Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 8 “No One”
Writers: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
Director: Mark Mylod
Runtime: 59 minutes
Content Warnings: TV-MA: Adult Content, Adult Language, Brief Nudity, Violence
Video Preview: Full episode 8 preview on YouTube
Synopsis: While Jaime weighs his options, Cersei answers a request. Tyrion’s plans bear fruit. Arya faces a new test.
*Note: please use spoiler coding when discussing ASOIAF or filming spoilers.*
Spoiler coding is still required in this Open Chat post prior to the episode’s official airing (9PM EDT tonight for Season 6 Episode 8). We ask that fans use consideration for your fellow viewers, and cover and label your spoilers appropriately. Spoilers from the actual aired episod are not permitted in this post until after the episode officially airs at 9PM EDT. Thank you!
Hodor!
this one has the potential to be one of the greatest of the season! so hype
Won’t be seeing tonight’s episode. Had a family emergency because my cousin was on life support, he then passed away last night, the entire family, including me were there when we had to let him go… he was 22 with a son who isn’t even 4 yet.
Anyways, hope you guys enjoy the show tonight.
#4
Hype .. for Ep9 preview!
Gd75,
I’m thinking these last 3 episodes of the season can be some of the best of the series, especially 9.
I’m just hoping we see a scene or two in the North tonight. ?
I’m sure this will be a spectacular episode, but the best thing about it, is that we get to see the bastardbowl preview after!
Too much hype, I fear. I’m predicting lots of rage when none of the crazy internet theories pan out.
Connor,
my deepest sympathies. It is always hard to let a beloved one go. sending you good thoughts and strength to get throught his hard time
Connor,
I am sorry.
Kind of reminds you how fragile life is. And unjust.
I will not be watching either; I am catching a plane in a few hours, back to work in a country with tragic problems (and no reliable wi-fi).
Happily (for me) I will be back just in time for the next episode.
But I am sure you guys are in for a great show tonight! Enjoy!
Joffery's Cunt,
I kind of agree lol, but the episode itself looks awesome aswell. Just hoping they don’t show too much of the battle.
Did Brienne mention to Sansa and Jon she has their family sword Ice on her? No!
Did Jon mention to Lyanna that he has her family sword Longclaw on him? No!
And yet Tarly steals his fathers valyrian sword like it a big deal.
It it or it isn`t.
I feel like D&D are laughing at us, they are laughing at us! I can hear them in my sleep!
A Valyrian steel sword is a big deal, and if Brienne -spoiler
Finally the start of longer episodes! But sadly the last 3. 🙁
I don´t think they will, just some more new footage we haven’t seen in the trailer, this time with jon to get the hype train moving.
So many Arya theories to pan out this episode. Let’s see what happens. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire!
I’m so excited! I feel like the season this is going to be a huge episode followed by two even bigger episodes!
gewa76,
Truer words have never been spoken.
Hype is Coming!
There are still so many people who think
I’m so sorry, Connor.
Connor,
My deepest condolences, friend. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Thank god Brienne will be at Riverrun to make it interesting.
I can’t wait to see the Brienne and Jaime reunion. It’ll have to differ from the books a bit
so it’ll be interesting to see what they do and where they take it.
I’m also itching to see something go down in KL. It’s been 7 episodes of build up. Time for something to happen!
Faceless Bowl Hype !!
YAAAAA
HYPPPPPEEEEEE
It took away from the suspension of having a character in a dangerous situation cause now you know anyone can be resurected at anytime….
Her returning was a big – for me after reading the red wedding chapter in the books.
let the dead stay dead.
p.s.
Yea im one of those who thing Jon should have never been killed in the books/TV show. Seriously wounded would have done the job.
Markus Stark,
Thank you!
Popping in to remind people again to cover your spoilers! Book spoilers need to be covered.
Please be considerate of others’ experience here. Thanks.
Currently watching Germany vs Ukraine and the hype levels are off the charts. Hopefully this episode can match it 😛
Looking forward to NOONEBOWL and Brienne. I wish Bran and Jon were in this episode, but it doesn’t seem like it based on the pictures posted here.
Hoyti Von Totiy,
I agree with you. We would have had pretty much the same results with a failed assassination attempt. He would have still felt the need to leave.
Sue the Fury,
My bad! Thanks for covering mine for me.
Sue the Fury,
It would be much easyer if you could put spolier quick button in the comment options instead of having to c/p the crippled instructions and having to remove the gaps each time you comment.
Hoyti Von Totiy,
I feel like Jon would have told Lyanna when he was reminiscing about Jeor, but she interrupted him and he had to get to the point.
But, yeah it’s weird 😛
Flayed Potatoes,
Damn the game is good! Ukraine is really better then I thought!
Connor,
So sorry to hear this Connor. My condolences to you and your family.
I lost my grandmother earlier this year, so I know just how hard it is…
Anyone know who Jamie was talking to when declaring his love for Cersei at 0:23 in the episode 8 trailer?
RIP Jamienne
Connor,
OMG! That’s awful. Feel for you Hun. Stay strong. xx
Connor,
My condolences to you and your family. I’m sorry for your loss.
Hoyti Von Totiy,
This.
Castamere,
think i saw ppl saying it was edmure
Castamere,
Edmure.
I’d hold back on that RIP for a bit.
Mihnea,
Yeah they’re doing well, especially considering how tough of an opponent Germany is. Boateng was amazing in the first half imo.
Connor,
deepest condolences my friend! Don’t forget we’re all here with you.
Connor,
I’m sorry for your loss. That breaks my heart because I’m also 22 :/
Flayed Potatoes,
Yeah, I’m with you regarding Jon and Bran. Jon would be good in this ep, to build up the battle some more. I don’t expect to see Bran before the finale, sadly.
Who are you rooting for between Germany and Ukraine ?
gewa76,
I don’t buy any of the theories. Expecting a much more prosaic turn, but I will still love it, I’m sure!.
Castamere,
Edmure maybe?
Flayed Potatoes,
That was the luckiest save I ever saw!
Haha I’m watching the game as well. That’s funny in France right now, we have supporters from all around Europe, and that’s great fun!
kit_hepburn,
Edmure would make the most sense
Team Tormienne or death!
Markus Stark,
Rooting for Germany 🙂
Connor,
My deepest condolences…That sounds like a very hard time for you and your family 🙁
Flayed Potatoes,
What country are you from?
Flayed Potatoes,
Watching the game here as well. And Manuel Neuer was also excellent!
Gd75,
It must be so difficult to try and get tickets. I bet the atmosphere is amazing.
My father and I managed to get tickets for the semi-finals in Lyon, if France are still qualified! So I’m in deep hope France will get there 🙂
Sort of nervous about the last 3 eps, oh boy! Will Jon and Sansa prevail, what is going on with Hound and Arya, Cersei and HS, Brienne and Jamie, BF, Edmure, Rickon, Tommen, Marge,QoT, yikes! Haven’t even touched on Daeny heading for Westeros (please to the 7 gods!)
Conor, I volunteer in a local hospice, and thus continuously reminded of what is truly important in this life. Blessings to you and your family in your time of loss, give each other comfort as you can, it is the richest gift we can give.
Flayed Potatoes,
Awesome, same here 🙂
It seems that the elements for another “Red Wedding” type event are in place.
There’s a high-stakes war, and there’s a secret/betrayal. Now, they “need more men” to win the war, not unlike Robb did. Sansa knows that they will lose the war if they don’t have enough men. She crawls back to a man – who she earlier told off in the harshest terms – to get more men and win her war. If she loses, Ramsey takes her back into his custody and slaughters everyone else. It was Cat who told off Littlefinger in the earlier war; and it was Robb who crawled back to Walder after betraying an oath. Cat also betrayed the North in what must be the worlds worst hostage exchange.
Robb led his army into Walder’s camp like lambs to a slaughter.
The Walder counterpart here is Littlefinger. If Sansa sends that letter, he will be in a powerful position to slaughter the lambs: Jon and his Army….and even Sansa too, if he wishes.
A dangerous time will be if, and when, Jon’s army let it’s guard down because it seems safe.
Of course, maybe no slaughter occurs, but it will be up to Littlefinger to decide.
Thanks, Sansa.
Very hyped for the episode. At the same time dreading the reaction of those who have crazy theories for Arya if/when none of them happen.
Gd75,
Damn, lucky you ! I live in Geneva, Switzerland, so I was also hoping to go see a match since I’m so close but sadly I’ll be abroad during the last week of the tournament and am currently sitting for exams, so there will be no live Euro attendance for me this year.
WildlingKing,
Same.
For the later episodes I’ve been avoiding spoilers like the plague. Last week was truly surprising in many ways. I want more Tyrion though. He’s barely been in these past few episodes.
Flayed Potatoes,
I think he had to die to he released from his vow to the Night’s Watch, though. Just being wounded wouldn’t have achieved that.
Anon,
Major difference between House Frey and the Knights of the Vale. Littlefinger can very well to do what he pleases, but the Starks never betrayed the Arryns, the Royces, or anyone else who matters. They’ve been connected since Ned was fostered there and Lysa became Lady of the Vale. Lord Arryn is Sansa and Jon’s cousin. They’re not going to turn on and slaughter the Starks the way the Freys did. This isn’t Littlefinger’s army, even if he currently has Lord Arryn eating from his hands. Robin is a doofus but he isn’t a mindless zombie who will just do anything Littlefinger tells him to, especially if Sansa lets him know it was actually Uncle Petyr who killed his mother.
Connor,
Connor,
I am so sorry for your loss
I hope arya is ok. She’s one of my favorites. Can anyone explain to me how Arya is an endgame character? I hear people say that often but I don’t see why. There are people who are clearly endgame characters like Jon dany and bran, but those characters either have a clear role to play in the final conflict or have a mythology to them. I love arya but I don’t see how she would be crucial to the endgame. I guess the faceless men skills are useful, but I don’t see her being essential to the end. So what is the speculation for why she is so important? What is her role?
Adam,
Well said.
These last 3 eps are going to be unreal, bittersweet because it’s ending so soon and the 9 month lay-off will begin.
My predictions that the hound will
exactly… For Jon’s story to move on he has to leave the NW, and he has to die to do that. You can ignore ravens from the LC of the NW.. you cant ignore man at your castle walls with an army behind him saying “Shits about to get real..”
I’m so sorry to hear that Connor. Prayers going out to you and your family. God Bless.
The promised prince,
Arya has the most POV chapters along with Tyrion in the books and was conceived as one of the big 6 – Tyrion, Jon, Dany, Bran, Arya and Sansa. I think it would be a poor choice if any of those characters die before the big finale.
Do you guys think we are actually going to see a battle at Riverrun?
Adam,
“Lord Arryn”….you mean the dead guy? Or are you talking about Robin? Robin is under LF’s control and Royce has been threatened by LF. I think LF is the Lord of the Vale until Robin comes of age, No? …which, by the way, he will never do if Littlefinger has anything to say about it.
First, I don’t think Robin will march with the army, but I’m sure about that. Second, I think he’ll do whatever LF suggests to him. In the fray of the battle, I don’t think Sansa can tell Royce anything!
But I guess we’ll find out soon!
Whoooohaaaa there girl 🙂
I’m not the ‘hyping’ type – I’m too bloody old these days to get hyped up over a TV show… However, I will chill out (i.e. If I can stay awake as it will be 2am for me), take it all in and report back at some unearthly hour with my thoughts for S6E08.
I may not hype, but will certain rant (be swearing abuse at the TV) if something pisses me off or likewise – Cheer at the TV if I like what I see – LOL 😀
Connor,
So sorry to hear this, Connor.
Sue the Fury,
You are really making me
The promised prince,
It’s hard to say what will her role be in the endgame, but she must have some kind of role, otherwise there would’ve been no need for us to follow her adventures in Riverlands, much less Braavos. And her story just ending in Braavos makes little sense. I know main characters have died suddenly before, but always with big consequences to the story and other characters. What would Arya dying in Braavos do to the story? Most other characters think she is dead anyway, and no one (pun not intended) would care about a random girl dying in Braavos nor would it affect anything or anyone in Westeros.
Im thinking a small indoor / yard fight mix like we saw in Crasters for instance.
Thanks for your condolences, watchers! Appreciate it greatly. We are pulling through. And thanks to those in advance for the kind wishes!
Anon,
Littlefinger has control of Robin..for now..
all Sansa has to do is talk sweet to him and he will be eating out of her hand.
thats why I think either this season or next is LF last.. Sweet Robin will come of age and control the vale so he will lose his power there and Jon/Sansa have Davos who will see LF tricks coming a mile a way and if not stop them, at least make them less dangerous.
I’ve been excited all week for GoT; however, I live in Orlando, Florida, and the entire city is in mourning. The show may be a welcome distraction or too much to bear to watch much of anything relating to the Loras arc. I won’t know until it showtime if I can do much more than weep.
Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you everyday, for the nights can indeed be dark and full of terrors.
Hey everyone. I’ve been a WotW visitor for years but this will be my first time commenting.
My only question is does anyone think Arya will ever reunite with Nymeria?
I think Jóhannes Haukur might be my new favorite Twitter using actor.
https://twitter.com/johanneshaukur/status/742090936730198017
Connor,
That’s tragic news Connor. My deepest sympathies along with others in this group go out to you and your family.
Connor,
I’ll pray for you and your family. Especially his son. Keep your head up.
59 Minutes. That’s awesome~
And knowing the next two episodes are above 60, especially the finale being the longest episode of GoT to date (69 mins), that’ll be heck of a three episode conclusion.
would be a shark-jumping moment for me. I trust D&D to not make the same mistake as George.
WildlingKing,
Yes I agree there has to be a purpose for Arya’s sojourn in Braavos and I hope it means Arya’s continued participation is assured for some time yet. GRRM surely wouldn’t have kept her story going there without some long term arc to play out – BUT I imagine it is always possible that Arya was needed only as a way into the world of the Faceless Men and it is they who have a key role to play, not Arya.
Too funny. There are certainly lots of theories going around. While I’m a busy husband and father of three, I briefed through some of the main theories floating out there…
I for one think the whole Arya plot developments we saw last week were (don’t flay me please) nothing more than merely a dream. Here’s why:
I believe it was ep6 that had the scene with Arya retrieving needle. The last shot of her is in her chambers, putting needle under her bed and blowing out the candle. Maybe she dreamt her scenes last episode? A lot of people mentioned, it didn’t seem like who we saw was actually Arya. She was acting a bit peculiar. Now, could she be in a dream state, causally reminiscing about her time in Braavos? Her excitement of becoming Arya once again, and returning to Westeros? Maybe…this would account for her thinking there was no danger in walking around Bravoos. However, her subconscious reminds her that there are very real threats out there and she has to be on top of her game going forward. Thus, we see a stunned Waif who realizes she’s the one being stalked by Arya. Then, the chase ensues. Relying on her dance training by Serio, she eliminates the waif in true Braavosie fashion, finds Lady Crane and is allowed to take voyage with the theatre troupe, and thus gets the hell outta dodge.
If this theory, or something similar to it exists, then forgive me. I just have been racking my mind as to how this will play out. I’m intrigued by some of the other theories out there as well. But this, sounds remotely like it could be possible no?
Dabbling in a bit of revisionist history eh? Sansa is not in that group.
Very excited to see how Arya’s story is resolved in Braavos tonight.
Connor, so sorry to hear of your loss. 🙁
Connor,
Sorry for your loss. 🙁
GiantFinger,
I really hope so. That would be a powerful scene.
So sorry to hear and my thoughts are with you. I’m so sorry for your loss. That is crushing
LL of Darkwater,
I was completely shocked when I saw that on tv. I’ve visited Orlando a couple of times, it’s such a lovely place… I hope you can find some peace and comfort in the weeks to come.
If it makes you feel any better, I am staunchly pro-LSH and I
How much time do you guys think that episode 9 will be about the Battle of The Bastards? I know it won’t be the entire episode (sadly). If it’s 45-50 minutes I will be very pleased. I’m thinking the episode will just have two locations, Mereen and Winterfell, and Mereen shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes, hopefully. If it’s as big as they are making it to be, than it should take more than half of the episode, at least.
Edit: I know its off topic, sorry!
Im in Miami now, and man was that an awful news story to wake up to on a Sunday morning. And coincidentally it’s the I CHOOSE VIOLENCE episode that airs today. Been looking forward to this scene all season, but now idk if I’ll enjoy it as much. Thankfully, no one I know was hurt in the incident. ::sigh:: The night is indeed dark and full of terrors.
I’d guess 25-30 mins.
Connor,
My sincerest condolences to you and your loved ones, Connor. My thoughts are with you all.
Laura,
Of course she is, maybe not in the books but she is in the show ABSOLUTELY, if this isn’t obvious for likes of you – specially after this season – then there’s no way to explain it, you just can’t see it simply because you don’t want to.
Rafael,
Thank you, it will be a very long time for healing here in Central Florida. We are all in shock.
Laura,
So sue me! ?
Anyhow the big 6 consists of them given where we are 5 books and 6 seasons in. But Arya’s importance from the very beginning adds credence to the theory that she’ll survive and Sansa will perish. I used to think that with Arya’s whole arc being about death, the only release for her would be death but now I’m not so sure.
The promised prince,
She’s an important character, otherwise we wouldn’t have so much time dedicated to her training in Braavos. She has to put what she’s learned to good use. Think that all the Stark children have been separated and sent to locations where they will learn the necessary skills to use in the end.
If I remember correctly, the top 3 characters with the most chapters in the books (including TWOW excerpts) are:
Tyrion – 49 chapters
Jon – 42 chapters
Arya – 34 chapters
George and D&D wouldn’t dedicate so much time to Arya if she wasn’t important. She’s an endgame character imo.
Littlefinger is in position to become the next biggest threat to the Starks and the North. When Ramsey dies, and I hope that is soon, the only other big threats are the night king and Euron. I don’t see the final battle with the WW happening until season 8 and Euron is going to be a threat to the Reach or southern shores not the north. Maybe Arya will be the one to take him out when she finds out that he has been the one pulling all the strings from the beginning which resulted in the deaths of her mother, father and brother.
I think the Lannisters will soon be gone like the Raines.
The football game is over.
*Tywin voice* We have won!
Now it’s time for the other game 😛
Connor,
So sorry to hear about your cousin’s untimely death. Thoughts go out to you and your family.
And it may go without saying, but the events in Orlando is such an awful tragedy. Watching GoT tonight seems trivial, to be honest. Might wait a few days.
I think the scene in the middle of the night of Brienne in the boat with other people could mean that after she gives Sansa’s letter to the BF, he decides that fighting for a castle is far less important then what is happening in the north. The Tully forces abandon riverrun to head north to assist in retaking WF from the Boltons.
Jamie and the Lannister forces storm the castle and find it deserted. This accounts for the celebration we see with the Frey’s. In a full circle type moment, wouldn’t it be nice to have the Frey’s slain during their festivities? I would love that imo.
It entirely depends on what they’re planning to do with Meereen. We’ll probably have a better idea after tonights episode. But as of now I’m guessing 15-20 minutes for Meereen and 40-45 for the North.
Sou,
Hey at least you won’t have to miss the battle of the bastards- it airs smack dab in the middle of my cruise. -_- leave it tony wife to plan something during the most important episode of the season!
Laura,
Interesting, you think the episode will have the usual 5-6 stories then?
Question: Would anyone sacrifice themselves for Arya ?
Answer: No-one would.
Alex,
I hope it’s not too long, especially since it seems like we might be getting a lot of Meereen action this episode. 10-15 minutes in Episode 9 should be enough imo for Dany to come with her Dothraki. I hope the attack on Meereen starts this episode. The Harpies seem impatient.
Meanwhile, Bastardbowl needs a lot more pre-battle scenes from the trailers alone (Davos and Mel, Sansa and Jon, Jon and Tormund). They’ve been hyping this expensive battle too much. I hope it doesn’t disappoint.
Connor,
!!! Oh Connor, so sorry for your loss. Wishing comfort for your family
Hoyti Von Totiy,
Do you also think Dany shouldn’t be fireproof? Is it magic or is it being resurrected?
Shaz,
[ spoiler ]Ned had so many chapters, and yet died.[/ spoiler ]
I don’t even know if this is a spoiler, but here we go.
Flayed Potatoes,
Do we know that, as in do we know what the end game is and how having died and being brought back might affect Jon’s choices? If it were just to get Jon out of his NW vows, I’ll agree with you. As we’ve seen, vows don’t seem to mean that much in the North anymore. I do wonder if there will be something in that final conflict within Jon that having died will influence that being gravely wounded would not.
Flayed Potatoes,
I honestly don’t think episode 9 will have more than 10 minutes of Mereen, and the Harpy attack will probably be in the finale imo. If the Battle is about 30 minutes, then the episodes will have more stories in King’s Landing and etc.
I’m hoping that the battle takes more than half of the episode because I want them to build a lot of tension, have some good character moments, and then have the battle itself.
gewa76,
Hee, really.
Hoyti Von Totiy,
Ive been asking for this for a while; we’ve got a bold, blockquote and italic, why not spoiler? (Oh I also want a pony, just in case one is available)
Im going to have the Tonys on the other tv on mute with captions. At least thats the plan, it starts an hour before. We’ll see. Something tells me I’ll be too distracted by GOT to want to do anything else!
How awful it would be if Sansa ends up promising to marry Littlefinger in exchange for the Vale forces? We haven’t yet seen the season trailer scene where LF is meeting someone in a snowy forest.
Anon,
He’s Lord Protector of the Vale
Connor,
I’m sorry for your loss, Connor. I lost a cousin, too, at about that age although he didn’t have a family of his own beyond parents and extended family. Every situation is different, of course, but the loss of one so young is always tough.
Ser Not Appearing in this Series,
Yes, I do hope there is a higher purpose and it wasn’t like Dany’s time in Meereen or Sansa’s in the Vale (in the books), biding time until they become older and fill that time gap that was in the original story. Sometimes I wonder if Arya went from the Hound to where her story may be going next in the original outline for ASOIAF.
Connor,
So sorry for you loss. Our thoughts go with you.
Ser Christos of House Spekktra,
We’ve been watching the news here and all of it is truly horrifying. Only a few names of the deceased and wounded have been released, but I’ve gotten word that I may know a few of the victims. The LGBT Community is strong here and will pull together, although this event is heart wrenching.
If tonight’s episode were centered in The North, or in Essos, I believe I would be glad of the few hours of escape GoT would bring. As the Faith Militant and the Loras Arc may be featured, it may hit a bit too close to home.
Adam,
See Ive wondered about this. When LF is talking with him at Royce’s castle, I got the impression that he was just parroting anything LF said. Im not sure how much he understands, frankly (I know in the books this isn’t an issue). But yeah, if Sansa gives him that news, that might wake him up.
HeHeldThatDoor,
I also believe it to be a dream.
KevLS,
Precisely. Jon couldn’t have left the Night’s Watch if he didn’t actually die.
Darkrobin,
The thing is, they don’t even mention the resurrection anymore on the show, so it feels like an afterthought and a way for Jon to loophole his way out of the NW (which could have still been done after an assassination attempt, because nobody in their right mind would stay alongside people who tried to kill them; it would have also made Jon a bit of a grey character and given him more conflict). The show has been hyping Jon’s fate so much before the season premiered and has created all these expectations, so it feels a bit disappointing to not have his resurrection addressed properly.
The Northern houses aren’t even asking him about the NW, which is weird. I guess you can argue that they don’t seem to care about vows anymore, but why not mention that they don’t care?
Tormund tells Jon “they think you’re some kind of god”, but we don’t see that. Jon still has to convince the Wildlings to fight for him…you’d think they’d be in awe or curious about his mental state because the resurrections they’ve seen thus far were wight related. Even Brienne is casual about it, considering Jon was resurrected by the same person she knows is responsible for killing Renly “with blood magic”. It’s weird.
LL of Darkwater,
Oh geez. When I heard about that, I thought that maybe living in a fantasy world wouldn’t be a bad idea, even if it is a bit violent. Thinking of you all, and hoping that we can someday live in a world where people can just live their lives without fear.
HeHeldThatDoor,
Man that’s a pretty good theory. Better than arya being one and the same as the waif, or jacquen (sp) using arya’s face. -_-
Have no idea if it will come up tonight or this season at all, but (puttin’ on m’ tin foil) I keep hoping the Big Secret the Sparrow shared is that Gendry is a legit Baratheon. If the Crown plays nice, he’ll keep it secret. If they don’t, he could trot it out and the people would happily accept the Sparrow’s Chosen One (with a stronger claim to boot).
I’m not sure what’s going on in Wonderland, aka Braavos, but taking last week’s scenes at face value makes no sense. I had a disassociative moment when Arya got stabbed. Somebody’s getting played. Hopefully we find out tonight.
Oh, and from the looks of things in the preview, FrankenMountain gets play time. Which means finishing dinner before showtime.
LL of Darkwater,
Stay safe. I hope your family and friends are ok.
Yes, I am looking for the sense of outrage and solidarity on the Internet that immediately followed the Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks! Last night’s attack by a fundamentalist bigot on the peacefully partying customers of an Orlando nightclub was the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history. At least 50 people are dead, with many more still in critical condition. This is what comes of hate, intolerance and ‘othering.’
Our thoughts and prayers cannot bring back the dead, but our courage going forward to confront bullying and bigotry wherever we encounter them might save lives in the future. We don’t have to be members of the LGBTQ community to identify ourselves proudly as Allies!
Hoyti Von Totiy,
Does Brienne know that Oathkeeper came from Ice, as did the sword Tywin gave Joffrey as a wedding present. As a matter of fact, does Jaime know Oathkeeper came from Ice? Does anybody know what happened to Joffrey’s Valyerian sword? I hope it wasn’t buried with it.
Connor,
My condolences
I’m so sorry to hear that
Stay strong!
Flayed Potatoes,
They don’t have infinite screen time… They’ve spent the last few episodes on other plot lines
We still have 3 episodes left…
Though I do understand why it bothers you.
For me, Jon has never popped on the TV show as an interesting character (tho s5 was good), so i just don’t care about him @ this point… Which probably proves your point.
Connor,
My condolences …
Connor,
So sorry for your loss. A girl will pray for you and your family. 🙁
HeHeldThatDoor,
In the preview pics for episode 8 the waif is standing with the bloodied knife that she stabbed arya with…does that mean arya is still dreaming in this episode?
How rad would it be if Mel was walking around Winterfell as her old lady self gathering info for Jon and Co.? I think it”d be fantastic!
Knight of the Walkers,
I totally agree. At this stage, just no. If Hound wants to take over her character fine. But I’d be very disappointed if this happens.
HeHeldThatDoor,
At the risk of repeating myself: no. just no. D&D are too talented in the storytelling dept to fall for that overused trop. No, pls now.
I think Cersei will die fairly soon. Possibly in the last show of the season. Remember with only 13 episodes left, a lot has to happen.
We’ll have some action with Danarys and the dragons in Westeros and you know there will have to be at least one battle against the Night King, etc. Probably more.
It would make sense for something to happen in King’s Landing…Mountain not winning for her that leads to her going nuts and setting fire to the place. I would guess soon after or even during a fire like that she will die.
Remember there will not be all that many of the lead characters around at the end.
Welcome! Nice to see new posters. I think the consensus is we are all HOPING she will but since we are beyond the books no one knows for sure. I’m guessing since we have seen all of the Starks Direwolves that we will eventually see Nymeria again one day… soon lets keep fingers crossed. GIANT FINGERS that is.. lol… 😉
Connor,
So sorry to hear that, Connor. All the best to you and your family.
I don’t think things will work out the same way with Brienne that they did in the books.
After all, she was charged with protecting Sansa and Arya and has done so. She was also rejected by both of them, although Sansa changed her mind.
Also, I don’t think Jamie will die there because he is probably the one who will kill Cersei.
GiantFinger,
YES. And I believe Nymeria is leading a large, powerful, dangerous wolfpack. Not Direwolves like her but regular wolves.
HeHeldThatDoor,
I like this idea except wouldn’t the Lannisters notice all of RR army leaving? I can’t imagine they’d just let them go….
LL of Darkwater,
I really hope everyone you know is okay.
I am so sorry that happened. 🙁
arya will be the leader of the wolf pack…its a certainty
I live here in Tampa and it’s been horrific. All day been trying not to let it get me down but it’s been just horrible. Just mad as hell the FBI knew this guy was a loose cannon and that they didn’t have anyone keeping up with his movements. SERIOUSLY he was allowed to buy guns after all of the ranting he’s done in the last few years? Despicable.
I live in Tallahassee, FL and I saw the news today. It is so awful what happened in that nightclub. There are people out there who are so hateful.
If briene can convince the bf that going north is more important than holding rr then the bf could make a deal with jaime…let them leave and they can have rr. jaimie should agree as like the bf said..”do you have 2 years ?”
“Was”…sorta. She forced a character-defining choice on Brienne, one that was unfortunately totally botched on the show.
But your tense is wrong in any case. LSH clearly is going to have a major scene with Jaime and Brienne early in TWOW, and one way or the other, her road leads back to one of her daughters (probably Arya, but that’s a long way off yet). These are the two reasons she cannot be “replaced” with, say, the Blackfish. He can murder every Frey in Westeros, but he cannot replace what LSH is doing with respect to Brienne and Jaime, and he could not replace the family aspect which will likely come to pass.
I heard about that and it me mad all over again. I just don’t understand. Soon, GoT will be on.
http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/06/orlando-shooting-tony-awards-game-of-thrones
Should HBO have postponed GoT tonight, especially considering the big “I choose violence” bit and the Faith Militant will be featured?
Maybe not, assuming that
So, while I have always wanted it to happen, I never thought it would.
Jack Bauer 24,
Will it help? Will it ease the suffering, comfort the friends and families, bring us hope for a change? If not I don’t see why they would. Tho I suppose I can see it hurting people who are grieving, that it would play. I dunno. Im sorry all this happened. Pls can I just watch my fantasy show?
ETA just read the link. If the Tony Awards is off then maybe GOT should be too. Or maybe we should just turn off all the tv stations and darken the theatres. Not sure that will help much either.
Yes GoT will be on but when something like this happens so close to home it really deflates your desire for ‘entertainment’ to steal away your concerns .. just really horrific for the community and our state at large. We have had way too many dealings with these murderers. Seriously, wasn’t the guys who received their training in flying commercial airplanes here, enough to send up flags to our govt that these ppl are infiltrated in our communities. Sick to my stomach over it.
I don’t think that there’s enough similarity between what happened in Orlando and the non-real world of GOT, however tragic the murder of these 50+ people was.
Typically, when the networks postpone an episode, there’s something more directly similar, such as a plane crash after a real plane crash, or a school shooting after a real school shooting. I don’t think tonight’s episode will really remind us of anything similar to last night’s real horrors.
ash,
They’re not gonna cancel the Tonys I think they would have already
Dragon Tender,
As much as the realm is rooting for Cleganebowl, I just don’t see that happening.
But again this is my personal theory. Could be completely off the mark
As to speculation for tonight, I’m reasonably certain that none of the wilder theories will pan out, even the Syrio and faux blood theory I thought were worth discussing. At the same time, I believe something is rotten in the state of Braavos. All is not what she seems. And I hope we have a spectacular resolution on that front.
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I’m reminded of how very much the Hall of Faces was hyped in the pre-season. We saw this promo/teaser trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmrA8nOZF2Q
We had a massive Hall of Faces display at SFSX, complete with hundreds of faces, an Arya costume, a Jaqen costume, Needle in front of the Black and White doors, and a Beautiful Death poster with some eerily inky House of Black and White pools that contained faces inside the green inky pools. https://watchersonthewall.com/game-of-thrones-hits-sxsw-with-the-hall-of-faces-and-a-season-6-clip/
And then we had the online game HBO released where you could add your own face to the Hall of Faces, we had a massive Twitter campaign for various well known characters in the Hall of Faces, and we had the season’s poster and the face of Season 6 as the Hall of Faces.
At the time, we were like: Is the whole season going to be about the HoB&W and the HoF? Why are they hyping it so? With our last sight of the HoF and the HoB&W coming in the next 3 to 4 hours, I think tonight’s episode, “No One,” is the reason for all the hype. Or at least I hope it is. I hope the big reveal is epic and worthy of everything Arya’s been working toward.
Just got back to the US last night. Been in Salamanca and Toledo for 10 days. Good to be home.
This has been an interesting season up to this point. Not sure if anyone else feels this way but it seems as if we really haven’t spent too much time with any 1 main character and even less with the minor ones like Tarly, Sand Snakes, Ramsay etc.
I hope the remaining 3 episodes tie all those loose threads together nicely.
Maybe the BF leads them out the same way he managed to retake RR from the Frey’s?
Dee Stark,
Ok, I couldn’t tell from the article. Thx
ETA Never mind just reread.
Yes, both Brienne and Jaime know. Quoth the latter in 404: “It was reforged from Ned Stark’s sword. You’ll use it to defend Ned Stark’s daughter.”
Jack Bauer 24,
My origins are from a country where this happens very so Often – we can’t give in to the fear they want us to .
I think this situation is different as said in the article so I don’t see them cancelling.
That said, we must send prayers and positive vibes to every one affected by the tragedy today, including the talented young singer from Friday nights Orlando event.
ash,
Given that Broadway has long celebrated and championed LGBT rights, I can understand why they might want to delay that show. But I don’t think premium cable is comparable.
I don’t know how I feel about HBO cancelling the show. In one instance I agree out of respect to the families and lives lost, on the other I’m not sure we should because this just shows those (bleep) that they can affect our lives and Im so against that.
Careful with that kind of talk around here. People here are psychotically Anti-LSH – even those who haven’t read the books, because, ummm, reasons. If she does appear, probably best to go to another site because this place will be a shitshow!
I know.
jymion,
This scenario may be what caused Jaimie to say to he would do whatever he had to do to get back to Cersei.
I don’t think they should postpone the episode.
Back on subject… a few questions…
I think Brienne will get The Blackfish to go with her back to Jon and Sansa and that will give Jaime his “victory” and also give an out for The Blackfish to leave behind RR for now. I think the greater good of helping Sansa and Jon get Winterfell back will be a stronger force and of course making sure the fight stays in the North against the WW. RR won’t mean crap to anyone if the WW get past Winterfell.. so for me it will make more sense to BF to leave his homelands to do fight the bigger fight.
I also am in the camp that the Pink Letter is written by Littlefinger. It was pointed out in a recap that he actually says “COME AND SEE” to Robin when he’s showing him the Falcon he gets for him as his named present and we all know that phrase was mentioned over and over in the letter.. . D&D have always thrown out bones (so to speak) to let us know clues as to the storyline and I think this is just another clue they are dropping subtle as it is. But since Littlefinger really has been the catalyst of all the problems that have been occurring since the show aired -beginning with convincing Lysa to kill her husband Jon, it makes perfect sense that he is trying to force a showdown between the Snow Bastards to further his cause for control. He does NOT want to be the KING of the seven kingdoms BUT he does want to be the power player behind the scenes since he feels that is a more safe position.
So questions:
1. How many believe that RR will go into the hands of Jaime and the Frey’s bc Tully’s and company decide to go and help the Starks and fight against the WW?
2. How many believe that the Pink letter is really written by Little Finger?
Connor,
Conner, sorry for your loss. Just lost my sister suddenly last month. Stay strong and healing thoughts to you and family too
Ice Spider,
But wouldn’t Ramsay want Jon to know that he had Rickon? Otherwise what’s the point, who else can he turn to to ransom Rickon? He assumes Sansa went to the wall after he found out she escaped.
The LF is plausible but Ramsay would have sent a letter anyways I think.
Great discussion. And Connor, as you can see, our thoughts are with you.
I too have wondered about Arya and the endgame. It’s not obvious that her particular powers, knowledge, and determination can in any way slow the onrush of the WW and their wights. But I have a few theories, though I’m not convinced by any. 1).In the pre-endgame, Arya can certainly ‘remove’ a few players who have obstructed her family and help settle the war that has distracted the seven kingdoms from even acknowledging the Threat from beyond the Wall. If Westerosi are to survive, they must be led by a king and/or queen who will unite them and provide the weaponry, armies, and strategic savvy to confront the supernatural enemy. Frankly, those players on Jon, Dany, and Tyrion, with a little help from Greenseer Bran. 2) In the endgame, Arya’s best chance to contribute is to lead the Wolfpack with Nymeria. The direwolves are creatures of Ice and could be very helpful in decimating the horde of Undead. So I hope the showrunners will give Arya back her magic…Westeros survival may partly depend on it.
Connor,
Oh, Connor, so sorry to read about that. My condolences to you and your family.
did lf even know ramsay had rickon?
Flayed Potatoes,
I agree. I under the time limits and difficulty of showing the conversations between Jon and Sansa and John and whomever regarding his resurrection. I guess it would be like the story of Christ showing Thomas his wounds, that would probably be the only way someone would believe. So I can understand how it might create difficulty scene-wise and continuity-wise in lingering on it. But to make almost no effort except one throw away line from Brienne?
So I’m left to wonder if it makes any difference in the long game.
Ice Spider,
1. I’d be more inclined to think this if it weren’t for that bit in the trailer with Brienne in the boat. I’d like to see this happen but not sure if it will.
2. This is plausible, but I still think it was Ramsey who wrote the letter.
Connor,
So sorry. I pray for comfort for you and your family during this difficult time.
I think Ramsey would want Jon to know that he has Rickon but my bets are on LF writing the letter. The evidence for me is too great and I know that D&D always drop nuggets to us and that to me was a nugget… I know that others feel one way or another so wanted to see how many were on the LF train since that dialogue was brought to our attention..
if he did then they must be in cahoots
Ice Spider,
I’m firmly of the mind that Ramsay wrote the Pink Letter. I thought it was some of his best work – very poetic and poignant. I love the repetition and rhythm of “Come and see.” But that cliche is not unique to any one person. In Season 5, Cersei tells Qyburn to tell Tommen to “come and see” his mama in the big house, but she didn’t write the Pink Letter, either.
And we saw a man in Bolton arms deliver the PL.
I have no idea what will happen in the Riverlands, but I hope that Brienne solemnly swears to be up to no good before she sneaks into the castle via the river.
Connor,
I’m sorry for your loss.
Answers:
1. I don’t think so.
2. I think Ramsay wrote the Pink Letter.
Also… is it just me or is anyone else just a little miffed that Jon/Sansa/Davos haven’t given more impassioned speeches about the NK and the whole walking dead army coming their way? I mean I would be like ….. look … you are either with us or dead … I just don’t understand the whole nonchalant attitude they are having right now in trying to align Northern alliances. If I had seen what JS saw I would be doing my damnedest to convince them to join forces. Just seems a bit weak to me which is disappointing. Couldn’t bringing WunWun along for the talks convince them of magic being back in the world?
59 minutes! Can’t wait for this. Preview looks epic.
Miss Stark,
I agree. Brienne’s look was to me one of horror at what she was seeing … I would guess the storming of RR by the Lannisters and Freys. They are celebrating in the trailer so it must be a great victory. Of course I believe that a former FM may help Lord Walder choke on his laughter in episode 10. This one can only hope. 🙂
If there is a battle, it is interesting to me in how that differs from the book resolution (as how Jamie’s arc in general differs). I’m interested in seeing how Jamie’s arc vis-a-vis Cersei plays out as the full ramifications of “I choose violence” become apparent.
The director of the episode said Ramsey sent the Pink Letter. End of discussion.
They are not good at bringing these houses to their side. I understand the writers not making it instantly easy for them because it would be cheesy. I thought Jon, Sansa, and Davos would have come up with a better argument after Bear Island.
Ice Spider,
I could gather that even the Northern houses believe the WW are gumpkins and snarks – imaginary beasts. House Mormont may be different only due to the former Lord Commander. They are between a rock and a hard place – if they emphasize the magic, they may be thought unhinged, if they don’t, they don’t present the full case for action. Frankly I don’t blame the Glovers for rejecting them given everything that has transpired. We, as Jon did, see the bigger picture. Everyone else is focused on their individual issues. Classic case of not seeing the enemy until it is too late.
Connor,
My condolences.
Yeah.. ok like no one has ever lied before huh? Sure… nothing is the end of the story until its shown on the show.. geesh
Connor,
So sorry Connor. Your cousin was way to young. My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
I mean they can go running around alerting everyone of WW, but look at what happened to the guy waaaay back in season 1 episode 1…No one believed that guy, considered him a deserter, and Ned chopped off his head. Go around telling everyone you saw WW AND came back from the dead….I’m sure many would skeptical. Plus, they do have more than one army to worry about. So I feel like they’re doing their best to show us that they are recruiting houses to take Winterfell, and in the tiny print (lol) fight the NK+WW after.
In the season’s trailer, a bloody hand leaves a mark on a wall.
What do you think?
I live in Port St Lucie, where the shooter lived. I have similar feelings to yours. I refuse to give those cowards any power over me. I won’t enjoy the show tonight as much for sure, but that’s all they get from me. Peace.
Yes I understand the Glovers stance.. and I agree on the “blind sided” attitudes of people BUT Im just saying that Jon/Davos could have made more impassioned pleas for what has taken place and it just seems like that is not happening. I understand the story line is NOT quite there and that people do not realize the dangers but good gravy if it was me up there trying to convince some folks I wouldn’t have given up so easily.. esp Jon. He’s seen the worst.. he could have told them the Hardhome story.. at least TRY…
When we stop doing the things that we love on account of terrorists, we are letting the terrorists win.
Lol… I hear you…. I hear you..
HeHeldThatDoor,
I think the Lannnisters might be more on the ball than the Freys 🙂 But yeah, it is a good idea otherwise and I don’t mind it if Im wrong
Dragon Tender,
They also did after MLKs assassination and a few others that I can’t remember. Wouldn’t surprise me. If they don’t I expect lots of the winners and presnters will be mentioning it in one way or another
Ice Spider,
They were also in phx; they just wanted to be trained to fly the planes, not to land. No one thought that odd….I do share your frustration, when the people who are suppossed to keep us safe fall down on the job. (I know the FBI and law enforecment has a hell of a job, and are often between a rock and a hard place trying to do whats right. Still…maddening Hang in there.
weirwoodtreehugger,
They are slowly releasing the names, it may be a while before we know. It is all very surreal.
Thank you… the outpouring of care and concern worldwide is amazing; the local support from all communities has been even more so. The lines for blood donation are in the hundreds.
As for postponing the episode tonight, no, I don’t think it should be postponed – no matter tonight’s content, imho. GoT is fantasy and sometimes the escape into tv fantasy shows can be helpful. So many fans record the show for later viewing and it would be sad to miss that. I’m not sure I want to watch tonight, but I am recording for when I’m ready and needing that respite from the terrors of the real world. (My own on demand service can be iffy.)
(Side note: I’ve been tending a very sick cat for the last two weeks – which seems almost trivial in the light of the deaths today – but this cat has been with me for 11 years, through thick and thin, and it’s been emotionally draining. The stress of dealing with the financial end and the waiting for news while she was in surgery and watching for meds to take effect was greatly relieved by this and other GoT sites. WotW has been a welcome distraction and escape, for me at least, providing a much needed breather when all I could do for much of the time was to wait.)
Sorry for the off topic – it’s been a difficult day.
VERY TINY print at that.. and how about even hiring a speed speaker to go over details of WW and Wights? Lol.. you know the ppl who do auctioneers and can talk a bazillion words in a minute?
This needs to be said, more often and everywhere.
WildlingKing,
Ok. That makes it a bit more clear. Thanks
Sacred feces! The excrement is preparing to make a hard impact on the rotating ventilator blades. I can barely contain myself. Two hours to go!
ash,
Well my frustration and anger is mostly directed at our current govt. NOT the FBI. I know their hands are tied. I can’t even discuss politics on here bc I will just lose it. This was needless and senseless and it could have been prevented by some common sense laws. Really it’s NOT that complicated. If you are associated with terrorist groups you do NOT have access to guns legally. I understand getting guns illegally on the black market will NOT stop these ppl but at least make it a bit harder on them.. smdh.
Ice Spider,
s
No its not just you. I wish they’d made a bigger deal about the resurrection and some one (Davos maybe) gave Jon the suggeston that this is why you were brought back. Davos gave a bit of a peech, but not much. Having it come from Jon much strongly would do much I think to at least wake them up a bit to see that its not all fairy tales (and as I’ve said before, too bad Jon didn’t get a selfie with the NK would have solved all our problems) 🙂
I know I get it.. just think even if they wouldn’t have convinced them they could have tried a bit more..
Well it should be interesting.. why do you think the seal by Ramsey was yellow in an earlier season and pink in this one? Was that just a slip up on the production team?
Ugh. I hope it is not true.
LL of Darkwater,
Sorry to hear of your beloved pet. I hope she gets better!! Enjoy the respite the show will give you even if it’s for a brief period. I think we ALL need a respite from the real world we deal with. Sad heart and sad countenance for the life we have created for our children and children’s children.
LL of Darkwater,
People are really crazy nowadays. May God give you peace and confort in this troubled time.
The North has just been through one hell of a time due to Robb’s war as the Glovers show us. Being told the WW are coming is not want the North needs to hear. Like the Nights Watch the North don’t have Jon, Ed and the Wildings knowledge of Hardhome. After all it was lack of belief in Jon’s action that got him killed by the NW.
Jon needs a base and Winterfell would be that in the fight back against WW. Plus it would be the place that Arya and Bran would eventually head to.
Angela,
Me too. I know HBO wanted to put a squash on the leaks this year, but this season has more leaks than last!
Ice Spider,
Typical tin foil response. He gained absolutely nothing by lying, and if you watched the interview, it was an honest response. He could have easily said, “watch and see” or something ambiguous, but no, he flat out said there was no trickery there, the letter is what it said it was, from Ramsey. Haven’t you seen enough this season to realize that the large majority of tin foil theories are wrong and WAY more complicated than what is actually happening. Keep telling yourself LittleFinger sent the Pink Letter, and start holding your breath right now for that big reveal, which will never come. The letter will never be mentioned on the show again.
Hoyti Von Totiy,
To be fair, brienne has no idea that her sword is ice melted down, Jon on the other hand absolutely knows he carries the mormont family sword…
jymion,
Mmmm, interesting. I hope you are right. Curious, why are you so sure?
Firannion,
I so agree. I hate what we have to go through to fly anywhere, I hate flying now. I get it, but damn …..
Jaynee D.,
Hee, thanks for the laugh!
Ice Spider,
I hear you, but we probably need to keep politics out of here. Aside from it taking away from the excellent discussion, there’s so much of it out there that I’d like one no politics zone for a a few hours 🙂
BranSnow,
Uh oh. Is it time to hide from the internet until the episode airs?
Ice Spider,
I’m with you on that. It’s interesting that the show has taken a very Northern house anti-Stark position whereas the books have the Northern houses divided. It’s a conscious choice. Until TWOW comes out we won’t know how it fully plays out in the books (after the Boltons and allies likely defeat Stannis and allies if the PL is to be believed, what happens then for Northern support of the Stark cause).
Crap.
Miss Stark,
I’m out!!’
See y’all later
Enjoy the episode 🙂
Yes. I would watch Netflix or something until it is time to put HBO on.
Connor,
I am so sorry. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Yup.
See y’all at 8:50/ 8:55 pm!
Miss Stark,
Yes, I’m out! Going to read a book or do something productive!
Rhaenys Stark,
Wow
“psychotically Anti-LSH”, huh?
Nah, some of us weren’t that impressed with the plot thread in the books, and there were issues doing it at all, even if they did it 3 seasons ago. If they did it now, they’d have to (1) flash back to the Red Wedding, (2) show the BHWB finding the Late and Decaying Catelyn Stark, (3) show Thoros of Mir bringing her back, and (4) show WTF she’s been up to in the interim.
I don’t care how they’d do that, it’s still going to take a third of an episode to get through that exposition, and I don’t even see how they get any naked girls and/or boys to soften the blow of it.
And in the end, there’s no more pay-off now than there would be 3 years ago.
So, no, not “psychotically”. For reasons of plot and storytelling, Fair Catelyn stays dead.
Oh hells bells, go away. The episode is on in 90 minutes, I think we can wait…
reek!!? Bad reek! You can’t do that here!
ash,
Exactly.
Dragon Tender,
.
Yep. And yeah we may be ‘psychotically’ but we do generally know how to spell
I just reported it.
NOT NOW, REEK!
I never remember a yellow seal. Which episode was that? The seal on the show always looked more red than pink to me, but perhaps George intended the shade of pink to be closer to red, the color of a flayed man. I cannot imagine the Bolton’s colors being the colors of Julia Robert’s wedding: “My colahs aehh not pehnk and pehnk: they aehh blush and bashful!”
Just want to say I have been watching CNN pretty much all day, since the first reports. I didn’t sleep well and woke to hearing 50 dead. Oh my God…so horrible what hate will drive people to do. I know it might not seem like it now but the small glimmer of hopefulness in all of this is seeing how involved and compassionate the residents appear to be. Seeing people rally together is just such a testament to the spirit of community. Orlando and the victims are in my thoughts.
Sending prayers to Connors family as well.
I am excited for the episode but I think we can all agree there is such a heavy, dark cloud over us today.
J,
Per Sean C in a post above:
Yes, both Brienne and Jaime know. Quoth the latter in 404: “It was reforged from Ned Stark’s sword. You’ll use it to defend Ned Stark’s daughter.”
My hero!
Ginevra,
Where Ramsey and Roose send the body part of Theon to his Father. That seal was a hue of yellow…
Just a bit if speculation.
If SF is the shadow and a FM perhaps he was hired by LF to deal with Ned but instead desired that was not the right thing to do. If it turns out he is alive will he tell Arya about Balish.
ash,
Oh I know..that is why I didn’t talk about specifics. Whatever I said was broad. I won’t talk politics on here bc I hate that. I agree this format is not for current political conversations. 😉
Connor,
There are no words for what you and your family endured. My thoughts are with you and your family. Deepest sympathies from me here in Ireland to you and yours. Life is cruel sometimes. Remember the good times you shared, it’s how you find the light when times get dark. x
Work Mom,
Thoughts and prayers to you also…hard to see so much personal pain in the posts this time…
Wouldnt it be cool if Nymeria and her pack roaming the Riverlands get into the Frey celebration we’ve seen in the trailer to get their own Red Wedding version of revenge for Gray Wind. . . And others.
Ice Spider,
Wasn’t he still a Snow then, not a Bolton?
Guys guys, idk if anyone has noticed, but the bloody hand from Bran’s vision, it’s not Ned’s on Lyanna, it’s Arya’s!
Simon,
And that just blew my mind a little bit. I actually just created an entire plausible theory that included LF/IB/FM/NS based on this in five seconds-and then I deleted it because noooooo
🙂
Ginevra,
Im out on here for now.. see you all on the other side.
Grrrrrr…
People who watch leaked episodes and talk about them here even knowing they’re not supposed to are such assholes. Luckily the comment got deleted before I saw it. Although there’s another one that mentioned it now but I skimmed over it. So now I have to leave this site until airtime too.
To all the nice people, see you in a couple of hours.
To all the people who think it’s cute to spoil things for people, eat a bag of dicks!
RG,
SF has been doing a lot of press. We’ll know soon enough.
Wh is IB. It’s 10 in the morning here but my brain hasn’t turned on yet.
Spoilers from the actual aired episod are not permitted in this post until after the episode officially airs at 9PM EDT.
That’s what it says up above. Clear as day. Some of you know better. You can wait an hour. Or go create a post in the forums tucked away where no one will be spoiled.
Okay, I think I’m officially out of here now. See you guys after the ep!
Hallelujah!
gotta go. enjoy the show!
Ginevra,
Hahaha.
I’ve been lying low all day trying to avoid any spoilers from this episode, log on here to peek and see if it’s safe, and the first thing I see is a link to the leak.
Of course, getting the link removed doesn’t prevent certain assholes from trying to be cutsey and making allusions to what happened in the episode. *facepalm*
Edit: I see those have been deleted, too. Thanks, Sue. If you wanna remove my comment on them being assholes, go right ahead (like you need my permission…lol). It won’t change my mind that they’re assholes, though. 🙂
Syed Kabir,
not unless arya has two right hands as there were two right hands in that shot of the bran flashback. that was ned and lyanna.
Oh well. I like to hang out here preshow and while it’s airing. However it seems some who’ve seen the leaked episode are intentionally trying to spoil the ep for the rest of us. Later Watchers.
imjustsayin,
If only Walder Frey had mentioned wolves when he mentioned the BF, the BwB, etc. It would have made me happy, but unless it pops up surprisingly next season (as the Sparrows did in season 5), I think the wolfpack is book-only.
Sorry if I ruined the episode for anyone by vaguely saying I didn’t like a tiny part of it… but at least I’m not ruining an entire arc.
Nymeria Warrior Queen,
Yes, i feel the same way
Simon,
The Iron Bank (who hires FM on a regular basis)-and LF was the master of coin at the time. 🙂
We’ll be getting the “only 2 episodes left” promo tonight.
RG,
Of course. I was thinking people not institutions.interesting I have been wondering what their game was and if LF was there agent also. Hostil take over after causing stocks to fall smacks of insider trading and rigging the game.
GeekFurious,
Just don’t.
NO – We must live our lives…or else they win.
Here’s hoping tonight Arya finds out what’s really been going on behind the scenes, and the Waif is revealed to be “No One” and finally and irrevocably scrams.
I mean, there is something going on behind the curtain, isn’t there?
Connor,
I’m totally hoping that there is a reveal like that for this episode but I kind of doubt it!
That being said, I can’t wait until tonight’s episode!!!!! I want to see what happens with Arya, Tyrion, the Faith M, and the Hound!
Only twenty minutes left!
https://twitter.com/RothCornet/status/742152032304267264
Roth Cornet wishes they pushed the episode back. Especially with the “I choose violence” quote.
I don’t know if this has been brought up before but did anyone check out History Channel’s new docudrama Barbarians Rising? The first episode featured Clive Russel & Ian McElhinney as barbarian chieftains advising the “main characters.” It was a joy seeing them in similar roles.
NO….HELL NO – I was down there when the towers came down, covered in dust and all kinds of shit. No dark cloud. We will carry Orlando in our hearts and enjoy our shows and laugh and sing as we always do.
They cannot win – Fuck them.
Enjoy the show everyone.
Rhaegar the Barbarian,
While I agree with you, everyone involved with the show also said Jon was dead. They tend to lie in cases of hiding a twist. This is not one of those times.
Since next week is bastardbowl I take it tonight will be the Harpy attack from the trailer?
Dee Stark,
I like that name addition guuuuuuurl
Jack Bauer 24,
Took me a few seconds to get what she meant, and I see her point on an emotional level, but delaying the air date wouldn’t do anything. I’m watching an Alan Ladd movie on TCM from the 1940’s that is more violent than some GOT episodes.
Pure speculation: anybody else think that the waif is a Frey?
Everyone enjoy the episode…
See y’all on the flip-side.
Almost there.
Thekinginthegreatwhitenorth,
Totally think so. Have a good episode everyone!
Lyanna_Targaryen,
????
It’s time!!! Enjoy the episode everyone!
Yay! It’s here!
Ice Spider,
We aren’t getting them because it seems the plot needs to have them be underdogs for LF to save them with the Vale army. That means that the Northern tour has to be somewhat of a failure and things they should logically say and do don’t happen. 🙁
Here we go!
Glad Sue deleted everything, enjoy peeps,
Arya’s got…wait for it…plot armor!!!
Game of Thones O’Clock!
gewa76,
Exactly. That’s what saved her. I guess the scenes last episode were like the Jamie/Cersei “rape” – the director didn’t see what many of us saw.
Here it comes.
Oh gods.
Shame to hear Lady Crane seemed to do something to the attractive actress face lol
Here it is !
Those stab wounds should have been worse…
Does anyone know what rumor was Qyburn talking about?
Jamie and Brienne gave me the feels. Makes the fact that I’m going to have 3 hours of sleep before work tomorrow worth it. It’s 2.30am in the UK!
Dayum! Tommen royally screwed over his mom. LOL! It couldn’t happen to a better person.
Ser Pounce FTW,
My guess is wildfire that Aerys put under the Great Sept and/or Red Keep when he intended to burn the city down. I believe Tyrion was told of these by one of the pyromancers.
Rumour is the Wildfine IMO?
Ser Pounce FTW,
Wildfire under the sept apparently.
Wow. How does everyone know it’s wildfire? Did I miss something big?
IMO Olenna will unleash Gendry as a means to nullify the illegitimate Tommens decree about Loras and trial by combat too
Honestly couldn’t stand some of the dialogue in the middle of the episode. It became boring to listen to.
The things we do for love ….
trebuchets …
Hooray the Masters fleet saved us from the joke scene
Plus Edmure seems to have had his voice drop
Ser Pounce FTW,
Cersei has said at least three times that she would burn down cities for her children …
Ghosts Lunch,
Thank the old gods, the new gods, the red god, the drowned god, and every other one for that
Darkrobin,
That part I knew. I just thought there was something about the little birds looking for something in an earlier episode.
Sad day for the Tullys. Edmure’s sold his soul 🙁
No!!!!
Ser Pounce FTW,
I actually think the rumors were about Tyrion ruling Meereen. The scene did cut straight to him, after all.
Ser Pounce FTW,
For his son, like some would argue that Cat did in releasing Jamie for Sansa and Arya.
It’s the same blonde in the blue outfit 🙂
Oh Jaqen and Arya were the best part of that episode. That little smile….I knew it. Will miss Tom so much!!!!
Blackfish died off screen?
No Ramsay 4 straight episodes? Weird.
need a brief recap please!! couldnt get my HBO go to work overseas!!!!
Wow what a stinker of an episode in every which way.
Jack Bauer 24,
He was reported killed. I would assume Jamie would view the body to confirm.
No preview for ep 9? Sneaky!
Another mediocre episode. :/
That was so sick!!! I loved it!!!!
I love that arya had to do this alone!
That was…underwhelming.
Well well well to promo for next week. Bastards.
iridium,
I saw it
Wowowowowowowowowo it looks awesome
I’m Sad :o(
For the 1st time in over 70 episodes… I feel like D&D have treated me like a fool.
Beric Dondarrion is alive and kicking and Catelyn Stark is as f***ing dead as her idiot son
Dee Stark,
Really? There wasn’t one on foxtel in Aus! Boo.
The BF 🙁
Holy beep the preview for next week is intense!!!
“A girl is Arya Stark of Winterfell. And I am going home.” I cried when she said this. Go home, girl!
I’m still hoping the Blackfish didn’t die and was saved by his men.
iridium,
i saw one
iridium,
Yeah
Looks amazing
Should be up on the tube soon
That was the worst episode since the Dorne Caper, and one of the three or four worst in the series.
In danger of sounding like Comic Book Guy…. Worst episode ever…
Underwhelming at best. I blame Martin for this. Beric still alive. Arya super hero strength in a day after being brutally stabbed. Worse episode of the entire series. IMO and am almost never as critical
HereBeDragons,
How so?
Sam,
THIS!!
Worst episode of the season and perhaps one of the worst of the whole series. None of it made any sense. Area’s storyline was a total waste of 3 years of my life. And poor Essie Davies. 🙁
So did that sad departure mean that Tyrion and Varys are never going to see each other again?
I am Arya Stark of Winterfell and I’m going home!
Literally whooping from the couch at that. Loved seeing Beric and Thoros. 2 hype trains derailed tonight (LSH and Cleganebowl) and Edmure Tully proves he is still a huge bitch.
That preview tho. Cannot wait.
Also, if you think D&D aren’t ridiculous trolls – how many times did they say Catelyn in this episode or refer to her in some way? At least 12. Hate those guys lol.
hmmmm
I think it’s the episode that Kit was talking about. I’m so stoked. Goodness, this week is gonna go by so slowwwwwwlllllly….
You can tell they spent all the money on the battle of the bastards some really weak scenes with people dying off screen.
This episode was awesome
Loved the comedy
Kinda cheered when cerseis man killed the sparrow. The after the events at river run I cannot wait till every last Lannister fucking dies
Yes to the hound and the brotherhood. So psyched for the return of thoros and Beric!!!
YAAAAA ARYA STARK IS GOING HOME
AND DANY IS BACK – she looks pissed off ! Was hoping to see some dragon action.
Epicness
VegoDread,
Yah!
Ser Pounce FTW,
Tyrion talks about it before the battle of Blackwater. Can’t remember who tells him….but thats when he sets up his plan to win.
iridium,
They did show a preview. Jon looked awesome.
Wow. That was actually the first episode I’ve felt was a complete and total letdown
That was easily the weakest episode of an otherwise terrific season. I liked the BwB scene, and the stuff at Riverrun,but everything else was…just weak, especially for an episode 8. The best scene in the Arya story was the opening one with Lady Crane, and it just steadily went downhill from there. Even the chase scene was underwhelming. It actually made her entire Braavos adventure seem rather pointless, and left a gaping plot hole from last week. Other criticism: Man, they have utterly run out of things for Tyrion to say and do. His scenes just seem to be spinning wheels now, though I kinda liked Dany appearing in time. Eh…maybe it was the events in Orlando knocked the wind out of me today. But I don’t think I’ll be watching this episode much. At least next week looks like it lives up to the hype.
Hah! The REAL BwB has stood up! Lemoncloak hanging and the Hound taking his boots then bantering with Beric and Thoros was classic.
I was hoping for a bit more surrealism with Arya’s tale but oh well, she survived and Jaqen trained her well.
RIP BF (really?)…FUCK that!
Nadia,
I agree it was mediocre. The episode had no rythm and the plot holes are kinda comical.
Dee Stark,
Danny,
Yeah I just found one on youtube but oddly enough it was posted about 30 mins ago, and not by HBO. Does look amazing.
Darkrobin,
Thought the same.
Dee Stark,
It’s now on their official YT channel. 🙂 I’ve been watching it again and again and again. (in between posting here) 🙂
Louis,
Who?? The blackfish and the waif ? Who the fuck cares ? Lol
Already the same people that seem to always say an episode sucked saying this one did too. Surprise! I continue to wonder why they still bother – with the show AND posting here. Just to make the experience worse for others I assume.
The Arya plot went pretty close to how I thought it would/should all week and I thought it was fantastic. None of that bs face changing shit that doesn’t fit with how the FM work to begin with. Goodbye and good riddance to the Waif.
I’ll write more in the recap after additional views.
My review:
What I Loved:
What I Liked:
What I Disliked:
What I Hated:
-Predictable Arya story ending
-Lame end to siege of Riverrun including no Blackfish death
-All of Mereen
-The Hound revenge arc was lackluster after last week’s brilliance
-The Mountain cartoony death scene
Meh after three very good episodes, I really hated this one. Lot of filler, lot of nothing interesting happening. Endings I didn’t like to good story lines i.e. Riverrun and Arya. Tyrion’s time as King of Mereen ended up being a total disappointment.
The worst part about it was Arya for me. I predicted the very ending that happened in another thread, she’ll kill the light and then beat the Waif in the dark. At least they spared us showing it since it was so predictable. I really loved the House of B & W story and it seemed to be a complete waste of time.
This episode cements this season as being my least favorite. The last two episodes will determine how far below season 5 it is.
Here’s the Episode 9 preview.
What; were some of you expecting Lady Stoneheart or the CleganeBowl this episode and are pissed that you didn’t get it? I’ve been more critical than most of the creative decisions this season, but I didn’t think this episode was THAT bad.
I have to say, and I hate to say it, but that (for me) was the all time worst ever episode of GoT. Corny, clunky, ridiculous, wow so disappointed right now. And I usually scoff at comments like this. Is it just me? That just didn’t work for me on any level. So many problems….maybe it’s just me, I must be in a weird mood. I’ll watch it again tomorrow.
My guess had been Wildfire but this could also be valid
Connor,
My condolences to your family.
I liked it. Riverrun turned out exactly like the novels.
Excellent that Brothers are going north.
Was Jaqen smiling at the end?
Wanna know what the mystery with Qyburn is. Wildfire? Something to do with Marg?
I’d expected Dany to go to Volantis for its navy, but it seems mountain came to Mohammed.
Varys to Westeros…poor Westeros.
Mad Queen Theory Confirmed! lol its the only way she will be able to beat the F.M.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS ARYA!!!!!! A GIRL IS SOMEONE!
ash,
Yes, the only difference from the books is that Edmure delayed turning over the castle to give the BF time to escape. Both involved a trebuchet/catapult But Edmure was played a little more sympathetically. I guess they needed to leave more time for Braavos.
Feeling kind of let down, but I think it’s also because with so few episodes left and then a year off, I just exact the episodes to be really great and it was just….whatever.
Hey guys, managed to watch this episode tonight. It helped grt my mind off of what happened. I agree this episode was disappointing but after watching episode 9 preview, I don’t care lol. Beric is back!! And Thoros. So yaya
I don’t get the blacklash tbh, the ep certainly isn’t the worst in the series.
Dee Stark,
I’m sure some people care. They could have done better with those scenes. Not a big deal though.
Cleganebowl get hype! #GETSHITON! Ha!
Nick Hartley does not sow!
Underwhelming at best. I blame Martin for this. Beric still alive. Arya super hero strength in a day after being brutally stabbed. Worse episode of the entire series. IMO and am almost never as critical. Also Sans a seems to have told Jon about LF, which like I said instead of she trying to play Jon was more about her not wanting anything to do with LF. And like I said, no one else knows the little weasel. So I hope all the crying stopped
I enjoyed the episode. Thank you to the masters for saving us from more bad jokes.
Looks like Jaime set the proper perimeters. 😛
Glad Brienne still has the sword. I was annoyed she wanted to give it up.
Arya leaving just like that seems convenient, but at least I don’t have to worry about her getting killed by FM while in Westeros?? Idk the whole thing was confusing.
I’m sad the Blackfish didn’t go with Brienne. Jon could have used an experienced military commander since Robb took them all with him. I wonder if Jaime is keeping Edmure alive. He doesn’t need to, since Edmure has a son now. Have the Tullys been taken prisoners with Edmure again, or were they killed like the Blackfish? Too bad it was an off-screen death.
Dany’s random arrival was hilarious. The show isn’t being subtle at all about her taking the throne and kingdoms though. Some suspense would be appreciated. It feels so predictable…
I guess we know where Dany’s getting some new ships from now and who burned hers in the first place (o hai Volantis, or whatever that flag on the ship was). 😛
I would have loved a scene of Sansa telling Jon about the Vale army though. It would have fit nicely with all the mentions of her this episode.
I liked the little talks about the betrayal aspect in the RW. Too bad we didn’t get any of that in the North. It’s like the North forgot the Boltons are also responsible for killing their families.
I also liked the scenes with the Hound and the Brotherhood and their talks about WW and resurrections. I wish these talks had happened in the Northern storyline.
Also Torrienne >>>> Jaimienne 😛
They have dropped Catelyn’s name so many times this season, mostly in this episode….
I just knew LS was going to be at the hanging of Lemoncloak….
Connor,
Oh my god, I’m so sorry. Best wishes to you and your family.
Ravyn,
+1 spot on. I as hoping there for a moment that Lady Crane was an evil fucker and that was why the House of B & W sanctioned the hit, but alas everything just went as expected.
And yeah Tyrion’s good bye scene to Varys was awful and the joke scene with Missandei and Greyworm was only a little better than the previous one (though still awkward as hell).
Loved the episode. Now things are really moving again.
I like that the riverlands stuff was close to the books.
LSH is no more thanks to Beric being alive. They kept that well hid.
A shame that LadyCrane is dead so clearly there will be no traveling troop.
Love the set up for Cersei’s trial. No one can say they didn’t see trial by combat being banned coming.
We’ve also set up the battle for slavers bay and that of the bastards. Looking forward to seeing those black sails on the horizon. Shame BS isn’t around to lead the charge.
In some ways we’ve really only got to the end of ADWD and the start of WOW. So the book remains largely unspoiled.
People thought this was a weak episode? Certainly wasn’t from where I’m standing. Actually I thought it was really solid, especially that ending.
Nadia,
Really? I actually enjoyed it. It confirmed that Jamie is nothing but an ass and must die a painful death and that Arya has all the intentions of going home. Next week’s looks awesome then again to me Jon= awesome. ?
Ghosts Lunch,
Cersei, the Mountain and Qyburn are going to abduct Tommen, take him out of the city, and probably to the Riverlands, where Jaime and the Lannisters are. Once they’re gone from the city, her order to the pyromancers will be implemented: burn them all.
Cameryn,
One of the better non action eps all year.
Well, my initial thoughts…
Very disappointed in this episode. Some very cool things sprinkled in here and there but overall wasn’t feeling this episode at all.
I like the Arya stuff although you have to suspend your brain to believe that a few bandages and milk of the poppy would heal Arya’s internal organs being severally stabbed through several times.
Also, I think D&D found clever ways to cop out of many things we all wanted to see, and were waiting for.
Like a battle at Riverrun, how convenient Edmure did Jaime’s bidding. An epic Hound battle scene? Nah, lets have him stumble across some idiots at a camp and just behead someone. They also found a way to cop out of any cool Assassin’s Creed Arya stuff, just have her run and stumble a bit and blow out a candle. I waited 7 weeks for that???
I hate to be Debbi Downer but this episode was the weakest of the season IMO.
Extremely disappointed, oh well.
Next week Miguel is directing so hopefully we will get some cool payoffs.
It just seems to me that I was waiting for some cool payoffs this episode but apparently D&D decided to think of clever ways to write these payoffs so they wouldn’t be as epic as they should of been.
I bet they sure did save some money and production time though!
RBloodworth,
I wasn’t expecting either. That woman appearing has made no sense for some time. Clegane brothers will fight at some point I think but not as part of any trial by the faith. There is unfinished business between the two of them. This assumes that the Mountain survives the KL episode 10 but I believe that as others have stated Cersei leaves for Casterly Rock with the Mountain and Jamie and other converge on her there.
Jaime was so gracious to Brienne. I thought he’d be a beast to her and demand that sword back, at the very least to give to Tommen if not to keep for himself. So, even with Cersei back in his blood, his affection for Brienne prevailed and obviously must have been very true. I’m shocked but charmed by that.
Sad about Lady Crane. Happy at Arya’s proclamation that she IS Arya Stark and she’s going home! Wary of her surviving her wounds, plus the pain of them, with no milk of the poppy or special potions – unless, at the end in the HoBaW, she drank from one of those wells, the healing well, and it healed her. Could anybody tell for sure if that’s what she did? Because if she didn’t and she’s making the trip home wounded, then all hail plot armor. Jaqen’s little smile at the end was excellent, though. This means the Faceless Men won’t be scouring the earth for her, I guess.
I thought it was the Tyrell’s role in Joffrey’s murder, but considering the timing of Qyburn’s words, it must be the rumors about the cache of wildfire stored beneath the sept. Qyburn’s words seemed to be aimed at consoling Cersei, that all is not lost. Any other rumours – such are Dany and her dragons, Tyrion at Meereen, Kevan and Pycelle conspiring against Cersei, Tyrell plot – are irrelevant to be mentioned at that specific time with that specific result in Cersei’s face.
Thronetender,
Tommen has Widow’s Wail. No need for Oathkeeper too.
1. This was only the 58th episode.
2. This was the first time?
3. You must really be a fool
Seven hells that preview tease for next week (spoiler for those who don’t like previews):
How am I supposed to wait that long? *sigh* Did you guys see where he tells Mel if he dies not to bring him back again. We’re finally going to get that conversation. And he looks sad and worried in these shots. Almost about to cry in one. Some of us know what he’s looking at and damn but it breaks my heart.
Looks like I might be getting some of the things I want next episode
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOzsR8Pk3TE
GDI Jon I want her to bring you back a billion times. Shhh!!!
Hmmmmm…Blackfish and Waif died off screen?
Arya got gutted last episode i can’t really believe she would be jumping and rolling around and then walk out of the HoBaW on her own not even limping…
I love the episode … Arya was great … I’m Arya Stark. I’m going home … Please, please … Let her get home save in episode 10. So sad about Lady Crane.
I knew those killers weren’t part of the brotherhood … So cool the Hound joined and he is going north. I suppose all hope of Lady Stoneheart will be finally put to rest.
So, the epic scene of episode 10 is in motion … very interesting.
The Riverrun part was a disappointment because the Blackfish died. But the farewell of Jaime was nice…
The preview for episode 9 is great too, so cool, and so sad the season is almost over.
Clob,
I’ve been very impressed with season 6, and have said so repeatedly. This episode specifically, however, was sludge.
Omg guys this episode was great and all, but anyone have a synopsis on that episode 9 preview?? I seriously hope Jon wasn’t referring to himself when he said, “thousands of people don’t have to die, only one of us”
Cameryn,
Me too! I cheered when Beric and Thoros appeared, and I loved Ayra’s story and all of the Riverrun scenes. Jaime and Brienne’s relationship has been so beautifully written and portrayed.
Now that I’ve seen the preview for next week, I am HYPE.
That was pretty bad…..
So arya did just let herself get stabbed.
Killed waif offscreen
Killed blackfish offscreen
Hound randomely found everyone
Brotherhood had random rogue division that killed sept people?
Lady crane had absolutely no purpose
Arya is the terminator
Brienne going to riverrun had no purpose
Its like the writers ran out of story material……oh wait
Nadia,
Me too At least with Aryas arc. Arya did it herself, but Lady Crane patching her up was not going to fix her and the rest of it felt like she was a superwoman (which she is granted). I loved that she made it back to her place, and she fought with no light, and loved her final speech to FM but yeah, I was expecting more magic, more slight of hand. Well Jared was right when he said he’d just be satisfied if it was all just a simple plot, nothing twisted or extravagant. Ah well
Loved the scene with Beric and Hound, perfect. And the look on Cerseis face when she realizes what Tommen has done.
The riverrun thing was just sad. I get that Edmure wanted to protect his child, but my god……And seeing all those soldiers laying down their arms I kept thinking ‘don’t you know there are WW coming? Go North, young men!
Dany’s entrance was so anti climatic. Did the dragon burn the ships? Did we see that? I dunno need to think more.
Brienne knows that Oathkeeper was forged from Ice, the Stark family sword, and that it is a Valyrian steel blade at a time when those blades are rather vital to the War for the Dawn, and she was about to give it back to the Lannisters? The hell?
I loved it! Yes the plot holes in Arya’s story line are huge and disappointing, but she ended up in the right place. She’s going home!
Love the Hound with the BWB
Cersei has no choice but to burn the city down now!
The writers truly have no idea what to do with Tyrion anymore. Good to see Dany home, but why was Drogon flying away again? Or was he going to burn some slavers?
A bad Game of Thrones episode is still a great television episode.
And this wasn’t even a bad GoT episode. I loved it.
Next weeks episode looks even better.
Cameryn,
For them no Jon Snow or a big battle is boring, I think this chapter is amazing. So many great stuff
Darkrobin,
Don’t think it will go like that after ep 10 Jamie will go north
Absolutely!
That ending, while I had hoped to see a brutal fight, was pretty fantastic. I loved the last line…and you’re right! That face Jaqen made was awesome. I actually got goosebumps.
Loved the Sandor stuff but he is my favorite. I know Bronn usually gets the quick quips, but Sandor is so damn matter-of-fact and dry. Rory’s delivery is so spot on. Negotiating with Beric on how many he gets to kill? Seriously…that was great.
I know people called it, Sandor joining up with the Brotherhood, I just didn’t think it would happen at all. Figured his arc would go in a different direction but still think he will join up with Arya eventually. Maybe the BwB will escort her north.
Enjoyed every moment of the Blackfish and liked the Brienne/Jaime initial reunion (that little wave to/from the boat was so cheesedick) and Edmure/Jaime stuff. Moment of humanity and then quickly back to being an asshole.
Sad to see Lady Crane’s fate. The Dany return was awful. I think that is the story I am least vested in but that reveal felted patched together at the last second. The low point for me.
There was lot’s of good dialogue and some stinkers in there.
The end Arya and Sandor stuff made it worthwhile, otherwise it was okay. For a longer episode, I think I expected more movement. Not as bad as the season premier (and that wasn’t bad, just underwhelming) but falls behind all the others this season.
Sounds like he’s trying to challenge Ramsay to a 1v1.
Young Dragon,
But then,there was that line in Jaime’s speech about how she/Cat would “burn cities to ash” for their children. And wouldn’t it just be poetic if Jaime had saved KL from Aerys’ “burn them all”, only to have his sister torch the place. This is what keeps me betting on wildfire.
I could nit pick a lot, but what really bugs me is that Dany’s hair always perfect for someone who has been riding a dragon…
Riverlands is the new Dorne, at least something happened there.
This was the 68th episode, right? And how did D&D treat you like a fool?
Oh that trailer for next week.
Oof.
I don’t understand why some people think Arya’s time in Braavos was a waste. Don’t you realize this was the plan? Think of what she brings back with her now. Damn.
ygritte,
It took forever to happen, but it’s happening. First of all, I want him to find out about the Vale.
I want to give him a hug. And tell him to shut up and let Melly resurrect him how many times she wants lol.
Honestly guys, not to shit on S5 too much but this ep was way better than any ep last season barring the last 3 and S5 ep 5. This ep really wasn’t bad imo. Maybe people overhyped the Arya stuff.
Monchis,
Really has nothing to do with Jon or big battles. They could have done things better. There’s nothing wrong with being disappointed in an episode of Game of Thrones.
The Hound’s little wink to the audience when he said “no I prefer chicken” so fucking annoyed me. Really, that’s what this show has become? Winking and nodding to the audience?
Sadly, I agree.
Ravyn,
Totally agree. Tyrion should be smarter than this. The masters are burning the city, and he is sitting around teaching them to drink and make jokes.
Oh wait a minute – what ships were those? Were they Iron Born? I didn’t think to look.
Sean C.,
Honor compels Brienne to do what would appear to be stupid things. I wonder if that will become an issue at some point in the future.
Bravos=new Dorne…
This episode may have officially killed the #hype for cleaganbowl. The hound is heading north. No trial by combat for cersci… But the hound is gonna end up with Heartsbane. You heard it here first lol… He’s always wanted some Vylrian steel.
Darkrobin,
Yeah. It felt a little rushed and anti-climactic. After that great speech by BF last episode, saying they have 2 years, etc., etc. And then 24 hours later, he’s dead.
Can’t hold it. Love the show but this episode was a complete SHIT. Maybe, except of the BwB which was sort of OK on the background of everything else. 1) Arya! I understand that the plot required her to be wounded to meet with Lady Crane once more but these stabbings into the gut would have been fatal under any normal circumstances!!! If she had to be wounded the injury had to be of lighter sort! 2) Cercey’s Franken-mountain killing a faith militant and no-one reacts (OK, maybe, Tomen’s decision to ban the trial by combat was a reaction but in such case it was poorly played IMHO). 3) Riverrun!!! OK, it’s a book cannon but threatening to sending a half-Frey legitimate heir of Riverrun by trebuchet was silly and if the Blackfish retook Riverrun, his men had to be loyal to him and not Edmure who was presented as a looser since we first saw him. No way, they would have obeyed his command to surrender. And the Blakfish’s refusal to come to help Sansa and Jon and Rickon! If he had to die due to the plot, D&D could have thought of something more believable – for instance, the Freys and/or Jamie could have slayed him and his men outside the castle after they left relying on their promise… And Brienne waiving good-by to Jamie was totally out of… I don’t know what. In general this was the first episode of GoT I didn’t like at all. Hope, some comments will help me to see something positive in it.
ash,
Nothing like getting the commander of your military drunk before a battle.
Pigeon,
It’s more the fact of how it ended, not the fact that she’s going back. It was completely uninteresting and predictable to a story line that was filled with mystery. Maybe D & D don’t have the chops that I thought they had.
I wonder what rumors Qyburn heard. About Joffrey’s death?
I wish the Riverrun storyline had lasted longer (by starting earlier in the season). It’s a good storyline. Shame.
I liked the episode. Thought it was better than the previous two weeks.
Braavos was a complete failure in the show(some would say in the books too). So I’m happy to see Arya be rid of that place.
Finally, once and for all we have an answer about Lady Stoneheart. She is officially cut. Interesting that they are setting up the Hound to be a part of the fight against the WW. Now, if he would just get back together with Arya. I don’t care how Hollywood that would be. I want it to happen.
I loved the Riverrun scenes, except for Jaime’s continuing devotion to Cersei, but I’ve long ago come to the acceptance that this is where the show is going with Jaime. I know why they are doing it and why they excluded the valonqar part of Maggy’s prophecy, and it is to up the surprise factor for what will eventually happen.
Cersei is going to burn that city to the ground and I can’t wait for Jaime to find out.
I felt the same about Jamie’s “The things I do for love”
Well, that preview makes up for the disaster this E8 was. All about Jonny Boy front and centre and the battle looks insane. I hope it is all in the North and I do not have to suffer through the Mereen stuff.
Hoyti Von Totiy,
Why don’t you wait until the series has ended before you make blanket statements like “her character is pointless” ? Until you know how it ends you’re guessing.
Nick Hartley does not sow!
I don’t believe the BF is dead…And anyone else think the hound was going to look up while pissing in the river to see Pod and Brienne sailing by? LOL
Inga,
Everything spot on. The Brienne wave was so fucking lame.
I never comment here. Ever. However, an episode that bad has me just reeling.
1.) Why even introduce the Blackfish? Pointless. He better have escaped.
2.) Arya learns NOTHING in seasons of training w/ the FM by going out in no disguise and trying to book a ship back home? Now she has superhero ability to take a stabbing? What was the point of the whole FM stuff??!! Sorry. Just too dumb on more levels than I can write about in one post. Sorry.
First episode I’m quite disappointed in. The Arya storyline has some huge plot holes in my opinion. The initial attack that caught her off-guard…. seriously wounded her… but still let her be able to jump, run etc. in no time… It really was bad writing. Suprised and my little hurt that the writers apparently trow logic out of the window. Kinda insulting to the intelligence of the audience actually. Really didn’t like the way it played out. I had hoped for a more heroic end for the BF also. Or even better: him joining Brienne and Pod… *sigh*
Rest of the episode I did like. Sandor, the BWB and the anticipation about how “the rumors” in KL will turn out. 🙂
These are all valid criticisms, except that I don’t believe that Braavos is necessarily pointless. Arya has proven that she knows how to put on a face, and in this episode, she shows she knows how to take one off – albeit without taking the time to clean it up. As long as she isn’t missing any of the magic in between, the ability to take the face of any victim you’re willing to kill holds huge potential.
Could you elaborate on last week’s plot hole? I feel it doesn’t all fit together very well, either, but I’d like to hear your perspective.
Flayed Potatoes,
I think the rumors are definitely about the hidden wildfire underneath the city. Though it hasn’t been hinted at very well.
It cracks me up how people come up with these big elaborate and complicated tin foil theories, from LHS to Arya switching faces/wearing blood packs-being saved by SF…, and then they act all whiny when their stupid fan fiction doesn’t make on screen. We have 15 episodes left in the entire series…and people want the freaking Clegane Bowl…are you kidding me? They hit a ton of plot lines and brought some much needed closure to the Arya plot. The peices are moving, and we have Brienne, The Hound w/ the BwB, Arya, and Wun Wun all heading toward Winterfell…if you can’t get behind and get excited about that, you’ve wasted 6 seasons of watching the wrong show. My only gripe about this episode was they should have shown the BlackFish’s final fight. Although, even there, they cleverly excused it as a fight that might end embarrassingly for the BF as he said he hadn’t had a proper sword fight in years, so perhaps I’m best left with the legend that was the BlackFish.
Not the worst, not the best; Still a better episode than the average and better than EP06, and on par with EP07. Definitely pivotal, and it sets up the last two episodes (aside Arya’s plot, which currently seems like the only one that seems to have concluded).
I wonder if The Faceless Men arc was just a one moment thing to serve as an experience for Arya or if that’ll play another role sometime later, because it felt like that Braavos story was more of a trip than play a larger role to the story. I suppose it’s still too early to tell.
Martin does this so much in the books that I quit reading them.
Wasted so much time with the BWB fingering each other’s asses (literally) and terrible jokes in Mereen but couldn’t even give Blackfish 20 seconds to kill some Freys and die on-screen. “I choose violence” scene was a dud too. Worst episode of the season.
Very disappointing episode. I’m sure everyone will be upset about no Cleganebowl. Not surprised though. It seems they may hack The Hounds plot as badly as Jaime’s has been. Beric is alive which means a definite no on LSH. Maybe the books will have a Cleganebowl.
Speaking of Jaime, perhaps my biggest disappointment was we didn’t actually see the expressions if Jaime and Brienne seeing each other for the first time, their lacklustre conversation, and continued regression of his character compared to it’s transformation in the books. I was really hoping seeing and talking to Brienne again would set him back on course.
So glad the whole FM travesty of a storyline is done. Show Arya gained nothing from it except an apparent superhero healing ability. I’ll be glad to read her continued character advancement through her real training that has been happening in the books. Not even going to comment on the Waif being the most obvious and messiest “assassin” ever.
Is the Blackfish really dead? No body, yes, but the Frey man told Jaime and he certainly wouldn’t have a reason to lie about it.
Despite no Cleganebowl I am really looking forward to the Wildfire in the Sept scene. And if its underneath the rest of the city….well, there won’t be anything for Jaime to go back to.
Sam,
I expected a quick reversal. Show!Jamie did about the same thing as book!Jamie did with Edmure … they didn’t have time for the singer to sing Rains of Castamere … while part of me hopes that the BF escaped, he died as he wanted to die fighting for his castle
Pigeon,
Re: arya — THIS
I loved how it ended
If that really “so fucking annoyed” you then your threshold for annoyance is comically thin.
Omg! They even made Clegane piss in the stream which I felt was a massive F-you to LSH (like telling us to stop bringing it up lol)!
Wow! I put so much thought into Arya’s stabbing, and it turns out she literally got stabbed and slept it off. Lmfao!!! This is how GoT makes you overthink things!
Danny,
100%. I was underwhelmed mainly because of Arya’s story and not because I wanted some theory to be wrong or right but because of the brutality of her stabbing and how she was able to run around, even that brutal fall down those steps. That alone could have killed her.
F it in any case you’re right about Jaime. Doesn’t care about anyone, or any oaths. All he wants to do is get back to banging Cercei. Hopefully the bad pussy kills him
Jack Bauer 24,
Waif is def dead. I’m not convinced that Blackfish is dead.
aabe,
I’d thought of wildfire as a crazed Cersei committing suicide and taking the Keep with her, but she could be planning on escaping ahead, maybe with Tommen, then taking her enemies out.
This episode and last episode killed my fears that the series was moving at too breakneck a pace, and wouldn’t stop, slow down, develop characters, and build for future story lines. It sounds like a lot of people wanted epic payoff after epic payoff, but instead, we got more a bit more subtlety than we’ve come to expect. Great stuff. And that Episode 8 teaser…wow. Sapochnik closing out the season is a dream come true. Hoping for a grand slam with 9, followed by a solo homer with 10 (which is usually more subdued).
CC,
Ah ha that would have been hilarious! Far funnier than Tyrion’s recent jokes. Speaking of which, was it supposed to be humorous the way Dany entered the room cause I got a chuckle out of it. Tbh I’m curious for the first in a long time about Dany because I want to see her personality now. I have a feeling she has changed and that Tyrion will have a moment of questioning his allegiance to her.
Who say’s, “Thousands of men don’t need to die: only one of us”? And why? Are they proposing a Bastard Dual to replace the Battle of the Bastards? But it doesn’t sound like Jon or Ramsay.
Sad the Blackfish and Waif died off screen. I wanted hype.
I need the Hound to reunite with Arya and go North to Winterfell. He knows LF betrayed Ned *wink* *wink*
Jon dont need more men…he needs Arya Fookin Stark to come home!!
After all the crazy shit I second guessed would happen to her, turns she is just a BADASS!!!
58th episode folks. This was 58.
Where are R&V? Having dessert? They should be out and about, terrorizing and shit. Are they waiting for big brother to come home, like good little dragons?
Instead, we get jokes from the pyramid sharkjumpers. Ugh.
Kamali,
OK buddy at this point, from looking at your avatar I’m realizing you’re probably like 12 years old so I get why it’s funny to you. To each their own.
Ser Christos of House Spekktra,
She slept it off like I slept off last night’s hang over. I think she recovered better than me I’m still f’ed up. I said on YouTube, we all coming up with crazy theories and it could just be terrible writing. It was
Very good episode!
loved the Jamie/Edmure scene..spot on for both actors
Jamie and Brienne waving goodbye to each other..i was like “AWWW.” then I was like “guuurrl, you bout to become #1 on the Cersei hit list..get your ass back to Turmond” lol
Rip Lady Crane..
Thse last 8 episodes in Bravos were worth getting that last 30 seconds “a girl is Ayra Stark of winterfell, an I am going home” even Ja’quen was slightly impressed
Was happy to see that Lem and Sidekicks werent acting on behalf of the BwB..Yea Beric and Thoros!! and was quite excited to hear that the BwB is looking North.. means The Hound is gonna be merging into the North story line so he may be back for a while…off topic.. was Rory’s accent always that pronounced? It stood out tonight for some reason.
I would have liked a little bit ..more.. with Dany’s return to Mereen…
it really is time to wrap that up and get her to Westeros so she can actually get a story line with some substance
and Kings Landing…oohh boy..gettin ready for the ‘splosions!!!! Seeing Cersei all smug after Frankengregor killed that Sparrow and then the next scene with that total put down by Kevan and Tommen saying “no more trial by combats” and not even looking at her as he leaves was PRICELESS ..then Qyburn telling her the Wildfire was REAL…ooohh yyeeeeeaaaa!
SciFiFantasyGirl,
Uh, are you sure that we were watching the same Jaime and Brienne? Because I basically saw the opposite of what you saw.
Darkrobin,
The Lannister men confirmed he died to Jaime. You think they were lying? He wasn’t trying to escape, he was trying to go out in a blaze of glory.
Beer Island,
What people are missing is that the Waif disobeyed Jaqen’s order: “Do not let her suffer,” he said. She stabbed Arya in the gut, so that she would die slowly. Arya gets away, and gets healed (no idea how much time has passed at that point).
The Waif’s cruelty and hubris brought her down. Sure, it’s a tad hard to believe Arya could be James Bonding off rooftops and such. But she has been well-trained to take a lot of abuse (not to mention that the milk of the poppy may have helped dull her nerves). Don’t fully buy it, but it’s reasonable.
I think the episode was great, it is very easy to jump to conclusions people forget its a series not a movie, this is a set up to a great many plot lines. The Hound joining BWB, Jamie Declaring for Cersie, Queen Denerys arrives and finds the City f***ked,. regardless of what people say this needs to be said this season or next, so i am sorry if everyone likes people dying and crazy twists all the time. I loved the episode and cant wait for the next.
Aw, I thought Lady Crane would actually survive. 🙁
I agree. It was a head-scratching moment for me. I mean, they could have given those 2-3 minutes of “joke time” to maybe some dialogue for Dany? Or, as a number of us have complained here, they could have allotted it to some Jon-Sansa or Jon-Mel earnest talk. Anyway, I understand Tyrion/Peter is the main character/actor and the show needed to give him a certain amount of screen time. But still… *scratching head
Thronedorne,
Yeah that crossed my mind too.
Ah, ok, I thought that got buried with Joffrey. Makes sense, though, it ought to be above ground and useful to someone. Not Tommen especially, but someone.
Am I the only one happy that Beric and Thoros are back? I couldn’t really hear their conversation, does Beric know of the White Walkers?
Her walking around defenseless and acting strange. I got the hint from this episode that she may not necessarily have thought they were going to come after her, but that just makes the scene two episodes prior where she grabs Needle and goes into hiding baffling, also. I didn’t buy into a lot of the theories that were being thrown around. I thought they’d go for the simplest answer (going to Lady Crane, etc.), but I thought they’d put at least one extra twist in it to show Arya’s cunning. Instead, the whole thing seems to have played along a fairly linear line to an uninspired chase scene.
I don’t want to be too harsh on the episode. I mean, it wasn’t a crime against humanity or anything, and as I’ve said, what happened in Orlando today may have colored my enjoyment of escapist entertainment. Hard to be sure. Anyone who reads my previous posts knows I’ve loved this season so far. This was just a bad speed bump. Next week looks like a return to form, and Sapochnik is back and Mark Mylod is hopefully done with the series (though I blame D&D’s sloppy handling of things more this time around).
Regarding the dialogue in the episode preview Jon probably wants to challenge Ramsay 1v1 but it obviously doesn’t happen.
Beer Island,
Where in the show was there any confirmation that Arya waking from her milk of the poppy scene was only one day from the earlier stabbing? There was no dialogue between her and Lady Crane or her and the Waif that would indicate “one day” was the only possibility. It could have been 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, a full week for all we know.
It’s only your own assumption that is saying 1 day or would you disagree with me on that?
Thronedorne,
Samwell Tarley joining the BwB. Sandor interested in his sword. Tells the new recruit he will give him 2 chickens for it. Sam does not dare refuse.
Yes they know
SansaStar,
I’m sure Cersei will burn King’s Landing to the ground, I just don’t think the wildfire was what Qyburn was referring to.
The Hound is my #1 as well! Rory really is fantastic, I have missed that guy so much. Really interesting what they’re having him get up to. Just seeing his name in the opening credits again makes me goofy. 🙂
Edmure: rawr rawr rawr fuck you! fuck you! no fuck off, I hate you.
Jaimie: The “wife” you’ve only seen once supposedly has a son
Edmure: OK where do I sign up to betray my uncle and entire family name!
Beer Island,
Why? Did he write this episode? Oh, because he hasn’t finsihed the books….. true, that
Danny
Yeah so much for his redemption arc (tho he did let Brienne keep the sword which will come in handy
Oh in the preview,
Usually give the show benefit of the doubt, after all visual medium is different etc and can’t perfectly adapt a literary medium but
Could be a case of getting over hyped about all the Arya theories, so basically that WAS Arya walking around cocky in broad daylight, who did get stabbed without at least some attempt at risky Pigs Bladder cushions etc let alone Tyler Durden, Jagen as Arya or even Syrio Forel etc
Still trying to figure out the point of Blackfish and Riverrun, especially if he died offscreen etc, we had all that Production and shooting for what reason exactly?
Somewhat understandable if he went with Brienne or something, means she has an extra follower etc but it seems that the whole thing is about Brienne failing and outside of that we are back to Square 1, eg Freys hold Riverrun
Also, the Waif isn’t particularly a great assassin, eg she is drawing far too much attention while chasing Arya and jumping off walls etc. Could be she was a trainee only just above Arya but still…good energetic chase for TV but this sort of thing needed more Thriller suspense
So Lem Lemoncloak was just some renegades, no intriguing split, no new leadership etc
Generally speaking I give the show benefit of the doubt but there is a nagging sense that there are those typical little mind-screwing bittersweet ASOIF twists missing. Kind of expected it to revert to “TV level writing” once they ran out of stuff to adapt though
SciFiFantasyGirl,
I’m not disappointed at all. The grave digger who may or may not be the hound is living on the the quiet isle is supposed to fight his brother who in the books is not confirmed as the mountain. That’s cool with me if Cerseis plan for trial by combat is undermined. To let her use Frankenmountain would’ve been a lot cheesier and too obvious.
Nick Hartley does not sow!
Flayed Potatoes,
Lol yes me too!
Young Dragon,
They said the “old” rumor. I don’t think it’ll be about Tyriont I suspect it’s about wildfire.
(My first post!)
Sam,
They’re paying him $300,000/ep they want him to be in it. I just think they haven’t really come up with anything of him to do. All this is clearly stuff GRRM didn’t tell them about and they’ve had to invent (though I guess Tyrion could easily have nothing to do in the upcoming books, too).
Why blame Martin when the show deviated so much from solid writing, especially book Riverrun siege lift, which was so logical?
Darkrobin,
What’s honourable about returning to the Lannisters something they stole from the family Brienne serves?
OT:
Peru….Hand of R’hllor!!! Madness!
😉
And what is it she brings? The needle? Few karate moves?
-like his sister edmure is falling for the same old shit….
-how the hell the the brotherhood know about the WW coming?
-where the fuck is gendry?
-blackfish’s death was comical…
– people complain about jon’s evolution (i am part of it) but god tyrion was sidelined this season…just here to make jokes
– king’s landing was not bad
-glad that arya’s coming back but still predictable and really feel she became THAT strong…
Coldfeet,
The jokes were meant to be terrible…that was the point.
This was what excited me. The Hound could be going to the North. He and the BwoB would fight against the walkers and possibly join Jon and co. That could mean he’d meet Sansa again! If that happens, please, please tell her about LF.
Serious question, did the whole Faceless Man Arya plot feel ENTIRELY pointless?
In the end, she never was No One. So it was a bunch of episodes of her being beaten up, failing to be no one, and then being Arya.
Unlike in the books, where it really is such a process and you feel her identity slip away.
If he dies, Mel will obviously bring her prince-that-was-promised back again, whether he likes it or not. So that does seem a little cheesy to me.
Sam,
Edmure commanded them turn over the castle. That puts a kink in the whole siege thing.
So how do the Brotherhood know about the White Walkers? I don’t recall anything in their previous appearances to the effect that Thoros sees things in his fires. Am I just forgetting?
I loved that they stole Audrey Hepburn’s boss blind-girl-levels-the-playing-field maneuver from Wait until Dark for Arya!
What was with Edmure’s accent, though? He sounded kind of like the taunting French knights from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Spending too much time on the Outlander-goes-to-Paris sets of late, maybe?
I think my biggest disappointment this season has been how badly Peter Dinklage’s talents have been wasted on consistently lame dialogue. I want my witty Tyrion back, badly!
Rhaegar the Barbarian,
I’m not sure that it is being upset at theories being debunked. I think that it is that the Arya’s actions last episode are not those I’d expect of someone who knows her name is on a list and that her likely assassin can wear faces and appear to be someone she is not. Where did the coins come from? You’d have to see a lot of clams to get that. Or beg a lot. The new outfit, etc. Instead of trying to be under the radar she’s out in the open. And some people thought that was to lure the Waif. It appears pretty obvious that that was not her objective. Then there’s the wounds, etc.
At the end of the day, who cares, she was going to survive and go back to Westeros one way or another. This is a fantasy after all. My time was more wasted with Tyrion’s “conversation.”
Cleganebowl is a corny tinfoilery from the fans and it will most likely not happen in the books. The Houng fighting his brother again would just regress his character.
Ginevra,
58th actually.
S1= 1-10
S2=11-20
S3=21-30
S4=31-40
S5=41-50
S6=51-60
S7=61-67
S8=68-73
Was hoping for more Sparrow slaughter. Nice little scene nevertheless
While the rumour could be Tyrion, my bet is that given Cersei is now cornered Qyburn is turning towards the suggestion there is Wildfire under the Sept?
Can understand the Jaimie Edmure talk, basically Jaimie played on the monster Edmure thought he was
Not too bothered about any apparent lack of Cleganebowl, didn’t think it would happen, figured Lancel would fight SRS and only recently considered Sandor a possibility if he used a Wildfire lit sword and it helped his character development by overcoming his fear while facing the cause
Enjoyed Arya and Jagen at the end at least, Jagen should have mentioned Arya wasn’t meant to suffer and so Waif failed but all is fine as many-faced-god got his due
Nadia,
Yes it was a horrible fucking ending to a great storyline.
Ginevra,
It’s HBO trying to make us fear for Jon’s safety this season lol. It’s not going to work.
Rhaegar the Barbarian,
People don’t whine because their theory didn’t happen, people whine because they have to make these goddamn theories because what we get doesn’t make any sense.
i love how d&d are so subtle about what will happen in kings landing. those two sure are sneaky
Btw in the preview, I think we’re getting a glimpse of the scene of Sansa telling Jon about the Vale and him being angry about it (“wars have been won with worse odds”, “you don’t know him”
Yep this sums it up for me, yes there were some things that bothered me, but it’s freaking Game of Thrones, i still loved it!
Not sure how to feel about the episode. I liked the Arya parts. Jaqen’s smirk makes me think my theory might be right that the FM never wanted her to be No One but were manipulating her into doing something in Westeros.
Most of the Riverrun parts were great. Until they just randomly killed off Blackfish. What the fuck!? It always seemed like in the books he still had a part to play and I understand that the show is going to condense the ending a bit and Blackfish is not an important character to non book readers. But why even bring him back just to kill him off screen?
I assumed this would be a really eventful episode and it just wasn’t. There was a couple of things that intrigued me. Like, where is Varys going? Did we just confirmation that Cersei is going to go nuts with the wildfire? And the Hound and BWB are going north apparently. Are they going to meet Brienne? Is Jaime going to end up being brought to them? But I just wanted a little more. Especially if next episode is going to be all Bastard Bowl stuff.
Also, what happened with Bran, Meera, and Benjen? And is anyone else hoping Dany, Tyrion, and everyone just abandons Meereen? I’m feeling more than a little burnt out from the storyline.
This is the first episode of the season I didn’t unreservedly love. There were positives, I’m not all doom and gloom and anger like a lot of people are, but I do share that slightly let down feeling. Maybe my expectations were a bit too high because I’ve loved the season so much thus far. I do think that if the Blackfish had decided to go with Brienne I’d be singing a different tune.
Oh well.
So f*cking disappointed. Season 1 and 4 can’t be touched anymore.
I don’t have any expectations for the last two, tonight crushed my hype. It was comical how it was rushed and uneventful at the same time. King’s Landing, Meereen, BWB and Riverrun were all huge disappointment. Also this Lady Stoneheart trolling is getting ridiculous D&D.
Wow. I need to forget this show until next week…
I just don’t get it. All the mystique of the house of black and white…just to have her tell Jaquen she’s going home? Two seasons’ worth of getting pounded by the Waif and with her guts exposed she takes her out off-camera in the dark? Weak, weak, weak.
Riverrun was boring, start to finish. The whole thing should have been skipped. Did the writers forget to plan a plot line for Tyrion this season?
I really think there’s some kind of a deal between D&D and GRRM not to move the plot too far before he gets the next book out. I just don’t understand the decisions they’ve made this year. It’s episode 9 and the plot has gone nowhere, save for Jon and Sansa both surviving the Season 5 finale cliffhangers. It’s still the best show on TV, but it’s slipping.
ash,
Tyrion was socializing with them prior to the slavers showing up. Is he supposed to be a greenseer and know they were coming before they did? Clearly, he misjudged them but not fair to make him seemed as if he was drinking while the slavers were attacking the city.
Possibly through Thoros, in the say way Mel knew about the walkers. Maybe he also saw it in the fire or something. 🙂
Clob,
So how do the FM work?
None of that bs face changing shit that doesn’t fit with how the FM work to begin with.
They don’t use faces?
I’m really surprised at all the negative responses. Other than the implausibility of Arya not dying after getting half-gutted, I thought that was great. It’s setting up some awesome stuff. Cersei burning down the Sept was all but confirmed. There’s no way in hell the Blackfish is dead. Those men practically cried when Edmure told them to surrender the castle. They’re totally sheltering the Blackfish and they’re going to turn and slaughter all the Freys as soon as Lord Walder arrives. Get real. The Hound is going to join the Brotherhood, which is back in a big way, announcing they know about the Walkers and will be part of the great war still to come. I’m excited we get the Volantis fleet attacking, too, as that means we’re going to get the Ironborn fleet coming in behind them to turn the naval battle for the Queen, and we’ll no doubt get dragons and Dothraki completely jacking everything up in episode 10. This finale is going to be huge. I’m almost more excited for that than I am for the Battle of Winterfell now. I just hope they show Bran again at some point and don’t make us wait for next season.
Nadia,
It was seriously pointless. Last week, Arya just walked around in the open like a naïve idiot begging to be killed. I thought for sure she was looking to get stabbed so she could play possum or something but apparently she just gets mortally wounded (nothing a band aide can’t fix though lol) for the sole purpose to push the plot point so Lady Crane can help her with her magical bandages…
Our HUGE, over two season long of Assassin’s Creed Arya training payoff is… Wait for it, wait for it… Wait…. SHE BLOWS OUT A CANDLE!!! Again…
Bearded Onion,
I didn’t hear that part but must have been right before Sansa says something like “But you don’t know Ramsay!” I’m getting better vibes from Sansa seeing this preview. I hope it stays that way and she tells him about her letter.
Nothing like not realizing that the attack was a SURPRISE attack and no one knew it was coming. Oh and most men get drunk before battle…. remember Blackwater? Oberyn before fighting the Mountain. Get educated kid.
Beer Island,
How could you blame GRRM for this?
Joey,
Spot on about Arya’s story ending. Thank god there are other people who thought this episode was shit.
I liked the Riverrun stuff from last episode, but this episode was so fucking lame. The Edmure Jaime scene was just bizarre, him being so defiant than all of a sudden just caving and giving everything up. Not only that, the idiot Tully soldiers just listening to him and handing themselves over to the Lanniester’s. Completely fucking terrible. Then to cap it all off, Blackfish off screen death.
You’re right, there has been quite a lot of filler this season, and I was shocked at how much in episode 8. There is so much stuff they could do and they’re focusing it on pointless shit. What’s disturbing is the Hound pissing in the River scene which many have pointed out, it’s almost as if D & D have let some of the criticism get to them.
Darkrobin,
I think it was king slayer telling briene of tarth in roose boltons bathtub where the vast amounts of wildfire we stored which was basically everywhere, sorry if I am wrong
I wagged my finger at Sherlock for defying the laws of blade physics, so GoT isn’t immune: a girl was stabbed. A girl would not keep running after the FIRST jump like she wasn’t hurt. Adrenaline can help people do amazing things, but even fantasy stories have rules. I wish we could’ve seen a girl shuck some Waif eyeballs (it’s becoming her sig), but I love they way that tied back to her blindness. If she could just get to the darkness. That was her advantage. I also chuckled at Jaqen’s response. Respect. Hey, he got his face added to the hall.
Silly Tyrion, trying to keep the masters from killing citizens. Nope, we’ll wait at the pyramid. I wanted V and R to swoop in too. Guess they’re still digging out? The Dany scene was pointless here. OK, she’s back. COud’ve waited till ep 10, but I guess they want to open with another scene because look, the Masters brought ships! And Yara is bringing ships! And no one beats IB on the water.
I’m going to assume the rumors about wildfire were that some more was still around, ’cause Cersei knows it exists. Qyburn practically shivering with anticipation to make more.
RIP Lady Crane & Blackfish & Jaime’s chance for a normal life with a normal girl. Though there may a flicker of hope if they survive the Great War. I think I know where this is going with Jaime and Cersei so I understand the rekindling of their relationship. D&D like to wring out all the feels.
LatrineDiggerBrian,
If the Hound likes chicken and likes making “fuck if i care” quips, then why is it out of place for him to say that?
Like in Season 2 when people got up in arms about the fart jokes some Lannister troops made before being ambushed by the young Wolf. That’s exactly the type of easy, low grade humor a common soldier would make. It’s totally in place and in time to the story being told. Like there’s ever been a time and place in human history where people didnt make fart and burp jokes.
Hound just wants some fooking Chicken.
Beer Island,
Still don’t get how the Waif knew she wasn’t dead, and knew where to find her. After all, the Waif saw her drowned.I guess she could have seen or heard of her walking the streets all bloody & injured. The Waif was a true psycho. Scary.
Danny,
This season’s Tyrion is just an alcoholic telling bad jokes (mostly cock jokes).
Tyrion has been used this season for bad jokes and he himself is being used as a plot device to try to humanize the Missandei and Grey Worm characters.
In other words, a waste of time…
Only my opinion of course.
I am so happy to have him back on my tv. As gruff as Sandor is, he is as brutally honest as they come. And brutal in general. I am happy that the BwB hasn’t gone off the rails and become a directionless killing organization. A few bad apples quickly taken care of and a new recruit. I guess the time with Brother Ray did help instill some change in Sandor. A purpose, which is all I ever wanted for the character. A sense of belonging to something good or that he believes in.
And the name in the credits does get me jazzed to. As does seeing him stand-up to pee. I know we won’t get a dick shot but there is always hope. The shallow side of me feels no shame.
Overall, I enjoyed the episode. I thought there were some great scenes. My real complaint lies with Arya. I would have loved everything about it, but, at least for me, I’m still finding it hard to accept she was just so nonchalantly out and about in last week’s episode. I can usually let things go, but not that. I still enjoyed her story this episode, it was just built on an unstable, in my mind, foundation.
The last two novels are anything but “solid writing.” For me, they are mediocre rambling filler…and that’s me being kind.
The basics of the Riverrun siege are pretty close to the novels:
ygritte,
It seems clear to me that’s when Sansa is telling him about the Vale
Joey,
…deal between D&D and GRRM not to move the plot too far before he gets the next book out.
I’m convinced of this as well. It’s the only thing that makes sense to me.
Anyone else get the feeling Mel is
ArgonathofBraavos,
This
I sure hope she tells him. But, it’s looking more and more like the Vale army will arrive in the last minute and save the day for Team Stark. I so hope it won’t go down that way though. Please surprise me D&D. That “plot twist” has been done twice before on this series.
armsbendback,
I don’t mind in character humor, but it seemed like a clear forced line that was for the sole purpose of pandering to the audience.
HereBeDragons,
How so?
Cameryn,
I couldn’t agree more. My guess is that people are upset about LSH and Cleganebowl not happening, and so they’re calling it “too predictable”
tkk,
I tried but you said it perfectly. Forming sense from non sense
Thanks.. I am of the mind too that is a purposely placed mislead by D&D. I mean she KNOWs about the wildfire bc she ordered it to be made at mass quantities before Blackwater Battle.. I just can’t see her NOT knowing the amounts. Anyway Im hoping it’s something entirely different but seeing how simple this show has been at times I wouldn’t be very much surprised if it is JUST the wildfire stash.
LatrineDiggerBrian,
Yeah, that was so dumb. They really could have done without that
Louis,
R
How do you know? Would love to see that.
Underwhelmed with certain parts, and loved others. Arya – what turned out to truly be a foolish carefree stroll leading to her being stabbed, her miraculous recovery, her further acrobatics. Plot armor central.
Always love the Hound. Doesn’t matter what he is doing or where or why. Dondarion was a nice surprise. Definitely got trolled with the LSH build up visually with the nooses from behind. Bravo.
Precious time wasted on Tyrion and that lame jokes scene. Really poor. And Dany arriving while her primary weapon flys away was lame, as well. What is she going to do? Walk through another fire, this time a burning ship, so that all the Masters will repent? Just kidding, but really, her arrival seems a bit out of sorts.
River run dialogue was very good. End result a bit disappointing and mawkish, what with Jaimie and Brienne waving forlornly goodbye.
Cersie setup seems rather obvious but good scene when Tommen pulls the rug out from her, leaving her destroyed and with only one way out. Reference to rumor, which we know from Tyrion in earlier seasons, means wildfire coming. KL will burn.
Rate it all a 6 out of 10. Looking forward to next week, even so. But damn it if LF saves the day.
Theory:
I’m a little baffled by people complaining about a lack of physical fighting between the Waif/Arya. Arya led her to a place where she could have the advantage, fighting with a weapon that has greater reach & allowed her to be in complete darkness. How would they have gone about showing a fight without any light? Cat warging simulator beta?
Hodors Bastard,
Madness !!!
I’m so mad!
Wow. I’m really surprised at the reaction to this episode. It felt very much like an early season Game of Thrones episode, with lots of character work and smartly implied action instead of on-screen action (though there was plenty of that with the Cleganes and Meereen, of course). Cutting the fight with the Waif was the only way to go, of course, not only because that was a great way to end the scene but because a fight scene in complete darkness is only interesting in concept; it’s not really watchable, obviously.
As for why we didn’t see the Blackfish go out fighting… I’m not convinced the Blackfish is dead. Not at all. But we’ll see.
One of the best of the season. Jaime gets some much needed character-work with Brienne and, unexpectedly, Edmure. The Riverrun siege ends sort of like in the books, but amped-up in its drama (of course it would be, because it happens off-the-page, between chapters, in the books).
Tyrion’s farewell with Varys was nice (he’s going to Dorne, right?), but his conversation with Grey Worm and Missandei was unbearable, at least until the three of them started to have some fun. A breath of fresh air, the end of the scene. And the start of the siege of Meereen was quite impressive visually, as was Dany’s arrival.
Arya’s snail-paced story finally pays off, and it does so in a great way. Arya Stark is going home, baby!
The little birds’ stories must be about the remaining wilfire under the city, right? Now that Cersei has no trial by combat option, burning the Great Sept down is her only way out.
Sandor being in good terms with the Brotherhood is a pleasant surprise, as is that Lord Beric is still alive and that Lem and the others were an off-shoot of the Brotherhood; the whole band wasn’t corrupted. So that was great. This seems to put an end to the silly LSH hype, which is great (for me) too, though I do feel pity for those who were still hoping.
ash,
Yunkai, Volantis
LatrineDiggerBrian,
Wishful thinking? Yes, he was told he was dead so I have no reason to think otherwise. I just think that if I were a commander I would want to see the enemy leader’s face to confirm it.
Sean C.,
I’m not saying it makes sense. Or that Brienne (and I’ll be killed for this) is the brightest and thinks things through. She is extremely loyal, honest, faithful, strong, earnest, etc. But I agree, to the normal person who doesn’t have whatever code she has, it does not make sense.
Jack Bauer 24,
Why is everyone so obsessed with seeing sword fights on screen? I thought that kind of restraint showed a degree of subtlety on the writer’s part. For Arya, the fight itself is not the important bit. It’s that her blindness prepared her for that moment. Same with the Blackfish. He died defending his home. Watching him get hacked down by Lannister soldiers would not have served much of a purpose. Overall, I am pleased that the writers are showing some restraint.
Yes, I’ve read and agreed with most of your posts before, and these are the issues that don’t sit well with me, either. Part of me felt like, especially at the end when Needle was revealed and she cut out the flame, that Arya really had deliberately been luring the Waif out and eventually leading her into her hidey hole trap all along. But even if, why didn’t the episode make that clear? Why did she risk getting so hurt? Why did she go to one of the only people that the Waif knew Arya knew in Braavos? Why did she drip blood throughout the streets and spread it along the walls? How did she go from feverish and dying one minute to superwoman the next?
TD,
For taking forever to write the books.
The reason the show included Riverrun was because they needed Jaime out of Kings Landing and away from Cersei. Brienne going there was probably so Jaime knows where she is going and that she found Sansa. Where this leads with only 15-16 episodes left, I don’t know. I think people just have to get used to the show cutting corners. Too many characters. Too many storylines. No more books to adapt. Getting to the end is going to be clunky.
Luka Nieto,
This X 1000
Sam,
Just because the Vale arrives at the last minute doesn’t mean Jon doesn’t know.
The previews can be misleading but it does seem like this – ASSUMPTIONS AHEAD:
1) When Jon is sitting at the table, it’s after she’s told him about the Vale and he’s not happy “wars have been fought with worse odds” or something and she tells him he doesn’t know Ramsay
2) He challenges Ramsay to buy time??
3) But Ramsay either refuses or forces Jon’s hand somehow (Rickon?) and so he has to go into battle without the Vale
4) the Vale comes
DancesWithDireWolves,
Welcome to the Wall! 🙂
Nadia,
But it never really does. She killed the black brother for not obeying Jon and the we got the Mercy chapter where she took down a person in her list. When is she ever not Arya in the books?
Nymeria Warrior Queen,
Yeahh, it’s bugging me the way she let herself be so easily stabbed, it makes no sense. still i loved the final scene
He didn’t die fighting for the castle because the castle was already lost and nothing he was going to do was going to win it back. It was suicide. He died fighting on the castle but he definitely was fighting for the castle. Completely pointless death. D and D and complete hacks when they don’t have the books to leach off of. They had that one great seen with Robert and Cersei and Hardhome, besides that all of their book variations have been shit. For the last 3 seasons they have only been interested in ending the story, not telling g a great one.
I think he means he hasn’t made progress on his books so the writers are grasping in the dark and it is starting to show a bit now
Jack Bauer 24,
How do you show a fight in the dark? Lol
Come on people
weirwoodtreehugger,
where is Varys going?
My guess is Dorne. We will see Dorne in Episode 10 so perhaps???
Interesting to see the venom. Why? It wasn’t perfect, but it was more than fine. Better than almost all of last season! Other that the yes, Terminator-ish Arya regeneration… What was everyone expecting? I wanted there to be more to the House of B&W for many years… but really, it’s BLACK and WHITE. Complex it ain’t supposed to be.
Lady Stoneheart – seasons too late for that
Blackfish surviving? Meh, never saw how that was going to happen
All the Arya theories we came up with in the past week… well, the deliberate baiting of the Waif I think was confirmed, it just didn’t turn out like we thought exactly
Everyone I watched this with was NOT a spoiled by everything bookreader preview deconstructor watcher and they liked the episode just fine. EXPECTATION of something that isn’t what you think you were entitled to is the root of all pain… 😉
Poor Peter… what a horrible season overall where he had nothing to do…
Nymeria Warrior Queen,
Maybe it was to show that she’s still a little naive and arrogant when she should have been more stealth.
Dunnoo if I made sense in what I was trying to say
Ice Spider,
Could be the rumor Tommen is not getting the good stuff from sweet Marg…(shrugs)
I didn’t want to see the fight in the dark between Arya/The Waif, but I think they cut it too early. We could have lingered in the dark a bit longer, to build the tension, and then heard a few sounds (grunts, cuts, steps) before we cut to the scene in the House of Black And White. Would have been better, imo.
Roz’s Ghost,
The waif and Ramsey looks like they do these things in real life.
Nadia,
That makes sense. My thought process isn’t up to speed after only 3 hours sleep. But yeah, what else could she be using as reason to delay him? Obviously she has to tell him wait for the Vale to arrive and he doesn’t want to for whatever reason.
I just freaking loved this episode even though Arya’s storyline this episode as well last week’s and her survival are a bit far-fetched and kinda lame since the only reason why Arya survived is because her character has plot armor. It’s rather disappointing, I expected more from D&D’s behalf on concluding Arya’s bravoosi soryline :/
But, in spite of the plot holes, I think the end of the episode (from the moment where the Waif enters Arya’s hideout) is pretty f*cking brilliant in the way it has been shot, edited and acted. I sure will miss Tom Wlaschiha but I’m a bit disappointed that even “Jaqen H’ghar” is not 100% a faceless man and 100% no one, since he clearly has a soft spot for Arya.
For me, the highlight of the episode was DEFINITELY the Riverlands storylines !
Riverrun was just perfect from start to finish, I’m soooo glad the siege of riverrun ended the same way it does in the books. The Edmure/Jaime scene is one of my favorites of this episode ! The dialogue was spot on !!! We got an even better version of this scene in the show than the original one in the books. I cheered when I heard the word “trebuchet” 😀 That’s the Jaime I love ! For those who were concerned about Jaime’s evolution throughout the show and those who complained that D&D butchered his redemption arc : every single of Jaime’s scenes proved them how MUCH they were wrong ! That’s the Jaime I know we saw in this episode, the Jaime we all learned to love since “A Storm Of Swords”/Season 3.
My only disappointment in the Riverrun scenes is that the Blackfish died (and offscreen…). But I didn’t expect less from that old good Brynden, he died like the war hero he had been back in the day. I’m glad the show managed to give his character a proper end. I loved his scenes with Brienne.
R.I.P. Ser Brynden “Blackfish” Tully :'(
But THE scene or may I say THE reveal that made me absolutely L-O-V-E this episode is the return of Beric F*CKING “Lightning Lord” Dondarrion and Thoros of F*CKING Myr 😀 😀 :3 :3 :3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
I knew Paul Kaye (Thoros) was about to come back this season but there were no confirmation that Richard Dormer was about to return as well !!
Seeing their lovely old broken badass faces after all this time made me SOOOOOOOOO HAPPY ^^ I litterally cheered OUT LOUD when I saw them onscreen about to hang Lem's band of traitors and false members of the brotherhood without banners ! I've never been so happy when watching this show (except for the Jon/Sansa reunion).
I'm SOOOOOO glad and relieved the BwB didn't go rogue and still has Beric as a leader.
And here ends the Lady Stoneheart hype train and I'm so freaking happy ! I'd rather have a good old Beric Dondarrion as a leader of the BwB than Lady Stoneheart who is nothing more but a zombie and the mutilated shadow of the person she once was.
I'm also glad the BwB hasn't forgotten their REAL purpose and right now I'm just sooooooo hyped to see Beric, Thoros and Sandor leading the BwB and head north to join the Great War for the Dawn yet to come !!! This season is DEFINITELY the season of the (useful and meaningful and non-gratuitous) come backs !!!
The return of Thoros and Beric really made my day and I think I have to watch this episode a few times more because I think I need to have a bit more objective opinion on this episode 😀
I'm not surprised there are a "lot" of people who are unhappy with this episode because it saw the end of two hype trains: the Trial by Combat Cleganebowl train and the Lady Stoneheart train but actually I'm pleasantly surprised by this because it broke off with our expectations. I like when the show and the books decide not to give us what we want and what we expect (which happened a LOT).
So right now, I'm REALLY curious and excited to see how KL's storyline will unfold this season ! I just can't wait to see that !!!
Gregor "The Mountain" (Ser Robert Strong) Clegane has only given us a glimpse of his gruesome and destructive potential 😀
I just can't wait to see what is the rumor Cersei and Qyburn talked about.
For me, the weak part of the episode was Meereen. These scenes felt very weird.
I won't say a thing about Varys' departure because I'm 100% of who the allies Daenerys needs are according to Varys…
But the rythm of the Meereen scenes was very irregular. The first scenes seemed to drag, I thought the joke scene would never end (even if it was better than the previous Tyrion/Grey Worm/Missandei scene in "Oathbreaker").
And then every thing went so fast ! The arrival of the army of the slave masters of Slaver's Bay and their attack felt sooooo rushed. And then, Dany's arrival seemed so awkward and anticlimatic. Even though Meereen's storyline has got a few very good scenes (in "Home", "Book of the Stranger" and "The Door") it's definitely the weak part of this season. It feels like D&D didn't what to do with Tyrion and all the characters attached to Dany's storyline until Daenerys finally comes back. Most of the time, the Meereen scenes felt like pure filler and Tyrion's political maneuvers with the Masters ended up being completely pointless and useless. But let's look on the bright side ! By the end of this season we will FINALLY say goodbye to the Slaver's Bay storyline 🙂
So, overall, I really really enjoyed this episode even though it was less climatic than expected and had some plotholes on Arya's part and weird-rythmed scenes in Meereen. It might be my 3rd or 4th favorite episode of the season after "Home", "Book of the Stranger" and maybe "The Door" and it's for the most part due to the Riverlands. But maybe my point of view on this episode will changer after a second and a third viewing.
Exactly I totally agree.
Sir Imp hand Strong,
I disagree with you on everything you said prior to this season. I think they’ve done a great job up up until this point. This season has been a lot more sloppy than the previous seasons. It’s almost like they’ve been butt hurt by the criticism and just want to get done with this show so they can move on to being able to do whatever the hell they want in Hollywood and TV for the rest of their careers.
Hahaha! Good one. That would have been the best scene on this show ever. NOT! 🙂
Enjoyed the episode. Cersei was treated abominably by her son, but the fact that she and Qyburn (note the ‘burn”) have done their homework and prepared for just such an eventuality is very clever. Kevan and Pycelle aren’t long for this world either. Anyway, all these scenes were necessary to explain the desperate move team Cersei is about to make. Enjoyed Riverrun more than I expected to but sad to have lost Blackfish, especially as he survived in the books. Edmure has always been worse than useless, and it’s so appropriate that his weakness brought down his House and its honour. I hope the story about the son is a lie. Even Bronne teasing Pod was lame. Meereen took too much time–a few weeks ago Tyrion’s filler was lame games, this timeit was lame jokes. The Masters’ attack by ship and the timely arrival of Dany on Drogon should have sufficed. I’ll miss Varys, but suspect he’s heading to treat with Dorne, a step which will help propel Dany and co. to Westeros. The biggest letdown for me was Jaime and Brienne. They were so stiff-upper-lip that it sapped the emotion from the scene. At least he refused Oathkeeper. Good the BWB is what it should be and was hanging the rogue members, but that took a little wind out of Sandor’s sails. I hope he doesn’t convert to R’hllor. I miss LSH, but…so be it.
Braavos. How glad I was that it was Arya’s plan all along, though she took an unnervingly huge risk. This is much more plausible than supernatural intervention from Jaqen, Syrio, etc. Arya knew what it would take to get Jaqen to assent to her leaving peacefully, so she did what she had to. And I loved her literal self-assertion to Jaqen. A girl does have many talents. Arya had even inspired the best of Lady Crane’s Cersei performances. Too bad she died, but I think that just fired up Arya even more. Brava Essie Davis. Incidentally, Arya’s interest in seeing what’s west of Westeros is very intriguing and may hint at her eventual fate. Perhaps after the WW are defeated she’ll hook up with Gendry and they can keep on rowing westward together.
So it goes this way.
5 awesome first half episodes
3 underwhelming second half episodes.
Let’s hope the other 2 goes being awesome.
There were sections of this one that I really enjoyed and others simply made no sense to me (Arya). However, one thing stood out- the superb score. Ramin Djwaldi is killing it! Does anyone know when we will be able to buy S6 music?
I was kind of expecting another Hardhome type episode 8. While this was no Hardhome, it did have its moments. I almost expected Dany to say What The Fuck?! when she came through that door. It would have been appropriate, because, really, wtf did you think the Masters were going to do with the reprieve you gave them, Tyrion? Of course they were amassing forces.
Arthur,
GW/Miss roles were amped up because D and D liked them apparently. I couldn’t care less about those two characters.
This week I’m going to be so interested to see the pictures, to see if they show anything except the North! Please gods let episode 9 be all North
I think the opposite will happen and she will be the one who will save the day.
Beer Island,
In agreement on that front. I just feel they’ve strayed so far from him as it is, it’s hard to place blame outside of D&D.
I loved the scene with bronn and pod
Had me actually laughing
I love the comedic scenes in such a dark and serious show.
I loved this episode so much!
I watched the the preview for “Battle of the Bastards” which looks pretty f*cking amazing and intense and I’m not sure if I got right some of the lines we hear in the preview :
– Jon : “Battles have been won against greater odds. I’ve fought beyond the wall against worse than Ramsay Bolton.”
– Sansa : “You don’t know him.”
– Jon : “If I fall, don’t bring me back. Thousands of men don’t need to die. Only one of us.”
I’m not entirely sure what Jon says after “Battles have been won against…”. Can someone enlighten me on that regard ?
They could have spent several seconds with just sounds. Maybe cut some seconds spent on the “joke scene” with Tyrion and co. 🙂
I sort of wish Osha was there: “Does he eat them after? No? I’ve seen worse.”
On a smaller note…
Qyburn has GOT TO GO. Something about his smug face.. Not a fan of him thinking hes the next Varys either.
Yeah, the episode was crap. Especially the Arya conclusion. I’m not gonna dwell on it. As Bill Belichick would say, “We’re on to Winterfell.”
Sam,
Meh
Though I didn’t care much for the joke scene , I didn’t need steps and sounds, it’s so obvious what was going to happen anyway
Beronn Stark,
I think you got it right… “Battles have been won against greater odds”
gewa76,
Disagree with you but love the bellicheck nod haahaha
gewa76,
LOL
Why would you need sounds?
Just use your brain and know what happened. They fought in the dark, end of story.
Just how I used my brain and know Robb Stark won several battles without being shown
Jack Bauer 24,
Apparently, ONLY A FLESH WOUND. Arya as Black Knight.
There sure are a lot of people on this site that need to stop watching and go buy another video game for their xbox.
It is really amazing we have this show at all. I mean what other book series this large has ever been successfully made into a decent show. None.
Now, having said that I do think the lack of source material has affected the writing to some degree. Tyrion’s scenes in particular. But I think the writers are doing a reasonable job.
I liked Jaime’s scenes and the dialogue with Brienne and with Edmure. Also liked when Brienne explained her Lannister sword to the BF.
As for Arya, it went much the way I thought and hoped. If you think about it, it really was a good story line but they made a mistake in making her stab wounds look like they should be fatal. Change that to one shallow stab or slash and the way it played out made sense. Everyone would be raving. And, we don’t know how much she learned from the FM. They can’t show everything. I think we will find out next season.
I feel like I got my money’s worth tonight. I loved the Arya ending even if it was a bit of a stretch. The Hounds arc meeting up with BwoB and going north perfect. We call that Lagniappe down here in the Big Easy.
It was so anti-climactic and predictable, I’m completely glad they cut it. I mean what other outcome would happen? It was so obvious from the moment they showed her blow out the candle at the end of episode 6. Why did they even need to show that? Boy they’ve really spelled out a lot of stuff for the audience this season.
I’m so happy that LSH hype is dead.
Sir Imp hand Strong,
Oberyn before fighting the Mountain. Get educated kid.
And how did that work out for Oberyn? His head’s not quite the same. Guess it was the hangover?
Men who are used to getting drunk do. If that’s his first time having a drink? It was said half in jest but you seem to take it personally like I’d said something about your family.
If you dislike that I criticized Tyrion’s scene I’m sorry. It did not work for me.
And thanks for calling me at kid. I haven’t been called that in 50 years.
I wasn’t expecting LSH at all (I think that ship has sailed) but thrilled to have Beric and Thoros back. As for Cleganebowl, I don’t know anyone who expected it this episode. I don’t even expect it this season. With Tommen axing the whole “trial by combat” defense, it doesn’t mean Cleganebowl won’t come to pass in season 7. The reason behind it will just be different. The brothers have to meet. Well, they don’t have to but I expect it to come to pass. The circumstances will just be different and Sandor won’t be fighting him for revenge, but instead in defense of someone. Joining up the the BwB I think he will “turn a new leaf”, so to speak, and won’t be ruled by hate or revenge. He’s going to fight his Brother to protect those he feels deserve being saved.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what rumors Cersei was referencing to when talking to the maester? Could it have to do with Tyrion? Varys? Or Sansa?
Ice Spider,
You could be correct. She did tell Qyburn to send his birds to all the castles of their enemies. The Tyrells, the Martells, arguably the Arryns and Boltons, a lot of birds for a lot of enemies. Any thoughts on what it could be? It seems like the Tyrell’s role in Joffrey’s murder is a favorite guess.
ArgonathofBraavos,
Obviously, thanks. But that doesn’t mean 5 minutes of screen time should be wasted on failed attempts at comic relief. There’s 15 episodes left in the series the writers need to focus on what’s important to the story.
To be fair they are part of the crew and it would be ashame to have two people of color to be just there and not have a bit of screen time.
Thank You D&D for understanding and being smart show runners
Sir Imp hand Strong,
Jesus Christ. Did people watch the same episode as I did? Tyrion, Grey Worm and Missandei did not know there was about to be a battle. They didn’t know that the Astapor and Yunkai fleets would be attacking. Tyrion was drinking and feeling good because the city had reverted to normal due to the influence of the Red Priests and a cessation of Sons of the Harpy attacks. The leaders of Astapor and Yunkai, having seen that Meereen was being ruled by a foreign dwarf, decided that the city was ripe for the taking. Grey Worm indeed told Tyrion that letting the masters of Yunkai and Astapor into the city was a mistake in the first place. And it was. Tyrion underestimated them, and they smelled weakness. Indeed, Tryion’s permissive, 7-year deal was probably interpreted as a sign of weakness, which they decided to explot. And so they have, by attacking the city. If we actually think about show logic, rather than wait for our pet theories to play out, the show makes a whole lot of sense.
I really love Jon’s line to Melisandre from the trailer for next week: “If I die, don’t bring me back.”
Haunting.
Flayed Potatoes,
In Kissed by Fire episode in bath, Jaime told Brienne about the caches of wildfire beneath the Sept, Flea Bottom and the Red Keep. If he told her-you know he told Cersei.
And Bran saw it all exploding in his vision-and it was an image of something that obviously hadn’t happened…yet.
“Burn them all!”
Well, me thinks CleganeBowl is on hold.
LOSE HYPE.
Cersei has had the same attitude and motives since S1E1. Getting super old. And Jaime’s development is quickly fading and hes reverting back to old Jaime (in the show anyway).
Yup, Jon may know help is coming but I’m still hoping to be surprised. 🙂 I’d like the battle to be won not because of the Vale joining in at the last minute. May not be possible but as I said, I’m ready to see a pleasant surprise! (note: the operative word here is “pleasant”) 🙂
Firannion,
Maybe Thoros saw something in his flames??
Ser Marksalot,
The HoBaW is looking like a boot camp of sorts for broken people to go and “find themselves.” The whole breaking you down so they can build you up stronger. I don’t think it’s even possible for a regular person in this world to truly become “no one.” And that is why creepy Jesus smiles. Arya has found herself, and now she goes back to her kill list a bit more skilled if she even does. That’s the only thing I can make out of it.
I find it odd when people say LS served no purpose….really? Is anyone no excited to find out what will happen with Jaime and Brienne in the books? Cuz I am. LS story is not about just her, she will put a lot of characters into Dilemmas. Imagine her meeting up with one of her kids. Pointless? Forget about it. I rather those possibilities than freaking Thoros and Beric riding around getting killed 10 times a week. They missed the boat by cutting her out. And for the people who say death has no consequence if they bring her back…is that not what they did with Beric?
Where is Varys going and did Drogon burn all those ships? Why would he drop Dany off and fly away if the masters were still attacking?
To all of those who didn’t enjoy the episode particularly for the lack of a Lady Stoneheart, then take note that It was already stated two years ago that they wouldn’t include her.
If you didn’t like the episode for the lack of any confirmation of a forecoming “Cleganebowl”, then stop falsely raising your anticipations because of “theories” thinking they are facts. Not taking account the likelihood of those being false will just hurt you in the long-run. It’s why they’re “Theories” to begin with. And there’s always hope for something similar in future episodes.
Looking at E9 preview, the whole 1v1 which reminds me of Jaimie and Robb etc If this whole Knights of the Vale saves the day at last minute thing holds true, then after the whole “we fight with the Army we have speech” and the Phalanx vibe vs Wildlings it seems to be a bit of a vibe that like Stannis Jon was doing nothing more but leading a failed rebellion and those under his command to useless slaughter
Really expected some Manderly etc this episode, OK I can understand the Vale saving the day if things are very delicately poised and in the balance and they just about tip it in team Starks favour (keep in mind I’ve steered away from spoilers)
In the books dare I say, it is becoming clear that as winter sets in, the the Northern Clansmen with their fishing skills, winter hooves are much better suited to winter warfare than Stannis’s Southron troops, the Wildlings then are effectively the premier winter fighters in an environment where large scale mobility is largely restricted, eg we see things where the Freys are being led into traps etc
Ironically enough, it’s the blizzard conditions that halted Stannis’s Army which is the best conditions for Jon to deploy and fight a war with a predominantly Wilding Army, even then only loosely engage and keep pulling the Boltons units out of formation without the capacity for Bolton cavalry to come in and mow the Wildlings down, Wildlings are more mobile in such conditions so they can isolate and destroy units. It’s a slow going, methodical death by thousand cuts approach
OK, if we are going to get pitched battle in cleared conditions, it would make sense to have a large unified force from the Manderly’s as the main disciplined Professional fighting force who won’t break in the centre, with other Houses Professional soldiers either around them or in Reserve, have them engage and fix the Boltons into position, THEN you use the Wildlings who are effectively auxiliary troops or skirmishers to harass and engage/swarm the flanks and with Wun Wun especially they can predictably then cause the Bolton formation to crumble and ripple through their ranks, then it’s a matter of Bolton reserves being deployed to shore them up but that is what Stark Reserves from minor Houses are for
If Jon is just going to put auxiliary troops right into the Centre then he’s not much of a military commander as they’ll predictably break very quickly get slaughtered.
And this is without going into the lack of any identifiable Cavalry. Now either have Jon recruit the Sellswords who deserted with Stannis’s Cavalry, or wait until wintery conditions settle back in which helps to neutralise Ramsays Cavalry
If Jon is seen throughout the season to rush in with the Wildling Army “that they have” and then gets them near slaughtered this isn’t character development setting him up as any kind of leader in the way Robb giving misinformation and sending 2k instead of 20k against Tywins force was for example
Coldfeet,
I don’t think it was wasted. It was nice to see Missandei and Grey Worm cut loose a bit. And for story purposes, it showed that Tyrion felt his plans were all playing out (the deal with Astapor and Yunkai, as well as the deal with the red priestess Kinvara). He thought he had Meereen all figured out, and so he was celebrating. With wine. The celebration of his calculations (which were probably miscalculations) were then interrupted by a sudden attack by the Astapor and Yunkai fleets. It made a lot of sense, in these respects, to include that scene.
And that’s what I enjoyed. I was worried this season would really start to rush to the finish line, but instead, it’s taking its time developing characters – even minor ones. And as we know from experience with this show, people who are minor characters in the beginning (the Hound, Brienne, Pod, Hodor, etc) can end up playing very significant roles in the story. Perhaps that’s the case with Missandei and Grey Worm.
While the Mountain isn’t going for Trial By Combat. As for the Navy: me thinks it’s coming special delivery. Deus Ex Iron-Islanda.
And yeah, I saw just a trace of a smile on our Kindly Man.
And they did.
King Podrick,
By that logic where does it end?
How many 100s of actors are cast for this show?
Do each of them deserve their “fair share” of screen time and character development?
I love the actress that plays Missandei, she is talented and beautiful. But they are not important characters to the show and any character building is only done out of respect for those actors and not because it is necessary to move the story forward.
Again, where does it end? The showrunners should pick and choose where they spend their time wisely.
But oh well, my opinion matters nothing in this case. Only theirs do and maybe they see a more clear view on how to broaden appeal then me.
I am a nitpicky bookreader that’s all. I bet tons of people like you love the screen time we get with Missandei and Greyworm.
Edit: Also, I bet if they contractually wanted to lock those two up for all the seasons, they had to promise a certain amount if screen time or something.
Getting Westeros ready for the queen’s arrival, with Dorne as the first leg of the tour.
Bah! Another boring episode FOR ME 🙁 I got spoiled with the great start the season´s had and all I want now is action…NO more character building for me
You gave me hope, and so I had to check…
The official HBO stance on the Hound had always implied The Hound died but never stated that explicitly. However, for the Blackfish, we have:
http://gameofthrones.com/game-of-thrones/season-6/episode-8/people/21/brynden-the-blackfish-tully
ladywolfsbane,
Interesting I watched with several non-book readers who thought the episode was subpar. I liked the episode but it was probably my least favorite of the season. If there are 8 episodes then one of those is the least favorite unless you like all of them the same. I did not expect LSH, I did not expect Cleganebowl (it may never happen on the show, but Gregor vs. Sandor will in my opinion likely happen at some point in the future in the books, unresolved issues there, did not think it would happen for the trial – too soon after Sandor returned)
I expected Arya to leave Braavos and head to Westerns. Her seemingly easy recuperation from wounds was the more minor issue, my greater issue was her wondering the city like no one was after her and any person could be the Waif.
Tyron proved he does drink. Didn’t think otherwise. The sooner they leave Meereen the better (and the less time spent there, at least from what we’ve seen so far this season).
Jack Bauer 24,
Because CGI budget…
This one felt intentionally trolly. Arya takes milk of the poppy, sleeps the whole ep and still no nym dream? Cat is mentioned like 10 times and Lem just butchered the village for kicks so the hound can join BwB? Blackfish dies offscreen? Brienne goes all the way to RR for a Jaime chat and Pod stance training? Don’t even get me started on Arya. At least they made it believable by not showing the fight. Mereen plot is a circle. Cersei having a REAL trial? Woo hoo (sarc). Will Sam Waterston guest star? Is Andy Griffith free to defend?
Jehphg,
Yeah, just because I have issues with last week, given how it played out this week, doesn’t mean I didn’t like Arya this week…if that makes sense.
It makes perfect sense, and I did think of that, but…I guess I just give her more credit than that. I also thought, well, maybe the whole thing was intentional to lure out the Waif, but if that’s what she was doing, she shouldn’t have been unarmed. It’s probably going to be something I just have to accept doesn’t sit right with me. It’s ok…there haven’t been many things like that with this show for me.
Yeah, about the HYPE we were going to GET… D&D have other plans for our Hound.
Ravyn,
Don’t listen to him Mel! Listen to Sam…he always comes back.
Who burned her ships? The masters wanted her to leave so why would they burn them?
King Podrick,
Then I wish they’d have given the two more personality. They could have been so much more but instead they wanted to give them screen time that’s underwhelming and doesn’t seem earned.
But is that what happened? Did Drogon burn the ships? I’m confused.
Please by all gods old and new and drowned and light and seven, let episode 9 be all North.
I know people will mock this but it absolutely feels like this has gotten the short end of the stick thus far. Tired of feeling like Jon is fading into the background. If I have to watch Dany give another speech I’m going to be annoyed.
Since no one else has said it, I just want to take a minute to compliment Lena Headey. Her smirk when FrankenGregor ripped that Sparrow’s head off was terrifying. A lot scarier than Gregor is. Plus, she kind of tricks me into rooting for her. Then I remember I’m rooting for Cersei and wondering what the hell I’m even thinking. So props to her.
And Rory too. I <3 him. Great to have the Hound back for two episodes in a row!
Does no one seriously understand why Jaime did and said what he did during this episode? First of all, it was pretty much exactly the same as in the books, but with the added complexity of Brienne being there. Now add the subtext of what was going on with him and Brienne, understand the goal he had in talking to Edmure, and go from there.
Or, if you still don’t see the complexities behind that scene, read this from D&D:
http://www.ew.com/article/2016/06/12/game-thrones-jaime-brienne-reunion
Arya didn’t know the Waif was after her. She asked Jaquen “You sent her to kill me?” She should have known but explains why she was just walking around Braavos.
I’m very surprised with the massive amounts of whining in this thread.
It wasn’t the best episode, but it was good. The only thing I didn’t like was the Blackfish dying offscreen. I thought he’d escape with Brienne to go help Sansa. They could have used an experienced general.
Blackfish passes the torch to Brienne http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06/13/game-of-thrones-clive-russell-on-brienne-and-the-blackfishs-connection?abthid=575e2a59c636fe7a50000026
Nadia,
Around the internet the sentiments seem to be the same. And unfortunately Mereen will feature as well next week, but I sure hope it’s brief.
weirwoodtreehugger,
I agree with everything you just said. I figured that this episode would be action-packed, a game-changer, since the last two episodes felt transitional and getting the dominoes in place. But yet again, another transitional-type episode. Like you said, there were parts that intrigued me…but nothing that really caught my attention and made me go, “oh shit!”. I wouldn’t call it a bad episode…it was decent. Part of the problem is that a lot of people started a lot of tinfoil theories, and when none of them happened…like, not a ONE…they felt super disappointed with the episode. To have three transitional episodes in a row, with only two more to go, concerns me. Having two episodes jam-packed with action, major sequences and alarming deaths is awesome…in theory. In reality, I feel that it can make the plot seem rushed, like the previous 8 episodes could’ve been left out. This is what worries me, with only two, shortened seasons to go. This season marked the beginning of the ending chapters of the story. Transitional, slow episodes just ain’t gonna fly in season 7, imho.
Some people seem to take criticism of the show like they are family to D&D. I’m not one to say the whole show suck or I won’t watch. I just want plots that make sense, that makes you say, ok, didn’t see that but ok kool. Really when it comes to it, it just highlight the genius that’s Martin because when they show runs out of material you can tell. I don’t care about off screen or on screen death or clegane bowl or LSH. Just write shit that makes sense because before they started winging it, it did make sense. And if they would take away screen time from certain pointless exchanges we would have time to work out the plots. Like Bronn and Pod scene, pointless when your strapped for time.
Always thought there is a longer game being played by the FM. Although Arya is not a FM, she is some kind of mole in Westeros who will be called upon when least expected. If there were sufficient episodes left to cover that subtlety.
Ice Spider,
If Cersei is truly bent on vengeance I would find it entirely plausible that she sent out little birds with wildfire “gifts” to the lords she feels betrayed her family…
Just looking around my usual GoT after show places, and it seems people actually liked this episode. These are more general audience reactions, not necessarily fanatic ones. Nothing spectacular (it’s not trending on Twitter right now), but people seemed to have enjoyed it.
That’s what I figured. I mean, we know it doesn’t take anyone particularly advanced to see in the fires, since Selyse did. So, if Thoros has the ability to bring people back from the dead, seeing things in the fires isn’t really a stretch.
ArgonathofBraavos,
Maybe if they had lookouts posted they would have seen ships before they got close enough to the city to bombard it?
Ravyn,
Most people I follow on twitter – writers included – think it was meh.
If there’s more with Jaqen’s plan for Arya, I’ll be happy. They just need something, an extra layer, so it doesn’t end on that anticlimactic note.
Yes. I thought D&D had more ability than was shown in Ep 8.
Can somebody tell me where is Ghost?
I don’t understand how someone can say that (in the same sentence) that Arya’s training in the house of black and white was a waste of time, and that her ending was predictable. Was she blinded before she went there and learned to fight? A couple of episodes ago she got super wrecked vs the waif, with a weapon advantage. However, her training there learning to fight while blind was 100% why she has become a better fighter/killer and able to survive. Yes the plot armor that Arya has made it very likely she would win, but that is inevitable no matter the odds she had stacked against her. If bleeding out 2 days in a row is not convincing you then you are pretty much not going to believe anything will kill her.
That shot of the arrows coming down on the charging Stark forces – holy hell
Who burned Dany’s ships?
Dragon Tender,
🙂 No Cleganebowl, thank the gods. And yeah, Deus Ex Drogono-Deus ex Volante-Deus ex Iron Islanda. lol trying to recall the ablative case which I’ve had no reason to remember until now!
When you get stabbed and hurt and are trying to save your life adrenaline kicks and can push you to survive and fight no matter what
I have never been through it my self but I have heard stories
It’s not unbelievable that arya was able to get though the way she did
Called it that The Hound will end up joining the BwB..Also good to see Thoros and my main man Beric Dondarion back. Apart from that a really flimsy episode. I know its a fictional show and involves magic and shit but Arya recovering from a couple of mortal abdominal wounds in less than 12 hrs seems a little too unbelievable
King Podrick,
“smart show runners.” have to chuckle. what about areo hotah? how did they handle him? or all of dorne for that matter? they white washed it. wheres sarella sand? you call them that for having gw and miss or having speaking roles? like they haven’t had speaking roles all series?? how about how they handle nudity and rape? still smart? or not including chataya, alayaya, jalabhar xho, strong belwas, etc? (who are all characters of color from the books in case you are only a show watcher, which you probably are) were they smart when they didnt include them?
They use the faces from the hall… faces of the dead. That’s the bs in the theories. People were suggesting things from Arya putting her face on someone else to it being Jaqen using her face. “That isn’t how it works” is how I wrote it during the week. The FM don’t morph into living people.
—
As I said, I thought they told it very well. Anyone that had issues with Arya doing what she did after being stabbed apparently has never seen a movie or TV show before in their life. Action movie stars would be dead ten times over in their films. As for the money she offered the ship captain… she was also selling seafood for a long time. Remember what she told Jaqen, she had usual routes and usual customers. Add that to other means of aquiring monies and it’s not a reach. I’m not going to go back any more over my thoughts of what was going on other than I figured it was much more straight and simple, as it turned out.
I like the idea of going back and forth between battles in Westeros and Essos, but are you just guessing Meereen is in next week’s episode?
I don’t know if anyone here was a BtVS fan back in the day but his story and Buffy’s story after she jumped off the tower and was brought back are very similar. Guess now Game of Thrones needs to do a musical episode. 😛 Jon can sing “Heaven, I think I was in hea-ven….”
When I have the same opinion about an episode as Luka Nieto, I know I am on the right track.
jonbonsnowvi,
Completely agree Mr bo vine joni?
Clob,
“They use the faces from the hall… faces of the dead”
Arya’s face was used in season 5 episode 10
ygritte,
How do you know mereen is next week
Where is Varys going?
Jack Bauer 24,
Good questions? Dorne maybe? And, as Meereen is next episode as well, I think the ships may be still there for one more episode. Plus the more ships Dany has the better.
Went to find his sister and her pack… 🙂
I couldn’t help but notice the timing of Varys’ departure. Could he have betrayed Tyrion by orchestrating the Battle of Meereen? Varys has a deep hatred for magic, which seems to extend to the Red Priest. Varys may have felt betrayed by Tyrion incorporating the Red Priest into his plans for Daenerys.
On a side note, I really hate how small GoT has made Tyrion this season. IMO his best scene was with the dragons. All of Tyrion’s other scenes feel like he’s done nothing but f***up. I’m really hoping he’ll be able to stay on as Dany’s advisor…but we’ll have to wait and see.
Jack Bauer 24,
Not that I saw, he just landed on the pyramid to drop off Dany and we saw him flying away. Then Dany walked in looking all beautiful as always.
I thought Drogon burned the ships?
Hodors Bastard,
I thinks they are having fun with the knot. Goerge got himself in knots over this stuff and so did D&D trying ro leap frog it. If the books were in play BS would be in Tyrion position, while Tyrion would be in the Yunki camp with Brown Ben Plunb. All the Gould do is twiddle their fingers and tell jokes while wIting for the story to catch up.
We have got the dragons unchained however, d dragon riding and her uber Kahl on the way and the battle of Morreen about to happen.
I think Tyrion will face a lot more to do next season and that he Varys and Sam might form an interesting threesome.
Yeah. I noticed she looked extra glowing in her one shot.
Anyone think Dany ends up with all the slaver’s ships?
kit_hepburn,
What I wondered (and I’ll get hell for wondering it) is that as RR is south of the neck and south of Moat Cailin, I’m gathering Brienne and Pod had to take the short cut around LF and his troops at Moat Cailin (or on the King’s Road headed north for Sansa) – talk about two ships that had to cross in the night …
Yeah, but right after that excitement adrenaline drops and the body drops, too. If there are wounds, adrenaline won’t help. The only way to survive would be medical attention/intervention. Anyway, TBH, I don’t mind that. People may call me cheap but I just love that Arya is finally coming home! “A girl is Arya Stark of Winterfell. And I’m going home.” Ah, couldn’t help but cry when she said that.
That would be bizarre for Drogon to drop Dang off in a war zone and then fly away and leave her in danger…
I enjoyed it. Probably more than The Red Woman. But I didn’t find the episode to be one of the best episodes ever, on the whole. And I even really enjoyed the Arya part, despite the issues. The slowness, the lack of the North, and the queerness with Meereen without anything truly epic to balance the show out made it much better than most shows but still not quite as good as a typical GoT show.
Ravyn,
Well subpar to the rest of what has been an excellent season. I agree with those who say a subpar episode is still better than almost everything else out there. So don’t take it as a criticism.
Jack Bauer 24,
They must communicate telepathically or something and that’s all she asked of him for now… LOL, IDK, that’s what I am rolling with…
kit_hepburn,
don’t know whats so complex about it. he wants to get back to cersei. so he threatens edmure’s child and gets him to surrender the castle. again, to get back to cersei. cersei, cersei, cersei. pretty clear cut motivation. dont let the show fool you into its “complexities,” its not the books.
Ser Marksalot,
Some. Those the dragons don’t burn
How are they going to kill all the masters on the ships?
AND I’m not one to believe that’s truly what was happening. I’m not a book purist by any means, but that was a show invented scene to add mysterious thrill. I’ve always explained that to myself and the belief there were potions/poisons involved to create hallucinations, regardless of whom appeared to have drank anything.
I loved the scene with Danys arrival! Wish we saw more!
jonbonsnowvi,
I disagree with you so much it’s actually ridiculous, lol. But that’s OK.
That’s what I thought when I saw that scene, but then the one in Ep 6 where she gets Needle and goes into hiding doesn’t really make sense. I don’t want to harp on the Arya stuff too much, because I enjoyed most of it, but having seen the final resolution of the Waif just leaves me with more questions, and not in a good, thought provoking way. In the past, the show actually did a really good job with putting together a narrative that didn’t have holes. Even when I disliked a certain thread (The Theon torture stuff, for example), I couldn’t argue with the soundness of the narrative. A lot of that probably has to do with GRRM knowing his material inside/out. But this sequence is beginning to show a bit of “quality leak” because the flaws were pretty obvious (example: How did the Waif get the face of the blonde actor? Did she just kill him, too?). Once again: I’ve otherwise loved this season. It has one of my favorite episodes, my all time favorite moment (Jon-Sansa reunion), and has been pretty solid, overall. But this just left me cold.
TD,
Maybe the original takes him out?
Wait til they storm the pyramid and toast them like Greyworm said.
Darkrobin,
Do not engage in the mental gymnastics that are Brienne’s travels.
Clob,
Re hallucinations
That works but just wasn’t clear at all if it was the case.
Jack Bauer 24,
They also want to attack Meereen, so if Dany doesn’t have ships then the city is defenseless. She’d have to rely on the masters’ ships to leave if she wants and they will have the upper hand. Nothing would stop them from torching those ships once Dany and her squad get in.
Ginevra,
Look, let’s be honest. Even the best shows have down episodes. The odds are just too high that everyone will be a home run. Believe it or not, even Breaking Bad had some really shitty ones, even in its last two seasons.
So…the bw0b’s are going north?..How many men do they have?…i heard somewhere they have a lot of deserters and that was last season…could they have even more now? Maybe more than what briene would have gotten from riverrun plus a good commander (beric) plus the hound (who knows all about Lf) plus thoras (who wasnt asked to not bring jon back if he fell)…..this could be a very interesting battle…very interesting indeed
Jack Bauer 24,
I’ll have to re-watch. Didn’t see that
Tyrion was there with Varys and this season established that he has an extensive spy network set up in Slaver’s Bay. So, how come they had no idea Volantis was prepping its large ass fleet and sailing towards Meereen? It’s pretty clear they’ve been planning this for a while.
The whole Tyrion storyline could have been as amazing as the one he had in Season 2, where he was preparing the defense of KL. Shame.
After the underwhelming last two episodes (and especially the boring last episode), the show is back on track! Loved this one. Loved the entire Riverrun story and how it unfolded, loved The Hound and BwB, loved King’s Landing and Meereen and Braavos. This one is a keeper.
They’ve been slaves all their life serving and obeying how would you want them to act?
Anyway it was nice for Tyrion breaking their shell a little
Perhaps in the show, no, not specifically spoken. However, there’s little reason to have a hall of faces and ACTUALLY wear them if there wasn’t a need for them.
White washed Dorne? Wow, you must’ve missed the complaints (mostly on westeros) about them casting Areo as black and Nymeria with an actress who’s half Singapore Chinese. As for nudity and rape, well, imo, it’s a damn good thing they cut out a lot of the rape that was in the books. Can you imagine if they’d kept all of it in the show???
jonbonsnowvi,
What to you think Jaimes next move is? I’ll stand corrected if it is anything other than getting back to KL. If not, it’s as simple as it seems. As far a show Jaime goes, his moves seem more limited than book Jaime. There is really no other place he could go that would make sense for his character. I feel like the show’s kinda got him pinned in a corner. If you see a way he can ride up to Winterfell that makes sense I’m all ears
Oh, I was just replying to someone asking how that fighting scene could be shown. I didn’t necessarily want that to happen. All I care about is Arya Stark of Winterfell is back! And don’t worry, I’m pretty much sure I can use my brain for a show like this. 🙂
Ser Marksalot,
Yes, if Drogon doesn’t torch them
Lancel should have been the one to have his head ripped off. Maybe that would have improved the episode for some 😉
Changes from the books that most diminished the story:
1. Craster’s Keep: Craster’s wives saved themselves from the Night’s Watch mutineers. They didn’t need rescued.
2. Dorne
3. LSH: The Hound can’t take the place of an angry mother. Even if GRRM made a mistake with her, it added heart to the story…
What ‘s with: Arya recovering so quickly from a fatal injury./ CGI monsters (cartoons aren’t scary)/ Fireproof Dany doesn’t work the second time/Blackfish dies offstage instead of getting away/ Too much ghost in the machine….
OK, Jon Snow’s resurrection was perfect…
Flayed Potatoes,
Perhaps Varys knew of the incoming fleet. His departure before the arrival of the fleet is slightly suspicious.
Ginevra,
I agree, this is GoT and even an episode I don’t really care for (like this one) is still better then any other show on television IMO.
I just was really looking forward to seeing The Hound battle again. I was expecting something like that bar scene with Arya and the now famous “you going to eat that chicken” quote. Don’t get me wrong it was cool how he just walked up on that camp but it seemed like a somewhat lazy payoff (as far as money and time and coordinating a fight scene normally goes on GoT)
Then the Riverrun payoff. Yes I know it went like the books for the most part but it seemed so anticlimactic IMO. And him waving to Brienne was cheesy. Is this GoT or some Princess Diary flick?
I was expecting some really cool, badass Assassin’s Creed Arya stuff and for it to all make sense why she would just walk around town and let herself get gutted like that. But all we got were some chase scenes and another candle being blown out.
Like you said, give me at least one visually epic payoff and I would have been fine. Just one of those three storylines and I wouldn’t have been so disappointed.
I love this show and I sing its praises when I finish watching an episode and am in tears of excitement all the time on this site.
At the same time I am not going to bite my tongue and pretend to like an episode when I was disappointed.
For all of you who weren’t disappointed by this episode I am truly happy for you.
Sam,
Thanks 😉
JD,
But Varys is on Tyrion and Dany’s side. It makes no sense for him not to inform them, especially since he’s backing Dany to get the Throne and wants to set up Tyrion as her adviser/hand.
What are they doing to and with Tyrion? These “jokes” aren’t funny. It’s not even close to the Tyrion from seasons 1-4.
Prayer circle for Davos btw.
Ser Marksalot,
Remember there’s a lot of slaves rowing those ships. I don’t think they need to storm them but rather sneak aboard
Joey,
I wanted Arya to defeat Waif on screen too but think about what Jaqen did at harrenhal. He killed all of those guards off screen. Now Arya learned how to do the same. She now has her “many gifts” to bring back to Winterfell. I am still scratching my head on how she was able to leap and run with those wounds. I was hoping lady crane was a fm and gave her a potion that wasn’t milk of the poppy. But a more straightforward answer is Arya has new Jedi skills and Lady Crane was really good with a needle as is Arya
You blame Martin for this… Care to explain why?
Flayed Potatoes,
Varys seems to have an extreme hatred for magic, including the Red Priest. Since Tyrion started using the Red Priest, perhaps Varys decided to betray him because his hatred of magic goes beyond his partnership with Tyrion. This is pure speculation of course, but it kind of makes sense, though I may be wrong about a few of the details.
kit_hepburn,
haha agree to disagree! i guess i just wish he had his stance on cersei in the show like he does in the books.
maria,
In the books, Cersei burned the Tower of the Hand using wildfire. She did that after evacuating everyone, hoping to burn Tyrion if he was still hiding in the tower after killing Tywin. She could do the same with the sept – unlike the Tower, the sept need not be loaded with wildfire because it already is. Even now, Cersei has no need for a suicidal action – all she has to do is to set fire to the sept, kill the Faith people and some smallfolk. Since it was a fire, she can actually get away by calling it an accident. Setting fire to even one building in KL using wildfire is dangerous, but when was Cersei the most prudent of people?
Ofcourse Waif died offscreen, there was no fucking way to see the fight in the dark anyways! As for Blackfish….im not entirely sure that he actually died and i think it was purposely dubious.
Rumour is totally the wildfire. Shit’s really about to go down. And so much for Cleganebowl, although we should’ve seen this coming, obviously the Mountain killing the brother would have consequences. Cersei just keeps on digging her own grave.
Lots of LSH trolls by D&D lol. The BWB stuff and Catelyn namedrops. And absolutely loved how everyone on this site were freaking out about a 1000 different weird senseless overly complicated Arya theories. And that Syrio Forel shadow thing? LMAO. Serves all you idiots right.
I hope Tyrion had better lines this season, i liked the first joke scene they had, but this second one was a bit too long. Overall this season, he’s only had two good scenes, the one where he made the deal with the Masters, and the Dragon scene. Atleast Dany is back, looking forward to their interactions.
Overall, one of the weaker(probably weakest) episodes of the season for me, but still good, especially cos this season is already atleast on par with season 4 for me, with episode 9 and 10 yet to come which will push it to number 1.
Is there anyone in the whole world who actually laughs at the cock/pussy/tit jokes? I’m wondering.
The jokes are getting redundant. How many awkward conversations ith Tyrion/Missandei/GW did we have already?
And the gag they pulled with the sparrow attacking the Mountain is also a repeat from shooting WunWun with an Arrow.
I have a LOT to complain about this particular episode, but I’m afraid I’ll only get shit for it on this site (no offence, I still like the site), so I’ll leave it at that.
I’m late to the party. Stupid Stanley Cup.
I’m seeing a lot of complaints but that always makes me smile. I was a bit puzzled at how Arya managed all of this after being stabbed and then Jaquen let her go but really I’m not taking it tooooo seriously. For me it was entertaining and believable, if u believe that the Jaquen character is the same man she met in Westeros or even if he is just the kindly man who has taken a liking to Arya, which seems plausible given that he kept her on after what happened with the thin man and Trant. Plus it was fun.
I’m wondering why there isn’t more speculation about the exchange between Cersei and Qyburn. I didn’t hear the full thing so I’m hoping someone covers it in the recap. It’s too late to watch again. Must sleep. And Fuck Tommen. That made me angry, and u don’t even like Cersei. But she loves him and he is supposed to love her and it cannot come out that he is a bastard of insect.
I’m with you! I actually appreciate those like you who can see both the good and the bad things about this show. Much better appreciated than those who just constantly criticize it (like the show is doing nothing right!) and eternally praise it (like the show doesn’t have any flaw at all!). I liked this episode. Is it perfect? Definitely not. But you’re right, a not-so-great GOT episode is even better than most shows on TV today. So, while there are things I’m baffled about, I still am mighty grateful for this series and will continue to support it until the end!
TFT,
I loved the exchange between Missandai and Tyrion. I loved Tyrions joke about the flies. You can have your opinions. But don’t get angry when ppl don’t share them.
I’m guessing Briene and Pod will meet up with the bw0b….coff…army on the way north. I always thought briound was a way better match than tormiene. I hope those two lugs dont fight over her
JD,
Varys has said on the show that he’s been working on a Targ restoration since Robert came into power. That’s around 20-21 years. He is not going to undo his plans because he doesn’t like that Tyrion hired some televangelists to preach in the streets. By crippling Tyrion he also cripples Dany because Tyrion is left defenseless in Meereen with Dany’s unprepared Unsullied army and two dragons. It makes no sense for him to betray either.
He doesn’t know Dany is coming in with a Dothraki horde like the LOTR eagles to save them.
btw….i just copywrited …is that a word?…. BRIOUND…u heard it here first….:)
I know some people didn’t like this episode, but I really enjoyed it, for the most part. Not super exciting, but still interesting.
-Loved the Tyrion/Missandei/Grey Worm joke scene. I have been so bored with Tyrion’s scenes this season (apart from him setting loose Viserion and Rhaegal), so this was definitely welcomed. I liked Dany just casually walking up to them at the end of the episode; gave me a little chuckle.
-The Hound’s scenes were alright. Interesting that he seemed to be in constant contact with Beric & Co. I don’t think they’re going to bring her in, but if Lady Stoneheart were to pop in for the finale, that’d be awesome.
-I absolutely loved the Arya stuff this episode. The ending was GREAT. Only thing I wished was that we got to see her fight the Waif and I really didn’t like the way she just left Jaqen there at the end; I mean, I get why she did what she did, but her leaving her mentor, if you will, was still a kind of bittersweet thing to witness.
-I was so torn with the Riverrun stuff. Loved seeing Nicolaj/Gwendoline together on screen again, but I certainly didn’t like the way Jaime and Brienne parted ways. I do not care what anyone says. They love each other, whether or not they’ll ever realize or admit it to themselves or not. The dynamic between them is amazing, and this is coming from someone who hardly “ships” characters. It was upsetting seeing both of their expressions when they waved goodbye to each other from Brienne’s spot on the river and Jaime’s spot in the castle.
-Please excuse my language, but Edmure is a pussy. Why give up your home that easily and without a fight? The Blackfish did it the right way. Maybe I’m naive, but I don’t believe he’s dead; not until I at least see his body.
-Pissed that Tommen squashed my dreams for Cleganebowl.
Anyway, now that episode 8 is out of the way, I’m so completely utterly excited for episode 9. I’ll bet money and say next week’s episode could possibly be one of the best episodes of GoT period. I guess we shall see. It’ll be fun to see Kit, Sophie, Iwan, Liam, Kristofer, and (more than likely) Aidan all together on screen at once.
Serves them right? They’re just people having fun at making theories. Well, you got the most mundane theory you wanted: Arya is Arya and kills the Waif and goes back to Westeros to kill a bunch of people. Congrats man.
aabe,
Except Cersei will try and take out anyone and everyone she can who has been amused or gained by her fall from grace. Remember that scene with the mountain killing the loud mouth in the pub. What’s she gonna do to the people she really hates.
I’m not angry at all, but this IS what I mean about getting shit thrown at me (the me being angry part). :p
So….with all these off-screen deaths….who is getting the Beautiful Death poster? Lady Crane?
TFT,
For writing so slowly that the show lost it’s blueprint.
Thank you GoT for the enjoyable build-up of Arya’s adventure in Braavos. It’s been great fun rolling in the speculation as to how Arya could escape in a plausible fashion.
Sadly all good things come to an end. But no fear, we can fix this unfortunate plot hole.
For next weeks conjecture:
Arya actually died from her wounds… Lady Stork(secretly a witch or something like it) brought her back to life but only partially(milk of the poppy, maybe mixed with dragonglass)…Arya, now an un-dead wight, can withstand stab wounds while running and jumping from buildings (compare to the the wights at Hardhome).
Upon returning to the House of Black and White, Jaqen sees that she is no one (Arya is already dead). Arya proclaims that a girl is Arya of Winterfell. Jaqen smiles and lets this slide, the many faced god has already taken his due.
Now I feel better…you can too
Atar79,
Their fight was in the dark
Can’t watch on screen
I enjoyed it. Glad to have Beric and Thoros back, especially with their knowledge that “the cold winds are rising.” Sad about the Blackfish and the loss of Riverrun but it was not unexpected. Good riddance to the Waif and the HOBW. I still don’t quite get what happened and why. Cersei will be opting for other measures and I can’t wait to see it. I’ve had my fill of Jaime and his love of Cersei.
As an aside, Tobias Menzies was outstanding tonight.
Roz’s Ghost,
Because Arya walked through the streets of Bravos bleeding on everything.
Anybody else get the feeling from the expression on Cersei’s face when Tommen walks out of the throne room that, even though she’s pissed not to be getting her trial-by-combat, she feels proud that her tenderhearted son is finally growing a spine and giving peremptory orders like a proper little Lannister?
TFT,
And it was fun. I was disappointed (and while I liked that she lead waif to her hidey hole and fought blind, I thought the whole chase rather ridiculous) but I loved that she won, and that she’s going home. And it was still fun to speculate, so there ….
This was not my fav episode (did not like BF dying, tho I suspect he isn’t dead and will go north to help lead the armies), didn’t like that Edmure was a traitor (I understood why, but still….really?) hated Brieene and Jaime’s little wave. Hated what they are doing with Tyrion, and how Dany just comes through the door like nothing happened (so did the dragon go burn the ships?) Thought KL and BWB with Hound was perfect. Hoping that the next two will be great. Would love it if Jon and Ramsey fought 1:1. Hoping that BF goes north to help, and that Arya, Briene and Hound meet up. But maybe I should stop speculating. For now anyway….
In a generation we will see ASOIAF adapted to the visual medium, I don’t even know what this is.
Just watched my double sesh via Sky Atlantic and SA+1 – Time to report in and then off to the sack (its 5:30am here !) A good job I’m retired 😉
A great episode in all respects – I fook’in loved it 🙂 For me especially the Arya/Waif scenes and The Hound with the BwB. Was great to see Thoros of Myr and Beric Dondarian again. At last finally one thing has been put to rest after all the fan speculation for years? NO LSH
I had to chuckle when Sandor kicked away the stools, took the boots off one of the rebels still swinging and then asked if there was anything to eat! I think he then said something after being given some food that he would have preferred chicken 😉
Fucking great… The Hound is back to his old self again and has not changed his character as some fans had speculated.
Cersi’s – “I choose violence” scene I thought was a bit tame? I thought The Mountain would tear threw all those sparrows (including Lancel) rather than ‘just pulling the head’ off one of them! Also interesting was Tommen’s royal decree that Trial by Combat would no longer be permitted. So looks like the ‘Cleganbowl’ theory has gone down the crapper also 😉
As for the Riverrun scenes, that turned out differently to what many fans (me also) had thought. No big battle scene there either. I thought the Blackfish would have gone off with Brienne and Pod, but looks like he was killed off scene which is a pity. I guess the bottom line here is Sansa, Jon and the Wildlings, et al won’t have the support from the Tulleys in the Battle of the Bastards.
What else – The attack on Meereen finally happened, but really thought we’d see Dany’s other two dragons in this episode toasting some ships! However, with Dany turning up unexpectedly (I presume via Drogon with the Dothraki army – didn’t we see a flash of Drogon behind Dany when she made her entrance?) that will probably be in next weeks episode. I had to laugh also when Tyrion persuaded Grey Worm and Missandei to drink some wine with him, tell some jokes and she got a bit pissed just on a single cup full 😉
Finally – the Arya and Waif confrontation was epic, but sad that Lady Crane was finally murdered by the Waif. She was the only real friend Arya made in Braavos. In the end, Arya’s training and fighting with a staff when blind was the Waif’s downfall? She could fight in the dark, but a pity her killing the Waif with Needle had to be taken for granted. The ending was classic with Jaquen saying to Arya that now she really was a ‘No One’ and her replying ‘No – I’m Arya Stark of Winterfell and I’m going home’ was a brilliant line to end that episode.
My conclusion – A most enjoyable and a great episode 🙂
Yes, they do. I’m glad *someone* finally said it. Maybe if people started realizing that Jaime’s story is a love triangle, start watching it and looking for foreshadowing with that in mind, people will finally see where this is going. I certainly wouldn’t worry about them parting ways – they’ll meet again, and soon.
Prediction: Jaime is NOT going back to King’s Landing.
kit_hepburn,
Agree.
Flayed Potatoes,
What would Varys do if he thought Dany was going to spread magic throughout Westeros? That might not be quite the thinking of Varys, but it might be close.
Tyrion is tying the Red Priest to Dany. What was the point of the Red Priestess Kinvara’s dialogue with Varys, specifically the knowledge of his castration? Part of Varys’ opposition to Stannis was that Stannis had a Red Priestess with him. Varys hates magic and its practitioners. Tyrion may have lost Varys as an ally simply because he started using the Red Priest to help him consolidate the people of Essos for Dany.
Basically to Varys it’s:
Magic = Bad
Red Priest = Magic
Tyrion = Red Priest
Therefore, Tyrion = Bad
It’s possible that Tyrion = Dany = Bad, but I’m not sure if Varys is trying to hurt just Tyrion or Dany too.
Afterthought,
Any future adaptation will likely be even less faithfull, but none of that will happen until well after GRRM’s death, and likely after most of ours. The best you could ever hope for is a big budget animated series, but even then, I doubt it would have near the audience of this show.
I’m really not sure what was going on with the Dany scene. Dragon had to have burned the ship.
No they’re not having fun, these people make utterly ridiculous theories and then throw a hissy fit when it doesnt come true.
Eagerly awaiting Preston Jacobs’ reaction 🙂
JD,
The point is to give Tyrion and Varys something to do to kill time before the siege of Meereen and Dany’s arrival. Screentime. Simple as that. Dany isn’t going to bring a fleet of priests to Westeros when she needs to bring soldiers. There was no hint in the show that Dany is a religious fanatic and as Tyrion also said, Dany “has followers of many faiths”. She isn’t going to be Tommen the Blessed.
Varys doesn’t see the world in black and white. He’s also not an idiot. Tyrion using some priests for propaganda isn’t going to destroy the Tyrion-Varys relationship the show has been building for 5-6 seasons.
Young Dragon,
Definitely, rumors that Varys would have planted (after all they are HIS little birds) hence him setting off to Westeros (secret mission) ahead of Danerys arrival. Varys will be off to set things up but I wonder if he knows exactly what has/is going down. hmm
Nymeria Warrior Queen,
Not a guess. Read it as part of a spoiler. Which I know could be false, but seems legit.
Dee Stark,
I reddit and it sounds probable 🙂
Welp, didn’t expect so much hate for the episode. For my part, I freaking loved it.
Barring the few Arya storyline plotholes (saved by some awesome acting, choreography and cinematography), I’m a sucker for episodes with this much talking. It, like the one before, reminded me a lot about season 1 and what drew me into this series first: political maneuvers, word-exchanging, scheming, betrayal, on and on.
And I just fucking loved Riverrun. I’m still not sure what they’re going to do with Jaime, but it was so fucking FRESH seeing him more like book!Jaime than that weirdo Cersei-adoring slave they made him the last two seasons. Hope they hold on to that. And hey, as much as I got to understand him in the books, he still made the “bad guy” choice because he is a Lannister and he knows the shitty thing is what he is going to do, and he made it clear to Edmure. I don’t know, I love this Jaime.
Actually I didn’t mind Meereen. It’s the weakest storyline this season, sure, but it was nice to see Missandei, for example, laughing after seasons of being so stoic. The shot of the ghiscari fleet attacking the city was just beautiful, and actually my only grip was the Dany entrance (I just can’t be excited by her anymore, huh).
And I was already again on the LSH bandwagon, but hey, I cheered when I saw Beric. That guy’s fucking awesome (and it’s hilarious how, being everbody concerned about Kit Harington, the producers seemed like they could bring back so many actors and nobody noticed). I guess this is the final nail in the coffin for Stoneheart (I was looking for anything hooded as my last resort of hope and sadly nothing was there). But it got me fucking pumped because instead of Cleganebowl we might have the Hound fighting the undead army and White Walkes. Shit, now THAT I wasn’t expected to get hyped for.
This is the Game of Thrones I came to love: small doces of HOLYSHITINYOURFACEMOMENTS and more setting and plotting until it finally blows up. That was the magic of the first three seasons. And I actually enjoyed these las two episodes more than, say, “Book of the Stranger” or “Home”.
Yeah, thank god other people thought this episode was shit, otherwise we’ll have another 10 posts of you letting us know how much you hate it.
Sir Imp hand Strong,
Arya and tywin? And how are they to blame for a man who chooses not to write? 8 years or so to finish 2 books is not to much to ask. Grrm dropped the ball and d&d have to answer for it. They only have so many options. They never claimed to be great. They just got fucked because a certain someone enjoys fame now instead of writing.
I have a question: where are the Tully forces going? They were disarmed, but being allowed to leave RR unharmed? It didn’t exactly look like they were prisoners-and how exactly would you put several hundred (if not a few thousand) men in chains?? Where would you keep them prisoner?? It would have to be by threat as opposed to physical bonds.
I’m thinking that may be why Edmure the Mostly Useless surrendered the castle; amnesty for the forces there?
ETA:
http://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/episodes/6/58-58-no-one/video/ep-58-inside-the-episode.html?autoplay=true
Christ, the outpouring of negativity in this thread is offputting, to say the least. I don’t understand it at all. Ordinarily I would attempt to engage the nuances of the criticisms more thoroughly, but I had a long fucking day, and not a good one. I’ll acknowledge that the people who are disappointed are genuine in those feelings, but we’ll have to sail past one another like ships in the night. I’m not keen on parsing through dozens of comments that will do nothing but evoke a looping clip of Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons in my tired brain. Certainly not tonight. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe.
Whatever quibbles I have with the episode after one viewing are extremely minor. I definitely could have done without the rogue Brotherhood members playing grabass (though it made the Hound’s brutal execution of them even more satisfying). I enjoyed the beginning of the scene where Tyrion, Missandei and Grey Worm were telling jokes in the pyramid, but it might have gone on a bit too long. And I admittedly would have liked to see the Blackfish’s last stand, assuming that he’s truly dead (and I think he is, though the fact that he died offscreen means we will probably need to put up with conspiracy theories for the rest of the show’s lifespan. Swell. After Stannis, I’d hoped that we were never opening that door again).
That’s it. I was happy with pretty much everything else, and I loved most of it, especially the Jaime and Brienne scenes at Riverrun and the tinfoil-free resolution to Arya’s storyline. Oh, and the definitive staking of the possibility that LS will appear. Thank every god under the sun.
And the promo for the “Battle of the Bastards” … my God. It looks fucking fantastic. Get here already, next Sunday.
Flayed Potatoes,
So why didn’t Vayrs’ little birds inform him of a large fleet being prepared, leaving Volantis, and sailing East? Plot hole? Maybe. Maybe Varys knew of the fleet or even conspired with or helped the Masters. It’s hard to say what it is without more information. But to discount even the remote possibility of betrayal seems…premature.
Connor,
Sorry for your loss. Prayers and good thoughts to your family and friends during this challenging time.
Connor,
JD,
Varys has no reason to help the masters. It’s a plot hole, which is why I’m complaining about it lol.
DireWolfHeart,
“while the Blackfish’s garrison is allowed to depart without arms and armor”
From the ASOIAF Wiki. My take is something similar is happening in the tv show (unless they appear fighting in the North).
It’s so nice to see Rory back in the main credits. 🙂
After watching a second time, I’m searching to find an answer to the question of what purpose the Blackfish surviving the Red Wedding served if he wasn’t going to at least try to take his army and march in aid of Sansa. Was it just to show that an old guy can live to fight another day and go down in a blaze of glory? Or that his stubbornness can only be useful so far? or was this whole thing just to get Jaime out of Kings Landing with a brief reunion with Brienne? The whole thing was kind of a letdown. I do hope against hope that he’s still alive, but I fear not. Now the stupid Freys are going to really think they are Lords of the World. ick.
Arya’s race through the town bleeding profusely was a bit hard to take, but to get her out of Bravos on good terms with the Faceless Men and back to Westeros, I’m willing to suspend disbelief big time. The only thing is, what was that bit about going “West of Westeros?” Does that mean she WON’T go directly home? Where then? Toward Volantis? Back to Kings Landing?
Add to that, even after watching twice, I couldn’t figure out where Varys was heading. Anyone have any ideas? Is he going back to KL? Does he have any real idea what a shitstorm is there now? Does he have any birds left there, or did Qyburn get them all. I imagine some of them would still be loyal to him, they all mentioned him with a sort of affection in that scene where they were talking with Qyburn.
I really liked Sandor’s part. (I don’t want to call him the Hound anymore) Looks like he is on a road to as much redemption as someone like him can get. The words of wisdom Beric and Thoros used were almost word for word the same words that Septon Ray used: There’s a bigger fight and something more for him to do. It’s never too late to start to do the right thing. He has changed. In times past, he would have scoffed loudly or refused to listen. Now you could see in his face that hearing the words again, albeit from a different source, had a profound effect on him. He’s about to go kick some ass big-time for a good cause, and be reunited at least with Sansa.
Jared,
Are u serious???…all ive typed here is about what i think is gonna happen going foreward and i havent had one single response on what i typed upthread and i thought it was pretty good speculation……even had a little humour in it. And all ppl like u wanna do is quibble about other ppl quibbling?….Unbelievable!….ur all as bad as each other. I can promise u this….if i’m wrong i wont come in here saying how much the show sucked because i wasnt right….but i also wont come in here telling other ppl to stfu cuz they arent happy….its their nickel.
So how do u think i feel?…all i wanted was a chat on some show theories and all i get is everyone on some big fucking downer and hating on everyone cuz they didnt get what they wanted…episode 8 is over ppl….move the fuck on ffs.
Demon Monkey,
Didn’t he hear people call him an abomination and other stuff when he took the King’s Guard to the steps of the Sept to try to rescue Margaery the first time? So he’s had to have heard things. It seems to me that Tommen is too gentle for the world he lives in and like the Godspell/Age of Aquarius Sept builders he will depart the world because of it.
Flayed Potatoes,
You might be right, but I tend to be suspicious of the person who leaves right before a bomb goes off. Doesn’t mean they caused it or had any foreknowledge of it, but it should be cause enough for a deeper look.
Also, in the books, Varys isn’t supporting Dany. He’s supporting AT, who I think is possibly a false dragon. Tyrion was put on a boat with AT afterall. I have a feeling Varys will support JT, who we know as JS for now, once he becomes known. I also suspect AT will die soon enough.
Darkrobin,
Yeah, sure. But I can easily imagine that there was a time jump between when they heard the bells ringing, and the sight of all the ships so close to the city.
JD,
Aegon isn’t on the show. Varys is firmy Team Dany here and they’re not going to introduce Aegon now. Varys is going to make allies in Westeros for Dany.
We don’t know right now how it will play out, but if Jon waits for a blizzard in order to get the advantage of Winter, all Ramsay would do is to lock down the castle – which is very hard to siege – and just wait. He won’t put the cavalry on the open field. He wouldn’t even engage in an open battle at all, so where is the advantage in that?
Unfortunately the only option here is to lure Ramsay out, because they can’t siege WF. They can only lure him out if the weather is good and Ramsay thinks he stands a chance. Even if Jon learns about the Vale troops (I’m still not convinced he will learn that in time), and decides to wait for them, if Ramsay spots them, he won’ come out of the castle – he would be a fool to do so.
The only way to get Ramsay to fight in the open is the only chance they have to win. And he will only come out of the castle, if he has much more men that Jon.
JoffreyTrueKing,
Amen. Exactly my thoughts. The showrunners aren’t going to rush through everything, and give us epic, momentous scenes in every plot in every episode. I, for one, am glad that they’re still spending time a lot of time with characters – including the minor ones, who could become major. If this show hasn’t taught us that seemingly peripheral characters are not all they seem, we haven’t been paying attention.
JD,
I have found EVERY ONE is small this season,and maybe rightly so…the only giant here is the story
Ravyn,
I don´t think it was the blonde actor…was it?
jymion,
Interesting idea. I didn’t think of them meeting up but it is possible, and would make for a good scene or two, if the show runners want them to meet. Otherwise, like Brianne and Pod and LF and the Knights of the Vale, they could pass on the King’s Road like two ships in the night.
ArgonathofBraavos,
Upon re-watching, I think you are correct.
I was just thinking of the beacons the English had on their coasts from the time of Alfred the Great to warn of invasion by sea. If ships were sighted the beacons were lighted and the word would spread. Maybe Slavers Bay is not conducive to such “early warning.”
I know that there was peace but did they really expect peace with the Yunkai? It’s not like this was the first time the Yunkai have acted up.
But anyway, as I said, the second time around it made more sense. Maybe watching without others distracting me helped.
AlexG,
It wasn’t the same extra in the blue suit that walked past Arya twice in the last episode and also made an appearance in one of the crowd scenes this week . That actor did not have a beard.
Flayed Potatoes,
“Varys is going to make allies in Westeros for Dany.”
Of course he is because he said he was going to. I feel so silly now. I’m going to start accepting things as they appear to be and stop delving into silly notions. The Spider hasn’t committed some nefarious deed and left right before its fruition. He just left on a ship, right before a hostile fleet shows up, because he plans on consolidating allies in Westeros for Dany. I wonder why he didn’t do that before now…..no, no….I need to stop questioning these things. I need to accept things at face value.
Let’s just hope his ship wasn’t attacked by the invading fleet. His route would have intersected theirs. He’s probably fine though. Either he saw the fleet(the ship may have been attacked), sailed around them, or another plot hole. Or maybe I’m just doing too much thinking yet again.
I’ve suspected for quite some time that AT wasn’t going to be on GoT. Unless you have knowledge that AT isn’t going to be on the show, it’s best to say that AT is probably not or even most likely not going to be on the show rather than inflating your guess with more certainty than it deserves.
JD,
wrowrrrrrr
jymion,
Chill, buddy. I didn’t see any of your comments. I must have overlooked them. As I said, I’m tired. That’s on me.
I really like your idea about Brienne and Pod crossing paths with Sandor and the Brotherhood as they all head to the North. It would be awesome to see those two reunited as uneasy traveling companions and potential allies after they came so close to killing one another the last time they met.
AlexG,
You’re probably right. I’m just a little disheartened because Tyrion is my favorite character and I see him as a guy who’s this larger-than-life badass.
Thronetender,
“West of Westeros?
Perhaps that’s Arya sailing off into the sunset at the end of the series?
Seriously, there is a Frey party she has to crash first.
The Blackfish:
The reasons you suggest: Jamie out of KL, Jamie’s character development. Having further interaction with Brienne and Jamie? Having a reason for a celebration at the Twins?
Darkrobin,
No worries. This is why I always watch each show a second time, soon after the first. Apart from simply missing things in the moment (due to distractions or pacing or what have you), there are so many expectations one has in their minds before an episode, and if they’re not met, can be deflating. And then you get to that point where you start looking at the clock to see how much time is going by during a scene that isn’t essential (e.g. Tyrion’s wine party) and the viewing experience can start to go downhill. I mean, the first time around I sometimes zone out dialogue because I am waiting for the next thing to happen! The second viewing is a much calmer experience, where I don’t have to worry about whether or not there’s time for them to show us this or that. And I listen to, and absorb, everything. So especially in the case of a talky episode like this one, it is dramatically improved with a second viewing.
JD,
Varys has been preparing for Dany’s rise since episode one. And he left KL with Tyrion because he believed in him. So no, he’s not leaving because he’s betrayed Tyrion and the rest of Meereen to death. If anything has been consistent in this show, it’s Varys’ character. He wants the right ruler for Westeros. And for him, it’s Dany.
Has the king just called Clagenebowl off?
Fucker.
Jared,
Jared, overly simplified, I found the comments in three buckets – mostly if not all hated it, mostly if not all loved it, and those who thought it was uneven compared to the remainder of a truly exceptional season.
Perhaps some of it is how it is framed. I know I tend to focus too much on things that give me pause (some of my issues with the Arya plot – being in the open, easily recovers from what appeared to be horrible wounds) and the scenes I find repetitive (Tyrion’s scene with GW and M). Some people liked it, I did not. To me Tyrion has leaned more toward the drink as opposed to great idea side. Dany was smart enough to move the wine bottle from his side.
The rest of the episode I found excellent – the Hound/BwB, RR, KL.
And when I re-warched I liked it better than the first time. The thing is episodes 3 – 6 were so great (and 7 except for the Arya being so in the open angle) that other episodes to me may suffer by comparison 2 was better than 1 to me. So it would be between episode 1 and 8 for the episode I liked least. But it doesn’t mean it is bad. Just not as great/good as the rest this season.
Jared,
Oh…I am super chilled “bud”…i’m on my 3rd bourbon…:)
btw….this is what u may have missed
jymion
June 13, 2016 at 12:09 am
So…the bw0b’s are going north?..How many men do they have?…i heard somewhere they have a lot of deserters and that was last season…could they have even more now? Maybe more than what briene would have gotten from riverrun plus a good commander (beric) plus the hound (who knows all about Lf) plus thoras (who wasnt asked to not bring jon back if he fell)…..this could be a very interesting battle…very interesting indeed
i thought it was a better topic than all the complaints…oh well
JD,
Plot holes. I agree that Varys should have looked for allies sooner.
If they were going to introduce Aegon, last season would have been the time imo.
I have to be honest, Sandor taking LSH’s place reaffirms my belief that while so many people here think it’s fine to hate on GRRM, his genius hasn’t necessarily been matched.
I never thought the show should do LSH because I never thought D&D could do it right. Granted, the shortened time and television as a medium would make it hard to do the story justice.
But there is so much tragedy in that story, so much pain and rage in the story of a mother who thought she had lost everything and was yanked back into the world, and how that’s turned into something terrible.
While Sandor might take that plot, it will never ring true or come close to the depth of emotion, loss, and rage that LSH embodied. I’m so glad it’s not being done on the show, but I remain a skeptic of giving that plot to someone else, someone who has such a fleeting reason to turn into vengeance personified.
Looked like him to me but it was slightly out of focus.
ArgonathofBraavos,
I’ll wait to make up my mind when we get more information. We don’t get to hear Varys’ inner monologue after all, so we can only speculate what he’s thinking. I’m merely voicing a hypothesis based off Varys’ hatred of magic and the Red Priest. I tend to think that his hatred of magic and his want for the destruction of magic are prioritized above everything else.
Tycho Nestoris,
On a positive note, I will say I prefer that to her visit to Crackclaw Point in the books
Darkrobin,
I am re-reading affc between eps. Her book plot doesn’t seem to work in D&D’s world. Still, I don’t understand her going from the wall to rr just to escape back to the north again. If nimble dick is pointless then it’s fair to call her rr hello/goodbye pointless too. I guess they could run into BwB on the way north but she has really taken the scenic route (off screen no less) for better or worse.
JD,
Let´s wait but for the moment,the larger-than-life character is the story
Connor,
I’m sorry for your loss. My sympathy to your family.
She’ll marry Gendry and save the Baratheon bloodline?
Makes as much sense as any other theory I’ve heard.
Ah I don’t even give a fuck, I watched next week’s previews which I never do. Probably will watch “Previously on Game of Thrones” which I never do. It’s official, this season has been a let down and there is almost nothing the last two episodes can do to redeem it =(
Dee Stark,
Yeah, this episode had some great comedy, as well as some heavier moments. Sandor’s line about preferring chicken. His line “he won’t” when Thoros (Beric?) tells him he’s getting old. Of course, Bronn and Podrick fucking Payne- goin after the sexual tension between Brienne/Jaime (get a room already). The jokes are, for the most part, written true to the nature of the characters involved. In writing them in such a way, these moments seem intended as gifts to the fans who love these characters. Such great contrast to the dark tone of the show overall. In a way, they make the harder moments more impactful. I am stoked on this episode. Kept a good pace, and had lots of great character building moments.
Lol all the people complaining about Arya coming back from her wound so easily. (I cringed a little when she slid on her belly under the vendors and down the stairs- yeah, that should have hurt just a bit)
But seriously. As if any of this is new. If they portrayed any of the injuries true to reality, she would have become “no one” after the first scene with the bo staffs. Her face would literally have resembled no one.
for me here is the thing, this is what d&d have;
1. fantastic story lines
2.epic characters
3.wonderful actors and actresses
4.exotic locations
5.huge budget
so why was tonight’s episode such a miss, I hate having that feeling but for me I was a bit let down
Nadia,
Then you’ll just have to be annoyed. Welp.
Ohhh… the things we do for love.
Corbyn Stark,
Do not feed the trolls, for the love of don’t do it.
They live in this stuff.
Just leave them be.
Can anyone let me know if there’s nudity in the ep and if so what times to skip? Thanks
Flayed Potatoes,
I am gonna guess The Waif actually.. could do some epic things with that
What would you have preferred? Seeing them give each other the middle finger? That might have been amusing.
Anyone notice how Davos perks up when he hears the horn? Either the elf army from Rivendell has arrived at Helm’s Deep or the Vale-Littlefinger army has arrived for the assist!
Odd ball theory….waif actually won the fight, took arya’s face, and is headed to Westeros to wreck shit up as imposter Arya….
Quite a polarizing episode I guess. I had Deja vu with the Mereen stand up comedy, but overall I was pumped up by the episode!
LatrineDiggerBrian,
shocking you found this one shit, also
Sister Kisser,
AGree 100% on both topics
Best scenes were Jaime and Brienne. She is the one person he admires. She is the honorable knight he longed to be and the one person he considers his equal. Brian loves him like she loved Renly. She sees the honor hidden in him, and longs to be with him. Such a tragic love/friendship. She is the key to his redemption.
Way too much thinking. The route between Volantis and Slaver’s Bay is active in trade. The fleet would have crossed paths with many trade vessels and would have ignored all of them. Varys wasn’t sailing in a ship that said “Varys is Here.” Most likely, he’s traveling with a spice merchant either going to Sunspear or King’s Landing. Probably Sunspear. I doubt he’ll be the one to off Kevan and Pycelle since the point of that was to put Cersei back in charge so she’ll wreck King’s Landing, but it looks in this version as if she’ll be able to do that fine on her own. As for how he managed to leave right before an attack, it’s just luck. It’s not like he has the ability to fine-tune his departure time anyway. He can only leave when there is a trade vessel leaving for where he needs to go, which might only happen every few months. There’s no kayak.com in this world.
mother of Danes,
Yes. Changing the story here was not an effective condensation. They lessened the drama to do what? Intensify Jaime’s dedication to Cersei?
Changing the Blackfish’s motivation from reality to a false sense of defending his homeland did not ring true either. The heartbreak of Tully’s having to give up Riverrun was soft pedaled by killing Blackfish.
A factor in this story is a little magic added into medieval reality. Taking away medieval reality, such as Arya’s miracle healing and Blackfish’s illogical emphasis, ruins the foundation of the whol structure.
The rush to conclude the show may be based on the inability to write an engaging story.
They have amassed huge performing forces and generated strong momentum, and now they cannot execute basic storytelling.
THIS. So much this.
Nadia,
Yes. Sandor is already a killer, why does he become an avenger? There already are plenty of vengeance characters – Arya and Cersei, for example.
Combine Stark and Baratheon DNA. Then their offspring can marry offspring of Jon and Dany, making the story a genetic project.
After the destruction, pairing lowborn bastard with highborn lady could be interesting.
Wait, so people think Sandor is taking Lady Stoneheart’s place? Did they miss that Beric is still alive and that the Brotherhood still has a purpose other than vengeance against anyone who wronged the Starks and Tullys? Beric and Thoros know about the White Walker threat and seem to be headed North to help fight them. How is that remotely about vengeance? It seemed to me that Sandor is going to fight for a good cause, not for simple vengeance.
Forget about book Tyrion this isn’t even Tyrion from the adaptation anymore. I don’t know what this is but the “jokes” are not funny and are pointless. Tyrion is massively wasted in such a dreg hole like Meereen. He’s stuck where the poor acting, poor writing, and boring plot runs in overdrive and has for years. The Waif running around like T-1000 was comical. Was it supposed to be? I don’t know, but it was and made it impossible for me to take that scene seriously.
KG,
I share your hopeful vision.
..but Gendry will need to learn a new trade.. take up knitting maybe? …cos their kids won’t need armor! 😉
I would love that, as much as I love Essie, but I wonder if we’ve already seen the beginnings of this week’s poster, https://watchersonthewall.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/new-ary.jpg. Even if not, having a 3-episode guest appear instead of the better known Blackfish or Waif seems unlikely.
I would have loved for Arya or actually the audience to have seen Syrio’s face on the wall of faces before she left after killing the waif. It would have reinforced the idea that the Faceless Men/Jaqen had a plan for Arya all along.
Not a fan of what they’ve done with Kevan this season. After his righteous stand last year he seems to have no agency this year; you’d think he’d want to stand up to the Faith or at least counsel Tommen better. Instead he just snarks at Cersei :-/
One of my favourite characters from the book as well.
With the Blackfish dying off screen as predicted, its looking safe to say the Reddit leaks were true….
Hoyti Von Totiy,
He had to die. It was the only way to get the stupid guy to leave the Night’s Watch once he’d sworn the oath.
aabe,
If it is done in conjunction with the trials would the Tyrells perhaps be there for Loras’s trial and the King ?
mother of Danes,
You are not alone in feeling let down.
When someone is stabbed in the liver, as Arya was, it should have more debilitating effects than a bad cold.
D&D have allowed a lot of stupid stuff since season 3.
I’m still watching and enjoying it a lot. Despite the many poor choices since season 3.
Connor,
Sorry to hear your awful news. I hope you and your family can grieve together. Please accept my sympathies.