Game of Thrones

[mgriff]

You're a pretty dense person. Call it whatever you want, because I really don't care. If it makes you feel important to be "called out", then call it that. Whatevs.



I thought you guys had reached epic levels of nerdism... But here I am... with a researched knowledge of over a thousand years of Targarean Kings. lol

WHAT A NERD YOU ARE! POINT AND LAUGH AT THIS FUCKING NERD! HE READ ABOUT THE REIGN OF DAERON THE GOOD AND BAELOR THE BLESSED! WHAT A DOUCHE!

 

[woolybug25]

WHAT A NERD YOU ARE! POINT AND LAUGH AT THIS FUCKING NERD! HE READ ABOUT THE REIGN OF DAERON THE GOOD AND BAELOR THE BLESSED! WHAT A DOUCHE!

 

[mgriff]

Welcome aboard!

 

[phillyirish]

I know I'm getting way to into it. Some of it can be explained away as D&D needing to progress the story and make an interesting show. I get that. It's just there seems to be no consequences anymore. I feel the quality has gone down the farther away from the books they go. I think the best seasons were true to the book. They've done a lot of great on their own as well. Hardhome was awesome. I just feel they are going all out for shock and not paying attention to the details. That's acceptable, the people are loving the show. Just because I'm disappointed does not mean the show is a failure. It's a massive success and a worldwide phenomenon. The people love it, I'm just personally disappointed that it's lost the magic that made me fall in love with the books. I'm still grateful to have it, as GRRM refuses to give us a book.

This is all true. Hardhome was probably my second favorite episode, right behind every f*cking chicken. Also hold the door was really good too. At first I loved the part of Rickon running through the fields. I thought It could have been a more emotional moment having Jon make the decision to let Rickon die rather than sacrifice his army. I also thought it could have been that Ramsay let Rickon go to spring a trap Jon set, such as pits with spikes and such, and have Jon go out and save Rickon thus exposing his defenses. To be honest though, didn't mind show Rickon dieing at all. Was kind of awkward having a Todler disappear than reappear as an awkward lanky teen.

Also a good portion of book readers believe the books take a drastically different tangent, notably Stannis winning the battle of the Ice.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I honestly thought that the battle scene drew on and was a bit gratuitious towards the end, but I enjoyed the episode thoroughly, even if we knew how it may end; and I'm pretty picky when it comes to these things.

I thought that this was Sophie Turner's best acting, kudos to her for doing a great job. Wasn't happy at the smile, but that's only because I wish her to be better than that.

 

[Fbolt]

Read the books, watched all the episodes-you guys are all nerds.

Merely entertainment.

 

[phork]

I loved Ramsay's character. That dood played one evil twisted bastard right until the end.

A

 

[TheRealLynch51]

Fucking awesome episode. My favorite of the series so far. If you don't like the tv representation of the show, go wait for the book(s) to be released, which won't happen for another 10 years.

 

[greyhammer90]

Pretty meh for me. Lot's of "badass" moments that were good dumb fun, but I can get that anywhere.

 

[GATTACA!]

Awesome episode. I guess I can see where some are coming from calling it predictable but come on what do you want?

Can we take a moment to talk about how distractingly hot Daenerys is? Holy hell I could barely concentrate during that entire convo between her and the Greyjoys.

 

[johnnycando]

Awesome episode. I guess I can see where some are coming from calling it predictable but come on what do you want?

Can we take a moment to talk about how distractingly hot Daenerys is? Holy hell I could barely concentrate during that entire convo between her and the Greyjoys.

She's oozing hotness these days.

I can't think of anything hotter right now on tv.

She's on a new level.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Tyrone little warning about Wildfyre really hints at Cersie burning KL. However, I can't see her doing that and living long after. Also could hint at Dynareaus' impending madness.

Little finger is in a prime position to do some damage. And I think the Freys might be dealt with next episode..



Again with the 3rd grade insults; but actually you kinda were, you already called out my "archery" comment.

Does Tyrion have an African-American imp relative we don't know about?

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Pretty epic battle scene. I don't have much to complain about. Thought the episode held up to its billing.

 

[Irish YJ]

Good stuff. Not sure what all these Nancys are complaining about. It's F'ing TV.

 

[gkIrish]

Pretty meh for me. Lot's of "badass" moments that were good dumb fun, but I can get that anywhere.

Yeah I mean it really wasn't that different than an episode of Spartacus. Awesome action, completely predictable storytelling.

Hardhome was a much better episode. Not sure how anyone can think last night's episode was better.

 

[IrishLion]

I think you guys are being too hard on the show haha.

Of course the storytelling was predictable for that episode; it's going to be predictable whenever GRRM gets to the Battle of the Bastards in the books, and whenever Dany shows up finally in control of Drogon in the books, too.

Jon didn't get brought back to life just to die again, and he'll get brought back in the books, so you're going to be reading about that battle and his close calls, knowing that despite his mistakes and playing into Ramsay's hand, he's going to live. For now, I'll assume that GRRM had the same fate planned for Rickon in the books, and that it was going to cause Jon to abandon his strategy and get many of his Wildling friends killed. That sounds like a perfectly reasonable GRRM plotline. But that's "too predictable"?

I expect you all to check into the "books" thread after tWoW drops and bring your same complaints forward.

 

[gkIrish]

I think you guys are being too hard on the show haha.

Of course the storytelling was predictable for that episode; it's going to be predictable whenever GRRM gets to the Battle of the Bastards in the books, and whenever Dany shows up finally in control of Drogon in the books, too.

Jon didn't get brought back to life just to die again, and he'll get brought back in the books, so you're going to be reading about that battle and his close calls, knowing that despite his mistakes and playing into Ramsay's hand, he's going to live. For now, I'll assume that GRRM had the same fate planned for Rickon in the books, and that it was going to cause Jon to abandon his strategy and get many of his Wildling friends killed. That sounds like a perfectly reasonable GRRM plotline. But that's "too predictable"?

I expect you all to check into the "books" thread after tWoW drops and bring your same complaints forward.

It wouldn't be that hard to make things a bit less predictable. How about not killing Rickon? How about killing Ser Davos in addition to Wun Wun? Killing off the least important recognizable character is the #1 most predictable thing a writer can do in a battle scene.

We are talking about the writers who butchered an entire subplot (Dorne) so badly that it had to be completely removed from the show. Give GRRM more credit.

 

[IrishLion]

It wouldn't be that hard to make things a bit less predictable. How about not killing Rickon? How about killing Ser Davos in addition to Wun Wun? Killing off the least important recognizable character is the #1 most predictable thing a writer can do in a battle scene.

We are talking about the writers who butchered an entire subplot (Dorne) so badly that it had to be completely removed from the show. Give GRRM more credit.

Yeah, the show could've seen the demise of more important characters. I thought Tormund was a goner fo' sho'.

But in terms of the general gripe: GRRM has telegraphed Rickon's essential uselessness from the start. He's also become the guy that subverts death among his characters too often.

He's trying to "break the wheel" of the usual action/fantasy tropes, but really he's made himself predictable (and also, he's left his fans too much time to figure things out. It's all predictable).

If someone is truly important (Jon; Dany), they're going to get out of their sticky situations (death; kidnapping)!

 

[wizards8507]

Yeah, the show could've seen the demise of more important characters. I thought Tormund was a goner fo' sho'.

But in terms of the general gripe: GRRM has telegraphed Rickon's essential uselessness from the start. He's also become the guy that subverts death among his characters too often.

He's trying to "break the wheel" of the usual action/fantasy tropes, but really he's made himself predictable (and also, he's left his fans too much time to figure things out. It's all predictable).

If someone is truly important (Jon; Dany), they're going to get out of their sticky situations (death; kidnapping)!

I think you give the average show viewer too much credit. The astute show viewers (i.e. the ones who talk about it on the internet) are more like book readers than the casual show-only masses. I don't think most show people remembered who the heck Rickon Stark is or was. D&D managed to make a child getting shot full of arrows a completely inconsequential plotline.

 

[IrishLion]

I think you give the average show viewer too much credit. The astute show viewers (i.e. the ones who talk about it on the internet) are more like book readers than the casual show-only masses. I don't think most show people remembered who the heck Rickon Stark is or was. D&D managed to make a child getting shot full of arrows a completely inconsequential plotline.

Anyone paying attention knows that Rickon is Jon and Sansa's little brother. They know that Ramsay has him, and that he hasn't been involved in the story at all. The plotline literally comes straight from GRRM, because Rickon's character is the exact same in the books: Inconsequential.

 

[ClausentoTate]

I'm just surprised Baelish didn't have some dialogue, or even a smug smile. I expected him to say something to the effect of "my debt is repaid" or "this is my end of the deal, be sure to hold up yours". I have to assume Sansa offered herself or land/title for his help. At least he didn't have to use his teleporter this time.

And as for Mereen, it didn't feel dumbed down to me. I can't think of how there could be more suspense when you have dragons and a Dothraki horde (though the timing is suspect for both). I wonder how Dany is going to meet Jon and the Starks. Nobody she currently has advising her has any reason to suggest them as allies. I believe she razes the other 3 cities and then heads right over to Westeros so probably just a few more episodes.

I didn't mind the Rickon scene but you damn well know I'm running for cover instead of in a straight line in real life lol flayed men everywhere to hide behind. Oh well, it's TV. Seems like a wasted character. At least show a flashback of him and Jon playing together as kids or something.

I did like the fight scene, the sheer savagery of it was pretty intense. Of course Jon isn't going to die but basically any other character could.

Overall, this was the best episode of the season BY FAR. Can't wait for the finale.

 

[IrishLion]

I'm just surprised Baelish didn't have some dialogue, or even a smug smile. I expected him to say something to the effect of "my debt is repaid" or "this is my end of the deal, be sure to hold up yours". I have to assume Sansa offered herself or land/title for his help. At least he didn't have to use his teleporter this time.

The preview for next week has him telling Sansa, "you know what I want now."

He wants to rule Winterfell with her.

And as for Mereen, it didn't feel dumbed down to me. I can't think of how there could be more suspense when you have dragons and a Dothraki horde (though the timing is suspect for both).

When Dany showed up at the end of episode 8, in full control of Drogon and the Dothraki, you knew she was going to break the siege. The same thing will be obvious once it's written in the books. I think people are just being picky because they can't help but watch the show, which will naturally be less detailed and a bit more generalized than the books haha.

I wonder how Dany is going to meet Jon and the Starks. Nobody she currently has advising her has any reason to suggest them as allies.

Varys left to go find her some supporters. I don't know how that will lead to Jon, or if they will even be allies (people have made good arguments that she would NOT view Jon as a friend), but Varys' work is how she will meet the big players.

I didn't mind the Rickon scene but you damn well know I'm running for cover instead of in a straight line in real life lol flayed men everywhere to hide behind.

Zig-zag patterns haha.

 

[gkIrish]

I'm just surprised Baelish didn't have some dialogue, or even a smug smile. I expected him to say something to the effect of "my debt is repaid" or "this is my end of the deal, be sure to hold up yours". I have to assume Sansa offered herself or land/title for his help. At least he didn't have to use his teleporter this time.

And as for Mereen, it didn't feel dumbed down to me. I can't think of how there could be more suspense when you have dragons and a Dothraki horde (though the timing is suspect for both). I wonder how Dany is going to meet Jon and the Starks. Nobody she currently has advising her has any reason to suggest them as allies. I believe she razes the other 3 cities and then heads right over to Westeros so probably just a few more episodes.

I didn't mind the Rickon scene but you damn well know I'm running for cover instead of in a straight line in real life lol flayed men everywhere to hide behind. Oh well, it's TV. Seems like a wasted character. At least show a flashback of him and Jon playing together as kids or something.

I did like the fight scene, the sheer savagery of it was pretty intense. Of course Jon isn't going to die but basically any other character could.

Overall, this was the best episode of the season BY FAR. Can't wait for the finale.

The Door was the best episode IMO. I agree on the point about running in a straight line but he is a scared kid so it makes sense from him not to use any logic.

Also, Theon is currently with Dany so that is someone who knows Jon and could bring him to Dany's attention.

I still think Dany and Jon will fight each other rather than become allies.

 

[Emcee77]

I didn't mind the Rickon scene but you damn well know I'm running for cover instead of in a straight line in real life lol flayed men everywhere to hide behind. Oh well, it's TV. Seems like a wasted character. At least show a flashback of him and Jon playing together as kids or something.

I did like the fight scene, the sheer savagery of it was pretty intense. Of course Jon isn't going to die but basically any other character could.

Overall, this was the best episode of the season BY FAR. Can't wait for the finale.

The Battle of the Bastards was amazing. I haven't seen battle filmmaking that good since Braveheart. Actually, Battle of the Bastards may have been better than Braveheart. I have many things to quibble with, like maybe the mixing of historical references; we had a medieval battle going and then all of a sudden a classical battle, the Battle of Cannae or something, ended up breaking out. That felt wrong to me, but I'm not sure I care about those deets. Still made for exciting viewing. Like Clausen said, "Oh well, it's TV."

I was thinking about the bolded and some complaints I've been hearing (not from Clausen; just using his post as a jumping-off point) about the predictability of last night's episode. The thing is, if the series has gotten predictable, I'm not sure it's totally fair to criticize the showrunners for it; they are working with GRRM's material. Jon's not going to die, of course we know that ... but we know it because GRRM didn't hide the R+L=J theory well enough, so we know Jon is the hero of the story. In its later stages, I think every story gets more predictable, because there are objectively, mathematically fewer ways of tying things up while remaining true to the parts you have already told.

 

[wizards8507]

Anyone paying attention knows that Rickon is Jon and Sansa's little brother.

Again, you're overestimating these people. They're not paying attention to that kind of thing. They watch for swords, blood, bewbs, and cock jokes.

They know that Ramsay has him, and that he hasn't been involved in the story at all. The plotline literally comes straight from GRRM, because Rickon's character is the exact same in the books: Inconsequential.

But the show never communicated how important he is. They threw out the Grand Northern Conspiracy and The North Remembers and all of that. Rather than political intrigue about the rightful heir to Winterfell, we get Jon Snow rallying a grand total of two(?) houses to his cause against a relatively unified northern army fortified in Winterfell. His claim that "battles have been won against worse odds" is horseshit. They never should have / would have launched that attack. But obviously we got Littlefinger ex machina because apparently his ability to teleport around Westeros is transitive to the army of the Vale.

The Battle of the Bastards was amazing. I haven't seen battle filmmaking that good since Braveheart. Actually, Battle of the Bastards may have been better than Braveheart. I have many things to quibble with, like maybe the mixing of historical references; we had a medieval battle going and then all of a sudden a classical battle, the Battle of Cannae or something, ended up breaking out. That felt wrong to me, but I'm not sure I care about those deets. Still made for exciting viewing. Like Clausen said, "Oh well, it's TV."

I agree completely. I forgot to breathe for a while during the part where Jon was getting trampled and buried under the bodies.

I was thinking about the bolded and some complaints I've been hearing (not from Clausen; just using his post as a jumping-off point) about the predictability of last night's episode. The thing is, if the series has gotten predictable, I'm not sure it's totally fair to criticize the showrunners for it; they are working with GRRM's material. Jon's not going to die, of course we know that ... but we know it because GRRM didn't hide the R+L=J theory well enough, so we know Jon is the hero of the story. In its later stages, I think every story gets more predictable, because there are objectively, mathematically fewer ways of tying things up while remaining true to the parts you have already told.

Did we know that, though? Pre-show? People forget how important Ned Stark was before The King's Justice took his head off. People forget how important Robb Stark felt to the story before the Red Wedding. Leaving Jon Snow dead at the end of his fifth book is exactly the kind of thing GRRM would have done to subvert expectations. If The Winds of Winter goes the way of the television show, I'll be extremely disappointed that GRRM will have regressed to the mean quality of hackneyed fantasy tropes.

The Door was the best episode IMO. I agree on the point about running in a straight line but he is a scared kid so it makes sense from him not to use any logic.

Hardhome for me.

 

[Wild Bill]

The Door was the best episode IMO. I agree on the point about running in a straight line but he is a scared kid so it makes sense from him not to use any logic.

Also, Theon is currently with Dany so that is someone who knows Jon and could bring him to Dany's attention.

I still think Dany and Jon will fight each other rather than become allies.

You could be right about Dany and Jon. I think Jon does what it takes to make friends bc he knows he'll need the dragons to defeat the dead.

 

[gkIrish]

Hardhome for me.

I was just talking about this season.

 

[IrishLion]

Again, you're overestimating these people. They're not paying attention to that kind of thing. They watch for swords, blood, bewbs, and cock jokes.

It is stated plainly, several times, that "we have Rickon Stark, the heir to Winterfell."

My wife, who watches maybe every-other episode, knew the significance of Rickon coming from out of nowhere.

In most cases, I'd agree that shownlies aren't clued in enough. But this was stated plainly for them. If they listen the dialogue at all, they know.

And again... it's useless to criticize the showrunners for making Rickon inconsequential... that comes directly from GRRM himself. Criticize him, if you want to criticize Rickon's demise. His demise is made inconsequential by the fact that GRRM played a giant joke on everyone with Rickon's character (much the way he's played a joke on everyone with all of the Direwolves, basically).

But the show never communicated how important he is. They threw out the Grand Northern Conspiracy and The North Remembers and all of that.

Yes it did! It told us that Rickon is the rightful heir to Winterfell. You don't need the Grand Northern Conspiracy to know that. Unless GRRM totally changes Rickon's fate (which I have a hard time seeing, all things considered), the Grand Northern Conspiracy will somehow fail, anyway.

Rather than political intrigue about the rightful heir to Winterfell, we get Jon Snow rallying a grand total of two(?) houses to his cause against a relatively unified northern army fortified in Winterfell. His claim that "battles have been won against worse odds" is horseshit. They never should have / would have launched that attack. But obviously we got Littlefinger ex machina because apparently his ability to teleport around Westeros is transitive to the army of the Vale.

I agree that it sucks that we don't get all of the intrigue, but the show doesn't have the luxury of hundreds of pages to beef things up. That's also on GRRM, not the dudes running the show.

And Jon is going to face terrible odds, no matter what, even in the books. Littlefinger's dealings in the Vale with the Old Guard have to be the setup for what we witnessed in the show, right? It's just gonna be setup and go down a bit differently.

 

[IrishinTN]

I understand the complaints but, at the same time some of you dont seem to appreciate how difficult it must be to write thousands of pages of novel into 10 episodes of tv. By necessity it going to have some lazy and predictable stuff, but overall I think they have done pretty well with the task presented.

 

[wizards8507]

It is stated plainly, several times, that "we have Rickon Stark, the heir to Winterfell."

My wife, who watches maybe every-other episode, knew the significance of Rickon coming from out of nowhere.

In most cases, I'd agree that shownlies aren't clued in enough. But this was stated plainly for them. If they listen the dialogue at all, they know.

And again... it's useless to criticize the showrunners for making Rickon inconsequential... that comes directly from GRRM himself. Criticize him, if you want to criticize Rickon's demise. His demise is made inconsequential by the fact that GRRM played a giant joke on everyone with Rickon's character (much the way he's played a joke on everyone with all of the Direwolves, basically).

Yes it did! It told us that Rickon is the rightful heir to Winterfell. You don't need the Grand Northern Conspiracy to know that. Unless GRRM totally changes Rickon's fate (which I have a hard time seeing, all things considered), the Grand Northern Conspiracy will somehow fail, anyway.

I guess I'm not being clear enough. I'm not talking about the storyline having a lack of factual information, I'm talking about a lack of intrigue, suspense, tension, and gravity. Having someone drop lines of exposition that say how important Rickon is does not carry the same weight as the audience feeling how important Rickon is. It's the difference between a birthday party on The Office and the birthday party in Mrs. Doubtfire.

You're defending the former because it provides the viewer with the information that it is someone's birthday. But the latter conveys the spirit and emotion of a birthday without needing to be so explicit and dry.