[Abyss]

Not a bad thing if it means we get two Awesome stories in two mediums.

...I may be giving the books too much future credit...

[Traveller]

Yes, you need two paths to create any sort of divergence. The tv show may be the only version for some time.

[worry]

I enjoyed it. Pretty standard visit-almost-everyone premiere episode. Pretty glad they got ride of the Dorne Dudes, since that was the biggest screw-up last season and they were an anchor around the show's neck as a result.

[Tattersail_]

I'm watching this tonight. I am very excited.

[amphibian]

Several groan inducing scenes that were hopefully done just to speed things up to compress timelines and cut down on cast size/setting jumping.

[QuickTidal]

I thought that was pretty fantastic all throughout.

Spoiler

I think the scene of the night goes EASILY to Sansa and Theon escaping (clutching for warmth) only to be found by the Bolton crew...and Brienne and Pod coming rolling in and slaughtering every one of them ('cept the one Theon slew), and then kneeling to say her vow to Sansa. That was perfectly done. Also...Go Podrick!

The Dorne stuff deaths were unexpected, but yeah their storyline kind of meandered so I'm fine with it.

I think I'd always assumed in the books that Jaime had finally gotten the yolk off his sister and her non-love lust off his shoulders and that he'd never go back to help her...but this played out well between them. I'm sure he's done with sleeping with her, but the familial bond will keep him present and angry for the things to come. The Sparrow and his ilk are in for a SEVERELY rude awakening. Especially when she puts the Mountain-Resurrected into play.

Arya's is typically where I'd assumed it would be going, teaching her to fight Daredevil style. (Can can I just add that I'm glad Faye Marsay is still on the show!) I think that her Braavos storyline needs to wrap this season though if she's going to come to Westeros again and be a badass assassin.

Dany's scene was...eh...I'm confused as to how an entire Dothraki horde would be completely oblivious to who she was enough to sit there and insult her (also, do the dothraki need to be so overtly sexual with their taunts?). I think I'd assumed that Khal Drogo was a bigger presence than that. And the guy mocks her names EVEN after she mentions her Dothraki title...but then buys it after she mentions Khal Drogo? Oh, and the whole I'm not having any kids ever thing....well if you are going to sit the throne in Westeros...who will succeed then if you have no heirs? Are you going to take the iron throne, rule for your life and then let it fall to infighting and chaos again? Or was she just talking out of her ass to the Khal? That whole scene was meh...and tag the Jorah scene onto that meh....I like Mormont...but they could have waited to put him in a longer more meaninful scene in a second ep instead of just - See horde markings, find ring, "they've got her" - but I digress.

Varys and Tyrion was a decent scene. Nothing spectacular, but interesting. Who torched the fleet? Was it the dragon?


The Wall stuff was great. When I read the last book I think I always assumed that Jon's death was a full-on Caesar (everyone had a part and agreed)...but it's nice to know that Davos has a bunch of Night's Watch who were loyal to Jon behind him, and ghost...and Longclaw. It sounds like Ed went to get the Wildlings? That should be cool. I hope they tear Thorne limb from limb.

And the big twisty ending moment. Melisandre's ACTUAL visage after removing her (magic?) necklace being a stooped old crone...(also, was that Carice Van Houten with special effects makeup?) is fascinating. Is that her actual body? Is it due to her loss of faith in Azor? I'm super curious about it.

Last night was an experience watching and having no clue what was going to happen. I think I enjoyed it MORE than knowing what was going to happen mostly for 5 seasons.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 25 April 2016 - 01:07 PM

[End of Disc One]

So many things not making sense, just like in season 5. For example,

Spoiler

Why are Davos, Edd, etc. guarding Jon's body? Do they have any reason to believe that he won't come back as a wight? And for that matter, why did Thorne just leave his body lying there in the first place?

Ramsay's infamous dogs..did they just run away when the fighting started? And no consequences to Brienne for leaving her post to go off to kill Stannis...she still gets to rescue Sansa.

And so much waste with Doran and Areo Hotah going down like that. I thought Doran's reveal was one of the best parts of AFfC. Now Ellaria and the Sand Snakes are some of the cartoon villains of the series. I also found this to be funny: http://zap2it.com/20...eo-hotah-fight/

Some A+ dialogue there, talking about white pussy hair and fucking in the ass.

Melisandre reveal was great, easily the highlight of this episode.

[QuickTidal]

End of Disc One, on 25 April 2016 - 01:22 PM, said:

So many things not making sense, just like in season 5. For example,

Spoiler

Why are Davos, Edd, etc. guarding Jon's body? Do they have any reason to believe that he won't come back as a wight? And for that matter, why did Thorne just leave his body lying there in the first place?

Ramsay's infamous dogs..did they just run away when the fighting started? And no consequences to Brienne for leaving her post to go off to kill Stannis...she still gets to rescue Sansa.

And so much waste with Doran and Areo Hotah going down like that. I thought Doran's reveal was one of the best parts of AFfC. Now Ellaria and the Sand Snakes are some of the cartoon villains of the series. I also found this to be funny: http://zap2it.com/20...eo-hotah-fight/

Some A+ dialogue there, talking about white pussy hair and fucking in the ass.

Melisandre reveal was great, easily the highlight of this episode.

Spoiler

Re: Areo Hotah...LOL. I recall when they first intro-ed them all they focused on their weapons and the intricate designs, and the guy who plays Hotah in interview was all jazzed about his pike blade thingie...and I'm siting there last night going "Fat lot of fucking good it did you Hotah." Haha.

[End of Disc One]

Oh and I didn't even realize this earlier http://i.imgur.com/lbAMFHo.jpg

[Nevyn]

My thoughts

Spoiler

Overall, a pretty good starter episode:


It feels like they are putting some stories on fast forward to move the show along and keep from getting distracted. After the agonizing pace of last year, you get Brienne rescuing Sansa without ever finding out she escaped or where she went onscreen. Very good scene, and I am fine with them skipping forward, just an observation.

The Dorne stuff felt accelerated, too. It is just a weird fast track to conflict they have done with Dorne. I mean, if the long game for the Sand Snakes was to kill Doran and Tristane anyway, and they had the capability to do it and the tacit backing of much of the staff, why not do it when Myrcella is leaving, and take everyone out (including Jamie) at once? I mean, the behind the scenes reason is they needed Jamie for something this season, but it is weirdly quick. Also, I missed something here. Was Tristane on his way back to Dorne in the boat? If so, why is he painting the eye stones for (presumably) Myrcella. If not, how did the two Sand Snakes get to him on a boat in King's Landing?

Like QuickTidal, I found it a bit odd that the Khal had never heard of Daenarys. Again, it feels like they are making some logical leaps to get the story moving where they want and at the pace they want. It is actually even more unlikely that the Dothraki would capture a beautiful blonde woman in the middle of nowhere with no sense of who she is, and drag her all the way back to the Khal before anyone laid a hand on her. I mean, after all the flak the show has taken, not a surprise, just not really in character.

And to contrast with all of that, they are going to drag out the tease (whether there is a payoff or not) on Jon Snow. Nice touch on the red woman reveal at the end.

I get the feeling that this whole season will move pretty fast (except potentially for the Bran stuff and the Wall stuff).

[QuickTidal]

End of Disc One, on 25 April 2016 - 01:30 PM, said:

Oh and I didn't even realize this earlier http://i.imgur.com/lbAMFHo.jpg

I wonder how they explain that? Maybe we just all assume the magic came from the necklace? Perhaps she just changed once she was naked on her own and the necklace has nothing to do with it? Otherwise it's a pretty big flub.

[Nevyn]

QuickTidal, on 25 April 2016 - 01:41 PM, said:

End of Disc One, on 25 April 2016 - 01:30 PM, said:

Oh and I didn't even realize this earlier http://i.imgur.com/lbAMFHo.jpg

I wonder how they explain that? Maybe we just all assume the magic came from the necklace? Perhaps she just changed once she was naked on her own and the necklace has nothing to do with it? Otherwise it's a pretty big flub.

Don't think they bother explaining it. Continuity errors happen, and only a small percentage of watchers notice or care.

Or it could end up being her losing faith in the lord of light that removes the effects more than the necklace, and the timing being basically symbolic. Either way, I would assume she is about to have a dream about Jon Snow.

Still, good find.

[Slow Ben]

Decent intro, plus its kinda nice to watch this show and have no F'ing clue whats going to happen.

[Abyss]

Enjoyed the premiere.

The Dorne development in particular was a fun twist. Prince Stabbyface was an utter idiot tho.

Davos rallying Jon`s Watch buddies was a nice touch.

The Mel thing made perfect sense.

Neat that Arya'a training continues... that didn't happen that way in the books.

Brienne to the rescue. Finally. Nice touch that last bit where she swore loyalty. At least Sansa isn't utterly alone any more. Also, Go Pod!

Dany, Jorah, Cersei/Jaime and Tyrion were barely setup scenes, more to just ensure they were in the premiere than anything else, but good enough.

[acesn8s]

Spoiler

So I noticed Ghost was howling while locked away. Ghost isn't suppose to make any noises. Oversight or a sign of Jon warging into Ghost?

[amphibian]

I think this was the worst premiere episode of any of the seasons in terms of what scenes were being told and how, but its virtue was that it hurried the crap out of several storylines, while delivering a dramatic rescue scene of Sansa. This hurrying up is probably what gets the good evaluations from people.

So if they got the dirty work done this episode, the rest of the season may be able to take off that much faster.

[Abyss]

amphibian, on 25 April 2016 - 05:11 PM, said:

I think this was the worst premiere episode of any of the seasons in terms of what scenes were being told and how, but its virtue was that it hurried the crap out of several storylines, while delivering a dramatic rescue scene of Sansa. This hurrying up is probably what gets the good evaluations from people.

So if they got the dirty work done this episode, the rest of the season may be able to take off that much faster.

What was hurried?

Everything pretty much flowed directly from where each story was left last season, non?

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 25 April 2016 - 05:12 PM, said:

amphibian, on 25 April 2016 - 05:11 PM, said:

I think this was the worst premiere episode of any of the seasons in terms of what scenes were being told and how, but its virtue was that it hurried the crap out of several storylines, while delivering a dramatic rescue scene of Sansa. This hurrying up is probably what gets the good evaluations from people.

So if they got the dirty work done this episode, the rest of the season may be able to take off that much faster.

What was hurried?

Everything pretty much flowed directly from where each story was left last season, non?

Yeah, I'm unsure how anything was hurried.

[amphibian]

Abyss, on 25 April 2016 - 05:12 PM, said:

What was hurried?

Everything pretty much flowed directly from where each story was left last season, non?

Daario and Jorah have the luckiest/shortest search ever as they find the exact field where Drogon dropped off Dany and Jorah just happens to step right up to the spot where her ring was in that huge field.

Same for The on and Sansa. All that running, a crossing of a river in the bitter cold and the dogs/henchmen still find them in about three minutes. Then Brienne+Pod randomly happen across them.

Same for the sudden complete betrayal of Doran by a sandsnake and Ellaria + the killing of Dumbo McSwordsman on the boat. They even bought off/convinced the royal guards beyond Hotah.

These are ludicrous coincidences and complicated things smashed together to hurry things up.

[End of Disc One]

Wert made a good point about one of the things that bugged me.

https://twitter.com/...656105427705856