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[SoapNickTavish]

I miss Stannis 😭

Decent first episode. Loved the humanizing of the regular Lannister grunts. Jon was great. Euron was better than his second appearance last season, but it's not hard to beat "...let's go murder them".

Broing out with the Brotherhood was great, loved all the Hound, Beric, and Thoros stuff. Cesei was fine, Lena is always on point. All the Dany stuff was eyerolling. Yes, I get the big, dramatic landing...she's been waiting years to return home, but I find her plot the least compelling.

 

[VenomousCoffee]

Just not a strong episode at all. The first scene was predictable and it also highlighted the problems with the Braavos storyline, but after that it wasn't bad, really, but meandering.

I feel like they just threw away 1/7th of the season.

 

[Chumley]

I miss Stannis 😭

D&D did our boy dirty. George will deliver.

 

[Gnome]

I miss Stannis 😭

The most unfair death in the show, killed because the writers didn't like him so they made him an idiot..

Spoiler

Barristan Selmy though.

 

[InstigateAndInquire]

A lot of the characters and southern conflicts that will make Dany's conquest effectively 1/3 of the series have been cut. They only have Cersei and Euron to work with. That's why the show's pacing seems wildly disproportionate with Dany taking 60 episodes to get here and only staying here for 13.

 

[Zabka]

Just not a strong episode at all. The first scene was predictable and it also highlighted the problems with the Braavos storyline, but after that it wasn't bad, really, but meandering.

I feel like they just threw away 1/7th of the season.

You predicted the season would open with Arya killing all the Freys while wearing Walder's face?

 

[ryseing]

A lot of the characters and southern conflicts that will make Dany's conquest effectively 1/3 of the series have been cut. They only have Cersei and Euron to work with. That's why the show's pacing seems wildly disproportionate with Dany taking 60 episodes to get here and only staying here for 13.

Truth. Not having to worry about Faegon and taking Doran off the table made the knots much easier to unravel.

 

[Fuzzy]

You predicted the season would open with Arya killing all the Freys while wearing Walder's face?

I don't know about that person but as soon as I saw Walder Frey on screen I knew it was Arya and that she was going to poison everyone there.

 

[Zabka]

I don't know about that person but as soon as I saw Walder Frey on screen I knew it was Arya and that she was going to poison everyone there.

Well yeah. I don't think it was meant to be a big reveal considering they showed the scene of her slitting his throat a minute before the episode started.

 

[cartoon_soldier]

I just started watching in India here

Spoiler

Please be done with Sansa pissing contest with Jon quickly

 

[Ziltoidia 9]

I feel like the whole Sansa thing was more about her telling Littlefinger that he wasn't off the hook.

 

[m_shortpants]

So...did they retcon valerian steel? Sam said the Targs decorated their weapons with dragonglass. I'm wondering if they're just axing the idea that it's the magic of the steel smelting.

 

[VenomousCoffee]

I don't know about that person but as soon as I saw Walder Frey on screen I knew it was Arya and that she was going to poison everyone there.

This is what I thought as soon as the scene opened.

 

[Fuzzy]

Well yeah. I don't think it was meant to be a big reveal considering they showed the scene of her slitting his throat a minute before the episode started.

So what are you even arguing? They said the first scene was predictable and it was. They never said they knew what it would be before it aired.

 

[Poor GRIMES]

So...did they retcon valerian steel? Sam said the Targs decorated their weapons with dragonglass. I'm wondering if they're just axing the idea that it's the magic of the steel smelting.

I doubt it? They just made a big deal about it with Hardhome.

 

[RoninChaos]

So are the books worth reading at this point? I'm half way through book two and I'm wondering if it's worth continuing. I hear books four and five are awful. Thoughts?

 

[Zabka]

So what are you even arguing? They said the first scene was predictable and it was. They never said they knew what it would be before it aired.

I was hoping he meant the latter because criticizing a scene for being predictable when you're supposed to know exactly what is going to happen is silly.

 

[m_shortpants]

So are the books worth reading at this point? I'm half way through book two and I'm wondering if it's worth continuing. I hear books four and five are awful. Thoughts?

They're not awful. The books go in a totally different direction and aren't even remotely similar.

 

[Steelyuhas]

So...did they retcon valerian steel? Sam said the Targs decorated their weapons with dragonglass. I'm wondering if they're just axing the idea that it's the magic of the steel smelting.

No, just emphasizing dragonglass availability on Dragonstone.

 

[mre]

Man, that was a whole lot of nothing

An entire house wiped out.

"Nothing happened."

Say what?

 

[RoninChaos]

They're not awful. The books go in a totally different direction and aren't even remotely similar.

Is it worth the time investment? My concern is Martin will never finish these books and we won't ever get a proper end to the story.

 

[VenomousCoffee]

I was hoping he meant the latter because criticizing a scene for being predictable when you're supposed to know exactly what is going to happen is silly.

Um, they staged the scene as if the reveal would be a shock. If they really intend us to be 'in on it' from the first shot, and they play out the scene without any style, poetry, or energy, that's a really shitty way to open the season.

Which is what it was.

 

[mackaveli]

Not sure if this little detail at the end was important,

but it looked like Dany was going to sit on the throne and thought about it but instead went into the bad which counters the finale last year when Cersei sat on the iron throne?

Maybe it's nothing but that part stuck out to me when watching the show.

 

[reelbigtink]

I was hoping he meant the latter because criticizing a scene for being predictable when you're supposed to know exactly what is going to happen is silly.

Yeah, this.

Literally every person watching knew that was Arya and what she was going to do. It was supposed to be cathartic and not suspenseful/predictable.

 

[Zabka]

Um, they staged the scene as if the reveal would be a shock. If they really intend us to be 'in on it' from the first shot, and they play out the scene without any style, poetry, or energy, that's a really shitty way to open the season.

Which is what it was.

It played out as a shock for the Freys, which it was. Not the viewers.

 

[Deleted member 102362]

Good way to start the season off. Why do people confuse setup and character development with "a whole lot of nothing"?

 

[DrForester]

I don't know about that person but as soon as I saw Walder Frey on screen I knew it was Arya and that she was going to poison everyone there.

For about 10 seconds I thought maybe it was a flashback to whatever event led up to Arya killing him.

 

[Catdaddy]

Good for a first episode, the Sam scenes outlived their welcome, 7 episodes spend it wisely and not on a shit montage

 

[Steelyuhas]

Not sure if this little detail at the end was important,

but it looked like Dany was going to sit on the throne and thought about it but instead went into the bad which counters the finale last year when Cersei sat on the iron throne?

Maybe it's nothing but that part stuck out to me when watching the show.

That's a notable callout. Fits right in with Cersei's power grab also being her sealing her fate. As Jaime told in in this episode, she cut off all allies (both troops and supplies).

Dany on the other hand arrives in Westeros with a few alliances already in place and heads straight to the map table to plan, ignoring the symbolic seat of power in favor of getting to work.

For about 10 seconds I thought maybe it was a flashback to whatever event led up to Arya killing him.

Yeah, I didn't make the connection right away, but pretty quickly I picked up on "Walder" not acting quite like 100% Walder and I assumed it was Arya.

 

[ChaosZeroX]

I enjoyed the first episode. Lots of great character development.

Jon was awesome. Jaime realizing his sister is batshit crazy and showing similarities to the Mad King.

The Hound by far was the best this episode. Every scene was fantastic.

Arya and the Lannister guards.

 

[Doran902]

It was good (7.5 / 10?), felt like a season finale wrap up but instead just a remember all this stuff set up episode.

 

[Morts]

Cersei's new floor is really cool.

 

[Ramirez]

I didn't rewatch all of last season, but is Jaqen(sp?) gonna just let Arya run around abusing her skill set and be cool with it?

 

[SerAardvark]

Apart from the shit montage and Sam weirdly needing to rediscover dragonglass on Dragonstone (Stannis already told him didn't he?), I really enjoyed it.

The Brotherhood and Arya/Lannister scenes were the highlights for me. Gravedigger bit was a nice touch, Euron was much improved (and I'm looking forward to his stuff finally) and Maester Slughorn is intriguing.

 

[Gnome]

I didn't rewatch all of last season, but is Jaqen(sp?) gonna just let Arya run around abusing her skill set and be cool with it?

Seems that way. Its possible her story ends with her comeuppance at their hands though, after getting her revenge.

 

[Gurrry]

Really great set up episode. Waiting for Sundays is now a pain in the ass again.

 

[mackaveli]

That's a notable callout. Fits right in with Cersei's power grab also being her sealing her fate. As Jaime told in in this episode, she cut off all allies (both troops and supplies).

Dany on the other hand arrives in Westeros with a few alliances already in place and heads straight to the map table to plan, ignoring the symbolic seat of power in favor of getting to work.



Yeah, I didn't make the connection right away, but pretty quickly I picked up on "Walder" not acting quite like 100% Walder and I assumed it was Arya.

Yeah cause they could have easily just have ended the episode with Dany on the throne and everyone looking on, but they purposely showing the map and the strategy etc., seemed important.

 

[VenomousCoffee]

I didn't rewatch all of last season, but is Jaqen(sp?) gonna just let Arya run around abusing her skill set and be cool with it?

Yup. Just sums up how stupid that whole plot was.

The upside is that it really highlighted for me how panicked the CIA people were in the Bourne movies (which is how Jaqen should have been). You can't train uberkillers and then turn them loose.

 

[mantidor]

Yeah, this.

Literally every person watching knew that was Arya and what she was going to do. It was supposed to be cathartic and not suspenseful/predictable.

My group of friends were pissed when I screamed "thats Arya" before the reveal, and now I`m forbidden to say anything next episode, people's mileage may vary.

 

[LordCanti]

I liked this episode a lot even if I have to shut up the little voice in my head that says things like "Wow, the Iron Islanders sure built that fleet quick". I really like what they're doing with The Hound in particular and I'm hopeful for where his story is going. Arya's murder tour is also up there on my list with The Hound's redemption tour.

Looking forward to the rest of the season.

 

[Gnome]

My group of friends were pissed when I screamed "thats Arya" before the reveal, and know I`m forbidden to say anything next episode, people's mileage may vary.

Your friends are slow on the uptake lol.

 

[hydruxo]

My group of friends were pissed when I screamed "thats Arya" before the reveal, and know I`m forbidden to say anything next episode, people's mileage may vary.

I saw some people on twitter saying they thought it was a flashback at first, so yeah I think it wasn't necessarily obvious from the get go for everyone

 

[m_shortpants]

Is it worth the time investment? My concern is Martin will never finish these books and we won't ever get a proper end to the story.

Valid point. If you like the lore and world read it. If you are satiated by the show, your choice.

 

[Doran902]

oops

 

[mantidor]

Your friends are slow on the uptake lol.

Serioulsly, at first I thought flashback, but then it becomes obvious, I don't get it.

Arya and the Lannister guards.

This was odd, I hope she just kills them, and in a way she will replace Stoneheart's role in the story.

 

[Jigorath]

I didn't rewatch all of last season, but is Jaqen(sp?) gonna just let Arya run around abusing her skill set and be cool with it?

Many-Faced God ain't shit I guess.

 

[Gigglepoo]

I'm glad Sansa pointed out that Robb and Ned were stupid. About time someone acknowledged that.

 

[Gnome]

I'm glad Sansa pointed out that Robb and Ned were stupid. About time someone acknowledged that.

It's not like Jon doesn't know that though, I mean, he died from similar mistakes too.

 

[mantidor]

It's not like Jon doesn't know that though, I mean, he died from similar mistakes too.

I doubt it, Jon needed a reality check, without Sansa the thought of Ned or Robb being "stupid" would have never crossed his mind.

 

[Windup]

Is there anything in the books that the show hasn't covered and realistically will? Feels like we're way past the end of book 5 at this point.