5.08 Hardhome

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Koopa

Old KiwiBird
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Spoilers inside:

Overall a nice episode to watch. The battle of hardhome was well done. Jorah storyline is getting a bit long in the tooth but okay.

They confirmed something which was not yet 100% certain the books. Dragonsteel is valyrian steel and is effective.They even went out of their way to show it, with none of the wildling wielding the dragonglass brought by Jon minutes earlier, and them not finding it.....

The battle of hardhome emphasized Jon's point. With the visual bringing it home perhaps even more than the books did. It's now quite clearthat the others and their dead army if given the chance can prove a genuine thread in the long run. With them slowly swelling up their army with the dead.

This is also shwoed why the Night's Watch had to have fallen hard for the story. Imagine a Night's Watch at it's full capacity, with the Nightfort as it's primary castle, not Castle Black and it's gate weakness (and that gate being sealed off) the dead would have no way through. They can't climb the wall if the Night's Watch still had enough men to proplerly man the wall. They're basically stuck and easy targets, barring perhaps the giant ice spiders who mayhaps could climb the wall. Especially if the knowledge of the others was still intact.

Now though the wall is insufficiently manned, almost no dragonglass to be found, 1 ( possible 2 if Dark Sister is in the possesion of Bloodraven) valyrian sword's in that part of the north. And it's in the midst of fighting itself. (As shown by the show forecasting of a backstabbing Olly) . The wall must fall for the others to become a genuine thread, and both in the books and in the tv show, that's what about to happen. Plus, the wall not falling would make the dragons kind of absolute, except for perhaps a repeat of Westeros conquest.

As for the other parts of the show, i'm actually routing for Cersei to kill that woman... this show is giving me evil thoughts...

As for the conversation between Dany and Tyrion. It felt like the writers behind the show were trying to hard to put the 2 powerhouses together in an acceptable manner. They actually got Tyrion to talk about wheels, and Dany to say she will break those wheels. It's like the writers just wanted to make Dany say something cool. Except when you stop and think about it, she was only spouting nonsense. At least that what it sounded like to, since I don't think the writers (at that point) were trying to show she still has a lot to learn about politics and the world.

With the situation in the North so clear, i am however getting quite curious how GRRM intends to reconcile that, with the politics of the south and dany's situation, and all this in 2 books. he def. has his work cut out for him.
 
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This is the kind of action I've been waiting to see all season; no, make that all series! Winter is no longer coming. It's freakin' here, the White Walkers are out, and a huge number of Wildlings have now become new zombie army recruits. Good thing they were already wearing what appeared to be camouflage uniforms.

I thought I detected some sparks between Jon and the Wildling Warrior Princess. I was surprised when she was taken down by the zombie kids. I couldn't tell if she hesitated because they were her own, or just because she was a mother. Pretty blue eyes, though, when she was raised from the dead. I hope Jon notices the difference if they meet again in another battle.
 
I was worried about this episode. The letters back to Castle Black from Hardhome in the books were especially atmospheric, and you got a great feeling of impending doom without ever seeing any of the events at Hardhome. This weeks episode lived up that image in my mind. The action scenes were excellent, with that last scene of the Night King? raising the dead absolutely chilling.

I thought the scenes with Tyrion and Dany were quite good and yes I actually was feeling sort of sorry for Cersei.

Finally I think Olly has made his decision about what he is going to do.
 
Finally see the White Walkers! I'm so spellbound by them and want to know more. Where did they come from? How did they start their existence? I'm also puzzled how Jon's vylarian steel was able to kill one. Another question, Will the First Ranger let them through the wall?

I don't feel sorry for Cersei at all. I feel she's getting what she deserves. She's not even the true Queen Mother. A queen at point, but no more. I'm wondering if the adviser who came to see her was telling the truth or does he and many others want to keep her away from her son?

I do feel sorry for Jamie however. He was only trying to protect his daughter... ur a-hem... niece.

Finally Tyrion and Dany are working together! It's what I've been waiting for ever since the Spider said they were going to see her. I hope to see him there soon as well.

I was so hoping that "Wreek" would tell Sansa the truth about her brothers. Now if she can only hold out until Littlefinger returns. And if I were him I would return soon or face the wrath of the new Sept. (In the long run, I'm seeing Sansa on the iron throne at one point. Time will tell if I'm right. Her father could have easily claimed the throne before Robert, but he refused. And if the "king's" true parents are found out... Hmmm...)
 
So much awesome this week! Tormund killing Rattleshirt, Jon killing a Walker, The Night King raising the dead...and Wun Wun! When Tormund called his name in battle it sent small shivers down my spine, Wun Wun is coming to Castle Black...

Anyone else find it funny that the only two men of the watch who've killed a Walker, are the two who've both broken their vows and bedded a wildling woman?
 
Wo7f said:
I don't feel sorry for Cersei at all. I feel she's getting what she deserves. She's not even the true Queen Mother. A queen at point, but no more.
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Poor Cersei is going through tough times in her dungeon cell. She's dehydrated. King Tommen doesn't call; he doesn't write. Brother Jaime is out of town and out of touch. Her queenly do has gone all frizzy.

She's got one tough dungeon matron who won't even let her complete her repetitious “last face you'll see” death threat before she gets the words slapped right out of her mouth. Cersei is too proud to grovel before the High Sparrow, but not too proud to suck up the water the matron dumps on the cell floor after she continues refusing to confess.

Oh, well.
 
They killed Pyp and Grenn, and I thought for sure they were going to kill Dolorous Edd, so I was happy to see he survived (even if he isn't a patch on book Edd). Very well put together battle at the end, I thought. CGI budget keeps going up, obviously. Although I must admit, while the wights looked fantastic, I find something a little off about the white walkers themselves. Maybe it was seeing them in clothes or light armour, which I don't think they've worn before.
 
Culhwch said:
Very well put together battle at the end, I thought. CGI budget keeps going up, obviously.
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How about that giant? Cranky and a bit in need of dental work as he was, he did a heroic job of protecting the rear with that makeshift baseball bat as Jon and the surviving Night’s Watchmen beat a hasty retreat to the boats.

I was afraid that Mr. Giant was going to try to hop into one of those seriously undersized rowboats himself, but he seemed more than vertically able to wade to the main transports. I’m thinking, though, that he would pretty much need one of the big boats all to himself, not that he didn’t earn it.
 
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The giant was hilarious. Great battle there to liven up the series. Another point that has got past the stage of the current books, as with Tyrion meeting Dany already. However the first two thirds of the episode was a little dull for the most part so that battle was well needed.
With how the Wight was shattered it seems a shipment of Valyrian Steel would help things for humanity immensely.
 
Keldaris said:
Anyone else find it funny that the only two men of the watch who've killed a Walker, are the two who've both broken their vows and bedded a wildling woman?
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I know the Night's Watch vows forbid wives and fathering children. I'm not sure they forbid sex. Of course, given the contraceptive measures likely to exist in a medieval-type society, abstinence is probably the only risk-free option to avoid breaking the no offspring vow.
 
Fab episode. About time things livened up. Judging by the taster for next's instalment the action stakes should start to seriously ramp up now, with Dany presiding over the pit-fighting and things now looking pretty awry at The Wall.

And what's happening with Brienne? Come back on Brienne, and carrying on playing!
 
Did anyone notice the little homage to Diana Rigg's other great TV series when she was talking to the High Sparrow?

HS: I find that what hurts the most as I age is the knees.

DR: With me it's the hips



Mrs. Peel, you're still needed :)
 
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Judderman said:
With how the Wight was shattered it seems a shipment of Valyrian Steel would help things for humanity immensely.
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My understanding is that Valyrian Steel is extremely rare, there won't be any 'shipments', only a few weapons exist that are amde of them, notably with Jon Snow, Brienne and a few others. Dragonglass is much more common. but is not suitable for manufacturing melee weapons such as swords, axes etc, but could be used for arrowheads, spear tips etc.
 
Littlefinger apparently has a dagger made of VS (the one used by the footpad in the attempt to assassinate Bran), and Tommen has the other sword melted down from Ice. I've not checked the mythology or Wiki to see if there are any more known.
 
Is Arya ready for her first assassination mission?

Target, the Thin Man. Method, poison applied to his fresh oysters? Naturally, should she be caught or killed in this mission, the Many-Faced God will disavow all knowledge of her action.

On the other hand, should she meet with success (and we all know she probably will) and become a top House of Black and White operative, she has a couple of prime targets waiting for her at Winterfell.
 
DG Jones said:
Littlefinger apparently has a dagger made of VS (the one used by the footpad in the attempt to assassinate Bran), and Tommen has the other sword melted down from Ice. I've not checked the mythology or Wiki to see if there are any more known.
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There are ten known VS Weapons, and another seven with unknown fates....so yeah it's very rare. and thats in the books. In the show we've only seen Longclaw, Ice(Widow's wail/oathkeeper) and Baelish's dagger.

.
 
Gnrevolution said:
My understanding is that Valyrian Steel is extremely rare, there won't be any 'shipments', only a few weapons exist that are amde of them, notably with Jon Snow, Brienne and a few others. Dragonglass is much more common. but is not suitable for manufacturing melee weapons such as swords, axes etc, but could be used for arrowheads, spear tips etc.
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Yes that is my understanding too. It was more a tongue in cheek comment. Though perhaps there may be some source of Dragonglass for spears and axes somewhere. Such as Stannis's home of Dragonstone.
 
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My comments are based on knowledge from the books, while none of it is like spoiler crazy, some people like to keep their knowledge to just what the show gives them, so expand if you want to know.

Not only was the secret to its creation lost with the fall of Valyria, but VS couldn't be remade anyway, because one of the key components is to be forged in dragon fire, but now that Dany has some dragons, with time and a Qohor blacksmith or two, it's possible they could reproduce Valyrian steel if she so willed. Of course she's not exactly in touch with Jon or privy to his situation.

But as for the number of them in existence, there is far more than 9-16: "Valyrian steel blades were scarce and costly, yet thousands remained in the world, perhaps two hundred in the Seven Kingdoms alone" -- Tyrion Lannister, Storm of Swords, Chapter 32.
 
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I am slightly confused as to how VS can't be remade and yet they managed to melt down Ice and create two new weapons, surely that would highly difficult for anyone bar Daenerys?
 
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