Just watched it. Most of it was extremely good, even Harrington and his perpetual frown—never seen someone look so wounded even before someone stabs him—couldn't mess it up. Draco ex machina is going to be hard to keep interesting.

Was going to come in and post about the craftsmanlike photography of the battle scene that has already been discussed, not to mention the extremely clever foley work—think it was the gradual muffling of the ambient sounds of slaughter that made Jon's plight seem so immediate.

Benioff and Weiss did a rather good job building Ramsay up as the main antagonist this season. We've all been wanting him to get his comeuppance for episode after episode. An infinitely more satisfying villain's demise than anything seen in recent blockbuster cinema, and I think Sansa's development has been far more interesting than was predicted by some earlier in this thread. I'm thinking it'll be revealed she's pledged herself to Littlefinger in return for the support of the Eyrie in retaking Winterfell?

I expect the same, Burnsy. Definitely, Littlefinger has gained from this. Sansa is street smart now. She knows Littlefinger has the hots for her.
I really like what she's become. In fact, impressed by the rising female leaders - Yara, Sansa, Dany.

First good episode this season, even if Rickon Stark has to be the most pointless character in the history of the show. Zero screentime and zero lines all season. Even his siblings seemed to struggle to care about him.

The episode all but confirmed the suspicion that Cersei will try to burn King's Landing in the season finale too. Otherwise they wouldn't have brought up the wildfire.

Rickon's not really pointless to the story. He's the reason Jon Snow went to war, and he's the reason Jon Snow rushed out, forcing the rest of his army to do the same.

To be fair, real history is replete with lesser heirs just as supernumerary as Rickon, who were turned into eunuchs, dropped down wells, were afflicted by the plague, dropsy, stupidity or the clap, had their noses cut off or were married off for a laugh in their numbers.

Yeah, I think Rickon was used well enough. I think the last thing the show needed was another character with airtime.

Winterfell and Ramsay were the reasons Jon went to war. Rickon was just a bit of extra emotional motivation, and an extremely boring one at that since no one who watches gives a crap about him. He was more plot device than character.

Klaus wrote:

The episode all but confirmed the suspicion that Cersei will try to burn King's Landing in the season finale too. Otherwise they wouldn't have brought up the wildfire.

Do you subscribe to the theory that it will once again be Jaime who saves the city from someone intent on setting it ablaze?

Burnwinter wrote:

To be fair, real history is replete with lesser heirs just as supernumerary as Rickon, who were turned into eunuchs, dropped down wells, were afflicted by the plague, dropsy, stupidity or the clap, had their noses cut off or were married off for a laugh in their numbers.

Definitely. He could have died in his first scene back in season one for all I care. It might be consistent with a circumstancial view on history but it's a bit meh storytelling. The setup for sacking the Boltons was already introduced with Sansa's storyline.

They were probably relieved by an opportunity to kill him off, he never has had a plotline. Stumbling dramatically across a field and getting shot in the back with an arrow was a pretty good way to spend his body.

Jens wrote:

Klaus wrote:

The episode all but confirmed the suspicion that Cersei will try to burn King's Landing in the season finale too. Otherwise they wouldn't have brought up the wildfire.

Do you subscribe to the theory that it will once again be Jaime who saves the city from someone intent on setting it ablaze?

I'm not sure what to think. It almost fits a little too well. You know about the witch's prophecy from the books, I assume? They intentionally left it out of the flashback scene with a young Cersei on the show, which makes me think they'll address it soon if it's actually going to be a plot point. I always thought it was a weird thing to leave out, because it explained all her animosity towards Tyrion, who she just assumed was the one the prophecy was talking about.

If next episode opens with another Cersei flashback I think we're on the right track here. Otherwise, probably not. Maybe we should take Jaime's "fuck the world" from earlier this season literally instead - he wasn't prepared to burn the city for honor but he'll do it for love?

Jens wrote:

Klaus wrote:

The episode all but confirmed the suspicion that Cersei will try to burn King's Landing in the season finale too. Otherwise they wouldn't have brought up the wildfire.

Do you subscribe to the theory that it will once again be Jaime who saves the city from someone intent on setting it ablaze?

After what he said about Cersie in the last episode that's seems very unlikely. 

If not for Bran's visions of a dragon flying over King's Landing I'd be tempted to think Cersei would succeed in torching down the city. Who at the moment are left in the capital that we have been given reason to care about, and still have a role play in the story? I'd say only Margaery, and maybe Tommen at a push. All the major players are elsewhere.

Burnwinter wrote:

To be fair, real history is replete with lesser heirs just as supernumerary as Rickon, who were turned into eunuchs, dropped down wells, were afflicted by the plague, dropsy, stupidity or the clap, had their noses cut off or were married off for a laugh in their numbers.

Yeah, and drowned head first first in a barrel of wine by orders of his brother, that's my favourite. 

Oh and Littlefingers army turning up "just in the nick of time" is not so far fetched, in medieval warfare communication was almost non existent and armies frequently turned up for the kick off late sometimes not knowing for which side they would be fighting for.  

Biggus wrote:

in medieval warfare communication was almost non existent and armies frequently turned up for the kick off late sometimes not knowing for which side they would be fighting for.  

A tradition that the Arsenal midfield has proudly carried on

You know how Sansa was married first to Tyrion then to Ramsey (and now presumaby Littlefinger).
She is a widow now but she is still married to Tyrion, divorce or the attitude to it in this society is not mentioned either in the books or the series.

Burnwinter wrote:

Benioff and Weiss did a rather good job building Ramsay up as the main antagonist this season. We've all been wanting him to get his comeuppance for episode after episode. An infinitely more satisfying villain's demise than anything seen in recent blockbuster cinema, and I think Sansa's development has been far more interesting than was predicted by some earlier in this thread. I'm thinking it'll be revealed she's pledged herself to Littlefinger in return for the support of the Eyrie in retaking Winterfell?

Completely disagree on Ramsey. He was a rubbish villain, too cartoonish, too much mustache twirling. I'm glad he's dead only because I was so bored of him.

Don't think Sansa has pledged to LF, it's just him making up for his sins I reckon.

Good episode but I thought the big battle was a bit of mixed bag. Not feeling the Jon death fake outs over and over. Zero tension in them. Found the while suffocation part really dull.

The Mereen stuff was entertaining too but it's been a lot of filler again over there. At least she has her boats now. Hopefully a battle at sea with the Ironborn and then on to Westeros for Dany.

I really enjoyed that episode, particularly the battle which I thought was even better than Hardhome.

Similar to Meatwad I was willing Rickon to zigzag his run; "please Rickon, for the old gods and the new, don't let Klaus be right!".

They need to come up with some new story's for their battles. Its be ming as predictable as pro-wrestling. If Dany is down and out then the dragons save her, if our protagonists are losing a battle then another army swoops in to help at the last minute. That's the way all the big battles go now.