Game of Thrones & House of the Dragon

[domino harvey]

HBO's preview of next week's episode reveals some big name casting was successfully kept under wraps

[Trees]

Looks like the High Sparrow is gonna get plucked next week. \:D/

[Mr Sausage]

Like any story involving time travel, I wonder how the loop got started, if there was a version where Bran altered the past before dying, ensuring a paradoxical survival.

Disappointed in the origin story of the white walkers, tho'. Feels bathetic to learn they are weapons run amok.

I felt very sad at Hodor's fate, but also angry since, as best I can tell, his life was sacrificed rather than given freely as a sacrifice. A larger picture overshadowing individual human life. I suspect I find this more troubling than the show will.

[jbeall]

For me, Bran right now is the worst person in Westeros, so he's got a lot to atone for. (This probably speaks to how upset I was at Hodor's sacrifice, for the reason Sausage names).

[starmanof51]

Like any story involving time travel

I sure hope there's no more of that. Ghost of Christmas Past stuff is welcome, but no more touching stuff.

Disappointed in the origin story of the white walkers, tho'. Feels bathetic to learn they are weapons run amok.

Me too. I liked the idea of a world evolving multiple types of biped intelligence, each with their own culture and agenda. Very much lessens them now. I guess the Children of the Forest are still that, but we may have seen the last of them.

[YnEoS]

Loved this episode, just a few points to make.

I'm sure there's going to be more to it, but just to be overly worrisome until next episode, I certainly hope all the Bravos teasing with Arya doesn't get tossed to the side so easily.

Speculation: Starting to think there might be something to the Bran influencing the mad king theory. In the visions they seemed to connect the mad king yelling "burn them all" with the white walkers, so perhaps he had some kind of vision or influence from the future and mean burn all the white walkers, but the people around him took the orders as burn everyone in king's landing?

[Trees]

Slightly disappointed. Too much Sam. Instead of seeing the Sparrow get crushed, he wins yet again. The big reuniting with the dragons came at an odd, uneventful moment. It seemed like the producers were trying to force a "great moment" into existence, mainly through overdramatic music and overacting. But it didn't work for me. The hut burning down a couple episodes ago was far more dramatic.

7/10

[PfR73]

Speculation: Starting to think there might be something to the Bran influencing the mad king theory. In the visions they seemed to connect the mad king yelling "burn them all" with the white walkers, so perhaps he had some kind of vision or influence from the future and mean burn all the white walkers, but the people around him took the orders as burn everyone in king's landing?

I think all the Mad King stuff in the visions was to alert Bran (and remind viewers) about the stockpiles of wildfire underneath King's Landing. I think that will prove to be useful (along with dragons, Valyrian steel, & dragonglass) in fighting the walkers.

[domino harvey]

So, we are all agreed that Arya set the Waif up with the help of her new actress ally in order to fool her into thinking she's mortally wounded (stage effects or something), rite

Also, was this the first episode to have a pre-credit scene? Must admit I was surprised to see the Hound back, and that Ian McShane's much-teased role was a one-shot

[knives]

I kind of don't care at this point because where they've taken her story arc is the least interesting route I can think of. The Hound was very nice though and I'm genuinely interested to see where they take that.

[jindianajonz]

I kind of don't care at this point because where they've taken her story arc is the least interesting route I can think of. The Hound was very nice though and I'm genuinely interested to see where they take that.

I haven't seen this episode yet, but the longstanding theory is that

Spoiler

The Hound and the Mountain will stand against eachother at Cersei's trial by combat for the faith.

[DarkImbecile]

So, we are all agreed that Arya set the Waif up with the help of her new actress ally in order to fool her into thinking she's mortally wounded (stage effects or something), rite

I don't know, man, that shivving looked pretty legit to me. Having seen the production values that particular troupe devoted to their fart noises and set design, I doubt they could have fooled a professional assassin. Also, if that was the case, Arya had no reason to expose herself during her walk down that Bravosi (?) street, looking like someone who really needed some medical attention.

[domino harvey]

Unless she's leaving an intentional blood trail to trick the Waif into coming after her on her own chosen turf (perhaps some dark storeroom etc)

[DarkImbecile]

Unless she's leaving an intentional blood trail to trick the Waif into coming after her on her own chosen turf (perhaps some dark storeroom etc)

True, though she could be doing that even if she was actually injured. I would be pretty disappointed if the actress theory is correct, but it's plausible enough, I guess.

Speaking of bad decisions by Stark women, that request for aid by Sansa can only lead to bad places. She really should know better by now, however desperate she is.

[domino harvey]

But, maybe Littlefinger does feel remorse, as his initial intel to her was accurate. Besides, he always backs a winner, it would be only fitting for him to about-face here

[domino harvey]

Alternate, even more convincing Arya theory

[willoneill]

Also, was this the first episode to have a pre-credit scene? Must admit I was surprised to see the Hound back, and that Ian McShane's much-teased role was a one-shot

The pilot also had a cold open.

[aox]

I believe there is one cold open per season.

[miless]

The cold open has so far only been used for season openers (I think this is to mirror the structure of the books which oft begin with a prologue). Seasons 1, 3, 4, and 5 all begin with a cold open.

[Kracker]

Hmm I don't remember season 3 having a cold open nor the flashback at the start of season 5 being one. There was the pilot and beginning of season 4 (Tywin melting down Ned's sword)
They did a cold open for this episode because they didn't want people seeing Rory McCann's name in the opening credits before the big reveal.

[Trees]

Some fairly interesting news and speculation about what remains for this season from Collider.

[miless]

Hmm I don't remember season 3 having a cold open nor the flashback at the start of season 5 being one. There was the pilot and beginning of season 4 (Tywin melting down Ned's sword)
They did a cold open for this episode because they didn't want people seeing Rory McCann's name in the opening credits before the big reveal.

The season 3 cold open was Sam being rescued at the fist of the first men leading up to a fairly rousing speech from Jeor Mormont, and the "Maggy the frog" scene in season 5 was definitely a cold open, too.
In total agreement about the likely rationale for a cold open in this instance, although I do think it helped with the structure of this particular episode.

[domino harvey]

Book spoiler

Spoiler

They're setting up the Hound to meet Lady Stoneheart, right? So much talk of Catelyn this ep too, almost like a refresher for audiences...

[SpiderBaby]

I personally don't think so, as

Spoiler

Beric Dondarrion needed to give his life in order for Lady Stoneheart to be. I think with this Hound and Brotherhood team up, she's cut (which is a shock, considering a zombie version of a fan favorite is easy TV).

[domino harvey]

Maybe they were just playing viewers. They're pretty good this season at defying fan guesses and speculation (though, to be fair, there's a reason no one anticipated Arya's entire seasons-long plot to have no real payoff here)