I must say, Meereen looks fantastic both in the opening scene and in the show. Nice to see Missandei and Grey Worm talking, gives some extra flavour to the slavery aspect of Dany's campaign. Nice to get a look into the mind of an Unsullied, which is absent in the books. Good to see Dany's storyline at the start of the episode, rather than always being the big finish. The actual fight, however, comprised of a single melee and was rather unsatisfying and much too short. I wonder if Dany not listening to Barristan is really a wise move, but it serves to again show how powerfully empathetic and determined she is to end slavery.
Aside from Pod, there was some good dialogue from the two people who still like Tyrion somewhat. Very good line about how Tyrion has always looked up at Jaime, and the back to forth between the brothers in the jail still shows their bond despite all that has happened.
Both Sophie Turner and Sansa have grown so much since the start of the show and I can't wait until we see more of her, out of King's Landing and allowed to finally express her true self. Her poking around Littlefinger's plot already shows how she is beginning to wisen up. I still don't get Aiden Gillen's accent, however. Littlefinger might be revealing too much to Sansa, which could be a bad move for someone so normally cunning.
I am disappointed Olenna is leaving, she has been great in every one of her scenes, but it means Margaery steps up as the Tyrell in power. The necklace thing pretty much confirmed what we all thought about the poison. Even these females use their womanly wiles to get what they want, and Margaery is as seductive as ever with Tommen, though judging by where she kissed him, I see she senses that it isn't the way to Tommen's heart,. Maybe that's Ser Pounce.
Locke is at the Night's Watch! Surprisingly I didn't see that coming, seeing as he isn't even in the books, but it guess it shows how unforgiving Roose is towards his subjects. I'm not sure what direction they are taking him, I half expect him to betray Jon at some point. The actor for Thorne nails his despicable nature as he is, while Janos Slynt is the same kind.
From what Lena Headey has to work with she nails her character, getting more insecure by the moment and drifting away from Jaime. She does seem fine after that questionable sept scene.
We didn't exactly get the White Book scene I wanted, but it was good enough. They still seem on course to guide Jaime towards redemption, as seen by the oath he still remembers he swore to Catelyn Stark. Honour is what he still values. Pod's face was hilarious! I loved the Ser/My lady line they took from the books and it's what Pod wanted to do if he couldn't stay with Tyrion. I have grown on Pod immensely. Oathkeeper as the title and name of the sword is very apt and signifies a new chapter beginning.
So Sam has told Jon that Bran is still alive! Makes for a nice change, giving Jon a bit of hope. Jon rallying his brothers was a great scene that shows his new maturity and how his is favoured already within the Night's Watch, much more than Alliser Thorne. I always liked LC Mormont and really wanted to see him avenged. I didn't expect such a brutal scene at Craster's Keep with the skull and the rape, but it was a really menacing mood shift when the wives made him go sacrifice the baby to the Walkers.
So it looks like Bran has more or less become an adept warg, interesting to see as they always impress with the wolf scenes. So that's where Ghost is, captured by the mutineers. I really wanted to see Hodor floor Rast, it's a testament to how well acted he is that I hate him so much.
The Walkers. Wow. That is all makeup and so menacing to see. For years, we have wondered about them and why they need human sacrifices. Were they really as monstrous as we thought? This scene opens up so many new things to ponder, and for once I am genuinely floored and excited as I guess what comes next. Great ending.
8.5/10
Aside from Pod, there was some good dialogue from the two people who still like Tyrion somewhat. Very good line about how Tyrion has always looked up at Jaime, and the back to forth between the brothers in the jail still shows their bond despite all that has happened.
Both Sophie Turner and Sansa have grown so much since the start of the show and I can't wait until we see more of her, out of King's Landing and allowed to finally express her true self. Her poking around Littlefinger's plot already shows how she is beginning to wisen up. I still don't get Aiden Gillen's accent, however. Littlefinger might be revealing too much to Sansa, which could be a bad move for someone so normally cunning.
I am disappointed Olenna is leaving, she has been great in every one of her scenes, but it means Margaery steps up as the Tyrell in power. The necklace thing pretty much confirmed what we all thought about the poison. Even these females use their womanly wiles to get what they want, and Margaery is as seductive as ever with Tommen, though judging by where she kissed him, I see she senses that it isn't the way to Tommen's heart,. Maybe that's Ser Pounce.
Locke is at the Night's Watch! Surprisingly I didn't see that coming, seeing as he isn't even in the books, but it guess it shows how unforgiving Roose is towards his subjects. I'm not sure what direction they are taking him, I half expect him to betray Jon at some point. The actor for Thorne nails his despicable nature as he is, while Janos Slynt is the same kind.
From what Lena Headey has to work with she nails her character, getting more insecure by the moment and drifting away from Jaime. She does seem fine after that questionable sept scene.
We didn't exactly get the White Book scene I wanted, but it was good enough. They still seem on course to guide Jaime towards redemption, as seen by the oath he still remembers he swore to Catelyn Stark. Honour is what he still values. Pod's face was hilarious! I loved the Ser/My lady line they took from the books and it's what Pod wanted to do if he couldn't stay with Tyrion. I have grown on Pod immensely. Oathkeeper as the title and name of the sword is very apt and signifies a new chapter beginning.
So Sam has told Jon that Bran is still alive! Makes for a nice change, giving Jon a bit of hope. Jon rallying his brothers was a great scene that shows his new maturity and how his is favoured already within the Night's Watch, much more than Alliser Thorne. I always liked LC Mormont and really wanted to see him avenged. I didn't expect such a brutal scene at Craster's Keep with the skull and the rape, but it was a really menacing mood shift when the wives made him go sacrifice the baby to the Walkers.
So it looks like Bran has more or less become an adept warg, interesting to see as they always impress with the wolf scenes. So that's where Ghost is, captured by the mutineers. I really wanted to see Hodor floor Rast, it's a testament to how well acted he is that I hate him so much.
The Walkers. Wow. That is all makeup and so menacing to see. For years, we have wondered about them and why they need human sacrifices. Were they really as monstrous as we thought? This scene opens up so many new things to ponder, and for once I am genuinely floored and excited as I guess what comes next. Great ending.
8.5/10