Fez

9/10 one of my higher ratings of the season. I don't mind any of the major changes from the books, and the episode wasn't as rushed as I was worried it'd be. It did have some pacing issues that made me took a point off what was otherwise an excellent episode. I still think Stannis' arrival was oddly placed and should've gone at the end of the last episode, Bran's gang spent too much time fighting and not enough introducing Bloodraven, Dany's scenes felt repetitive of earlier ones, and Tyrion's initial escape moved way too quickly.

5/10, which I believe is the lowest rating I've ever given an episode (it may be a tie though, not sure). There was lots of action, but it just felt hollow. I was always concerned about making the battle a full episode, much less an episode 9, and those fears were justified. The entire episode was a long tease, where the Watch never felt in much trouble, and the whole thing ended anti-climatically. I'm also rather concerned now about just how much is okay in the finale now. Sure its 66 minutes, but it still needs to have: -Jon with Mance, and Stannis arriving -Bran meeting Bloodraven -Tyrion's escape -Dany's season conclusion -Arya's season conclusion -Brienne's season conclusion And I don't see how that's done. Jon, Tyrion, and Dany's stories look like they each need at least 15 minutes, Bran and Arya at least 10 minutes, and Brienne at least 5 minutes. That's 71 minutes, and from the preview it looks like there's still going to be some at least some other scenes, like a Tywin-Cersei one. This episode went short, they should've included Stannis' arrival in it; it would've helped two episodes.

I am a bit concerned about that myself. Everyone seemed excited for Blackwater, but it certainly seems like most reviewers at least (I don't know many unsullied) either don't like, or at best don't care, about the Wall. And if people aren't invested, then it just becomes a technically proficient battle scene; incredibly impressive by TV standards, but only reasonably so compared to what we see in movies all the time.

1) Tyrion isn't always nice; he made fun of a simpleton to fit in. 2) Tyrion can be overly obsessive. 3) Its an analogy, the gods are cruel and there's no meaning to when people die. 4) Its an analogy, GRRM is cruel and capriciously kills his characters. 5) its an analogy as above, but note that Tyrion doesn't kill the bug he picks up. Sometimes bugs (people) live, even if you don't expect it; foreshadowing his escape. 6) It shows how overwhelmed Tyrion and Jaime are by the current circumstances; talking about nonsense at 5am. 7) Its another reminder of how close Tyrion and Jaime are, and that Jaime is spending an awful lot of time in that cell; helping setup that Jaime will set him free. The scene works on lots of levels, and I loved it.

So, was that Winterfell or the Dreadfort that the Boltons were coming up on at the end there? Because it looked an awful lot like Winterfell to me, and if that's the case I think its pretty much confirmation that the battle of ice will be next season. I can't see the Boltons and Theon just sitting there for over a season waiting for Stannis to show up.

8/10 And that's mostly because of the duel. The rest of the episode was pretty underwhelming. I liked Arya laughing, Tyrion's speech (meta tip: Orson is GRRM and the beetles are the characters), and the Vale stuff. And there was nothing wrong with Theon/Boltons. But the rest was way too dull and filler-y. I legit could not stand the Missiandei/Grey Worm stuff (which was goddamn endless), Jorah's exile did not seem well-handled, the check-in at the Wall was okay but pointless, same with the attack on Mole's Town. Usually when I glance up at the clock and see that its (roughly) 9:30, I think "wow, how is it only 9:30? So much has happened!" this time I thought "wow, how is it already 9:30? There's been nothing going on"

I really do. I mean, there might be a couple storylines that won't be done (Sam if his arc doesn't change, possibly the Kings Landing plot, etc.), but for most part I think Feast and Dance are done by the end of the next season. The way I see, regardless of whether the show is 7 or 8 seasons (and I think it'll be 7), D&D are going to want to spend more time on the conclusion, not the middle-ground. If its 7 seasons, then they have to get to TWOW by the end of season 5, and if its 8 seasons then that's time better served as an extra season for TWOW/ADOS (which are presumably going to be very plot heavy books). Also, imagine how bad it'd be if they planned on 8 seasons, and only got midway through Feast and Dance by the end of season 5, only to be told that nope, HBO needs it be 7 seasons, and then they only have two seasons for two and a half books.

TWOW? Although, I think its more likely that she reaches Jaime at Riverun around episode 7 (having not shown up much before then in the season), hangs out with him in ep 8, isn't in 9, and they leave together in ep. 10. Or something like that. It really depends on how quickly Jaime's plotline moves next season I guess.

9/10 Which may be the highest I've given so far to an episode that's pretty much entirely set-up. However, there were just too many incredibly strong scenes to go lower, with Oberyn/Tyrion being the highlight.

9/10 Everything Stannis/Davos and Kings Landing was great, really great. The Dany stuff was good, the Dreadfort was kinda 'meh.'

Season 1 is the highest rated? I am definitely way out of step with the majority on this site. I understand that it was most faithful adaption, but in nearly every other sense it is significantly weaker than everything that came after it. Less crisp writing, too many actors not fully settled into their roles yet, less impressive set designs and visual effects, etc. The only other thing it really had in its favor was a more focused narrative, as so many characters were either in the same places or not introduced yet.

I seem to recall reading once that the actor playing Barristan isn't in good enough shape (or possibly it's a matter of a previous injury/surgery, and not lack of fitness) to do a believable fight scene, which is why he never does anything physically challenging on the show. Do you know anything about that?

I'm somewhat surprised as well (only somewhat, I know this forum). The episode wasn't great, but it was consistently strong (except Sam), and far better than a couple of real duds that are in previous seasons.

8/10 It was a solid episode throughout, but not much stood out as outstanding either. I didn't much like Sam's scenes, but that's about it for my complaints.* *Except one. I don't usually have any issues with the show's production designs, but it looked embarrassingly warm and sunny during the wilding raid. What happened to winter? If it weren't the Starks' words, viewers could be forgiven for thinking winter already came and went and now its early summer.

7/10 for pre-wedding, 9/10 for the wedding, split difference call the episode an 8/10. I thought pre-wedding the scenes just didn't do enough, they were mostly reminders that these characters exist (particularly for the Dragonstone crew). I did like the scene between Roose and Ramsay, but it went on too long. Bran's vision was pretty good too. The wedding was great. It was awesome seeing so many characters all in one place again, and all the different interactions. Plus the ending of course.

9/10 That's partly because I'm just so excited that the show's back, but I also think the episode did a really good job of catching non-readers up with a lot of backstory and setting up most of the major plotlines of the season.

The group behind that absolutely insane 'What Does the Fox Say?' video have a follow-up; which is nearly as strange in a very different way.

Oh hell that's funny; my sides hurt.

Finally saw this episode this afternoon. I have it at an 8. There was just too much water treading and not enough forward momentum from last week. I actually might have given it a 7, but I'm feeling generous because I was so happy that uncat didn't show up.

Just got a chance to see the episode this morning finally. I give it a 9. The Red Wedding itself was very well done I thought, with the tension ramping up beautifully; and the dawning recognition on Cat's face was insanely tough to watch. It was just filled with great little details as well, like Bolton being such a troll with the "hey Cat, why don't you check out what's up my sleeve?" look when he put his arm down and Frey so gleeful he could barely hold his goblet straight. However, I can't give it a 10 because there was plenty of other stuff going on in the episode as well (which is good news, the RW shouldn't take an entire episode) and it wasn't all as good. In particular I thought the scenes with Jon were confusingly shot (was Ygritte trying to fight with or against him?) and also in Dany's storyline the jump from Jorah/Grey Worm/Daario being surrounded to the city falling was way too abrupt, it really felt like another scene should've been there.

6. Same as last week. Plenty of good acting, beautiful scenery, a few good scenes; but mostly just incredibly dull.

Really not a very good episode. I think they made a mistake spreading asos out so much. The last two episodes have been slow as molassas.

I'm so tired of Theon scenes.

Seem like we just get one of our first spoilers for books 6/7 with Mel's line to Arya that they'll meet again, right? Presumably at some point after Tywin's dead and Cersei is running the show, she'll appoint him to the KG; possibly as a "take that" to the Tyrells after the Tyrells propose marrying Margery to Tommen.

A few good scenes, but no excellent ones (although if Jamie/Brienne/Bolton had gone on longer it might've been), and a lot of dullness or misfires (thought the climbing scenes were cheesy as hell, and contained some not very good CGI). Giving it 6. ETA: That said, I still don't mind any of the story changes. I just want the changes, and the fidelity to the book, to be better written. Which this episode wasn't.