[Nevyn]

Anyone else having a bit of an issue with the dothraki all instantly bowing after she murdered the Khals? They already knew she would not burn. I mean it has been clear she would flip them somehow, but holy shortcut Batman! Didn't even have to do one of her go to speeches this time.

Tormund and Brienne is a cute diversion. Glad we are finally headed to a fight with the sparrows at Kings landing. And a no dorne episode is a good episode.

[Terez]

Nevyn, on 16 May 2016 - 03:48 AM, said:

Anyone else having a bit of an issue with the dothraki all instantly bowing after she murdered the Khals? They already knew she would not burn.

That's the thing; they didn't know. The only people who knew were the handful of Dothraki who remained after Drogo died, most of whom are dead now, and Jorah. No one else believed her. Everyone knew she was in the temple to be judged by the Khals; everyone knew she was being judged because she hadn't reported to Vaes Dothrak after Drogo died. No speech was necessary.

[Terez]

Sansa doesn't have the power to proclaim Jon a Stark. Only a king (or queen) could do that. And as I said before, I doubt it will ever happen. If he is legitimized, it will probably be as a Targaryen.

[Tatterdemalion]

Sansa's gonna take back the damn North. Finally showing the spine they gave her in 410 and 501-whenever she was sold.

I, too, loved this episode. Even more than the last one. Each one has gotten better and better. If people don't hate me I'll post my FanvsFan video response like last time. Fun discussions! We liked a whole bunch and nit-pick at Theon walking through the north by himself in rags like it ain't no thang, and all the people behind the bonfire who couldn't even see Dany bowing as if doing the wave at a stadium.

Jon + Sansa. So nice to see. Littelefinger back. Also nice. I love that the actor playing Robin has stayed all this time, unlike most of the kids. They actually moved the plot forward enough in Essos to make things there exciting again! Next ep: Drogon comes.

No Dorne = another flying success.

[worry]

Ramsay is a Bolton because Roose called in his favor with Tywin *ahem* I mean requested it from King Joffrey Baratheon. Roose didn't do it himself (thus the need for getting it certified via raven).

[Terez]

My money is still on Jon.

[Terez]

It wouldn't really mean anything like that, though. Not unless she's Queen of the North. I suppose that's a possibility, but I don't personally see it happening.

I have always kind of half-expected Rickon to end up as Lord Stark, just because he has such an interesting and (from the reader's perspective) mysterious story. But if Rickon dies, my money is on Bran, especially now that they've said he won't be staying north of the Wall forever.

Bran's bit in the preview for next week is interesting. He's standing, so it's a vision, presumably of the future? Or maybe of the present, i.e. he's inside the tree having this vision of the army outside, and they're trying to wake him up.

[Terez]

It's not really necessary, though, especially now that it's known Rickon is alive. Rickon is officially recognized as Lord Stark for the moment; even Ramsey called him Lord Stark. So Jon and Sansa can rally the faithful northerners in support of Rickon.

[Abyss]

Ramsay has 5k men plus the three biggest North houses. Jon n Sansa have 2k wildlings, plus probably the smaller houses, and tho they don't know it, the Vale. ...this should be good.

Davos needs to put a sword thru Mel, but he did tell Brienne to ignore the past.

Tormung and Brienne may be the greatest pairing this show could ever do.

This Tyrell vs Sparrows thing is only going to work out for Cersei.

Dany... bout fucking time. And someone needs to teach the Dothraki about fire safety.

Tyrion... Heh, I'm enjoying this.

[Primateus]

Terez, on 16 May 2016 - 03:09 AM, said:

I am starting to suspect that none of you guys actually have HBO.

LIES! LIES AND SLANDER!!!

[QuickTidal]

That Jon and Sansa moment was possibly the best thing they've done in seasons...probably partially because after 5 books we never got to see any of the Starks together again yet...So that was a HUGE moment. Perfectly played. The pause as they slowly walk up to one another and then fiercely embrace. Adding to the fact that both have been through so much now that they can dismiss their old petty differences fairly easily. Been waiting 5 seasons for that moment, and it was well worth it. I think the only bigger moment will be the Jon and Arya moment (should it ever come)...or perhaps Sansa & Arya. Either way that was gold.

Great episode, but I'm annoyed we haven't seen the rest of the ToJ scene yet. And next week's Bran vision looks to be The White Walkers...

Oh but it looks like we are time skipping with Littlefinger arriving at Castle Black in the next ep...THAT should be good.

[Nevyn]

Briar King, on 16 May 2016 - 04:06 AM, said:

No. No speech required. Are you telling me if you lived in this world and was a Doth and you see center of culture burning and a blonde outsider strolls out un burnt you wouldn't bend the knee at once?? As I said if you lived in that world.

Yeah, I'd probably either run away or try to kill the crazy blonde witch. Certainly wouldn't bow. Again, her resistance to fire 'is known'. So the only new information would be that she had just murdered all the leaders.

This is a heavily mysoginistic warrior culture that already resents her. She managed to rally a few Dothraki the last time, because many of them already loved her, and they had not just seen the FIRST survival of fire, but also the birth of dragons. AND she had to give a speech.

This post has been edited by Nevyn: 16 May 2016 - 02:03 PM

[QuickTidal]

Anyone have the Eyrie numbers?

I mean it's kinda obvious that since Littlefinger controls the Eyrie though Robin, that they are basically Jon's now...as Sansa will make sure they are, and Littlefinger won't cross her now.

I'll be curious if with the Wildlings and the Eyrie what Jon's numbers going up against Ramsay will be. I want Ramsay to see the host in front of Winterfell and shit himself.

[Werthead]

In the books, the Vale can muster an army of about 45,000 all told. Unlike the North, the Vale is quite compact so they can muster a large army and march fairly quickly. Also, and this is quite important, the Vale have not taken part in the War of the Five Kings at all, so they haven't suffered massive casualties. By this point in the books the Lannisters have suffered quite large and sustained losses and so has the North, but the North did have a (sort of) backup force in that Robb didn't have the time to gather the entire army before he set off, so did leave significant forces at home. The Reach is much larger than any of the rest and has also sustained almost no casualties to speak of during the war, but their army has been in the field quite a long time and has likely suffered some attrition from sickness and desertion. Dorne is also completely untouched, but their army is quite small.

In the TV show, who knows. They said last night that the Tyrells had the "second-largest army" at over 100,000 (established in-show in Season 2) and seemed to be hinting that the Lannisters were larger (which isn't true by themselves, but if they're assuming the Vale, the surrendered Riverland houses, the Stormlands and the North will support them as well, maybe). Dorne's strength in the TV series hasn't been mentioned at all.

Quote

Anyone else having a bit of an issue with the dothraki all instantly bowing after she murdered the Khals? They already knew she would not burn. I mean it has been clear she would flip them somehow, but holy shortcut Batman! Didn't even have to do one of her go to speeches this time.

Not really. The Dothraki knelt before her pretty much instantly as well at the end of Season 1, so there's no reason it wouldn't happen on a larger scale. Maybe there's some Dothraki religious/prophetic significance to someone walking through flames and being untouched. Some have speculated that the Dothraki have an abiding fear of fire (on that scale) because of the damage it can do on the dry grasslands and also of dragons, which kept them cowed in Essos until after the Doom.

In the book I suspect Drogon will play a larger role in the flipping. They may even tie it in with the Stallion That Mounts the World prophecy (as Drogon is, metaphorically anyway, Danerys's "son" and bears Khal Drogo's name) and come at it a different angle. In the novels Dany isn't immune to fire without serious magical assistance, so it will happen differently.

[Abyss]

Nevyn, on 16 May 2016 - 01:52 PM, said:

Briar King, on 16 May 2016 - 04:06 AM, said:

No. No speech required. Are you telling me if you lived in this world and was a Doth and you see center of culture burning and a blonde outsider strolls out un burnt you wouldn't bend the knee at once?? As I said if you lived in that world.

Yeah, I'd probably either run away or try to kill the crazy blonde witch. Certainly wouldn't bow. Again, her resistance to fire 'is known'. So the only new information would be that she had just murdered all the leaders.

This is a heavily mysoginistic warrior culture that already resents her. She managed to rally a few Dothraki the last time, because many of them already loved her, and they had not just seen the FIRST survival of fire, but also the birth of dragons. AND she had to give a speech.

Heavily superstitious culture, they hold the dead Khals' Khalessies in a sort of weird honored advisor role, and the legends around Dany were pretty wild. She was hanging out with a dragon when they found her.

Not ridiculous but more to the point more plot development than the books managed in 3000 pages.

[Terez]

Abyss, on 16 May 2016 - 10:20 AM, said:

Ramsay has 5k men plus the three biggest North houses. Jon n Sansa have 2k wildlings, plus probably the smaller houses, and tho they don't know it, the Vale. ...this should be good.

Don't forget the Umbers. I suspect the Stark force will end up with everyone except the Boltons and maybe the Karstarks.

Abyss, on 16 May 2016 - 10:20 AM, said:

Tormund and Brienne may be the greatest pairing this show could ever do.

Yup yup yup. I can't have been the only one cracking up throughout that entire scene. Tormund might be the only guy who has ever truly appreciated Brienne's feminine charms, such as they are. And it's not like he's some kind of loser who can't get any other woman; he's the goddamn Giantsbane who has probably spent his whole life looking for a woman who won't break under the full force of his fiery passion, and probably never dreamed he'd find her south of the Wall. This shit is gold.

Abyss, on 16 May 2016 - 10:20 AM, said:

This Tyrell vs Sparrows thing is only going to work out for Cersei.

I find it hard to believe it will work even for her. They did drop several hints about how the High Sparrow has sympathizers all throughout the city, and that was all mixed in with Varys's little birds and Qyburn's attempt to make them his own.

[Traveller]

I want Ramsey to come out all confident as he faces Jon and the Wildlings, to get a hillside full of Eyrie soldiers in the back.

[Gorefest]

Abyss, on 16 May 2016 - 10:20 AM, said:

Ramsay has 5k men plus the three biggest North houses. Jon n Sansa have 2k wildlings, plus probably the smaller houses, and tho they don't know it, the Vale.

And my axe!


But yeah, good episode. Hadnt expected two Stark kids to ever meet up again until the last episode of the entire series.

[Abyss]

Terez, on 16 May 2016 - 05:48 PM, said:

... Tormund might be the only guy who has ever truly appreciated Brienne's feminine charms, such as they are. And it's not like he's some kind of loser who can't get any other woman; he's the goddamn Giantsbane who has probably spent his whole life looking for a woman who won't break under the full force of his fiery passion, and probably never dreamed he'd find her south of the Wall. This shit is gold....

He ate that rib at her like a Boss.

[Abyss]

Terez, on 16 May 2016 - 05:48 PM, said:

Abyss, on 16 May 2016 - 10:20 AM, said:

This Tyrell vs Sparrows thing is only going to work out for Cersei.

I find it hard to believe it will work even for her. They did drop several hints about how the High Sparrow has sympathizers all throughout the city...

Entirely possible.

In theory the Tyrells engage the Sparrows, Maegry dies in the confusion, and then the Royal/Lannister army wipes out everyone and take out their two biggest internal threats in one bloody move. In theory.

In execution it could end with Maegry and Tommen dead and Kings Landing in complete revolt while Tyrell and Lannister armies fights in every street.


And then Dany rides in with Tyrion next to her giggling like a madman and takes right the fuck over.


At least, that's what I'm hoping for.