Howland Reed

I gave the episode a 5, maybe that is a bit too low, I'm not sure. For the first 3 or 4 episodes I was quite enthralled by the show and eager to see what was going to happen next but the later half have fallen off for me. Its hard to even describe the reasons why, I think it is many things to be honest. This is also coming from someone who hasn't read the source material only asoiaf. Someone early said they love to put in a lot of shock moments that just don't need to be there in my opinion, I definitely agree with that as 1 aspect. I will say the production value is extremely strong and while I may not think its the greatest story telling, it is somewhat entertaining. I'm not regretting my watching of the show, its just that it is very far from the great shows that have been on television. (On a side note for another small detail for me in many of these episodes is the timing on events - obviously this is extremely ticky tacky, I totally get why many people would not give 2 shits about this but for some reason it just takes me out. The example in this episode is when Rheanys busts through with the dragon. I'm not referring to her doing this spectacle, [which was a bit much for me truth be told], but rather how she was able to get her dragon, don that armor and fly in there within that small frame of time. Obviously we don't know the exact amount of time taking place, but we are there for the whole scene, and it seems like it was 15 minutes or less by the time she left. Obviously very ticky tacky - but for some reason my mind just sees these things and says how did that even happen.)

I gave it a 6. For me ever since that original wedding episode its felt like it went a bit downhill. The pacing is very erratic, you have the funeral/wake that seemed to linger while other events or things wisp through, I get they have a lot of ground to cover it just doesn't seem as organic if that makes sense. I'm still adjusting to the change of actors. Its a tough transition bc Alicent and Rhaenyra's previous actresses, and characters at the time, felt so much more sympathetic where I could somewhat root for them a bit, while where we are now, they both just seem insufferable to me. There is no 1 to kinda get behind, everyone is unlikable outside of king. Lastly, the tone of the show is very 1 note, it could use some levity or even happy moments. When everything seems bleak or dark it needs contrast or it won't be as impactful, at least for me.

I think I need to rewatch this episode, I'm not sure, it just didn't do it for me. First I think the time gap casting change was a bit jarring, and trying to link the previous characters to their current selves felt disconnected, I guess that is inevitable when doing that. Things felt way to hamfisted with Harwin and the princess, you would feel they would be more subtle about that but he is basically playing the role of dad from what we see. They are also pulling the Me, Myself and Irene move by having these kids look nothing like the "father." I have not read Fire and Blood, prefer pov style, so I can't compare this to that, so this is purely from watching the show. This is a fantasy show, but I get pulled out when things seem a bit jarring, such as Cole having no punishment, (his character honestly just seems unbelievable to me but that's another story), the princess climbing through the castle after birth, Laena walking about on her own to burn herself, etc... People enjoy these things but for some reason they kinda pull me out of the story. I think they are trying to cover so much ground so quickly that I am struggling to care about any of the characters. These deaths are happening, but I don't really care bc I never was able to get attached to the character. I am honestly not trying to be a downer, I actually quite liked episodes 1-4 so far, granted I had some qualms with some aspects, but 5 and 6 have kinda let me down and left me not that excited about the following episode. I rated this a 4, obviously that is probably too harsh, the costume and set design are so damn good that it could probably be a bit higher, but this is just my experience and I just struggle to care about what was going on sadly.

I gave this a 5. This was the worst episode so far. - Cole's whole situation prior to beating someone to death while everyone watches was not built up enough seemed like it came out of no where. - Is it Driftmart? The Seasnake's castle. There were no people there whatsoever. It was jarring. Like going to visit a giant castle with just 5 people living in it, no guards or anything. Weird. - Joffrey going up to Cole and basically confiding in him w/o having any real information that he is the princesses "lover." - Cole Seemingly caving someones face in while everyone just watches. What are the other kings guard doing? Also, did they really need to cave his face in like that, I mean I get they want this to be a spectacle but that just seems childish and truth be told not even real, i'm pretty sure he didn't have gauntlets on, that wound looked like his face was dug out with a shovel, just too much compensation. - The daemon horse scene also just felt a bit too much stars aligning in such a small period of time. This one I guess wasn't so bad but also I think was just poorly done. He just shows up on a path while she happens to be alone on in the middle of no where while being able to startle her horse like that. Definitely on the lower end of this list but still not a big fan. Hopefully they return to form for me, I really enjoyed the previous episode, this one was rough for sure.

Hmm... seems like a lot of people here didn't enjoy it. I don't think the dialogue is that bad. I actually really enjoy Paddy Considine's acting of Viserys, his scenes really had me locked in. The white stag was a bit hamfisted, and Daemons John Wick Rambo charge was way too hollywood for my liking, definitely lost my immersion at that scene, but overall I don't think its too bad. If anything, my expectations were quite low for this show due to the sour taste of the final seasons of GOT, its definitely exceeded them. I would give this episode a 7. (Maybe a 6.5, that charge by daemon just really took me out of it)

Its hard to rate on an episode by episode basis. I will say that they have completely failed the ending of this show though.

This is well said. That is a bit low for my liking, and like many others I really do try to separate the book from the show. One of my big complaints is the same as yours, basically how this light fantasy became high fantasy with super soldiers. I mean, it wasn't handle that way in the earlier season but it started to slowly shift that way, maybe because its more of a spectacle? I don't know, but that just doesn't sit right with me since it is so vastly different from the books. I know its a different beast, and truth be told I do enjoy it, even if I am more critical than I should be because I have been so attached to the books for so long. I guess it just seems out of place, then again the shift into the new seasons is so vastly different than the beginning as well, with pace and plot etc...

I gave it a 7. The episode started really solid, granted I have no idea why they charged the dothraki right out the gate just suicide bombing themselves. There was this extreme sense of doom but after a while it became apparent that it was a fluff. They would cut scenes with like 50 wights bombarding 4 people, then it would come back to the same scene where everything has calmed down a bit somehow, god only knows how anyone would have survived it. So the sense of peril was extremely inflated and became a bit off putting towards the end. The Lyanna Mormont scene... I get that she is kindof a fan favorite, and I liked her in the beginning, but it becomes extremely redundant after a while and just farfetched for the sake of creating these "badass" characters. Much more to say but I don't have all day.... Lastly there is Arya, a HUGE fan favorite, and honestly one of my favorite characters in the book who has now become one of my LEAST favorite in the show. They have turned this girl into the ultimate mary sue that it has become hard to watch. Every scene they are trying SO hard to make her into this badass take no shit type of character, constantly having this smug look on her face. It is very much in line with the earlier quote by Tywin, any man that must say I am king, is no true king. They are handling Arya in that manner, every action, expression and phrase is trying so hard to be badass, that for me, it just comes of hamfisted and corny.

2 scenes that I really loved. Brienne Tarth beating the piss out of those 2 guards that came in. That fight scene, in my opinion, was done very well and showed how strong this girl is, she total pistol whipped the crap out of them. Just thought they portrayed her fighting prowess very well there. Arya and Tywin. I got chills when Arya was like... Anyone can die, just staring right at his eyes... That was puuuurfect. God I love that girl.

I agree completely. I guess I just saw things differently in my head.

Pros - I thought Theon did a fantastic job, his sister on the other hand is just not how I imagined her, but i'm sure her personality will play out soon enough. Theon is killing it though, I tip my hat to him. When he burned that letter I was like... shit... if only I could tell you what is to come. - Tyrion's Scene with Little Finger/Pycelle/Varys. I thought they made that scene very well. I'm sure there are more, but those two really stood out for me when recalling the episode. Cons - A lot of people hating on Shae. I would have to agree to an extent. Her character just seems a bit different than how I saw her in the book. She seems like a huge biatch in the show, like she runs the place. It wasn't a make or break thing for me. - Renly/Loras/Marg I just did not know how to perceive that whole scene. Seemed a bit strange to me. I see where they are going with it, Marg seems a bit more conniving than I ever expected, but that's just my opinion. All in all, I love the book so much that I appreciate anything even remotely following the story, and honestly I couldn't even fathom making a show out of it, and these guys are doing a great job at it. Also Brienne was casted well, love that character. One last thing. Biter/Rorge don't seem nearly as intimidating as I always thought they were. They seem like normal people where as I always imagined them as these big burly vile cruel m*therf*ckers. Just my take.

I gave it a solid 8, would have gone 8.5 if the option was available. Pros - I thought Theon did a fantastic job, his sister on the other hand is just not how I imagined her, but i'm sure her personality will play out soon enough. Theon is killing it though, I tip my hat to him. When he burned that letter I was like... shit... if only I could tell you what is to come. - Tyrion's Scene with Little Finger/Pycelle/Varys. I thought they made that scene very well. I'm sure there are more, but those two really stood out for me when recalling the episode. Cons - A lot of people hating on Shae. I would have to agree to an extent. Her character just seems a bit different than how I saw her in the book. She seems like a huge biatch in the show, like she runs the place. It wasn't a make or break thing for me. - Renly/Loras/Marg I just did not know how to perceive that whole scene. Seemed a bit strange to me. I see where they are going with it, Marg seems a bit more conniving than I ever expected, but that's just my opinion. All in all, I love the book so much that I appreciate anything even remotely following the story, and honestly I couldn't even fathom making a show out of it, and these guys are doing a great job at it. Also Brienne was casted well, love that character. One last thing. Biter/Rorge don't seem nearly as intimidating as I always thought they were. They seems like normal people where as I always imagined them as these big burly vile cruel m*therf*ckers. Just my take. (Sorry maybe I posted this in the wrong forum

Didn't Sallador Saan wear very flamboyant clothing?

I thought it was pretty decent. Besides what everyone has been saying, but we knew they were going to make changes. I thought Rorge and Biter were pretty m'eh. I imagined them so much more intimidating, bigger, scarier.