“Beyond the Wall” was a rough episode for just about everyone not named the Night King on Game of Thrones. Arya and Sansa are feuding pawns in Littlefinger’s convoluted game; Benjen and Thoros of Myr are dead; Tyrion is squabbling with Daenerys; the Mother of Dragons lost one of her babies; Jon tried to hit on the Mother of Dragons after she — I repeat — lost one of her babies; and Gendry’s quads are still tight after all that running (I assume).
But there’s one not-ice zombie who isn’t miserable.
“I have a beauty waiting for me back in Winterfell,” Tormund boasts to The Hound early in the episode. “If I ever get back there. Yellow hair, blue eyes. Tallest woman you’ve ever seen. Almost as tall as you.” He’s, of course, talking about his beloved Brienne, who once had a memorable encounter with The Hound. “How does she look at you?” the younger Clegane brother asks. “Like she wants to carve you up and eat your liver?” Yup, he knows her.
Tormund wants to make babies with Brienne (“great big monsters” that “conquer the world”), but she’s not buying what he’s selling… yet. She’s also preoccupied, having been dispatched to King’s Landing by Sansa to meet with Jaime Lannister. That detail probably wouldn’t thrill Tormund, but he still believes in Briemund the Tarth Bane (you would, too, if you escaped near-certain death like he did), as do most Game of Thrones fans.
https://twitter.com/mindykaling/status/899509256570847233
I just want a spinoff about Tormund and Brienne and their romance & their hardy and amazing children. We deserve this. #GameOfThrones
— Mo Ryan (@moryan) August 21, 2017
When Tormund talks about Brienne and their enormous babies. . #GameOfThrones #ThronesYall pic.twitter.com/j5WCbSUqzT
— Molly Harper (@mollyharperauth) August 21, 2017
Get you man who talks about you the way Tormund talks about Brienne. #GameofThrones #ThronesYall pic.twitter.com/oqszybj7Bz
— Jayk Purdy (@jaykpurdy) August 21, 2017
#ThronesYall #GameOfThrones Tormund and Brienne's babies would basically be Thor pic.twitter.com/VWXHfcoKjT
— Holy Drogon (@HolyDrogon) August 21, 2017
The only thing I want in life: for someone to love me like tormund loves brienne. #GameofThrones #ThronesYall pic.twitter.com/bGPv8CQiAo
— Stepfanie May ♡🧜♀️♡ (@stepfaniemay) August 21, 2017
Me thinking about brienne and tormund's great big monster babies conquering the world #ThronesYall #gameofthrones pic.twitter.com/3F7A6X35Um
— Catherine Clark (@enidjcoleslaw) August 21, 2017
"Well, not with her, yet." Tormund's hope to be with Brienne is literally all that's giving me hope on this show. #GameofThrones
— Faith D'Isa (@FaithNoMoar) August 21, 2017