Daske

9. It was always going to be tough to do the last episode, but they wrapped everything up as well as was possible I think. My prediction was the final shot would be Arya and Nymeria. I'll settle for it (almost) being Jon and Ghost. Oh, and the CGI & cinematography this episode was off the chart.

I think they were just on 'low power' as they had ended up stuck in there by accident, presumably after chasing some poor sods through the corridors, then got confused by the maze of bookcases and didn't have anyone else to chase nearby. Most 'zombies' in other shows/films seem to go offline this way when not actively chasing someone, and only power-up when they sense a victim. The impression I get was that the NK can order 'attack the castle' and they understand that, but at the end of the day they are just zombies.

I think it's the opposite. GoT has raised the bar so high that people are freaking out about a perceived drop in to poor quality when it doesn't match their own fan fiction. It should be this, it must be that. OK, everyone wants different things, how you rate stuff is subjective, sure. But there was a full on AD&D fight with flaming swords and a freaking undead bear. Right there, on screen! Viewers are spoiled these days. I spent a month once waiting for a schoolmate get me a dodgy VHS tape copy of a Hartnell black-and-white Doctor Who episode that was barely visible through the snowstorm and the sound was a full second out of sync. But it was AMAZING! I know I'm not alone in being so grateful that we have this show to watch - whatever faults it has with some of the writing and some of the pacing. So what? There was a freaking undead bear fight!

I loved it. For me GoT has always been 1/3 fantasy drama, 1/3 soap opera and 1/3 horror show. Ticked all my boxes.

10. I think only my 4th ever 10. Just great TV. Many were predicting this show would falter this year, but I feel it's been one of the best so far. Please keep up the pace.

8. Very solid. Enjoyed every scene. The smaller number of remaining characters helped a lot. I loved weasel soup 2.0. Can't see the fan service complaints. We've had 6 seasons of them getting dumped on from a great height and we've had what? just half a dozen scenes of revenge by the handful that remain! Anyway, it's obvious there are still going to be major bumps in the roads ahead for the Starks. Even the poop scene was interesting - the first time in 50 years something on TV has made me feel physically queasy.

Yes, all this bad writing is terrible indeed! Terrible I say! We should all be on our guard!

Probably the most enjoyable hour of television I've experienced in 40 years!

Great. Best episode so far. 8/10. There's war a brewin' on all-sides! All the main characters are ready to go all in. And the Dany scene is the one that just switched the season into top gear. It gonna go mental from here on in. That High Sparrow is kinda getting on my nerves now, though. Although I guess he is meant to. And sad Osha died. Still... Jon and Sansa! Yay! Loved it.

Lol, ok, we agree on that for sure! So annoying, Transformers gets sequel after sequel, Dredd gets none. Sigh.

But that's not true at all is it. Even on this most rabid of sites the most common vote for the latest episode was a 7/10.

I'm suggesting a maybe something along those lines, not definitely that, so no point arguing details. Just saying that people are so quick to judge. I suspect there is more to the story of them being there, and more may be explained later. Happy to agree that the Sandsnakes scene didn't work very well if nothing else is forthcoming.

It's not about 'standards'. It's about being able to adjust the way you watch things based on the style of storytelling - there is no true linear scale of good and bad writing. And also about how to manage expectations when you have the existing books creating preconceived notions. The thing is, how can you judge it as bad if it isn't being written for you? There are some people that don't like the Sopranos, does that make it badly written? There was a long article by Margaret Atwood last year. on why she loves GoT, I doubt her standards are 'lower'' than yours. What's interesting in what you say about the metrics as generally speaking GoT scores high on those metrics. And there were massive threads in the past where those that don't like the show came down highly on the opinion of discounting them, e.g. critics ratings are just another opinion, Transformers was popular but crap etc. But anyway, going off topic on ratings thread, sorry.

No, it boils down to opinion of what is good writing and what is not. You don't like it fine, but you don't speak for everyone else on this matter. But this has been argued to death since day one. Many of us see some issues with some plots but generally speaking don't think they are major issues. We can look past them or move quickly on because there is always a better scene around the corner. It's ok to like stuff that isn't perfect! And most complaints are hugely exaggerated. "Areo getting killed easily". One person, however big and experienced, was backstabbed by a trained killer he had no reason to think was a threat whilst surrounded by other guards clearly in on the act. That's why it's a betrayal, no one expects it. Not so strange. You may not like it happening this way, but it certainly could happen. But no, it has to be 'rubbish'. The boat murder is overly convoluted yes, but it's very easy to see some options if you don't expect to be spoon-fed. For example, much easier to kickstart a war if you tell your people that the Lannisters killed their prince while a guest. And his true love bride for falling in love with him. Or something along those lines. They may or may not be the case, but at least allow the story to pan out before condemning it. A lot of what people call plotholes in the show are explained later on, but by then people have forgotten they dissed it as they are too busy moaning about something else in the latest episode.

A solid start 7 from me - which seems to be the consensus. The usual season premier - a slow start to check in with everyone deal. But enough meat there to get excited for what may come. Loved The Wall stuff and the Mel scene. I don't think that the plot is going to be all that different from the books, so the people that are dying here will be dead soon in the books if we ever get them. Also, I never found Doran or Dorne exciting in the books or the show, so I'm hoping the fact Doran is dead may help propel the Dorne plot on to something a bit more gripping. There were one of two moments of 'huh?'- the Sandsnakes on the boat for instance, but honestly, these are minor issues. I can think 'that was a bit odd', but by the end of the scene I've moved on. Reading some of the votes above it does seem others are watching with their notepads and books to hand jotting down all the stuff they don't like, however trivial, and hovering over the '1' button as soon as the episode ends. Not telling anyone what to think, but c'mon the first 5 posts are 1 or equivalent comments? It's clear some people have given up on liking the show themselves and now just want to hate it just so they can shout how much they hate it.

Loved it. Long wait until next year, though.

Small prediction, but pretty sure (and hope) in a later episode they will have a scene with a noticeably bigger Drogon, where a spear (or many spears) will just bounce off him.

That was amazing. Just fantastic television. My first 10 this season.

That was amazing. Just fantastic television. My first 10 this season.

That was amazing. Just fantastic television. My first 10 this season.

Did the Queen of Thorns' nick 'perfumed ponce' from 'Withnail and I'? She does like her gay put-downs, but this made me think the High Sparrow was going to blurt out 'which fucker said that?'.

Loved most of the episode, the dialogue was fantastic throughout and I had no issue with the final scene which was handled with appropriate gravitas and horror. I must admit like many I'm not yet feeling Dorne though.

Just read an article by Margaret Atwood on how much she loves the show. She does have more than a little experience writing in this arena. Doesn't 'prove' anything of course, but maybe it's not as clear cut as you believe.

People and feelings and love are far too complicated for this to be dismissed as a dumb plot hole. It's clearly not just the physical aspect that is at play. They have become close emotionally - that's been shown from both sides. He is falling in love with her regardless of his ability to feel 'normal' sexual desire. Is that really impossible? Who's to say he can't help staring at the beautiful woman he has a connection with without getting a rush of blood to his groin - can't he appreciate beauty? He can obviously see the inner beauty without balls, why not the outer? Pretty sure love is more than just hormones or the ability to have sex. Now granted they usually play a part - which does make this an interesting relationship. But to dismiss as impossible is to ignore the wide variety of human nature. Maybe think of them as soulmates rather than fuck buddies if that helps.

L LOL, good point about the Theon bite! I felt it was a bit of a stand-off at that point when they are looking at each other. Carry on fighting and most of us will die on both sides or we both call it square, and live to fight another day. Ramsay's threat of the dogs just tipped them into retreat since the Ironborn had no reason to stay at that point anyway.