Game of Thrones on HBO

[Landshark44]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I'll be the grumpy curmudgeon, I guess... it was a fantastic visual, but the whole everyone is on fire while Dany is alive and safe has been done, right?

Yup, I felt the same way... I thought we already saw Dani emerge from a fire and take control of a Dothraki horde.... I did a little eye-roll....

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Landshark44

Yup, I felt the same way... I thought we already saw Dani emerge from a fire and take control of a Dothraki horde.... I did a little eye-roll....

Actually she survived a fire and took control of 30-40 old Dothraki women and servants and a small handful of blood riders. Not exactly a horde.

[bronconick]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Pedantic, IMO. It's the same basic visual.

". . . three fires must you light . . . one for life and one for death and one to love . . . "

It's the fire of death

[claphamsa]

so when do giantsbane and brienne start breeding?

[Groundhog]

I think the pace has improved quite a bit from the last couple of seasons - both of which I enjoyed, but not as much as I have this one so far. Martin is slipping into Robert Jordan territory at times with his tendency to build and expand rather than focus and resolve, but the show runners seem intent on getting this thing moving along towards its conclusion.

I'm interested in how they make the whole adventures in Slaver's Bay not 'pointless'. If she doesn't abolish slavery, she may as well have sailed to Westeros with her Unsullied years ago. Sailing back to Slaver's Bay with a horde of Dothraki doesn't seem like it's going to dramatically improve the place, especially once she (I presume) sails for Westeros. Tyrion's '7-year plan' is I guess the out for this, but seems a bit unrealistic, unless they tie it into Westeros - ie. sponsor her trip to Westeros for some type of economic reward once she's queen.

There's the Iron Bank of Braavos which will probably tie into this as well, given the debt of the current rulers of Westeros.

I still have no idea where Arya's storyline is going, or Bran. Both have to end up being pretty important you would think - Arya in particular. Her thread seems to have had very little to do with Westeros or the Starks in a long time, and while I like her Braavos/Faceless Men chapters on the show a little better than I did in the books, I think/hope the payoff will be in how they eventually tie it back to the main storyline. I think the Jaqen H'ghar=Syrio Forel rumour is likely to end up true, though.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

I think the Jaqen H'ghar=Syrio Forel rumour is likely to end up true, though.

Syrio has been confirmed dead by everyone from Martin to the showrunners.

[Solecismic]

The Daenerys emerging naked from the flames trick never gets old.

I don't mind things moving so fast this season because they do such a good job with it, but we're (literally) burning through so many characters now that it does feel like things are going to be resolved. Totally not GRRM's style.

Still seems to be the year of the kick-ass women. Will Sansa get the opportunity to take out Ramsey?

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by bronconick

". . . three fires must you light . . . one for life and one for death and one to love . . . "

It's the fire of death

She's already lit the fire of death a few times.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

She's already lit the fire of death a few times.

So what is one more?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

She's already lit the fire of death a few times.

Well, it's not so different than the trials by combat, no?

We've already had two - the one with Bronn in the Vale and then the Mountain vs. Red Viper. We're potentially about to have a third with the Gregorstein vs. Whatever Poor Patsie the Sparrows throw up against him.

And, technically, I don't think she really lit the fire of death a few times. Those were her dragons. She set the funeral pyre and the temple on fire herself. No dragons necessary!

[ISiddiqui]

She didn't light the fire in the Temple of the Dosh Kaleen, she just threw them over, if you want to go down that route.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

So what is one more?

It's just starting to get a big deja vue and dull is all. Though, Dany's story has never really been all that interesting. With GRRM's dedication to uprooting fantasy tropes, I do hope that it's all being set up for a dramatic reversal (ie, the supposed chosen one actually turns out to bite it before the end).

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Well, it's not so different than the trials by combat, no?

We've already had two - the one with Bronn in the Vale and then the Mountain vs. Red Viper. We're potentially about to have a third with the Gregorstein vs. Whatever Poor Patsie the Sparrows throw up against him.

And, technically, I don't think she really lit the fire of death a few times. Those were her dragons. She set the funeral pyre and the temple on fire herself. No dragons necessary!

It's gotta be the hound vs Gregorstein, right?

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

She didn't light the fire in the Temple of the Dosh Kaleen

Sure, but that's only because it was already burning, and had been doing so since the world began turning.

[Logan]

Describing that final scene as "dull" might be the greatest sign ever that the TV writers will never win over everyone.

[Kodos]

She didn't start the fire, but when she is gone, will it still burn on?

[jeff061]

Originally Posted by Logan

Describing that final scene as "dull" might be the greatest sign ever that the TV writers will never win over everyone.

I'm not sure I'd say dull, but it definitely got an eye roll from me. The shock and wow value from that scene had already been cashed in years ago

[Simbo Klice]

I hope GRRM has something better planned for the books than going back to the fire well again.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by Simbo Klice

I hope GRRM has something better planned for the books than going back to the fire well again.

I'm sure he does. He probably has a bunch of plans. Whether we'll see them in a published book, however, is another question....

[stevew]

How the hell did that building go up so fast?

[stevew]

I feel like we've spent 4 episodes this season getting the story back to almost exactly where it was at near the end of last season.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by stevew

How the hell did that building go up so fast?

Dry wood? They were in the desert.

[Coffee Warlord]

Dry wood + burning oil / pitch / whatever the hell was in those braziers + super dry climate? Yeah, that'd go up damn fast.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by jeff061

I'm not sure I'd say dull, but it definitely got an eye roll from me. The shock and wow value from that scene had already been cashed in years ago

+1. There was a complete lack of tension there.

Originally Posted by Simbo Klice

I hope GRRM has something better planned for the books than going back to the fire well again.

I'm guessing its way different in the books due to the fact that Khalasar finds Dany standing right next to Drogon in "A Dance with Dragons"... you try to take her away from her dragon and see how that turns out .

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

It's just starting to get a big deja vue and dull is all. Though, Dany's story has never really been all that interesting. With GRRM's dedication to uprooting fantasy tropes, I do hope that it's all being set up for a dramatic reversal (ie, the supposed chosen one actually turns out to bite it before the end).

Haha sorry you found it dull. I was quite satisfied.

[bronconick]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

+1. There was a complete lack of tension there.



I'm guessing its way different in the books due to the fact that Khalasar finds Dany standing right next to Drogon in "A Dance with Dragons"... you try to take her away from her dragon and see how that turns out .

But wouldn't Drogon saving Dany's ass again after having just done so at the end of ADwD be equally dull and repetitive?

[Edward64]

What bugs me about the ending ... are we to believe these fearless leaders meet their end trying to find a way out of the burning building and not run thru the fire to kill her?

Doesn't quite fit their profile.

Otherwise enjoyed it and looking forward to next week.

BTW - no more spoilers. Should we merge the threads?

[Coffee Warlord]

I'm stretching a little here. But one could argue they just saw her grab a burning hot brazier and then stand there in the middle of the fire smirking. The Dothraki are superstitious as all hell, maybe their fear of her + the fire led them to Get The Fuck Out instead of go for her.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by bronconick

But wouldn't Drogon saving Dany's ass again after having just done so at the end of ADwD be equally dull and repetitive?

Probably, but the difference of finding Dany with Drogon would likely have meant no abduction and hence no need for 'saving'.

Summary of Ch. 71 in Dance with Dragons (from a wiki of Ice and Fire):

Spoiler

Finally, a single Dothraki scout approaches her, but does not see her. The scout freezes as Drogon approaches, and then flees. Daenerys calls out for Drogon as he flies over, and mounts him. Drogon catches and devours a horse, and Dany joins him. This is how Khal Jhaqo, former ko of Khal Drogo,[3] accompanied by 50 of his warriors, finds her.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by Edward64

What bugs me about the ending ... are we to believe these fearless leaders meet their end trying to find a way out of the burning building and not run thru the fire to kill her?

Aside from the superstition thing which CW mentions (which I think it also right-on), what's the point in trying to kill her, right then? They're in a burning building that's going up in flames very quickly, and that problem's not going to be solved by killing the woman that, for all they know, is about to perish in the flames anyway.

From their perspective, she's committing a murder-suicide. The only smart thing to do is to try and get out.

[NobodyHere]

Tower of Joy fight with better music

Tower of Joy Fight | Western Version - YouTube

[Coffee Warlord]

Underwhelming.

[MrBug708]

Strange. Most people have said it's one of the best this season

[chinaski]

That was brutal, holy shit. Im thoroughly gutted.

[Atocep]

Why

[ISiddiqui]

Hodor

(though a bit sucky that Hodor ended up that way because Bran as greenseer possessed his current body through a 30 or so year ago event in time in order that Hodor could save Bran's life in the present)

Also interesting that the Others / White Walkers were created by the Children of the Forest as a sort of "nuclear option" against men. Though I wonder where exactly Bran and Meera are going to go now (and, you know... be safe)

[HomerSimpson98]

Originally Posted by chinaski

That was brutal, holy shit. Im thoroughly gutted.

+1

[ISiddiqui]

I do wonder why it was necessary to go back in time for Bran to use younger Hodor as a conduit to take over older Hodor. Was it because if he took over Hodor in the current era, he would have been too freaked out to do what he did - the conduit allowing for a barrier? Because he sacrifices Hodor's life to save his own - maybe he didn't fully realize that when using younger Hodor as a conduit, which is why the greenseer puts them in the past.

[ISiddiqui]

Wow, so back in April 2014, this happened:

https://ventrellaquest.com/tag/game-of-thrones/

Martin: I always wanted to be an elevator operator. If the writing thing hadn’t worked out…

We both laughed and went on to our rooms.

The final time we ended up together, the conversation went like this:

Me: I finally figured out why you have a character named “Hodor.”

Martin: Oh?

Me: I was thinking about your comment about wanting to be an elevator operator. It’s clear to me now that “Hodor” is short for “Hold the door.”

Martin: (laughing) You don’t know how close to the truth you are!

[bhlloy]

We're also down to one wolf, which fucking sucks. Just a brutal end to the episode all around.

[bhlloy]

DOLA - Bran had better save Westeros and singlehandedly usher in the renaissance, the reformation and the industrial revolution at this point

[Radii]

Hodor. Hodor. Hodor.

[Peregrine]

Honestly I think I would be fine with Bran dying at this point, but Hodor? NEVER!

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Wow, so back in April 2014, this happened:

https://ventrellaquest.com/tag/game-of-thrones/

Wow, nice guess.

[Edward64]

Pretty slow paced except for last 10 min or so. Not one of the stronger episodes this season IMO

[Coffee Warlord]

Just taking stock of where we're at halfway through this season.

King's Landing - Nothing has changed.

The Wall - Jon & Sansa are together. And still haven't gone south.

Across the Sea - Dany has an army (but bigger!). And no way to get it across the sea. Still. Nothing has changed.

Bran - Knows a few bombshells (except for the one we WANT to see), and is now back to where he was 2 seasons ago - in the tundra running from ice zombies.

Arya - Yep. More training. Followed by more training.

Dorne - Fuck Dorne.

We're halfway through the season, 2 more wolves down, and in reality, not a lot of pieces have advanced beyond where they were to start the season.

[Kodos]

If Bran can go back in time and effect events, why wouldn't block himself from the events that left him with legs that don't work?

[Coffee Warlord]

The ultra weird theory is he was/is supposed to learn to shape the past to create the actual present. He made Hodor into Hodor because that's what the "now" dictated. He'll be popping back here and there to ensure that the pieces are exactly where they need to be to get everyone in the right spot. Creating the present, as it were.

Bear in mind, pretty much nobody can see him, and almost no one could even hear him (even then, it was a whisper on the wind). He's potentially very limited in what he could theoretically do, and to whom.

Oh, and it's B+L = J now.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

We're also down to one wolf, which fucking sucks. Just a brutal end to the episode all around.

2. Nymeria is out there... somewhere.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

The ultra weird theory is he was/is supposed to learn to shape the past to create the actual present. He made Hodor into Hodor because that's what the "now" dictated. He'll be popping back here and there to ensure that the pieces are exactly where they need to be to get everyone in the right spot. Creating the present, as it were.

Bear in mind, pretty much nobody can see him, and almost no one could even hear him (even then, it was a whisper on the wind). He's potentially very limited in what he could theoretically do, and to whom.

There is this theory that I read up on last night that the reason the Mad King Aerys II became mad was that Bran kept on whispering to him to do something about the White Walkers, and those voices eventually made Aerys lose his mind. Which would mean Bran was responsible for the entire Song of Ice and Fire story.