'Game Of Thrones' Season 7, Episode 5: 'We're All On The Same Side'

So the central plot mechanic that'll drive us to the end of this season finally reveals itself: Jon needs to prove to ally and enemy alike that the White Walkers are both real and spectacular.

But see: We the audience already know they're coming. We've seen them marching south ... slow as particularly creepy molasses ... for like five seasons now. But most of the show's characters haven't seen them, so at least the next two episodes will be spent getting everyone up to speed. ("Ok, who just joined the call? Cersei, is it? Jon, maybe you can go back a few slides in the deck to make sure Cersei's on board.") That's a recipe for audience frustration, unless the show can offer up some visual candy to keep us sated.

So it's likely no coincidence that next week's episode will be this season's second-to-last, historically when the show delivers its biggest payoff. Expect a huge battle (and some heartbreaking casualties) between Northmen and Evil Unstoppable Skeletons. Furs vs. Femurs, call it. The rumble-a in the tundra.

And I'm still predicting the Wall's gonna come a-tumbling down — there've been just way too many references to its eternal! Resolute! Steadfastness! for it not to — and there's no better