A Song Of Ice and Fire (Spoilers for all Published Books)

[Simple Torture]

These lines from the "newbie" review at the AVClub hits a little too on the nose, methinks:

The back-and-forth that follows demands more time spent with the comedy duo of Conleth Hill and Peter Dinklage. It also lands on one worthy candidate who fits all of Varys’ prerequisites: Daenerys Targaryen. But Emilia Clarke’s character isn’t the only one who fits that description. Jon Snow is hitting all of those intimidate/inspire notes at Castle Black, and his actions at the conclusion of “The Wars To Come” demonstrate his deep reserves of mercy.

Then there's this:

Her fellow self-proclaimed monarch, Mance Rayder, is reduced in size by composition and wardrobe, appearing so small and so defeated when Jon visits him in his cell.

The "newbie" review has a few other laments over Mance's passing. The "expert" review is a little bit more measured, and the author isn't sure whether or not the show can bring Mance back at this point. What do you all think? Personally, I think, barring a resurrection, he's toast.

And then this:

These characters feel increasingly without adversary. Roose Bolton is alluded to, but with Tywin on a slab and Mance Rayder at the stake, Cersei stands tallest among the show’s villains. The beginning of every new Game Of Thrones season feels like a bit of a refresh, but this one requires more recalibration than most.

Then there's this. This season, I think we're going to be existing in a villain vacuum: everybody's got their own personal little squabbles, but there's no real existential threat. Considering the show's condensed timeline, I think this means one of two things (or both!) are going to happen by mid-season 6 at the latest: either Dany makes it to Westeros or the Others make it to the Wall. My money is on the second one happening first. Thoughts?

[Mecca]

I think Cersei vs. the Faith/Marge and Dany vs. the Harpy will fill the role of good vs. evil quite well for lack of any other great adversary plots.

[Norah]

I liked that they included the unsullied going to a brothel just to be held by a woman seeing as how they're castrated. I thought the scene after with Missandei asking Grey Worm why an Unsullied would do that was pretty stupid with him saying "I don't know." I guess its for scenes like that that they cut out 2 of Doran Martell's children

I'm with you. I really liked the scene in the brothel and then thought it was pretty dumb to have Missandei ask what's up on behalf of the audience.

This shot will be much more satisfying when she's bald and naked:

[Mecca]

not that lena heady has never been one to completely avoid nudity, i fully expect a lot of clever camera angles.

[Norah]

Anyone else listening to this?

http://nerdetterecaps.tumblr.com/

[Simple Torture]

Always up for new podcasts.

[Norah]

Considering reading the last two books again.

[Simple Torture]

has this been cancelled yet?

The premiere was the highest-rated episode of the series any series ever on HBO, ever.

so, soon?

You know, knowing what's coming up in the narrative (lots of talking, not much do-ing), I'm wondering if this is the season where the popular reception of the show falls off.

[Mecca]

has this been cancelled yet?

The premiere was the highest-rated episode of the series any series ever on HBO, ever.

so, soon?

You know, knowing what's coming up in the narrative (lots of talking, not much do-ing), I'm wondering if this is the season where the popular reception of the show falls off.

the only thing that could make that possible is the hype putting expectations too high

[epilogue]

They're going to take Arya's story from book 4. Sprinkle in Myrcella. Probably sprinkle in Sam's story to some degree. And then only deal with the big evetns of book 5. That coupled with finishing Jon's story from book 3 & subsequent climax in book 5 plus all the new shit they're throwing out, I imagine this season will be just fine, team.

Dave and Dan are essentially expertly editing books 4 and 5 and then taking the fuck over.

[Monkey_Driven]

They're going to take Arya's story from book 4. Sprinkle in Myrcella. Probably sprinkle in Sam's story to some degree. And then only deal with the big evetns of book 5. That coupled with finishing Jon's story from book 3 & subsequent climax in book 5 plus all the new shit they're throwing out, I imagine this season will be just fine, team.

Dave and Dan are essentially expertly editing books 4 and 5 and then taking the fuck over.

Yup. This season will be just fine.

[Simple Torture]

Oh, I'm not really worried--I'm excited to get to Dorne, and to watch Arya's training. Just wondering if we'll see ratings fall off a bit from where it's been the last few seasons. We'll see!

[Monkey_Driven]

Oh, I'm not really worried--I'm excited to get to Dorne, and to watch Arya's training. Just wondering if we'll see ratings fall off a bit from where it's been the last few seasons. We'll see!

If this season happened earlier I think the ratings would probably decrease, but now people are hooked and really into the characters. I doubt they'll dip much at all.

[15showsandcounting]

Nm. Got my answer.

[Simple Torture]

I heard a lot of Lady Stoneheart rumblings before the season began, but in the past 3 weeks or so it's really died down. Don't you think that Brienne's meeting both Stark girls in the past 3 episodes is going to be a way for her to get to the point where she was in the book without Jaime? Like, she's "failed"...she'll follow Littlefinger west...she'll get captured by the BWOB...etc...

What do we all think of Jaqen H'ghar's reappearance, even if it's not "him"? Did the kindly man in the books take on Jaqen's face momentarily, or am I misremembering that?

[Mecca]

it's widely believed that the man known as Jaqen assumed the face of a Pate at the Citadel. I think its a fine change as it keeps viewers from adding another character, especially one without a name.

[Norah]

I don't think the Kindly Man ever took his form. In the show, I didn't take the KM taking his form as them even being the same character. Faceless man can take any form so that really doesn't mean anything.

I know everyone is pretty much assuming the young Aegon isn't included in the show, but there was a hint of mystery in Varys and Tyrion's conversation this week about going to Volantis before Mereen which made me think we might run into them after all.

[Norah]

Despite them changing so much of Jamie's storyline I thought it was kind of cool that Bronn is his travel companion to Dorne. He's going to Dorne instead of the Riverlands, and with Bronn instead of Janos but in both instances he's traveling with the person who helped him train after losing his hand.

[Mecca]

Despite them changing so much of Jamie's storyline I thought it was kind of cool that Bronn is his travel companion to Dorne. He's going to Dorne instead of the Riverlands, and with Bronn instead of *Janos but in both instances he's traveling with the person who helped him train after losing his hand.

*Illyn Payne

this isn't the first time you mixed them up

[Mike]

I just hope this doesn't mean the Riverlands storyline is totally cut. At least the Siege of Riverrun would be nice to have. I want to see Edmure and Blackfish again.