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[SerArthurDayne]

In the book didnt renly

Spoiler

Have his armor on? so it made it even more supernatural that the shadow sliced through his armor like butter

He was wearing armor. The jacket he was wearing is filled with steel plates sewn into pockets in the cloth. Subtle, and I only noticed it because I saw the behind the scenes video that mentioned it.

Next Episode Preview

Things be kicking it up a notch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2yP7rk_ryA&feature=player_embedded

Question, who was that person who offers Arya the 3 assassinations?

Jaqen H'ghar is his name. Who he is would require spoilers of things not yet revealed. He is the one in the wagon that Arya gave the axe, to. He freed himself and two others. Thus three lives are owed to the Red God.

 

[Cornballer]

Content roundup:

Reviews:
- Onion A|V Club
- Sepinwall
- Televisionary
- WiC.net
- memles
- Maureen Ryan
- Westeros.org
- EW.com
- Rolling STone
- OtakuASSEMBLE

HBO vids:
- Inside the Episode
- Preview for next week's episode (youtube, please spoiler tag any discussion)


Assorted crappy tumblr gifs:

 

[woober]

renely got DT rushed

 

[Manmademan]

you guys should play Final Fantasy Tactics. It's a pretty good game! Overrated but good!

Overrated my ass

 

[Van Owen]

They sort of skipped over Dany discovering her dragons would only eat charred meat.

 

[Harry Potter]

No boobs guys!

 

[SerArthurDayne]

No boobs guys!

"Worst Episode" Part II.

 

[Chuck Norris]

They sort of skipped over Dany discovering her dragons would only eat charred meat.

They showed it in this episode?

 

[stupei]

Ah, that's up now?

OtakuASSEMBLE: Game of Thrones Season 2 Episode 5 Review - "The Ghost of Harrenhal." (Includes Sansa Rant)

Still can't figure out what exactly he expects Sansa to do. What kind of response from her would satisfy him? She's talked back to Joffrey, and all that's got her is being slapped around. It's like the fact that she's learning and adapting is a bad thing and he won't be happy with the character until she basically reacts like he seemingly imagines Arya would.

Nothing against Larry, I like his reviews and all, but I think a large part of his dislike of Sansa seems to come largely from still having a skewed view of how the world in this series works. All the "action" he wants her to take would only result in her being dead. Not being suicidal isn't a character flaw.

 

[Vespene]

Still can't figure out what exactly he expects Sansa to do. What kind of response from her would satisfy him? She's talked back to Joffrey, and all that's got her is being slapped around. It's like the fact that she's learning and adapting is a bad thing and he won't be happy with the character until she basically reacts like he seemingly imagines Arya would.

Nothing against Larry, I like his reviews and all, but I think a large part of his dislike of Sansa seems to come largely from still having a skewed view of how the world in this series works. All the "action" he wants her to take would only result in her being dead. Not being suicidal isn't a character flaw.

Well, I didn't like her in the books until later on so I don't find his dislike all that strange. [AFFK]

Spoiler

Her character becomes more interesting once she assumes the bastard daughter identity.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

LOL

amazing episode tonight

 

[Commodore]

"Worst Episode" Part II.

This episode was one of my favorites so far. The scene with Arya and Tywin? Pure gold.

 

[SerArthurDayne]

It was a reference to the Boobs chart.

Although I did feel this was probably the weakest of the season. Renly reveal was okay, not excellent, and as a reader it was no shocker to me.

Brienne was pretty badass, although I missed Clash

Spoiler

Crazy Loras wrecking shit and killing somewhat important people because he didn't give a fuck

Arya stuff was good.

Everything else just felt like getting the pieces where they needed to be for the second half of the season.

My biggest pet peeve, if we are being honest Clash

Spoiler

The Tyrells do not have enough power to fuck with Stannis. It is only because the Stormlords were split that Stannis doesn't crush King's Landing. And he still would have if the Highgarden/Recalcitrant Stormlords hadn't taken him in the back with Tywin Lannister. The Tyrells alone would not have been sufficient

edit: On the preview for next week, and minor Storm.

Spoiler

I love the very little we have seen of Roose Bolton. I really hope we get more of him, and I also hope we get some of Fat Walda to add a bit to his character

 

[EleventhDoctor]

Also the scene where Brienne swears loyalty to Cat was very well done. Awesome scene.

 

[catotheyounger]

Everyone in Iceland look miserable. Love it.

 

[John Harker]

Arya is entirely and instinctively motivated by revenge right now... did you forget her chanting? The Tickler tortured her best-friend-potential-love-interest in front of her eyes (and is a constant threat to her as well) and Cercei and Joffery and those responsible for Ned's death are far higher on her list than Tywin, who she has no reason to fear, and has done nothing to her directly. It was just made clear to her he's losing to her brother. And she had her moment of staring him down in the eye. It's not a stretch of the imagination she went with the Tickler first out of revenge (not thinking this stranger with his funny accent and miscolored hair was serious) - until a body shows up.

 

[petethepanda]

Saving this for my workout in the morning. Taking some mad willpower to not fire it up now lol.

 

[Basileus777]

My biggest pet peeve, if we are being honest Clash

Spoiler

The Tyrells do not have enough power to fuck with Stannis. It is only because the Stormlords were split that Stannis doesn't crush King's Landing. And he still would have if the Highgarden/Recalcitrant Stormlords had taken him in the back. The Tyrells alone would not have been sufficient

Spoiler

The Tyrells had 70k men and all of Renly's horse, that's more than enough to fuck with Stannis.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

Tickler death doesn't bother me in the slightest, actually I thought he got killed by Jaqen :lol Definitely a good move to kill him now rather than later when the audience has forgotten who he is. He wasn't even named last episode, he just wasn't as memorable as he was in the book frankly.

wanted to say that I agree with this.

 

[SerArthurDayne]

Spoiler

The Tyrells had 70k men and all of Renly's horse, that's more than enough to fuck with Stannis.

Clash

Spoiler

In the book, sure. Not in the show. The entirety of the Stormlords came over to Stannis in the show. They were actually at Renly's main camp in the show, with pretty much his entire army. In the books, Stannis only got about 3/4 of those who came to lift the siege, and none of those from the main camp. The entirety of Highgarden's strength, along with all of the Stormlands infantry was left behind, and Loras took control of them, before joining up with Tywin. In the show Loras flees with his tail between his legs and almost no men.

 

[wenis]

I think most people in this thread don't personally have a problem with sex or nudity, but it can be awkward watching a borderline softcore porno with your mom.

Eh, get over it. How do they think they got into this world? Definitely was no stork bringing them in (although the parents could have been in the stork position...)

 

[Van Owen]

They showed it in this episode?

It showed her dragon cooking the meat, not her. She said "now they can feed themselves" but we never saw her do it herself.

 

[Balphon]

They cut out the whole second event and just merged them so that they wouldn't have to show Storm's End.

It kinda creates a plot hole, since in the book the whole reason she has to have Davos smuggle her underneath Storm's End is because it's such an old castle and has enchantments that would keep the shadow out. Not a huge deal though, and I'm sure it won't really occur to TV only viewers.

The change creates a bigger plot hole for TV viewers if you think about it, since it doesn't really make sense for someone to have constructed an elaborate steel portcullis in a random cave beneath some cliff somewhere.

 

[Chuck Norris]

It showed her dragon cooking the meat, not her. She said "now they can feed themselves" but we never saw her do it herself.

So? That is a really, really insignificant thing to worry about. The fact that they even showed the dragons doing it should be enough. You want two scenes about how the Dragon's food should be cooked?

 

[wenis]

So? That is a really, really insignificant thing to worry about. The fact that they even showed the dragons doing it should be enough. You want two scenes about how the Dragon's food should be cooked?

but who cooks food?

 

[Basileus777]

Clash

Spoiler

In the book, sure. Not in the show. The entirety of the Stormlords came over to Stannis in the show. They were actually at Renly's main camp in the show, with pretty much his entire army. In the books, Stannis only got about 3/4 of those who came to lift the siege, and none of those from the main camp. The entirety of Highgarden's strength, along with all of the Stormlands infantry was left behind, and Loras took control of them, before joining up with Tywin. In the show Loras flees with his tail between his legs and almost no men.

I actually thought you were talking about the book. Here, you are mostly right, though we don't know the exact numbers. The Tyrells surely have their own men though, I doubt the Reach Lords are following Stannis.

but who cooks food?

Dragons apparently. And it's not an important fact.

 

[SerArthurDayne]

I actually thought you were talking about the book. Here, you are mostly right, though we don't know the exact numbers. The Tyrells surely have their own men though, I doubt the Reach Lords are following Stannis.

I agree. And the Tyrells should have had 40,000 men or so in Renly's army. I can understand why the would retreat, as even odds, plus Stannis' army just off the coast. Plus a shared camp, and a very chaotic state of affairs. But the show literally made it look like it was just Loras and Margaery fleeing.

Anyways, as I said when I first brought it up, it really is nit picky, but it bothered me.

 

[Jubs]

wait a sec, didn't Brienne

Spoiler

get her first kill ever in AFFC? I don't remember her killing the two who enter Renly's camp in the books. In fact, wasn't it Loras who kills them?

 

[Basileus777]

wait a sec, didn't Brienne

Spoiler

get her first kill ever in AFFC? I don't remember her killing the two who enter Renly's camp in the books. In fact, wasn't it Loras who kills them?

In the book, Loras goes on a rage and kills a bunch of the Rainbow Guard. Changing it hurts his development I guess, but I think it helps Brienne here.

 

[Van Owen]

So? That is a really, really insignificant thing to worry about. The fact that they even showed the dragons doing it should be enough. You want two scenes about how the Dragon's food should be cooked?

It just seemed jarring. I know it's not important.

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

There are already 2 scenes. 1st Dany scene of the season had the dragon not eating the meat. Then the one tonight.

 

[pulga]

You know, the changes aren't bothering me as much as they should have. They make sense, considering the medium.

 

[AcciDante]

wait a sec, didn't Brienne

Spoiler

get her first kill ever in AFFC? I don't remember her killing the two who enter Renly's camp in the books. In fact, wasn't it Loras who kills them?

(AFFC)

Spoiler

That's how I remember it too. I don't care about the Tickler change, but this one makes me sad. I really enjoyed that part of Brienne's arc.

 

[Steelyuhas]

There are already 2 scenes. 1st Dany scene of the season had the dragon not eating the meat. Then the one tonight.

I thought they were nice. They were relatively small parts of two scenes, and they subtly show the dragons growth.

 

[PhoenixDark]

I thought that was a great episode. Honestly the only problem I had was with how the Renly scene was shot. It just looked so...pedestrian. Reminded me waaay too much of Lost with the way the shadow swept into the room, and the way he was stabbed just felt cheesy and rushed; to be fair, it's even more rushed in the book. I had hoped it would just travel on the walls, which would have looked creepier imo; like a Dracula homage.

Qarth looked beautiful, and while there still was a Sci Fi channel cheese level, overall I liked the scenes there. Not a big fan of Quaith's mask though; she looks like a gimp or some shit. Pyrat Pree looked awesome though.

In terms of the Arya change that has book fans pissed: eh. I'd imagine "that scene" will be replaced with something else that could work equally as well, so I will reserve judgement until we get to that point.

I loved all the anterior shots in this episode, especially in King's Landing (filmed in Croatia). Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and I'm glad we got to see more of it tonight. The Qarth scenes were shot there too, and they managed to hide it perfectly; it gave me a Babylonian vibe.

Also it was awesome to see Roy Dotrice playing the pyromancer! Awesome cameo, and I loved his interaction with Tyrion and Bronn. Bronn continues to get some of the funniest lines in the series

 

[Pollux]

Jesus christ, Rickon is a creeper

When he was sitting there smashing things, was I the only one who got a "Dexter" vibe from him?

 

[Chuck Norris]

I thought that was a great episode. Honestly the only problem I had was with how the Renly scene was shot. It just looked so...pedestrian. Reminded me waaay too much of Lost with the way the shadow swept into the room, and the way he was stabbed just felt cheesy and rushed; to be fair, it's even more rushed in the book. I had hoped it would just travel on the walls, which would have looked creepier imo; like a Dracula homage.

Qarth looked beautiful, and while there still was a Sci Fi channel cheese level, overall I liked the scenes there. Not a big fan of Quaith's mask though; she looks like a gimp or some shit. Pyrat Pree looked awesome though.

In terms of the Arya change that has book fans pissed: eh. I'd imagine "that scene" will be replaced with something else that could work equally as well, so I will reserve judgement until we get to that point.

I loved all the anterior shots in this episode, especially in King's Landing (filmed in Croatia). Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and I'm glad we got to see more of it tonight. The Qarth scenes were shot there too, and they managed to hide it perfectly; it gave me a Babylonian vibe.

Also it was awesome to see Roy Dotrice playing the pyromancer! Awesome cameo, and I loved his interaction with Tyrion and Bronn. Bronn continues to get some of the funniest lines in the series

That's how I pictured it too, the shadow had too much of a "solidness" for my liking. Though it would've been really hard to do otherwise

 

[Vespene]

It is getting kinda frustrating that whenever they mention dragons, the characters turn dramatically to look at...

...three wooden boxes.

This season we've only seen Drogon twice, but we've seen the boxes like 10 times. They haven't shown Viserion or Rhaegal in S2, nor established any of their names. At this point I'd rather them not show the wooden boxes.

I hate the wooden boxes.

Fuck boxes.

 

[oatmeal]

awesome episode.

Best of the season by far.

No tits, though. So it sucked.

 

[Levi]

Well, my favorite fucking scene in the entire book series is out of the question now.

"But no one would remember the tickler in a year"

Uh, previously on Game of Thrones much?

Tables were flipped.

 

[PhoenixDark]

Well, my favorite fucking scene in the entire book series is out of the question now.

"But no one would remember the tickler in a year"

Uh, previously on Game of Thrones much?

Tables were flipped.

I feel your pain, but am reserving nerd rage until I see what the writers do with this in the future. Clearly they have something else in mind. Maybe it will work. If it doesn't, I will flip tables with you

 

[Vespene]

BTW, who was the chick with the mask at Xaro's party? The one who talked to Jorah. I don't remember that from the book.

And can Osha say or do anything without leaning her head like this?

 

[Gvaz]

Quorin Halfhand? H'gar killing people? holy fuck this episode is amazing

Pissed they killed ticker in season 2 since that's like a whole book early and

Spoiler

Arya was the one who killed him.

In the book, Loras goes on a rage and kills a bunch of the Rainbow Guard. Changing it hurts his development I guess, but I think it helps Brienne here.

It makes sense because people empathize with both parties more. I think they'd like Loras less if he killed people out of anger, but I never liked him to begin with.

 

[Gamer @ Heart]

BTW, who was the chick with the mask at Xaro's party? The one who talked to Jorah. I don't remember that from the book.

Me neither, but it was probably just a way to kick start jorahs motivation to confront dany in his next scene.

ADWD

Spoiler

Then again, she did meet that weird woman with a covered face in dance did she not? The one that told her of the rider on a pale horse, sun of of the sun etc in her pyramid. But maybe i am remembering her appearence wrong too.

 

[Balphon]

BTW, who was the chick with the mask at Xaro's party? The one who talked to Jorah. I don't remember that from the book.

(CoK)

Spoiler

Quaithe, presumably. In the book, she's one of the people (along with Xaro and Pyat Pree) who shows up at the ruined city where Dany and company are encamped to bring them to Qarth. Though she never speaks with Jorah, IIRC.

 

[Vespene]

(CoK)

Spoiler

Quaithe, presumably. In the book, she's one of the people (along with Xaro and Pyat Pree) who shows up at the ruined city where Dany and company are encamped to bring them to Qarth. Though she never speaks with Jorah, IIRC.

I just went through he wiki article and it appears that you're right.

Really cool mask too.

 

[Jarmel]

Garrus, dog. She looked so fucking dumb.

I laughed when I saw her suit. Looked like something straight out of Mass Effect.
---

Anyway wasn't the wildfire Tyrion's idea? Why the hell are they giving Cersei credit for this?

 

[Basileus777]

Anyway wasn't the wildfire Tyrion's idea? Why the hell are they giving Cersei credit for this?

It happened pretty much the same way in the book. Cersei starts it, Tyrion takes over.

Spoiler

The chain was Tyrion's idea.

 

[Jarmel]

It happened pretty much the same way in the book. Cersei starts it, Tyrion takes over.

Spoiler

The chain was Tyrion's idea.

I could have sworn the wildfire was his idea as well. Guess I'll have to do a re-read sometime in the future.

 

[Fabrik]

And can Osha say or do anything without leaning her head like this?

Yeah lol. It's bothering me too.