Woman of War

I agree very much with that part of your post. While I still think that Dinklage's performance is impressive I would have wanted to see the actor go all the road with Tyrion, it would have been outstanding. Only they did not let him.

ThisFor example I, Tyrion being my favorite character, really disliked it when the show thought to keep Tyrion digestible by leaving out the hatefuck in Selhorys. They avoided the complex richness of that character, an annoying omission since with Dinklage they have an actor who would have given us an even more differenciated and compelling Tyrion, for viewers who do not think in terms of black and white but appreciate nuances and development over being judgemental. The show could have made the character even more fascinating if they had only let the actor go there. But in hindsight they would have have created the next shitstorm instead of a quality debate. That is what you get if you dare leaving trodden paths with characters. Grey is invisible to most viewers.

I may not be as concentrated on Griff as you are, but I loved the whole magical mystery Rhoyne travel with all those hints and the people on the boat were hugely interesting apart from enriching the plot.But I am a D&D apologist and I understand that something had to go if they want to finish in seven series. And vote among 100 readers and you will get 110 opinions which part that should have been.

Dp pestilence, sorry

You are of course right, at least she would not yet be ready. But she has potential. I would not want any of the very young characters as ruler, even the best would be puppets to others' games There is a reason that people below a certain age cannot become a member of parliament let alone get a job in a government in a democracy. This topic is discussed along Dany, Robb and Tommen. In real life I would not want any of all those younger characters, Shireen, Myrcella or Sansa, to rule over a kingdom of millions. Now don't tell me that they could not possibly do worse than it is done now.... Martin's books are not an uplifting fairy tale. This is not teenage literature fuelling the dreams of those not yet of age and so far quite powerless to be the hero, to come on top, to identify with those who finally win. Happy ending, next meeting at the train station many years later........ This is literature for grownups. This

LOLYou have a point here In our medieval times the only way for intellectually brilliant women was to enter a convent, to learn and to succeed there. And if you follow their biographies you realize how very limited they were there by the repressive system of thinking, of values and beliefs, in short of reactionary ideology. Always at the brink of being condemned for heresy. Apart from not being entitled to a sex life. Elizabeth I and Katharina the Great are exceptions who either had no male claimant to fear or got rid of them, Hildegard von Bingen was a genius, intellectually far above even any reasonably intelligent and educated noblewoman - and could have been burned for heresy any time. There are those gems in history, probably far more than male history allows us to know about but they owe their fate to lucky coincidences. And there has been Cat as strong woman who fights for her family and thus indirectly for her House as politician. There is Cersei as counter-example. Her speech to Tommen about what mothers would do for their children was so true and honest from her side. No, I am happy that the show has made this strong woman into a far more differenciated character who offers at least some aspects to relate to.

If someone had written the same about Sansa: "I would not mind Sansa being.......what finally happened" there would have been an outrage from many posters and some mods might have chosen to interpret this as break of whatever rule.And yet the deed happened. Will there be the same outrage about Shireen getting burned? Hate for those who predict it? A storm if it happens? It has not yet happened in the books, just like the rape of Sansa. And : Shireen will definetely be dead after having burned while Sansa still has a story to tell. Death is so very final while life is full of possibilities. Do not get me wrong: You are entirely entitled to your opinion and your prediction. And I somewhat understand your reasons. Even if Shireen is one of my favorite characters I feel that the showmakers and Martin probably later are entitled to tell us their story. There should not be any special exception and in-story protection law for Shireen because she is my favorite. And no, I would not stop watching because the series has shown the cruel death of a young girl. And no, I will not go to the mods because you have predicted or even wanted something horrible to happen. I would mourn for that admirable young girl who would have made a queen a thousand times better than Stannis. And I would respect the artistic decision of show and Martin maybe later.

A corkscrew imo.

10!!! One of the best episodes ever. I loved how the High Sparrow was portrayed is his dichtonomy between voice of the many and Savonarola going to be Bin Laden. The performance of Jonathan Price was in no way behind Charles Dance and that is a lot imo. And Cersei! The dialogues, the atmosphere, Lena Headey, everything on spot. Tommen, heartbreaking! The change of the actor was worth it, I guess! The young actor is excellent, so pure and insecure, touching and heartbreaking in being in love and yet showing that he might be the child driven to cruelty by those exploiting him. And yet - Cersei's monologue about what a mother might do, that was sincere. Indeed no one who has not had children would understand that she might be right here. Would we burn down cities? Maybe. Throughout the series I loved the changes they had done to Cersei, emphazising the love for her children and here all this payed off! The slave auction was too short. As I have written quite often already I would have loved Tyrion to be taken even lower down. But the victim striking back and yet being perceived as nothing but funny was already quite humiliating. Both Dinklage and Glenn were phantastic, Dinklage as Tyrion acting out and talking too much and Jorah with on the spot minimal acting. I did not mind Dorne this time. Jaime and Myrcella were just like they had to be: not understanding each other at all. And I loved Jerome Flynn singing. That little game between Bronn and Tyene was actually quite funny and not "gratitious" nudity. Gratitious nudity, gratitious eating, gratitious singing, leave me alone with that word and give me all that delicious gratitiousness! No, it is in no way negative to show a naked body since here it was part of Tyene's game, part of the story. Daario and Dany are a devillish couple. Emilia Clarke's face showing and hiding disgust was great. Jorah was JORAH, Tyrion was TYRION and FINALLY! FINALLY! Tyrion and Dany met. That icy Winterfell! Sansa tortured physically and mentally, yet so strong in her despair, the actress is gettting better and better, kudos to Turner! No, this could not go so easily with Reek, he had to regress. Stannis' story becomes breathtaking to me finally and Shireen's fate now is the story part that touches me most emotionally since my other favorites are safe for many more episodes to come. Aegon, Gilly and Sam... Egg I dreamt..... That was touching, all of it! Landy Olenna and Baelish? Why was Olenna so helpless? There will be more I hope. A truly phantastic episode! Subtle and concentrated. Exquisite light and camera.

This Yes, they cut a "political" woman. But I am more disappointed how they have altered Ellaria as Martin's voice in the books in favor of reason, explaining why revenge above all is the way to disaster. A foreshadowing for any character's arc that is based on revenge, a summary of Martin's approach. Maybe Ellaria will learn the hard way but it won't be the same characterization. Ellaria was one of my heroes in the books.

Actually in rereading I am still perfectly ok with my four year old post. A personal approach you prefer to see as trolling! Obviously experiences of really existing people have no value for you compared to your fandom enthusiasm. But why so serious! The whole thing is hilarious. You seem to collect all the old posts by all those who may ever have annoyed you. Do you have some more of what I wrote? I'd be interested in a reread. Actually you must have quite a collection of good reads by now, being the forum NSA or Stasi who only collect the best :D Do you seriously dedicate your time to your personal archive of "I hate it"? Enjoy. But stop writing nonsense when paraphrasing and interpreting people. I wrote none of those arguments you have invented.

What are trying to say? What arguments about KL? Some quotes to prove your point? Is Amanda Marcotte a poster here? How would you know, I'd think people don't post under their real names in a forum like that. I had never heard of this author before I admit, not being a native English speaker. I had to google her name but she seems to be a writer to be taken seriously. And declaring every argument you dislike a strawman is really cheap. Don't put words into other peoples' mouth. This. Thank you, Deadlines. People who are sensitive about fictional characters should be a thousand times more sensitive about real existing living breathing posters and writers and stop insulting them.

Only dead fish swim with the tide ;)No, seriously, I admire her courage. Only I think her well reasoned opinion is not so unpopular among those who do not spend all day in web debates. http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/all-hopefully-of-the-bad-arguments-about-rape-on-game-of-thrones-debunked/

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/all-hopefully-of-the-bad-arguments-about-rape-on-game-of-thrones-debunked/ You maybe should all read this

oh, please don't bash Spain, they are the most enthusiastic fans there in Europe. And I have been to Cordoba, we can be so lucky to have that most beautiful set, thank you to the Spanish responsibles. I can only hope that you are right. But compared to what they did to Ellaria those identical triplets of cliché badasses and their wooden acting are a minor problem.I loved Ellaria in the books as one of those brilliantly characterized women, the voice of reason. Predicting how wrong all those dreams of revenge and counter-revenge are and how horribly they will turn out to end. (If Revenge is the motive that drives Sansa it is therefore only logical that it had to go very wrong for her, here the show message may be consistent) But they have destroyed Ellaria as Martin's voice in the show - so far, maybe they have to come back to reasonable Ellaria after she has learned the hard way. I was so happy seeing Indira Varma as Ellaria, i hope they can correct that error in characterization. And that is a huge disappointment to me, compared to what they did with Sansa's story, since with Ellaria the show silenced (so far) Martin's own voice . "necessary" may not be the right choice of words though, maybe "inevitable" within plot logic. Here I really agree with you and, being an artist myself, I'm personally angry about the disrespect towards D&D and the gigantic artistic achievement this show is despite all issues one may have.People react like disappointed lovers: Over the top hatred instead of critical evaluation.

What a reasonable post, thank you I as well am annoyed by the Idea that a woman who suffered sexual violence has no story anymore, as if she were worthless now, not only after patriarchial ideology but also as character in literature: now she has no agency anymore, is not empowered enough. Millions of women have been brutalized in wartime and yet they were the ones to put their shattered world together again. They brought up the children from rape and unwanted marriage and cared for them, they built whole new cities. No, women are so much more than their "lost virginity" (like what? lost wallet?? Their value in the eyes of male ownership?)

9/10 The definitely weak point was Dorne, that is the Sand Snakes who are all alike

Sansa's marriage is not automatically invalid due to non consummation, at least not in the books, there has to be some legal procedure. But of course the show may have different rules though the outcome will be the same: Either the marriage being invalid in the show is one big red herring or the marriage will end in the books as well.Actually the proper legal status of Sansa's marriage to Tyrion is of no importance simply because might makes right - until by whatever plot turn someone else sets the rules. And for the story as a whole, for all those conspirators, Sansa and Tyrion being married or not is of no importance at all, they only don't know it yet. The characters only believe in its importance since Sansa is seen as heir. But she isn't. So for whatever power game her marital status is pointless. And for Sansa's and Tyrion's personal fate it's pointless as well. These two will not live together if they don't want to, married or not. After all Sansa is rich and noble, she won't sink into poverty when she is still alive after all is said and done because she and her husband by law prefer to go separate ways.

:Agree:

I loved the episode. Only I had, like with many scenes in that series, the feeling of not getting enough. I want more of everything, all feels a little rushed. But that is because I am one of those who loves Martins travelogues, food, the descriptions of lost cities full of lore and secrets. All that subtle stuff. We only got a small glimpse at the magical atmosphere, the longing for what is not there anymore within the ruins but those small sketches looked like I had imagined it: like Angkor Wat and the lost temples around it, hidden in the jungle, surrounded by water. Great. And Jorah as character became a new quality and intensity by making him recite poetry together with Tyrion. We know from the books that Tyrion is highly educated and loves literature though so far the show did not transfer this sufficiently imo. But Jorah has won a new and unexpected layer that I loved and that made us care even more for him being infected. (Now we can be quite sure that Jon C. Is out) Tyrion seeing the dragon was a benchmark in the series. I loved the story at the wall, every single character actually but Jon was at his best here. The story is so promising and they gave all the right hints: Oldtown, dragonglass again, Children, books, the last Targaeryen.... And Winterfell was great. I am fed up with those haters who are unable to adapt to changes, insisting on laments about pure doctrine lost. It is a different road than in the books, so what? Why not enjoy the journey? The acting was great, Turner was spot on. Roose, Ramsay, Reek were exquisite, so much showing instead of telling. Maybe Brienne should have probed a bit more before trusting that servant but we are supposed to shake our head about Brienne's no subtlety approach, she does it again and again, the anti-Baelish. Wait and see.

LOLAnd what would you leave in???

I love the character of Bronn, him and Lollys were endearing, I would want him to survive. But of all the characters in danger of getting mutilated, abused, raped, tortured or killed I would weep for Shireen the most.

Where is Cyvasse by the way? The game has become an image for the whole story, a symbol for Tyrion's arc, a proof for Myrcella's cleverness and an important plot tool. But no Aegon - no Cyvasse ??

I dread even more the fate of Shireen than the fate of Sansa. Whatever is done to Sansa I am sure she will survive until at least into the last book since her story is not yet over. Shireen burned by Melisandre, maybe with the support of her own mother, would be, well, dead.

I lovelovelove your post.With small changes this could be my story. I have been reading fantasy for many decades now and never before an adaptation on screen managed to capture me remotely like the books it was based on. We have LOTR in all its majesty and yet the story with its beauty (and with all this money invested) is less captivating and relatable than GOT. There may be some not so small points I wished they were realized in a different way and yet.....