That conversation between Sansa Stark and Daenerys Targaryen still hits me. The most idealistic and romantic character becomes the one who refuses to fall for grand gestures or pretty narratives. She said she doesn’t learn quickly, but she does learn, and she learned better than anyone.

Not to mention what happens right after their talk — Theon Greyjoy, who is nominally Daenerys’ ally at this point, returns to Winterfell. He gives her the bare minimum of courtesy before openly and emotionally declaring that he’s there to fight for Winterfell (AAAA the way I clutched my chest watching this scene) — essentially, for Sansa. And the way she embraces him back, with complete trust, love, and forgiveness, says everything about the leader she’s become. All while Daenerys looks on, realizing that Sansa commands the loyalty and devotion of a true ruler....something she herself never fully secured.

Even if the ending of Game of Thrones was a mess, I still think about this scene and how much I love the Starks.…