Game of Thrones [SPOILERS]

[Velorath]

One season left.

News or a guess? I think you might be right though. Not enough characters left after tonight's episode. :D

"That's a pretty picture" Best line Sansa has issued in 6 seasons.

Pretty sure they announced before this season that it would be the second to last season.

Recently they've been saying two short seasons, 13 more episodes total. As things scale up they don't think they can get 10 episodes done in a year.

[Setanta]

Lady fookin Mormont!!! Game saver! Whoever cast her deserves a massive pay rise - she out-acts most adults with infinitely fewer lines.

Arya was teleporting as well as Varys - and to be honest, this was the weakest scene for me. At least she's in the right spot for teaming up with the Hound again. Cersei's plot line was fantastic - Dany had better watch out. I wonder if Jamie will be come kingslayer to a second mad king.

Littlefinger looked pissed - this is the second Stark woman to screw him over. I don't think this is going to end well for Sansa seeing as Jon has better plot armor than her.

[satael]

It was kind of funny to see how skilled the little kid stabbing Lancel was compared to Waif. Guess that plot armor is very powerful when it comes to GoT.  

also kind of funny how Arya had qualms about killing an innocent actor before and now she's all psycho and has no problem making a pie out of a person.

[HaemishM]

I think Little Backstabber got him in the kidneys/spine as opposed to a harmless gutshot. 

[Samwise]

Cersei's plot line was fantastic - Dany had better watch out.

It was pretty fantastic but it's also clear to me that Cersei isn't going to survive the month even without considering the Dany element.  Nobody looked super excited about her coronation apart from Qyburn.  Lotta people died in that explosion and even apart from the unrest caused by the death and destruction the economic impact had to be pretty huge, on a city that was already unprepared for winter (which has now officially come) and deep in debt to the Iron Bank.  People took up with the Sparrow because they were deeply dissatisfied with Lannister rule; this can't possibly have helped things.  Fear and a small handful of goons can only keep an entire city in line for so long.

Of course Dany makes the entire thing moot because there's no way Cersei has a capable army at this point, especially with basically the entire rest of the kingdoms against her, not even counting the fact that her own populace would probably love ANY change in leadership after Baelor.

I wonder if Jamie will be come kingslayer to a second mad king.

That would be pretty perfect and is heavily foreshadowed by the fact that the reason he killed the mad king in the first place was to stop him from doing exactly what Cersei just did.  On the other hand, Jaime has stated recently that his only desire is to be with Cersei, so him killing her would represent a fairly radical shift in his motivations.  Not that we haven't seen that happen before in this series.

Maybe it'll depend on whether she takes him back as her brother-consort now that she's queen and can do what she wants or if she keeps giving him the cold shoulder.

[Khaldun]

Yeah, we should also not forget that there's going to be a famine in King's Landing almost immediately, even without winter to consider, because the food was all coming from the Tyrells. (There's a reason why the High Sparrow wanted to get Margery under his thumb while regarding Cersei as more disposable.)

[MrHat]

Yeah, we should also not forget that there's going to be a famine in King's Landing almost immediately, even without winter to consider, because the food was all coming from the Tyrells. (There's a reason why the High Sparrow wanted to get Margery under his thumb while regarding Cersei as more disposable.)

I fully expect that by 'the time' Dany and Co. arrive in Westeros, there will be no fight anywhere.  Blood and fire but nothing to kill or burn.

[Merusk]

I think Little Backstabber got him in the kidneys/spine as opposed to a harmless gutshot. 

I thought it was the leg, but yeah it might have been the kidney.

[HaemishM]

Don't forget about Dany's vision a few seasons ago where she walks into the Iron Throne room and it's nothing but ash and snow. Jamie will probably end up killing Cersei and dying himself in the process (probably by way of a Mountain falling on him) but he'll do it because Cersei is going full Mad Targareyn on the entirety of Kings Landing. Likely because the Tyrell/Martell/Targareyn army is outside the city and the citizens of Kings Landing are in full "Revolt and Burn the Witch" mode.

[Samwise]

Good point, although if the coronation was happening at the same time as Dany's fleet setting out, is there going to be enough time for that to happen?  It doesn't seem like it takes that long to cross the Narrow Sea.

[Phildo]

Given the way time has been fluid over the last season, there's no telling whether those events are happening at the same time or whether Dany is already landing in Westeros during the coronation.

[Merusk]

As cheesy a tool as it is, having a datestamp on each scene would go a long way to resolving some of the shit that gets mixed-up.

Olenna knew about the Sept when in Dorne, so we've got to assume a few weeks later. Nobody knew Cersi was crowned so that must have happened around the same time. This also gave Jamie time to get back from the Twins. (SO why was the sept still burning? Barrels under the rubble still, I suppose)  Varys is there, we get a month+ trip back across the sea as they had to gather the Martell's fleet, then some weeks+ before setting-out.

Apparently crossing the narrow sea is only a few days? I don't know how accurate a source this is and don't recall dates from the books.
http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/ask-the-maester-game-of-thrones-season-4-finale/

[HaemishM]

Based on Tyrion's voyage in Book 4 across the Narrow Sea, it was a goddamn unbearable amount of time. 

[Hayduke]

I just never think about time or distance in this show, but it was super jarring this episode especially since the series has had so many storylines of arduous travel.

[Hutch]

Mereen, at least on a map, is farther away from Westeros than, say, Pentos or Myr. Plus they'll have to sail (presumably) around Old Valyria.

[Samwise]

The Greyjoys didn't take long to make that trip, and they had to sail all the way down the west coast of Westeros and around Dorne before even crossing the Narrow Sea.

[Speedy Cerviche]

It was kind of funny to see how skilled the little kid stabbing Lancel was compared to Waif. Guess that plot armor is very powerful when it comes to GoT.  

The one thing that bugged me about that scene was how the streets were empty outside the sept. For such a huge event, there would have been a gigantic mob but maybe they wanted to save money.

[Speedy Cerviche]

 Fear and a small handful of goons can only keep an entire city in line for so long.

Of course Dany makes the entire thing moot because there's no way Cersei has a capable army at this point, especially with basically the entire rest of the kingdoms against her, not even counting the fact that her own populace would probably love ANY change in leadership after Baelor.

I wonder if Jamie will be come kingslayer to a second mad king.

That would be pretty perfect and is heavily foreshadowed by the fact that the reason he killed the mad king in the first place was to stop him from doing exactly what Cersei just did.  On the other hand, Jaime has stated recently that his only desire is to be with Cersei, so him killing her would represent a fairly radical shift in his motivations.  Not that we haven't seen that happen before in this series.

Maybe it'll depend on whether she takes him back as her brother-consort now that she's queen and can do what she wants or if she keeps giving him the cold shoulder.

Well she does have a bit of an army with the force Jamie is leading but I would have to assume they are more loyal to him (their general who is proven capable in the field, reasonable and charismatic character) than some mad woman like Cersei. Between not being a fan of her violence and cruelty, along with all the children now being dead which ends a connection he had to her of duty to their offspring, I'm thinking he turns on her quickly.

[Viin]

The one thing that bugged me about that scene was how the streets were empty outside the sept. For such a huge event, there would have been a gigantic mob but maybe they wanted to save money.

I was thinking that someone cleared everyone out. I can't imagine Cersei would have cared how many people died, but it looked like someone tried to keep it clear around the Sept.

[Samwise]

I can see Qyburn having the presence of mind to do that even if Cersei wouldn't.

[Shannow]

Just don't see how they are going to get two seasons out of what's left.

With Dany about to make Westeros her own personal Utah beach and the North being out of enemies except for the Zombies what else is there to wrap up?

I say 10 episodes with the last 2 being 2 hours long.

[Teleku]

I reeeeeeally hope they focus very heavily on how pointless Cersei getting the Iron Throne is.

The Throne of the 7 Kingdoms!

The North:  Independent, Stark.  Wants to kill Lannisters.
The Vale: Independent, Allied Stark (for now).  Wants to kill Lannisters for the throne.
The Iron Islands: Independent, currently helping a giant army to come over and murder everybody (including Lannisters).
The Reach:  Biggest army of all kingdoms.  Just murdered all their lords/ladies, and the last remaining one is putting all their wealth and power into killing Lannisters no matter what.
The Stormlands:  Uh, I think every lord and soldier from this region is dead at this point.  Do they belong to anybody?  Is anybody there still left alive?  They all died fighting Lannister forces/allies, so probably want to kill them.
Dorne:   Crazy sand sluts who have lost no troops at all this war, hell bent on killing all Lannisters. Now allied with the Reach and giant dragon army.

Allied with the crown:
The Westerlands:  Lannisters own kingdom.  No gold left and has been fighting non stop for the last several years.  Nice uniforms though!
The Frey's:  The Ferengi of Game of Thrones.  Also just lost all their top leadership (not that it would hurt any).

Winning odds in the GoT universe!

[eldaec]

I can easily see how they do 20 more episodes if they want - the war of five kings took 21 episodes just to whittle itself down to 3 kings.


Anyway, this was great - others have said it but the episode 9 and 10 guy needs to be forced to direct every remaining episode.

First shot alone immediately laid out what would happen and gave everything a beautiful inevitability, from that you just sit watching the performance.

Kings landing was one of the best sequences they've done in a long time, I honestly didn't think they could do that so well so quickly - best of all, nobody had to act like an idiot.

The North lacked the emo bullshit I was expecting, and I think there is a book spoiler there for Robb's will. Melisandre also deserves mention for the way loss of faith has been played all season. Sending her south was weird and clearly for plot convenience but I'm glad she's not dead.

I was amazed by the twins, managing to deliver a shitty plotline brilliantly. The scene reminded me of the book version of the red wedding. You knew something "bad" had to happen, something wasn't right, obviously it wasn't on the same level, but they kept the same feeling that the Twins always have that it is a shitty place where shitty things happen, Walder Frey's weird use of the 'send their regards' line was perfect. My immediate reaction to the reveal was that it was a terrible plot, but Maisie Williams turned it around by going full psycho, after Braavos I assumed they were going to kop out on that, full psycho Arya almost forgives the Braavos ending.

Tyrion getting his hand badge was pretty great.

Even Dorne wasn't terrible.

OTOH I now fully accept that Brienne and Jamie have been a waste of screen time all season which is retrospectively annoying. Jamie hasn't really grown enough to justify turning against Cersei, and Brienne achieved nothing in any episode.

[K9]

I imagine that one season is going to be everyone vs the Lannisters and ending with the Wall coming down. You could easily do a whole season out of that; especially if you have the Ironborn attacking Oldtown and possibly fighting the Tarley forces there. There's also Jorah's personal quest to heal himself which could be a subplot somewhere. The final season will focus on the entire population north of the Riverlands fleeing south, culminating with the battle of ice and fire between dragons and the white walkers.

[apocrypha]

Lady Mormont was great. Does the story have enough time left in it for her to grow uopto be more awesome I wonder? Probably not, hey ho.

Also, has Sansa got a bit Bolton still up her? If you get my drift.

[eldaec]

I wonder if Jamie will be come kingslayer to a second mad king.

That would be pretty perfect and is heavily foreshadowed by the fact that the reason he killed the mad king in the first place was to stop him from doing exactly what Cersei just did.  On the other hand, Jaime has stated recently that his only desire is to be with Cersei, so him killing her would represent a fairly radical shift in his motivations.  Not that we haven't seen that happen before in this series.

Maybe it'll depend on whether she takes him back as her brother-consort now that she's queen and can do what she wants or if she keeps giving him the cold shoulder.

It is also explictly foretold at the start of last season in the same prophecy that told her that her children would die before her.

[eldaec]

Also, has Sansa got a bit Bolton still up her? If you get my drift.

My guess is no, partly because neither she, nor anyone notable, has had the same opportunity in the book. But also because I don't think there is enough time for a baby based plot.

[Rendakor]

I wonder if Jamie will be come kingslayer to a second mad king.

That would be pretty perfect and is heavily foreshadowed by the fact that the reason he killed the mad king in the first place was to stop him from doing exactly what Cersei just did.  On the other hand, Jaime has stated recently that his only desire is to be with Cersei, so him killing her would represent a fairly radical shift in his motivations.  Not that we haven't seen that happen before in this series.

Maybe it'll depend on whether she takes him back as her brother-consort now that she's queen and can do what she wants or if she keeps giving him the cold shoulder.

It is also explictly foretold at the start of last season in the same prophecy that told her that her children would die before her.

The prophecy isn't clear on which brother is going to kill her.

[K9]

Or even if it's one of her brothers. The prophecy just says 'the little brother', so it could refer to someone like Sandor Clegane (or so the theory people say)

[Abagadro]

Aw man, they split the points between Cersei and Qyburn.

[eldaec]

And Lyanna wasn't clear on Jon's father but...

Jamie will likely become hand and in the books at least will use the chain of hands to choke Cersei to death, mirroring Tyrion/Shae and becoming a queenslayer.

[Chimpy]

Qyburn had the hand pin on his collar when he put the crown on her head.

[Viin]

The results are in, top 5:

1.    Stark's Sixth Sense Mithas    628  (Jon Snow, Wildlings, Tormund, Yara)
2.    Mr Tinfoil Hat Andrew Tank    505 (Arya, Dragons, Faith Militant, Wun Wun)
3.    Kahl Drogo's Vacant Stare Joe Smith    440 (Jorah Mormont, Cersei, Roose Bolton, Tommen)
4.    Gods Perfect Hodor Teleku    421 (Jaime Lannister, Euron Greyjoy, Loras Tyrell, Qyburn)
5.    Valar Somethingsomething Rendakor    415 (The High Sparrow, White Walkers, Ramsay Bolton, Lancel Lannister)

[Mithas]

Hooray! Got almost half my points from Jon Snow alone. Good first pick.

[Merusk]

#9, such a strong start, such a mediocre finish.  Cersi's bomb dropped me to #2 in my public league, too. Boooo. :D