Monday, May 23, 2016

Hold the Door

We are halfway through Season 6 of Game of Thrones.  Last night's episode was one for the books as it's ending punched you in the gut.  It was directed by Lost's Jack Bender.  Bender lived up up to his resume.  Some thoughts about last night.




1. Sansa learned not to trust Littlefinger. It was a lesson her father failed to learn and it literally cost him his head.  It was nice seeing her tell him to get lost.  It's hard to believe that LF didn't know how much of  an animal Ramsey is but he protested he really didn't know.  He offered his help to her but she refused it.  Don't be surprised if she finds out she might need the Knights of the Vale if she wishes to take back Winterfell.  She also didn't tell anyone she spoke to LF.  Good move.

2. Arya was shocked that people who worship the many-faced god of death are actually a death cult and gasp, kill people for money.  What exactly did she think they did?  She sure didn't mind it when her friend killed her enemies on her behalf a few seasons ago.  However, one thing has not changed: the waif is still kicking her ass all over the place.  The waif borrowed a trick from Gannicus and beat up Arya on the training floor with her fists while allowing Arya to use her weapon.  However, Arya has learned other lessons as she controlled her emotions when she saw a play that made fun of the execution of her father as a topless actress portrayed Sansa.  A girl named Arya Stark would have found a way to kill them that day.  No one kept it under control.

3. Varys meets the Red Witch.  Its a shame she wore such a dress around him as he is unable to appreciate it.  Tyrion forged an alliance with Kinvara, the Red Priestess of the Lord of Light.  Varys though he could put her in her place but she turned the tables upon him in a way that has never been done to a visibly shaken Varys.  Question: Will Kinvara take off her necklace and turn into an 800 year-old toad?

4.  Ser Jorah finally told Dany that he loved her.   Just one problem: he also admitted his affliction.  Hello darling, I love you but I have this thing on my arm and need to go away to kill myself.  Meanwhile, Miss Stormborn Dragonrider leads her barbarian horde towards a date with destiny in Westeros.

6. The Kinsmoot. Boring.  Flat. Stale.  No mention of the dragonhorn or Euron's travel to Valeria.  Just I'll show up and present myself to Danyrus with a big fleet and she will marry me on the spot.  Good luck with that one.  You didn't see what happened to the last guys who talked about having sex with her in a rather forceful way, did you?

7.  Will Tormund and Brienne be the new power couple?  Will their kid be bigger than The Mountain?

8.  The Blackfish finally enters the game.  He will make things very interesting.

9.  The Children of the Forest created the White Walkers to prevent their forests from being cut down by men.  Things up north just got real interesting as the mythology of the series comes into play.

10.  The ending was probably the saddest of the entire series.  Poor Hodor.  He has been treated as an idiot his whole life.  We see Hodor as the boy Wylis, a good-natured lad who is a little slow but is very big.  He speaks whole sentences and acts as a normal boy.  Enter Bran Stark.

Bran just can't help himself.  Mommy told him not to climb the wall and we see how that turned out for his family.  The Three Eyed Raven told Bran not to go into his little visions without his help but noooo...... Bran has to grab the tree and play Kwisazt Haderach.   Suddenly Bran is walking among the White Walkers, thinking he is safe.  Just one problem.  The White Walker King can see him and then grabs his arm.  It leaves a mark on his real arm.  The Three Eyed Raven tells him he has to go as the spell protecting the cave is now gone thanks to the mark on Bran's arm.  The walkers attack.  It is a heavy toll. The Children of the Forest and The Three Eyed Raven all give their lives to Bran can escape. Does this kid EVER listen?

Then there is Hodor.  Bran is out to lunch during the attack as he visits the past where Hodor is a child.  Mereen screams at Hodor over and over again to "hold the door" back in the present but young Wylis can hear her through Bran.  Wylis suddenly falls to the ground and starts screaming "hold the door" over and over until he shortens it to Hodor.  Meanwhile back in the present, Hodor is holding the door closes as the wights tear into Hodor as he gives his life so Bran escapes.

It was the sucker punch to the emotions that no one was expecting as Bran's bumbling around in the past ruined young Hodor's mind.  How many decades was Hodor treated the fool and made the butt of jokes?   One understood Hodor's tears in the cave as he knew he was facing the moment that he knew was coming during his entire life and yet when that time came, Hodor did not waver. Quite a few people have died for this kid.  He better live up to the sacrifices  made for him.  

It's also clear Bran has the ability to speak to the past and affect events.  Think about that one for a while.  Did he drive the Mad King mad?

One final thought: The Wall is protected by a spell as well. Will Bran break the spell and leave it vulnerable to an attack by the walkers if he crosses the Wall?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure if I like this new element of dual warging during time travel.

Anonymous said...

Before this season is out Sansa will regret not killing the whore master.

Anonymous said...

Thus far, the best thing about season six is that actress Emilia Clarke
( Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons ect. ect. ect.) was proud of her nude scene at the end of episode #4 last week.

"Hell yeah that’s me” said Emilia, "no damn body double or CGI in that scene ! "

Now if only Queen Margery (Natalie Dormer) will get necked next Sunday during
her “Walk of Atonement".

Will the knights of House Tyrell save
Natalie ?

Stay tuned.

Until then, ya got to give those House Tyrell knights & bannermen credit !

Their "Reach” plate armour is some of the coolest in Westeros.

Anonymous said...

Time Travel plots mean that the writers painted themselves into a corner and needed a fix.

Anonymous said...

It was a fantastic episode. Loved how the director cut back and forth between Willis and Hodor leading up to Hodor's end. That was extremely well done.

But Bran needs to step it up. Time to stop acting like a kid and grow a pair.

I read the first two books and stopped. I think I'm going to have to start back. As good as the shows are I know I'm missing things.



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In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


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There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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