For years, my Mondays are not complete without watching the newest episode of HBO’s smash hit series Game of Thrones.

I am a late bloomer when it comes of Game of Thrones. I started watching it four years after the series started. I got hooked on the show after the premiere episode mainly due to my infatuation with Eddard “Ned” Stark (Sean Bean). After his decapitation, the admiration was transferred to Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane, whom I have loved since The Greatest Game Ever Played), and eventually to Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance).

With the exception of Ghost, the dragons and the direwolves did not interest me much. I was (still am) interested in the humanity of people, political and military strategies, sexy old men who die in the most harrowing manner, and acidic retorts. The last of which made me cheer for Olenna Tyrell (Diana Digg) and Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage).

With one episode left before the final curtain unfurls for Game of Thrones, I have conflicting emotions about the current season. Events occur at a rate by which Filipinos procreate with no window for processing said mind-boggling events. Some deaths seemed a little harried (the Night King) and senseless (what happened to the Dothrakis in “The Long Night” and the Golden Company in “The Bells”?). Jon Snow (Kit Harington) surrendered his balls to Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) when he bent the knee, has not gotten them back yet, and Dany used them as paper weight. Or loofah substitute. I do not know. This season has been dark (literally also) and full of errors.

On the upside, my wish list of characters who will make it until the end of the season remains half-full. I am an optimist.

My “alive” list has the following characters:

• Most Valuable Protagonist Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner). I love her transformation from a senseless and goggly eyed teenager to a no-nonsense empowered woman. – still alive and safe in Winterfell

• Golden boy with a golden hand Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). The book version Jaime made me look at tv-show Jaime through rose-colored glasses. – died just this morning with his arms around the only woman he ever loved. Can I say that it was such a meaningless and boring death for 2/3 of the remaining Lannisters? Theon Greyjoy had a tear-jerking death scene, but the Queen of Westeros was buried in the rubble? Really?
• Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham). He is the only reminder that Stannis once walked the earth. More importantly, he is the embodiment of common sense and practicality. – alive. I may shed a tear if he dies.

• Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie). Her association with Jaime in the book made me take a look at her and her loyalty to the Starks and her big sisterly affection for Podrick Payne (Daniel Portman) in the show cemented my fondness for her. – brokenhearted but alive in Winterfell
• Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju). I like men with sense of humor, even the ones who are overtly sexual. In The Long Night, I thought he would perish in multiple instances, and I am giddy he did not! Whew! – brokenhearted but alive in the true North
• Ghost. It was puppy love at first sight. I was more worried about him than I was about Jon Snow. I do not know if it is possible for a direwolf to be more interesting and decisive than his human counterpart. And gosh, Jon did not even pet Ghost to say goodbye! He really knows nothing. – alive in the true North, possibly cuddling with Tormund
• Tyrion Lannister. The individual they thought was the cleverest person in the entire Seven Kingdoms. I have liked him 90% of the time because of his wit. The 10% was a period of madness when he killed my Tywin and when he shared scenes with Daenerys in the early part of their partnership. – alive in King’s Landing

• Lyanna Mormont (Bella Ramsey). I want to be her when I grow up. From the time she burst on scene until her almost literal David-versus-Goliath death, Lyanna was fierce and ferocious. She minced no words in throwing shade at people thrice her age, including the Mother of Dragons. I like bears now. – badass death by killing an undead giant
• Arya Stark (Maisie Williams). She saved the living by killing the king of undead. End of resume. – alive in King’s Landing
• Bronn (Jerome Flynn). As I mentioned above, I like men with sense of humor. – alive, maybe on his way to Highgarden or Riverrun.

Mad Dany can incinerate the entire universe as long as my remaining eight (lucky 8?) survive.

All images are from elle.com.