Man, I finally get caught up on this season after a few weeks and Hodor dies? Just my luck. That was I think the first scene all season where I felt like I was legitimately watching future book content, instead of remixed old material or show-only stuff. It was also the first episode of the season that didn't feel like it was taking any quick shortcuts to get the plot where they want it to be. No offing Osha after one scene or anything like that. Though damn they must really hate direwolf filming with the rate they're offing those. Praying for Ghost and Nymeria.
The only thing that fell a little flat for me was the Kingsmoot. Euron didn't seem that charismatic, and for now at least it seems like all of his connections to the mystical side of the story are being stripped away, at least until later. And Yara's whole pitch was basically "build boats" instead of her more reformist stances from the book. But I'm excited for her and Theon going to Dany. That's much more interesting than Victarion. Good restructuring there.
Also, what the hell is this Jorah-curing-grayscale plot. I really have no idea what to make of it. They seemed to be mapping the Connington grayscale story directly on to him, but this seems to be going off in its own direction. Where does he even go? Off to Asshai to try and find Quaithe? To Oldtown to try and find a maester? Maybe he triggers a grayscale plague there?
Final scene was one of the best they've done in a while. "Hold the Door" was not anything I expected for Hodor's origins, but it worked well. Poor, poor Hodor. Knowing what his life was now, I'm kind of glad the poor guy can just be dead now after living his whole life in anticipation of the moment. Summer actually hurt me more. Poor Summer.
Next episode Benjen pretty much has to show up to save them, right? Don't anyone dare say he won't. Get hyped.
Also, the stuff in Meereen really feels like they're reworking some of Dany and Barristan's cut content, with the deal to allow slavery outside of Meereen coming into place now. Kind of expecting Gray Worm to poison some locusts in the near future when he gets pissed off enough about having to tolerate the slavers.
King's Landing is the only major plot where I feel like I don't have a relatively good grasp on where it's going. Every party involved in that is playing their cards really close to their chest, and it seems like that's going to keep going until everything explodes into some terrible orgy of violence.
