How would you rate episode 306?

[bbstark]

Look I know what he meant... I do have something quite reliable between my ears.

So is Mad Men, a show where both men and women are potrayed in a society that heavily favors men. A society hostile to women.

What I DON'T understand is why he assumed that someone reading ASOIAF must a priori be ok with sexism? We are at liberty to discuss those themes, and disagree at how women are treated in Westeros. Moreover GRRM actually identifies as a feminist, and strives to write rich female characters, who if I do say so myself, thrive in a world hostile to them.

Also, a statement like that can't possibly end well. Cut it out!

[alwayswinter]

And it is clear Mel is going to fry poor Gendry

Really?! You don't think he's taking Edric's role from the books, to be saved from Mel by Davos? I thought this seemed pretty clear.

[Lucifer Lightbringer]

The world of ASOIAF is heavily based on a male dominated society is what he meant.

True, but it serves as a thoughtful inquiry into the merits of such a system, whereas the show is interpreted completely through the lens of the run of the mill modern patriarchy that media and advertising hold so dear. Which, in my eyes, is chiefly wrong in the context of this kind of entertainment because it is just so trite and boring.

[Swan Targ]

Look I know what he meant... I do have something quite reliable between my ears.

So is Mad Men, a show where both men and women are potrayed in a society that heavily favors men. A society hostile to women.

What I DON'T understand is why he assumed that someone reading ASOIAF must a priori be ok with sexism? We are at liberty to discuss those themes, and disagree at how women are treated in Westeros. Moreover GRRM actually identifies as a feminist, and strives to write rich female characters, who if I do say so myself, thrive in a world hostile to them.

Also, a statement like that can't possibly end well. Cut it out!

You don't have to be ok with sexism

But complaining that something in ASOIAF is sexist it's stupid to me. Of course it's gonna be sexist.

[Not Benjen Stark]

I loved the interactions between Tyrion/ Cersei- Olenna/Tywin Varys/ LF and they even did this Theon scene well as gruesome and depressing as it is: Despite all this I went with a 6/7 because it lacked the action of a Daenarys section and failed to mention Galbart Glovers blunder at Duskendale and I didn't like the cheesiness of the way they packed Gendry off

[Lucifer Lightbringer]

You don't have to be ok with sexism

But complaining that something in ASOIAF is sexist it's stupid to me. Of course it's gonna be sexist.

Like I said above, there is a pretty big difference between unflinchingly and objectively portraying a society that is repressive to women, and telling a story in a way that is repressive and demeaning in itself.

[Leto Atreides]

I gave it a 5. Really poor episode compared to the previous ones. I liked Ramsay Bolton and the scenes at the wall. Everything else was meh. Melisandre, Stannis' red priest, dressed in bright Red, crossed the Crownlands or the Trident during wartime with an escort of Stannis Baratheon's men? Tyrion blaming Joffrey instead of Cersei from the assassination attempt? Come on, he has never been so clueless. I guess Ros' death is a good thing though.

[Freebird6699]

I actually rather liked this episode, so it gets an 8 rating from me. To me, it was much stronger than episode 2, and a bit stronger than episode 1. Sure, it was a bit of a let down compared to the past two episode, but still, this is a vast improvement over pretty much every episode in Season 2, with the exception of the Blackwater episode.

What worked for me:

• Lady Olenna/Lord Tywin - For all the folks who were getting disgruntled with the QoT owning everyone that she conversed with, we a have scene where each player held his/her own. Great acting as usual from Charles Dance and Diana Rigg.
  
• Tyrion/Cersei - A bit of a new dynamic shown in this normally totally antagonistic relationship. I guess misery makes for some strange bedfellows. I really liked this scene, and both Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey acquitted themselves quite well.
  
• Thoros/anyone-everyone - I am also really enjoying Paul Kaye' take on Thoros. He totally dominates every scene that he's in.
  
• Jon/wildings - I thought that the climb sequences were pretty well executed, and that Tormund was a bit more in keeping with the Tormund from the books. I also think that these sequences helped to advance the Jon Snow/Ygritte relationship a bit further into the realm of believability. Orell sucks pretty hard, though....
  
• Littlefinger/Varys - I always like to see these two characters interacting, and Littlefinger was especially chilling. His character has not been done justice thus far this season (and I say this as someone who doesn't even care for the character to any great extent), but I thought that the final scene was a big step in the right direction.
  
• Jaime/Brienne/Roose - Not a show-stopping scene, but something about this one was both amusing and creepy to me all at the same time. Roose telling Jaime that he "overplayed his.......position" I was yelling "hand" during the pause. I also like the "failing at dinner" line from Jaime.
  

What didn't work for me:

• I guess that I'm in the minority here, but I really didn't like the Ramsay/Theon scene. I hate torture sequences to begin with, and things just seemed to go on forever. Please, please tell me that we are not going to have two full seasons for Theon getting tortured by Ramsay.
  
• Arya the master archer - Just WTF??? Since when is Arya some super wunderkind with the bow and arrow??
  
• Jojen has a seizure - Again, WTF?? Are they mixing his character up with Robert Aryn (I mean Robin Aryn)??
  
• Meera/Osha antagonism -- Why, why is this necessary?
  
• Beric selling Gendry to Mel - Totally not in keeping with Berric and the BWB. May have been the most disappointing sequence of the episode to me.
  
• Ros - Okay, I was never a fan, but man, that was a pretty shitty way for her character to have gone out.
  

I couldn't agree with you more and one other thing. Since when has Arya not become physical in a situation like this? She really likes Gendry and he is all the family she has had for awhile. Just to let them take him without any kind of a fight is very untrue to her character. I think the meeting with her and Mel has more to do with the prophecy of the old tree woman. I think these eye colors are referring to the people she has killed, or will. I also don't quite understand how Mel could find the Brothers so quickly. Hasn't the Mountain been looking for them all this time?

[Swan Targ]

Did I miss something but how did Melissandre know Gendry is Robert's bastard?

Wasn't like a huge kept secret to everyone even Arya?

She came in as if she knew he was there and what he looked like.

[Florina Laufeyson]

Cersei... badass?

Right?

I actually agree with this -- I don't think I came off as genderist -- but if I did, it was unintentional. I really saw what would be a normal/expected (and minor) clash under the circumstances.

Oh no, i wasnt referring to you. ;)

Like I said above, there is a pretty big difference between unflinchingly and objectively portraying a society that is repressive to women, and telling a story in a way that is repressive and demeaning in itself.

Bolded, which is what GRRM is NOT doing. I cannot actively speak for HBO though.

Swan Targ. R'hllor did it? /shrug Im guessing she saw it in the fires.

Edited May 7, 2013 by Florina Stark

[bbstark]

You don't have to be ok with sexism

But complaining that something in ASOIAF is sexist it's stupid to me. Of course it's gonna be sexist.

lol

you're obviously new here

People dissect every line of text, and analyze it over and over again, chew on it for months

If you can't handle that, and accuse people on forums, then maybe you shouldn't ....well who am I to tell you what to do :D

[Er Rn]

Did I miss something but how did Melissandre know Gendry is Robert's bastard?

Wasn't like a huge kept secret to everyone even Arya?

She came in as if she knew he was there and what he looked like.

She saw it in the flames I believe

[Lothar]

I will echo Lucifer's (oh boy) sentiment that this episode was too much of a handhold even though it's a setup episode. Very little subtlety and it was sort of a "Hey remember this" a few times, but since I'm not a producer or writer perhaps you really need to do those things for the general viewership.

Of course you do. I can't tell you how many friends and coworkers asked me questions about episodes 4 and 5. They were so confused. One of the main reasons I would say this episode was sooo much better written than the episodes before it actually helped the viewer out and because they slowed everything down/allowed viewers time to think. Episode 5 seemed like it was written just for people that read the books. As was the first appearance of Beric in Episode 4. The scene was so short and rushed. They should have explained more about why Ned sent them to kill the mountain and how he was in a position to do that because I doubt most non-book readers instantly remembered that scene from Season 1 from that one sentence of Beric's. (Perhaps if there was a little break from the serious dialogue and people were allowed to think)

If a show gives viewers an endless amount of characters to keep track of, sometimes exaggerated characters and handholding are needed. I appreciate the "Hey remember this" parts as it saves me from having to answer questions the next day at work.

Edited May 7, 2013 by Lothar

[Howie Reed]

Gentry for Edric will be difficult to rationalize by book 8 and season 14. :)

I think we will get our witch, yet.

This is really compelling TV.

I gave it an 8, 4 all u h8rs.

Need a reason to break up the band and send Rickon to Skagos- so I think the bickering was good. Can't believe it will be 6 or more seasons before we see hot OSHA and 4 year old Rickon again.

Littlefinger is being built up into a real devil. Love it.

Finish the books, George.

[House Balstroko]

A weak episode compared to the previous ones but it still had a few good scenes, probably a 6 for me.

Good:

-Theon torture scene

-Jon scaling the wall

-Olenna and Tywin

-Jaime and Brienne with Roose

-The Freys with Robb

Bad:

-Bran's arc was dull

-Sam and Gilly at the campfire (although hopefully its a set up for the encounter with the White Walker)

-Melisandre taking Gendry

-Sansa and Loras

[House Dawson]

http://thenerdybomb.com/game-of-thrones-the-climb/

I really liked this episode. Thought the invented scene with Melissandre and the BroCave was a stroke of genius. Interested to see where they go with Gendry's storyline though.

[Lyanna Stark-Baratheon]

I gave it a 4 just b/c of Ramsey Snow....nothing else stood out.There are toooooo many deviations. WTF is up with the red woman in Riverrun.... is Gengry suppose to sub for Edric Storm? why is LF leaving? Is he coming back for her or is he going to send Sir Dontos? Why is Robb begging Edmure? I hated this episode I was waiting for the high to come down, and here it has, hopefully we will get a good hit next week.

Edited May 7, 2013 by Lyanna Stark-Baratheon

[Gendels Children]

wow people dont seem very impressed, i loved it! 10. Tywin and Olenna was great, Sam and Gilly was good, J&Y was good ithink we needed a bit more on thoes two and their relationship. Ramsay and Theon was great, im happy they are actually having him beg for the limbs to be cut off. the Arya and Mel stuff was new but very good i felt. the climbing of the wall was great, i enjoyed the drama.the osha and meera stuff was a little much but quite funny. the awkwardness between Loras and Sansa was a little over played, poor Loras's character is being slaughted in the tv show oh well. Ros dying was good, i was wondering where the hell they would be going with her storyline and im happy its ended. Tyrion and Cercei was quite funny both sooking about their new marrages-to-be. the whole make out scene was a little too... i dont even know but it was too much, still not as bad as it could have been. Jaime and Bri was good i really liked their scene with Roose, and putting her in the dress too, very nice. all in all i liked it alot!

[Nudu]

A 9! One point is off because Ygritte and Jon's last scene.

[Lyanna Stark-Baratheon]

Finish the books, George.

Yes Please!!!