Tyrion and Sansa rekindle their admiration in 'Game of Thrones' season 8 episode 3 but their loyalties lie with different houses
Episode 3 of 'Game of Thrones' season 8 ended the much-awaited Great War between the living and the dead, and just like every other war this one too saw friends sacrificing themselves, siblings reuniting, and lovers finally confessing. As the Night King marched (actually flew) with his army towards Winterfell, Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) along with other women and children were sent to the crypt to protect themselves.
They were joined by Lord Varys (Conleth Hill), and Sansa's one-time husband, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage). Among all the things worth the attention in episode 3, it was perhaps that tiny moment of reconciliation between Tyrion and Sansa that truly moved viewers.
The two began their conversation in a perfectly-happily-divorced couple manner when they caught up in episode 1 of season 8. Both had been on extremely different journeys ever since they parted after Joffrey's (Jack Gleeson) death in season 4. Sansa was sold off to Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) before she would be trapped in the snaring grip of Littlefinger (Aiden Gillen), and Tyrion went from being accused of the king's murder to serving as the Hand of the Queen to Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke).
They might have met as allies in season 8 but their loyalties lay with two very different houses. Sansa was fiercely loyal to Jon Snow (Kit Harington), and Tyrion to the Dragon Queen, perhaps having even developed feelings for her. We also hear Sansa mention this during the intimate conversation they had in the crypt on the night of the Great War.
Sansa valiantly spoke out how by not doing anything they can be the most heroic at the moment. She perhaps realized that being a casualty of this war is no act of heroism, and it was time she learned how to use a dagger but wait for the moment to arrive when she can put it to good use.
It was at this moment that Tyrion remarked the couple should have stayed together but Sansa immediately shut that opportunity down when she said it would have never worked between them. However, moments later we once again see them together as they hide behind a statue when the dead begin to rise from their tombs.
The scenes between Tyrion and Sansa totally destroyed me - most heartwarming scene of the entire episode damn pic.twitter.com/0kaqfLy0Qn
— sansa and tyrion are my king and queen (@rarelycomehere) April 29, 2019
Sansa pulls out her dagger and Tyrion looks at her with both awe and admiration. It was this particular moment in episode 3 which actually gave us a sense of the tragedy that could have fallen upon Winterfell, had it not been for Arya (Maisie Williams). This could have easily been the last moment between Tyrion and Sansa - a couple who never truly loved each other but were always respectful towards one another.
Although most viewers would love to see them get back together, it is perhaps for the best that Tyrion and Sansa don't. They would have certainly made a brilliant couple who's absolutely perfect to rule over Westeros as king and queen but their private lives wouldn't have been as sparkling.
Considering the kind of people they both are, Tyrion and Sansa prioritize privacy above many other things and that is something they would have never been able to give each other as they serve different people. With the Great War a lot of characters realized a lot of things, and perhaps Tyrion and Sansa realized that although no one was quite like them, it would be better for them to do what they do best - be loyal to those they love, and absolutely critical to those who they don't. However, it will be interesting to see how the couple who were accused of killing Cersei's son react when they arrive at King's Landing in episode 4 which will air on May 5.