General/News/Ratings

The ratings stay high with Game of Thrones episode 608 “No One”

Posted on by Hear Marko Roar
There numbers do seem rather good, wouldn't you say, old friend?
These numbers do seem rather good, wouldn’t you say, old friend?

Nothing new to report, really – the latest episode of Game of Thrones was seen by 7.60 million people when it first aired this Sunday, which is just a tad under the 7.80 million from last week.

In related news, TV by the numbers reports that the episodes are consistently seen by over 10 million people within the first week of airing (and that’s just Nielsen data, no streaming platforms, as far as we understand). The Memorial Day weekend episode, for instance, started out slow, but people caught up with it by the end of the week.

My remaining hope, just for the fun of it, really, is that the initial viewership numbers climb up over the 8 million line and set a new record by the show finale.

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Hear Marko Roar

156 Comments

  1. “Nothing new to report” ; “My remaining hope, just for the fun of it“.

    I love these little phrases that appear to be intended to appease Geek Furious haha 😉

  6. OMG DID YOU ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION???? DID YOU COMPARE IT TO THE ADJUSTED INCOME OF TWELVE YEAR OLDS IN 1955?????

    THESE NUMBERS ARE MEANINGLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO ONE UNDERSTANDS!!!!!!!!!!!

    See you all next week.

  9. Dee Stark,

    Oh don’t worry the hype is being spread.People have hanged snowbowl pictures.Entertaiment weekly makes three hype articles a day lol.Kidding but really it is known that episode 9 is a big one so people will tune in and everyone knows there is a big battle so I think the numbers will go up

  10. GeekFurious:
    OMG DID YOU ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION???? DID YOU COMPARE IT TO THE ADJUSTED INCOME OF TWELVE YEAR OLDS IN 1955?????

    THESE NUMBERS ARE MEANINGLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO ONE UNDERSTANDS!!!!!!!!!!!

    See you all next week.

    Awesome! 😉

    bela,

    If they’re done with b-ball on Sunday, then the finale stands a chance 🙂

  14. bela:
    Dee Stark,

    If the basketball (NBA Final) is this Sunday the record is impossible.

    It will be over on Thursday. Better be!!
    Two months of friggin’ NBA playoffs sucks (when your team isn’t in them). I haven’t watched a second of any of the playoffs.

  15. GeekFurious:
    OMG DID YOU ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION???? DID YOU COMPARE IT TO THE ADJUSTED INCOME OF TWELVE YEAR OLDS IN 1955?????

    THESE NUMBERS ARE MEANINGLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO ONE UNDERSTANDS!!!!!!!!!!!

    See you all next week.

    NOW we got ourselves a thread!

  17. Anyone remember when they release the previews for the OST?

  20. If I wasn’t rooting for Golden State enough already, I am now. But unfortunately I have a feeling the series will go 7 games, as the officiating is sure to favor the Cavs on Thursday. Stupid Draymond Green. This series was over until he allowed himself to be goaded into retaliating and getting suspended.

  22. I usually don’t care for fan made trailers, but I thought this was exceptional. Love the closing on the Jon-Sansa hug and the use of the show music.

  30. Looking forward to more Sansa scenes. I am rooting for her bigtime and hope she, Jon and maybe Rickon!? have some good scenes together.

  31. Jack Bauer 24,

    The GIF posted here with Littlefinger showing up like Gandalf at the end of The Two Towers, is basically exactly what I expect to happen this episode. Hopefully it won’t turn out to be quite so predictable.

  32. Jack Bauer 24,

    I would imagine she watched it for the Season 6 episode commentary track, since McShane was recording his recently (and, of course, the actors don’t otherwise get to see episodes other than the premiere in advance).

  33. Dee Stark:
    Clob,

    I get a free lunch if Cleveland takes it. I believe GS is better but my betting partner absolutely hates King James and he lost our Superbowl bet to my Broncos so he got to pick GS.

    I’m watching King-in-the-North Jon first though…there will still be time in the 4th after GOT.

  34. GeekFurious,

    *Groans*

    Why don’t you find something else to do with your time. All you do is troll. It’s amusing to a degree, but it’s also pointless. If you dislike the show so much now, just leave and leave the rest of us in peace.

  35. Sean C.,

    Ooooh! An Ian McShane commentary? Consider me intrigued. Come to think of it, did he do any of the commentaries for Deadwood or is this a first for him?

  38. serum,

    Ah, thanks for the clarification. I still don’t find him amusing, but I’ll just shrug him off from now on.

    jentario,

    Ah, excellent then!

  39. jentario,

    thats absolutely not the case. do you actually think that HMR is so immature that he would waste his time creating an entire post to piss off one person? no, not at all, he does it b/c most of us enjoy taking a look at the weekly numbers.

  43. Guys which are your most and least favourite season 6 episodes? Mine go like this:
    2>5>3>7>6>4>8>1

  44. Shaz,

    I just watched the preview again a couple of times.
    I cant fucking wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I fear for Jon again. This sounds stupid but will he die again ???? lol

  46. Rhaenys Stark,

    5>2>3>4>6>8>7>1

    its so hard, because I love 7 so much!!!!!!!!!!!! that how amazing this season is.

    I haven’t rewatched 8, maybe it will change

  49. Dee Stark,

    Rhaenys Stark,

    2 and 5 are tied for first, it was so hard to pick.
    Depending on rewatch, 8 might go before 6… I loved the Bran scenes in 6 so it was hard to pick at this stage.

    5>2>3>4>6>8>7>1

  54. Dee Stark:
    Dee Stark,

    Rhaenys Stark,

    2 and 5 are tied for first, it was so hard to pick.
    Depending on rewatch, 8 might go before 6… I loved the Bran scenes in 6 so it was hard to pick at this stage.

    5>2>3>4>6>8>7>1

    My 2&5 and 6&8 can flip-flop too.

  57. Thank you all for your replies 🙂 Hopefully episode 9 won’t disappoint and top many lists. It certainly seems it will.

  58. Ok … so you are all going to laugh at me and tell me I should have known better … but I decided to listen to Lindaaaaa’s review of an episode over on Westeros.org for the first time ever … wow … so much bitterness … why dedicate so much of your time to a show you obviously do not enjoy? Does it make her feel intellectually superior some how?? Anywho … won’t be doing that again!

  59. Ravyn:
    I usually don’t care for fan made trailers, but I thought this was exceptional. Love the closing on the Jon-Sansa hug and the use of the show music.

    Oh gawd, I don’t think I can cope with the stress of watching next episode ??

  60. Efreet1008:
    Jack Bauer 24,

    The GIF posted here with Littlefinger showing up like Gandalf at the end of The Two Towers, is basically exactly what I expect to happen this episode. Hopefully it won’t turn out to be quite so predictable.

    Or a la Tywin at the Blackwater.

  63. Clob,

    Yeah preaty hard to rank the episodes.

    For example I rate and like Mothers mercy more then HH….but the HH scene is better then almost everything in MM….

    Really hard to rate the episodes, for me…

  65. Efreet1008:
    Jack Bauer 24,

    The GIF posted here with Littlefinger showing up like Gandalf at the end of The Two Towers, is basically exactly what I expect to happen this episode. Hopefully it won’t turn out to be quite so predictable.

    It’s going to be that predictable. Team Stark and Team Dany will win, with Heroic Last Second Rescues by the expected parties. Several minor characters will die, but not the Big Four.

    I’m sure the battles will be great spectacle, but I think a lot of the tension is going to be lost because the outcomes are too predictable and that GoT has lately drifted towards standard TV pacing and tropes, which while “dramatic” have their own predictability. Note how, for example, Brienne’s rescue of Theon and Sansa and Benjen’s rescue of Meera and Bran were almost beat-for-beat identical, right down to the plot holes concerning thousands of baddies turning into a half dozen, so that the Heroic Rescuer could plausibly win the fight. I expect the battles next Sunday will similarly follow the standard format of hopeless – some hope – back to hopeless – final salvation that most such TV battles do. Note that the Meereen battle has already taken the first two steps, and is doomed to fall into the third because the dragons are not enough and the rest of Dany’s forces can’t do anything about a ship bombardment.

    I’m really looking forward to E10, where we are going to get hit with several of the season’s big twists. E09, not so much. It’ll be a lot of sound and fury, but plot wise, it is just meat and potatoes.

  66. Another semi casual (doesn’t do websites and read a lot) die hard fan just messaged saying they loved the episode so much
    Yay

  67. mau,

    I figured that was a given, since it’s mostly about the North, from all indicators. Of the appearances she’s had so far, she had basically two sequences in episodes 604 & 605, and while there were three in 607, she didn’t say much in most of it.

  68. Chad Brick,

    Agreed, this season has been lacking a bit and the writing hasn’t been on par with previous seasons. Still very good though but of course the semi casual fans love all of it and refuse to acknowledge any deficiencies.

    In any case, maybe the last 2 episodes will change my mind on the season as a whole.

  69. My episode rankings: 2>5>3>4>7>6>8>1

    I really hope 9 and 10 jump to the front of the list because the second half has been weaker than the first half of the season so far.

  70. Sean C.,

    Maybe it was given, but I thought they would concentrate more on Ramsay, LF, Davos, Jon,..

    I hope she will get her time to shine, like in S2E9.

  71. Tyrion Pimpslap:

    I really hope 9 and 10 jump to the front of the list because the second half has been weaker than the first half of the season so far.

    I agree, and I think that is the first time in the show’s history.

    I think the reason for this is that there were storylines that were completed by E5 in some way (Jon at the Wall, Dany with the Dothraki, Bran, Iron Islands,) and by E6 same storylines just started like the Riverlands plots (Jaime and the Hound). And there was Sam’s plot that really started in the second half of the season.

    So in some way E6, 7 and 8 were just like the first episodes of the season. I expect E9 and E10 to be big.

    Well, I know they will be big, because I read the spoilers. LOL

  77. mau,

    Never even thought of that. But a great point of it being like 2 in 1…
    I suppose I’m appreciating the more light hearted moments of this season more because in the back of my mind(and I think this starts on Sunday) that within the next 7 or 8 episodes that; at least 1/2 of the characters in this series, have to die for the final act… I hope it’s more like X-Men and everyone lives, but I’ve been paying attention.

  81. Chad Brick,

    Note how, for example, Brienne’s rescue of Theon and Sansa and Benjen’s rescue of Meera and Bran were almost beat-for-beat identical, right down to the plot holes concerning thousands of baddies turning into a half dozen, so that the Heroic Rescuer could plausibly win the fight.

    Never thought of it that way! So, you think Yara/Theon will sail up and save Mereen?

  82. Dee Stark,

    A lot of characters will die in the last episode. Some you hate and some you love. That goes for both episodes. Episodes 9 and 10 by the sound of it could be truly stunning.

  83. Rhaenys Stark,

    5>4>2>7>6>3=8>1

    I suspect this may change after I rewatch the whole thing, as my ranking of the first half of the season has already shifted quite a bit since “The Door” aired, and also after we’ve seen how the storylines wrap up this year. Sometimes I re-evaluate certain scenes or episodes retrospectively once the season is over.

  86. I don’t know if any of you are on Instagram but Emilia posted a funny BTS video today of Grey Worm and Tyrion’s clowning around .

  88. My ranking of the episodes thus far:

    Top tiers:
    #2 Home: So much stuff happening! While some of it was a bit predictable, the execution was marvelous. Really got me more pumped for the rest of the season.
    #5 The Door: that TWIST at the end! Last 15 minutes pure epic brilliance!

    High tiers:
    #4 Book of the Stranger: Loved the ending (yes I’m really glad that story arc didn’t further drag out). Solid episode.
    #7 The Broken Man: SANDOR FOOKING CLEGANE!! Beautifully shot episode.

    Middle tiers:
    #3 Oathbreaker: had some great stuff (Wall scenes), but others felt a bit anticlimatic (Tower of Joy). Didn’t like the Rickon twist.
    #6 Blood of my Blood: Not a very eventful episode, but it had Coldhands Benjen reveal, some cool visions (BURN THEM ALL) and was also just another solid episode. The Dany speech felt a bit off though.

    Low tiers
    #1 The Red Woman: because Dorne sucks. Also an episode that felt a bit chaotic, but that was to be expected given all the cliffhangers of Mother’s Mercy (an episode I also did not like very much).
    #8 No One: Chaotic and anticlimatic episode. Didn’t like the Arya resolution for many reasons others already stated on this website. Riverrun felt pointless to the overall plot (though Brienne-Jaime and Jaime-Edmure were good scenes). Meereen a bit boring and predictable. King’s Landing: expected more. Only the Hound scenes I really liked.

    I think I would have rated No One a bit higher if it wasn’t episode 8…

    —

    On another note: how do you rate the individual story arcs of our protagonists this year? I’d say this:

    Great: Bran
    Good: Jon, Sansa, Theon
    Alright: Cersei, Dany, Jaime, Sam
    Poor: Arya, Tyrion

  90. Chad Brick,

    Hey now, meat and potatoes is what keeps things going. Flash and unpredictability are good in small doses, but use them too much and they lose all value. I also think you’re under some gross misapprehensions as to what this series is. GOT/ASOIAF are and always have been a fantasy franchise and that means certain things. To me, it’s the price of admission. For me, as long as it’s executed well and features the cast being their generally engaging selves, I’m good. Reliability and quality come before originality or unpredictability every time with me.

    Come to think of it, this is probably why Davos appeals so much to me. If anyone personifies meat and potatoes (with or without onions), it’s him.

  96. We seriously need better ratings systems to account for modern live streaming platforms, even if we discount downloads because they’re illegal. And to account for worldwide viewing since TV series are now viewed globally more than ever. Heck, that doesn’t even take into account watch parties at friends and bars, which most other popular TVshows dont have.

    Knowing that so many millions of more people are viewing the episode on the premiere night than what can possibly be calculated by Nielsen, it makes these numbers pretty ridiculous and pointless. (this isn’t a compliant about these ratings articles – as I rather enjoy them)

  97. Lord Shephand,

    Let me preface this by saying my scores are mostly based on the quality of the writing, characterization, dialogue, and story logic, not necessarily on how exciting or important the story is. Here goes :

    1. Bran : 8,5/10 for the story and 0,5 bonus for Meera Reed being phenomenal this year so 9/10 as the final score.
    2. Jon/Sansa/Davos/Mel : 7,5/10
    3. Cersei and KL : 7/10
    4. Jaime and Riverlands : 7/10
    5. Sam : 8/10 (because I thought the dinner scene was terrific, and Randyll Tarly’s casting was absolutely golden)
    6. Tyrion’s personal development and characterization : 4/10
    7. The politics of Meereen/Tyrion and Varys ruling the city : 7,5/10
    8. Dany : 7,5/10
    9. Arya : before “The Broken Man”, I would have given it like an 8/10, because I really enjoyed it up until that point, despite it being slow, but now it’ll have to drop to like a 5,5/10 based on the writing being dubious, with 0,5 bonus for the marvelous acting and writing in the scenes with Lady Crane, so final score is 6/10
    10. Winterfell : 7/10
    11. Brienne : 5/10
    12. Dorne : 0,5/10. The only reason it’s not a 0 for me is the gorgeous palace. GoT never fails on the production front.
    13. Iron Islands/Theon and Yara’s journey : 7,5/10
    14. The Hound’s return and the Brotherhood : 9/10

  98. What the Flick, and Ben in particular (and sometimes Cenk), are the most insightful reviewers out there, next to Ozzy Man. And they seemed to really love “No One,” including the scenes that a number of fans had no patience with, such as the drinking game with Tyrion (which I thought was a nice character moment for Grey Worm and Missandei, who I care about). This confirms to me that I think the episode was spoiled, for a lot of fans, due to a convergence of expectations. These are:

    1. Expectations for a hugely epic episode 8, created by last year’s Hardhome
    2. Expectations for Cleganebowl
    3. Expectations for the Blackfish
    4. Expectations for some major twist with Arya

    These expectations obscured what was otherwise a very character-rich and story-rich episode. I mean, the Hound’s arc alone is brilliant. He has, due to his experience with McShane, and then his run in with the Brotherhood, developed a personal purpose that he’s never had before. Whether it’s vengeance, or fighting to defeat the coming winter winds, he’s got something beyond survival to work for. Then, we had Tyrion humbled, proving that good politics in Westeros is not necessarily good politics in Essos. His compromise deal with the Masters was clearly perceived as a sign of weakness, and they exploited it. Then we had some absolutely masterful character work with Jaime, Brienne, Edmure and the Blackfish, and even Pod and Bronn. Scenes that breathed, despite the fact that we’re embarking on a two-season homestretch towards the endgame. And then nice filmic touches, such as Arya’s cutting of the candle, which was a welcome subtle departure from GoT’s normal MO of showing the brutality (heck, we’d already gotten two decapitations and a groin-removal – we didn’t need to see the Arya and Blackfish fights). If you watch the episode again, without the above-mentioned expectations in mind, it really holds up as one of the top episodes this season. Doesn’t reach the heights of “The Door,” but it’s certainly far better than a lot of fans are giving it credit for.

    I agree that the Arya storyline was a bit padded, though. But I see that as a problem with last episode, not this one. Her idling on the bridge in broad daylight was an odd out-of-character moment, and should have been altered (e.g. have it happen in the dark, along the canal), or cut completely, and let Arya confront the waif without being wounded.

    In any event, “The One” is a really strong episode. I think this is a clear case of fandom having difficulty detaching itself from self-inflicted expectations. In my view, the discerning, critical general audience that watches this show seems to have been rather pleased with it.

  99. ArgonathofBraavos,

    What an eloquent response. You nailed it!

    The show can only go so far on cheap thrills and twists. I for one loved the conversations that took place between the Hound and the Brotherhood, Arya and Lady Crane, Brienne/Edmure/BF and Jamie being the highlight. Sometimes it was dry (Tyrion), this show isn’t infallible but it’s also the only existing show that juggles 10 different plot lines, 1 or 2 will always come up short.

    As for the predictable nature of certains scenes, you can embellish GoT as a drama but it will always be a fantasy show. A fantasy show that does a darn good job in breaking tropes. Only now is the fantastical element coming to the forefront more, even then I appreciate D&D for not featuring the WW in every episode. The Direwolves should have been featured more though.

    It’s a bit of curse just how successful and popular this show is. There is an expectation for RW-level shocks, an expectation for a deliverence of fan theories that have grown exponentially this year. It’ll only get more vociferous.

  100. Rhaenys Stark,

    My personal ranking for this season :

    1 – Episode 2 : Home (I lack words to say how I feel about this episode. I hadn’t enjoyed an episode that much for a VERY long time. I think it was flawless from start to finish. I have so many things to say about this episode and yet at the same time, so little to say because there is nothing to add. Words are wind after all. It ranks as the 5th best episode of the show in my top 58.)

    2 – Episode 4 : Book of the Stranger (Everything was perfectly written except for Littlefinger’s scene. I of course loved the final scene but the Jon/Sansa reunion is one of my favorite scenes of the entire show. I had never cried tears of joy watching GOT before. It ranks as the 13th best episode of the show in my top 58.)

    3 – Episode 7 : The Broken Man (Once again, Bryan Cogman proves he’s one of the best writers of the show. “Kissed by Fire” is my 9th favorite episode of the show and my second favorite episode of season 3 and it’s all due to Cogman’s writing. The only scene I didn’t like was of course Arya’s but apart from that scene, the scene was brilliantly written. The North and Riverlands scenes particularly stood out. Ian McShane shone brilliantly with the few lines he was given and every scene with Team Jansavos was great, especially the meetings with Lady Lyanna “Badass” Mormont and Lord Glover. It ranks as the 26th best episode of the show in my top 58.)

    4 – Episode 6 : Blood of My Blood (I love this episode for the same reason I loved “The Broken Man” : Bryan Cogman’s writing. The Hornhill scenes were actually the best scenes Sam and Gilly ever had in my opinion. The way things ended up in King’s Landing was brilliantly and pleasantly unexpected. The return of Walder Frey was spot on. The Arya scenes were excellent. Bran’s visions were mindblowing and Benjen’s return made me cheer out loud. Only the ending with Dany was off and felt a bit out of place and pointless. Arya blowing the candle would have been a perfect way to end the episode. It ranks as the 27th best episode of the show in my top 58.)

    5 – Episode 5 : The Door (Yeah, I know, pretty shocking, right ? I know a lot of fans consider this episode as the best of the season and even as one of the best of the show but for me, except for Bran’s scenes which are undeniably great, “The Door” is just a random, transitional episode without any great writing. One awesome ending is not enough to make an episode great as a whole. In my opinion, “The Broken Man” and “Blood of My Blood” are much more solid, well-written and paced episodes than “The Door”. I think a lot of people tend to be too easily influenced on their overall appreciation of an episode if there’s only just one scene that particularly stands out. It’s the case for “The Door” as well as for “No One” but in opposite ways. In “The Door”, all it takes is one freaking awesome and emotional endscene to make people claim it’s the best episode ever and in “No One”, it only takes one or two rather poor-written scenes to make people shout out it’s one of the worst episodes ever, even if 80% of the episode is actually pretty solid and well-written. “The Door” ranks as the 29th best episode of the show in my top 58.)

    6 – Episode 8 : No One (Actually, if the writers hadn’t felt the need to create false drama and suspense around Arya’s survival, if Arya’s behavior in “The Broken Man” hadn’t been so much absurd and out of character for Arya, and if the Meereen scenes hadn’t been so weirdly, clumsily written, paced and brought out, this episode would have been my 3rd favorite episode of the season. The rest of the episode was nearly perfect for me. The Riverlands scenes were the highlight of the episode. Jaime had, with Brienne and Edmure, the best scenes and dialogues he ever had since season 3. But I think that even if the rest of the episodes had been crappy, I would still have freaking loved it because of the return of my favorite outlaw band ever !!! Thoros and Beric have always been among my favorite secondary characters of the show/book. The Brotherhood without Banners and the Arya storyline are one of the reasons season 3/ASOS is my favorite book/season. I knew Paul Kaye was about to come back this season but I would have never expected to see my beloved and charismatic Richard Dormer again. When I saw Thoros and Beric, I just couldn’t believe it… I f*cking SCREAMED and CHEERED OUT LOUD as never before xD. I’ve never been so happy, so hysteric and so euphoric to see some characters’ faces again in the show ! I’m soooooooo glad Beric is still alive in the show and D&D better not kill him off before he gets to the North and burns some freaking white walkers with his f*cking flaming sword !!! >.< I'm so glad Sandor is going to join them and go up North to deal with the real threat and with the ultimate nemesis of the Brothethood's and Melisandre's god. It ranks as the 31th best episode of the show in my top 58.)

    7 – Episode 3 : Oathbreaker (I've got some pretty mixed feelings about this one. Although the Castleblack scenes, Arya's training montage and the Tower of Joy were great, the rest of the episode was shockingly badly written for me. It ranks as the 35th best episode of the show in my top 58.)

    8 – Episode 1 : The Red Woman (This episode is, with "The Dance of Dragons", the only episode of the show that I hated on my first viewing. After 2 other viewings and after dealing with Doran's death, I learned to enjoy this episode as a deeply satisfying conclusion to "Mother's Mercy"'s amazing cliffhangers. But overall, apart from the North scenes, this episode is actually pretty weak and poorly written. It actually seriously made me doubt and worry about D&D's writing skills. But of course, the episodes that followed proved me I had nothing to fear 🙂
    It ranks as the 47th "best" episode of the show in my top 58.)

    That's it for me ! This is how I rank season 6 but it might change after several other viewings and "Battle of the Bastards" and "The Winds of Winter" will undoubtedly change my top 3 😀

    How would YOU rank this season ? I'm curious ^^

  102. So, with Varys gone from Meereen, is it pretty much confirmed that

    Sibel Kekilli

    and D&D were trolling peeping fans by having her in costume on the set?

  103. ArgonathofBraavos,

    I couldn’t agree more 🙂
    Too much people let their disappointment of not seeing their expectations being fulfilled influence their judgement on this episode.

    Though, I disagree about “The Door”. In my opinion, this episode reaches only “the heights” with Bran’s scenes. The rest of the episode is pretty random and not that greatly written compared to other episodes. You cut Bran’s scenes off “The Door” and all you get is a casual transitional episode without scenes that really stands out and where not much happens. So “The Door” is not season 6’s best episode and even less one of the best episodes of the show.

    But, well, that’s just my opinion 🙂

  104. Davos Seaworth: Hey now, meat and potatoes is what keeps things going. Flash and unpredictability are good in small doses, but use them too much and they lose all value.

    And these are typically told out at 1-2 events for the first 7 episodes, plus a few at the end. And there we find ourselves…at the end. It is time…and I don’t see one coming in E09, and E08 sure didn’t give us one. I think that the writers meant to with Arya, but things were so botched that it turned out to be the opposite.

  105. Beronn Stark:
    ArgonathofBraavos,

    I couldn’t agree more
    Too much people let their disappointment of not seeing their expectations being fulfilled influence their judgement on this episode.

    Though, I disagree about “The Door”. In my opinion, this episode reaches only “the heights” with Bran’s scenes. The rest of the episode is pretty random and not that greatly written compared to other episodes. You cut Bran’s scenes off “The Door” and all you get is a casual transitional episode without scenes that really stands out and where not much happens. So “The Door” is not season 6’s best episode and even less one of the best episodes of the show.

    But, well, that’s just my opinion

    Agreed, but that one good part was better than the rest of the season combined. The rest of E05, like E06 and E07, was fine but typical mid-season building up for the final push. E08 dropped the ball, exceeding the lows of E04 and E01 (note that E01 and E04 were mostly bad because they had to clean up some of last year’s trash).

  106. ArgonathofBraavos,

    Yeah, read couple more reviews and watched some videos. It seems the episode is generaly well recieved. And my friends seemed to like it, well less that Tommen denied them a ”cool fight” LOL.

    As always though, I may be biased, because I don’t read reviews by book-readers. I simply don’t like them and don’t care for them

    I don’t think it was the greatest episode, but rather somewhere around the lower part of the season. Still a very, very solid 8 from me.

    Completely agree on WTF, Ben and Cenk are my favourites. Love their thoughts.

  107. Beronn Stark,

    Great to see love for EP4. It was really among my favourites.
    The Dany scene, Jon and Sansa….etc.
    I even liked the LF scene, found it really good actually.

  108. ArgonathofBraavos,

    Have to add, and say I agree on the Tyrion-GW-Missandei scene!!

    The first one, was ”all right”, but the second one I really liked! Tyrion trying to find common ground and just befriend them was nice, the awkward feeling, in my opinion, was done on purpose, that is exactly how Tyrion feels at the beginning.

    And then Missandei’s laugh, her joke was decent, as expected from someone like her, but her laugh was amazing, it was very nice to see her strip away some of those walls around her and have fun, and enjoy life!

    Same with GW, his joke was great though I laughed while watching it! He is slowly getting ”softer”, more open, more relaxed, letting his emotions out a bit. It’s very nice seeing them becoming more human, after all the horrors they had to endure.

    His smile, I think the very first, when he saw his joke made Missandei laugh was just perfection!

  110. Chad Brick,
    Mihnea,

    Well, I believed to remember that “Book of the Stranger” is actually one of the most liked episodes of this season ! Am I wrong ?
    The only real criticism there had been in regard for this episode was from Dany haters (more or less) who, somehow, found the last scene was cheesy.
    Before “The Door”, episode 4 was claimed to be, along with “Home”, the best episode of the season.

    I’m sorry but “Home”, the North, Vaes Dothrak, Meereen, and KL scenes from “Book of the Stranger”, Bran’s, Arya’s and KL scenes from “Blood of My Blood”, The North, Riverlands and KL scenes from “The Broken Man” make up for far better episodes than “The Door”. On its own, Bran’s scenes in “The Door” are among the most climatic scenes of the show but on the long term, I doubt his scenes and Hodor’s sacrifice will have much of an impact on the story and on Bran’s character. But I could be wrong.
    One great scene doesn’t suffice to make one great whole episode
    .
    In my opinion, the other scenes from “The Door” are not at all on the same level of writing as most of episode 6 and 7. The episode is overall weidly balanced, we move on from scene to scene in an abrupt way and without real coherence or link between them. The Kingsmoot is super rushed and ends up having a much less greater impact than expected. The other scenes from the other storylines are actually even less memorable. Except for Aeron’s lines during Euron’s drowning, we don’t have any real compelling writing.

    And, uh, since when is episode 4 mostly bad and is related to “last year’s trash” ? I don’t think I’ve watched the same episode as you have xD
    Though, I completely agree with your statement on episode 1.

  111. Rhaenys Stark:
    Guys which are your most andleast favourite season 6 episodes? Mine go like this:
    2>5>3>7>6>4>8>1

    I would say Episode #2 the undoubted best ( I actually rate this to be the finest episode in the entire series so far ) followed by Episode #5. Contrary to popular opinion though, I’d put Episode #4 at the bottom of the list alongside Episode #8 cause the ending scenes involving Deanerys and Arya in the respective episodes were an insult to viewer intelligence.

  113. BranTheBlessed,

    Yes the scene millions liked and enjoyed is a ”’insult to the viewer”

    You really need to get of your high horse mate.

    Just because you didn’t like that scene, doesn’t mean it’s ”a insult to the viewer”
    The Dany scene, ranks as one of the high points of the season, for me and many, many others. And I’m not stupid, neither do I like shallow story, as some have accused me. Nor am I in ”denial”.

    I do play video games however….

  114. Mihnea:
    BranTheBlessed,

    Yes the scene millions liked and enjoyed is a ”’insult to the viewer”

    You really need to get of your high horse mate.

    Just because you didn’t like that scene, doesn’t mean it’s ”a insult to the viewer”
    The Dany scene, ranks as one of the high points of the season, for me and many, many others. And I’m not stupid, neither do I like shallow story, as some have accused me. Nor am I in ”denial”.

    I do play video games however….

    Yes, great logic. You do realize that for a million that may have loved it, there is every chance that there’s another million who did not like it? And those numbers have little to no influence on an individual’s opinions?

    You know, I do find it ironic- For someone who constantly counters any negative comment about the show by ” Yeah, well I liked it “, you cannot seem to accept the fact that, like you, others are entitled to their own opinions.

  115. Mihnea,

    I loved the tyrion scene and was smiling so much.I watched the episode with a lot of show only watchers friends and everybody loved that scene.It’s like people around here hate humor lol.The first five episodes of this season were simply amazing.Especially episode 2 4 and 5.I rank them among the best in the series.We chilled out a bit with the last three episodes but it’s understandable considering they needed to set up everything.They were still very good episodes though.And I’m sure the last two episodes will be great

  116. Dee Stark,

    I can’t get over how small Jon’s army is compared to Ramsay’s though! Like, how can you charge forward when faced with that?! I don’t think they envisioned what the scope of it would really look like and now it’s like oh shit. You know we are going to see some favorites perish here cause D and D like us to feel real life “consequence” of battle (Grenn, Pyp) and who do we care about besides Jon himself (has to live) but Davos, and Tormund? Who am I forgetting?

  117. It just goes to show that GoT is one of those singular shows that can cater to everyone. People who like fantasy will love Bran’s plot, but might not like the politics of Kings Landing and vice versa. It’s not going to be that show where fan service is no 1 priority.

    What will be interesting is how the non-fantasy lovers will receive the last 2 seasons where every plot will be steeped in fantasy. It will be a totally different show to the one we saw in Season 1.

  118. Corbyn Stark,

    Yeah I doubt the little lady will be involved in the skirmish 🙂 But Ghost? Hmm I didn’t think we’d even see him until Ep 10. Would Jon let him onto the battlefield? Wun wun sadly I have accepted is a goner. He’ll wreak havoc first but is too easy a target for the archers unless he gets a sizable shield.

  120. Beronn Stark: haters (more or less) who, somehow, found the last scene was cheesy.

    The scene that ruined E04 for me was the Vale scene. It was the culmination of all the illogical plot holes that comprised the Sansa-in-Winterfell arc, and the third time that hack writing kept Littlefinger from losing his head. From the very conception of his plot, Littlefinger must have known that the Vale Lords would find out what he had done with Sansa (and they did!). This, of course, would entirely make moot the entire point of his scheme, which was to gain control of the Vale army. So how did the writers solve this whee little problem? By having LF buy SweetRobin a pet, which causes SR to overrule the Vale Lords and ignore that LF sold SR’s cousin to a gang of thugs who murdered his aunt and other cousin.

    When something this bad appears on the screen, it takes me out of the show completely and pretty much spoils the episode unless a Hold-the-Door level event can bring me back in. The rest of E04 was hit and miss with no real standouts that could even come close to clearing my mind of the disgust I felt for the Vale scene.

    As I side note, I really don’t like SweetRobin’s portrayal. It is too exaggerated, far beyond the point of realistic and toeing the line of picking on the handicapped. I’m not blaming the actor here, but the writers and directors. It is clearly their choice.

  121. BranTheBlessed,

    Sorry, just out of curiosity, how was Dany’s scene an insult to viewer intelligence?

    Beronn Stark,

    I am starting to see the point youre making, as I had 5 pretty high up, but it was greatly affected by Bran’s scenes. I could reshuffle once I do a rewatch.
    In fact, it could go 2>4>5>3>6>8>7>1

    its so hard because I loved 7 and 8 so them being rated the lowest means nothing.

    I love episode 3, many people don’t. I love the scenes at the wall<3, Winterfell with Mr Umber, KL, Arya, and mostly the fight at the Tower was amazing

    I don't know, its so hard. Love them all 🙂

  124. Corbyn Stark,

    LOL….That shot in the preview must have been extended by a second or so, as compared to the trailer, that’s why we can now see that it’s clearly a 10 year old girl. 🙂 .

  125. Corbyn Stark,

    I hope you are right about ghost!
    So where do you think Sansa, and Lady Mormont, and Mel (??) will be during battle…?

    Also, Jon swoooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

  126. Dee Stark,

    Well, I admit that after “The Door” aired, I was really surprised to see how much people loved this episode. I felt like I hadn’t watched the same episode as you guys, lol xD
    Apart from the Bran’s scenes, this episode has not anything special or particularly good. But I guess the scenes in the three-eyed raven’s cave were so good and had some kind of a “hardhome vibe” that it overshadowed the whole episode and made people forget about how good the episode really was in its other scenes. x)

    Your ranking of this season is actually pretty decent ! Even more than decent ^^
    I liked “Oathbreaker” but in my opinion it contains several of the weakest scenes of the season in terms of writing (the KL and Meereen scenes), that’s why I don’t rank it as high as you.
    However, I’m wondering : what makes you like “Blood of My Blood” better than “No One” and “The Broken Man” ?

    I’m really glad that so far you’ve really enjoyed this season throughout all of its episodes !!! If only there were more fans like you who actually love and value for what it really is and not complain about minor flaws and pointless details that do not really matter and do not influence the quality of the show on the long run ! 🙂
    It’s refreshing and heartwarming to still see people like you in the comments who are as enthusiastic as ever about the show ^^

  127. Dee Stark,

    Yep, don’t worry. I’m convinced Ghost is safe for this season. By the way, are we sure that Ghost didn’t actually stay at Castleblack with Edd ? We haven’t seen Ghost since “Oathbreaker” and so we never saw him leave Castleblack with Jon !

    Well… maybe they will return to the camp and wait nicely for the battle to end ?! xD

    About the possible goners of this episode, I think Wun Wun is a safe bet.
    I think Tormund will make it out of the battle alive.
    But I really fear for Davos’ survival 🙁
    He has been so much important since the beginning of this season ! Hell, he even more shines on screen than back when Stannis was alive. And Liam Cunningham was almost omnipresent and active in season 6’s promo so…
    I NEED to see a world where Davos ends up as hand of the king 😀

  128. Beronn Stark,

    Yes, even I said “BEST EPISODE EVER” after watching the door. Its hard not to after seeing that. Bran’s scenes (all of them) and the sequence in the end is one of the BEST things on TV. Oh that music. Forever engrained in my head.
    However, overall, there are better episodes in this season. I cant wait to do a rewatch so I can better judge which ones are my favorite. Thought theyre all my favorite. Its like theyre my children and I cant pick!

    In regards to Blood of My Blood vs Broken Man and No One. I don’t know, there was locations in the episode:
    – Beyond the wall
    – Bravos
    – Hornhill
    – KL
    – Twins
    – Dothraki Sea

    Each sequence for me, was amazing. I loved, expecially, Hornhill and KL. The return of Walder Frey gave me RW feels… and I absolutely loved Dany riding drogon and giving a speech to the dothraki. and over course, Benjen stark 😉

    Now in terms of depth of story, EP 7 and 8 are better. Meaning for example the return of the Hound and his conversations with the sept were excellent, as well as the discussion at Riverrun in episode 8. But I think as an overall episode, I think I ENJOYED Episode 6 because I was excited and on the edge of my seat for the Benjen scenes, brans mega download and seeing the mad king me scream, as well waiting for something to happen in KL and I cheered and clapped for Dany…

    ITS SO HARD FOR ME TO PICK! LOL Because I enjoyed 7 and 8 A LOT, though they were a bit more relaxed… and I loved the tie backs to previous seasons (the hound, the brother hood, the blackfish, riverrun, the freys).

    Im babbling.

    And thank you for the kind comments. I just love the show and I think any thing “wrong” or “flawed” is just so so small (to me) that the greatness outweighs anything else. So I am always positive about things.

  130. Dee Stark:
    BranTheBlessed,

    Sorry, just out of curiosity, how was Dany’s scene an insult to viewer intelligence?

    Because like Arya’s scene, it was poorly written and I was left with more questions than answers.

    (1) How do Mormont and Naharis find Deanerys with minimal fuss in the sea of Dothraki? Nobody notices them when they are making elaborate plans with her?

    (2) How is it that Mormont and Naharis can so easily slay the guards outside the Dosh Khaleen temple? Nobody notices the fight? Nobody hears a sound? Nobody sees the the guards lying dead?

    (3) The way the fire spreads so quickly makes no sense.

    (4) How is it that all the Khals-some of the strongest and fiercest fighters in the World-collectively cower and resemble a flock of sheep in the face of fire?

    (5) Are we to believe that there is literally nobody else near the temple other than the two guards while all this sh!t is going on? All the Khals are there in Vaes Dothrak so you’d expect the entire Dothraki tribe to be somewhere near. Did every single Dothraki go on a picnic or something or are all of them sleeping?

    (6) Conveniently they all appear at the end and the only thing they do is kneel before someone who just killed their Khals and burned down their temple?

  131. Beronn Stark,

    I fear for Davos too. But we have to expect some casualties. And it makes sense its them. I think the internet is going to rage if Davos or Ghost die… LOL

    I am so scared and nervous!!!!!!!!!

  132. Dee Stark:
    Beronn Stark,

    I fear for Davos too. But we have to expect some casualties.And it makes sense its them. I think the internet is going to rage if Davos or Ghost die… LOL

    I am so scared and nervous!!!!!!!!!

    Nooooooo! Not them! Oh well, this is GOT. I better be prepared. Sunday, please be here, quick!

  133. BranTheBlessed,

    Okay, thank you for explaining! 🙂
    I wasn’t sure what you meant with insulting your intelligence, because I did not feel that way at all. And im pretty smart. Haha.

    But now that you explain, I remember seeing all those complaints and discussions going back and forth now regarding Dany’s story in that episode. So much has happened since I had forgotten.

  135. Corbyn Stark:
    Edit: That means Lord Hornwood is the person on the right (Sansa’s left) of the screen, cos the man’s armour matches the Hornwoods banner/flag carrier here: https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cETJGZazJE0/V155GtNVJII/AAAAAAAABRQ/ZIzqDECNqXwjO3Wn6g8gOdR_myeTdiNcACKgB/s1600/Game%2Bof%2BThrones%2BSeason%2B6%2BEpisode%2B%25239%2BPreview%2B%2528HBO%2529.mp4_snapshot_00.02_%255B2016.06.13_09.22.55%255D.jpg

    Lord Hornwood, who? 🙂 All I can ever see here is Jon. Thank you for this wonderful, wonderful picture. 😉

  136. Chad Brick: The rest of E04 was hit and miss with no real standouts that could even come close to clearing my mind of the disgust I felt for the Vale scene.

    I understand what you mean. I just chose to ignore that part. For me though, the Jon-Sansa reunion was the standout of that episode. A Stark reunion has been long coming and I could only be grateful that it finally happened.

  139. Sam,

    Apart from me loving the rest of the episode, that scene, will forever be one of the most amazing things on the show.

  143. Dee Stark,

    Yeah, since they only release about 6 photos, I guess it will mostly be battle-related. They do owe us a good Jon pic though! They have been stingy in that regard 🙂 . I wonder if we will see at least one pic of Meereen.

    ygritte,

    I am not sure. I think it varies a bit. They should be released in the next 3 to 4 hours.

  145. Dee Stark,
    I also initially thought it will be all north. I wonder if it won’t seem too much – showing 2 major battles in one episode. If they will feature both, I hope they found a seamless way to do it.

  146. Dee Stark,

    Sam,

    We could see a clapboard which showed 609 from a scene set in Meereen in the “journey to Spain” video. However, they move scenes around between episodes regularly. It is possible that it will only be the North in the next episode. I wouldn’t mind that. Still, I feel Meereen needs the screentime so that it can be closed satisfactorily.

  147. ghost of winterfell,
    It’s also unlikely Dany will only be featured in 7 of 10 episodes? She already missed 2 episodes and only had a 5-sec (!) appearance in ep8. I’d be okay to see Meereen for the first 10-15 mins then move to the north for the rest of the episode.

  151. Chad Brick,

    Eh, didn’t bother me in the slightest. I’ve known for a while that LF is a nihilist and a profiteer, and none of this seemed out of place.

  152. Dee Stark,

    Yeah, the whole sequence at the cave was DEFINITELY stellar and will remain in our memory long after the show as one of the highlights of the show, a classic GOT moment along with Ned’s execution, Dany’s first rebirth, the battle of Blackwater Bay, The maiming of Jaime’s hand, the sack of Astapor, the Red Wedding, the Purple Wedding, Tyrion’s trial, The Mountain and the Viper, the battle of the Wall with Stannis’ arrival, Tywin’s death, Sansa’s wedding at Winterfell, the massacre of Hardhome, the burning of Shireen, Daznak’s pit and Dany mounting Drogon for the first time, Stannis’ defeat, Cersei’s walk of shame, “For the Watch”, Jon’s resurrection, the Tower of Joy (although I think we will see the essential part of it in the season 6 finale), Jon/Sansa reunion, Dany’s second rebirth, etc.
    That “Hold the Door” moment is one of the most shockingly well-written, jaw-dropping, heartbreaking scene of the show… I’ve got f*cking boosebumps every time I watch it from the moment Meera says “Hold the door !” for the first time 😮
    The only criticism I might make is that Summer’s death is unnecessary and could have been avoided >.<

    I liked every scene (except Dany's because I think it didn't have its place at the end of that episode even though seeing Dany riding a tamed Drogon was freaking cool 🙂
    as well. I understand how you feel ^^
    But what if I told you every time I watch episodes 5, 6 and 7 in a row, I still enjoyed the last two of them more than "The Door" ? :p

    You're welcome 😉
    You've got EXACTLY the righ attitude when it comes to enjoy a show as amazing as GOT.
    Actually, I felt EXACTLY the same way as you do about the show 🙂
    I kept DEEPLY enjoying the show without paying attention to any of its eventual flaws and I didn't understand how anyone could whine and complain about a show which is so great and unique.
    But then, Season 5 arrived and D&D began to show the limits of the quality of their writing (even if they wrote a lot of episodes from season 5 that I love and for me, Season 2 still remains the least good season of the show) but above all I started to hang out a lot with book purists that are friends of mine and sometimes their criticism about the show influenced me a little.
    Don't let ANYONE call what you feel about the show into question or cast doubt on what you think of the show. We ALL have a right to our own opinions and we must above all else respect everyone's opinion. Don't let some book purists or some "fans" who spend their time looking for flaws in every scene spoil your enjoyment of the show ! 🙂

  153. ArgonathofBraavos,

    You know what? You are right son. Count me as one of the folks are hated the episode and still have strong feelings on it But you are correct that I had certain expectations going in and when they didn’t materialize I was deeply disappointed. It was hard for me personally to separate those feelings from judging the episode on it’s own merit if that makes sense. I’m not saying that I love the episode now but still, maybe it deserves another view.

  154. I agree with ArgonathofBraavos and Davos Seaworth. This was a meat and potatoes episode and necessary to move the characters into position for the war to come. I was pleasantly surprised by the return of Beric and the bombardment of Meereen even after keeping up with spoilers, happy that Tommen took away another opportunity for Cersei’s trial by combat, and heartbroken over Brienne and Jaime. The good stuff outweighed the weaker moments for me.

  155. ArgonathofBraavos,

    I value very much your opinion on this episode and I think you couldn’t be more right abuot this episode. I think that most of the time you give one of the most objective points of view and see the episodes for what they really are, no matter the expectations you might have had about it.

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