Game of Thrones Season 5

[Shiuzu]

Orly?
You don't know me either, sir.

WE ARE AT A CANADIAN IMPASSE

I know you're Canadian, and that you like booze. That makes me like you more than most of the people on this website.

 

[Rom]

What is Edd may never die.

Not even remotely true.

Just in the show alone we've lost 3 Eddards.

 

[BLADE]

What an utterly wretched season this has been (hardly surprising given the source material.)

That was a pretty good episode though. The Others also seem immune to regular fire which means the Daenerys endgame is all but confirmed. My guess is Stannis is going to wrestle with sacrificing Shireen and then have the choice taken away from him by Ramsay Snow, either by being murdered or by Ramsay murdering Shireen.

 

[Calixis]

Selyse's disdain for Shireen has featured in pretty much every scene since S3. Stannis will probably leave on an errand and she'll burn her whilst he's away. The scene of her crying in the snow is probably when he returns.

 

[Green Ranger]

What an utterly wretched season this has been (hardly surprising given the source material.)

Well, yup. I'd say, given the source material they've done well. But the source material's that bad that it's very difficult to compensate that much.

 

[Calixis]

Well, yup. I'd say, given the source material they've done well. But the source material's that bad that it's very difficult to compensate that much.

I'm getting flashbacks to ADwD's Mereen chapters.

Please stop.

 

[BLADE]

Well, yup. I'd say, given the source material they've done well. But the source material's that bad that it's very difficult to compensate that much.

Don't let them off the hook that easily. They're ruined stuff that was merely boring (and possibly salvageable) like Dorne, made up RAAAAAAPPPPPPEE --Sansa + Ramsay (though Sophie Turner's earned herself an Emmy nod)-- and generally had a fairly boring and unimaginative season.

There's been a few glimmers of good stuff. Lena Headey and Jonathan Pryce are tremendous to watch. The rest of the cast has generally elevated the text and surprisingly the usually really boring shit (anything at the Wall) has been the best to watch.

I don't entirely blame them, but all of Weiss and Benioff's weaknesses when it comes to television (to say nothing of adaptation) were on display here.

Stray observations:

- Emilia Clarke has been upgraded from horrible to merely wearisome. She even had a few good exchanges with Jorah. I think her issue with acting is mostly her tendency to over-enunciate; it's like a bad parody of Bette Davis or something (I'm still big! It's dragons that got small!) She does have great chemistry with Peter Dinklage though. Or maybe Peter Dinklage has great chemistry with everybody.

- Stephen Dillane was a quiet MVP. Like I said. My prediction(s): Shireen is toast. I do think Stannis lives, but is so broken by the experience that he gives up on the king thing and becomes the dood who seeks death (and also to kill the Others/White Walkers.) I see him killing Ramsay, but it's gonna be one of those audience delayed gratification things where you don't get to feel too good about it because Shireen is awesome and somebody done burned her. This also conveniently gets him out of Daenerys' way because I don't think the audience is going to be allowed to root for her if she tries to kill the one guy who (alongside Jon Snow) is actually leading the fight against ice zombies.

- Still time for Lady Stoneheart to show up (!)

- Jaime and Bronn were fun to watch, but mostly wasted. That was on the adaptation, to be honest.

- Brienne was fun (and still has time to rescue Sansa!)

- Cat of the Canals!

 

[Shiuzu]

Well, yup. I'd say, given the source material they've done well. But the source material's that bad that it's very difficult to compensate that much.

This has been the only strong episode this season. It's amazing how they've diverted away from what made Crows and Dance awful, yet supplemented their own awful Dorne storyline, and decided to make Brienne just sit on her hands all season. Complete waste.

It's amazing how I was more invested with the Female Wildling who we only met for about fifteen minutes than most of the other characters this season.

- Emilia Clarke has been upgraded from horrible to merely wearisome. She even had a few good exchanges with Jorah. I think her issue with acting is mostly her tendency to over-enunciate; it's like a bad parody of Bette Davis or something (I'm still big! It's dragons that got small!) She does have great chemistry with Peter Dinklage though. Or maybe Peter Dinklage has great chemistry with everybody.

I'm gonna say that's all on Dinklage. Clarke was still fairly miserable this season without him, and considering they killed of Selmy she has almost nobody interesting near her. Though on the up side we still get to see Grey Worm's love story play out....because everybody wanted that.

 

[Dawyn]

I tend to agree with Moira and Shiuzu that this last one has been the only really strong episode this season. I think we'll see it ramp up more in the final two, though.

Worst part of this season for me was Jaime and Bronn vs the Sand Snakes. Literally felt like some sort of comedic fight out of the Pirates of the Carribean. Go and play the POTC theme song set to that fight scene and you will see exactly what I mean.

 

[CaptainWolfgang]

Spoiler: My Ideal Season 6:

The Red Wedding was like three seasons ago by now, and mainstream people have started to forget the characters. I'd like to see more focus on the Riverlands so we could get some closure with the Freys.

Jamie and Illyn Payne ride to the Riverlands to capture Brynden the Blackfish. I know Illyn Payne is pretty much irrelevant but it'd be nice to have him back for closure. He is the one who killed Ned Stark after all. Being up north would also put Brienne near Jamie which is important yo.

Brienne and Pod meet up with the Brotherhood Without Banners. Whether or not Lady Stoneheart is included is really up to the show. I do think bringing Cat back would be great, and it'd explain why they changed Arya's name from "Cat". (Viewers are easily confused people) If not Cat, then maybe Sansa or some other/new character could go around killing Lannisters and Freys. I know Michelle Fairley isn't interested in returning, but maybe give the role to Edmure Tully, since he's been a prisoner since season 3 and I doubt he's going anywhere. At this point they could give the role to Beric Dondarrion and I'd be cool with it.

Kingsmoot is all but confirmed. Euron will obviously be there, but I'd like to see both of his brothers too. Don't see how they can merge Asha with any of them, but I feel like they'll try to.

Sam and Gilly going to the Citadel and maybe make a point of Sam wanting to try and find a way to make Valyrian Steel or something like that. Maybe finding out that the secret is Dragon Fire can be a story arc where he joins Marwyn to ask Daenerys for help.

Davos Seaworth should do his White Harbor/Rescue Rickon arc with the faked death and everything so he can get allies against The Boltons.

Doran Martell should do some crafty shit. I'd like to see the other Tyrells but I think they were cut. Gendry needs to return.

And Littlefinger should just keep being Littlefinger. 10/10 best schemer.

 

[BLADE]

I tend to agree with Moira and Shiuzu that this last one has been the only really strong episode this season. I think we'll see it ramp up more in the final two, though.

Worst part of this season for me was Jaime and Bronn vs the Sand Snakes. Literally felt like some sort of comedic fight out of the Pirates of the Carribean. Go and play the POTC theme song set to that fight scene and you will see exactly what I mean.

Would have been better if they fought on a windmill.

Also seriously they're doing the Kingsmoot? Ugh. I thought we were done with the Iron (BOOOOOOORIIIIING) Islands.

Seriously. The amazing thing about the last two books is that it's a kaleidoscope of shit. Just when you think you've remembered all the stupid pointless subplots a halfway decent editor would have killed off another one pops up.

 

[Rom]

Any predictions for Episode 9 and 10? It's being directed by the same guy who did The Red Wedding so I'm guessing it's going to rain blood from Dorne to the Wall and across the sea in Slavers Bay and Braavos

Spoiler: Book Spoilers/Show Theories. *Tin-Foil Hatting intensifies*

So I'm going to go by location to make things nice and simple.

Dorne:
Bronn dies fighting Aero Hotah. Dornishman's Wife plays in the credits.
Jamie is forced to flee without Myrcella.
Sand Snakes join Gendry and Syrio and Thoros of Myr on the plot rowboat that never lands.

King's Landing:
Mother's Mercy --- Cersei does her walk of shame through the streets of King's Landing for committing incest with Lancel. Does not confess to killing Robert.
Trial of the Seven --- Cersei demands a Trial by Combat after Qyburn tells her that Wight Clegane is ready.
Up Next: CLEGANEBOWL!!! GET HYPE!

Winterfell:
Shireen is given to Melisandre to be burnt by her Mother while Stannis is out preparing the men for battle.
Sansa stops being a victim and does something with that corkscrew. Possibly killing Roose while Ramsay is out on his mission.
Theoreek stops Ramsay from killing Sansa.
Brienne or Pod die while bringing Sansa to safety.
The North Remembers --- the Boltons get a defeat and are thrown from Winterfell or besieged.

The Wall:
For the Watch --- mutiny against Jon Snow starts with Olly trying/succeeding to kill Tormund. Jon's punishment on Olly sends the mutinous members of the Watch into full blown riot, Jon Snow is knifed.
Wun Wun steps on some people.
Dolorous Edd makes another black comedic quip about them all dying.
Winter is Here -- the White Walkers gather to attack the Wall.

Meereen:
Jorah dies protecting Dany in the fighting pits from the Harpies.
Grey Worm and Missandei die.
Tyrion, Dany, and Unsullied + Dragons leave Meereen and attention turns toward Essos and eventually Westeros.

Braavos:
Arya meets Meryn Trant in Braavos and forgets that she is no one. Meryn Trant dies, Arya is punished for killing him.

 

[Calixis]

Isn't Asha/Yara due to show up in Episode 9 and 10 also?

 

[Rom]

She's listed as a character on Episode 9 on IMDB but I see nothing of Episode 10. Balon is however confirmed for Episode 10.

My guess is Yara brings Ironborn inland to attack the Boltons and fight with Stannis' army in Episode 9, and Balon will appear in Episode 10. My guess is Balon dies in Episode 10 opening the way for the Kingsmoot in Season 6.


Euron and Victorian and Damphair have not been cast yet, so we can safely guess anything in regards to the Ironborn arc will be kept minimal in these episodes and instead act as a springboard for next season.

 

[Shiuzu]

Man, I can't wait for the Kingsmoot to come up in real life. Now we can see characters we've never met before, or care about, fight over something that's so incredibly insignificant it's worth dedicating half a book to.

 

[Rom]

Yeah.... I really wish they'd skip the Iron Islands like they are Young Griff/Griff storyline.

 

[BLADE]

There are no real good payoffs or plot resolutions left in the books (I guess Dany uses darguns to beat White Walkers like in every fantasy ever.) So something frustrating where fan favorite characters (Bronn, Stannis, Shireen, Brienne, etc.) die are likely.

This has been wretchedly bad television (even the strong episode wasn't that strong). Like Borgias bad. I actually think it's going to get worse. Martin's not the strongest writer, so the source material gets shittier. Weiss and Benioff also have huge issues with certain television tropes.

There'll be occasionally exciting stuff (Clegane v. Clegane: Two and a Half --give or take-- Men) but even that stuff has mostly been watered down. Why do we care if they fight? The Hound's most interesting stuff's already been done. Oh no! Cersei seems to be caught by her own cupidity and evil! But it's okay because she gets out of it!

There's halfway interesting stuff they could do (Stannis giving up on kinghood, Dany deciding to stay in Essos, but that actually becomig an actual story with actual characters, Brienne systematically slaughtering every potential Ironborn/Dornish/Riverlands subplot character nobody gives a shit about while wearing a yellow jumpsuit --Pod has an eyepatch, the White Walkers turn out to be good guys! --this is their theme song--) but they're not going to.

tl;dr The show's highpoint has already been achieved. It's all downhill from here.

 

[Shiuzu]

CLEGANEBOWL HYPE!!

 

[CaptainWolfgang]

CLEGANEBOWL HYPE!!

I was smashing this button through this whole gif

 

[Calixis]

Euron and Victorian and Damphair have not been cast yet,

Or has he?