‘Thrones’ ends year on a high note

The epic HBO fantasy ends its seventh season tonight with a message of hope, Hal Boedeker writes.

“Game of Thrones,” the TV series of the summer, ends its scrutinized seventh season this weekend and sends a hopeful message. Viewers still show up for engaging storytelling.

Fans have studied each clue and plot twist as the HBO fantasy staged epic battles and sent dragons on spectacular missions. The season finale, “The Dragon and the Wolf,” starts at 9 p.m. Sunday and runs nearly 80 minutes. “There’s only one war that matters, and it is here,” says Jon Snow (Kit Harington), the Wolf of the title.

Despite hacks, leaks and intense speculation, “GoT” piled up admiring reviews and spectacular ratings. The series is averaging 29.3 million viewers this season across all platforms. The last episode reaffirmed the heroic stature of Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), who swooped in with her dragons to help Jon Snow battle

White Walkers. He escaped doom and proclaimed Daenerys his queen. These forces of good will be united in drawing devious Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) into an alliance.

Earlier in the season, Daenerys and one of her dragons wiped out soldiers directed by Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). The battle scenes have been thrillingly staged, but so, too, have been the quiet moments.

Lady Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg) received a classic exit that let the actress play the character’s savvy, humor and cruelty.

Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) shows poignant concern toward Daenerys. She has forged a strong bond with Jon Snow, one that some fans read as sexual tension. But because they are related — and don’t know it yet — one can hope they remain simply friends. After the Jaime-Cersei story, one incest plot is enough.

The series arranged a touching reunion for Stark siblings Arya (Maisie Williams), Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright). He displayed his seer skills. Sansa has exhibited more confidence, and Arya has become an expert warrior. Yet the sisters don’t understand each other, and Arya’s bag of masks could fray family ties.

“Game of Thrones” continues to offer peerless production values for TV. But that visual brilliance would mean little without superb performances, memorable characters and complicated, adult situations.