It’s a new season and I’m baaaaack. Here’s the first of my Brush-up videos for Season 6. For new readers, these are video review/recaps of the previous episode. You can find last season’s here on WatchersOnTheWall.com and Season 4 on my blog. We like to publish them the day before the next episode airs. I’ve shortened my format quite a bit from last season, for which many people will probably thank me.
Video after the jump
Somtimes I include spoilers along with speculation but I try to always identify them beforehand to give you enough time to bail if necessary. This one does not include spoilers but there is some speculation based on nothing but my own delusions (of which there are many). One bit of warning–my videos are not NSFW and also not for kids. I have a filthy mouth and an even dirtier mind. Oh, and as always, feedback is appreciated. Enjoy!
Well hot dog! Glad you decided to do them after all. ? Let me go check it out…
Yay, Dame Pasty’s reviews are back. Getting to it right away.
Edit: no post can go without a proper intro to the discussion, so … HODOR
I totally agree with you on the Dorne issue. Not that I will miss Trystane all that much, but couldn’t they at least have offed the more annoying characters? Doran was the only interesting one of the bunch – at least after Ellaria turned into an avenging angel.
Also, if they wanted to get rid of Dorne, it would have made more sense to keep peacekeeper!Doran and off the warmongers. So I’m expecting that this is not the end of it. Darn. I liked Dorne once upon a time.
And yes, I totally thought Mel was laying down to die – just for a moment. Then I remembered that she probably still had a role to play.
dee,
I would have liked it if they kept Doran and he had gotten rid of the warmongers but then was forced, albeit reluctantly, to go to War with the Lannisters. This makes it even MORE likely that when Dany returns she will be needed as an ally for Dorne and makes Kings Landing easier pickings. But now, I think it will be Ellaria adn the SS who will attack Cersei. Siddig is such a good actor that his death is such a waste.
dee,
Deesensfan, right? just making sure lol
I don’t think they are necessarily defending Jon’s body – they are just stuck on that room and if they walk out they’ll be slaughtered. In other words they are defending themselves.
WildlingKing,
Well that makes sense but it didn’t really come across that way to me. Davos told the guys that ‘hey I’ve known bullies like him my whole life and he will kill you if you leave this room’. I would think they already knew that when they entered the room in the first place. They barred the door for that very reason. Then again, maybe I’m being nitpicky.
RosanaZugey,
Not as much commentary and interpretation on my part this time but there wasn’t a whole lot of “deep” things to get into. I’m sure I will have more to say as the season goes on and then I will have to fight to keep them short enough.
About Jon’s blood pool:
Put it to rest. There is no shape in there foreshadowing anything. No subtle hint, no easter egg. If you stare long enough, you’ll be able to convince yourself of seeing anything in there.
The reason Davos looked at it weirdly was because he was still somewhat shocked. As in: “Seven hells, how often did they stab him? Because that’s a lot of blood.”
Enjoyed! Thank you!
Happy my fellow Valley dweller is back with 2 cents! I’ll watch when I get home and report back!
Dragonmcmx,
That’s what I was implying by the self-deprecating joke.
Sullied by Knight,
Cool, thanks!
Agreed, people were only seeing what they wanted to see.
The blood pool was just a Rorschach thing, as video said.
Really I thought Davos stared at it because:
1 – as said above, “wow that’s a lot of blood”
2 – I think he realized the blood had *frozen*, bad news as it meant Jon bled out *hours ago*
Dame Pasty,
Didn’t watch the whole vid, just paused at that point and decided to comment on it in general because I just needed to get it off my mind 😛
About them protecting Jon’s body: I don’t think they’re protecting it, they just happen to be locked in the same room. They didn’t attend the meeting in the morning, and Edd was already having suicidal ideas. After Edd left, Thorne basically had them locked in the room, waiting for them to surrender so he can slaughter them. I think the impression that they’re protecting Jon’s body was really just given to us by the trailers.
I wrote a longer post but my browser ate it:
Wow, this video was amazing; I greatly appreciate it and all the work you put into it; please keep doing more as we go forward. I know how hard it must be, I’m terrible at video editing.
1 – Areo going down. Oh I didn’t even think about a knife to the kidney or anything — this is Tyene were’re talking about, so I assumed she stabbed him with a blade coated in fast-acting poison or something like that. Plausible.
2 – Empty streets in Meereen; oh I thought they explained that: the “sectarian violence” is really bad so the streets aren’t safe for casual civilian traffic. We’re seeing a lull between riots, I guess: and you see people peering out from doorways afraid to leave their homes: freedmen worried about reprisal from Sons of the Harpy, aristocrats worried that without Daenerys to hold them in check the freedmen will massacre them all, etc. But they remarked on that, I understood it.
Empty streets in Meereen?
3 – I think Daenerys did remember about widows, she was just out of options and figured it was worth a shot to say “let me go”, knowing he probably wouldn’t.
4 – Oh the mutton thing wasn’t just a joke, I think, it was a test: Thorne offered to give him safe passage….which would realistically require provisions for a long journey, it’s many days ride to the next major location. So the fact that Thorne reacted with surprise when he inquired about provisions for his trip was a test making Davos realize the offer was a sham.
Dame Pasty,
I really liked your recap/review!
I actually had the same thoughts on Arya as you, only that I didn’t think them through til the (bitter) end. Now that you pointed it out, it seems obvious that
. I’ll remember you if I see your theory elsewhere!
“I have a filthy mouth and an even dirtier mind.”
Bwhahahaha, but it sounds good coming from you Dame!
A dead Arya, hadn’t thought on that, hmmm, the FM will try and hopefully not succeed.
Oh yes, Areo-gate. A slice to the Aorta would’ve also been instant death.
Connor,
No, no, just dee. Deesesfan is a lovely lady, though, and I’m happy to be mixed up with her.
There is also a Dee (capitalized) around here – I thought she/he had changed her name a while back, but alas, I just saw it in another post. Maybe she is Deesesfan?
My my, it does get confusing. Maybe I should change my alias. Any suggestions?
Dame Pasty,
Even better – the reluctant but cunning war strategist.
I love Alexander Siddig – I already loved him when he still went by Siddig el Fadil. He was great on DS9 and 24.
Yes he was great in 24 🙂
Connor,
No it’s not me hahahaha
dee,
Hhahaha you are sweet 🙂
I have been using Dee since I’ve been too lazy to type deesensfan since I have been having problems with my browser removing my saved screen name
And everytime I type deesensfan my iPhone turns it into dress scan. So annoying
Haha you can keep your alias 🙂 we have different pics! Who can forget Doran!
I was entertained and enlightened by Dame Pasty’s video. I’ve watched the episode three times (and diving into it a fourth time right now) and missed half of the good stuff that she noticed.
AWWWKWAAAARD. My bad ahah.
You could change your name to EURON FACKING GREYJOY!
Connor,
Hahahaha no problem
Thanks Dame P. These always make the wait a little shorter to the next episode!
The Dragon Demands,
Any chance Hotah is still alive, and going to go after the sand snakes? Or are they def. closing the Doran, Hotah storyline….
Totally agree on your anatomy 101 thing. Duhhhh people
And regarding Meereen… It’s not that there was no extras. I think that they were trying to show us the people of meeren are hiding in doors because of the war currently going on. I wouldn’t be on the streets if I lived there
Bodog,
No, Hotah is confirmed dead by the HBO Viewer’s Guide which is always right.
Oh, and I think the people were off watching the Red Priest. That was sort of pointed- everyone had gathered somewhere specific, and yes there is also a war on the streets with the Harpies.
Thanks for letting me know. Damn….oh well….we’ll see what happens with the sand snakes and their revenge plan.
Sue the Fury,
Yeah that too.. Good point
A bit of both
Jon Snow’s Mother,
About the FM in the show planning to
Just found you Dame Patsy, liked your video and comments, and like you style.
Thanks. Look forwards to the next.
Dame Patsy is the shit. Although I am still pushing for a shirtless Kenny recap.
Speaking about tits, I wonder how Tybee is?
Why does the guard facing off with Cersei (in the preview) look exactly like Benedict Cumberbatch or is that just my old eyes?
Is
The lack of people in the streets in Meereen really bothered me too, even though I know they can/will say that they’re explaining this as being due to people hiding from all the recent ‘troubles’. It’s a huge, densely populated city; no matter how badly people are unsettled and afraid, there will still be people on the streets, beggars and servants and soldiers and traders and whatnot. People need to eat, and they don’t have pizza delivery in Meereen. If nothing else, there should be soldiers/Unsullied on the streets. They also claim to be blending in by dressing as merchants, but how are they blending in when there’s nobody to blend in with? You can’t blend in with the crowd if there’s no crowd. I just don’t buy it, and more importantly, it takes away some of the immersion of the scene and setting because I don’t feel like I’m wandering in a densely populated city with Tyrion and Varys, with a sense of danger and presence and possibilities; instead, I feel like I’m watching Tyrion and Varys wandering on a stage or a film set.
It’s not the first or only time – Dorne seems to be a deserted, barren wasteland, populated only by the Martells, their extended family and some ‘guards’. Just give us one scene of Dornish people protesting against Doran’s inaction, and this would have made the whole Dorne plot more believable. We’re TOLD that the Dornish people are ‘not with Doran’, but we have never seen ANY Dornish people, so it doesn’t ring true. What Dornish people? Oh, you mean those half dozen guards over there?, because that’s the only Dornish people we’ve seen. Isn’t the rest of Dorne just unpopulated desert?, because that’s all you’ve shown us. Also Braavos, in this episode,seems to have been abandoned by most of its citizens (except for a few people who apparently don’t see anything untoward about a woman attacking a blind girl with a stick; unless they know that Arya is with the FM, in which case, her undercover activities are going to be difficult).
I know this is all very nit-picky, and it probably comes down to budgeting and logistics, and we can always come up with a rationale for not having people on the streets (people are hiding in Meereen, it’s too hot in Dorne, it’s dinner time in Braavos) – but I just feel like the city scenes with lots of people in the background are way more effective in terms of creating a real sense of place and dragging us into the world so that it feels real and alive. They’ve done a great job of this with King’s Landing more than once in the past; Braavos last year was pretty good too; even Meereen last year was better (but Dorne, alas, was Dorne). With clever directing, you can also make a city feel busy and alive (and real) with a limited number of extras by using narrow, winding streets and with the right kind of background noise. It’s a visceral king of world-building, and I think it really makes a difference.
PS: apparently a full breakdown of Episode 2 has somehow leaked online; so beware of people bearing spoilers. It seems legit, or so I’m told…the original source is a YouTube video in Spanish, and apparently this source is credible (again, so I’m told). Anyway, if you don’t want to have the episode spoiled, you should just be careful about reading too quickly through Comment sections right now, especially on YouTube.
Yeah speaking of Mereen, why aren’t the Unsullied patrolling?
Great review, by the way….most of the video reviews I’ve seen on YouTube are more like recaps than reviews….”and then this happens, and then this person does this, and oh my goodness, then look what happens here” etc.; but this is a proper review.
The Dragon Demands,
I agree, the line about mutton was a test; but I’m a bit confused why Thorne wants to kill Davos in the first place? Why does he care about Davos at all? He’s seen as a Stannis man, not a Jon Snow man. Sure, Stannis is gone, so Davos is vulnerable; but why does anyone want him dead? Just because he found Jon’s body and took it inside? Seems a bit harsh….Also, by that rationale, why aren’t they banging on Melisandre’s door and offering her mutton? (although, they might get a nasty surprise if they smash that door in any time soon).
Dee,
“Dress scan???”
Hahahaha.
I will do my best not to refer to you as Dress Scan, but I make no promises. It’s just too funny.
Dame Pasty – I’m glad you decided to do these, again. 🙂
https://twitter.com/itsginnydi/status/725876865450156033
Seriously After The Thrones/HBO? Kind of embarrassing…
Good video! Any thoughts that in order to become a FM you have to kill one of them like some training process?….love the dog chow bag
Jack Bauer 24,
Yup. 😀
Nice! I’m hearing this might be the best episode of all time. HYPE!
If Melisandre is hundreds of years old, just think about practicing the black arts and looking at the flames for all these years and the Lord of Light misleads or lies to you. I would lose faith also. I have thought Mel is thousands of years old, witnessing the Long Night. I believe her problem is she doesn’t understand why the Lord of Light sent her to the Wall. In Mel’s POV chapter, blood trickled down her thigh, black and smoking. The fire was inside her, an agony, an ecstasy, filling her, searing her, transforming her. Transforming her??????????? Smoking black blood??????? What does all this means?
jeff rassuchine,
I honestly don’t know what it means. But her loss of faith makes sense. I’m curious about what will cause her to try to help Jon (assuming that she is the one who does so).
GW,
Wow, interesting idea! Never thought of that before. I will have to ponder it. Thanks!
The good news…
Whether you liked episode 1 or not, it will likely be the worst episode of season 6.
Jack Bauer 24,
hahahahaha
Did they !?!
Shit, that’s pretty funny lol
Thank you for doing these!
Jack Bauer 24,
Yes
Oh yeah, GET HYPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nymeria Warrior Queen,
Hahahaha
That would be funny :p
I’m rewatching the episode once again, as I have every day this week. This is common during the season for me; it’s one of the few shows on tv that can bear rewatching so many times, and still not get boring, in no small part because these discussions always bring to light a some new perspective. Thanks for this fun review, Dame, nice to see you will be on here regularly.
“Your mother is a brilliant woman, you know that?” I snicker at poor Doran’s line now. Two seconds later, she’s nothing but a murderous bitch. Watching Cersei’s heartache, I know it won’t be long before her rage at Tyrion reaches an all time high. After all, it was Tyrion who had Myrcella sent to Dorne in the first place. There is speculation that Dorne will join with Dany, but that forgets one important bit of fact. Tyrion is now calling some of the shots in Meeren now, and Tyrion loved Myrcella. News of Myrcella’s death will fly in on Vary’s bird’s wings very soon. How is he going to feel about the bitch who killed his niece?
Can’t believe those ships burned – nobody guards anything right in that entire world, except for Vary’s long-time protection of Dany. As somebody noted in another thread, where the heck were the unsullied? Those guys need practice running a city, but I’m surprised Tyrion didn’t think to warn them about guarding the ships, considering all the upset. After all, Tyrion himself barely escaped with his life during the attack of the Harpies in Daznak’s pit. Shouldn’t that have put him on warning to be careful? Oh well.
Don’t the Dothraki talk among themselves, even from horde to horde? Surely news of Drogo’s marriage to the short pretty blonde claiming to be a princess from across the sea a few years back must have reached some of the other hordes, yet Moro and his men seem never to have heard a word about her. News of dragons and their origins would be spectacular in the whole world, yet still they all act as though not one word of that news has reached them in all this time. Again, oh well. I guess if we were so willing to suspend disbelief about Theon and Sansa escaping, we can suspend it a little further for Dany.
Dame, what’s so shitty about the desert in Arizona to you? You had to be happy to be there this winter. Again, nice to see you back in rare form again. Looking forward to next week’s post 🙂
Jack Bauer 24,
Better than hardhome? How?????????
Oh, now is the part with Melisandre staring mournfully, tiredly, sorrowfully into the mirror. Yep, I’d say she’s losing faith, big time. Now she’s taking off that necklace and the half empty bottle of potion is shown in close up. Must be a combination of necklace and potion that does that amazing trick with her looks. Do you think we won’t ever see Mel’s perky … er, chest parts anymore? I want to subscribe to whatever’s in that bottle. Hell, Caitlyn Jenner wants some of it, too.
I read somewhere that it’s Carice’s face in make-up and someone else’s actual body, done in the same way they did Lena’s walk. That’s one casting call we missed. I wonder how that one was worded.
You’ll see.
Dee,
That can mean only one thing surely!!! I hope I am not disappointed if that does not happen after all this talk of hype 🙂 .
Connor,
Ahhhhhh
ghost of winterfell,
I hope sooooo
The video kept having issues, and the volume was rather low. Is there a reason it’s not on a more standard video service like youtube?
In a sense Mel did lay down to die, eg the old Sociopathic advisor to Stannis that advises burning her Daughter etc
The fact she is looking into a mirror speaks a lot, as the mirror is thematically a reflection of self, eg that is how Mel is feeling inside, but she goes through that experience and comes out the other side differently
Eg she goes to sleep one way and “wakes up” refreshed, eg later o she will “wake up
again and be re-energised in her mission
Putting all the jokes aside, it is actually a powerful character development moment, I’d perhaps put it as Mels equivalent of Cersei’s WoS
I think it’s pretty cool Dame knows which organs would definitely be damaged in a dagger assassination lol 🙂
Hopefully it won’t take me so long to get to your next episode review, I just had a chance to listen finally. Keep up the good work!
No way Arya dies. Her suffering deserves a decent outcome. And a reunion with Jon, Sansa, and Nymeria. Brienne gives her life for her in exchange to the many faced God, when all seems lost.
Book it. (Hopefully)
if arya hooks up with a pack of wolves led by nymeria, i think it would be hard for anyone to kill her except maybe dragons
I am shipping Davos and old Mel. Davos just seems like a pervy old guy and there has been a ton of sexual tension between those two since season two. What say ye?
Hmmm … Pastry …. 🙂
Too short. But then again the episode was too short also.
Jack Bauer 24,
In Universe answer:
They Unsullied were patrolling actually, in the wide shot of the ships burning you see them rushing to the harbour. Varys and Tyrion are probably in a part of the city that used to be bustling and is now abandoned. They also explain why they have no guards.
Real World answer:
They felt the scene didn’t need the extra cost of extra’s to be effective. Wether that choice was a good creative decision is debatable.
The Sand Snakes are taking the place of fAegon in the books – sacking King’s Landing, and killing Tommen while Jaime and much of the Lannister army is distracted in the Riverlands. Cersei escapes to Casterly Rock and meets up with Jaime, to whatever end GRRM has in mind for them (this much, at least, will be the same in both media).
GRRM has told us we will be seeing Casterly Rock in TWOW. That almost certainly implies that either Jaime or Cersei will be there to provide the POV. Likely both, as not only does TWOW need to pull storylines together, but also there would be any other major characters there for either to interact with.
Very good video.
Jack Bauer 24,
a bit long, don’t you think?
Chad Brick,
Exactly. The peacemaker Doran couldn’t win in the show, because of how this storyline is heading in the books. In the books, the peacemaker Doran didn’t win… because he only appeared to be a peacemaker, when in fact she’s quite a warmongering revengeful person, however patient.
Is Lightbringer laying in the snow? I didn’t see it in Brienne or Ramsay’s possession.
Great recap, Dame. Always
Enjoy your take on things.
My unsullied husband thought he saw something in the snow, too. I thought it looked like a lot of frozen blood.
Who’s ready to go “Home” tonight?!
Who isn’t?
Tycho Nestoris,
Lightbringer is just a regular sword, so Brienne probably left it with Stannis’ body.
Tycho Nestoris,
The sword is a fake, that’s why we didn’t go to deep into that entire thing.
Anyway I’m certain that the real ”lightbringer” isn’t a sword but Dany’s dragons.
Mihnea,
Oh it’s not valyrian?
Tycho Nestoris,
No.
Thronetender,
Well, I can’t answer for my fellow zonie, but I’d say, 6 months of summer…..
Dee,
I love these reviews Dame Pasty, keep them coming !
Direwolf Lvr,
Pounce,
Do I read this, Mihnea, ?
Is there an episode spoiler in there? I dunno hahaha maybe none of us should read it!
Well the wait is going to be hard as it is, but I have to wait a few hours extra to watch it because I’ll be on a plane flying to Dallas when the episode airs….ugh gonna be a long day.
Dee,
Leaked spoilers aren’t allowed here, you’re safe.
HelloThere,
I wonder how he knows….
Not me. 🙁
The US screening is 4am Monday morning here, and we won’t get it until 24 hours later. It’s a real drag to avoid the internet for 24 hours! 😀
Great review of the premiere. I agree with all the points. Can’t wait for Episode 2!!!
Nikolaj with the “Home” HYPE
https://twitter.com/nikolajcw/status/726806568122105856
It won’t be better, but it sure will be one of the best.
Connor,
Agreed.
Only EP9 could be better in my opinion.
Pounce,
HelloThere,
Good thank God
He may be wrong anyway
Mihnea,
Maybe he is wrong
I side with pretty much every opinion Preston Jacobs has put out there so far on the new season. We’re only 10% in so there’s still a lot of material but episode 1 was underwhelming for me. I expect a strong episode 2 or this show is going to start losing what drew me in in the first place and will have me longing for WoW that much more
I can’t ever choose the 5 best episodes or something like that. For me, it’s always scenes that stand out across the seasons. (Example: Tyrion and Jorah sailing by Valyria is a scene I can play on endless loop, though the entire episode is one of my least favorites!) I am certain there is a scene or two that will stand out for me with time and distance in tonight’s episode. 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/p/BE3uTZ4y_EO/
Lol!
Yep. I agree with the HYPE for this one.
BTW, the leak videos have been taken down from YouTube by HBO. They’re probably on the trail of who the “Spanish leak” is in order to clamp it down…
I used to find him entertaining, but frankly, for me Jacobs turned into a joke the second he posted that video about Quentyn Martell being alive…Yea, right.
George,
Good . It’s about time
She didn’t stab him in the kidneys or collapse his lung, she severed his spine – still implausible.
That Sand Snake doesn’t have enough muscle mass(back, chest, shoulder, bicep) to generate enough force to plunge a knife through skin, fat, muscle and between vertebrae. She’s a tiny little thing.
I’m not buying it.
Also, Jon can be burned. He was injured when he held a lamp while rescuing Mormont.
Man, I’m so stoked for Episode 2. Let’s hope that this one will close some mouths.
George,
Yeah he goes off the reservation sometimes but I pay those videos no mind. His what you missed series is great. His recap of episode one was good analysis imo
I won’t talk about the spoilers out there, but I must say that I suspect this episode will feature in many of your “top 10 episodes” lists…
I really don’t want to see any discussion whatsoever about leaked episode 2 spoilers, please. No hints or anything.
No “Home” Open Chat?
You’re like me, Jack. We keep coming on here looking for it. They opened one last week, I’m sure there will be one soon. If not, you and I can comment on this thread. I don’t think the Dame will mind?
Yes, I’m hyped.
Brilliant. And finally someone who agrees with me about a 6 inch knife in the back bringing a man down. I think it went through his spine, instantly dropping him to his knees. From there he likely bled out. Anyway, awesome job! Hope you enjoyed the rain yesterday and the cool weather today. 🙂
I think Sue may be afraid about spoilers accidentally slipping in the open thread?
Anyways… I’m super hyped too, for… reasons. Lol.
MeeraReed,
I know right
People act like they know how it feels lol
I feel like imma pass out from a paper cut!
George,
You guys
Tease
George,
Totally and am behind that – don’t want spoilers floating around
“My father taught me big men fall just as quick as little ones if you put a sword through their hearts.”
-Jon Snow
This basically sums up my feelings for the Areo debate.
Thronetender,
There is one every single week. It’s too early for it. It went up on the earlier side last week because it was premiere week, and because we had nothing else going on. But honestly you can chat in any post, or in our forums.
Not sure why there’s so much confusion about this. The show clearly makes out that Davos and the NW want to take revenge on all the mutineers, but they’re outnumbered. That’s why one of them says, “We have a dire wolf”, but Davos says that’s not enough, which prompts Edd to rally the Wildings. It’s why Thorne wants them out of Castle Black, because he doesn’t want them antagonizing everyone, or, worse, killing them.
https://twitter.com/WhelanGemma/status/726861240975392768
Gemma with the “Home” HYPE.
Jack Bauer 24,
I’m very meh about the greyjoys hahaha
But yara is cool
Don’t worry the Greyjoys are about to get a whole lot more interesting 🙂
GET HYPE!
Jack Bauer 24,
Lol! I hope that’s not what everyone’s over hyping!!
Hahaha
Yep, looking forward to this one, as Nicolaj said.
Should be very interesting episode, not just for show fans, but also for people familiar with the books…
If you never liked them at all, you never might, so don’t get too hyped. That said, if there is any moment in their plot in which you may get be engaged, this is it: This is when the Greyjoys become relevant in the political plot of this story. They briefly became relevant in season two and book two when Balon proclaimed himself king, raided the North and Theon took Winterfell, but that was only briefly and a long time ago.
Nope, that’s just one of the 5 things. (5 things for me, that is, some people may have more)
I promise I’m not going to tease anymore…LOL.
Luka Nieto,
One thing I’ve enjoyed about the Greyjoys on the show is the running joke about them knocking out their commander from behind and then surrendering.