Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon!

Seeing a couple of characters share the spotlight for the first time was a personal highlight for me. I wasn't expecting the Wall to get any more screen time given the one hour battle they had last week, but I enjoyed it. I was genuinely sad to see the dragons be locked up. I'm guessing they suffered a budget cut or something since there were very little dragons this season. The children under the tree was nice, too. I kept expecting him to say, "Come with me if you want to live." I don't know why.

A Storm of Swords spoilerMy jaw fell to the floor when I DIDN'T get to see Lady Stoneheart.

Stannis the mannis.

Also yeah the lack of the omg at the end and now I have to wait a whole nother year. :/

A Storm of Swords spoilerIs there any particular reason why Tysha wasn't addressed in this episode? Considering how much influence she has on Tyrion's character arc, it seems a bit odd for her not to be here. Then again, I hear that Shae is characterized very differently here than she is in the book.

That note aside, I liked this episode for the most part. The last scene with Arya and the Hound together was my favorite part. Not only was the fight leading up to that part well executed, it was a pleasure listening to Sandor, lying bloody and broken at the bottom of the cliff, ramble on to Arya as she impassively looks on. I'd probably have to watch the scene again to better sum it up, but that was the one that stood out most to me.

Storm of Swords book spoilerThe thing is, I actually thought the final scene was great. It was photographically beautiful, the choral song was stunning and hopeful, and while I'm not a huge Arya fan, her story just took a very interesting turn.

And then they had that extra long black pause and I hoped. Oh god.

But I just feel like that scene--which I would in any other way consider perfect--was ruined.

Bleh.

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Originally Posted by Elite Lord Sigma

A Storm of Swords spoilerIs there any particular reason why Tysha wasn't addressed in this episode? Considering how much influence she has on Tyrion's character arc, it seems a bit odd for her not to be here. Then again, I hear that Shae is characterized very differently here than she is in the book.

That note aside, I liked this episode for the most part. The last scene with Arya and the Hound together was my favorite part. Not only was the fight leading up to that part well executed, it was a pleasure listening to Sandor, lying bloody and broken at the bottom of the cliff, ramble on to Arya as she impassively looks on. I'd probably have to watch the scene again to better sum it up, but that was the one that stood out most to me.

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It was my favorite scene, too. Pity, in another life I could imagine Arya and Brienne being pretty good friends.

I thought Arya and Pod was going to fight there too for a minute. Or at least have Pod chasing after Arya during the fight.

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Originally Posted by Jinx

Storm of Swords book spoilerThe thing is, I actually thought the final scene was great. It was photographically beautiful, the choral song was stunning and hopeful, and while I'm not a huge Arya fan, her story just took a very interesting turn.

And then they had that extra long black pause and I hoped. Oh god.

But I just feel like that scene--which I would in any other way consider perfect--was ruined.

Bleh.

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A Storm of Swords spoilersThe burden of being a book reader.

Do I need to state the obvious?
Don't read until after watching the finale.

I wish people would stop saying they're disappointed BOOK SPOILER for the lack of LS. People are just gonna look it up because they won't know what it means, and immediately get disappointed and extremely angry. Anyway, that particular person can still be shown in the premiere for next season.

Stop focusing on what wasn't shown in this episode, and focus on what was there. I can't believe how many amazing scenes we had in this episode. Brienne vs Sandor was amazing. The choreography was through the roof, which is what we come to expect, but they just seem to outdo themselves every season.

All of the Tyrion scenes were wonderful, I just felt like there was a missed opportunity with him commenting on seeing whether his father truly trouts gold. I approve of them speeding up the process of him leaving for the crate. In the books, that whole thing took ages and was almost confusing as to what was going on. Even him scurring around the castle to find Tywin was confusing. Sometimes, less is more. And a great example of correctly utilizing that was done here.

Arya had the most impactful episode of the entire series, so it's great to see her story will be getting more exciting at last.

We FINALLY saw the Three-Eyed Raven. And the show spoiled something even for book readers. There was no confirmation that Jojen was killed. Now it's all but confirmed that he is indeed A Dance With Dragons spoilerthe paste that Bran eats so that he can warg into trees. So Bran's story is getting a much needed jolt as well.

What else? Jon's story came to a nice conclusion but I still think they should have Next season spoilerat the very least initiated the vote for their new Lord Commander but I shall not complain because I smurfing love every second of Tormund that we get.

The scene with Cersei and Tywin was intriguing. I don't recall if she ever explicitly tells him about herself and Jaime, but it would be interesting if that nugget of information played a role in Tywin bedding Shae. We can argue all day how those two got into bed (no pun intended) with one another, but I doubt there will ever be conclusive evidence, what with both of their current predicaments.

Dany continues to show her absolute incompetence. I do hope this opens the floodgates for everyone that loves her so fiercely. "Mother of Dragons", who cannot control her babies, and has to chain them up. I enjoyed that scene, although Emilia's lack of emotion when actually chaining them up was so bad that I cringed. It just looked like she was doing nothing, then when she looks back at them screaming in disgust, she's balling her eyes out. Bitch please. If they weren't CGI, you wouldn't maintain a stoic expression while chaining 'em, and you know it. Your acting has been bad for the whole season, but this is just a prime example of it. But it doesn't matter whether she acts well or not, does it? Because she has bewbs and dragons so smurf she's the greatest, isn't she? Oh hey guys, I'm gonna come and free y'all slaves. Love me! Wait, you want to go back to the Masters and be slaves again? GO THEN! SIGN THIS THING CALLED A CONTRACT. I SHALL ADD THAT TO MY LIST OF TITLES. "CREATOR OF TREATIES". BOW BEFORE MY EXCELLENCE. It's truly hilarious how anybody can take her seriously. She'll do one thing, and then do something ten minutes later that will contradict her entire character development. Nice one there!

Varys continues to be the sleeper pick for most expected to rule the Seven Kingdoms when this series officially ends. Everything he does, is masterfully planned. He's a genius, and I truly want him to become a POV character in both the show and the books, but I fear writing for him in a more consistent way would be very spoilerish.

Strong opening scene with the Wall. I really enjoyed that they picked right off where they left Jon Snow before. Could have really done without that special Ygritte burial North of the Wall, though. That was nonsense. We had our closure in the last episode, and it was pushing mush cliches. This one just made it boil over.

Oh my god, Daenerys chaining up her dragons. Sobbing, sobbing the entire time because I knew what was coming. My puppy was sitting right next to me during that scene and he knew I was sad so he comforted me and it made me feel even sadder.

Holy trout JOJEN WHAT THE smurf WHAT HAPPENED THERE WHY WHY WHY also book spoilers I'm pretty disappointed at the lack of Cold Hands. That would have been really neat to see and could have easily been worked into the story.

I've only just passed the children of the forest/Greenseer part in the book, and I'm so glad I did. I keep drawing similarities between this show and LotR. When I was reading this part in the book, I imagined what it looked like when Aragorn when to visit the Men Under the Mountain. I must say, the Greenseer was a bit disappointing to me; I really wanted to see some crazy special effects with his skin blending with the trees and roots and a twisted morbid figure. I also hoped for more emphasis of his phrase, "but you will fly," especially since we as show viewers haven't been able to hear why that Three-Eyed Crow says to Bran. The execution of that scene was a bit anti-climactic to me, I felt.

The interaction between Arya and Brienne was one of my most favorable moments between the two of them at the season. And then The Hound had to come in and go all sentimental against his character with his admission that he's watching over her and I just rolled my eyes. Too out of character for me. Also the scene with him dying as Arya watched went on for entirely too long. It began to lose its meaning for me by the time he was begging her to just off him and I no longer cared about staring into her dead-eyed face as she just gazed at him.

Really loved the tender moment between Tyrion and Jaime as they were telling eachother farewell quickly. It was succinct and to the point with feels and was great.

Oh my god, the look of utter incomprehension on Tyrion's face when he found Shae in that bed was just heartbreaking. This scene got me so badly in the books and it was one of the biggest "what the smurf" moments of the series and it just destroyed me to think of how he might be feeling. This is the scene I've been waiting episodes for. It felt over all too quickly by the time it passed for me, though.

tywin/tyrion book spoilersBit disappointed of no mention of Tysha or "where do whores go" in Tywin's final appearance as it's such a big part of the parts I'm reading about him right now!

Also, Varys on the docks. A bit careless not to be dressed in atleast one of his clever disguises, even if he knows his absence will be noted.

Not the best final scene for a season, imho. I personally don't care about Arya and her going to Braavos, and I think it would have been stronger to end with Tyrion's scene and him being shipped off or even a shot of Drogon somewhere in the middle of nowhere soaring in the sky and raising hell, but ah well. Overall really incredibly strong season, and I am very pleased.

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Originally Posted by Noctis Caelum

Dany continues to show her absolute incompetence. I do hope this opens the floodgates for everyone that loves her so fiercely. "Mother of Dragons", who cannot control her babies, and has to chain them up. I enjoyed that scene, although Emilia's lack of emotion when actually chaining them up was so bad that I cringed. It just looked like she was doing nothing, then when she looks back at them screaming in disgust, she's balling her eyes out. Bitch please. If they weren't CGI, you wouldn't maintain a stoic expression while chaining 'em, and you know it. Your acting has been bad for the whole season, but this is just a prime example of it. But it doesn't matter whether she acts well or not, does it? Because she has bewbs and dragons so smurf she's the greatest, isn't she? Oh hey guys, I'm gonna come and free y'all slaves. Love me! Wait, you want to go back to the Masters and be slaves again? GO THEN! SIGN THIS THING CALLED A CONTRACT. I SHALL ADD THAT TO MY LIST OF TITLES. "CREATOR OF TREATIES". BOW BEFORE MY EXCELLENCE. It's truly hilarious how anybody can take her seriously. She'll do one thing, and then do something ten minutes later that will contract her entire character development. Nice one there!

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Your hate of the Targaryen girl could rival that of the late great King Robert. Tears were starting to fall from her eyes while she was chaining them up so I'm not sure how she was maintaining a stoic expression there. I would have liked to see her deny the old man's request and see conflict rise from there as Daenerys deals with liberated slaves who don't want to be liberated. Did it happen the same way in the books or was this a show exclusive?

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Originally Posted by Shorty

Not the best final scene for a season, imho. I personally don't care about Arya and her going to Braavos, and I think it would have been stronger to end with Tyrion's scene and him being shipped off or even a shot of Drogon somewhere in the middle of nowhere soaring in the sky and raising hell, but ah well. Overall really incredibly strong season, and I am very pleased.

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Sorry, but I disagree. Regardless of one's feelings towards Arya, I think the cinematography of the ship sailing off through the ocean with the sun shinning in the sky was a much better ending than Tyrion being put in a crate and sailing off in the dead of night. Maybe the Drogon shot would have been better, but unless we're promised more Drogon in Season Five it would have just been annoying to get a teaser of him to finish off the season.

That's just it, I don't feel that the end scene of a season needs to necessarily lead directly into the next season, which is why I think a Drogon shot would have been a nice touch. I don't personally feel that Arya is a very strong character or that she has a very strong story, which is why I felt her scene was a poor choice.

Also, re: drogonI have yet to read more about it, but I have a distinct and heavy feeling that Drogon will play a part in Daenerys' future, whether he is in the next season or even the season after that. I was quite surprised there was not a mention of the role I believe he will play during this episode because it was apparent and obvious in the books.

I do think Arya is a strong character and enjoy her scenes, so we're just going to have to agree to disagree there. Drogon might have gotten more scenes in general if for whatever reasons we didn't see much of the dragons this season weren't there.

Need more dragons!

I get the feeling one deviation from the books readers wouldn't protest would be Dany leading her army across the narrow sea on the back of her dragon and setting fire to the Red Keep.

Knowing Game of Thrones, though, the episode would first end with her touching down and the dragon roaring at the screen and then next week...

More scenes of people talking.

Stannis smurf yeah. smurf anyone that ain't aboard the Stannis train. True god damn King.

Hey Del? Remember you called me as Tyrion and I immediately called you as Tywin? Been waiting all this time for this moment. That's why I said you were Tywin. Suck it. :smug:

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Originally Posted by Shiny

In some ways I'm hoping that they'll stray a little from the books when it comes major plot points just so people who have read them can go "WHAT THE HELL :O"

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They smurfing did with Jojen and the Hound vs Brienne fight, smurf me.

Also to be honest with you I had completely forgotten the thing you lot are all up in arms about until I came to this thread and saw you bitching about it xD Wasn't needed, was a smurfing monster of an episode.

Smurf Stannis. Davos Seaworth for king.

Very good episode. I have not read the books up to this point, so I cannot complain about whatever was different or missing.

Hodor.