak in unseen or something? Like a fellowship taking the ring to Mordor?

19. Jon Snow Riding Away

Here's another longshot that brings our trailer to a close, this time it's of Jon riding through the Night King blizzard. Is he getting the heck out of dodge or heading to join the rest of his crew? As Sansa says,

When the snows fall, and the white wind blows, the lone wolf dies. But the pack survives.

20. Jon Snow Faces The Wights

The last shot of the trailer is my favorite. While the other shots of the battle up north are all recalling Hardhome two years ago, this shot is straight out of last year and the Battle of the Bastards, as Jon helplessly watched the Bolton army charge towards him, knowing he had fallen into the trap and was about to die.

He raised his sword anyway.

Game of Thrones Season 7 premieres July 16, 2017, simulcast in many countries at 9 p.m. ET.