Wendel Shoemaker

This was the first episode that really made me consider whether or not I want to keep watching this show. It wasn't the worst one, and really it didn't do a lot wrong, it was just so boring. I'm so uncompelled by all the character actions this episode, makes me wonder if it's worth continuing to watch till the end of the season if all it's going to do is spoil TWOW in an unsatisfying way.

Past few episodes have been 5/6's, this was an 8.

Yeah, overall it was a fine episode. Just uncompelling. It was nice to finally see momentum, but again, we keep hearing how D&D are speeding along the story, and yet we're still going through ADWD content and just started making progress in plotlines that we are now 4 episodes into. Jon and Sansa was fine, just felt a little off to me. Like Jon just felt like he was in a weird situation leaving the wall, but still being there, and Sansa's character seemed off. And then the we didn't get to really feel anything with Jon and Sansa, nothing about Ned, Robb, Cat, and only a passing remark about Rickon. This is the stuff I'm interested in hearing these characters discuss, you know, the tragedies they can share. Not old Nan soup - we're not ready for old Nan soup. Like I feel like Sansa already knows Jon died, but we skipped over the reactions. Dany's ending scene was visually entertaining, but it was ridiculous how it was set up, and honestly stretched way too far to recreate season 1. Didn't feel organic. That's just me though, other people can enjoy it. I just see wasted potential.

I`m a tad surprised as well, but it is the internet. I went to look at comments for season 1 and I was surprised to see that people were complaining about the littlest of things. Not that they weren`t valid, it`s just funny compared to season 5 where we have very big things to criticize.

I laughed too many times throughout the episode due to silly logic and awkward writing, particularily the Cersai/Jaime scene and Ellaria. There were some strong moments like Kevan's scene, Tyrion, Jon + Stannis. Also kind of funny how he offered Jon the title of Stark only to immediately be shut down 5 seconds later. Should have mentioned it last episode, gave the audience some time to think on it, and then shut it down. Same with the election, but what can you do. I actually like what's happening in Mereen, it's nice that it's not relying on Danny to tell the story. But Danny continues to make bad decisions, though I suppose that's on par with the books. But what was with that hissing by the Meeren people at the end?

I'm not sure if it's just because I've read the books, but for a first episode, I felt like it didn't really show the aftermath of Tywin's death as well as the opener to season 4 showed the aftermath to the Red Wedding. Rather than opening up with the prophecy (or still doing that but following with this scene) I feel like it would have been more impactful to start with the scene immediately after Tyrion leaves and we see everyone in the Red Keep panicing over Tywin's death. Cersai being woken out of her bed in a panic to find out her father was dead would have worked better than going straight to the funeral. Would have worked as a way to keep the energy high for the first episode, and as a reminder to people that Tywin's death is a big deal. I mean it was her first chapter in Feast after all.

I may be one of the few that enjoyed the Brienne + Pod scene. I thought it made sense for Brienne to be angry since Pod is the reason Arya got away and has done nothing but get in her way this whole time.