Not Dead Just Broken

On behalf of the very small component of this board that is Team Bran not Team Jon can I just say: that was incredibly satisfying.

No reason for them not to. They aren't really in the books until after the battle anyway, right? No need to cast actors or confuse people with questions like "why the bleep didn't they help" until Season 5.

Dennys Mallister and Cotter Pyke are Jon's main competition anyway aren't they?

Apparently, unnecessary trips to Braavos really hold you up. Although is it possible the Wildling retreat that they interpret as them just waiting until tomorrow is actually Stannis' army?

Fits in with my Oberyn is trying to die theory quite nicely. I'm okay with it.

Didn't Robert die in his bed? Or maybe a reference to the failed assassination of Bran? Isn't that enough? A little love for the book readers is not unprecedented. I just felt they rushed the scene but that's probably just because I'm unreservedly pro-Crannogmen and House Reed.

Is it more confusing than just people being sick and dying for no reason?

Definitely not pointless. I thought it as more of a "hey, we're about to do something that will make no sense to you and we realize we've been doing this for a while." Kind of prepping the non-readers for Tyrion losing the trial by combat.

I'm sort of upset that they didn't give the Crannogmen credit for poisoning the Ironborn. At least they showed them being sick. Would it have been too much to ask for to have a "bleeping bog devils" or something?