OT: GOT, Episode 3 — I Don’t Want To Brag, But...

[mike412]

Actually, yes I do want to brag:

From last week: “Arya intrigues me. Why the spear? I think she is going after the Night King wearing one of the masks she stole in Bravos. Maybe there was a White Walker in the Hall of Faces.”

Okay, so she killed him with the Valerian dagger, but I’m still claiming credit. She was, if you didn’t watch carefully, wearing the face of the White Walker on the far right of the Night King’s now-crystallized cadre.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Actually, yes I do want to brag:

From last week: “Arya intrigues me. Why the spear? I think she is going after the Night King wearing one of the masks she stole in Bravos. Maybe there was a White Walker in the Hall of Faces.”

Okay, so she killed him with the Valerian dagger, but I’m still claiming credit. She was, if you didn’t watch carefully, wearing the face of the White Walker on the far right of the Night King’s now-crystallized cadre.

Seriously? I missed that. I gotta go back and watch. Great call.

I was waiting for her to wear a mask the whole episode to perhaps disguise as a wight...but I didn’t see her as the one to do what she did to the Night King until the exchange with the red Red Witch. Then it crossed my mind. But I would have never originally guessed.

 

[mike412]

It was a White Walker .You can barely see her start to pull the mask off and then kill him. She was to the right of the Night King (to our left looking at the screen).

The only confusing thing: I thought earlier in the episode she gave the dagger to Sansa. Then when Sansa asked her what she should do with it, she said “stick them with the pointy end.” But somehow she had it when she needed it. Remember her sword Needle is not Valerian steel.

 

[Harve74]

It was a White Walker .You can barely see her start to pull the mask off and then kill him. She was to the right of the Night King (to our left looking at the screen).

The only confusing thing: I thought earlier in the episode she gave the dagger to Sansa. Then when Sansa asked her what she should do with it, she said “stick them with the pointy end.” But somehow she had it when she needed it. Remember her sword Needle is not Valerian steel.

She gave a dragonglass dagger to Sansa, not the Valerian steel dagger.

 

[Jeffburgh]

Very little X in television did something so anticipated actually leave you completely fulfilled. A truly epic from start the beginning battle. It was nice seeing Melisandre and Theon having Redemption before their end, and Danny losing her most dear person. And for those who or a gas over the neutering of men in society today, the two Keystone moments of the hour plus long battle came at the hands of little girls.

 

[Ski11585]

I thought it was a profoundly mediocre episode. The lighting was atrocious. You can set a battle scene at night and still light it in a way that allows the viewers to see what’s going on.

Also, unlike Blackwater, I had no emotional connection to what was going on. It was like watching a silly B rate zombie film.

 

[Jakey_John]

I enjoyed the episode but I’m with you. I’ve seen better lighting in fire halls.

 

[ratking17]

Mike can you get a screenshot of what you are talking about. I rewatched and couldn't find the specific part

 

[Black Elmo 2]

Ditto the lighting. It was so dark you couldn't tell what was happening, let alone to whom it was happening. Plus, in the battle scenes, the close-up camera perspective, which was probably designed to give the viewer a sense of the immediacy of battle, simply worked as another obstacle to figuring out what was happening. The zombie movie criticism is valid. At one point my wife remarked it was like watching an episode of "The Walking Dead."

The writing in this show has become predictable. The first couple seasons were exciting primarily because anybody could (and did) die. Didn't matter if it was a hero or a villain. Ned Stark, Rob Stark, Catlyn Stark, King Joffrey, etc. Many surprises. The past few seasons have been predictable. Just another hero vs villain movie in which the main hero characters (Jon/Danerys) will survive and live a happy ending.

I hope I'm proven wrong. That either Jon Snow or Danerys will sacrifice themselves to defeat Cersi so the other can rule. Or maybe both Jon and Danerys die, and Arya's baby, who is the blood heir to Robert Baratheon, will become king.

 

[Ski11585]

Ditto the lighting. It was so dark you couldn't tell what was happening, let alone to whom it was happening. Plus, in the battle scenes, the close-up camera perspective, which was probably designed to give the viewer a sense of the immediacy of battle, simply worked as another obstacle to figuring out what was happening. The zombie movie criticism is valid. At one point my wife remarked it was like watching an episode of "The Walking Dead."

The writing in this show has become predictable. The first couple seasons were exciting primarily because anybody could (and did) die. Didn't matter if it was a hero or a villain. Ned Stark, Rob Stark, Catlyn Stark, King Joffrey, etc. Many surprises. The past few seasons have been predictable. Just another hero vs villain movie in which the main hero characters (Jon/Danerys) will survive and live a happy ending.

I hope I'm proven wrong. That either Jon Snow or Danerys will sacrifice themselves to defeat Cersi so the other can rule. Or maybe both Jon and Danerys die, and Arya's baby, who is the blood heir to Robert Baratheon, will become king.

]

And a blood heir to the Targaryen's, which is how Robert justifies his claim in the first place. He's a descendant of Aegon V through his grandmother, Rhaelle.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

And for those who or a gas over the neutering of men in society today, the two Keystone moments of the hour plus long battle came at the hands of little girls.

You posted the same thing in another thread today so the issue must really interest you. Why is this fashionable in Hollywood right now? This is 2019 America, not some third world country or Islamic state. We love our women here.

 

[Harve74]

Ditto the lighting. It was so dark you couldn't tell what was happening, let alone to whom it was happening. Plus, in the battle scenes, the close-up camera perspective, which was probably designed to give the viewer a sense of the immediacy of battle, simply worked as another obstacle to figuring out what was happening. The zombie movie criticism is valid. At one point my wife remarked it was like watching an episode of "The Walking Dead."

The writing in this show has become predictable. The first couple seasons were exciting primarily because anybody could (and did) die. Didn't matter if it was a hero or a villain. Ned Stark, Rob Stark, Catlyn Stark, King Joffrey, etc. Many surprises. The past few seasons have been predictable. Just another hero vs villain movie in which the main hero characters (Jon/Danerys) will survive and live a happy ending.

I hope I'm proven wrong. That either Jon Snow or Danerys will sacrifice themselves to defeat Cersi so the other can rule. Or maybe both Jon and Danerys die, and Arya's baby, who is the blood heir to Robert Baratheon, will become king.

Perhaps the writing would be more powerful had George R. R. Martin actually done his job and finished the series instead of wasted literally years doing meaningless side projects.

I know all about artistic temperments, artistic freedom, etc, but he is world-famous and making HUGE money on everything he does BECAUSE HBO made his books into an overwhelming cultural phenomenon.

I know he descibed his plans to the show-runners, but an outline is not the same as the direct source material.

Blame him, not HBO.

 

[Chomp_Panther66]

Perhaps the writing would be more powerful had George R. R. Martin actually done his job and finished the series instead of wasted literally years doing meaningless side projects.

I know all about artistic temperments, artistic freedom, etc, but he is world-famous and making HUGE money on everything he does BECAUSE HBO made his books into an overwhelming cultural phenomenon.

I know he descibed his plans to the show-runners, but an outline is not the same as the direct source material.

Blame him, not HBO.

Does he deserve some blame for not finishing the books? Sure. But that is quite the take to say that the show runners just get a free pass because there was no source material. Theyre still allowed to make good television and they have quite a head start on any other program out there BECAUSE of the source material. This show has gone down hill so much since they have gone off the books that it’s not even the same show anymore. Don’t you guys feel cheated that the ultimate threat (that took 10 years of build up) to our characters got wiped out in one night, in a dumb way? The GoT I watched would have had her die at the hands of NK right when she thought she had him.

 

[mike412]

I thought it was interesting that the producers said they decided in Season 3 that Arya would kill the Night King, and wanted it to be a surprise so, for example, he wasn’t on her list.

As for a screen shot, I’m in Bali and don’t have access to the show. It could be my imagination, but they cut from the Night King back to a White Walker for just a second, then back to the Night King and then Arya leaps at him. Why cut to a White Walker’s face and why was it’s right hand up like it was pulling off a face? Or it could be that I was seeing something I wanted to see to fulfill my prediction. I suspect we will learn more in the next episode. Although I won’t see that for two more weeks because I won’t have internet here on Sunday.

I did watch the show a third time before I left. And it is correct that Arya gives Sansa a dragon glass dagger and not her Valerian steel dagger.

 

[TJFAIRLIE]

I’ve been back and forth over it a few times and can’t find anything resembling that WW pulling off a mask. I do see him glance over to his right, and his hair wisps up. I think that’s just him seeing Arya run past, but even that is unclear

 

[Jeffburgh]

I’ve been back and forth over it a few times and can’t find anything resembling that WW pulling off a mask. I do see him glance over to his right, and his hair wisps up. I think that’s just him seeing Arya run past, but even that is unclear

That is what I am seeing, too.

That was what it looked like in the moment, and when I have watched it a few times.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I believe that is what you were "supposed" to see. Arya wasn't the White Walker. The White Walker "sensed" Arya as she moved past it. It didn't see her, it felt her.

 

[WeaverIsComing]

I’ve been back and forth over it a few times and can’t find anything resembling that WW pulling off a mask. I do see him glance over to his right, and his hair wisps up. I think that’s just him seeing Arya run past, but even that is unclear

that's all i could find too.

if she's wearing a white walker mask...why take it off?

how do you get a white walker mask? what's a white walkers corpse look like?

if i'm arya, surrounded by the army of the dead, i probably leave my mask on to attack so a WW doesn't throw a spear in my back, and wouldn't obnoxiously grunt during my lunge.

 

[mike412]

I think we will find out the answer on Sunday. Or at least most of you will. I am in Bali and neither HBO Go nor HBO Now is available here.

Was it hair wisps? I thought it was more. There is another issue no one has mentioned: How do you get a mask of a White Walker if they crystallize immediately upon death? But, then again we are talking about Bravos and very mysterious things happen there. And why did Arya remain in the castle after the Red Witch’s pep talk? Was she looking for her trunk with the faces in it?

I suspect much will be explained in the next episode. Including how Dany and her allies still have a chance to prevail. Is there something strange that happens after the Night King dies that will give Dany hope.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

And why did Arya remain in the castle after the Red Witch’s pep talk? Was she looking for her trunk with the faces in it?
.

I watched it again last night. Not much time transpired after the brown eyes, blue eyes, green eyes pep talk.

 

[Harve74]

I think we will find out the answer on Sunday. Or at least most of you will. I am in Bali and neither HBO Go nor HBO Now is available here.

Was it hair wisps? I thought it was more. There is another issue no one has mentioned: How do you get a mask of a White Walker if they crystallize immediately upon death? But, then again we are talking about Bravos and very mysterious things happen there. And why did Arya remain in the castle after the Red Witch’s pep talk? Was she looking for her trunk with the faces in it?

I suspect much will be explained in the next episode. Including how Dany and her allies still have a chance to prevail. Is there something strange that happens after the Night King dies that will give Dany hope.

There is some ancestry history between the leader of the Golden Company and the Targeryans. It's possible they will not stay loyal to Cersei.

In the books, the Golden Company is actively trying to overthrow the Lannisters and I think they have their OWN Taregryan cousin.

 

[Ski11585]

There is some ancestry history between the leader of the Golden Company and the Targeryans. It's possible they will not stay loyal to Cersei.

In the books, the Golden Company is actively trying to overthrow the Lannisters and I think they have their OWN Taregryan cousin.

Yeah the Golden Company is fascinating. They were originally formed by Ser Aegor Rivers, a legitimized bastard of Aegon IV. They have, since then, always supported the Blackfyres until, supposedly, they backed Young Griff, aka Aegon, aka fAegon. However, there is a fascinating theory that Aegon is a Blackfyre.

So which is it, "Black or red, a dragon is still a dragon?" Or "Some contracts are writ in ink, and some in blood."

 

[mike412]

I was almost certain Jamie was going to die in The Long Night battle. His “arc” seemed to be complete after he knighted Brienne, and it’s hard to imagine him fighting against Cersei.

Now, that he still is alive, I’m thinking it has to do with balancing the power. Cersei seems like she is in the driver’s seat. But, Jamie was the leader of the Lannister army for a long time. I believe he still has 1,500 soldiers at Riverrun who might be loyal to him. Also, didn’t Cersei get rid of her Uncle Kenneth as head of the Lannister army? There might be more discontent due to that.

I don’t know how much of an equalizer the dragons are now that Cersei has those giant spears (ballistres?) to fire at them. But, Dany has one more weapon in her quiver which seems to have been forgotten: The Second Sons. Could she order them to leave Mereen to fight with her against Cersei.

There also are the Dornish. We really don’t know their status now. Their new leaders sailed with Dany, but I don’t remember seeing Dornish troops among her army. And, is any more use to be made of Jacquin and the House of the Dead? Finally, how much is left of the House of Tarley? Will it now be loyal to Samwell? Is that why he was kept alive?

I have trouble buying the whole Golden Company will turn on Cersei theory which is so hot on the internet. Without them, Cersei has no chance, and I don’t believe the show will allow its final great battle to be one-sided.

 

[mike412]

I watched it again last night. Not much time transpired after the brown eyes, blue eyes, green eyes pep talk.

We don’t know how long Arya was in the castle. She wasn’t seen again until she slew the Night King. There was plenty of time for her to get to her trunk of faces. Why was she even in the castle in the first place? Hiding? Not in her nature.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

We don’t know how long Arya was in the castle. She wasn’t seen again until she slew the Night King. There was plenty of time for her to get to her trunk of faces. Why was she even in the castle in the first place? Hiding? Not in her nature.

Very out of character. She was injured though.

 

[thebadby2]

I thought it was a profoundly mediocre episode. The lighting was atrocious. You can set a battle scene at night and still light it in a way that allows the viewers to see what’s going on.

Also, unlike Blackwater, I had no emotional connection to what was going on. It was like watching a silly B rate zombie film.

Agree. IMO from a plot and execution standpoint it was one of the most poorly conceived episodes of the entire history of the show The writers/producers tried to stuff 10 pounds of $hit in a 5 pound bag, all with poor lighting. All of the major characters survived, most from impossible situations where they were shown to be getting swarmed under. How many times were Jamie and Brianne hopelessly swarmed and cornered by a never-ending mass of bad guys. Jon Snow fighting his way through a couple of thousand resurrected dead guys and managing to stay alive and well while sitting 10 feet in front of the undead dragon that single-handedly destroyed the wall was another ridiculous scene. The Jon and Dani dragon-flying scenes were cheap and confusing.

IMO the best parts of that episode were the ones before the battle began. The eclectic group of characters sitting around the fire drinking and BSing in advance of their impending doom was outstanding and featured a lot of great dialogue.

Now that the epic conflict for the future of humankind is in the rear view, I'm looking forward to getting back to the standard of writing and production excellence that has made this one of the best shows of all time.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I was almost certain Jamie was going to die in The Long Night battle. His “arc” seemed to be complete after he knighted Brienne, and it’s hard to imagine him fighting against Cersei.

Cersei hiring Bronn to kill Jamie and Tyrion seemed to me to pretty much guarantee that he lived to fight another day. I thought it was actually Brienne who would die, because after being knighted her destiny was fulfilled. I figured she'd die saving Jamie, which combined with finding out that his sister hired someone to kill him was going to be all the motivation he needed to stick a proverbial knife in her back.

Somewhere in these last three episode we need a Bronn/Jamie confrontation. I'm guessing Bronn keeps the gold and sides with his old friend.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Very out of character. She was injured though.

I think she was leading the wights away from the cript to protect Sansa

That was my interpretation