Game of Thrones!

[Beorn]

Meanwhile at Eastwatch:

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Gendry..... My man

 

[burningranger]

I never read the books, but I fell in love with Littlefingers arc...why do I get a feeling the show will take him (has already taken him) in a direction that was not at all intended for him by the original author? You can just taste the different in the dialogue/story the last couple of seasons.....and that fan service.... Why can't we have perfect things made by perfect people working solely to satisfy our personal whims on planet earth?!!!Uh??UUUUH??!!

 

[Totenkindly]

Game of Thrones: The significance of the letter Arya found

arya tells sansa she has deep dark creepy feelings and delusions of power, then stalks people around winterfall cuz she's a creepy superninja, lol

 

[Forever]

I'm so thrown off by how time passes in the show.

I mean even if episode 6 is supposed to mindbogglingly epic (probably is)
it really looks like Jon Snow and pals attack Leeroy Jenkins style and just run away...
like a noob on an mmorpg too impatient to level up, gets a taste of a bad guy.. runs away from 1 hit lol (and survives luckily)

to me, Jaime Lanister surviving was like not even a question. I was like he clearly dodged the fire. They wouldn't let him die just to avoid burning
But I like Jaime and Bronn so yeah.

still better than the terrible drama of breaking bad, like only 10% of that show was worth watching, rest was just whining and complaining fillers...

Bran Stark still being the chillest mother- on the planet. But the whole ooh I turned my face on the birds cuz I'm gonna stare you.. felt childish and predictable lol

The purpose of the letter was to get Arya to separate from Sansa, for that Petyr has a bit of a stronger hold on Sansa.. with the two of the sisters together, Petyr may not be as "powerful" in the north. he needs to get Sansa as close as him as he can get.

I'm glad they brought Gendry back though.I feel like he's gonna die soon though.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I like the Bran Stark controls birds. I want that power. Someone throw me off a castle, plz.

I was not expecting Gendry to ever return. It was a pleasant surprise. "Still rowing?" made me laugh. There were a lot of lines that made me laugh, like about how the Sept of Baelor doesn't have that many windows now.

 

[Riva]

- We might NOT see the reformed Jamie we like again. Cerei is pregnant again. She will use it to keep Jamie act against his NEW values. Infact Jamie himself might truly change to protect the child.
- Sam you idiot you were ignoring what Gilly was saying - I don't blame you for it - you missed her mention Rhaegar's second marriage.
- Tarly's died invain. I don't blame her for burning them. They had their chance.
- Yay Gendry is back. Am I the only one who is thinking that he might end up with Arya if they survive. They might both not survive though. Martin hasn't killed anyone we like in ages and he must be itching to do so .

 

[Beorn]

- We might NOT see the reformed Jamie we like again. Cerei is pregnant again. She will use it to keep Jamie act against his NEW values. Infact Jamie himself might truly change to protect the child.
- Sam you idiot you were ignoring what Gilly was saying - I don't blame you for it - you missed her mention Rhaegar's second marriage.
- Tarly's died invain. I don't blame her for burning them. They had their chance.
- Yay Gendry is back. Am I the only one who is thinking that he might end up with Arya if they survive. They might both not survive though. Martin hasn't killed anyone we like in ages and he must be itching to do so .

What if Samwell cracks and turns into his father? Was his lashing out at Gilly just a means to reveal the Jon Snow secret to the audience without revealing it to Sam or is this really the beginning of a harsher Sam? How will he take the death of his father and brother? Would the death of Gilly and child put him over the edge?

I can't wait to see what happens to Sam next. I'm more excited about that story-line than the expendables north of the wall.

 

[Totenkindly]

^^ My big worries is that, with the lack of detail this season, they won't focus at all on this issue. (When the hell would they even have time, with a zombie invasion + a War of Westeros to wage in only eight episodes left for the entire series?)

They really needed about one more season to do this story and characterization at least SOME degree of justice. Makes you wonder whether this was the showrunners' choice or HBO wanted to finish this up so they could do a bunch of spinoffs.

 

[ceecee]

^^ My big worries is that, with the lack of detail this season, they won't focus at all on this issue. (When the hell would they even have time, with a zombie invasion + a War of Westeros to wage in only eight episodes left for the entire series?)

They really needed about one more season to do this story and characterization at least SOME degree of justice. Makes you wonder whether this was the showrunners' choice or HBO wanted to finish this up so they could do a bunch of spinoffs.

Agreed. I also heard that the last season would have longer episodes. I have not found confirmation on that. I'm good with spin offs (could totally get behind a Mad King prequel) but let's finish GoT right. Not a race. I do love the idea of Sam's story being expanded because it's a good story and I like smart people.

 

[Totenkindly]

There was a rumor at one of the Con's that the final six episodes appearing Season 8 could run 80+ minutes apiece. That wouldn't hurt.

I just wish the characters seemed to play out more like GRRM would have probably written them.

For example, Dad Tarley despised Sam as the family leader so much that he forced him to take the black or die, so Dickon could be the heir. Everything was about the family. He even mistreated Sam when Sam made a brief return home. He had no qualms about unleashing his inner spite.

So when Dad Tarley basically tries to take the rap for joining the Lannisters, sparing his own kid who could then lead the Tarleys/family, Dickon through some misplaced sense of nobility insisted on dying as well. The episode sentimentally has the dad holding his son's hand as they both are engulfed in flames.

I feel like if Martin had written this, Dickon's "heroic" decision would have been ridiculed by his pissed-off father, because it was a sentimental but "dumb" decision .... "you freaking idiot, you had a duty to our house when I was gone, I spit on you," etc. and there would have been a rift between them in death, not this sappy moment. It would have been achingly honest, rather than an "aww, alas" moment.

I think the scene would have been more powerful, if it had remained consistent to Dad Tarley's and the show's overall tone. But so many "feelz" lately.

Do we have a release date for the next book yet?

 

[Beorn]

Do we have a release date for the next book yet?

Latest on his progress:

 

[Forever_Jung]

As fun as the set pieces and team-ups have been, I really miss the character moments. I am definitely picking up what Totenkindly is putting down with regards to that Tarly moment. The sentiment rang false as hell.

I know he's still a brother of the night's watch, but with the Tarly men torched and Sam in possession of his father's ancestral sword, does Samwell become Lord of Horn Hill?

 

[Gone]

I know he's still a brother of the night's watch, but with the Tarly men torched and Sam in possession of his father's ancestral sword, does Samwell become Lord of Horn Hill?

In this show universe, where things are conveniently forgotten all the time and no decision is final? Probably yes.

 

[Totenkindly]

I think maybe the Crows will outlive their usefulness in the show (if any survive what is coming) due to a few potential factors (and correct me if I miss something since I was not a book reader):

- Their most direct purpose was to protect against Wildlings. But Jon let the largest gathering of Wildlings through the Wall already to settle more south and help defend the Wall, and many of the Wildlings were already killed and subsumed into the Night King's army. No more Wilding threat, really.

- The Wall existed to protect against the army of the Undead. but if the resolution of this story involves the ending of the Night King's purpose/threat, so that is now also resolved... there remains no real use for the Wall or for the Crows to man it.

If the Crows are wiped out and/or disbanded with "time served" as the rubric, then Sam Tarly will be able to return to his life before he went north and took the black.

This might not be what happens, but it seems the most obvious and easiest way for Sam to be freed of his Crow oath.... although I still feel like the idea of him having developed the opening sequence and recording the history as he was aware of it is probably something he does as well... I mean, just like his namesake Samwise Gamgee, who finished writing the Red Book of Westmarch after the Third Age ended when he returned to Hobbiton.

 

[anticlimatic]

Last season and this season especially have really redeemed what initially seemed to be a sadistic meandering slog of a story. I always held out a futile hope that the story would arc appropriately; that characters would change into better versions of themselves; that events would begin coming together for a grand and emotionally rewarding climax- and by Jove that seems to be occurring! Go HBO! Thank you for saving the story from its author.

The hound has been redeemed.
Sansa has been redeemed (kinda maybe?).
Tyrion has been redeemed.
Jon Snow has been redeemed.
Sam has been redeemed.
It even looks as though Danyris might be redeemed through Jon's example.
Arya hasn't quite yet but it appears as though she might finally be stepping in it courtesy of LF.
Bran has been redeemed.
Jamie has (long) been redeemed.
Cersi is still clinging to her old drum (likely why she's the least likeable character currently).
Dragonstone dude Jorl or whatever has been redeemed.


It really feels like True Detective all over again- which was another show I really hated until the very end, at which point I changed my mind and ranked it among my favorites.

 

[Totenkindly]

Last season and this season especially have really redeemed what initially seemed to be a sadistic meandering slog of a story. I always held out a futile hope that the story would arc appropriately; that characters would change into better versions of themselves; that events would begin coming together for a grand and emotionally rewarding climax- and by Jove that seems to be occurring! Go HBO! Thank you for saving the story from its author.

The hound has been redeemed.
Sansa has been redeemed (kinda maybe?).
Tyrion has been redeemed.
Jon Snow has been redeemed.
Sam has been redeemed.
It even looks as though Danyris might be redeemed through Jon's example.
Arya hasn't quite yet but it appears as though she might finally be stepping in it courtesy of LF.
Bran has been redeemed.
Jamie has (long) been redeemed.
Cersi is still clinging to her old drum (likely why she's the least likeable character currently).
Dragonstone dude Jorl or whatever has been redeemed.

Disney would be proud.

It really feels like True Detective all over again- which was another show I really hated until the very end, at which point I changed my mind and ranked it among my favorites.

Which season?

EDIT: I will guess first season, since that was the one that was heavily darkly existential until the very last minute, then had the hopeful little twist you seem to appreciate.

 

[anticlimatic]

Disney would be proud. Which season? EDIT: I will guess first season, since that was the one that was heavily darkly existential until the very last minute, then had the hopeful little twist you seem to appreciate.

Tolkien would also be proud.
And yes I meant the first season. The second was so bad I often forget it exists.

 

[Totenkindly]

Tolkien would also be proud.

Not really.

Tolkien was consistent in his story telling and wasn't afraid of darkness even after victories were won. Slapping happy arcs on the trail end of a TV series is little more than sloppy writing.

You know some of the stuff that sits with me from Tolkien? A big one is when Frodo comes home after succeeding in his mission (although he actually failed -- in the end, he could not go through with ridding himself of the ring, and it was Gollum who accidentally saved everyone), and every year on the day of some pretty terrible anniversaries of Frodo's arc (like when he was stabbed by the Witch King or stung by Shelob), he becomes ill or has a kind of malaise/fit. Eventually he finds he cannot enjoy the Shire and has to simply encourage himself with the idea that -- though he could not save the Shire for himself -- he had helped save it for people he loved, and then he gets on a boat at the Grey Havens and disappears into the West in hope of finding some peace. End result: Frodo does succeed, but he is in pain for the rest of his mortal life, in his soul and body.

Oh, there was a lot of that kind of thing in Tolkien. Like the aftermath of Denethor's death and how Faramir and Eowyn had to rebuild their lives (it's really beautiful, the tenderness they have for each other as sole survivors of some nasty family drama and losses), or how Arwen -- while she was part of the notable third union between man and elf -- also paid the price of losing Aragorn when his mortality was finally offered up, and she went and died in Cirin Amroth... she who should have gone with her people forever into the West and never tasted that degree of sorrow. I could go on with more.

Tolkien told it like it was.

And yes I meant the first season. The second was so bad I often forget it exists.

Well, we agree about that.

 

[anticlimatic]

Not really. Tolkien was consistent in his story telling and wasn't afraid of darkness even after victories were won. Slapping happy arcs on the trail end of a TV series is little more than sloppy writing.

You know some of the stuff that sits with me from Tolkien? A big one is when Frodo comes home after succeeding in his mission (although he actually failed -- in the end, he could not go through with ridding himself of the ring, and it was Gollum who accidentally saved everyone), and every year on the day of some pretty terrible anniversaries of Frodo's arc (like when he was stabbed by the Witch King or stung by Shelob), he becomes ill or has a kind of malaise/fit. Eventually he finds he cannot enjoy the Shire and has to simply encourage himself with the idea that -- though he could not save the Shire for himself -- he had helped save it for people he loved, and then he gets on a boat at the Grey Havens and disappears into the West in hope of finding some peace. End result: Frodo does succeed, but he is in pain for the rest of his mortal life, in his soul and body. Oh, there was a lot of that kind of thing in Tolkien. Like the aftermath of Denethor's death and how Faramir and Eowyn had to rebuild their lives (it's really beautiful, the tenderness they have for each other as sole survivors of some nasty family drama and losses), or how Arwen -- while she was part of the notable third union between man and elf -- also paid the price of losing Aragorn when his mortality was finally offered up, and she went and died in Cirin Amroth... she who should have gone with her people forever into the West and never tasted that degree of sorrow. I could go on with more. Tolkien told it like it was.

Well, we agree about that.

The entire point of true detective season one was that pessimism was no more or less logical than optimism- a point game of thrones has thankfully adopted as well. Slapping a happy ending onto a story arc makes no more or less sense than slapping a miserable one on there. This show has had more miserable ends to arcs overall than it has happy ones, so this natural balance reaffirmed at the end feels more like good writing than bad.