Welcome back to round eight of the written recap round-up! Hopefully you’ve all thawed out after this icy episode and are ready for what critics had to say about “Hardhome!”
And don’t forget Watcher’s own Sullied and Unsullied reviews!
Reviews for Book Readers:
Alyssa Rosenberg, Washington Post
Sean T. Collins, Rolling Stone
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James Hibberd, Entertainment Weekly
Neil Miller, Film School Rejects
Unsullied Book-Spoiler-Free Recaps:
Laura Stone, Hey, Don’t Judge Me
As Season 5 comes to a close, Game of Thrones is continuing to impress. Let us know what you thought of this week’s critic’s reviews in the comments below!
Next week should be crazy as well. Seems like D&D saved the best for last.
Are we not talking about my favorite rewiews? http://captainofalltheships.tumblr.com/post/120498715232/chrys-watches-got-season-5-episode-8
These are amazing <3
And also: HARDHOME!
Elio is taking forever to write his analysis, lately…
I usually like to watch the episode, enjoy it very much, then go read his review and realize I hated the episode after all and all is wrong and badly written (and sexist), then go on Reddit and hate D&D so much because no LSH and no Cleganebowl and your sister, then come here to get angry at AFFC and ADWD with bad grammar and humorless trolling, and then finally rewatch the episode and decide it’s all totally fine.
Fatio,
best post ever
describes everything I go through…
Except that I don’t read Elio’s reviews.
Queen of the Keys,
Well, no, because this is a list of print reviews. Written recap round-up. 🙂 Feel free to link to stuff in comments though.
Ratings up to 7 millions
http://headlineplanet.com/home/2015/06/02/ratings-hbos-game-of-thrones-roars-back-posts-highest-viewership-since-premiere/
yasss
H. Stark,
‘Bout time!
Ah, sorry! Since I couldn’t list it under “video recap” I thought it could fit here, my mistake!
Okay guys can I just make a guess that doran will push Jaime on a mission the same way Ls did with brienne in affc in the next episode?
H. Stark,
And while I don’t normally go in for “next week’s ratings are dependent on the quality of this week’s” beyond a marginal amount, I think this might be a special case, and I’m actually optimistic about next week’s ratings.
Between that rebound, the episode’s buzzy finish and next week being the penultimate episode, I’m cautiously expecting another nice bump in the initial viewing numbers.
“do you like apples?” LOL “how do you like THOSE apples” (Good Will Hunting)
Sick, bitter sweet and I feel the love moment!
How does Alyssa Rosenberg miss the point so much? Not liking the action sequence is fine and good, of course, but come on… wow:
If all she could honestly see was “zombie-fighting”, I don’t know what to tell her. Doesn’t the ending hold any thematic resonance for her? I’m just perplexed. I usually like her reviews.
So is it “appointment television” again, or does that still not apply? I’m so confused… 😉
So one of the best-received episodes in the history of the show was also one of its best-rated, even before you account for people who caught up with it later on the strength of the buzz. And after all the wailing and gnashing of teeth of the past few weeks, we’ll be back to wondering if the finale might set a new record.
H. Stark,
Hmm, with a bit of luck, considering this week’s episode and the next, the finale might beat the S5 premiere after all.
Yep, 7 million and a 3.4 Nielsen. That 3.4, no matter how irrelevant to HBO’s bottom line, looks a hell of a lot more attractive than last week’s 2.5. To put things in perspective a little bit, 5×06 was a 3.6 if I remember correctly; then it dropped to a 3.1 and people were a bit surprised, but then it dropped to a 2.5 over America’s Memorial Day Weekend and some people were terrified we’d be looking at Season 2 numbers on the regular by the end of this year.
3.6->3.1->2.5->3.4. The show pretty much bounced back into its stronghold this past week. It’ll be pretty great if this trend continues, but even stabilizing around this point looks great to press.
Nevermind all that stuff HBO is merrily not too into, however. 7 million live… that’s badass. And about the same level of drop-drop-leap as we’re seeing in the Nielsen numericals. If the Live+3 catapults this forward even more, I’m happy to say that “Hardhome” has been a GoT-level success.
She is a bad person. A lot of critics are bad people. Nothing we can do to change that. Thrones has never been more amazing.
From Greenwald’s review: “It’s an all-out Ragnarok over the continued existence of it. The Iron Throne? Who needs it?”
It’s good to read that AG is now starting to use and accept terms that we’ve been debating for years. I love how this episode gave us daunting chills of what is a possible future while offering a little ray of hope as well.
Question (that I came across from elsewhere): Did Longclaw shatter the WW because of its Valyrian steel/obsidian content or because it is really AA’s Lightbringer? Does it matter? Probably not.
Still wondering if the WWs and wights will operate as effectively when/if they get south of the wall.
I always thought Hardhome was a horrible massacre that Cotter Pyke was lucky to survive, observe and report on. I am assuming that what we saw was generally what went down there before and after Tormund arrived, obviously without Jon, Edd and WunWun in the mix. I wonder what sort of details we will get about HH in TWoW, and how its absolute relevance to the future of Westeros is communicated to the rest of Westeros.
Edit: I didn’t like Rosenberg’s review as well. Odd tipping point for her.
Luka Nieto,
Alyssa belongs to the social dynamics contingent of the intelligentsia that focuses more on the kiss kiss (and what it means) than the bang bang (which is for the hoi polloi).
She was one of the early proponents of the theory that most of the bad things in Westeros stem from injustices done to women. (I mostly agree with this.)
Shifting gears to existential CGI battles with mythical creatures might be depressing to those who come to GoT for all the other things it has to offer.
The WhiteWalker’s plan is falling into place. For years they have been harvesting dead Wildlings for their army. Hardhome was the perfect opportunity for them to grow even stronger and they knew what they were doing going there. Next they plan to add the Night’s Watch and the rest of the Wildlings to the army. Then they will look to the North which will be very easy to overrun with Stannis and the Bolton’s going to war and probably weakened with plenty of dead bodies around by the time they arrive. Dany saw the blizzard in the Iron Throne room for a reason during her vision in the House of the Undying. Westeros is doomed.
The minor critical backlashes against battle-intensive episodes remind me of those who disliked even the latter seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. For my money — and granted, there’s nostalgia involved, I mean, I was a little kid when they first premiered — those seasons combine the best of Trek’s human examinations with the most epic scope in the franchise. That’s a delightful combination, but of course it will lead to plenty of action-y setpieces and starships exploding and all that jazz, and to some, DS9 becomes a less credible source of mid-brow science fiction because it descends into “things for the hoi polloi”.
I’ve no shame; I’m here for the human element and I’m also here for the action. I love both, but what I love most in entertainment is when they are cleverly, successfully blended. DS9 did that, I think (for its time) and Game of Thrones is absolutely doing it too.
Hodor’s Bastard,
I’m not sure if Valyrian steel is made with dragonglass, but I do know there is magic in the steel. Sadly that magic was lost when the Doom destroyed Valyria.
Alyssa said in a chat yesterday that her review reflected her first impression. She liked the battle better after sleeping on it.
And I can understand the ambivalence toward battles — though “Hardhome” might be my favorite episode of the series, I wasn’t the biggest fan of “Blackwater” or “Watchers on the Wall.” Not that I thought they were bad or anything; it’s just that the action sequences are rarely my favorite parts of the story.
Im freaking out at the thought of white walkers and wights attacking kings landing … Can u imagine an undead cersie
Actually, I wouldn’t mind the WWs and wights whacking the Faith Militant without hesitation…something hungry King Tommen & miffed Kevan are ill-prepared for and reluctant to do. Unfortunately, there would be a staggering amount of peripheral casualties, to include…well…everyone.
“You are the few, we are the many.”
Can u imagine how freaked people will be in next weeks episode when littlefinger time warps to hardhome and offers the nights king the whole of westeros. He justs wants dorne for his services. It will break the Internet lol
Moles town bastard,
He’ll probably offer him Sansa.
Hodor’s Bastard,
Valyrian Steel is said to be spell forged with some type of magic from Old Valria. We know dragonglass kills White Walkers and now we know so does Valyrian Steel. My guess is dragonglass and Valyrian steel hold some type of magic that the forgers from Old Valryia knew how to embed into the steel. This art was lost during the Doom which is why Houses only pass down these swords to those worthy and why Tywin was so eager to get his hands on one since The Lannisters lost theirs some time back.
My question now is, in the show we see ICE being melted down and forged into two different swords. Is that magic or spell still embedded into OathKeeper and Widow’s Wail? Tywin brought in the blacksmiths who knew how to work with the medal but doesn’t mean they knew about the spell/magic in the steel. Does it carry over or does the spell/magic faded since it’s not the original sword it was meant for?
Luka Nieto,
That’s really disappointing. Her response to 506 was perfect, I was thinking of adding her to my reading list.
If I’m honest, I can totally understand why someone like Rosenberg wouldn’t be that into the sequence, whether it be because they don’t like zombies, or the lack of a human element from the White Walkers, or just an aversion to fantasy elements generally.
What I can’t stand is when critics say something like “We’ve had a lot of bad action choreography, lately.” What the hell was she watching? If she doesn’t like the sequence, okay, but she seems to be willfully blind to what the Hardhome sequence did well. I wish critics would feel comfortable admitting what a scene or episode did well, even if they personally just weren’t that into it.
I like Sepinwall, and the first two sentences of his review were hilarious. I find it frustrating that he feels the need to make potshots at the “Watchers on the Wall” episode though. Saying that the Hardhome massacre was more emotionally resonant than the battle that killed Pyp, Grenn, and especially Ygritte seems like an intellectually unsustainable argument to me…
Nice to see that Greenwald is out of his funk. True Detective depressed him as well, he really doesn’t take well to things like Sansa’s ordeal (and he isn’t into Theon at all.)
Maybe Brienne will someday find out! 🙂
Luka Nieto,
She’s been watching too much tv, lol. Only way you can’t appreciate how next-level, spooky and creepy that whole sequence is. You would think a tv critic would be happy to see something so cinematic.
I bet she’d still be drinking wine. 😉
Hodor Targaryen,
But hes right.
“Watchers on the Wall” somehow didn’t resonate with me emotionally as well. I came out of it knowing I saw a technical masterpiece but wondering why it didn’t make me feel anything.
So it seems that everyone is back on board with GoT in a manner of speaking.
It’s interesting how a faction of the fandom dislike the fantasy aspects of the show. Rosenberg defended 5×06 but was bored (initially) at Hardhome sequence. The Unsullied wall at Previouslytv believes the entire sequence as cartoonish…
Different strokes, different folks I guess.
http://i.imgur.com/0d0Agrp.jpg
Conan,
Hilarious! Perhaps we shouldn’t give D&D ideas.
Hodor Targaryen,
Yeah, I didn’t see that as a pot shot at Watchers on the Wall so much as a statement of fact, as I actually agree with him.
I thought Watchers on the Wall was impressive, but it didn’t grab me viscerally as much as this one did. Or even Blackwater, for that matter, which was technically much less impressive than either in the battle department but managed to be more emotionally involving.
Another great write up from Io9 in addition to the original review from Charlie Jane Anders. http://io9.com/what-the-game-of-thrones-tv-show-is-doing-so-much-bette-1708510125 I agree with it wholeheartedly.
This one’s specifically about White Walkers/Others in the books vs. the show. There’s no real book spoilers in it but since they discuss the books, hardcore unsullied will probably want to avoid.
Delta1212,
An unsullied friend of mine was underwhelmed by the Castle Black battle because of a reversal of expectations.
For multiple seasons we’ve been told that 100,000 wildlings would run over anyone and everything in their path, and that the Night’s Watch was woefully unprepared.
Giants and 6’6″ cannibal Thenns led the charge, and when it came to it hand-to-hand, the mostly anonymous brothers in black were able to give as good as they got and thwarted the advance.
The episode ended on an ambiguous note that wasn’t resolved until the Stannis charge in the next episode. Ending Watcher’s on the Wall with Mance and Stannis might have given audiences greater and more satisfying closure and a far more rousing finale.
Hardhome, on the other hand, did not have to live up to expectations, as we didn’t really know the extent of what the Walkers and their minions could do. What then transpired was, as I believe more than one reviewer mentioned, not a battle but a massacre.
FAMILIES were being torn apart. Chaos, mayhem, and desperation, not the elegant and stately choreography of the earlier set pieces.
As good as they were, Blackwater and Castle Black were still TV. Hardhome was something else entirely.
The thing that (in my opinion) made Blackwater stand head and shoulders above WotW, or almost any battle scenes in almost any movie were the dramatic scenes between Cersei, Sansa and Shae, with their tense and waiting atmosphere, that were going on simultaneous to the battle.
Hardhome, on the other hand, was stuff from horror movies and very good at that.
Luka Nieto,
Rodrik the Reader,
I was shocked by Rosenberg’s assessment as well. Regardless of whether a critic likes fights in shows or not, it should be immaterial. A good critic should be able to admire the difficulty in achieving a decent fight on screen, particularly one that involves both real actors and FX, regardless of what they enjoy more. She should be able to appreciate the quality of it. For example, I really can’t stand seeing the flayed bodies…personally can’t stand gross stuff like that. BUT I admire the technical achievement of how REAL it looks. Basically, I wouldn’t criticize the show for it just because I have a weak stomach.
Hodor’s Bastard,
Actually think it does matter. The are more Valyrian swords out there and more is better than none, particularly since dragonglass is in limited supply.
WotW was very predictable. Good choreography, very good visuals and some oversentimental moments with the climax of the 5 Watchers who killed the giant. A similar giant to the one who in Hardhome slammed a dozen of wights and smashed the four ones that climbed on him in the last sequence. Speaking of consistency and all the critique that the wonderful ep 6 got. WotW was a mercy episode for all those who like zombies want action for the action’s shake. Hardhome was something else as you say not only because of the last poetic epicness of the actual Hardhome but also because it gave that sense of utter balance, a balance that this season is striving for from its inception…
Jeff O’Connor,
So, the quintessential question: In the Pale Moonlight or Far Beyond the Stars? 😉
HelloThere,
Delta1212,
If Karsi’s death affected you more than any of WotW’s deaths, that’s fine, it’s subjective. If Alan phrased it that way, I have no problems with it. The way he phrased it was that Castle Black had spectacle, but Hardhome had spectacle AND characterization and emotional moments. It’s one thing to say that Ygritte’s death didn’t really work for you, it’s another to pretend it didn’t happen for the purposes of an argument.
I may be projecting a bit here, though. I’ve read Sepinwall’s reviews of Lost, of Parenthood, and other shows, and he has this annoying habit of treating his very subjective opinions as facts. And he’s someone whose biases make a huge impact on how he sees an episode. His perspectivew are still interesting and he writes reviews as opposed to recaps (which I appreciate) but sometimes the way he argues something is frustrating.
Mr Fixit,
In the Pale Moonlight, it ain’t even close
Rodrik the Reader,
I agree that Watchers on the Wall’s lack of closure is a weakness compared to Hardhome. I still think ending it with the Jon/Mance scene wouldn’t have worked, but whatever, it’s a battle that doesn’tquite end by the time the credits rolled.
I still prefer it to Hardhome, though. White Walkers are very cool and creepy, but I think the more complicated human v human conflicts are more fascinating to me. And as much as I liked Karsi (and Hardhome would have been much weaker without her death, imo), I don’t think the emotional impact on me really compares to the deaths of Pyp, Grenn and Ygritte.
cosca,
A fine choice, though I’m partial to both.
Hodor Targaryen,
Which gets us back to Rosenberg, oddly enough. Human vs. human (Watchers on the Wall) or humans vs. zombies (Hardhome)?
I’m torn between wanting the Walkers to have a ‘humanizing’ backstory (shades of grey and not just evil) vs. them just being an existential threat we never learn much about.
I will say, though, that Grenn, Pyp, and Ygritte were at least ostensibly professional warriors. Defending the wall vs. attacking the wall was their reason for being.
Karsi put a more gentle and domestic face on the wildlings. She and even that Thenn struck me as natural residents of a Nordic fishing village as opposed to savages on a warpath.
For that, I’m grateful. I don’t think I’ve been as moved by a movie combat death since Digit the gorilla went down to poachers in ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ (I say laughingly while getting misty-eyed all over again!).
But there’s not a right or wrong answer to our subjective emotional responses to these scenes. What we’re questioning — along with Dame Pasty and others above — is how a supposedly objective critic like Rosenberg can have such a cool intellectual response to a technically superior and thematically relevant scene.
WeirwoodTreeHugger
Thanks for the article you linked to. It perfectly explained how the scene built layer upon layer to the powerful ending. So intense but so full of dread.
I read and enjoyed the reviews by Sepinwall, Andy Greenwald and James Hibberd. And of course, the video review from What The Flick! 😀
I also very much enjoyed this insightful review:
http://towerofthehand.com/blog/2015/06/01-deconstructed-hardhome/index.html
Very insightful about the Meereen conversation, mirrors and this episode signaling a change.
I’ve come to the conclusion that she’s a well paid troll.
Yes, I thought Rosenberg’s reaction was pretty ridiculous.
The thing is, how a scene or episode or show affects you can be very subjective. I am perfectly okay with Rosenberg saying that she didn’t feel as invested in the story because it isn’t humans they were fighting. That reflects (somewhat) my feelings on that battle, at least in comparison to other battles that we have seen.
What I think Rosenberg does wrong, and what a lot of critics do, unfortunately, is take their initial impression and treat it as the objective truth about the episode, and then twist everything that happened so as to support that initial impression. For example, saying that the fight choreography was bad, which is a laughable claim, honestly. I think a more honest review would have admitted what a technical achievement it was, but then saying “I’m not that into the White Walker conflict in general,” and explain why. Critics seem reluctant to do this – every opinion they have almost has to be proven “correct,” based on objective facts.
Btw, good point on Karsi. Another tragic twist with her death compared to the Castle Black deaths was that her body gets wighted….to me, that was more emotionally affecting then her actual death. The body of someone we cared about being used as a weapon by the White Walkers…not sure if I’ve ever felt how truly awful that aspect to it was.
Also, in case anyone wants to read even more, here’s a shameless plug for my own blog.
https://brendantbewley.wordpress.com/2015/06/02/review-of-game-of-thrones-season-5-episode-8-hardhome/
Why is it I cared more about Karsi than I EVER cared about Ygritte?
Something that is not getting enough attention is how well B&W (once again!) are paralleling Jon’s & Daeny’s stories. While Jon is forging a momentary truce with the Wildlings (where it’s made very clear that there are legitimate grievances on both sides), Daeny and Tyrion are forging a truce on the other side of the world. At this point, the Lannisters and Targaryens have pretty deep axes to grind with each other: but there they sit, talking, and an understanding is reached.
It was understated, but: 1) it couldn’t possibly be stated as emphatically as Hardhome; and, 2) understated is not always bad.
Wimsey,
Interesting. One possible difference at this point in the story: Dany has just acquired a valuable advisor in Tyrion while Jon…
mariamb,
True, there are differences. However, what tends to be the “same” is something very general: another way of looking at what Daeny has gained is not “advisor” but “ally.” Moreover, both she and Jon are making peace with someone against whom they harbor a legitimate grudge (like Jon, she won’t forget her dead), but with the recognition that their party is not blameless (Daeny acknowledges that her father was insane; Jon not only does not gainsay the Wildlings about their grievances, but tells them that he cannot expect them to just drop them).
And, of course, Tyrion did some of this, too. The one difference is that he, personally, does not have the grudges agains the Targaryens that Daeny has against the Lannisters or that the Wildlings & Nights Watch have for each otehr. Still, for all three characters, it was a “kill the boy/girl, let the man/woman be born” moment. And that’s good, because those three are the three biggest characters in the series!
This is a good way of looking at it. Jon, Daenerys, and from now on, Tyrion, are forging very new paths, so they really can no longer be “advised” by the old guard, for whom nothing has changed for thousands of years. Was Barristan the least bit effective as an “advisor”? Not really – I think; all of Meereen’s problems existed when he was alive. The only person at Castle Black, in my view, who was able to advise Jon as to the better way was Mance, by his sheer example. So Daenerys and Tyrion are now allies – for how long, who knows. Jon will hopefully find an ally too. Of course, at the end, all three have to ally with one another to defeat not only the WWs, but also to tilt the world back to a regular orbit. No more weird seasons. 😉
Kay,
Well, for now, Jon has the Wildlings as allies, or he should. One, the Wildlings seem to respect people who demonstrate themselves, and Jon (and Edd & the other NW there) just demonstrated himself in a huge way. Two, the Wildlings have to see now that their feud with the Nights Watch is, in the grand scheme, a very petty one: yeah, the Crows suck, but the White Walkers are positively horrifying. Three, it was the Wildlings most prone to not wanting anything to do with the Nights Watch that stayed and got (largely) slaughtered.
The problem now is: will anybody at the Wall buy any of this? In a way, it is a shame that Ser Allister wasn’t with him: had he seen and survived this, then even he would have had to concede that the feud with the Wildlings was meaningless with a veritable Ragnarok descending. Of course, this is a story: so, if he had gone, then he would have had to die so that someone else could have gainsaid Jon next week!
(And it is just as well that Ghost wasn’t with Jon: people would have been asking why they made room on a lifeboat for a wolf and not a person! Also, as other people noted when the question of why Ghost was still at the wall came up, you probably don’t want to take a Dire Wolf on a boat ride; more importantly, the boat captains probably don’t want you taking a dire wolf on a boat ride!)
Wow, I am not a book reader, but I found the battle at Castle Black far more emotionally resonant than Hardhome because of the deaths of Pyp, Grenn and Ygritte. I was in tears, especially when Grenn led the others to stand up to the giant.
While Hardhome was impressive cinematically & tonally, I didn’t feel the emotional gutpunch of Karsi’s death nearly as much.
That said, I loved how chilling and upsetting it was for Jon to be a witness and survivor of such an awful massacre. The final few minutes really did help to highlight just how terrible the WW threat is.
Just goes to show how different people’s reactions/interpretations to the same scenes can be.
Wimsey,
Thank you for pointing this out. D&D get a lot of heat for a lot of reasons, but most recappers and reviewers usually overlook how scenes balance, counterpoint, or parallel each other within a given episode. If I may add one more example to the two you mentioned, Sansa and Theon engage in a similar kind of truthtelling on their way to becoming allies. Theirs is the biggest breach, however, because Theon’s betrayal was the most personal.
Rodrik the Reader,
That’s an excellent point: Sansa & Theon also provide a parallel here. Sansa’s definitely killed the girl: I’m thinking that she will be a veritable Jean Grey (no “pun” intended) in what is happening; meanwhile, we might be seeing the Reek die. Also, Sansa is definitely paralleling Daeny quite a bit this season.
Arya didn’t really parallel anyone, but she took a big step forward this week, too.
Well, ‘Wathers on the Wall’ was a bit of a disappointment to me. I felt cheated by the fact that before, a few Night’s Watchmen were trying to defend the Wall against dozens of thousands of Wildlings and after the episode ended, a few Night’s Watchmen were trying to defend the Wall against dozens of thousands of Wildlings… And I just didn’t like a number of things about it (Ygritte death too melodramatic, Jon too unkillable – and I wasn’t really a fan of his back then, basically the fact I was only interested in Tormund, Magnar of Thenn and Alliser Thorne). Of course it was a huge technical achievement.
But ‘Hardhome’, I didn’t expect much of anything special. But hey, Tyrion and Daenerys was pretty good, Lena Headey does a great job (as usual). On rewatch, even the Olly scene had a very grave undertone. And then it came. We met two new Wildlings I almost immediately came to like, and a Giant with an attitude (or altitude, given his height?). And all Hell broke loose (after it froze over, imagine). And that was shocking, well choreographed, with great CGI, plently little wonderful details.
And it had significance as well: Winter’s added dozens of thousands new wights. The survivors are terrified and shocked. The viewers are reminded of the real threat – by a heavy blow to their heads.
I’m just curious now if Season 5’s remaining episodes can top it. In Season 4, the eight episode stayed best for me. (Is it a new trend of shifting towards epic 8s instead of epic 9s?)
Beacon,
Karsi vs. Ygritte? Okay, I’ll take a shot at it.
Karsi wanted to protect young and old. Ygritte killed young and old.
Karsi told her kids ‘I’ll be right behind you.’ Ygritte told Jon ‘I’ll be right behind you–to KILL you.’
Karsi was maternal warmth. Ygritte was carnal heat.
Karsi could make her man a mean fish stew. Ygritte would stew while eating Crow with a mean Thenn.
Karsi spent her life nurturing in a long house. Ygritte spent her life cursing in a barracks.
Karsi wouldn’t fight kid wights. Ygritte woulda fought ’em till they stayed dead.
Karsi is the nice girl you bring home to mother. Ygritte is the bad girl who shoots you down in a bar–with arrows!
Karsi told Jon he made a lot of sense. Ygritte told Jon he knows nothing.
Karsi was kissed by the midnight sun. Ygritte was kissed by fire.
Karsi wouldn’t deny Tormund his bear story. Ygritte couldn’t bear to let Tormund finish it.
Karsi, Jon, and Tormund would be unthinkable. Ygritte, Jon, and Tormund would be inevitable.
Okay, I got nothin’ more…
Joshua Atreides,
Like i said previouslytv board is the worst,i don’t know why you continue to give them attention ?
… I do have more! (And blame Wimsey in that earlier post for making me think of parallel characters/counterpoints/counterparts.)
Karsi hesitated to kill ugly kids. Ygritte hesitated to kill pretty Jon.
Karsi was killed by kids. Ygritte was killed by a kid (Olly).
Karsi died defending a fence. Ygritte died attacking a Wall.
Okay, now I’m done. Whew!
Doesn’t everyone?
Rodrik the Reader,
Hmm, you can’t argue with that.
Soo… Let’s try and find a cure for Karsi. They can cure her to being immovable dead, right? And then raise her from dead in a manner that doesn’t make a zombie of her, right? And everything will be okay then, with rainbows and gentle giants and cute Ice spiders, won’t it? What do you mean no!?
Wimsey,
We are your cat’s-paw.
TOIVA,
Cure Karsi? ‘The work continues…’
Qyburn will cure everyone with a Citadel endorsed, Sparrow approved communion wafer, perhaps? The three heads of the dragon will be science, faith, and magic.
Intellectually unsustainable……..absolutely the perfect description of every critics’ mentality!
Screw Greenwald and his irrational hatred of Theon. I hope Theon redeems himself before the end and shows everyone that as low as a person can fall, they can still rise back up, harder and stronger.
Yeah on the podcast as well, he seems he is ALL IN again.
I know I do!! 😉
Ser RtReader: I loved your observations between Karsi and Ygritte. I was bending the brain to try to add to yours and nope!! I think you got it all covered.
Just another shout out for My Gal who Doesn’t like to be Judged – Laura Stone. She is in fine form this week and has an intelligent as well as very humorous blog for those interested in no spoilers, ever.
JCDavis,
Goodness, as in an earlier reply of yours, I didn’t even recognize that SER RtReader was ME! I thought you meant someone else. Thank you for knighting me, m’lady (or, should I say, my lady, now that I am of higher station).
Yes, Laura is in fine fettle again. Although, I wonder if it does all become a bit of a grind for her, having to be witty and all week after week, for all the shows she covers.
I guess the pros make it look easy!
Rodrik the Reader,
Ser RtReader
Maybe it is just me, but is there really a Lady out there that DOESN’T want a great knight? *looks around – hears crickets* As I said on another post, if it is something you would rather I not call you, just say the word. But here is a warning about a Lady, you might not like the next title I could pull out of my….erm…. ear! LOL. Actually I am harmless. Thanks for playing a bit, it can get so serious around these parts.