John Courage

All I really want from the battle at Winterfell, is to see Theon being given to the heart tree.

Blue Eyed Wolf's essay and theory on Ser Shadrich, Ser Morgarth, and Ser Byron is probably my favorite theory on what is going to happen with Sansa in TWOW, or at least what will happen with her in the whole Ser Shadrich "abduction" plot point, which I think is going to spin in a completely unexpected direction.

I gave it an 8, the first really enjoyable episode of the season where the talent of these great actors weren't completely wasted on shit dialogue and poor storytelling (I really, REALLY, hate Bryan Cogman). I still had a couple issues, such as Sansa refusing to tell Jon about her letter to Littlefinger. Why would she hide that? It literally makes no sense especially when she was trying to get Jon to wait until they had more troops. Why would he wait for the troops he doesn't think exists? The Vale troops showing up with Littlefinger and without anyone in all the north knowing about them? Yea, ok. But somehow Sansa found him and showed up to the battle alongside him? GTFO. Have I mentioned I hate Bryan Cogman? Dany's destruction of the Masters was pretty cool, but still, the dialogue and story development is just so freaking bad. Not nearly as bad as last week's episode, but still, nothing like the last 5 seasons, or at least the first 4. Oh, and where the hell is Ghost? Why even include the direwolves in the show? It has been absolutely pointless for all the impact they've had, they might as well have been completely written out.

The showrunners and Bryan Cogman are destroying this story. 5/10.

6/10. This has to be the most poorly written "hit" tv show on the air right now. I'm really at a loss. Without the books as blueprint, the show's writing is floundering like an armless man who fell off a cruise ship. If you want to watch a tv show that actually has great writing, that values substance over jet packs and deus ex machina, watch "The Americans" on FX. That is what writing is supposed to look like.

I give it a solid 7. Good episode overall, but the plot between Mel, Davos, and Jon seems way too contrived. Everything else was pretty on point. Can't wait for more Bran visions (ToJ next week!). Really liking the new Sansa storyline, but kind of disappointed Theon is leaving before he's given to a tree...Pyke was good, although I imagined Balon would get a more Vikingesque funeral, didn't like the whole crab cage thing. Looking forward to the crazy shit Euron is going to bring to the series. Enjoyed the scene with Tyrion and the dragons. Tommen and Cersei scene was good. I liked Ramsay's mutiny, pretty much what I expected. Jamie and the High Sparrow was good. The scene with Frankengregor was pretty freaking awesome too.

This, a thousand times this. We don't need all the peripheral storytelling, just put the pieces where they need to be and focus on the main characters. I swear, this show isn't really satisfying to watch unless you string two or three of them together, and ain't nobody got time for that. Unless you're unemployed, or don't sleep.

So far 49 people have given it a 1-5 and 39 people have given it a 6-10. I give it a 6. I like GoT, but I like the books 100x better. Something about a show whose run time is less than an hour (52-54 mins) giving screen time to 6 or 7 different plot lines for less than 10 mins a piece leaves me very unsatisfied. I wish they would have increased the run time another 10-15 mins per episode.

I don't know what is going to happen, but I do know that Ser Shadrich knows without a doubt that Alayne is really Sansa. I also don't believe he is who he says he is, due in large part to his very vague introduction to Brienne that seems to raise alot of questions. Also, as sigil crazy as GRRM is, the MM's sigil of the albino mouse on a field of brown and blue really makes me think, but whoever he is I don't really believe he is working for Varys. Brienne is a beast, a veritable warrior's warrior, and after meeting the Mad Mouse believes he is the real deal, not just some schmuck with a sword, but a bona fide threat. He immediately knows who Brienne is looking for, demonstrating his intellect and perception, and Brienne comments on his "easy arrogance that comes with skill at arms". While Sansa remarks to herself that she sees old battles in the scars beneath his ear and a hardness behind his eyes. I just can't see an intelligent and experienced warrior, especially one as small and quiet as a...ahem...mouse, just coming out and saying exactly who he is and who he is working for, so I think there is conspiracy at play with regards to the MM. Whether he is an agent of the BwB, a Riverlander loyal to the Tully's, or HR himself seeking out Sansa, I don't know, but there is definitely more than meets the eye with the MM. He has to be my absolute most favorite *minor* character introduced so far. Can't wait to see what's in store for Alayne/Sansa and the drama to unfold between her and the MM.

No. Definitely not. In the books its Dany's husband Hizdhar zo Loraq, and in both the show and the books Varys has been the one plotting to reinstall Daenerys on the Iron Throne.

Exactly. Well stated Ser. :cheers:

The show is nothing more than a terrible copy of a work of literary art. GRRM was right to leave Hollywood the first time. Benioff and Weiss had all the necessary components to make this show great, but in the pursuit of 'making the show their own' they have made a frankenstein of poor story construction, massive plot holes, sloppy storylines, and an overall disregard for the source material. Everything was done for them, all they had to do was follow the plan, instead they threw the instructions away and were like "who needs all these extra screws and shit, pffft, we got this."