Where is Bran?
The show had to wait for him to grow up a year or two. Waited for him to age a bit.
Jeremy has an interview with him today in this section. Something to do with Max von Sydow and a magical tree.
I think Melisandre changes to her true, old self when she takes the necklace off because she's simply having a crisis of faith, and it's her faith that's been keeping her young and alive all this time.
I rewatched the scene of Melisandre and Selyse talking in season 4. I don't buy the theory that Selyse was "seeing Melisandre in her true, old form" here. I think Selyse is simply prudish and uncomfortable being around such a sexualized woman. A key part - she looks over Melisandre's body and then asks if she used the lust potion on Stannis - it's clear she's seeing the attractive version of Melisandre and is feeling her own inadequacy in terms of satisfying her husband's needs.
I rewatched the scene of Melisandre and Selyse talking in season 4. I don't buy the theory that Selyse was "seeing Melisandre in her true, old form" here. I think Selyse is simply prudish and uncomfortable being around such a sexualized woman. A key part - she looks over Melisandre's body and then asks if she used the lust potion on Stannis - it's clear she's seeing the attractive version of Melisandre and is feeling her own inadequacy in terms of satisfying her husband's needs.
Has anyone considered that the White Walkers might win and it will be permanent winter in Westeros?
Ugh, hate the Dorne and the Sandsnake's terrible Princess Bride Spanish accents. Their outfits look like recycles from the set of Zena. And is a whip really a lethal weapon? "We'll dominatrix him to death!"
2
Its like The Princess Bride--Jon Snow is only mostly dead.
4
hahahaha good one. Agreed
2
Please help me. How is it that Cersai just returned from a very public walk of shame for being incestuous and when Jaime returns from Dorne that they just pick up where they left off?? I'm really baffled
The first time I loaded this page, no comments showed up. Then 400+. This has happened increasingly often. I wouldn't have reloaded the page except for the end of the recap.
Yes, you need a less modern perspective on time. It takes forever to go from place to place and Brienne has been side-tracked and balked at various times, making it worse.
As for Ellaria, they would have gotten a less well-known actress I think if the role were to remain minor.
I liked that they moved around a lot. I hate when it takes half the season to get to someone.
Yes, you need a less modern perspective on time. It takes forever to go from place to place and Brienne has been side-tracked and balked at various times, making it worse.
As for Ellaria, they would have gotten a less well-known actress I think if the role were to remain minor.
I liked that they moved around a lot. I hate when it takes half the season to get to someone.
5
A lot of this episode had a visually oneiric quality that was really affective. Especially Sansa and Theon in the woods and all the scenes at the Wall. Like recalling a dream or a nightmare, leading nicely to Melisandre's revelation at the end. Even the burning of the ships at Mereen was strange, and Jamie with Myrcella's body floating toward Cersei.
4
Anybody remember what happened to Catelyn Stark?
I thought she was still alive - or maybe slightly undead?
I thought she was still alive - or maybe slightly undead?
3
Dead and gone. Red Wedding,
1
Killed during the Red Wedding.
On the show, she's just dead. In the books, she's undead (Lady Stoneheart), but the show runners cut that part out.
4
This show is so disappointingly dull.
It's gorgeous. It's got such a beautifully diverse world and wide scope. It's got great characters. I want to love it. Instead, I find myself bored to tears.
With such luscious settings it would be wonderful to have a symphony, instead it seems there are only two notes played over and over: death...betrayal...death...betrayal...death...death...death...betrayal...yawn...death...betrayal...
Every once in a while there's a spot of rape or threat of rape or something else thrown in for shock effect ("he cut off his member...gasp! Oh look...she's really an old lady...yawn).
No wonder GRRM can't finish this...he's built a beautiful world, populated it with interesting people, and can't for the life of him figure out how to tell a good story. Having read the first three books, I was at first glad to see that the show writers cut out a lot (a LOT!) of the pointless miasma, but unfortunately they left in way too much political bickering (all settled through death and/or betrayal, of course. Or actually, none settled at all...just endless political jockeying for positions. For generations).
I do understand that a "game" is a diversion to while away the time between doing things that are actually important, and possibly the whole point is that bickering about who sits on the Iron Throne amounts to little more than a game, since the real life and death issue is the White Walkers. Wake me when the boring game is over, and the real work starts.
It's gorgeous. It's got such a beautifully diverse world and wide scope. It's got great characters. I want to love it. Instead, I find myself bored to tears.
With such luscious settings it would be wonderful to have a symphony, instead it seems there are only two notes played over and over: death...betrayal...death...betrayal...death...death...death...betrayal...yawn...death...betrayal...
Every once in a while there's a spot of rape or threat of rape or something else thrown in for shock effect ("he cut off his member...gasp! Oh look...she's really an old lady...yawn).
No wonder GRRM can't finish this...he's built a beautiful world, populated it with interesting people, and can't for the life of him figure out how to tell a good story. Having read the first three books, I was at first glad to see that the show writers cut out a lot (a LOT!) of the pointless miasma, but unfortunately they left in way too much political bickering (all settled through death and/or betrayal, of course. Or actually, none settled at all...just endless political jockeying for positions. For generations).
I do understand that a "game" is a diversion to while away the time between doing things that are actually important, and possibly the whole point is that bickering about who sits on the Iron Throne amounts to little more than a game, since the real life and death issue is the White Walkers. Wake me when the boring game is over, and the real work starts.
4
@Me, myself:
It's a 1-trick pony. Or, like watching models gliding up and down a gilded runway at London Fashion Week. The clothes they wear are fabulous; the models wearing them mute, enigmatic ciphers.
The feeling I usually came away with after viewing an episode last year was frustrated emptiness. That feeling manifested itself in my mind as a question: "With such incredible talent and technical resources at their disposal the best the writer-producers could come up with is this dreck?" Although, when you think about it, it's not all-that-unusual in the realm of cinematic malpractice: an embarrassment of riches.
Hunger begets success.
Success begets pride, conceit and arrogance.
Pride before the fall.
It's a 1-trick pony. Or, like watching models gliding up and down a gilded runway at London Fashion Week. The clothes they wear are fabulous; the models wearing them mute, enigmatic ciphers.
The feeling I usually came away with after viewing an episode last year was frustrated emptiness. That feeling manifested itself in my mind as a question: "With such incredible talent and technical resources at their disposal the best the writer-producers could come up with is this dreck?" Although, when you think about it, it's not all-that-unusual in the realm of cinematic malpractice: an embarrassment of riches.
Hunger begets success.
Success begets pride, conceit and arrogance.
Pride before the fall.
1
Wake me up when you write a post that isn't boring,
13
I think the actors completely redeem the material and make it all worthwhile. Diana Rigg as Lady Olenna, Charles Dance as Tywin, Peter Dinklage as Tyrion, Maisie Williams as Arya, Conleth Hall as Varys, Gwendolynne Christie as Brienne, and the guys who played The Hound and Oberyn are a few of my favorites. Oh my goodness, it's like an embarrassment of riches. I enjoy the performances immensely.
6
Totally hooked. The scene in question was repulsive indeed. But the story takes you on a rollercoaster of reactions that drag the viewer along into the plot for better or worse. Im in till the bitter end. Huzzah!
4
"The best place for you is the widow temple, she was told, which I’m guessing is just as delightful as it sounds."
She was already there - in Season 1, they visit Vaes Dothrak where she eats the stallion's heart. All the old women at that temple are widowed Khaleesis. The Dothraki custom is that when the Khal dies, his wife or wives must go to live there.
She was already there - in Season 1, they visit Vaes Dothrak where she eats the stallion's heart. All the old women at that temple are widowed Khaleesis. The Dothraki custom is that when the Khal dies, his wife or wives must go to live there.
5
Guinevere's choice.
2
Jeremy Egner, your line about Theon filling the void by volunteering made me laugh out loud at my desk. Brilliant.
10
Where is the Bird Whisperer? He disappeared into the creepy tree a couple years ago. When he gets out is it going to be a Luke/Yoda thing or more like Tom Hanks and Wilson, beard and all?
3
It didnt make sense for Daenerys to offer 1000 horses to her captor and he quickly refused the offer. For the Dothraki that is quite a great ransom. Instead the scene is written to show her threatened with rape and then she invokes the name of her husband. Then she is safe. And the ransom offer is never discussed again. All too convenient as a method for the writers to keep her stuck at the camp until her dragons rescue her again. Did the scene really have to be written like that? And so poorly.
10
Under early Irish (early Medieval), the payment of a number of heads of cattle could get you acquitted of murder.
7
There seems to be a universal consensus amongst all thrones fans and nerds that Jon is alive.
However, they killed Prince Doran, who was the focal point of many of the best fan theories I've read about bringing down the Lannisters and getting the upper hand in Westeros (Dornish Master Plan video on YouTube). Killing him is a huge curveball and that can't be underappreciated.
That said, I think the books and the show are now going to tell two very different stories, and that this season is the major point of departure. It would completely unseat all fan theories and expectations if they actually killed Jon, and that is very much in the style of the show. I'm saying that BECAUSE the writers and GRRM know that everyone wants (knows?) Jon is coming back, they might have written that narrative completely out of the season to surprise us.
So what if Jon is actually dead?
However, they killed Prince Doran, who was the focal point of many of the best fan theories I've read about bringing down the Lannisters and getting the upper hand in Westeros (Dornish Master Plan video on YouTube). Killing him is a huge curveball and that can't be underappreciated.
That said, I think the books and the show are now going to tell two very different stories, and that this season is the major point of departure. It would completely unseat all fan theories and expectations if they actually killed Jon, and that is very much in the style of the show. I'm saying that BECAUSE the writers and GRRM know that everyone wants (knows?) Jon is coming back, they might have written that narrative completely out of the season to surprise us.
So what if Jon is actually dead?
5
If that's true then I'm done.
5
And the Ridiculous-Coincidence-To-Move-a-Stuck-Plot-Along Award goes to Ser Jorah finding Dany's dropped ring in the grass in the middle of a desolate wilderness.
16
Actually, you could see very clearly where the horde was circling around her. He was looking in about a 10 foot circle...
17
Tyrion apparently has money to burn. So why doesn't he ever bathe or change hi clothing? Varys's outfit I assume is some kind of uniform worn by whisperers.
Are there countries beyond these two islands? One of the characters said he had been all over the world. Where is that? One of the fine writers or commenters here at the NYT said the GoT universe was on another planet. What if this then is some kind of Battlestar Galactica:New Series setup, but that the seven kingdoms exist parallel to our time?
Are there countries beyond these two islands? One of the characters said he had been all over the world. Where is that? One of the fine writers or commenters here at the NYT said the GoT universe was on another planet. What if this then is some kind of Battlestar Galactica:New Series setup, but that the seven kingdoms exist parallel to our time?
3
The final scene with Melisandre suggests the red witch might have something in her bag of tricks that can help Ser Davos, Jon Snow's corpse, and the rest of Jon's loyalists sneak out of Castle Black right under Alliser Thorne's nose.
12
Yes, and the melancholic way she looked, it may cost her a great deal.
3
I read that the actress, Carise Van Houten, said Melisandre may be as much as 400 years old.
3
The books have painted Prince Martell as a crucial character, so I was genuinely shocked when he was coup de tatted without much fanfare. As a book reader, it's fun not knowing what's going to happen this season.
6
Oh? I was thinking that the turn of events here seemed to be saying that a man, Doran, is rational and reasonable in recognizing there is nothing to avenge in Oberyn's death, whereas the women, Ellaria and her snakes, react emotionally and unreasonably. If it's not in the book, then the showrunners are much more misogynistic than the author.
2
I figure there are 2 options for Jon Snow:
1) a la Bran, he sent his consciousness into another body - at first I was thinking Ghost, but in that case Ghost wouldn't be whimpering over the body. Now I'm guessing young Olly. Especially after the way he was just standing around listening and watching at that big meeting.
2) Remember Uncle Benjen? Who seems to have turned into a good zombie? Maybe he can teach Jon Snow that trick...although that would mean Davros et al. would have to leave Jon's body out where the White Walker could get him. So that one is probably a no-go.
So: keep an eye on young Olly!
1) a la Bran, he sent his consciousness into another body - at first I was thinking Ghost, but in that case Ghost wouldn't be whimpering over the body. Now I'm guessing young Olly. Especially after the way he was just standing around listening and watching at that big meeting.
2) Remember Uncle Benjen? Who seems to have turned into a good zombie? Maybe he can teach Jon Snow that trick...although that would mean Davros et al. would have to leave Jon's body out where the White Walker could get him. So that one is probably a no-go.
So: keep an eye on young Olly!
2
This theory about Olly is my favourite so far :-)
1
I hate this theory. I hate Olly, the dirty little liar-murderer.
9
I hate Olly like I hate Carl's hat on TWD.
3
This is a terrible write up. Snark ("ya think") and valley girl phrasing ("slice you up like a ham, friend-o") isn't a substitute for critical analysis. I couldn't even finish the article. It's shocking that this throw-away piece was actually published in the NY Times. Unbelievable.
5
grassij, the thing is, it's not a review, it's a recap. And what some of us love the best about it is that the snark is executed on a very high level of snark. Jeremy [I hope I may call him Jeremy after all these episodes] does "Valley Girl" on purpose and he's very good at it. But do not be fooled, the NYT hires no dummies.
9
The review is light-hearted and matches the nature of what is being recapped--a TV show about dragons and zombies. I'm not sure what kind of critical analysis you were looking for.
9
Kent, If I understand the position you're staking out here: a work that includes supernatural elements shouldn't be taken seriously. In that case, why would Harold Bloom even bother with a critical analysis of a Danish prince haunted by his father's ghost.
7
I loved this episode. I was wondering how on earth they were going to pick up all those pieces from the Season 5 finale, but they did. Sure, it left me wanting more, but don't they all? I'm glad to have gotten vignettes of all the major stories in this episode, as it's now setting the stage for all the other episodes to follow which will surely focus more on the individual plots.
5
"Is it wrong that I found (Jaime and Cersei's) reunion sort of touching? Also, should we be preparing for a more sympathetic Cersei this season?"
Yes, it's wrong. They are assholes, have always been assholes, and will always be assholes. And there's no such thing as a sympathetic Cersei. She and Jaime deserve to be drawn and quartered, then fed to Dany's dragons.
Yes, it's wrong. They are assholes, have always been assholes, and will always be assholes. And there's no such thing as a sympathetic Cersei. She and Jaime deserve to be drawn and quartered, then fed to Dany's dragons.
7
But but but but but...if everybody got what they deserve, there'd be no show left!
11
They both have their redeeming aspects. They are more grey than black. This being said I despise Cersei. Jaime however has had some deep backstory and has developed ALOT as a character. He's wormed his way onto my good side and quickly became my 3rd favorite character perspective to read from.
3
Language?
Nothing beats beating up on a blind girl for gratuitous kicks. Whatever doesn't kill off your audience only makes you stronger must be the show runner's idea.
9
Give it a beat before you dismiss it as being for kicks. The fact that the girl brought 2 staffs and left one, while saying "I'll see you tomorrow" should let us all know that the waif will be training the Stark girl how to take care of herself while blind. She's teaching her...not abusing her.
22
I actually found that scene promising. Clearly the House of Black and White hasn't given up on Arya. And imagine how well-trained she will be once she learns to fight while blind!
9
Yes! I was reminded of Stick training Matt Murdock. :)
3
I really, really wish the often pointless, graphic depictions of extreme violence would be toned down.
I persevere, because I like the story, but I know of a few who refuse to watch the show any longer, after getting tired of the brutality.
I persevere, because I like the story, but I know of a few who refuse to watch the show any longer, after getting tired of the brutality.
6
I'm not a fan of this first episode to be honest, and I can only hope that this isn't a precursor to the upcoming season. If so I will have to use the MEN IN BLACK memory erasing device on myself that the writers have used on all of you barnacle like fans.
Question #1. Wasn't Trystane on the boat with Jamie and his daughter heading to King's Landing the reclaim Oberyn's place on the Small Council?
Question #2. Looking back at the end of season 5 the boat was still very well is plain sight from the dock. Why not just turn around and figure out what the heck just happened to the person bleeding through her nose?
And lastly I can't speak for the time lapse between the boat arriving in King's Landing and its departure from Sunspear. However it doesn't make sense how comfy everyone would have gotten since that wasn't the case at the end of season 5.
Question #1. Wasn't Trystane on the boat with Jamie and his daughter heading to King's Landing the reclaim Oberyn's place on the Small Council?
Question #2. Looking back at the end of season 5 the boat was still very well is plain sight from the dock. Why not just turn around and figure out what the heck just happened to the person bleeding through her nose?
And lastly I can't speak for the time lapse between the boat arriving in King's Landing and its departure from Sunspear. However it doesn't make sense how comfy everyone would have gotten since that wasn't the case at the end of season 5.
5
Yes, Trystane was on the ship with Jamie and his daughter, as he was in this episode as well. If you watch the scene again, after the Cersei/Jaime scene, the camera cuts to an establishing shot of the ship outside of the Kings Landing harbor. Trystane is then shown in a cabin on the ship painting what I presume to be funeral eyes for Myrcella (visual callback to Joffrey's funeral scene).
What doesn't make sense is why 2 of the Sand Snakes are also on the ship, given that all 3 that have been on the show were standing with Ellaria on the Dorne dock at the end of season 5. Technically the Snakes on the dock may not have been Nym and Obara (apparently there are 8 total, though we've only seen 3), but it sure looked like them.
What doesn't make sense is why 2 of the Sand Snakes are also on the ship, given that all 3 that have been on the show were standing with Ellaria on the Dorne dock at the end of season 5. Technically the Snakes on the dock may not have been Nym and Obara (apparently there are 8 total, though we've only seen 3), but it sure looked like them.
7
Thanks, Bob. I watched that scene again just to make sure, and all three Sand Snakes are indeed on the pier with Ellaria watching the ship sail away. Unless Obara and Nym hopped on their own ship, hightailed it after Jaime & Co. back to Kings Landing, then snuck on Jaime's ship and killed Trystane.
where is Ghost?
and how will this impact Jon?
3
Ghost was at the table with Jon and the others.
5
Is winter coming or not?!?? I think it got stuck at Castle Black because everywhere else in this episode looked like an advertisement for a vacation-gone-wrong in Greece.
5
Overall, pretty good as opening episodes go, including unexpected curves I never saw coming. When Melisandra started to remove her robe, I thought that even by HBO standards, this was a pretty gratuitous display of female nudity . . . and then came the aged crone shocker. And while at this point, after all the hullabaloo, I would be quite happy for Jon Snow, like Generalissimo Franco, to stay dead, I suspect Melisandra will gather herself and reanimate him a la Beric Dondarrion. Either that, or Davos will eventually have Snow's corpose mounted on a horse a la "El Cid" to lead the wildlings into battle against Lord Bolton's forces - as the various North, Wall and Beyond The Wall story lines all coalesce to streamline the narrative significantly. Also, I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but Margaery (whose great sin, refusing to rat out her brother, pales in comparison to Cersei, and yet it is Cersei who was freed, go figure) is going to find out that her brother Loras was executed some time ago. And I do not think we are going to see a kinder, gentler Cersei; no, she, Jaime and Frankenknight are going to wreak some serious revenge on the High Sparrow and his unarmored, staff wielding acolytes who made the colossally stupid tactical move of letting Cersei go free after thoroughly humiliating her. Somehow, Margaery will survive, and then she and Cersei will forge a new bond of sisterhood when they "go all Ramsey" on their mutual tormentor Septa Unella.
14
Is it too much to ask HBO to take a page from the Brits and have fewer, but longer episodes? Eight 90 minute episodes would be perfection. Episode 1 felt very superficial and frantic....Myrcella dead, no time to cry, must move on to Winterfell and watch Ramsay Bolton act out fiendishly in double time. And we haven't even factored Sam and Gilly or those crazy Ironborn into the time schedule.
14
That does not gain much. Why not have 13-16 eps. like other series like this?
looking forward to jon snow's resurrection.
6
There seems to be a significant streamlining of subplots in the interest of simplifying the tale for television. For example, the books haven't yet wiped out Stannis (at least not so simply), and the whole Dorne thing is lot more involved expanded in the text. The TV version hasn't even introduced the idea that Dany's nephew is alive after all and sneaking back into Westros to mount his own claim to the throne. The TV story seems to be headed largely in the direction of reducing the endgame to Dany vs the Lannisters.
6
The endgame is Dany and the dragons vs the White Walkers and the army of the dead.
7
Wow, that sure makes sense.
3
Methinks dragons easily trump frozen white walkers ;-)
4
I think Jon Snow's death is a great plot device to get him off the Wall! He pledged his life to the Night's Watch, and he gave it. When he is revived, he has no more obligation to the oath, and can get on with the business of revenge, and maybe even becoming king.
61
That hadn't occurred to me, but it makes good sense. I've long thought that Jon Snow and Danaerys would become the power couple to unite Westeros against the White Walkers and inaugurate a new golden age yadda yadda, and I'm sure we're going to find out which noblewoman is actually his mother and restore his legitimacy in the meantime.
5
I really enjoyed the part after Davos and Ser Allister's "negotiation", where Davros turns to the loyalist nightwatchman and says (paraphrasing), "Yeah, they're definitely going to murder us if we try to surrender. Let's not open this door fellas."
It's good to see someone not falling for that old trick.
It's good to see someone not falling for that old trick.
23
Interesting first episode but like last season, the sound and illumination were not always adequate. Scenes in dark places were sometimes difficult to discern and whispered and mumbled conversations often came through muddled.
13
You need a new TV.
7
We have a new, very good, TV, and there were some scenes that I could barely see anything happening because it was so dark.
5
This Dorne plot is just utterly atrocious. I was hoping we would see Doran be the player he really is...but all that knowledge and planning he has in the books is deduced to this fluff. They could and should have done so much more with this area. The pacing is terrible too...this isn't a sprint to the finish line...take more time developing and having us get to know these incredibly complex characters.
4
basically the TV version is making the Dorne sisters into standard villains -- who wont last very long in the scheme of things. Pretty much everything about Dorne was a hasty mishmash in the TV version.
3
The show still hasn't explained how Sansa and Reek survived what looked like a thousand-foot jump over the castle walls. It was just, Well, never mind, and off through the forest, pursued by hounds.
7
If I recall from the book, I think there was some explanation that the two of them knew that along certain areas of the wall snow rose high enough that one could jump from the wall and not be killed. Having grown up in Winterfell, these two knew they could jump from that spot and likely survive.
4
It's very snowy in the north...so probably a big drift at the bottom of the wall...also her cape is pretty billowy and she's fairly light, so terminal velocity for her is probably not that fast...Reek is pretty light as well these days given what he's been through...
6
Snow pile, Mojobo.
5
Perfect recap - detail, humor and insight make this column a great ending to a perfectly satisfying show. I re-invested last night with some anxiety since I had binge-watched the first four seasons immediately before the fifth and I was afraid some of the fascination had worn off but, between yesterday's recap and some attention to all of the storylines, I'm back in. Already planning for next week - all Millesande has to do is magic and the John Snow death is over, right? And Arya will beat off her nemesis, and Sansa/Brienne will arrive with Bram and Hodor to join with Davos et al to defeat the conniving mutineers. All great outcomes but won't happen on this show.
6
This show will never be as interesting as it was when Tywin was alive and well.
6
The same could have been said about Ned Stark. But I don't agree. There have been few episodes as gripping as the night Tyrion escaped from his cell and tied up two loose ends in the process.
If you long for a strong diabolical leader to loathe, the Night's King is on his way. That should be more than interesting.
If you long for a strong diabolical leader to loathe, the Night's King is on his way. That should be more than interesting.
6
Amen to that. No one played the game with more ruthless grandeur than Tywin.
3
"Kings are dropping like flies just now." Charles Dance will be missed.
2
Thank the Gods, old and new, that they don't air the entire season via some vehicle like Netflix! Bad enough that I'm spending my time reading other's perspectives of a TV drama while real world drama begs for my attention.
13
My husband and I are on the Appalachian Trail. We should be back out there, except I insist on another day in town to watch GoT again and read the comments!
9
Yah, it was an opening episode but it was still good, not in love with the shots but loved the action except for that crazy girl who beat Arya with a stick, what was that? And the old boobs, I really didn't need that. Plus an episode called the red lady hardly got any red lady
3
"The old boobs"..Hooly, you are an original. Thanks for that.
6
She's the waif from the House of Black and White who has largely been in charge of the training, or whatever, Arya's been undergoing since her arrival there in season 5.
Red Lady could also refer to the bloody coup carried out by Ellaria and the Sand Snakes in Dorne.
Red Lady could also refer to the bloody coup carried out by Ellaria and the Sand Snakes in Dorne.
10
Too many of the camera shots were static closeups like in a soap opera -- what is up with that? Poor direction. It all felt hasty and rushed.
2
Typical GoT opening episode — sets up a lot of great storylines for the subsequent nine this season. But my biggest disappointment was (surprise, surprise!) Dorne, yet again. Areo Hotah! This fearsome looking warrior, with a presence reminiscent of the Three Kingdoms' Guan Yu, was felled by a swift dagger to the spine from one of the Sand Sisters — who STILL haven't really demonstrated any particular warrior prowess (two of them needed to go assassinate Trystan? And then not even give the boy a fair fight?).
I'm glad for the havoc that yet another coup d'etat precipitates, but I can't say I'm excited about the age of Ellaria Sand. Until that story arc actually provides characters that have some sort of impressive dimensionality, I'm going to remain fairly dismissive about the purported Rise of Dorne (weak men, strong women, or otherwise).
I'm glad for the havoc that yet another coup d'etat precipitates, but I can't say I'm excited about the age of Ellaria Sand. Until that story arc actually provides characters that have some sort of impressive dimensionality, I'm going to remain fairly dismissive about the purported Rise of Dorne (weak men, strong women, or otherwise).
6
I think that they included the Dorne story line to give a knife to the gut to Cersei's already crumbling world, its less about the actual story and more about creating the flames for the rest of the season
https://nerdbrainblog.com/2016/04/25/poetic-justice-on-the-game-of-thron...
https://nerdbrainblog.com/2016/04/25/poetic-justice-on-the-game-of-thron...
1
Also, it keeps alive the possibility of a future thing between Bronn and Ellaria's daughter. I mean, that has to be consummated, right?
2
I think the happenings in Dorne have less to do with developing the character of Ellatia Sand than with giving the fine actress Indira Varma a more substantial role.
1
I sort of get the desire of many commenters to bring Jon Snow back. But if he is be reincarnated, could it be an actor with a variety of facial expressions (fear, anticipation, love, angry, etc)? Kit Harrington, as a corpse, has the same expression he had when he was alive and Lord Commander -- passive, inert bewilderment.
26
Jon is a character who internalizes a lot. He's got great ideas and he really knows how to get things done (everything with the wildlings). He is an absolutely poor communicator and bookwise it's a lot of what brings his brothers to turn on him. Kit Harrington does a great job of portraying this!
6
This made me laugh. Thank you.
3
Need we bring back the poor simple minded boob at all? His only talent was looking sorrowful and getting everyone he tried to help killed.
3
I know the Stark words are "Winter is Coming," but on behalf of those who are eager to see Jon Snow avenged, "Tormund is Coming."
16
That's what I was saying to my friends. If that one guy was able to tell the Free Folk, as soon as Tormund comes a knockin' Ghost and Tormund will team up to see the biggest slaughter in Castle Black. (Plus it'll be revenge for the failed attack on CB) Hashtag everything comes full circle.
8
The lead picture here of the actors running around half dressed in the snow tells me all I need to know about Game of thrones.
2
Did you watch the episode? If you mean the photo of the guy with a pony tail and beard with the blonde woman they are in a hot desert type area, not snow.
8
That's not snow, it's sand.
6
Your comment tells me all I need to know about you -- it's not snow. They're in quite a warm location.
2
Boring!
1
Well I was really excited to start the new season. What a let down just allot of reworked place holders, not one exciting event, and everyone knows Snow is alive. I have heard the rest of the book is not written yet, so maybe they are just lost as to what to do. I give them one more episode and if it too is a big bore, off with their heads and no more HBO.
2
I think it was a good start to continuing a lot of interesting plots
https://nerdbrainblog.com/2016/04/25/poetic-justice-on-the-game-of-thron...
https://nerdbrainblog.com/2016/04/25/poetic-justice-on-the-game-of-thron...
2
I can believe in dragons, magic and White Walkers, I can't believe in ridiculous plot mechanisms that make no sense at all. There were two in this episode:
First, when Sansa and Theon, having escaped Winterfell, are fleeing through the wintry wildnerness and are about to be set upon by Bolton's men and dogs, Brienne of Tarth and Podrick come galloping to the rescue. How would Brienne of Tarth and Podrick know that Sansa and Theon had escaped from Winterfell, let alone their location?
Second, when Jorah Mormont and Daario Naharis go off in search of Daenerys, whom they last saw fly away on the back of Drogon during the Sons of the Harpy attack and could be anywhere in the Essos continent, Jorah and Daario manage to find themselves trekking in the exact spot of desolate mountain Dothraki wildnerness where Daenerys had been not long before and Jorah by coincidence manages to step in the precise exact spot where Daenerys dropped her ring in the grass, and happen to look down in the grass at that very moment to see the ring.
First, when Sansa and Theon, having escaped Winterfell, are fleeing through the wintry wildnerness and are about to be set upon by Bolton's men and dogs, Brienne of Tarth and Podrick come galloping to the rescue. How would Brienne of Tarth and Podrick know that Sansa and Theon had escaped from Winterfell, let alone their location?
Second, when Jorah Mormont and Daario Naharis go off in search of Daenerys, whom they last saw fly away on the back of Drogon during the Sons of the Harpy attack and could be anywhere in the Essos continent, Jorah and Daario manage to find themselves trekking in the exact spot of desolate mountain Dothraki wildnerness where Daenerys had been not long before and Jorah by coincidence manages to step in the precise exact spot where Daenerys dropped her ring in the grass, and happen to look down in the grass at that very moment to see the ring.
5
yeah the crazy tracking skills in a vast area is ridiculous but the rest of the episode was good
https://nerdbrainblog.com/2016/04/25/poetic-justice-on-the-game-of-thron...
https://nerdbrainblog.com/2016/04/25/poetic-justice-on-the-game-of-thron...
1
Incidents of incinerated livestock might tend to generate discussion in villages and regions-- that was quite a pile of bones we last saw Drogon lounging around upon.
Perhaps a man heard some talk here and there, along with following the trail of melted ram horns?
Perhaps a man heard some talk here and there, along with following the trail of melted ram horns?
2
I couldn't believe that Sansa and Theon walked through that river of ice without losing limbs, or at least toes. But nobody refers to the ordeal again.
1
I thought the strongest scene was Ser Alliser Thorne's speech to the Night's Watch. The actor and character both have gravitas that has gone largely unused in previous seasons. Here he is admitting what he did, even calling it treason, then trying to justify himself to the assembled men. You could tell he knows he did wrong, yet believes the murder of his Lord Commander was necessary. It was a nice piece of acting by a guy I suspect will not be around too many more episodes.
Other than that sequence, I thought the dialogue was noticeably less sharp than in previous seasons though that may be due chiefly to memory. Brienne saving the day was cool but awfully fortuitous. Sansa's "line...?" supplied by Podrick was the best part of that scene. Folks, there was a churned-up circle of mud around an undisturbed patch of grass--of course that is where Jorah would look.
Other than that sequence, I thought the dialogue was noticeably less sharp than in previous seasons though that may be due chiefly to memory. Brienne saving the day was cool but awfully fortuitous. Sansa's "line...?" supplied by Podrick was the best part of that scene. Folks, there was a churned-up circle of mud around an undisturbed patch of grass--of course that is where Jorah would look.
13
While it was fortuitous, (and I am not an overtly huge fan of Sansa as I see her as the whinny girl from Seasons 1-2), I welcomed it, this girl has been at the mercy of three and half wildly evil sociopaths. Cersei, Jeoffry, Petr and then Ramsay. I think it could be interesting, but since Bran, Rickon, and Arrya are all scattered, Jon (depending if you believe he is/will be alive) is the closest to Sansa, and as everyone believes in the show, he is still Lord Commander. It would be interesting if Jon comes back, and quells this mutiny what Ramsay Bolton would be thinking to do to get Sansa back from her brother, who has Ghost and an army of angry Free Folk?
3
Brienne followed Sansa to Winterfell. She watched the battle unfold. She killed Stannis. The baying of hounds can be heard from some distance away, and while it might be stretching credibility (dragons, blood magic) it's not inconceivable that she could have homed in on the ruckus and been in the right place at the right time. The real question is what happened to the hounds?
9
PETA says it's okay to kill horses but not dogs...
The problem for me is that despite the great acting, beautiful and varied sets, and serpentine plot, the show has two huge issues: one the enormous amount of graphic and gratuitous violence, and two the related wallowing in sociopathy. Have you ever seen a show in which every other character is some kind of sociopath or even serial killer? It isn't simply the emotional challenges for the fan in fallowing a show in which the few decent characters are routinely killed off by the sociopaths, it's a narrative in which evil really does seem to pay off. There's little sense that being a sociopath offers a pathway into failure and a short lifespan - just the opposite it seems, as the evil figures seems to routinely outlive the good ones. Overall, the show is dangerously close to sending the basic message "the world is evil, so get used to it!!" Not clear that the writers or the producers understand the difference between dramatic tension and wallowing in barbarity.
12
I don't know it seems to mimic real life a lot evil people tend to outlive the good ones, and if you're good with a lot of power you're an easy target like tommen baratheon. With out evil there is no good and what is good is not always universal to everyone to some power is the ultimate good, and so its justifiable to do what is necessary for the ultimate good
Try Sons of Anarchy. Might actually make Games of Thrones seem kind! If your watching this show we are talking dragons and night walkers here. This is total fantasy gone blitz and I love it. I try to think what I may do next and usually they blow my mind away going even father. That my friends is a good show and why it is worth watching. I also thank god that is not my life!!!!
8
Ever played Dungeons and Dragons? Chaotic charismatic evil is the most powerful position to start with. Then it has to play out.
1
Perhaps someone else has already pointed this out, but Cersei HAS lost three children. Her for-real son with Robert died in infancy.
14
Maybe the the writer forgot, or can't count too good.
2
Gold their Crowns, Gold their Shrouds...
The true-born Baratheon child that her and Robert lost in infancy would have had black hair. It doesn't count towards the prophecy.
The true-born Baratheon child that her and Robert lost in infancy would have had black hair. It doesn't count towards the prophecy.
4
Re: how does Jorah find Dany's ring in a huge field? - the tracks from the Horde's horses surrounding her left a big ring of torn up grass around an untouched center, easy to assume that was the place they encircled a captive. I don't think it was that much of a stretch.
13
Yes, you're right. Good analysis.
1
Danaerys being sent to a place reserved for widows of Dothraki leaders. Smells to me like a place where angry women warriors decide to kick ass.
Everywhere Danaerys goes she ends up with an army. And Podrick's emergence begins the revelation that he's the son of Robert Barathian. Would make the appropriate King to a Queen Danaerys.
And Jon? If they don't revive him and don't burn his body he may fight at Winterfell after all.
Everywhere Danaerys goes she ends up with an army. And Podrick's emergence begins the revelation that he's the son of Robert Barathian. Would make the appropriate King to a Queen Danaerys.
And Jon? If they don't revive him and don't burn his body he may fight at Winterfell after all.
6
If they do burn his body he'll be resurrected because he's actually a Targaryen...
4
I'm kinda hoping that he indeed becomes a white walker, ideally with the name Snow Wight.
12
Lots of noise and still the plot (all 7 of them) goes nowhere.
Just like the books.
And yet I read them. And I see the show. And I love it.
Just like the books.
And yet I read them. And I see the show. And I love it.
6
HBO has spread GOT so thin, with all it's sidetracking albeit interesting sunplots, that I fear that they will ruin the series with a hastened final season. Just like they did with Boardwalk Empire which ended horribly.
5
B-O-R-I-N-G...
Loved the first few seasons, but both the plots and characters have since been lacking.
Too bad, they killed off the best actors and most interesting characters (Sean Bean, Charles Dance, Michelle Fairley, King Bob and his brothers...), even though this did provide real suspense at the time. Current leads are just unable to carry their roles and/or playing predicable stereotypes.
Loved the first few seasons, but both the plots and characters have since been lacking.
Too bad, they killed off the best actors and most interesting characters (Sean Bean, Charles Dance, Michelle Fairley, King Bob and his brothers...), even though this did provide real suspense at the time. Current leads are just unable to carry their roles and/or playing predicable stereotypes.
2
All of those actors were killed off because those were scenes that happened in the books which this Series is based off of, don't complain about the adaptation of a book series for being accurate to the base material.
1
But the series ISN"T being accurate to the base material. Killing off a sympathetic main character is always shocking (Hitchcock sort of invented it in Psycho), but here it seems to be one of the defining protocols. I miss most of those deceased characters.
1
"Based on." The expression is "based on." It borrows on the nature of a base being the thing that other things are placed ON. To be "based off of" a thing has to be somewhere other than the base, which is not what you mean.
2
My guess is this new Khal is going to be killed by Drogon, who will obey Dany (for once). This will cow all of the Dothraki because they believe in strength. If anything would make a khalasar follow a woman it would be if she showed she can command dragons. My feeling is that Dany will then lead this khalasar back to Mereen, where she'll clean out the Sons of the Harpy in short order.
Also, while it was great to have Roose Bolton give Ramsay a dressing down, I'd sleep with a dagger under my pillow if I was Roose. Right now, while he's still heir apparent, there's not much to stop Ramsay from killing his father and becoming the new Lord Bolton. Walda and her baby would be easy to deal with after that (at least for Ramsay)
And...someone please wake up Jon Snow...this is getting tedious. First Walking Dead, now Game of Thrones....
Also, while it was great to have Roose Bolton give Ramsay a dressing down, I'd sleep with a dagger under my pillow if I was Roose. Right now, while he's still heir apparent, there's not much to stop Ramsay from killing his father and becoming the new Lord Bolton. Walda and her baby would be easy to deal with after that (at least for Ramsay)
And...someone please wake up Jon Snow...this is getting tedious. First Walking Dead, now Game of Thrones....
19
After Davos discovered Jon Snow's body in the frozen ground at the Wall, and after the men picked up and carried his body inside, did Davos seem to look for a long time at the blood in the snow? Was he surprised at how little blood there was? What was he looking at?
10
I thought maybe he was looking at how dried the blood already seemed, as if he couldn't believe Jon had been lying there that long and he hadn't seen him sooner. Or that he didn't see the act when it occurred.
3
Good question. I noticed him noticing, but did not see what he saw. Was it a pattern? I thought for a minute it might be wings -- but surely that's too obvious a symbol for House Targereyan?
1
I had the same thought, Mary E. Once they picked him up, I was surprised at how little blood there was, considering the amount of wounds he suffered.
1
I gave up watching this show twice. Once after the Red Wedding. But I came back a year later. Then after John Snow was killed I said no mas. I won't watch again but I do enjoy reading the recap. When there is so much better and more fun and fulfilling TV elsewhere why bother with a show that in my opinion hates its best characters and even its audience. I see GOT as an hour long water boarding torture or worse. I did watch VEEP and it was amazing, fun and 1000 times better than GOT ever will be.
1
its not for you. its a better show than veep. and veep is great.
6
GOT really should have a warning. Rated TV-MA Programs with this rating commonly include strong and frequent sexual content, extreme violence, or both Viewer discretion is advised....Oh, Wait a minute! They actually do have that warning. So I guess anyone who watches the show knowing that it will have sex and violence has no one to blame but them self. As far as VEEP is concerned, I will fight for your right to love any show you choose but one critic has called that show..."Mistaking vulgarity for comic edge and very thinly stretched punnery for wit, Veep is less a trenchant satire about contemporary politics than it is a relentlessly mean-spirited spectacle about crummy people. "
To each his or her own I suppose
To each his or her own I suppose
7
What a great first episode this season. However, I did not quite get how Obara and her sister got on the ship with Trystane. Last season weren't they on the dock with Ellaria after she poisoned Myrcella? I remember seeing them on the dock watching the ship sail away while Ellaria dealt with her nosebleed. Dorne is a long way from King's Landing. It's weird that they got on the ship almost at the same time that the ship pulled into King's Landing.
4
Yes, this. I thought the same thing. They were joking with each other on the dock. They followed the ship in a separate boat? Seems like a major plot mechanism to ignore.
6
Ok, all great sentiments and I'm as huge a Thronie as any--but there were narrative plot points that were telegraphed and disappointing. I mean, Jorah finding the ring? Sansa & Theon emerging from that river hardly unscathed and not even that wet? But I will give them this, the Red Woman surprise at the end did make up for everything else.
4
Great review! I thought this episode did an excellent job of jumping around and picking up pieces from last season and setting up this season's plots (still missing Bran, but he'll apparently be in next week's show). I agree that Dorne is a bore, with laughable character development, but the rest of the show was terrific. Brienne, I always knew you'd come through. Sansa showed a new dignity and understanding of her own importance and role in her family. Arya needs to learn to fend for herself and will, though I doubt she'll ever forget that she's Arya (because she's, well, Arya). I found the Melisandre moment very touching and the Red Woman's new vulnerability moving and character-building (she's finally admitting that she's not invincible). I suspect she'll be up and luscious again soon and resurrecting JS. I wish that the inevitable Jon Snow resurrection, in whatever form, would take place soon so that we can focus on the show as a whole. I'm also of the opinion that he warged into Ghost but needs a live body. Davos's loyalty and determination are always heroic. I found the Khaleesi scenes dull and am tired of watching the endless dusty wanderings of the Queen of Dragons. Get her to Westeros already. So glad that the writers have ditched Martin's interminable writing speed.
13
Depressing show.
3
My guess is that Jon Snow has already been revived, but we just don't know it yet. I believe that Melisandre gave her youth potion (the vial) to Jon to resurrect him. Without the potion, she dies. But there was really no need for her to disrobe, other than the writers wanting to shock us. It would have been more dignified for her to keep her dress on.
18
Clever, I think you're right.
3
I have to disagree with all your points. Snow is dead, he's literally cold, even the Grey Wolf knows it. There is no indication of Mel giving him anything but kind words. Not to say that she does not have a plan - she did see him fighting at Winterfell, after all - but the writers are stringing out the points of his revival. As for the transition to an old lady at the end - not really a shock, simply a revelation that Mel can be anyone she wishes to be - a shadow that killed Renly, a woman who deceived Stannis and convinced him to murder his heir then left him to be killed by his enemies, an old lady with plans of her own. Strange how comments on this board don't want to see an old lady naked - so what? The writers are giving us insights into Mel's abilities - she can appear however she wishes to appear to achieve her goals - that is the real point. So - how will she appear to Jon Snow to bring him back to this plane of existence? Will he want to come back? That's the point.
4
Hmmmm. That potion, apparently, isn't permanent. It only works for a while.
1
Anyone know where we can get some actual cinema criticism for Game of Thrones, instead of what's offered here: snarky commentary that amounts to "production notes" aimed at the studio? I'm looking for intelligent analysis, not just a list of "things I liked and didn't like about the latest episode."
5
Yeah, this writer is trying too hard to be VIllage Voice-y (Mim Udovich, where art thou?) when the Village Voice hasn't been the Village Voice for eighteen years.
"intelligent analysis" of GOT? it's a show...the plot will unfold now at the whims of some writers in a room... just watch and have an opinion..it's not foreign policy...
11
If I read one more request for "intelligent Analysis" of a show where a woman rides on the back of a dragon I am going to take the next boat to Braavos and join the cult of the faceless people at the House of Black and White!
24
Is it just me, or is all the lingering shots on landscapes/set pieces, along with all the musical intrusions, eating up time on this show? I mean, there's only 9 more episodes. Think of shows like the Sopranos, the Wire, Breaking Bad etc (although these might not be apt comparisons, but still...) where scenes are filled with conflict and tension. There seems to be a LOT of time-a-wasting as the lack of depth in the story continues. How long do we really need to focus on Cersei's face when she finds out her daughter is dead? And then the silly lines between her and her brother. The scene with the Dothraki was great and imbued with conflict and tension. I'm just asking. Lots of time wasted, IMHO.
5
Rather than time-wasting, I found it extremely efficient. Cersei was pining for her daughter all through season 5, so to shortchange the moment when she discovers Myrcella is dead would have felt like a cheat. The two scenes of her welcoming the ship into the harbor and her conversation with Jaime was as little as the show could devote to this tragedy.
The "musical intrusions", as you call them, and the wonderful establishing shots are necessary to smoothly relocate and transition the viewer from one environment to the next, otherwise it would be like whiplash.
Finally, there are not only 9 more episodes; this is not the final season. I don't know how anyone could find this show slow-paced. I for one am not in a hurry to rush to some action-packed battle with ice zombies.
The "musical intrusions", as you call them, and the wonderful establishing shots are necessary to smoothly relocate and transition the viewer from one environment to the next, otherwise it would be like whiplash.
Finally, there are not only 9 more episodes; this is not the final season. I don't know how anyone could find this show slow-paced. I for one am not in a hurry to rush to some action-packed battle with ice zombies.
12
its all about cinematography and story telling right?
https://nerdbrainblog.com/2016/04/25/poetic-justice-on-the-game-of-thron...
https://nerdbrainblog.com/2016/04/25/poetic-justice-on-the-game-of-thron...
2
Breaking Bad? Seriously? That show was filled with outstanding set shots of everything from desert landscapes to the insides of coffee shops that I'd love to have framed and hanging around my house!
3
I didn't find the Dorne storyline this week exciting at all - it's just the hasty conclusion of a poorly thought-out adaptation of the source material. Because really, why would all of Prince Doran's guards side with the former lady friend of the Prince's brother? How did the Sand Snakes somehow get on the boat with Trystane on it, which had already gotten all the way back to King's Landing? Why are these people killing their last remaining family members? None of these questions have logical answers, and I'd wager it's because the writers never really cared about this sub-plot too much to begin with. It was a quick way to eliminate threads of story they couldn't work with because they'd already changed too much of the source material.
22
" It was a quick way to eliminate threads of story they couldn't work with because they'd already changed too much of the source material."
It's also possible they're eliminating threads of the story that Martin already told him were just red herrings anyway. I bet there is a really simple a->b outcome at the center of all this stuff.
It's also possible they're eliminating threads of the story that Martin already told him were just red herrings anyway. I bet there is a really simple a->b outcome at the center of all this stuff.
1
I don't recall the Sand Snakes getting on the boat with Trystane. He was still in Dorne.
5
Agreed. The whole wise-cracking Dorne ladies bit just doesn't match the tone of the rest of the show. And if they can't devote enough time to set up how they engineered the coup they shouldn't include it.
5
This season should be interesting, since they are not following the books at all anymore. I cant wait for when they bring Jon Snow back...in any form!!!! The scene with the Red Woman was definitely one of my favorites. Im so ready for some Jaime/Cersei scenes! And definitely more of crazy Ramsay! It should definitely be an interesting and fun season!
7
To those who were bored by this episode, I suspect your sensitivities have been dulled by following the Republican primary campaign.
And to those who are obsessed with the whereabouts of the dogs, you must remember that the Boltons always train their hunting dogs to return to home when they are separated from their handlers. Of course, I just made that up. See how easy it is? Now you can obsess over more significant plot elements.
And to those who are obsessed with the whereabouts of the dogs, you must remember that the Boltons always train their hunting dogs to return to home when they are separated from their handlers. Of course, I just made that up. See how easy it is? Now you can obsess over more significant plot elements.
48
I would hope Snow is still dead; dead is dead, even in fantasy. Reminds me of the Monty Python skit about the dead parrot. Dead, dead, dead! As for the High Sparrow, Cersei gets a walk (no pun intended) for admitting incest (with the wrong person) but Margaery is still imprisoned for failing to report her brother. Ah, well, that's US justice today. And Theon and Sansa survive the fall. I admit it's fantasy but the show just had too much going on. I feared it was jumping the shark. Favorite characters simply can't be bumped off: Cersei, Jon, Sansa. Maybe the show will pick up but after Episode One, I can only hope so. They didn't bring back Edd Stark so why Jon. I always felt Jon was weak, as was his brother Robb. But people are complicated and so are the characters.
1
You should read the books. The lord of light brings back several characters in the books, but only red priests/priestess can do it and only then if the lord of light wills it. Jon is almost definitely coming back, because he is half targaryen and probably will fly one of the dragons and help daenyrys defeat the white walkers. That sounds insane but it's my estimate from the books.
But resurrection of the dead, even the bloated, scarred, maimed dead (again read the books: a main character was resurrected) is a big component of the books. I've been surprised they waited this long to introduce it/demonstrate it in the show.
But resurrection of the dead, even the bloated, scarred, maimed dead (again read the books: a main character was resurrected) is a big component of the books. I've been surprised they waited this long to introduce it/demonstrate it in the show.
6
For the Theon and Sansa unbelievable bit, I believe the actual term is "jumping the Stark".
What happened to Little Finger?
What about Bran?
Does anyone care about the identity of Jon Snow's mother anymore?
What about Bran?
Does anyone care about the identity of Jon Snow's mother anymore?
2
I think those story lines are going to take up too much time to throw them in the premier with everything else they started to cover this episode, I know that it will be epic once we find out what happens to Bran, even if we have to wait a while
https://nerdbrainblog.com/2016/04/25/poetic-justice-on-the-game-of-thron...
https://nerdbrainblog.com/2016/04/25/poetic-justice-on-the-game-of-thron...
4
As often as you've spammed this link in the Comments to this thread I was fully expecting it to be nothing more than click-bait. Nice write-up though. Seriously.
1
Why was the episode so short?
6
Because HBO had to show you trailers for all their upcoming shows. There are few times viewership will be so high, and marketing the new shows is apparently more important than entertaining the customers.
6
The books were tiresome sex-starved-nerd soap operas when they came out, and this show is just a torture/rape-porn sicko fest.
I saw some harsh things in my life when I lived in Africa as a kid (mob lynchings, famine, civil war), but this show turned my stomach with it's breathless voyeurism - drawn out scenes of rape and torture that went on WAY longer than needed. Why would anyone WANT to watch rape or torture scenes? What good does it do for the story, other than a ham-fisted way of saying: "This guy is BAAAAD"? I can only imagine how the actors feel afterward. That's some dark juju, even if it's "acting".
Don't know why so many people think it's good entertainment, but I guess the show runners know what the people want. Bread & circuses.
Pretty sad when you think about it.
I saw some harsh things in my life when I lived in Africa as a kid (mob lynchings, famine, civil war), but this show turned my stomach with it's breathless voyeurism - drawn out scenes of rape and torture that went on WAY longer than needed. Why would anyone WANT to watch rape or torture scenes? What good does it do for the story, other than a ham-fisted way of saying: "This guy is BAAAAD"? I can only imagine how the actors feel afterward. That's some dark juju, even if it's "acting".
Don't know why so many people think it's good entertainment, but I guess the show runners know what the people want. Bread & circuses.
Pretty sad when you think about it.
16
right on!
2
I agree. I read this article because my daughter and I watched GOT for 4 seasons because we really enjoyed the story line, but we finally quit because we just could not handle the gore and perv stuff.
Yesterday, I saw a sign at the local farmers market reminding everyone that "GOT Season 6 starts tonight!" and thought "wow - there certainly are a lot of people inured to extreme violence and deviance.
Yesterday, I saw a sign at the local farmers market reminding everyone that "GOT Season 6 starts tonight!" and thought "wow - there certainly are a lot of people inured to extreme violence and deviance.
2
Not so sad as someone feeling that their personal likes and dislikes are superior to millions of other people's.
11
First off, Jeremy, I love your GoT recaps. Never stop. Second of all, I'm really hoping that Melisandre's aging in the last scene was a nod from the writers to Morgana's aging, and her powers dissolving, toward the end of the movie, Excalibur. Because that is ALL I could think of.
7
Other folks have imagined the last scene as similar to the X-Men character Wolverine losing some of his strength and transferring it to someone in need of healing. May that bottle on the table will transfer her vitality to the presently dead Mr. Snow. I sure hope so.
2
I thought they portrayed the transfer of life from Melisandre to Jon Snow
1
This episode had to be titled "real witches".
The very fact that it jumped from one scene to another should have prompted what unifies the whole episode. that is the witch theme.
Cersei recalls the witch's prophecy on her sons.
Ellaria Sand shows how w-itch she is. Her daughters too.
Unella Septa is their analogue in theocracy's (previously King's) Landing.
Arya was receiving a witch punishment ( and looking ) for disobedience.
The same goes for Ramsay's mistress..
..and Ransay's is clearly thinking about Cersei's witch project.
Sansa. Wait, this is the most referenced scene, once you drop the very serious question about how hounds followed them *through* the ice-y river. The use of a toppled tree, the snow, the repair she and Theon get among its root speaks volume of Sleepy Hollow's Hessian Count
Daenerys is thought to be a witch.. and she is to go to the GoT's equivalent of a sabbath, which is the window temple.
Tyrion and Varys are on their way on witch-hunting, which leads to..
..Castle Black where the real legitimate and official witch Melisandre reveals her true aspect.
About that, if it isn't the choker ( i always appreciate the joke link in the NYT referencing something as evidence without showing.. the evidence ), it's clearly the stone casted into it, whose red glow fades away along with hers, in fact she needs a fire to stay warm.
Without a Bronn's crew scene, the pulpit is all for the Red Woman ( and i guess she's recharging )
The very fact that it jumped from one scene to another should have prompted what unifies the whole episode. that is the witch theme.
Cersei recalls the witch's prophecy on her sons.
Ellaria Sand shows how w-itch she is. Her daughters too.
Unella Septa is their analogue in theocracy's (previously King's) Landing.
Arya was receiving a witch punishment ( and looking ) for disobedience.
The same goes for Ramsay's mistress..
..and Ransay's is clearly thinking about Cersei's witch project.
Sansa. Wait, this is the most referenced scene, once you drop the very serious question about how hounds followed them *through* the ice-y river. The use of a toppled tree, the snow, the repair she and Theon get among its root speaks volume of Sleepy Hollow's Hessian Count
Daenerys is thought to be a witch.. and she is to go to the GoT's equivalent of a sabbath, which is the window temple.
Tyrion and Varys are on their way on witch-hunting, which leads to..
..Castle Black where the real legitimate and official witch Melisandre reveals her true aspect.
About that, if it isn't the choker ( i always appreciate the joke link in the NYT referencing something as evidence without showing.. the evidence ), it's clearly the stone casted into it, whose red glow fades away along with hers, in fact she needs a fire to stay warm.
Without a Bronn's crew scene, the pulpit is all for the Red Woman ( and i guess she's recharging )
4
Nice recap. After all the weight and ponderous dialogue, it's great to see it all in perspective like this. One note - the death of Myrcella is the third of Cersei's kids to die (she had a beautiful boy with Baratheon, remember? and then Geoffrey died, so Myrcella is her third child to die). Tommen should be safe from the witch's prediction. Jamie's dialogue about ignoring predictions and just living seemed like a poke at those who have read the books - it was like, "see, we don't need any books to show us how this show goes!" There's a lot of frat-boy nonsense in the script, like the dumb speculation about Daenerys among the 2 Dothrakis "escorting" her to the boss. It did seem strange that our friend with the growing grayscale found her ring in that wide, wide field, but oh, how convenient! There was quite a bit of girl power in this first episode of season 6 - from Brienne's cavalry charge to Sansa's invocation of old blessings to Daenerys asserting herself despite a bad situation to the Sand Snakes wiping out the week men in Dorne to Arya's unfriend hitting her with a stick - and then there is Melisandre, who may be an ancient witch. Or may be something else, we just don't know. Lots of girl power of many types, a real change from the ugly frat boy stuff. Good job writers - you kept it interesting.
9
I don't think you're correct about the third baby with Robert Baratheon. In the books they go into specific dialogue about how Cersei never sleeps with Robert and all three children are therefore Jamie's. Poor Tommen is going to get it. I don't remember any other child of Cersei's.
2
agree the writing is fantastic
https://nerdbrainblog.com/2016/04/25/poetic-justice-on-the-game-of-thron...
https://nerdbrainblog.com/2016/04/25/poetic-justice-on-the-game-of-thron...
1
Tracy - according to the GOT Wiki, Cersei had a black-haired son first and was the only one fathered by Baratheon. He died young.
However, if the Wiki is correct, that still doesn't bode well for Tommen. Didn't the witch's prophecy say that she would have 3 children with golden hair that would die and be covered by golden shrouds?
However, if the Wiki is correct, that still doesn't bode well for Tommen. Didn't the witch's prophecy say that she would have 3 children with golden hair that would die and be covered by golden shrouds?
4
At the end of the day, the universal sentiment carrying the show is the avenging of Ned Starks death and honor, and the completion of his mission to bring the rightful and just heir to the iron throne to power.
Jon Snow, a bastard, will eventually lead the watch along with the wildlings to beat the White Walkers and become the warden of the north.
As for the crown, the betting money is on Daenerys who does have a legitimate claim, but have we forgotten about King Baratheon's "bastard" son?
Ned Stark can then rest easy in his crypt.
But HBO has spread GOT so thin, with all it's sidetracking albeit interesting sunplots, that I fear that they will ruin the series with a hastened final season. Just like they did with Boardwalk Empire which ended horribly.
Jon Snow, a bastard, will eventually lead the watch along with the wildlings to beat the White Walkers and become the warden of the north.
As for the crown, the betting money is on Daenerys who does have a legitimate claim, but have we forgotten about King Baratheon's "bastard" son?
Ned Stark can then rest easy in his crypt.
But HBO has spread GOT so thin, with all it's sidetracking albeit interesting sunplots, that I fear that they will ruin the series with a hastened final season. Just like they did with Boardwalk Empire which ended horribly.
8
My current theory: Jon Snow's spirit is inhabiting Ghost. But he needs a viable human body to warg into, and relatively soon, since to remain wolf too long risks losing the human to the wolf. Melisande is somehow going to donate her vitality to Snow's corpse and heal it, so Jon Snow can warg back into it. This won't be easy, of course. A trace of the wolf is likely to remain.
38
I tend to believe the theories that John Snow is the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen and that at some point he becomes Azor Ahai reborn. Jon Snow may very well be inhabiting Ghost at this point in the story. Thoros of Myr, a red priest, was able to raise Beric Dondarrion from the dead, so it is completely reasonable to assume Melisandre can and will raise Jon Snow.
4
I seem to remember early on in the show that anyone who died and wasn't burned turned into a white walker. So why wouldn't the same thing happen to Jon Snow?
That sounds more like the Walking Dead. The people who died and turned into white walkers were people who were killed by the white walkers or people killed by the white walker zombies. Jon Snow was killed by his own comrades so he wouldn't turn.
12
That's only when you're killed by a white walker.
2
I think it happens in the vicinity where the power of the White Walkers is being projected. None of the Wildlings who attacked Castle Black were killed by White Walkers but their bodies were burned because they would have turned otherwise.
1
Yes, overall pretty good. The Sansa/Theon/Brienne/Podrick segment got things off to a rousing, moving start (I was already chanting Brienne! Brienne! when she finally appeared). The Melisandre revelation was a bit of a wow, and we got some brief but quality time with Davos and Jorah (whose faces are much more interesting than those of many of the beautiful younger actors). I even felt a drop of pity for Cersei. Yes, it jumped around a bit: so what? It's almost inevitable to have some episodes like that, with so many story lines.
11
Can you imagine our world today if each of us opted to settle our problems ourselves ?
1
Thankfully, I have A.D.D and the quick pace of updating the status of 72 storylines felt right.
8
Am I the only one who yelled out "Oh...COME on!" when Mormont, traveling through 8 gazillion acres of grasslands stops for a moment and (OH-What's-THIS?) finds Daenerys discarded jewelry? There's a lot of suspension of disbelief required, but that was ridiculous.
8
I was thinking the same thing but the Dothraki circled Daenerys and left and a pattern in the grass. Mormont noticed that, walked to the middle of it and lo and behold, there was her ring.
20
You mean the ring that was sitting smack dab in the bull's eye (or horse's eye?) of an entire khalasar riding round and round Daenerys as she stood right where she dropped it? They saw the circle of torn up grass from a distance, knew what it was, rode over to the still grass-covered center, and found the ring. Not a lot of mystery. What's remarkable is that the Dothraki didn't find it.
5
Why did the Red Woman Melisandre go to bed, if Davos needed to make a decision before sunset? Seems a little early for even someone of her age.
8
I'm a new, but definite die hard fan.... beautiful writing , captivating arcs and twists...but for the love of everything Holy..BRING JON SNOW BACK sooner rather than later. It's disturbing how much I need this in my life right now. :)
9
There Game of Thrones craze in Turkey. You have not finished Game of thrones. Number of very successful. Turkey is Kit Harington fan. Kit Harington looks like the Turks.
3
Thanks for opening the recap with a 40 year old SNL joke. I laughed, then realized how old I am now (shudder). Clearly, though, you missed an opportunity to recap the news for the hearing impaired by reprinting in all caps: "OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT..."
7
The best Season opener since the very first episode. So often they are mildly disappointing and the story builds up. this went straight for the viewers jugular, I loved it 100%! Still laughing about the guy on twitter who tweeted si mates he had a crush on The Red Woman...then she took her clothes off to reveal what we all saw! Another wonderful twist. Keep it coming.
4
On reddit someone posted-- re: Melisandre's transformation-- that the most tragic death in last night's opener was his own ______, wherein he inserted a vulgar term for the aroused state of the male member. I had to laugh.
1
Arya may be blind, but one can see her story line coming a mile away--that other girl with the stick is there to train Arya so she can fight without seeing. To help her on her path to becoming nobody. Or whatever.
6
agreed, she is going to reap some serious havoc
https://nerdbrainblog.com/2016/04/25/poetic-justice-on-the-game-of-thron...
https://nerdbrainblog.com/2016/04/25/poetic-justice-on-the-game-of-thron...
1
My niece just told be via Skype that the only reason we saw Melisandra remove her necklace, was to show Melisandra can't get to sleep comfortably while wearing it. But yes, the necklace keeps her young.
Since Meli is that old, wouldn't it be she who knows the true history of the kingdoms? She was there.
I love that Dany shocked the Dothraki with her fluency in their language.
Since Meli is that old, wouldn't it be she who knows the true history of the kingdoms? She was there.
I love that Dany shocked the Dothraki with her fluency in their language.
6
The problem with Game of Thrones is that they keep killing off the interesting characters. I get that GRRM wants it to be like "real life" but the whole point of a story is you become invested in the main character and want to see how he/she wins out in the end. Who is that person here? Jon? Arya? Sansa? Who cares any more.
2
More dragons please
4
nicely written.
1
'Name me another show about which you can read a phrase like “the baby-eating joke” and not bat an eye.'
Broad City- Season 3, Episode 9 "Getting There".
Broad City- Season 3, Episode 9 "Getting There".
3
Seeing the Lady in Red morph into a very old woman was the most shocking thing in the whole episode. Is she really 400 years old? And why now reveal her age? Something big is being planned!!!
5
Sam will bring Jin Snow back. The two clues: the Citidel where he can study "healing" ; the preservation of the body by freezing, everyone else on the wall dies and is burned.
4
We didn't actually Stannis die...stay tuned. Jon MUST live!
3
Stannis is really dead though, he was ready for it, there's no way Brienne missed, and the Boltons talked about him being dead so they must have found the body.
We're all hoping that horrible things will happen to Ramsay. However, for now I'm satisfied with, son, if you were nicer to your wife, she wouldn't have run away. And by the way, your raid and military victory, not worth anything.
15
More good news I hope beyond Brienne. The thought of 3 seasons of unrelenting grimness is almost enough to make me cancel HBO.
Did anyone besides me miss Arya chanting her list?
Did anyone besides me miss Arya chanting her list?
4
Both Jaime and Tyrion lost their blond locks at the same time they became better people. What's going on here? Is there a bias against blond men?
4
That's correct, blond men are evil.
Good episode. Noticed the shortening due to recap. Looking forward to:
- Jon Snow reborn as Jon Targaryen
- Sean Bean cameo in flashback where Jon's birthright is revealed
- Arya learning to fight blind like Luke, taking "first steps into a larger world"
- Tyrion releasing the other two dragons
- Drogon menacing Dothraki
- Bran starting to use his new powers
- Sansa heading north. Jon heading south. Do they meet up yet?
- Tyrion - is he the third Targaryen?
- Jon Snow reborn as Jon Targaryen
- Sean Bean cameo in flashback where Jon's birthright is revealed
- Arya learning to fight blind like Luke, taking "first steps into a larger world"
- Tyrion releasing the other two dragons
- Drogon menacing Dothraki
- Bran starting to use his new powers
- Sansa heading north. Jon heading south. Do they meet up yet?
- Tyrion - is he the third Targaryen?
6
There are not many legal platforms available to watch game of thrones, and even less for free. The reason being, HBO has its content deals with different broadcasting companies in different countries, which bound it to offer its original programming for free. The list for watching all the seasons of game of thrones (Legal platforms only).HBO NOW and HBO GO, but these are geo-restricted. Check out this guide to access HBO channels from anywhere.http://www.bestvpnprovider.com/how-to-watch-game-of-thrones-online/
2
It seems like even the NYT reviewer can't resist making stupid little asides, jokes and puns when writing about GOT. This piece would be more at home on Buzzfeed or The Huffington Post.
I really would like to read a sensible critique of the episode, and if I can't get it from the NYT, I give up.
I really would like to read a sensible critique of the episode, and if I can't get it from the NYT, I give up.
2
@gbtbag - lighten up dude, it's a television show built around fantasy. Isn't there more important things to worry about like you guys in LaLa Land running out of water while the lawns are green as ever.
Oh right, it's California, land of make believe. Let's pretend the water crisis doesn't exist and was cooked up in some studio - hahahaha.
I personally enjoy the humorous asides!
Oh right, it's California, land of make believe. Let's pretend the water crisis doesn't exist and was cooked up in some studio - hahahaha.
I personally enjoy the humorous asides!
8
I agree. The Washington Post critic offered interesting and intelligent analysis without the middle-school style riffs which insult the show and the viewers who take it seriously.
2
KAC,
You want intelligent analysis of a show where a woman rides a Dragon??? Really?? Personally, I find the attempt to rationalize fantasy far more disingenuous than making light of it.
You want intelligent analysis of a show where a woman rides a Dragon??? Really?? Personally, I find the attempt to rationalize fantasy far more disingenuous than making light of it.
3
There was one small clip where Davos was talking and Ghost came over and licked the table under ??? hand? Couldn't see if that was Jon Snow's hand or Davos. I'm just wondering if that bit was significant or not.
4
It was Jon's hand.
2
a very "the Shining" moment when the Red Priestess showed her true self.
5
I think Sansa gets pregnant, which certainly will not be a nice piece of news.
1
Actually, that might work the best because I would think a child of Bolton and a Stark would give primacy to any claim to Winterfell over Roose Bolton's child with Walda Frey. Just gotta get rid of Ramsey!
4
The Targaryen= Peter Dinklage will set free the two shackaled Dragons in the Catacombs, because when we see the Two Dragons breath fire and gas on him like they did on the Kaliessei/Emilia Clarke he live and realizes his identiiy and set them free so they can rescue Emilia from the SNF.
Poor blind Arya?Miasie she will become the master of the The Face less men. I predict that her true Identity will be revealed that she is the Grand Master of the "RosiCrucian order of acient and mystisism " headquarter in San Jose.
ramsay Bolton and Sansa have a baby boy coming soon.
Poor blind Arya?Miasie she will become the master of the The Face less men. I predict that her true Identity will be revealed that she is the Grand Master of the "RosiCrucian order of acient and mystisism " headquarter in San Jose.
ramsay Bolton and Sansa have a baby boy coming soon.
4
Jeremy writes of the baby-eating joke, and asks: "Name me another show about which you can read a phrase like “the baby-eating joke” and not bat an eye."
That other show, Jeremy, is "The 100," The CW's post-apocalyptic drama. Suffice it to say that the protagonist and bisexual main character, Clarke Griffin (played by Aussie actress Eliza Taylor), makes Dexter Morgan look downright lackluster on the murder front. Last Thursday we cheered as she finished off her first genocide, putting away the sole survivor of Mount Weather, the population of which she irradiated with the pull of a lever, almost without a second thought at the end of season 2. There are no good guys, The 100 teaches, and it's gaining ground on Game of Thrones—or has, perhaps, past it—as the greatest fantasy series on television.
Times readers can get a sense of the show with this article: "23 Times 'The 100" Made 'Game of Thrones' Look Like a Lighthearted Fantasy," http://www.mtv.com/news/2226810/the-100-game-of-thrones/
And this one from just a few days ago: "4 Ways 'The 100' Is Now Beating 'Game of Thrones." http://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/how-the-100-is-beating-game-of-t...
With The 100, the days when The CW filled it's schedule with inconsequential teen catnip is over.
That other show, Jeremy, is "The 100," The CW's post-apocalyptic drama. Suffice it to say that the protagonist and bisexual main character, Clarke Griffin (played by Aussie actress Eliza Taylor), makes Dexter Morgan look downright lackluster on the murder front. Last Thursday we cheered as she finished off her first genocide, putting away the sole survivor of Mount Weather, the population of which she irradiated with the pull of a lever, almost without a second thought at the end of season 2. There are no good guys, The 100 teaches, and it's gaining ground on Game of Thrones—or has, perhaps, past it—as the greatest fantasy series on television.
Times readers can get a sense of the show with this article: "23 Times 'The 100" Made 'Game of Thrones' Look Like a Lighthearted Fantasy," http://www.mtv.com/news/2226810/the-100-game-of-thrones/
And this one from just a few days ago: "4 Ways 'The 100' Is Now Beating 'Game of Thrones." http://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/how-the-100-is-beating-game-of-t...
With The 100, the days when The CW filled it's schedule with inconsequential teen catnip is over.
2
Table setting and narrative shennagins serve the greatest god, Mammon. What is the marginal return on every extra hour of sausage the Game of Thrones factory can turn out? Ten thousand per cent? Money corrupts baby.
The last episode featured the walk of shame, a scripted performance and, a hubris boast of the writers and producers. They will use women as they see fit so shut up and go away. How brave of the boys. Almost as if they are getting ten thousand per cent returns so can do as their vain conceits tell them to do.
The next episode, this one, has a full frontal scene that triggers this remark:
"There’s nothing left for this once vivacious, insidiously confident force but to crawl miserably into bed like the feeble old woman she really is."
Aren't old women disgusting? Eeee uuuuu. Almost as disgusting as some grandmothers' grandsons? Even more disgusting than walk of shame sluts scenes written by men giving the finger while still enjoying full frontal? Yeah, those scenes were on purpose, deliberate. They think they are clever. I blame the writers' grandmothers. They could have stopped it from ever happening. Always the woman's fault you know.
The last episode featured the walk of shame, a scripted performance and, a hubris boast of the writers and producers. They will use women as they see fit so shut up and go away. How brave of the boys. Almost as if they are getting ten thousand per cent returns so can do as their vain conceits tell them to do.
The next episode, this one, has a full frontal scene that triggers this remark:
"There’s nothing left for this once vivacious, insidiously confident force but to crawl miserably into bed like the feeble old woman she really is."
Aren't old women disgusting? Eeee uuuuu. Almost as disgusting as some grandmothers' grandsons? Even more disgusting than walk of shame sluts scenes written by men giving the finger while still enjoying full frontal? Yeah, those scenes were on purpose, deliberate. They think they are clever. I blame the writers' grandmothers. They could have stopped it from ever happening. Always the woman's fault you know.
20
Thanks for calling out the sexist comments about a naked Melisandre. Why are we all so disgusted by old women and their sagging breasts? Do watchers really think they'd be hotties at 400 years old? I actually didn't find her nakedness exploitive; I thought it was touching and a reminder of the frailty of sexual power and youth.
14
If I want to read jokey reviews with plays on words and smart-mouth asides, I'd go to Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and every other publication that tries to be clever and snarky. I don't expect to read that kind of lazy journalism in the NYT. I want to read an analytical review, more along the lines of this:
http://time.com/4306039/review-game-of-thrones-season-premiere/
Get a grip.
http://time.com/4306039/review-game-of-thrones-season-premiere/
Get a grip.
8
Don't diss our beloved Jeremy,
2
Thanks for the link gbtbag... now get over yourself.
3
Please.
I just want to see Cersei & Jamie clean out that revolting nest of religious fanatics with fire and sword, leaving not one left alive, the building in flames over their corpses and the Sparrow crucified, naked and upside down. Burned at the stake would also suffice. Am I impolite in this regard? Perhaps, but it needs to be done. Might be wise to engage in a bit of wholesale slaughter of the populace who dared humiliate Cersie - just a few hundred or so, to make the point.
38
I agree with your comments 100%. Nice post
1
Something is different, inferior, with the dialogue. Particularly Jamie with the reunion, I give Nicolai credit for delivering such silly lines with a straight face.
24
Yes! Felt like a different show to me. And the end was like Tangled, the Disney movie.
Well, I haven't read the books, but these scripts are dumb, dumb, dumb. They should pull someone in from the daytime soaps to fix them.
8
A lot of hype and anticipation for this season but the first episode was simply o.k. at best. I'm concerned that a team of writers instead of the book author, are trying to bring the story forward to its conclusion. Many of us are years invested into this series so we'll follow it to the end but...it can only get better from here.
5
Agree. The episode was too rushed.
"The baby-eating joke" was also used on Broad City this season.
3
They need to pick up the pace and start tying up loose ends. I've read all the books, and it became very tedious and frustrating - a story going nowhere. HBO will have to depart somewhat from the books or edit huge amounts to keep viewers interested. Hopefully, they've figured that out.
11
I don't think keeping viewers interested is anything HBO is worried about.
1
What we must fear most is Brienne taking on one too many of Ramsey's men in her's and Sansa's journey through the season. They were smart - if a bit obvious - to bring her back, cavalry style, at just the right time. Luckier still that not one of Ramsey's lackey's escaped to tell the tale. But Ramsey isn't the type of psychopath to let things pass, especially when his betrothed runs free. Here's hoping that he and his dear old dad come to a very, very bad end and leave us all cheering out of our seats. Okay, so they'll now be smart enough to keep Brienne alive and ticking for the rest of the season, right? They do realize she forms one of the show's foundations now, right? Watch yourselves, guys, don't take our sunshine away...it's all I ask.
17
I'm looking forward to reading the book, which will help make sense of all the different twists and turns.
3
"if its ever finished", underhill interjects grumpily.
4
I actually kind of felt like it was a wasted episode, Other than Sansa, no story moved forward. Jon's still dead, Danny's still a prisoner, Arya's still a blind beggar... It was a just a long recap of the end of last year.
I wouldn't worry to much about Arya though, most of the Stark children have qualities that make being blind less difficult.
I wouldn't worry to much about Arya though, most of the Stark children have qualities that make being blind less difficult.
16
Every first episode of the new season is a recap and slow-moving. They can't all be at a ten every time.
The story did move forward. How about what happened in Dorne with the sitting King murdered along with Tristane? Sansa escaping and Brienne fighting for her? Tyrion Lannister in a city he is in charge of that suddenly has no ships? A fight getting set up in Castle Black between Jon Snow's murderers and supporters?
Are you watching??
Are you watching??
11
Arya is a warg. As Bran could warg into Hodor, Arya will warg into herself, becoming able to see without seeing and the waif will find out who teaches whom to fight with sticks.
1
At the beginning of season 5 I was a little disappointed but patient and trusting that the story would getting rolling and interesting once the season was set up and episode 2 would be the kick start we needed. Well, I was wrong and things really didn't get cranking until episode 8. I fear that this season may have the same in store for us. I was willing to give the show a pass last season because most of the story lines had caught up to the books, even though they differ tremendously in some cases, and I thought that the show writers were giving GRRM and chance to get out the 6th installment. But this clearly shows that the show writers have no idea how to craft this story without using GRRM's framework for the goings on in Westeros. I feel episode 1 was waste of time as we learned nothing new besides uncovering Melisandra's fight with age and gravity. All the other character's story lines were stagnant and didn't surprise one the least. You can make a case for Ellaria Sand and the sand snakes making things interesting, but Dorne isn't a major player in this story. I hope I'm wrong because I am a fan of the books and the show but I feel that we are heading for another 3-episode season with only 12 episodes left in the final 2 seasons as HBO had eluded to earlier this month.
3
GRRM reported liked this episode, and as such has decided to completely rewrite 'The Winds of Winter', which is now reportedly going to be published sometime in the Spring of 2024.
1
I have 50-50 odds that's Stanis is still alive. In this story, if you don't see a body, there is a good chance the person's not dead. Heck, even if you see a body (Jon Snow) there's still a good chance he's not dead permanently.
8
He's only mostly dead.
7
Joe, you mean he's not really most sincerely dead?
7
Brienne killed him. Unlike Arya, who does not finish people off but leaves them to die - therefore, they may NOT die - Brienne is not happy until they are really, really dead. Stannis is gone - he's part of the plot of wiping out the previous generation of leaders, leaving room for the next bunch. There are hints of success, such as Bolton crowing about perhaps having a legitimate son to push Ramsay aside - so even the next generation of leaders is not secure, there are always new ones pushing them aside. Kinda like protest movements - there are always new protest bunches pushing the current ones aside - the revolution mutates daily.
2
Overall a good episode for catching up on the major story lines, but my biggest gripe is with Dany's story. She's a Khaleesi whose husband died, so why didn't she know about the widows' temple? Did someone conveniently forget to mention this important Dothraki custom to her when Khal Drogo died? And for that matter, why didn't her horde send her there in the first place instead of following her around the wastelands?
13
There are two reasons. 1. There is no widow's temple in the books so the show writers awkwardly threw that in and 2. Most of the Dothraki left her after Drogo died leaving her with a few women that felt protected by her and a hand full of warriors that were loyal to Drogo.
On Dany's seeming lack of memory about the Widows Temple, I wondered if she was just using the moment strategically to create a future opportunity to escape from the temple perhaps with a band of seasoned Dothraki widows at her side?
It seems different Dothraki klans have different traditions. Remember she was put on the pyre with a dead Khal and survived it.
3
Love your recap of this wildly entertaining series--you make it fun for us!! Keep up the clever writing----Cheers!
15
Bran will rise
4
As someone that's read all the books, a disappointing beginning to what I hope will be worth the extra bucks I'm spending on HBO.
8
Mel won't resurrect Jon Snuh, she will *become* him. Great start to the season!
2
I am so filthy at HBO for their feed messing up mid episode. And they wonder why Game of Thrones is the most pirated show on tv? I think I'll be looking at getting a VPN and watching it delayed in future. Can anyone suggest any good options, Nord and Private Internet Access both get good reviews on www.reviewmyvpn.com and bestvpn.con
1
I doubt it was HBO. It was probably your provider.
I also like that Cersei & Jaime are on the same team (for now). They've always been my favorite "couple" in the story. Where is Tommen?!
I wonder if or how many of the four Starks will be reunited. We haven't seen the youngest in years, right? Maybe it's time.
I agree that if Jon comes back, he'll be different - perhaps ala "Pet Sematary" - ewwww just what we need, a good guy becoming possessed by evil. Though maybe that will give him special powers over the White Walkers. OMG what if he becomes one?!
Also agree with Jeremy that it's finally nice to care a bit about what is going on Mereen,
But I still don't care about Arya's "adventures" outside Westeros.
It will all come down to Dragons v. Whitewalkers in the end.
I wonder if or how many of the four Starks will be reunited. We haven't seen the youngest in years, right? Maybe it's time.
I agree that if Jon comes back, he'll be different - perhaps ala "Pet Sematary" - ewwww just what we need, a good guy becoming possessed by evil. Though maybe that will give him special powers over the White Walkers. OMG what if he becomes one?!
Also agree with Jeremy that it's finally nice to care a bit about what is going on Mereen,
But I still don't care about Arya's "adventures" outside Westeros.
It will all come down to Dragons v. Whitewalkers in the end.
4
"It will all come down to Dragons v. Whitewalkers in the end.
As in "A Song of Fire and Ice."
As in "A Song of Fire and Ice."
Considering that there is probably so much plot that they've got to stuff into the rest of the series to bring us to the anticipated conclusion (Daenerys reconquering Westeros, aided by two other Targaeryan blooded dragon riders - probably Jon Snow, the secret child of Targaeryan heritage, and who the hell knows whoever is still alive of Targaeryan line to ride the third), we can expect lots more quick-cut action scenes. Question is, who is going to want to read the rest of the series, after the TV version is over, should RR Martin ever get around to finishing writing the rest of the novels? By the time the next one comes out, everyone will have forgotten all his many confusingly intricate plot lines, involving his hundreds of characters. Some of us may be so advanced in age that we will have forgotten how to read!
11
Melisandre is old and woman, but I would not call her feeble just yet.
That glamour of youth and beauty she wears is not the sign of an empty vessel.
Her fires may be banked but not quite out.
Sansa and Brienne were worthy of cheers- of course these writers have shown that nobility is not enough to make change - ruthlessness wins out - and Sansa and her coterie are valuable pawns more than anything else.
That glamour of youth and beauty she wears is not the sign of an empty vessel.
Her fires may be banked but not quite out.
Sansa and Brienne were worthy of cheers- of course these writers have shown that nobility is not enough to make change - ruthlessness wins out - and Sansa and her coterie are valuable pawns more than anything else.
4
Brienne has failed so many times before she did something. Sansa has always seemed to me to be passive; someone else propels her. But her and Theon surviving the jump was a little over the top; i know it's fantasy.
Like a couple of other posters I felt like Lady Melisandre used the potion to give up years of her own life in order to give life to Jon Snow, not that it was some kind of botox but I've been wrong before.
I was disappointed the Jon Snow story has been left dangling but all in all I really enjoyed the episode especially taking into account the way I got myself hyped up for tonight. But short of seeing the dragons, having my boy The Hound show up, and finding out what in the world ever happened to poor old Gendry rowing his heart out for Kings Landing, I'm very happy with where the show is right now.
The previews and trailers have me very pumped. It's going to be great.
I was disappointed the Jon Snow story has been left dangling but all in all I really enjoyed the episode especially taking into account the way I got myself hyped up for tonight. But short of seeing the dragons, having my boy The Hound show up, and finding out what in the world ever happened to poor old Gendry rowing his heart out for Kings Landing, I'm very happy with where the show is right now.
The previews and trailers have me very pumped. It's going to be great.
10
Please stop treating this childish ugly trash as serious art. It's depressing.
4
And yet you are here, commenting. Interesting.
12
The eat-the-baby joke was a clear reference to Austin Powers especially since it was the imp who was the butt of it, and the Scotsman in Powers would have eaten Tyrion for dinner and the baby for dessert.
2
Take a look at the expression on Dany/Emilia Clarke's face in the photo accompanying the article here. Doesn't she look like Melissandre there? Not to mention the blurry, almost snow like background? Is there something being subtly implied here? a crisis of faith (Mel) or confidence (Dany) going on for them to learn from? I think Dany ends up in the Widow temple and it's kinda of like the House of Black and White in Braavos, without the faces or the bitchy Waif. The situations in Meereen and Dorne are going to get really interesting soon (as if the Sons of the Harpy weren't already). I agree with Sean's comment that we'll spend more time with Arya, Sansa and Bran before Jon comes back in ep. 4 (the longest episode of the season). Good start to the season.
3
Damn I love the opening music on surround sound, loud. GOT is just human behavior at its finest. It is what we are at our core, followers, greed and violent.
2
I'm a fool for GOT. I can't judge it's quality. I'm too ready to suspend disbelief because my curiosity about plot gymnastics overwhelms what remains of my critical faculty.
15
I don't know if I'll ever care about what's going on in Meereen! The Sons of the Harpy are made out to be this threatening, anonymous group of assassins out to kill the queen - but shouldn't a bunch of men in masks with knives be considered a nuisance and have been rid of already? I know their purpose in the show is to antagonize the city's peace, but seriously. I can't take any more aimless plot twists.
1
Feminism doesnt come easy. The evil ones get fed by their lovers to dogs ( that's what happened to the hounds when Brienne arrived -- they heard their dinner bell) or turn into old hags or queens of greatly reduced circumstances, or wisecracking assassins. The good ones go blind, get dragged through icy rivers, or abandoned (only momentarily, to be sure) by their dragons. But GOT is increasingly a womans' world, at least plotwise. The men fail to rescue, and at best, like Tyron, strive to serve. I'm not sure I care what happened to Bram and Hodor, or Lord Petyr, but I do hope Diana Rigg will be back to take the Grand Sparrow or whatever that religious nut calls himself out for some Joffrey-spiced tea.
36
I think all this nudity and sex are completely uncalled for. Call me a prude but it just isn't necessary. A plot is.
Prude. There's been nudity and sex since season 1 episode 1. So your comment is completely uncalled for. The show is not for you.
4
Yup you said it Prude, go watch Sesame Street if you need to have some good wholesome fun, It's on HBO now which is very convenient for you lol
I think my favorite seen was Roose Bolton chewing out Ramsay. Some perspective at last. Roose arranged foir Ramsay to have a beautiful bride of noble birth and Ramsay botched it so bad that she ran away.
I had imagined all sorts of horrible things happening to Ramsay, but a father's scolding will satisfy me for now.
I had imagined all sorts of horrible things happening to Ramsay, but a father's scolding will satisfy me for now.
44
The sign of a good story teller is knowing when to end the story. One can only hope that the creators of the TV version of Game of Thrones and the folks at HBO are more adept than the books' author at knowing when to pull all of these thematic pieces together and end this tale. I guess most of the viewing public, myself included, can wait till the end of this 6th season to find out. But if they drag this out for a 7th season, I think it will be time to start watching reruns of "I Love Lucy" on Sunday night instead of yet another interminable season of Game of Thrones.
2
I was so glad the show was back! It's exciting that it's gone beyond the books. I thought it was excellently done, consistent with the storylines, and did not disappoint me at all. I see comments where people are pointing out little continuity errors. It's a magic world, with a huge cast, a million stories, a gazillion costumes, and fabulous locations. Where did the hounds go? They ran away. Why were those Dorne girls on the boat with Trystan? They sailed up behind him and climbed on. Or whatever. To take that enormous voluminous story and produce it so well that we all sit on the edge of our seats for the show in real time, and then sign on to read all the recaps as soon as it's over, wow! I love it! Admit it, you're fans!
48
I admit it! I admit it!
4
The books? The prose is unreadable!
1
Jon needs to come back via the Red Priestess so he can be Lord Commander #1000: he was elected 998 before… And the Red Priestess learned how to resurrect the recently dead before.
13
Broad City was joking about eating babies..
I don't know how to feel about what happened at Dorne; coming from how they were disappointingly portrayed last season compated to the books.
Maybe this will be good? or bad? We'll see.
Got me thinking about what GRRMartin said about a twist happening in the books but can't happen in the show cause they killed the character off.
I guess that's the closest we can get Ramsay to be "romantic" lol
I don't know how to feel about what happened at Dorne; coming from how they were disappointingly portrayed last season compated to the books.
Maybe this will be good? or bad? We'll see.
Got me thinking about what GRRMartin said about a twist happening in the books but can't happen in the show cause they killed the character off.
I guess that's the closest we can get Ramsay to be "romantic" lol
1
Littlefinger?
7
He's running for president...and it's not just the finger, the whole hand is little.
7
I think the show runners are doing a pretty good job of juggling the multiple storylines, which can't be easy. I don't expect them to touch on all the storylines in every episode like the did in the opener, but I prefer this approach to the Walking Dead strategy of focusing an entire episode on a single storyline. My thoughts:
1. I hope Sansa is allowed to exercise some agency this season rather than continuing to be the perpetual victim. Whatever you may think of Brienne's and Pod's arrival in the nick of time (and the mysterious disappearance of the hounds), I was quite happy not to see them captured and tortured again by Ramsay.
2. I was hoping we'd seen the last of Meereen and Dorne last season, but no such luck.
3. I think Melisandre will resurrect Jon Snow (and may well pay with her own life to do it) as a way of making good on her predictions.
m Whatever you may think of Brienne's and Pod's arrival in the nick of time (and the mysterious disappearance of the hounds), I was quite happy not to see them captured and tortured again by Ramsay.
2. I was hoping we'd seen the last of Meereen and Dorne last season, but no such luck.
3. I think Melisandre will resurrect Jon Snow (and may well pay with her own life to do it) as a way of making good on her predictions.
4. Looking forward to catching up with Bran and Hodor since they were MIA all of last season.
5. I'm ready to see Arya get moving. I hope she isn't forced to spend another season as an apprentice.
1. I hope Sansa is allowed to exercise some agency this season rather than continuing to be the perpetual victim. Whatever you may think of Brienne's and Pod's arrival in the nick of time (and the mysterious disappearance of the hounds), I was quite happy not to see them captured and tortured again by Ramsay.
2. I was hoping we'd seen the last of Meereen and Dorne last season, but no such luck.
3. I think Melisandre will resurrect Jon Snow (and may well pay with her own life to do it) as a way of making good on her predictions.
m Whatever you may think of Brienne's and Pod's arrival in the nick of time (and the mysterious disappearance of the hounds), I was quite happy not to see them captured and tortured again by Ramsay.
2. I was hoping we'd seen the last of Meereen and Dorne last season, but no such luck.
3. I think Melisandre will resurrect Jon Snow (and may well pay with her own life to do it) as a way of making good on her predictions.
4. Looking forward to catching up with Bran and Hodor since they were MIA all of last season.
5. I'm ready to see Arya get moving. I hope she isn't forced to spend another season as an apprentice.
13
I feel about Ollie the same way I feel about Carl's hat on TWD.
Ollie must go. If Ramsey Boltond does just one good thing in his life ... .
Ollie must go. If Ramsey Boltond does just one good thing in his life ... .
5
I really find the whole Ellaria Sand storyline incredibly stupid. Her motive doesn't really make sense. Oberyn VOLUNTEERED for a trial by combat, so it was his fault for getting himself killed, no one else. If Doran was competent then he would've gotten rid of her a long time ago, she was obviously a treacherous psycho. Also, I'm a little annoyed about the motive for the nights watch's betrayal of Jon Snow. It's ridiculously petty, and the real purpose of the wall and the nights watch is to protect the realm from entities such as the night walkers. That's all that matters, and maybe Jon Snow didn't properly or aggressively explain this truth. Also, Jon Snow should have sent Alisser off when he became nights watch, I mean I really can't understand how you could forget that you are surrounded by former thieves, rapists, murderers, etc. Think about it, in the extremely violent world of Westeros; I would think people would be more paranoid about how easy it is for one to quickly cut you in half. But a lot of these issues are really just writers creating problems "just because". Albeit creating perspective within storylines isn't a simple task. This is also television afterall, but if it was a little more realistic then the show wouldn't be much different other than slightly better.
4
In the novels, Ellaria Sand is a gentle woman who just fears for her daughters' safety and grieves in the Water Gardens. It's the Sand Snakes that plot along with Doran Martell's daughter Arianna (who was not in the show).
1
Agree - good first episode. Looks like the endgame is going to have something to do with the rise of the women. Interesting. Maybe we end up with a new power structure where all of the kingdoms of Westerns are ruled by women, perhaps with Jon Snow as Prince Consort (to Daenerys?). But I see a Frodo-like endgame for Jon Snow, where if he does get resurrected, he cannot bear to stick around once the bad guys are defeated and has to go back to wherever people go in GOT-land when they die. GRRM has always said the ending would have to be bittersweet, and that would hit the mark, I think.
3
Just a tremendous showing for the female protagonists of the show. Maybe they will come together soon - And steady Sir Davos too!
Good old Jorah is of the conviction he will right his wrongs - somehow I dont think he is as doomed as people think... the fact he said to Daario that he might not grow old to be like him seemed ominious for Danerys' last lover.
What a beacon of hope than what transpired upon Theon and Sansa's escape. Even Gendry and Theon shared a moment that may bear further meaning. It is the first time in the show where two males are gathered with two women whom they have sworn their allegiance. Pehaps a signal that these last vestages of houses Greyjoy and Baratheon will raise their banners (and a navy) to the Tullys and Starks in the north (enter Lady Stoneheart?). And how about a flashback to the banners that rose long ago in the north...
Seriously - Who could all those four individuals gathered in the snow in the north come to serve? Is it Snow? No, I believe it is none other than Catelyn Stark. Each of them owe something to the Starks and Stansa is the group's leader... a perfect placeholder for now. Could anything be sweeter than Sansa slowly roasting Ramsey and Catelyn flaying Roose? The show makes you think it'll be Snow to lead an attack but like Yoda said, "There is another." Sadly, I think Ramsey will still survive... ugh
Alas, we still dont know if Snow has truly melted. Besides, isn't Winter still coming?
Good old Jorah is of the conviction he will right his wrongs - somehow I dont think he is as doomed as people think... the fact he said to Daario that he might not grow old to be like him seemed ominious for Danerys' last lover.
What a beacon of hope than what transpired upon Theon and Sansa's escape. Even Gendry and Theon shared a moment that may bear further meaning. It is the first time in the show where two males are gathered with two women whom they have sworn their allegiance. Pehaps a signal that these last vestages of houses Greyjoy and Baratheon will raise their banners (and a navy) to the Tullys and Starks in the north (enter Lady Stoneheart?). And how about a flashback to the banners that rose long ago in the north...
Seriously - Who could all those four individuals gathered in the snow in the north come to serve? Is it Snow? No, I believe it is none other than Catelyn Stark. Each of them owe something to the Starks and Stansa is the group's leader... a perfect placeholder for now. Could anything be sweeter than Sansa slowly roasting Ramsey and Catelyn flaying Roose? The show makes you think it'll be Snow to lead an attack but like Yoda said, "There is another." Sadly, I think Ramsey will still survive... ugh
Alas, we still dont know if Snow has truly melted. Besides, isn't Winter still coming?
6
Podrick, not Gendry.
1
Thanks. I couldn't figure out what he was saying.
My thoughts from somewhere between Tyrion & Varys' scene and Brienne's ridiculously convenient rescue of Sansa (after 3 years of near misses): Oh god. Have we made a terrible mistake in moving on without George R R Martin? I don't think the screenwriters have the steely countenance to pull it off. It's a remorseless realism absent of moralism that I didn't realize I'd miss before today. What have we done??
3
I thought her rescue of Sansa was less ridiculous than the scene in past seasons where she practically rode right by Sansa (or Sansa rode right by her, I forget). I guess after several near misses, probability suggests that someone actually looking to find someone, will eventually find her.
1
I didn't find the Waif comment to be particularly chilling. Felt that more so, it was alluding to a one-day at a time training montage for blind Arya. Slowly but surely she will become the assassin Jaqen H'ghar always intended her to be, `a la the somewhat overused blind martial art master archetype.
7
The story is a brilliant mess. They don't have nearly enough screen time left to address all these these splinter plots and produce any remotely satisfying denoument. The script is still self-indulgently wandering sideways and backwards and wasting too much time in secondary and tertiary settings. Ice zombies on the march, the Night's Watch in chaos and we're spending a third of the episode on the internal politics of Dorne!? And poor Danaerys in her fourth or fifth artificially contrived cliffhanger?
Martin solves the wandering problem by having the biggest plot actions take place mostly out of view. They happen, but you only hear of them secondhand in a short dialogue after the fact. If they try that on HBO, the fans will never forgive them.
Martin solves the wandering problem by having the biggest plot actions take place mostly out of view. They happen, but you only hear of them secondhand in a short dialogue after the fact. If they try that on HBO, the fans will never forgive them.
5
The Dorne coup I think is going to figure into the coming story as Illaria and Oberon's brood will go to war against Westeros.
2
GoT lost me as a viewer last season. Last season was terrible and I loved the earlier seasons. I am not alone in that regard.
I will watch this episode but it wont take much to keep me away from watching the rest if this episode is another mess of poor direction and at times startlingly poor script-writing.
5
Feelings are probably mixed about this first episode. I happen to be a fan. It set the groundwork for the season and I loved checking in on all the key players in season 5. While loose ends are rarely tied in this series, it was nice to get to see where all the main characters stand at this point in time. Can't wait to see what's next!
34
With the exception of Brienne to the rescue, what a snooze fest! I'm saving my excitement to see Bran's transformation and more White Walkers. So much more could have been done with Danaerys while leaving out the pretty redundant Ramsay attitude, and Sand Snake feminine machismo. While I like the differing directions that the series and the books take, George is desperately needed to at least steer the ship for the show.
14
My prediction is that Khal Moro is toast, and I mean that literally.
130
^^100%^ Padfoot.
Or Jorah infects him.
Now Melisandre - Now we see she is almost as old as time itself. What could it mean? If she is truly a shapeshifter, she is immune to death, and hence more dangerous than I ever thought she could be (although instigating infanticide it really, really dangerous). But she seems weary - could the mortals have finally broken her immortal spirit?
A catch-up episode for me, but that's fine. It's been too long since last seeing our throne-players.
Or Jorah infects him.
Now Melisandre - Now we see she is almost as old as time itself. What could it mean? If she is truly a shapeshifter, she is immune to death, and hence more dangerous than I ever thought she could be (although instigating infanticide it really, really dangerous). But she seems weary - could the mortals have finally broken her immortal spirit?
A catch-up episode for me, but that's fine. It's been too long since last seeing our throne-players.
1
"Sansa Stark['s],[...] escape and rescue by Brienne infused the narrative with more hope than has any other single scene I can recall."
Don't get her hopes up too much. She still let her dire wolf die in Season 1. My guess is that Sansa will join the list of departed Starks to continue the doubling down of grief and betrayal we've all grown conditioned to. That will leave Brienne to save Ariel, who I predict will eventually track her down only to find that Ariel doesn't need saving.
Don't get her hopes up too much. She still let her dire wolf die in Season 1. My guess is that Sansa will join the list of departed Starks to continue the doubling down of grief and betrayal we've all grown conditioned to. That will leave Brienne to save Ariel, who I predict will eventually track her down only to find that Ariel doesn't need saving.
5
ARYA
3
I thought this was obvious without saying but here goes; Sansa Stark in season 6 bears very little behavior resemblance to season's 1 Sansa Stark.
1
Arya, not Ariel.
GOT has lost its way. It isn't a story or two or even three -- but a cloud. A cloud of stories, a self-indulgent, disunited cloud of cold, hardhearted tales that are so repetitive it's boring. The only common denominators are poverty, treachery, misery, cruelty, betrayal and death.
I pass. "Start the Revolution without me!"
I pass. "Start the Revolution without me!"
40
Mr. Singer, I admit being envious. I feel that GOT's Art imitates my Life, as you describe it 90% correctly. The remaining 10% includes other unpleasant things that occur that you didn't list. I feel that, perhaps, 3-4% of my Life is, so to speak, "positive" events!
So, I relate to GOT's very, very well and love it! You are a lucky Person to be experiencing Life in, what sounds like, a more positive way. Good for you & I sincerely hope it is always that way for you. Maybe a higher % of Good Things will, some day, start happening for me. Until then, I'm going to continue watching, enjoying & commiserating with the World of GOT's!
Thank You For Your Thought Provoking Comment,
DM
So, I relate to GOT's very, very well and love it! You are a lucky Person to be experiencing Life in, what sounds like, a more positive way. Good for you & I sincerely hope it is always that way for you. Maybe a higher % of Good Things will, some day, start happening for me. Until then, I'm going to continue watching, enjoying & commiserating with the World of GOT's!
Thank You For Your Thought Provoking Comment,
DM
2
You took the words right out of my mouth. What a disappointment and waste of 5 yrs.
"Keep on rocking in the free world!"
I've given up on this series. Killing off nearly every character with any decency has drained most of what made Game of Thrones interesting.
No one in this series is ever happy, and that in itself is as unrealistic and boring as a TV show in which everything works out perfectly all the time.
No one in this series is ever happy, and that in itself is as unrealistic and boring as a TV show in which everything works out perfectly all the time.
42
I would argue that's precisely why the show is interesting.
3
It's one thing to kill off a character that the viewers have come to love - Ned Stark, for instance. His death spurred most of the subsequent plot points in the show. But constantly pulling the rug out from viewers makes one less inclined to become invested in the show. Rather than find the suspense enervating, I find it draining. YMMV, of course, but I guess I prefer drama and intrigue mixed up with a scene or two where someone does something right and isn't punished for it.
2
I get it that author Martin wanted to emphasize the harshness and unfairness of life, especially in brutal medieval times. But it's gone way overboard. EVERYONE did not die, even in the Middle Ages, of violence and murder and double-dealing. SOME people lived to old age, and surely some people were happy and led uneventful lives. Constant violence and brutality are not the antidote to mindlessly happy sitcoms of the 1950s. That was a long time ago, anyways. Most TV today is quite cynical anyhow.
2
Holy Targaryans, Mr. Egner, I think you've nailed it: Batman and Robin appearing out of nowhere in those original tights and going WHAM!/SLAMMO!/SPLAT! through a horde of Dothraki would be the best thing that ever happened to Game of Thrones. Adam West and Burt Ward would liven up The Walking Dead, too, come to think of it...
15
Yes!
I'm guessing the Red Woman gave up (at least) her youth in order to bring Jon Snow back from the dead. Bet he'll be back next week.
140
That was my take as well.
1
I think taking off her clothes and necklace, is her way of not only showing her true form but to also give up she crawled into bed. I think she's dead. Davos Is going to her room to ask for her services only to realize she killed herself.
6
That's a thought.
1
How did Obara and her sister get on the boat carrying Trystane and Myrcella? When last season ended, the sisters were standing on the pier with their mother and third sister watching the boat sail away? Did they somehow follow in a never-seen boat and slip on-board with no one noticing once Jamie went ashore? Did Trystane, once Myrcella was dead, take another boat back to Dorne since his reception at Kings Landing would not be a welcome one?
I can overlook the coincidence of Brienne happening upon Sansa at just the right moment, and someone on horseback being able to pick out Danaerys' ring lying in tall grass, but the sisters confronting Trystane all of a sudden bothers me.
I can overlook the coincidence of Brienne happening upon Sansa at just the right moment, and someone on horseback being able to pick out Danaerys' ring lying in tall grass, but the sisters confronting Trystane all of a sudden bothers me.
106
She poisoned her with a kiss on the dock and then took the antidote for herself.
3
They poisoned Myrcella. When they're on the pier, Ellaria gives Myrcella a hard kiss on the lips. Later, during the scene where Jamie is revealing the secret to her, she starts bleeding from her nose. It's a throwback to the poison her daughter used on Bronn. They cut back to the 3 of them standing on the dock, and Ellaria's nose is bleeding too - but she has the antidote and takes it, then wipes her lip.
Trystane was never on the boat as far as I can recall.
Trystane was never on the boat as far as I can recall.
4
Was Trystane in the same boat? Not really sure, but you do not need to overlook the other two.
-Brienne has been stalking Winterfell and Sansa for a few episodes.
-Before he stoops to find the ring, the circular horse tracks led them to search the small less trampled (greener) area she was standing in.
-Brienne has been stalking Winterfell and Sansa for a few episodes.
-Before he stoops to find the ring, the circular horse tracks led them to search the small less trampled (greener) area she was standing in.
3
The Sparrow guy and his righteousness reminds me of Bernie Sanders, and I say this as a democrat and non-Hilliary supporter. The resemblance is striking.
85
@Andy - hahahaha. Bernie "High Sparrow" Sanders - I get that Andy, nice call!
1
Please do NOT use the GoT comments board to moan about Sanders. We need a break from the constant trolling about someone who cannot build a party, but acts like a cuckoo towards another party - that's the cuckoo bird, and if you don't know what I mean, look it up!
1
Its the hair.
1
In the scene where Brienne saves Sansa, what happened to the dogs?
221
Hopefully someone took them to the local rescue and found them all loving homes
6
They went back to winterfall when they heard whats for dinner.
16
The Hounds have a tendency to fade away with little actual evidence of their true fate in GoT.
I liked tonights' episode. A bit annoyed that at 9PM EST HBO felt the need to show 3 minutes of promotions then a review of Season 5. It wasn't until 9:09PM that Season 6 started, does HBO think were at the movies where we have to sit through 20 minutes of previews.
1. Jon Snow will be resurrected by the Red Woman but he won't be the same
2. I thought she was going to commit suicide when the camera panned to the liquid in the glass, little did I know it was just botox.
3. I suspect Ramsay Snow will start to torment his pregnant step mother or kick her down the stairs, feed her to the dog to prevent a male heir from being born
4. Danerys is going to be locked up in a convent - hahahahaha. The Dragons can burn that place down and free her
5. Poor Sansa has been through so much, now she can repay all those who have caused her such pain
6. I thought Arya would start to channel Syrio Forel and beat the living crap out of her tormentor
That's all I can think of!
1. Jon Snow will be resurrected by the Red Woman but he won't be the same
2. I thought she was going to commit suicide when the camera panned to the liquid in the glass, little did I know it was just botox.
3. I suspect Ramsay Snow will start to torment his pregnant step mother or kick her down the stairs, feed her to the dog to prevent a male heir from being born
4. Danerys is going to be locked up in a convent - hahahahaha. The Dragons can burn that place down and free her
5. Poor Sansa has been through so much, now she can repay all those who have caused her such pain
6. I thought Arya would start to channel Syrio Forel and beat the living crap out of her tormentor
That's all I can think of!
86
Arya will later. It's all part of her warrior training.
7
1 - I think so, too. But, remember, "only death can pay for life." I hope Ser Alliser proves to be good for something after all.
3 - I suspect Ramsay offing his step mother is precisely what Roose has been baiting him to do all along, with more than one remark seemingly calculated to threaten Ramsay. She was essentially forced upon him, after all.
6 - Give her some time. Arya's story, at least where it stands now, is one that has not surpassed Martin's writing.
3 - I suspect Ramsay offing his step mother is precisely what Roose has been baiting him to do all along, with more than one remark seemingly calculated to threaten Ramsay. She was essentially forced upon him, after all.
6 - Give her some time. Arya's story, at least where it stands now, is one that has not surpassed Martin's writing.
1
#6 -- Hmmm... could be she does take his face at one point. That would be awesome.
What happened to the hounds?
55
I know right, noticed that exact thing immediately
I know, that made no scents.
6
They found their way home, just in time for dinner.
1
That look on Brienne's face when Sansa accepted her pledge of service, so priceless. Like a puppy being adopted.
111
really. that brought on the sniffles. great moment.
4
Equally heartwarming! My favorite sequence of the episode.
2
More like a warrior having their allegiance validated. Brienne has been mocked (and worse) in her quest yet she persisted.
4
Just watched with a group of 18 year-old boys who were hoping the Nudity Warning meant they would get to see Margaery naked. Boy were they surprised!
185
Best Comment of this thread. I can't stop laughing!
Tell them to watch the Tudors.
1
Oops. Thirty percent of the show's audience to exit!
1
Let's get the Red Woman out of the way. There's more to her character than I knew. I thought she was all smoke & mirrors. So, she's old. Big deal. If I live as long as I want to, naked old ladies are going to be good news some day! I thought they covered everything, but then...Hodor? Hodor. Hodor!
32
The Hound? Anyone? Until I see his giant set of bones bleaching in the sun he's as alive as Gendry still making his way to King's Landing in that row boat.
4
The show runners are sadists. They won't provide resolution to the Jon Snow question until Episode 8. That's my prediction. Just because they can, they will string it along until everyone is complaining.
10
Made ya watch -- didn't they?
Only because the paint I was watching had already dried.
Despite being tonight's excitement I think that the Dorne developments rendered last season's foray into Dorne all the more pointless. Almost all of it could have been handled offscreen with Myrcella's body then returning to King's Landing. By removing such story threads, maybe we could get better pacing to the episodes.
52
I liked the Dorne story and I think the inclusion of it has more of an impact going forward than leaving it out would have. If Myrcella just showed up dead at King's Landing then we wouldn't think of her as a sweet character which in turn reflects a different side of Cersci that we need to see moving forward with her story line.
28
Also, there would not have been the moment wherein she acknowledged King Slayer as her father not merely her uncle, an important development imho as it might pertain to Tommen.
2
Agreed. Dorn is about to liven up a tad...
Great episode to start off this season's harrowing journey.
Regarding Jon Snow's fate, I think it won't be determined until episode 3/4, as I think Dan and Dave want to develop other Stark plot lines, and delve into Arya, Sansa, and Bran. That way their characters can get more spotlight than Jon for a few episodes and get more attention moving forward.
Tyrion's path this season will be interesting, and I hope he is the one to free Khaleesi's dragons.
A look into Bran's progress over last season, where we never saw him, should be fascinating next week, and his newly-acquired powers should be fundamental to the storyline.
Overall, this was a good episode that laid the groundwork for the dark, crazy, and unpredictable season this will be - for all of us, TV and book-readers alike.
Regarding Jon Snow's fate, I think it won't be determined until episode 3/4, as I think Dan and Dave want to develop other Stark plot lines, and delve into Arya, Sansa, and Bran. That way their characters can get more spotlight than Jon for a few episodes and get more attention moving forward.
Tyrion's path this season will be interesting, and I hope he is the one to free Khaleesi's dragons.
A look into Bran's progress over last season, where we never saw him, should be fascinating next week, and his newly-acquired powers should be fundamental to the storyline.
Overall, this was a good episode that laid the groundwork for the dark, crazy, and unpredictable season this will be - for all of us, TV and book-readers alike.
59
I very much like your appreciative comment and quite agree, it was terrific. Nice to remember that there are human beings named Dan and Dave breaking their hearts to keep this absolutely brilliant series aloft, too, while the slavering hyper-fans spend half their time snarling irritably and sniffing around for missteps to panic about.
What DID become of the dogs, though?
What DID become of the dogs, though?
2
That dude Davos and the others sent for help is going to bring back a whole bunch of Wildlings that will kick Ser Allister's you-know-what.
76
Yes....get ready for Wun Wun versus Olly.
37
Olly, henceforth, shall be known as Oily. As in the type of smear he leaves on the sole of Wun Wun's foot.
5
I hope they bring the giant.
1
Jon will be resurrected in episode three, that is my production.
9
That's the rumor on the Internet, where someone claims to have leaked script details - what happens if you are wrong and they drag it out further? Notice that we are not believing that he's dead - no grave-or-pyre thing for him.