""But I can explain, Khaleesi!"" Topic

This is what happens when you deviate from the source too much. Then you have to come up with a lame way to drag the plot back on track. So, who gave the scroll to Ser Barristsan Selmy? By ditching the Strong Belwas angle and …. Well, you have to play catchup.

Ditching the minstrel made them scramble too far, I think, in having Sansa reveal who she was. I hope that … Oh screw that. That's a boring sub plot. Let them scramble there.

As for a GOOD straying from the plot I loved Tyrion and his story about the moron Lannister. "But then a mule kicked him in the chest and killed him and I never did find out why."

Sadly for Red Viper fans…

It looks like next week will be entirely devoted to the battle of Castle Black. Then the wrap up with, hopefully, Lady Stoneheart.
Despite my bitching and moaning, a great episode.

That whole "moron Lannister" scene just looked like an improv that the director thought was too good to leave out.

Yeah, I absolutely cannot wait for Lady Stoneheart. They better not f that up.

Overall I was pretty okay with it, though admittedly I am missing the things they could have done with Strong Belwas. Would have been a cool character.

I loved the beetle smashing story….

"what was the point of it all…..?"

Great exchange between the two brothers.

Also looks like Sansa has decided to play Little Finger which could be interesting and add a lot more depth to that character.

And for Sansa, it is amazing to see what a change of outfit and the proper lighting and camera angle can do, she went from a silly girl to iron willed woman (like her mother) just by walking down the steps…

"It's fallen out of fashion, flaying. Traditions are important."

One of the characters in the book I cannot stand is Sweet Robin. Gaaaah! Push him off a cliff, someone! Sansa! Maya Stone! Anybody!

I wonder if they sent anyone out to pick up the pieces of Lysa.

I will have a sardonic interest in seeing if Tyrion remains a hero to all when he pays a final visit to Dear Old Dad, and settles another score before that.

I have to admit reading all the books… I think the HBO series has the editing that the books needed :)

In the end I think the penchant for killing off main characters may go too far… i.e. Martin is a little too obsessed with killing off characters which may be "realistic" in his brutal setting, but also makes it difficult for people to identify with the story.

Still impossible not to watch it.. looking forward to next week's battle at the wall!

I thought they might go off book for the Mountain Vs Inego Montoya fight.
Im glad they didnt.
I still wanna see more dragons.
Not looking forward to seeing proof the Lanisters dont gold either.

Love watching reaction videos to the fight. Almost as good as the Red Wedding. The poor Hound has almost become a tragic Shakespeare character. I know what is coming for him, don't know rather it will be tragic or a mercy at this point. I have a feeling it will hurt more then any other character this year. He has really grown on me.

Luckily we get a new team of traveling companions next year in another of my two favorites. One who is just trying to survive and the other just wants to die. At least I hope we get to see them together next year.

> I will have a sardonic interest in seeing if Tyrion remains a hero to all when he pays a final visit to Dear Old Dad

He is to me. (Read the book…)

"Not looking foreword to seeing proof that the Lannisters don't gold, either"

IMO, Littlefinger's passing mention of some 'mundane and ignoble endings' to Robyn is a clue that they are NOT going that route. The Series has worked hard to give [SPOILER] more dimension than the book version, and I don't think it will go down like that. My money's on it.

The second half of this season has really shaped up. I hated the season opening. The Beetle dialog was AWESOME. Dinkleage will have another Best Supporting before were done with, and were definitely not done yet.

They have not blanched at killing off anybody, haven't they? They have even added a few to the bloodbath that were not killed in the books.
I think that the person we are talking about will not be collecting a salary next year.
Another thing is that the next book is all about the aftermath of the gold ter. He/she is doomed!

Best quote from my search for internet reviews:

Notes: Missandei is only 10 years old in the books, which is why books are garbage and you should never read them.

I have to agree. Hubba hubba!

I still wanna see more dragons.

I suspect that the CGI budget probably went the way of giants this season.

John, nope not yet… and yes they have technically killed a few extra…

But the Hound (possibly my second or third favorite after Tyrion and Varys) is still around… I almost wonder if they are not thinking of keeping him a little longer…

The Hound doesn't die in the books. You just have to read carefully.

Really? cool! I guess I was in the habit of assuming that a character was dead if he was dead in a Martin book..

Good to know.

There is only one person I want to see the Hound fight and that is his brother the mountain. I really hope that comes to pass in the next book.

The Hound 2.0 vs Ser Robert Strong!

"Moron" Lannister's name is actually Orson Lannister. Not in the books, but apparently a dig at Orson Scott Card, who all the Kool Kids in Horrywood love to hate. He has written that he hates the show.
Good thing he isn't a Dallas Cowboy fan too! Martin knows how to deal with lowlifes like that, yessirree Bob!

I would have cast Abdullah the Butcher as Strong Belwas.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply the individual wouldn't be axed (within the next two ep, no less!), but that certain "circumstances" would be different.

Lordy no, it's nearly as major and disastrous as Robert's death. I was both trying to be relatively spoiler-friendly, and doing too many things at once.

I wonder if they sent anyone out to pick up the pieces of Lysa.

GRRM will probably resurrect her (Lady Splatterheart?) and the two sisters can go killing folks together

Still waiting for Winter to come.

Season 6.