SO much better than last week! I cried THREE times...1)Sansa & Theon's moment 2)Brienne being knighted 3)Sam giving Jorah Heartsbane. Dany is her father's daughter. Lyanna Mormont is a bad-ass. And wow, Arya & Gendry... Also, and yes, total "heart" Jaime Lannister, what a redemptive arc...AND Ghost!!!!
I absolutely agree with all of this. I cried too.
The blade was Valyrian steel, spell-forged and dark as smoke. Nothing held an edge like Valyrian steel.
woah woah woah Arya!!! How does she know what to do if she’s a virgin?!?! She is, right? Wow
“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
For the most part, I liked this episode. It got my feelers going a couple times, and I had some tears. Anything that Nikolai does is gold, honestly. His scene's were great. And I laughed, and it wasn't forced or bitter!
The Good:
Jaime knighting Brienne. Did not expect that and it was pretty powerful. Of course, both actor's can play off each other so well, so that helps. I actually enjoyed this whole scene with these guys sitting around drinking and talking. It felt real. An interesting thought that I had was that I think Jaime has Widow's Wail and Brienne has Oathkeeper, both of these swords that came from Ice were used in this scene, this knighting scene in Winterfell's great hall. Of course, most warriors in the north are not knighted...
I also enjoyed the Night's Watch brother's reunion. The one horn blast had Jon coming so fast, only to see Sam had already greeted Edd. Loved that. They also played the Jon, Edd, and Sam standing on the walls talking about their watch was pretty nicely done. I geekily liked the three horn blasts at the end. Three for the Others, one for the Night's Watch, two for the wildlings. It felt like a nice call back to earlier seasons.
Ghost! It was about time. Honestly, it didn't take much to make me happy, but we also didn't get much. 5 minutes of dragon's buzzing Winterfell last week and 10 seconds of Ghost this week, but still, I am happy to see him. Although I was annoyed that Jon pretty much ignored him, they all did. Which honestly makes me wonder if they stuck him in at the last minute? I swear that looked like the same poses from S6-the resurrection episode.
I enjoyed the interaction with the Hound and Arya and loved when he told her "I fought for you" because that is the truth. Neither the Hound or Arya knew Brienne's intentions!
I enjoyed Sansa pushing Dany for a decision on the north (although this might have waited till after the coming battle to see if anyone survives at all) and Dany pulling away. Still irritates me that she let's Yarra be Queen of the Iron Frickin Islands, but the North is part of the 7K and Dany ain't giving it up.
Enjoyed seeing some emotion from Sansa when she seen Theon (since he saved her ass and got her away from Ramsay)! I also enjoyed that Dany was like, "oh, you are here to fight for her and not me". I see!
I enjoyed everyone of Tormund's stupid little jokes and innuendo's. That guy does comedy well.
No King's Landing. I didn't miss it at all!
The Bad:
The Helm's Deep vibe they are obviously going with, and even worse almost a complete rip off of a solo vocal performance. It was just like Pippin singing in the Return of the King. Too much of a steal for me to find it comfortable.
Also, using Jenny's Song, and then giving it more lyrics irritated me. Those are not your lyric's to write, D&D.
Bran's plan to be in the godswood for the Night's King to find him while being guarded by dragons. Okay, I guess the heart tree is going to burn as collateral damage and that is really going to piss me off! Like, can't Bran find another place to hide out? Someplace less flammable?
I don't know why Gilly annoys me so much, but she does!
The Questionable:
Arya/Gendry just felt so forced to me. That girl has not shown one bit of interest in boys for the entire series, but suddenly she's like "take your own pants off, I want to go for a ride". What! Not a fan how rushed it felt, or how the scene was done. Something about the Stark/Baratheon combination felt unfinished, and Arya's reaction when she found out that Gendry was Robert's bastard felt off to me!
When Jaime is facing Sansa, Dany and Jon, why does no one bring up that Aerys was fooking crazy and burned the Stark's in his own great hall. Then we could have flashed from Sam to Dany, from Jon to Dany, to really get a feel for how similar the situation is with Dany and the Tarly family.
Honestly, I didn't really like Sam giving Heartsbane to Jorah! This also felt forced.
Naming Brienne the Knight of the Seven Kingdom's felt so stupidly stolen that it nearly took me out of what was honestly the best scene of the episode.
Okay, now another look at Sansa and Theon. Is that like a love story they are trying to promote, and if so, where the hell did that come from? And that flash of them eating gruel and giving each other puppy dog eyes immediately after we get Grey Worm and Missandei saying good bye. How many eunuchs do we need to see is this story getting lovely ladies.
Jon hiding from Dany like a child for most of the episode, which was entertaining and annoying all at the same time. When they had him tell her the truth, I do think they did a pretty good job of it. Kit played it well, although did he ever see Sam's proof from the citadel?, and Dany's reaction was just as I expected. However, they were interrupted and it looks like she is going to go a head with her prearranged plan to fight, so we might have to wait a week to see her honest reaction. Beyond that she feels Jon threatens her claim to the throne.
Extra credit:
When Bran showed the mark on his arm, I kind of wished that Jaime would have offered to cut Bran's arm off, to destroy the connection the Night's King has to Bran.
Predictions:
As mentioned above, I am going to be so hateful if they burn the heart tree.
Lot's of people are going to die in this next episode but for some reason I don't think it's going to be Jaime, Tyrion or Arya, who are the most heavily foreshadowed. All that Arya stuff is just weird, but I don't see this being the end for her. All her faceless men training to get a spear and get speared... pardon the pun. As for the Lannister boys, we still have Bronn in the picture so I don't expect either of them to die just yet.
Where is Melisandre? She is mentioned with the Arya/Gendry stuff so I expect to see her soon. But is she just going to trot onto the battlefield with a bucket of leeches and try to dodge Davos' attempts to murder her?
Baby Sam got a mention last week and some screen time tonight, and then in the previews we see the White Walker's that have been implied to be Craster's son's. They want that little boy, I think. And how is he still like 2 years old while Arya is suddenly old enough to go jumping around on cock's like she's a college-aged chic on spring break???
I think there is more, but I am going to stop. Honestly, I liked this episode better than last week (probably because there was no magic dragon ride) and think this was one of the stronger episodes than we have seen in years. So, don't mind my rant's all that much. I watched the episode twice tonight (and I am sure I will watch it again), which means I enjoyed it!
Last Edit: Apr 22, 2019 6:10:09 GMT by stdaga: forgot Arya and the Hound
Their father understood as well. "You want no pup for yourself, Jon?" he asked softly.
One thing that is bothering me is, Jaime tells Cersei last season that if they do not support the North, either the dead or the living (whoever wins) is going to march south and kill her for betraying them.
Then, he goes and tells Dany, Sansa and Jon about Cersei having Euron Greyjoy's fleet and 20,000 fresh Golden Company troops. Jaime tells Dany, Sansa and Jon that even if the dead are defeated, Cersei has enough of an army to destroy the Starks and Targs. Okay... but didn't Cersei just tell him she is going to use the troops to retake the south?
Cersei does not ask the mountain to kill him then and there for his treason, but then tells Bronn to go do it???
Also, what is the point of Cersei's betrayal? Like she might as well have not promised them the troops, she had already left the dragonpit safely. Why did she come back and give that whole speech that she hoped that snowstorm would remember that she gave them her support without any assurances from their side.
I have no life, I'm on my third re-watch. At any rate, bad-ass, little Lyannna Mormont told Jorah, "I wish you good fortune." Guess that foreshadows that BOTH of them are "goners"? I of course recall the same with the Ned/SAD exchange, but didn't a couple of others have a similar exchange? Jon? voice Help, please?
I think Mance said it too iirc
"I can see it. You have more of the north in you than your brothers."
Also I don't care how old Maisie is, that character is like 13 at best. And I think those were CGI boobies, but I'm trying to stay compliant with state and federal law so I am not rewinding.
Really happy that Gurm didn´t resort to kiddie porn in that Mercy sample chapter. Would have popped an artery.
I think there is more, but I am going to stop. Honestly, I liked this episode better than last week (probably because there was no magic dragon ride) and think this was one of the stronger episodes than we have seen in years. So, don't mind my rant's all that much. I watched the episode twice tonight (and I am sure I will watch it again), which means I enjoyed it!
Just a few more thoughts:
The drinking-in-front-of-the-fire crew talked about how they had all fought against the Stark's but now they were here defending their castle, but we don't have a reciprocating scene with the Stark's. As a matter of fact, I don't think we have even one interaction between Stark's in this episode. Yes, I know both Jon and Sansa sat down and judged Jaime but they did not interact with one another. After each of them has fought so hard to return to Winterfell and how the last episode made such a big deal about family, in this episode, on the night before they all could die, not one Stark child get's together to talk about their home or family or even say goodbye to each other. It just seems poor writing!!! They could have gathered with each other in the godswood, had a brief exchange of words or something to show they are family and in this thing together. That might have been a good time for a Ghost photo bomb!
Rewatching that scene with Ghost, I am more convinced than I was on my initial watch, that the show dropped that in with not much thought or planning. No one in the scene even acts like they thought he was there, so perhaps it's because the actor's did not know he was there. It would not surprise me if the show did this quickly, in response to the major outcry from fans last week.
Also, a thought I had on the Arya sex scene, is that one of the major accusations of the Sansa rape storyline was Sansa's lack of agency in her rape. (Which actually is mirrored in Dany/Drogo but Drogo wasn't a sadistic asshole), so it's like with Arya's scene the show wanted to give ALL the agency to Arya and her decision as an answer to fans who criticized them for Sansa, and honestly, it might have been as awful to watch as Sansa's rape! Write a scene that makes sense, not one that gives the middle finger to your fans!
Their father understood as well. "You want no pup for yourself, Jon?" he asked softly.
Also, a thought I had on the Arya sex scene, is that one of the major accusations of the Sansa rape storyline was Sansa's lack of agency in her rape. (Which actually is mirrored in Dany/Drogo but Drogo wasn't a sadistic asshole), so it's like with Arya's scene the show wanted to give ALL the agency to Arya and her decision as an answer to fans who criticized them for Sansa, and honestly, it might have been as awful to watch as Sansa's rape! Write a scene that makes sense, not one that gives the middle finger to your fans!
Cersei does not ask the mountain to kill him then and there for his treason, but then tells Bronn to go do it???
It is possible this is Qyburn's plan and not Cersei's. He has always seemed ripe for betrayal, especially in the first episode this season when he talks about how much he owes Cersei for how high he has climbed. It did not seem genuine to me.
Yes, in the show, SAD and Mance say this. And I feel like it comes up one another time so I had to do some searching and Benjen/Coldhands says an abbreviated version of this to Bran and Meera after he strands them at the weirwood tree and rides off on the only horse! "I wish you good fortune" is what he says, leaving out the wars to come part.
Also, a thought I had on the Arya sex scene, is that one of the major accusations of the Sansa rape storyline was Sansa's lack of agency in her rape. (Which actually is mirrored in Dany/Drogo but Drogo wasn't a sadistic asshole), so it's like with Arya's scene the show wanted to give ALL the agency to Arya and her decision as an answer to fans who criticized them for Sansa, and honestly, it might have been as awful to watch as Sansa's rape! Write a scene that makes sense, not one that gives the middle finger to your fans!
Aren´t you reading way too much into this?
Maybe, I do that sometimes! Guilty! But the show writers really took a lot of criticism for that Sansa rape scene, and since I just watched that Dragon Demands video the other day were Cogman keeps trying to justify the reasoning behind it is fresh for me and so watching this scene with Arya almost feels like a complete opposite. I am quite convinced that D&D and bald C are quite capable of being petty to the fan base. Either way, the scene felt rushed and awkward, which is actually how sex actually can be, but something felt like it was off in the intent of the scene.
Their father understood as well. "You want no pup for yourself, Jon?" he asked softly.
Maybe, I do that sometimes! Guilty! But the show writers really took a lot of criticism for that Sansa rape scene, and since I just watched that Dragon Demands video the other day were Cogman keeps trying to justify the reasoning behind it is fresh for me and so watching this scene with Arya almost feels like a complete opposite. I am quite convinced that D&D and bald C are quite capable of being petty to the fan base. Either way, the scene felt rushed and awkward, which is actually how sex actually can be, but something felt like it was off in the intent of the scene.
OK, look - you lost me at Dragon Demands. That guy is the most twisted fuck in the entire fandom. Twisted in Capital Letters. And I have my on-hand experience with the guy.
Re Arya (and most things in life), I like to to apply Occam´s Razor: She is bossy and a tomboy. Pretty much in line for her to take the initiative here, too. If there is something to complain about, it is that for the run of the show, she came across as pretty much a-sexual, and all of a sudden and out of the blue, hormones call. Felt a little bit like the Swedish princess buttfuck scene in *Kingsman* - can be done, but darn leftfield.