Died a Hero

The first 20 min. was 10. the second coming of king in the north was a 3 Ayra random revenge a 5 but then bumped up to an 8 for the Frey Pie. Danny 6 maybe a bump for 100 ships and V man's sweet teleport Cersei climbing the steps? Yeah, ten bump down for Jaime's dumb look 9. Dorn minus a billion.

Left it a 9 for me.

Tommen taking off the crown and walking out the window was truly heart breaking,    

On 6/19/2016 at 9:16 PM, Fredwin said:

First half almost flawless. The BotB was filmed extremely well, I mean it was really well shot. Good action, good pacing, tense. It was just the concept of it that was ridiculous. Armies don't fight like that, and why pretend there are 8-9 thousand men there when they show a wide shot of maybe a couple thousand? It's a total nitpick but I hate seeing lost opportunities like that. 

Anyhow. Finished with a 9 for me.

The whole battle was based on the Battle of Cannae, where Hannibal did this exact tactic, and slaughtered the Romans. So apparently armies do fight like that. 

10 for bear island alone. That little girl ruled. 

6

Sam, faith militant, back to Sam? 

No thanks. 

10.

This episode was perfect. The walk of shame was perfect. Robert the Strong picking up Cersei like a feather was perfect. Ayra pulling off the face over and over again was perfect. Danny being overun by horses was perfect. Jon's death with his blood pouring over the snow was perfect.

Dorn was...well Dorn was Dorn...

Was Stanis getting done in by The Maid of Tarth totally Hollywood? Sure. But his last words were perfect. Was Reek suddenly finding the courage to fight for himself and Lady Deathstrike completly rushed? Sure. But the look on their faces before they jumped was perfect. Was The Master of Whispers popping up behind the Imp with a coy grin a bit campy? Sure. But the chemistry between the two was perfect.

Was y'alls reaction to the first completly (TV) show driven finale beyond predictable? Sure. Be the rest of us who can separate the novels from the books still think you're perfect in your own way!

Remember, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is just around the next bend! So hold on to that misplaced sense of elitism!

A lightsaber was never meant to have a hand guard, right? You bet your ass it wasn't! Now let us hear all about how it will make this next trilogy a complete mockery of the original text!

As good as the last two were, was as bad as that one was. Gave a seven. Last ten min almost got it down to a five...

The first 10 in two years. You know. I know it. Stannis knows it.

Egg...I dreamed that I was old...

9/10 for that alone.

8

The show isn't the book.

I always tell myself that before the nada-nada-nada-nada starts. That's why things like Hound vs. Brienne not only didn't bother me, I enjoyed it. Two of the best sword fighters in the relm going at it? Yes please. But when things like Bloodraven come up...man. It's hard to justify what the whole scene was. Leaf tossing out magic grenades to destroy the cgi skeletons from the Land of the Lost...the Disneyland ride stabbing of Little Grandfather (I sware I could see the gears moving)...Bran's blowing off his best friend's death(so, about my legs)...and Bloodraven...my god Bloodraven...if he didn't say the fly line...

The ending....An ending which they can't even explain away with lack of time or contract bullshit. They were under timewise and knew the scene was needed last year. They could have easily filmed it, put it in the can, and dusted it off for yesterday.

My brother, who I always gage the show by because he's a non-book no spoliers watcher, loved it. So I have to overlook what I was expecting to see and take it for what it is. It was an 8.

My god Bloodraven hurt my soul.

10

It was amazing. You know it was amazing. I know it was amazing. It was amazing.

9/10

The haters are in full force tonight. Sansa's changes are great. They're a bit fast forwarded, but all and all they drive the point home. The Theon parts were tragicly amazing. The raid at Mole's Town was spot on, and the reaction at the wall was just as good. Ayra's laugh was heart wrenching. Though, how will they explain away that they sent the fucking Hound and the second to last living Stark down the road? Dany's stuff was great as always, and Missendei was gorgeous. The fight was AMAZING! It looked just like I imagined. I'm guessing that they'll explain the posion next week when the moutain's health takes a turn for the worse. The only thing that made this a 9 and not a 10 was not explaining how leathal The Red Viper was known to be. They had the chance with Jaime and Tyrion and muffed it. Outside of that, perfect episode.

8

liked everything but gravy talk and the bitter change. For the life of me, I will never understand why D&D do things like this. We know Brienne is going to get jumped sometime this season and bite a man's ear off (she said so in one the 1,000 mini trailers before this season started) but it wont be the bitter for some reason? Why not make the random guy the one who attack The Hound and not the one that has an actual plot thread?

9

Would have been a 10 if not for Sam’s go nowhere bullshit and Jamie’s implied forcing of Cersei. The Wilding raid was unnerving, in a good way. Littlefinger got some of his “what’s Littlefinger up to?” mystique back. Jon is way less Emo. And Emily Clark can speak High Valyrian for the whole show from now on and I don’t think anyone would mind. I loved the collars from the dead slaves in the caskets; very nice touch. Every once in a while D&D hit the mark with their add-ons.

9

Was a bit slow for an R.R. episode. Loved Reek. The telling of Robb's death while the blade was right at this neck was amazing. Stanis was boring. They really are taking the teeth away from him. I understand why they changed Bronn to Jaime's trainer, camera time and all, but it does take away from the on-the-nose training of Ser Payne. The Red Viper was again, very Red Viper. Joff's death was perfect. He was just the right shade of purple.

All and all I was ready to give this episode a 6 or 7. Then I noticed the three musicains playing the Rain's for Joff was fucking Sigur Rós! I shouted, "Dude, that's fucking Sigur Rós!!!!" Everyone in the room just stared at me.

Instantly boosted my rating to a 9.

9

Loved the open. Tywin putting the wolf pelt in the flame was a great touch. The Red Viper was very Red Viper. I know the prudes on the board will piss and moan, but Oberyn's track is one of sex and blood. Get used to it. Poor Sansa. Marge and gandma kickass picked up right where they left off. Shea the Funny Whore was meh. But she's always meh. LOVED the Thenn. My little brother was freaked the fucked out when he saw them. I didn't mind the Ayra change up on the time line. It'll hurry the bond between her and the Hound so TV onrly folks see what the payoff is on episode 9. All and all, good stuff. Great to have our baby back.

Edit: Oh, the pointing child! NVM. That made this a 10! I can't believe they didn't cut it out. Sure, it wasn't an infant, but good enough.

You can't give this episode a 10 because last episode was a 10, if there was an option for a 9.5 you could give it that. And no, this episode wasn't on par with last episode - even when we know what episode 9 means for this series.

I saw everything I hoped to see outside of CH and the black gate. CH was prob held off to give Bran something to do in season 4 and the gate, well w/o CH it wouldn't make sense to put it in.

They showed The Young Wolf for christ sake! Who here thought they'd leave one of the most impactful moments of the RW out? Oh look, EVERYONE'S hand is up. And Bran's story forshadowing another little "moment" of revenge? Who assumed they'd leave that out? Oh look, EVERYONE's hands are still up.

This episode was damn near perfect in my eyes. That's why I gave it a 10.

10.

The best episode of the entire series.

The Young Wolf, Tyrion’s conversation with his father, and for that matter King Joff’s convo as well, Reek, Reek, it rhymes with meek, Jon getting shot up with arrows, The Rat Cook, Ser Davos and every prefect moment he was on screen, the look on Cersei’s face when Jamie walked through the door, the look on Sansa’s face when she was looking out the window, Shea the funny whore didn’t suck the life from her scene for once, Arya’s amazing revenge, King Stannis acting like King Stannis, and one of my faroite moments in all of the books…Mhysa. I almost cried.

Y'all are entitled to nit-pick everything you want, but no cold hands doesn't bring a 10 to a 5. Get out and get some sun, and try not to complain for 15 whole minutes. And why would LS come? She's in the epilogue.

This episode was perfect.

I loved that they showed some things I assumed they'd just leave out, like the leeches, Sam the Slayer, and almost a 100% correct wedding. They changed Sansa not kneeling, but let’s be honest, how could they have shown the inner monolog to explain this properly? I didn’t mind the King J taking the stool instead. Dany’s scenes were amazing. She looked great in her Jedi headdress btw. The Second Sons were terrific. And the ending was amazing. It did seem a little rushed, but how cool were the ravens flying out in a swarm to end the show?

Forgot to add rank. 10 obv.

7

It was funny. I loved the "Jaime or not, I'm still fucked." And the pin/broach conversation. But nothing really happened outside of the wall climb and that was...disappointing.

But for all you, "Theon's torture isn't in the books. I don't like that they're showing us this stuff." You're lame. It's the perfect example of how the second medium of a story can show things that the 1st medium didn't. One of the best parts of this season has been The Bastard's games. He made Theon yell, "Please, cut my finger off!" They're being true to that story that wasn't even told. What more do you want?

I can't wait to hear Reek say, "Not Bastard! Never Bastard! You mustn't call him that!"

10

I knew this season would be amazing, but I couldn't have guessed just how. Outside of Davos's little visitor, which, to be honest, was ok, but my god, they must hate Stannis, this episode was perfect. By the time ep. 9 rolls around, everyone will be foaming at the mouth.

10 because no matter how hard I pushed the button, it wouldn't give out a 12.

Could quite possibility be the best episode of the series. The ending was just as epic as I thought in the book. ty god for book Dany being back.

Holy hell this episode was perfect. 10.

From the somber tones of Riverun, to the lighthearted banter of Pod and Tyrion. Seeing the Bastard's hunt (No, not Bastard. Never Bastard.) Dany's talk and walk. And A Bear, a bear! But my god, that ending. My god. If you rated this episode anything lower than a 7 delete your account, turn off your computer, and never watch the show again. Because nothing they do will ever please you.

Good god that ending!

Gave another 9. Well, to be honest I gave it a 7...then had my mind changed by a solid rewatch.

First the bad.

Tyrion. Wait, Tyrion in the bad section? wtf? The set up of Shea the Funny Whore's downfall is boring and unnecessary. I don't care if the TV audience (who I normally back vs. the hardcore book nuts) need to know why she turns on her Little Lion. She's a shady whore who takes her best shot at keeping her head and moving on up when Tyrion's trial takes a turn for the worse. Simple as that.

Cat. Well, I guess that's one way to show her grief. This scene is what made me give the 7 the first time.

Thoros. Man...why are they combining Thoros and Lem? Thoros is somber, ashamed of his past actions and enthralled with his rebirth to the Red God. Lem is loud, often drunk and braggadocios. Which one did you see last night?

Alright, now the good.

The Reeds. I love the Reeds. Little Grandfather was perfect with a capital P.

My name is Reek. Reek, it rhymes with meek.

The Hound and the explanation on how he was captured.

I see a lot of hate on the Jamie/Brienne fight but I'm not sure why. Outside of the comical last lunge, it was "by the book." Jaime has been wasting away, is shackled, unarmored, and still held his end of the fight up for more than half of the rumble. Anyone hating just dislikes Brienne (and that makes you no friend of mine) and nothing done would have made you happy.

The way Gendry Needled (see what I did there?) Arya about her three kills. And the way Anguy got Hotpie to move.

I coulda used a little,"A bear, A BEAR! All black and brown and covered with hair!" but outside of that, the Queen convo was perfect. "He's a monster!"

All and all, a great episode. I can't wait for the season to kick into high gear if this is what we're going to get with the build.

9

I loved most of the episode. Tyrion's interactions with his sister, Bronn, and his father were amazing. Jon's scenes were good. Mance may not have been wielding his lute, but I think Ciarán Hinds was an excellent choice for the role. He commands attention while on the screen and carries the air of a born leader. I loved the CGI shot of the Giant too. Davos being brought to the one true king was annoying, but the T.V. audience wouldn't have understood him being arrested right as he touched town on the shore. I have high hopes for Daenerys this season. She's my fav. POV in the book (Davos is 2ed) and what they did to her COK story was hard to watch. However, seeing her dragons, her detest for how the Unsullied are trained, and, of course, the reappearance of Ser Grandfather, I'm excited.

The only thing I disliked is the ongoing development of Shae and the outright knowledge of Littlefinger's part in Sansa's escape. With Shae, what are they building towards? Her turn for no reason in season 4? What, because Tyrion didn't want to run away with her she sells him out to the court and bangs his father? Seems pointless. And Littlefinger? Why go through the trouble of introducing Dontons in season 2 if you're not going to use him? Again, seems pointless.

Though all and all, a great start to what should be the best two seasons in television history. (I'm not setting the bar for failure am I?)

9

Really the only thing that stopped this from being a ten was the house of the undying, but let's be honest, they've fucked Dany up so much this season, was anyone expecting anything less? I even liked her walking out of the Throne room to the other side of the wall, considering that's where her real war will be, but the way she was chained and killed Pyat Pree was just...I'm convinced D&D are part of the crew that hate Dany and are trying as hard as they can to make the T.V. folk do the same.

Anyway, on with the highs. I loved Stannis's scene. And for anyone who says it was out of character, just remember what we are told about his mind set during the first half of SOS. Theon's speech was great. So was his anger for the horn blower. I knew they were just going to let his men betray him, so it didn't bother me that we didn't get to see the Bastard of Bolton. (Not bastard, never bastard! You mustn't call him that!) The horse shitting made me laugh, just because so many diehards on this board argued they wanted to see it. The whole scene in the throne room was by the book, so that was great. I loved seeing the face change. For a second I thought they wouldn't show it. Without little grandfather I didn't expect the Stark boys to be split up, so nothing there. Jon's scene was rushed. The who thing with him and the Halfhand was D.A.B. I'm still pissed about Ghost too. I don't know why they already showed Littlefinger as Sanas savor, but T.V. wise I guess it works. Tyrion's scene with Shae was Emmy worthy. His breakdown looked 100% real, unlike his scar...they better make that look better next season. Not noseless, I fully understand you can't do that, but how about make it look like it wont fall from his face if he turn's his head too fast. I liked the look of the Others better last season, but if we're going to be getting full views of them, you kinda have to lay the makeup on a bit differently. The CGI dead zombie folks looked great though.

As for the season as a whole, I'd give it a strong eight where last years was a outstanding ten. A Clash of Kings is a developing story, and probably the weakest of the series, but I was let down in someways regardless. Mainly because of Dany, who is my favorite in the book. If they fuck her Storm of Swords story up like they did this year...boy are they in trouble. She easily has the most interesting development in that story.