Game of Thrones

[xRECKONERx]

Even though all of the Craster's Keep stuff was glorified filler, it still felt REALLY satisfying to me. Game of Thrones is a series that revels in the grey area between good and evil. Sometimes, it can get really draining to watch and you just need a quick pick-me-up of vengeance and justice to keep you going. The Craster's Keep stuff was all really contrived, but DAMN if it wasn't satisfying. Watching Hodor straight up break Locke's neck was fantastic; watching the Night's Watch show up and start slaughtering people was cathartic; watching Jon Snow plunge a SWORD THROUGH THAT ASSHOLE'S FUCKING MOUTH was fist-pumpingly good; watching fatass get mauled by Ghost was a sweet, sweet cap to the events. YES, I know it was all relatively pointless, but I was cheering and clapping through all of it just because they had built up the hatred for these guys so well. (Nobody fucks with my Hodor; NOBODY!)

The rest of the stuff was all rather okay, I guess. I especially liked the Lysa/Sansa/Littlefinger/Robin stuff at the Vale, as I've always been fascinated by the geography of that area. I really like how they dropped the bomb this episode that LF convinced Lysa to poison Jon Arryn and then write Cat to blame the Lannisters. I thought they would hold off on that little tidbit, so it was refreshing to see them drop it so soon instead of play it up for awhile.

Arya/Hound and Podrick/Brienne are such excellent pairings that it doesn't matter WHAT they're doing, I'm going to love their scenes. Podrick is so fucking adorable, too, so that helps.

No Tyrion, no Jaime, no problem! The episode was pretty great for featuring the characters we don't usually see a lot and I like that it seemed to flow pretty well. Cersei's scenes trying to manipulate the judges were great (Margaery's scene was acted perfectly by both Lena Headey and Natalie Dormer). I think they're misusing Oberyn a bit, though... like, every scene so far he's doing one of two things: making sex eyes at someone, or complaining about his dead sister. We get it. You don't have to remind us literally every episode, because it starts to sound like a broken record.

[Rhinox]

Watching Hodor straight up break Locke's neck was fantastic;
<snip>
(Nobody fucks with my Hodor; NOBODY!)

That was really warg!Bran tho

Cersei's scenes trying to manipulate the judges were great (Margaery's scene was acted perfectly by both Lena Headey and Natalie Dormer).

ooooooh right Thats what was going on there. Tyrell and Martell are judges also. derp. I was wondering what was going on with cersei that episode, especially the being nice to Margaery part.


One thing thats starting to kind of bug me is the whole "slice Bran's leg to remind us / prove to someone he's paralyzed" bit - I mean, he might not be able to feel anything, but no one is treating those cuts and they would be bound to get infected.

[Seacore]

I don't think Locke would be too concerned with infection.

[Seacore]

Reck, please come join me in the book thread.

[Venmar]

Locke cut brans leg to see if he was crippled, and as a result actually Bran Stark, not for fun or to infect him.

[Yates]

I agree with literally everything Reck just said and could not have said it any better. I don't feel like that episode did all that much to progress any of the random story lines branching off but boy was it fun to see the slaughter.

[Rhinox]

I don't think Locke would be too concerned with infection.

Locke cut brans leg to see if he was crippled, and as a result actually Bran Stark, not for fun or to infect him.

umm I know?? I'm not talking about Locke, I'm talking about it just being a device used by the writers to show someone or the viewers bran is crippled. Just because Bran can't feel the injury doesn't mean that getting his leg gashed open wouldn't be a serious wound in the world of GoT. This is at least the 2nd time his leg has been sliced open (that I remember, there probably were more) and the wounds have been more than just scratches. Nearly every other time a character gets a cut in the series it is major - some characters die from the infection, others survive after being treated by maesters or pouring boiling wine on the wound. But bran is crippled and can't feel pain so he can get cut and won't bleed out or get infected, its all good.

(and since it seems to be missed, this wasn't an entirely serious point anyways :p)

[Seacore]

It's happened once before that I can think of Rhinox, when Osha and the other wildlings attacked him on horseback. Immediately after that he was able to be seen by Maester Luwin, who is established as a maester of some skill.

I agree that it could get a bit lazy for the writers, but it was an instrument here for Bran to immediately understand that Locke was not his friend.

[AniX]

It's happened once before that I can think of Rhinox, when Osha and the other wildlings attacked him on horseback. Immediately after that he was able to be seen by Maester Luwin, who is established as a maester of some skill.

I agree that it could get a bit lazy for the writers, but it was an instrument here for Bran to immediately understand that Locke was not his friend.

As well as an instrument to show Locke knew exactly who and what he was looking for.

[Venmar]

I don't think Locke particularly needed Bran alive, so infection probably wasn't on his priority list. He was probably taking Bran away from the keep so he could kill him somewhere remote, so Jon wouldn't find the body after the battle.

But yeah, I think I agree with the sentiments here, it just made sense from a story POV I think.

[Yates]

I guess it didn't bother me as much as it appears to be bothering some of you. It's not at the same level as the "let's split up" schtick in horror movies, by any means.

[Yates]

Also... Hodor.

Spoiler:

[Venmar]

[Xalxe]

I think they're misusing Oberyn a bit, though... like, every scene so far he's doing one of two things: making sex eyes at someone, or complaining about his dead sister. We get it. You don't have to remind us literally every episode, because it starts to sound like a broken record.

To be fair that's about all I recall him doing in the books at this point.

[xRECKONERx]

Emmy, please.

[xRECKONERx]

I would watch one thousand episodes of Law & Order: Westeros.

This might've been the best episode of the season so far. I feel like it was tight and every scene packed a punch. I cannot complain about any of it.

Dany's storyline is finally seeing some character growth!

Yara finally did something and we got to see a new dynamic in the Reek/Ramsay relationship!

Peter Dinklage won ten Emmys!

[xRECKONERx]

EBWOP: oh, and Mycroft/Davos was a fantastic scene and finally brought a great Stannis moment this season, as I've felt his whole storyline has been severely lacking. Probably won't hear from him again until E9.

[Iecerint]

The ironborn

running from puppies

was the only lame part.

Like, I understand that it is rational, but it both didn't make sense that they would be able to get away, and it seemed out of character that

puppies

would make them run away given what we know about them.

[Aegor]

Totally agree, Reck. I think this was arguably the best non-climactic episode of the show.

The Iron Bank scene was absolutely fantastic in both script and acting. Dany's sequence elegantly introduced a lot of issues that will only get more important for her over time and, as you mentioned, serve as challenges by which she can grow as a ruler. Saan's and Yara's returns were very welcome.

Tyrion's breakdown at the end of the trial is certainly Emmy-worthy, but Conleth Hill should not be forgotten. Every line he speaks is gold. I particularly enjoyed his scene with Oberyn.



Honestly, Varys/Conleth Hill is consistently the best part of the show for me. He also has the most developed and interesting personal philosophy, although the writers are really improving in that regard (Brienne, Jaime, Tywin, Daenerys, etc.).

[Aegor]

The ironborn running from puppies was the only lame part.

Like, I understand that it is rational, but it both didn't make sense that they would be able to get away, and it seemed out of character that puppies would make them run away given what we know about them.


The ironborn running from puppies was the only lame part.Like, I understand that it is rational, but it both didn't make sense that they would be able to get away, and it seemed out of character that puppies would make them run away given what we know about them.

Yeah, I was not sure why they did not just chop the crap out of

the puppies

. I assume that if they had a made a stand,

Ramsay's soldiers

would have attack them while distracted. But it was just very odd.

[xRECKONERx]

The ironborn

running from puppies

was the only lame part.

Like, I understand that it is rational, but it both didn't make sense that they would be able to get away, and it seemed out of character that

puppies

would make them run away given what we know about them.

The dogs are also much more "ferocious" and terrifying in the books I feel versus just being dogs in the TV show (kind of how the first season was like OMG DIREWOLVES and the representation didn't really do them justice).

[Venmar]

Omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg just finished A Feast For Crows. The last few chapters were

really WTF

When I finish ADWD I will feel like I am on top of the world, book thread and /r/GoT will await my spare time

Oh, and yeah, Dinklage is fucking amazing.

[evilpacman18]

yeah I think best episode of the season easily.
Stannis' last two appearances have been playing to the strengths and differences of the two advisors on his side
with Tywin's speech to Tommen about how wisdom is essentially knowing when to really on the people who want to see you do well (assuming Melisandre isn't playing him)
and also Tywin's speech about how even Tywin Lannister is afraid of the Iron Bank
who are now backing Stannis to an extent I don't know yet but will obviously be helpful
and with Theon set to betray his family because how badly Ramsay has broken him
which will probably result in the death of Balon Greyjoy

I'm looking forward to Stannis' rise to power again. He does have the best claim to the throne, I'm really on his side so it's nice for me at least that so many things are pointing towards his success.

[Faraday]

Last 2 weeks have been strong.

Tyrion scene was obviously good. Really enjoyed Varys/Oberyn, tho as well as DAVOS. Very good episode overall.

[AniX]

My favorite part of that episode was when Varys was confirmed asexual, thereby cementing him as the Prince That Was Promised, AND the Stallion That Mounts the World, AND Azor Ahai reborn. It's all confirmed.

My faith was tested, but never wavered, when others suggested the only reason he didn't have sex was because no penis. I knew in my heart that even before, he didn't like girls and boys.