[amphibian]

Would you kill Jorah as a risk to yourself and the queen? Force him into exile? Or just let him be?

- If you were living inside GoT and were Dario or some other secondary character

[Terez]

Tonight's episode has been leaked.

[Terez]

Oh man.... I'm going to spoiler this even though I'm not actually going to spoil anything. Just spoilering for those who would rather know nothing at all.

Spoiler

This episode ripped my heart out. And when it was over, I realized it might actually be from GRRM. What artistry. Blows away the end of last week's episode.

[champ]

Terez, on 22 May 2016 - 01:38 PM, said:

Oh man.... I'm going to spoiler this even though I'm not actually going to spoil anything. Just spoilering for those who would rather know nothing at all.

Spoiler

This episode ripped my heart out. And when it was over, I realized it might actually be from GRRM. What artistry. Blows away the end of last week's episode.

Aye...

Spoiler

That certainly took a turn for the worst, they got decimated.

The reveal on the name and ending... brutal.

[Terez]

I looked it up...

Spoiler

Apparently someone mentioned that possibility for the origin of the name to GRRM years ago, and he told them something like 'you have no idea how close you are'.

I wonder now about the director for this week and next week having been spotted at the Tower of Joy set. I'm guessing there will be no more flashbacks for Bran, so how will that happen? I can't imagine that set doubling for anything else. Maybe he will find another tree?

[champ]

Spoiler

I'm not sure how the visions work to be honest.

Does he have to be plugged into a tree for it to happen?

He was still in his vision at the end whilst he was getting dragged on the sled

[Gabriele]

Werthead, on 18 May 2016 - 08:02 PM, said:

Quote

There was an argument that Davis asking about Shireen now makes no sense as it has been weeks, even though its pretty clear that only 3-4 days have passed since Jon's stabbing.

It has been weeks. Theon has had time to travel from north of Winterfell to Seagard (700 miles) and get on a boat to travel another 300 miles to Pyke. Sansa and Brienne and Pod have had time to ride from Winterfell to Castle Black (which is about 450-500 miles). Jorah and Daario have had time to travel from Meereen to Vaes Dothrak (the better part of 1,000 miles).

It doesn't seem like weeks have passed, no, I agree with that, but unless time moves differently at Castle Black to the rest of the planet, quite a large amount of time has passed.

Judging by Gilly's Eternal Baby, time does move differently in the north.

[Werthead]

Factoring into our other discussion before it got sidetracked, these two episodes are directed by Jack Bender, who was the main director and a key producer on LOST. Did an excellent job there as well.

Quote

Spoiler

I wonder now about the director for this week and next week having been spotted at the Tower of Joy set. I'm guessing there will be no more flashbacks for Bran, so how will that happen? I can't imagine that set doubling for anything else. Maybe he will find another tree?

I believe this is how it's going to work out (from set leaks, so it may be guff or it may be 100% accurate):

Spoiler

There's a brief visit back to the Tower of Joy set in Episode 6, but the main revelation of what's going on there won't be until Episode 10.

[QuickTidal]

Spoiler

Hold the door. Jeebus...ripping my heart out. Fuck me. If that was GRRM, and I expect it was, that is some mind bending, Doctor Who time travel bleakness. WELL PLAYED. Godamn I was not expecting that.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 23 May 2016 - 02:06 AM

[amphibian]

Would argue Dr Who is more of a jerk than Bran.

[Terez]

I watched it again at the proper time, and I bawled again. I even cried again when they discussed it in "Inside the Episode". And they confirmed it's from GRRM which is, of course, unsurprising.

So much else in this episode to discuss, but it all gets crowded out by that ending.

The creation of the White Walkers was very illuminating. It makes sense, and it also shows that this is not some kind of unending cycle between gods as the followers of R'hllor would have us believe, though I suppose it's possible their magic has always been pitted against the magic of the Children of the Forest.

Regular fire apparently doesn't burn hot enough to hurt the White Walkers, but it's still enough for wights.

One thing I noticed on rewatch is that Bran is still having the vision of Hodor in the past even after he's no longer touching the tree, or even inside the tree. Perhaps Bran can see the past without a weirwood in the show?

Looks like Jorah is safe for now. He's off to find a cure at his queen's command. I'm happy it was that instead of Daario killing him or something. The showrunners appear to be steering away from the senseless violence and making every episode full of action and feels. I hope this continues. The last two episodes have had season-ending levels of drama. Can they keep that up for five more episodes?

This post has been edited by Terez: 23 May 2016 - 02:35 AM

[QuickTidal]

amphibian, on 23 May 2016 - 02:09 AM, said:

Would argue Dr Who is more of a jerk than Bran.

Says someone who doesn't watch Doctor Who?

You can argue all you like, the Doctor is not and has never been a jerk.

Wrong thread anyways.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 23 May 2016 - 02:35 AM

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Spoiler

Do we think Bran is stuck in the past now? Does he need to be touching a weirdwood to get back to his own body?

[Terez]

That's a possibility, from what we saw, I think. It would certainly make things interesting.

You don't have to spoiler tag stuff any more; I only did that because the episode leaked early. Once it has aired, it's fair game.

[Abyss]

That ep.Was.Nuts.

[Terez]

I wonder if maybe Bloodraven had to be plugged into the tree, and that's how he taught Bran, but something about the nature of the Hodor incident has untethered Bran from the need to touch the tree.

[Terez]

The idea that is forming in my head is basically this: The reason Bran was able to untether from the tree is precisely because of his emotional connection to the scene with his father and his grandfather. As we saw in his previous visions with his father, he never wants to leave them. So when Bloodraven told him to listen to Meera, who was screaming that they needed Hodor, he was able to warg Hodor without leaving the vision of the past. Maybe it's the fact that Bran was touching the tree, but Hodor wasn't; when he warged Hodor he instantly gained the ability to untether; he was able to stay in the past because he, Bran, was still touching the tree. But after that point, he didn't have to. And he watched Hodor succumb to feeblemindedness as he felt Hodor being ripped apart in the present.

RIP Hodor. RIP Summer, in more ways than one.

I think that's quite enough for one episode. It also makes the death of Osha last week seem a little more meaningful.

[Defiance]

No words, just some manly tears.

Oh, who am I kidding, I was bawling. I think this is the most the show has ever impacted me.

[Nicodimas]

This episode was a total mindf.

Talk about playing with my emotions. geezus.

This whole time ...this whole damn time.

yeah i cryed. whatever. wtf martin..i'm blaming martin!!

[worry]

Yup I'm with all y'all. Brutal.

As far as the tree goes, I think the Raven had to be part of it just to stick around. I mean he's 1000 years old because of the tree, not because of the Greensight. Plus he could send projections into Bran's dreams when Bran was in bed at Winterfell. Maybe touching it was just a matter of Bran's novice level. Whisperz's idea is pretty cool though.

Anyway, there's no way Meera can drag Bran all the way south. Maybe -- finally -- the return of Benjen to help them out?