A Game of Thrones

[Avatar]

Meh. The GF is watching it, so I catch a bit here and there, but I'm basically ignoring it. My only question is how much GRRM is going to be influenced by the show now...after all, somebody is doing most of the hard work...

They shouldn't allow a series to be made based on a series that's incomplete. Hell...has it ever been done before?

--A

[dlbpharmd]

Wow, what a gut stomping episode.

[Cail]

Wow, what a gut stomping episode.

As soon as the last flashback started, I started shaking my head. That was just painful to watch.

[Zarathustra]

I think this might be the best season so far. It's hard to tell, though, because it's the first season where I didn't know what was going to happen, so that surprise/suspense factor could be skewing my impressions.

The story is picking up pace. I can sense the end coming. Sansa and Jon reuniting is certainly a huge move forward for the Stark family. And her character in particular is being developed (at last!) beyond her years-long victimhood status. It's refreshing to see her act and decide not only important aspects of her own destiny, but also decisions that will affect all the North.

[Cagliostro]

Now that the show creators are free of the chore of adaptation, for the most part, they are making it into a more well-honed television show. To some degree, it seems like a few growing pains to make the show their own, and there are definitely some changes of characters, but I'm getting the feeling it is headed in a good direction.
But I didn't think much of the

Spoiler

Hodor

thing.

Spoiler

Was the whole mystery of his name and his eventual sacrifice simply to allow a few people to escape? That seems kind of lame. I figured it would have more significance. Still sad to see Mr. M-O-O-N and that spells Hodor given such a small part to play after all, despite how well done the scene was.

[Zarathustra]

It looks like Bran is going to be very important, perhaps crucial to ultimate victory, so helping him survive would certainly be a grand destiny for any person, much less one mentally handicapped. I loved the Hodor thing. He's such a tragic figure, knowing what was going to happen to himself all those decades later, carrying forward a vision that impacted him so strongly, it was stamped on his capacity for speech. Everything he thought must have been filtered through this knowledge, this damage. It's as if breaking through to the past, creating this paradox in time, left its mark on his broken mind.

It reminds me of something Donaldson might do.

[dlbpharmd]

It reminds me of something Donaldson might do.

Yes indeed! I've been reminded of Cable Seadreamer all week.

[dlbpharmd]

Not a lot of action in last night's episode, but the storylines advanced:

Spoiler

1. So thrilled to see that Arya isn't going to become a stone cold killer. A confrontation with Waif will soon occur. But the question I had was, why did she get Needle, and then return to the Faceless God house? Why not run? Also, Maisie Williams is one of the best actors on the show, IMO.

2. Finally, a 5-season mystery solved! So good to see Benjen Stark return.

3. Not surprised to see Tommen and Margery completely under the Sparrow's sway. Looks like they're brainwashed now. Cool scene with Jaime riding up the steps on the horse. Looking forward to a Jaime/Brienne reunion soon.

4. Speaking of killers, looks like Daenerys has a whole horde of them now. On another note, are the dragons fully grown now? Where are the other 2?

5. I knew that Sam would take Heartsbane with him. But, will he continue to the Citadel, or return to Castle Black? Can't see much use for Valyrian steel in Oldstown.

6. The only other episode I can think of without Jon was the Battle of Blackwater Bay episode in Season 2. Were there others?

[I'm Murrin]

Spoiler

I'm a little confused by Margaery suddenly going over to the Faith. Last time we saw her, wasn't she talking to Loras all defiant? Did I miss something?

[Cail]

Margery is all about Margery and keeping Margery relevant.

[dlbpharmd]

Right. I think Margery has a stratagem in place.

[dlbpharmd]

After 5 episodes of slam-bam action, the writers have thrown on the brakes with the past 2 episodes. I find that somewhat frustrating, but I know with only 3 episodes to go, the pace is about to pick up again.

Spoiler

1. Not suprised to see the Hound return. He's a great character, but he needs another strong central character to really shine. Will he fight the Mountain in Cersei's upcoming trial by combat?

2. I knew something bad was going to happen to Arya when I saw her walking the streets of Braavos without Needle.

3. I loved the Bear Island scene.

[Zarathustra]

The pace has indeed slowed, but I agree that they are building toward a powerful climax. The pieces are being moved into place.

[I'm Murrin]

Spoiler

Apparently the Faceless Men will let just anyone in these days. What kind of assassin doesn't bother to confirm the kill? Not to mention removing your disguise during the very public act.

[Zarathustra]

Good point, Murrin. I think the viewers would have been able to guess who the old lady was without the reveal. I was disappointed in that scene for the reasons you mentioned, in addition to Arya not being more careful. She had to have seen this coming! She's in cahoots with faceless, magical assassins who obviously watch her very closely!

I'd like to speculate that the 'fuck ups' were intentional (e.g. because they really wanted Arya to get away for some complicated reason, but didn't want her knowing that), but it seems pretty clear that this is not the case with the "don't let her suffer" line from the last episode.

[jelerak]

In reflection, I think that season 6's writing has shown some serious flaws. I believe that the writer's are trying to hard to move the story forward and are taking many shortcuts or lazy paths to get to the plot points that have to happen.

For example, the scene where Jorah found Daenerys' ring in the grassy field, he just happened to stop at that spot and find the ring lying in the grass. Too lazy and convenient.

The scene where Daenerys burned all of the Dothraki. No way that she could have taken them all down like that. And something that has bothered me since season one is that what, her hair will also not burn? Seriously?

And then last night...how far away was the Hound supposed to be while chopping wood? Close enough to heat the slaughter, but so far that he could not get there to see anything? The world's fastest lynching.

Oh, and Arya must have the slowest bleeding out knife would in history also.

Yes, I know that there is a reason and that there are only so many episodes to deal with each season, but I am getting the feeling that they are seriously losing sight of quality and consistency in place of trying to move the story to far along in too much of an unnatural progression.

I just can't wait until GRRM sets things right, eventually that is.

...this is my first post in a few years, I figured why not dive directly in!

[Avatar]

Seriously? Your first post in 2 years and it's about GoT?

Nice to see you around man. Welcome back. Stay and visit for a while.

Oh, and yes...suddenly everything is moving very quickly. But I worry that GRRM will simply conform to this version now.

I wonder how many seasons they're booked ahead for?

--A

[I'm Murrin]

Weren't they planning on seven? Seems way too soon to reach an ending now, but that's what I remember.
Edit: Looks like they're aiming for eight.

[Zarathustra]

Daenerys's ring was at the center of a huge circle of horse trampled grass. One would naturally walk to that spot and have a look, if one was tracking a missing queen.

I agree that Arya's wound seems too serious for her to last much longer. But that's all the better for a cliff hanger.

I have no problem with Daenerys's hair not burning. She's the fireproof Mother of Dragons. I just accept it.

[I'm Murrin]

I was half expecting Arya to run into the actress she'd let live in the previous episode, and get help from there.