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[ToyMachine228]

even as a book-reader, it was hard to muster enthusiasm about this episode about mid-way through, I was asking myself "why is Jon even at The Wall, again?" not a fantastic sign

I think the show has done a very poor job of both explaining the plight of the Wildlings and reminding show viewers why control of the wall is so important. The real reason it's there is to protect the people beyond it. All the show has focused on is the wildlings wanting to kill the men of the Night's Watch. They haven't done a good job giving it context or drawing the circumstances. And as others have said, I don't think most show viewers even remember who Mance Rayder is or understand that he is the Wildling leader. The people I was with thought Tormund was.

 

[Cpt.Underpants]

I'm still bitter about Grenn dying. Yeah, the guy and his pals held the gate and died in blaze of glory but still. I don't mind Pypar but not Grenn

I ended up liking Alliser though, even though he's a tit

 

[Dawg]

if next episode ends with dany

we riot

 

[Cpt.Underpants]

if next episode ends with dany

we riot

You have my pitchfork

 

[Red Arremer]

If the fattest guy in Westeros, Wyman Manderly, can travel, so can Walder Frey. Still, they told that Rat King story for a reason so I don't think he'll be dying so cleanly.

Wyman Manderly is fat, yes, but he's not over 90 years old. Plus he doesn't travel all that often either. And why would Walder Frey travel anyway? He's perfectly fine in his safe castle.
And yeah, they told the Rat Cook story, but remember what the story was like? The cook lived on, forever, and he was forced to eat his own children.

 

[WhereAreMahDragonz]

I wasn't ready for Ygritte

 

[The Smoking Bun]

if next episode ends with dany

we riot

It will end with Brienne confronting a hooded woman hanging a Frey soldier and humming a tune.

Brienne: Who are you? Show me your face!
Woman: *back to Brienne* Who are you, the proud lord said, that I must bow so low...
Brienne: *draws weapon* Show yourself!
Woman: Only a cat of a different coat... *slowly turns around*
Brienne: O___O
Woman: *We recognize her as Catelyn Stark* Do you believe in ghost stories Lady Brienne?

*SMASH TO BLACK*

 

[Barzul]

So many scenes from the Episode last night have E3 gif potential like:

and

 

[BobTheFork]

Alliser is still around, though.

I don't think it matters honestly. Alliser is hurt, maybe badly. It just seems like a really good way to deal with it IF they were going to cut the election (which I think they will).

Especially the way Sam finds Slint hiding in a corner. At least Slint didn't do anything to Gilly; I really though he would take her for a widling of just try to hurt her.

 

[Cornballer]

- Andy Greenwald's review for Grantland

 

[hoos30]

The only redeeming part of bow kid would be if he just randomly shows up to snipe people and then nods from here on out.

SPEAKING OF BOWS

Best shot (and shot) of the episode, by far.

 

[Morts]

I'm starting to worry that there won't be time for everything I thought would happen next week. I know we'll wrap up Tyrion's book 3 material but it'd be a real bummer if we have to wait a year for the Night's Watch election or the Stoneheart reveal.

 

[Pein]

I wish noye was around so we would have a couple of familiar brothers around next season.

Oh well, the rightful king makes his epic comeback next week so I'm hyped.

 

[BobTheFork]

I'm starting to worry that there won't be time for everything I thought would happen next week. I know we'll wrap up Tyrion's book 3 material but it'd be a real bummer if we have to wait a year for the Night's Watch election or the Stoneheart reveal.

I'm betting on both of those , unless they cut the election like I think.
People keep saying 'there's too much to put into the finale'....well they are correct and something is going to have to wait.

 

[hoos30]

As far as "episode nine" goes, I wasn't that impressed. It was good, but nothing really particularly amazing happened, ice-cliff scythes aside.

Ygritte's death by that kid had to be the worst part about it, especially as he nods. So bad. Though, I get it's like revenge for his parents.

I'm also quite over those annoying pre-/mid-battle speeches. They're so unbelievable Hollywood/"AAA game."

In any case, I still think all that happened this season around the wall has been pretty dull or uninteresting.


Everything surrounding Tyrion has been good, like in the books, but everything else has been really under-delivering on the show.

D&D told us before the season that the "episode nine" rhythm was going to change.

 

[PhoenixDark]

I'm surprised the show hasn't cast Satin; maybe next year. I can already imagine a scene where he's bathing Jon Snow as they discuss the history of the Night's Watch.

get ready for the tumblrs, bros

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

Did he really? I honestly can't recall. I found Abel much more interesting than Mance, and even he didn't have much in the way of compelling dialogue.

Mostly explaining to Jon how he collected the wildling tribes and why they hadn't had any success fighting the others even with their superior numbers. They'll probably touch on that if he gets a monologued in the next episode.

Mance didn't keep Jon close to him for obvious reasons. When they met at the Fist, he knew even then that Jon couldn't be fully trusted.

 

[Forkball]

AngryGoTFan weighs in.

I LITERALLY JUST LIT TEN THOUSAND CANDLES FOR THE TRUE DONAL NOYE #NOONEUNDERSTAAANDS #GAMEOFTHRONES

ALL OF THESE SAM SCENES ARE RIPPED STRAIGHT FROM THE CW EVEN THE AWFUL MUSIC #NOONEUNDERSTAAANDS #GAMEOFTHRONES

YGRITTE DIDNT ASK IS THIS A REAL CASTLE JON SNOW!!!!!!!!! #NOONEUNDERSTAAANDS #GAMEOFTHRONES

GEE WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF THEY HAD A GIANT STAIRCASE THEY COULD SET ON FIRE OF WELL NEXT TIME #NOONEUNDERSTAAANDS #GAMEOFTHRONES

NO HBO SAM DOES NOT TURN INTO JOHN MCCLAIN #NOONEUNDERSTAAANDS #GAMEOFTHRONES

JOHN TELLING OFF SAM AND ITS MORE CW CASTLE BLACK HIGH #NOONEUNDERSTAAANDS #GAMEOFTHRONES

THE LARGEST CASUALTY OF THIS BATTLE WAS THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF ALL THE LONG TERM FANS #NOONEUNDERSTAAANDS #GAMEOFTHRONES

YOU CANT CUT DEAF DICK FOLLARD AND SAY ITS THE BATTLE OF CASTLE BLACK!!!!!!!! #NOONEUNDERSTAAANDS #GAMEOFTHRONES

 

[Pein]

Mostly explaining to Jon how he collected the wildling tribes and why they hadn't had any success fighting the others even with their superior numbers. They'll probably touch on that if he gets a monologued in the next episode.

seriously hope so, Mance has had barely any exposure, my friends thought Tormund was Mance . They should have at least put him in at the camp fire scene.

 

[Atraveller]

I wasn't ready for Ygritte

Book death is still sadder.

 

[Eidan]

I'm betting on both of those , unless they cut the election like I think.
People keep saying 'there's too much to put into the finale'....well they are correct and something is going to have to wait.

Yeah, no way the election happens next week. Which is fine. Hm, that makes me wonder if Stannis will stick around on the Wall all of season 5...probably not.

 

[Zabka]

Plenty of time for Mance next season, unless they decide to cram both books into one.

 

[Cornballer]

- NY Mag: Medieval Weapons Experts Fact-Check Arya’s Needle, the Red Viper’s Spear, and Other Game of Thrones Arms

 

[UraMallas]

I'm starting to worry that there won't be time for everything I thought would happen next week. I know we'll wrap up Tyrion's book 3 material but it'd be a real bummer if we have to wait a year for the Night's Watch election or the Stoneheart reveal.

At this point, I'm going with a 'no' for the election. Stannis will be the last piece on that front.

 

[Carcetti]

The only redeeming part of bow kid would be if he just randomly shows up to snipe people and then nods from here on out.

SPEAKING OF BOWS

Someone needs to remove the giant at the start and add nodding bow kid to the end.

 

[Pein]

Yeah, no way the election happens next week. Which is fine. Hm, that makes me wonder if Stannis will stick around on the Wall all of season 5...probably not.

after a like 3 or 4 episodes Stannis should just move out for war against the Boltons.

 

[toastyToast]

I didn't like the episode that much. I enjoyed the battle it in the books but it felt like the show version was severely lacking in stakes or any significant set up. Stannis barreling through could have saved it but that's probably going to take place next season meaning he did fuck all in this one.

RIP Rose Leslie

p.s fuck you kid

 

[Santiako]

Great episode, a bit dissapointed in the lack of THE MANNIS and too much time with Sam, but other than that it was the best battle of the show so far.

Next episode is going to be so crammed that something is going to get cut.

 

[Forkball]

Next episode is going to be so crammed that something is going to get cut.

I hope it's not the sweeping romance of Missandei and Grey Worm. I NEED RESOLUTION.

 

[bishopcruz]

- Andy Greenwald's review for Grantland

Ok, that may be the best review ever for the Shadow Dancer reference. Now someone needs to do a mod with Jon and Ghost as Joe Musashi and Yamato.

 

[Willkiller]

I just fucked up, total accident obviously. I thought I was in this thread and made this post:

"So next episode we have to get through:

- Bran Tree
- Stannis at the Wall
- Drogon eats child
- Tyrion double kill
- Adventures of Arya and The Hound
- Stoneheart(?)

Baring in mind the episode is 66 minutes long, I don't think you need to give much more than 5 minutes for the Dany scene, and the Stoneheart reveal can be done quickly too. Devoting 16 minutes to those scenes would still leave 50 minutes left, which is the same amount of time last night's episode took."

But I wasn't. I was in the World Cup 2014 thread.

 

[Calamari41]

I felt sorry for the giants in this episode. They look like nice guys... I really hope they keep Wun Wun's story intact, and I especially hope that he and Tormund become Jon's #1 bros like in the book. Though this Tormund seems to hate the shit out of Jon, so who knows what they'll do.

 

[Valhelm]

Did he really? I honestly can't recall. I found Abel much more interesting than Mance, and even he didn't have much in the way of compelling dialogue.

Are you joking, or..?

 

[Eidan]

Are you joking, or..?

Hmmmmmm

 

[Lautaro]

Ok, here's my prediction for next episode:

- There won't be Stoneheart reveal... not even a hint.
- Bran and co will just arrive to the tree and... CUT!
- The Hound will fight someone (possibly Brienne), Arya will leave him and find a bravoosi (the possible changes make this scene weird and unclear to me though).
- Dany will receive the news about the kid, lock the dragons, Drogon roasts some Unsullied and escapes (here's your most expensive scene).
- Most of the episode will be Tyrion escape and revenge.

EDIT: Fuck! I forgot Stannis, I bet it will be just a small charge though, nothing fancy, we'll probably just see his banner.

 

[Basileus777]

Ok, here's my prediction for next episode:

- There won't be Stoneheart reveal... not even a hint.
- Bran and co will just arrive to the tree and... CUT!
- The Hound will fight someone (possibly Brienne), Arya will leave him and find a bravoosi (the possible changes make this scene weird and unclear to me though).
- Dany will receive the news about the kid, lock the dragons, Drogon roasts some Unsullied and escapes (here's your most expensive scene).
- Most of the episode will be Tyrion escape and revenge.

Some of this is likely given how much they've pushed into this episode. Some things will either get rushed through or cut off until next season. King's Landing needs half the episode just by itself.

 

[Iksenpets]

I hope it's not the sweeping romance of Missandei and Grey Worm. I NEED RESOLUTION.

Resolution to that comes in s5e1 when we open on the two of them cuddling, then Grey Worm says he has to get back to his post, and as he walks out the door is jumped by Sons of the Harpy.

I was expecting Grenn to go down against the giant, but killing Pyp at random hurt.

And the finale is going to be crazy now that they've pushed Stannis back into it. I had thought maybe they would check in with smaller plots like Yara and Rickon in the finale to set up the season 5 Greyjoy and Northern arcs, but now I don't think there's really time for that. Stannis' attack, Tyrion's escape, Dany and the dragons, and this Brienne/Sandor fight they're building towards are all going to be pretty lengthy action beats. Even theong episode will barely contain it all.

 

[dubq]

Ok, here's my prediction for next episode:

- Bran and co will just arrive to the tree and... CUT!

I don't think so. There are two characters who were announced as cast for this season and they have yet to appear on the show.

 

[Valhelm]

Hmmmmmm

Apologies for being obtuse. I've met some people who truly didn't realize that Mance = Abel.

 

[Lautaro]

I don't think so. There are two characters who were announced as cast for this season and they have yet to appear on the show.

Nice.

....

How the fuck are they going to put all that in a single episode?!

 

[The One and Done™]

You guys underestimate what they can include in an episode. Stoneheart wont be in the episode, we need more brienne and pod stuff first. The episode will end with Tyrions escape.

 

[SteveWD40]

So much to squeeze in next week, I just hope STANNIS!! gets enough screen time, I doubt we will get as far as "fetch a block" or anything like that, save that for early S5 I guess.

It looks like that's Brienne that Sandor is facing down, that shoulder looked like black plate.

She still has an ear to bite off... on top of that I don't see her letting Arya go to Bravoos.

 

[Willkiller]

You guys underestimate what they can include in an episode. Stoneheart wont be in the episode, we need more brienne and pod stuff first. The episode will end with Tyrions escape.

Do they need to tie in the Brienne stuff with Stoneheart though?

 

[The Smoking Bun]

I just fucked up, total accident obviously. I thought I was in this thread and made this post:

"So next episode we have to get through:

- Bran Tree
- Stannis at the Wall
- Drogon eats child
- Tyrion double kill
- Adventures of Arya and The Hound
- Stoneheart(?)

Baring in mind the episode is 66 minutes long, I don't think you need to give much more than 5 minutes for the Dany scene, and the Stoneheart reveal can be done quickly too. Devoting 16 minutes to those scenes would still leave 50 minutes left, which is the same amount of time last night's episode took."

But I wasn't. I was in the World Cup 2014 thread.

I wouldn't really be surprised by or mind them doing a quick series of cliffhangers

*Set to the tune of Rains of Castamere*

1. Tyrion caressing his crossbow
2. Dany watching as a father cries in front of his roasted son
3. Brienne seeing a strange hooded lady
4. Hound collapsing on the ground and Arya looking concerned while holding the Bravoosi coin
5. Stannis casually riding to the wall
6. Bran and the Children

 

[Basileus777]

I wouldn't really be surprised by or mind them doing a quick series of cliffhangers

*Set to the tune of Rains of Castamere*

1. Tyrion caressing his crossbow
2. Dany watching as a father cries in front of his roasted son
3. Brienne seeing a strange hooded lady
4. Hound collapsing on the ground and Arya looking concerned while holding the Bravoosi coin
5. Stannis casually riding to the wall
6. Bran and the Children

The GRRM way.

 

[Lonestar]

Late, but does anyone know who the Cook with the giant cleaver is? If not, any chances that he's Azor Ahai, because he has enough swag to be.

 

[Real Hero]

Late, but does anyone know who the Cook with the giant cleaver is? If not, any chances that he's Azor Ahai, because he has enough swag to be.

He will be taking over the role of Stannis in ending the battle.

 

[Famassu]

Ok, here's my prediction for next episode:
- Bran and co will just arrive to the tree and... CUT!

They've already cast some Children of the Forest and Bloodraven for this season, haven't they? They'll arrive at the tree and they'll meet Bloodraven etc., but I'm not sure if much else but "welcome, Bran Stark, I'm the three-eyed crow" or something like that will be said.

- The Hound will fight someone (possibly Brienne), Arya will leave him and find a bravoosi (the possible changes make this scene weird and unclear to me though).

This will be so rushed. Imo, they should've offed The Hound in episode 8 (or even 7) and have Episode 10 be all about Arya looking for a ship to Braavos.

- Dany will receive the news about the kid, lock the dragons, Drogon roasts some Unsullied and escapes (here's your most expensive scene).

Maybe Drogon will kill Grey Worm? That would fit them killing what have been pretty important Essos side characters since Season 2.

- Most of the episode will be Tyrion escape and revenge.

This doesn't need "most of the episode". You open up Tyrion's Epi 10 storyline with him being freed by Jaime and have a few minute talk. Then he'll meet Varys, who'll point the right direction to the tower of the hand. That doesn't have to be a long scene. Then give some 10+ minutes (if even that) for killing Shae & Tywin and then escaping. That's 15 minutes, tops. The major storylines will be Tyrion escaping (+ some other season tie-up in relation to Cersei, Margaery, Martells etc. in King's Landing), the dragons being locked up in Meereen and Stannis the Mannis @ the Wall. I have a feeling they'll give Arya a little more to do in Season 5 by not having her on a shipt to Braavos in this season yet. The Hound will die, Arya will escape and we'll maybe see her looking at the coin she got, giving show viewers the hint that she has made up her mind on what she'll do next /end of Arya Season 4. Then have Season 5 resume when she's in some harbor town trying to find a ship -> find it -> travel to Braavos for a couple of episode (not necessarily on screen) -> have her enter her assassin school by the ~mid point of the season, show some of her early training and have her get her first kill in the Season 5 finale.

 

[Basileus777]

This doesn't need "most of the episode". You open up Tyrion's Epi 10 storyline with him being freed by Jaime and have a few minute talk. Then he'll meet Varys, who'll point the right direction to the tower of the hand. That doesn't have to be a long scene. Then give some 10+ minutes (if even that) for killing Shae & Tywin and then escaping. That's 15 minutes, tops.

Unless you're teleporting people around and rushing through dialogue, you're not getting through all of that in 15 minutes tops. The preview also shows

Spoiler

Cersei/Tywin and Cersei/Jaime scenes.

 

[Forkball]

Late, but does anyone know who the Cook with the giant cleaver is? If not, any chances that he's Azor Ahai, because he has enough swag to be.

Stannis: Any of you I would think. Even the cook.
Cook: I got a kill in the battle.
Stannis: *nods*