Let's Talk About Jaime Lannister's Betrayal On "Game Of Thrones"

What is Jaime Lannister up to? Warning: contains spoilers.

A lot of Brienne and Jaime fans rejoiced in Season 8, Episode 4 of Game of Thrones, as the pair finally consummated their long-burning connection.

HBO / Via jaimelannistecr.tumblr.com

For Jaime in particular, this was an important moment, seemingly indicating he really had turned away from Cersei once and for all.

Both Cersei and Brienne are referred to as mirror images of Jaime, but while Cersei represents his worst self, Brienne represents his potential, and shows him the honorable man he can be.

Leaving Cersei to help the North — and fight with Brienne — at the end of Season 7 was a crucial turning point for Jaime's character and his quest to reclaim his honor. Moving forward in his relationship with Brienne, and committing to stay with her in the North, seemingly marked the completion of his seasons-long redemption arc.

Except, of course, this is Game of Thrones, where there's no such thing as a happily ever after, apparently...

Later in the episode, when Jaime hears the news of what's happening down south, he decides to leave Brienne and go back to King's Landing.

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In a deeply upsetting scene, Brienne begs him to stay, telling him he's a good man. In response, Jaime recounts some of his most heinous crimes, and says of Cersei, "She's hateful. And so am I."

The scene suggests Jaime is regressing as a character and his redemption isn't so complete after all. He's turning his back not just on Brienne, but on his better self.

But is it more complicated than that?

If we look back at the scene where Jaime learns what's going on — which is when he seems to decide to leave — it suggests two possibilities.

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First, Brienne tells Jaime that Euron Greyjoy has attacked Dany, and that one of the dragons has been killed while Missandei has been captured. Jaime looks horrified at this.

There's a chance he could have decided to leave because he realises Cersei isn't going to rest until everyone that Jaime was just fighting for has been destroyed. If Jaime truly is a "good man," he'll want to stop her.

Perhaps he'll try to reason with her. Or perhaps he'll attempt to kill her. After all, he found out earlier this episode that Cersei ordered Bronn to kill him. And it would tie in with the valonqar prophecy.

On the other hand, Sansa smugly suggests that Cersei is definitely dead as a result of her attack on Dany — which could be what spurs Jaime to action.

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Rather than aiming to execute his sister himself, perhaps his lifelong love and obsession with her is rearing its ugly head at the thought that she's in danger. There's a chance he's riding south to protect Cersei in her hour of need. It would mean what he later says to Brienne about not being a good man isn't just a tactic to push her away so that he can leave — it really is him giving in to his worst self.

If that were the case, it would mean one of the most interesting character arcs on the show really was for nothing.

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Let's hope that's not the case.

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