Game of Thrones

[Channy]

You guys it was one look, you're all out of control. xD

 

[Flare]

You guys it was one look, you're all out of control. xD

But oh, what a look it was...

 

[Channy]

I think you need to be hosed down.

...allow me.

 

[Shademp]

You guys it was one look, you're all out of control. xD

 

[Ami]

 

[lithiumkatana17]

So um, yeah, the new episode...

Finally know where it got its name from.

And uh, I'm shedding all the goddamn tears right now.

Fuck.

 

[Jason Tandro]

Spoiler

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN HODOR BECAME THE SADDEST CHARACTER IN ALL OF TELEVISION

So on the surface of it, it doesn't seem that bad. Until all the layers start to hit you:

- Oh fuck so that's where the name came from.
- Oh fuck, Hodor's dead.
- OH FUCK, it's all Bran's fault.
- OH FUCK, he could have lived a normal life if Bran hadn't Warged into him.
- OH FUCK, HE KNEW THE MOMENT OF HIS DEATH WAS AT HAND WHICH IS WHY HE COULDN'T GET UP TO HELP.
- OH FUCK, HE'S BEEN SEEING THE MOMENT OF HIS DEATH FOR HIS ENTIRE LIFE.

I was pulling my hair out. Good fucking God.

I'm going to go cry in the toilet now...

 

[lithiumkatana17]

Spoiler

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN HODOR BECAME THE SADDEST CHARACTER IN ALL OF TELEVISION

So on the surface of it, it doesn't seem that bad. Until all the layers start to hit you:

- Oh fuck so that's where the name came from.
- Oh fuck, Hodor's dead.
- OH FUCK, it's all Bran's fault.
- OH FUCK, he could have lived a normal life if Bran hadn't Warged into him.
- OH FUCK, HE KNEW THE MOMENT OF HIS DEATH WAS AT HAND WHICH IS WHY HE COULDN'T GET UP TO HELP.
- OH FUCK, HE'S BEEN SEEING THE MOMENT OF HIS DEATH FOR HIS ENTIRE LIFE.

I was pulling my hair out. Good fucking God.

I'm going to go cry in the toilet now...

I'll review the rest of the episode in the morning, when I have a clearer head. The ending of this episode has really fucked with my head tonight, so that's what this will mainly be about.

Spoiler

First of all, I have not shed tears for a character's death like this since I saw Battle of the Five Armies. Even the Red Wedding didn't come close to this moment, and the helplessness of all the characters in the last ten minutes of the episode. I don't think I'll ever be desensitized this ending scene. Tears were just pouring down my face the whole time.

Hodor. Ah, Hodor. I suppose it was only a matter of time before you met your end, but you have and I couldn't have asked for a better or more beautifully tragic death.

This was wonderfully brilliant acting from all parties, especially Sam Coleman as young Hodor. The director, Jack Bender, did a wonderful job filming this episode, and this scene more than anything. Ramin Djawadi's score ramps up the feels like never before. I can't wait for this season's score to be released. And the overall editing of Hodor's last moments interspersed with Bran in the last watching helplessly at what he's done, with the voices of past and present Hodor throughout it all... It was just a fantastic job. I can't watch this scene with crying all over again.

'Hold the door.' So simple, and yet, so very powerful.

If you look at the behind the scenes video, this origin of Hodor and his name comes from GRRM himself, although the writers may have gone about reaching this conclusion in a slightly different way.

I'm not sure if it's the emotion of my busy weekend that's gotten to me or just the adrenaline of the episode,but I just feel incredibly sad right now.

More thoughts on the rest of the episode tomorrow. Goodnight everyone.

Hold the door.

 

[Ghost X]

Can't wait to find out what happened when I marathon this season .

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

I have a general question for GOT fans. Is there a general feeling in the fandom that the writing has gone downhill since the plot moved beyond what's covered in GRRM's books? I have always felt he's practically in a league of his own when it comes to developing rounded believable characters and credible plot twists that feel like real life. Some things have happened recently in the TV shows, such as

Spoiler

Stannis burning Shireen

that just felt like bad writing, bad characterisation, sloppy plotting. GOT has always been brutal and sexy but that was part of the world-building. Recently, the brutality seems more... self-indulgent? Maybe that's just me.

 

[Shademp]

Really loving the sixth season so far. Stuff is ACTUALLY HAPPENING! Big reveals are being made! Definitely not feeling as slow and postponing as previous seasons.

 

[lithiumkatana17]

I have a general question for GOT fans. Is there a general feeling in the fandom that the writing has gone downhill since the plot moved beyond what's covered in GRRM's books? I have always felt he's practically in a league of his own when it comes to developing rounded believable characters and credible plot twists that feel like real life. Some things have happened recently in the TV shows, such as

Spoiler

Stannis burning Shireen

that just felt like bad writing, bad characterisation, sloppy plotting. GOT has always been brutal and sexy but that was part of the world-building. Recently, the brutality seems more... self-indulgent? Maybe that's just me.

No, there is a general feeling amongst the fan community, both book readers and show watchers that the writing has gone downhill. I personally feel that the writing has only gone downhill in certain plotlines, but feel the rest of the show has been up to par with what we've seen in the past. The fifth season is definitely the weakest season in the series, with only the last three episodes completely saving it for me.

Stannis's characterization in the show--I understand why a lot of people are pissed about it. He could be a douche, but he was always brutally honest and quite honorable for the most part (except for killing his brother with Melisandre's blood magic). He was probably one of the few decent lords left in Westeros--and while Stannis is the Mannis, I think some fans were way too optimistic about him taking the Iron Throne. If anyone thinks a particular character is going to sit on the Iron Throne in the end, I think they may be deluding themselves, just like Stannis did. After all that's happened, does it really make sense for the story to end with another giant war and someone else's ass sitting in 'that ugly iron chair'?

People say it was out of character for Stannis to burn his daughter in the show. I disagree. Stannis may have a shred of honor, but he's also a religious fanatic, and he wants the Iron Throne more than anything. Maybe it's out of character for Stannis in the books, who would have his daughter seated on the Iron Throne if he were to die, but Stannis's storyline is obviously far from over, and we'll no doubt see what becomes of his character in Winds of Winter (did anyone else catch the title in this most recent episode? I did!). But don't forget that desperation can often drive well-loved characters to do terrible things--Stannis is not immune to that. But we can debate that all damn day.

I'm just trying to play devil's advocate here with the different beliefs on the characterization in the show and the books. I accept both for what they are and treat them differently; I waste no time in trying to compare the two anymore.

As far as the violence in the story, I don't think the brutality is self-indulgent, but as each season progresses, so does the story and the violence. Let's face it--Westeros and Essos are very violent worlds, and the people in those worlds do terrible things. But I think those who feel that it's become too violent have forgotten what kind of show they're watching. Game of Thrones has always been a no holds barred kind of program. Whenever I see comments on social media that this show has become too violent, I really just wish they would look at the news (the most unbiased source you can find that is), or open a history book on medieval time periods. I can understand how reading about real-world violence and then seeing it done in a TV setting can be unsettling, but you are sheltered as fuck if you think that the violence on Game of Thrones is some of the worst shit you've ever seen.

I'm a history major, and I will fight you about this.

EDIT: Sorry for the rant-like schpeel--I'm still emotional about last night's episode.

Really loving the sixth season so far. Stuff is ACTUALLY HAPPENING! Big reveals are being made! Definitely not feeling as slow and postponing as previous seasons.

Things ARE happening at such a fast pace aren't they! I'm honestly surprised by all the elapsed time skips they've been doing to move the plot along that D&D are trying to get this story to its end.

What'd you think of this recent episode Shad?

 

[Shademp]

Stannis's characterization in the show--I understand why a lot of people are pissed about it. He could be a douche, but he was always brutally honest and quite honorable for the most part (except for killing his brother with Melisandre's blood magic). He was probably one of the few decent lords left in Westeros--and while Stannis is the Mannis, I think some fans were way too optimistic about him taking the Iron Throne. If anyone thinks a particular character is going to sit on the Iron Throne in the end, I think they may be deluding themselves, just like Stannis did. After all that's happened, does it really make sense for the story to end with another giant war and someone else's ass sitting in 'that ugly iron chair'?

People say it was out of character for Stannis to burn his daughter in the show. I disagree. Stannis may have a shred of honor, but he's also a religious fanatic, and he wants the Iron Throne more than anything. Maybe it's out of character for Stannis in the books, who would have his daughter seated on the Iron Throne if he were to die, but Stannis's storyline is obviously far from over, and we'll no doubt see what becomes of his character in Winds of Winter (did anyone else catch the title in this most recent episode? I did!). But don't forget that desperation can often drive well-loved characters to do terrible things--Stannis is not immune to that. But we can debate that all damn day.

I'm just trying to play devil's advocate here with the different beliefs on the characterization in the show and the books. I accept both for what they are and treat them differently; I waste no time in trying to compare the two anymore.

As far as the violence in the story, I don't think the brutality is self-indulgent, but as each season progresses, so does the story and the violence. Let's face it--Westeros and Essos are very violent worlds, and the people in those worlds do terrible things. But I think those who feel that it's become too violent have forgotten what kind of show they're watching. Game of Thrones has always been a no holds barred kind of program. Whenever I see comments on social media that this show has become too violent, I really just wish they would look at the news (the most unbiased source you can find that is), or open a history book on medieval time periods. I can understand how reading about real-world violence and then seeing it done in a TV setting can be unsettling, but you are sheltered as fuck if you think that the violence on Game of Thrones is some of the worst shit you've ever seen.

^Big thank you to everything written above! I thought I was the only one who felt that it's perfectly reasonable for a religious fanatic to burn his daughter alive.

What'd you think of this recent episode Shad?

Spoiler: S06E05

- Sansa meeting up with Littlefinger. Very satisfying scene. "I don't believe you anymore. I don't need you anymore". The fact that Sansa doesn't order Brienne to cut down Petyr shows that while Sansa has become scarred and battle-hardened, she is not Arya....yet. Though I suspect that just like Sansa's mother regretted saving Petyr's life when they were young, so too will Sansa regret letting Littlefinger go.

- Arya lost the powers from her training montage! The theatre scene was wonderfully unsettling because it makes the world feel all the more real when we get to see what the common person thinks about the lords and kings.

The season has now also filled its penis quota by having one straight in our faces! I got what I asked for.

I hope something happens with Arya's story soon. Currently it feels like the plotline that is dragging the most.

- The Children of the Forest...made the White Walkers!
I did NOT see that coming but I absolutely love this reveal! It feels so right somehow. I was so convinced that the origin of the White Walkers would remain a mystery, hinted to be some invention by an Ice god who is constantly battling a Fire god.

- "I am Theon Greyjoy". That's a BIG moment. That and to see him proving his loyalty to his sister. SO MANY GOOD FEELS! Too bad they have to escape their uncle who, naturally, takes the ruling seat.

- Jorah leaves and yet again becomes Jorah the Explorer. At least Daenerys has finally revoked Jorah's banishment, to the degree that if he survives the greyscale then he has a place at her side. I expect we won't see Jorah again for many episodes, if ever again.

- The new red witch getting under Varys's skin... Have we ever seen ANYONE throughout the whole series make Varys so uncomfortable? I don't remember any such scene. Very refreshing to, for the first time, see Varys so vary () vulnerable.

Tyrion lol, "Who said anything about him", quoting what Varys said back in season five.

- Twenty wonderful minutes of this episodes are spent watching Bran fuck things up, as was clearly predestined based on how this show deals with fate and time travel so far. Hodor's death is indeed very dramatic and we almost forget entirely that Bran's direwolf is now also dead. I wonder if the direwolf and Hodor will return as wights?

Holding the door for someone will never be the same.
"Shad could you hold the door?"
"THE WOUND! THE WOUND! TOO SOON YOU HEARTLESS BASTARD!"
"What do you mean I just told you to hold the do-"
"AAAH TRIGGER WARNING!"


There was something delicious and enjoyable in almost every scene, both through the exchanges made and through the actual EVENTS taking place. I hope the show is able to keep up this pace and make it feel less like seasons 1-5.

 

[Ami]

Oh man, that one really hit me in the feels.

Spoiler

I cried out when Bran's direwolf died, but then lost it with Hodor.

It's all fucking insane.

I CAN'T EVEN.

 

[Channy]

Spoiler: all the feels

 

[lithiumkatana17]

I love reading your opinions on the episodes Shad.

Here are mine!

Spoiler

-So... the Children made the White Walkers. Wow. Definitely something that I did not see coming. I'm wondering exactly how they'll go about this, because I'm under the impression that these White Walkers, or at least the Night King was created as a defense mechanism who went rogue, or gained intelligence and defected from his purpose, or SOMETHING. Either way, what a great plot twist.

There's something more at work here. This can't be ALL. I know the show is simplifying things, but there has to be more to the White Walkers and their goals, and why the Children created them or how they lost control. GRRM has said that there is no black and white evil in this story, and D&D have been adamant that the conflict in the show will follow the same course; that this won't be a mere battle of good versus evil, and that no one is truly good or evil (with the exception of Hodor, who was just a good, pure soul).

Fun fact: the actor they have tied to the tree in this scene is Vladimir 'Furdo' Furdik. He is a stunt double who's been in numerous films, has already done work in every episode of the 6th season so far in various stunt roles, including the Tower of Joy sequence, and is also the new actor playing the Night's King.

I also want to add that this figure in the show they called 'The Night King' is now definitely not the same figure in the books they called 'The Night's King', a former Lord Commander of the Night's Watch who took a White Walker to bride and fathered children with her, conducting human sacrifices and just carrying out a bunch of White Walker fuckery.

Question: does anyone find the Children of the Forest oddly sexy? They're incredibly beautiful. Can't believe it took NINE bloody hours to get them into full body prosthetics for their costumes? Holy crap! I actually do like this design better than the small glimpse of Leaf at the end of season 4. They definitely look other-worldly.

-I just LOVE how Yara and Theon pull a fucking Jack Sparrow out from under Euron.

"Gentlemen; you will remember this as the day you ALMOST caught Yara and Theon Greyjoy!"

I was totally correct in assuming the Yara/Asha was going to take up the role of Victarion in the show. But instead of going there for Euron, she's going there to hopefully convince Daenerys to take up a different cause instead. Gawd I hope these two get to meet. That would be freaking awesome.

Loved that Theon took a stand for his sister. These two will make a wonderful team. Glad to see Theon's getting back to some semblance of self.

-Small scene with Dany and Jorah, but a heart wrenching one nonetheless. She finally realizes that this man truly loves her, despite her not returning his affections. And so she sends him on a different path, hoping that he will eventually be by her side once more when/if she takes Westeros. Realistically, I don't believe Jorah is going to find a cure, but who knows. In Game of Thrones, hope is always found in the most unexpected of places.

-Which leads me to back at the Wall. It's always nice to see that despite the despair and tragedy of GoT, things like Tormund's lovestruck gawking at Brienne to be one of those things that breaks it up and puts more human emotion back into the story. Kind of reminds me of TLS's video of why a cross-dressing Cloud is so damn important; it breaks up sadness, the violence, the anger of the characters, with some lighthearted namby pamby fluff.

-Sansa. She grows more and more ballsy with every episode. It's a long time coming. I think she did the right thing by not executing Littlefinger when she finally met him after all this time. Yes, he has it coming, but with an army of the Vale at his back, he's too valuable to do away with just yet. But this puts a notch in my theory of Vale fighters joining up with Jon Snow's Wildlings and the Mormonts to kick Ramsay's ass to the Land of Always Winter. Either way, because there are shots of him in the trailer we still haven't seen, we definitely haven't seen the last of Lord Baelish.

But yay, the Blackfish receives an honorable mention! Hopefully it won't be long before we see him and Edmure Tully kicking some Frey ass. I include Edmure in this because I've become a massive fan of Tobias Menzies after watching him in Outlander.

-Back in Mereen, we finally see the new Red Priestess Kinvara!

Fangirl moment: I hope all Red Priestesses are as hawt as her and Melisandre. Holy shite.

It's not often we see Varys unsettled, but when we do, boy is it a treat to watch! I can't wait to see more of this lady.

Kinvara's reminder of everything happening for a reason is something that can be applied to the end of the episode, I think.

-Not much to say about Arya's scenes, because quite frankly I've gotten incredibly bored with her storyline. I was wondering when we got to see the mummer's troupe though, and yay, they made an appearance!

COCK SHOT.

Sorry, obligatory immature comment.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again--I don't Arya will be able to fully complete her training and become a Faceless Man. Reminders of her family and Westeros (Meryn Trant, the troupe reenactment, keeping Needle) follow her everywhere. And the fact that she now knows that Faceless Men are ordered to kill people who may be somewhat decent, and not just the wicked, when her whole kill list was comprised of assholes who had wronged her, leads me to further believe she will not be able leave Arya Stark behind.

-Poor Bran. With the loss of Hodor, Summer, the Children, and now Bloodraven... I was talking to Channy about this on Skype--I think this is going to be the climax of his character arc--how Bran will find the strength to go forward after all that's happened. Speaking of which, I have a theory about what will happen in the next episode that I'll post later.

I've expressed my thoughts on the ending already, so I won't go there again. I just want to add that it wasn't merely Hodor's sacrifice that had me in tears--it was the last ten or so minutes of the episode, with Meera trying desperately to wake up Bran, the Children fighting against the White Walkers they had created so long ago, and being taken down one by one, the alternating scenes with past and present Hodor, Summer taking a stand against the wights... just a slew of emotions, with Hodor holding the door at the very end being the absolute breaking point.

This has become such a powerful phrase for me. Shit, I think it may be my next tattoo. What a slew of meanings this has.

 

[Shademp]

I love reading your opinions on the episodes Shad.

Thank you! I always look forward to reading your opinions as well!

If you like reading Shad-writings then you may also check out my The Legend of Dragoon blog. *shameless attention whoring*

Spoiler

-Which leads me to back at the Wall. It's always nice to see that despite the despair and tragedy of GoT, things like Tormund's lovestruck gawking at Brienne to be one of those things that breaks it up and puts more human emotion back into the story. Kind of reminds me of TLS's video of why a cross-dressing Cloud is so damn important; it breaks up sadness, the violence, the anger of the characters, with some lighthearted namby pamby fluff.

Oh how could I forget to mention that. XD

Spoiler: Torienne/Briemund Gifs

There are no words to express the magnitude of how beautiful this is. <3

 

[lithiumkatana17]

I love reading your opinions on the episodes Shad.

Thank you! I always look forward to reading your opinions as well!

If you like reading Shad-writings then you may also check out my The Legend of Dragoon blog. *shameless attention whoring*

Aren't we all attention hoorz at some point in our lives?

Spoiler

-Which leads me to back at the Wall. It's always nice to see that despite the despair and tragedy of GoT, things like Tormund's lovestruck gawking at Brienne to be one of those things that breaks it up and puts more human emotion back into the story. Kind of reminds me of TLS's video of why a cross-dressing Cloud is so damn important; it breaks up sadness, the violence, the anger of the characters, with some lighthearted namby pamby fluff.

Oh how could I forget to mention that. XD

Spoiler: Torienne/Briemund Gifs

There are no words to express the magnitude of how beautiful this is. <3

It's cute and sad that receiving attention from men is such a rare thing for her that she doesn't know how to react to it when she gets it. And he is just a little boy in looooooove. <3

They would make some hella awesome babies, just sayin.

 

[Fangu]

Okay, so that was rather clever, and for 3 minutes the show actually didn't suck balls Glad I watched this with half an eye from the corner of my sofa.

 

[Cthulhu]

Spoiler: S06E05

It's like she's totally going to throw up there, is there like an award for facial expressions?

I really got a feeling of er, predictability of sorts from this episode, mostly around the Euron wanting to head to Essos kinda plotline; it's like I'm not expecting any major plot twists there. Then again,

Spoiler: book spoiler

it's not like he's the first suitor or anything and that attempt ended kinda abruptly.

OTOH, I'm watching every scene and thinking "Is that really what's going to happen in the books?". Because I'm kinda hoping it's not / it goes a different direction (if only because the series is now a book spoiler, oloo ).

Arya's storyline seems er, like filler basically; she's been doing her montage for at least one and a half season now and it doesn't really seem to go anywhere. The play was kinda funnay though, .

The Ringwraiths er, ice king dudes being the Children's creation is... not that farfetched / surprising come to think of it; the Children were getting fucked over by the invading humans after all. The only other backstory I could think of is that the Witch-King was the Other Thing that was there all along next to the Children, something about the children and the trees and shit holding their power back or keeping them well north in Angmar or wherever. That wouldn't explain why the orcs kept quiet for (what was it?) thousands of years though. What's making them make a move now? It's not like Westeros wasn't destabilized or there weren't any dragons about or anything before after all. I'm wondering if there's some motivation or major plotline forming there.

Anyway, my theory is still that the great old ones win, everybody dies, the world freezes over, the end,

also,

Spoiler: hodor

.

 

[lithiumkatana17]

Not to get anyone's hopes up, but I am 99% sure that we will see a familiar face in the next episode following the what happening in the ending of Episode 5 'The Door'.

Evidence/possible spoilers under the cut.

Spoiler

To start off with, here is the preview for Episode 6 'Blood of My Blood':

Meera and a still unconscious Bran are surrounded by wights. Doesn't look good for the two of them.

Now, we are halfway through Season 6 already, and looking back at the screencaps I'd taken, many of them we've already seen in have already been shown in current episodes.

Here's one that hasn't:

https://qph.is.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-faaba52442c8c3a3cecdf12a943a84ce?convert_to_webp=true

Let's take a look at what's going on this picture. We have someone cloaked in what I'm assuming to be black riding what looks like a black or dark-colored horse, despite the scene taking place at night, and they're riding someone down, using a flaming flail as a weapon.

Why would they need to use fire to kill someone on horseback.

Answer: Because the 'someone' is a wight.

Here's an image of Bran, one of the first that was released for Season 6 and probably one that many have forgotten about:

He's on horseback. Wait wat? When did Bran get a horse? And is that a snow-covered forest in the background?

Now judging from the shot in the trailer and shots of Bran and Meera surrounded by wights in the Episode 6 preview, I'm highly certain that they both take place in the same scene. The background and overall lighting of the scenes look the same, and why else would we get a random shot of someone riding a figure down with fire in the trailer?

Now, say I'm correct. Who is the person do you ask? It can't be some random ass bloke, that doesn't make sense.

Here's my final piece of evidence, albeit a shaky one, but I don't think it mere coincidence at this point.

The IMDb page for Joseph Mawle, who had a short-lived run as Benjen Stark in Season 1.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1152798/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t142

He is now listed in Game of Thrones, Season 6 Episode 6 as the 'Brother Beyond the Wall'.

Before you say anything--yes, I know IMDb isn't always correct and can be edited by practically anyone. We went through this bullshit after Season 3 with Michelle Fairley being listed as Lady Stoneheart and that turned out not to be true.

But come on--this shoe fits. If this rider in the trailer is someone coming to Meera and Bran's aid, who else could it be? They've cut the Coldhands character, who GRRM has flat out stated is NOT Benjen Stark. We've had quite a few shots featuring a young Benjen Stark in Bran's visions of the past. Where else would Bran get a horse from beyond the Wall? Obviously he makes it out of being surrounded by wights alive.

 

[Cthulhu]

Spoiler: S06E05

GEE THANKS

 

[lithiumkatana17]

Spoiler: S06E05

GEE THANKS

That just makes me sad.

But also happy at the same time, knowing that fans are grieving in solidarity with each other.

Better to suffer as a group than be alone!

 

[Cthulhu]

I disagree, if everyone is sad then everyone can just get on with shit while that one person is sad, and shit,

 

[Channy]