I wouldn't mind seeing him get tortured for a bit before they rip his heart out and feed it to a dog.
So thats whats theyve been saving the budget for. Awesome episode, the wildfyre explosion provoked a genuine "Holy Shit" moment. Great stuff.
Man, no kidding. My favorite episode so far, and I really appreciated the fact that it was focused just on the events at Blackwater and didn't cut to fucking Dany whining about her dragons. And who would have thought it, I thoroughly enjoyed watching all the characters, in particular Sansa (girl is showing some spine in a backhanded and manipulative manner) and Cersei (she is a delusional bitch, but you can't hate her after moments like with Tommen on the Iron Throne).
The Hound's change of attitude (and allegiance) was interesting as well. Looking back on previous episodes this season, it all came together nicely. I wonder if Sansa left with him. I hope Theon isn't dead. His quip about being a quater man was quite humorous. Seconded on the Wildfyre explosion. That scene was the highlight of the episode for me. For the suspense (although it was quite easy to guess) of the boat approaching the others, to the bright green explosion, all amazing stuff. And of course they managed to get some tits in the episode as well, just so we would have nothing to complain about.
I can't believe next week is the finale already. The production team did a tremendous job in this second season. I did notice they seemed to broaden the amount of Tyrion time, which is fine by me, so I'm interested to see if some of the set up for next season that initially occurred in CoK will be in the third season. If they do as good a job next season as the last two, next year will blow both seasons away. A Storm of Swords is the best in the series (so far) and it will be an unbelievable ride. I was initially worried about the adaptation, before season one, but given how flawless it has been up to now, Season Three may well be the best season for any show, ever.
I'm confused about the end - the dead Barathion's gay lover allied with the Lanisters? Using what army? I thought all their banner men went to Stannis' side? Who was the guy who slashed Tyrion? Wasn't he a member of the Lannister's?
Some of Renly's went to Stannis, but as you can see Highgarden allied with the Lannisters to take out Stannis because they were... rather upset with Stannis killing Renly. I honestly have no idea who the big guy in red was that hit Tyrion, maybe just a dude playing dressup? Or somebody on the reds who just hates him. I'm glad that with changing Sansa's story they at least did it right (giving her motivation and a spine and all that).
It was poorly explained in the show, since they haven't gone into as many minor characters. He was Ser Mandon Moore, a member of Joffrey's Kingsguard. In the books, he was assigned to be Tyrion's personal guard (I think you can now see the connection....) Hence why Tyrion was so unprepared and shocked. Yes, this. I thought the logic was poorly explained in the show, albeit hinted at. As you may remember, the Hound's childhood with his brother left him not so fond of fire. The thing with the Hound is that he doesn't really have "allegiances" per se.
In the first book Sansa was all childish, girlie, and naive. Much more than the show. This past second season they seem to try to give her a sort of cunning others seem to see in her, Tyrion mentions her outliving them all, though last nights episode she seemed to have some of the naivety back. Her and the hound had a bigger connection in the first book than they did in the show. I think he opened up to her about his scars one night escorting her back to her room, which I think changed to just having Little Finger explain everything at the joust. At the end all I could think, other than Im giving up this fucking show if they kill off Tyrion, is that they have a whole lot of shit to wrap up next week. I wonder what happened to The Onion smuggler guy? The black pirate was mysteriously absent from the fight as well. Plus, all the major plot points. Jon Snow captive beyond the wall (seriously bordering on Daenerys boring this season). Rob nipping at the Lannister heals and banging the nurse along the way. Theon. Dany. Stannis and the loss at Kings Landing. This episode just cements the fact that Bronn needs his own show. The Bronn Pithy Quip hour.
Just a quick explanation of the geopolitical situation for those who are a bit confused: There are 8 families in Westeros that take orders from no one but the Iron Throne. These are the "High Lords." Starks - Winterfell - Robb Stark (formerly Eddard Stark) Lannisters - Casterly Rock - Tywin Lannister Arryns - Eyrie - Robin Arryn (formerly Jon Arryn), his mother Lysa Tully is acting as regent Baratheons - Storm's End - Stannis Baratheon (formerly Renly Baratheon, formerly Robert Baratheon) Tyrells - Highgarden - Mace Tyrell Greyjoys - Pyke - Balon Greyjoy Martells - Sunspear - Doran Martell Tullys - Riverrun - Hoster Tully, he is ailing and his son Edmure Tully is handling the day to day Each of these Houses has lesser lords that are sworn to them, called bannermen. From them large armies are fielded when the High Lord "calls the banners." During the War of the 5 Kings, here are the general alliance breakdowns: Robb Stark calls his own banners, and joins with Hoster Tully (Robb's grandfather) who has already called his banners due to Lannister raiding in his lands. The Arryns and Martells arrange a defensive position at their borders and make no alliances. The Greyjoys call their banners and attack the North. The Lannisters sit the Iron Throne and have used both the Thrones resources and their own to try to maintain control. Renly Baratheon calls his banners and allies with the Tyrells (his lover Loras, as well as his wife Margarey are both children of Mace Tyrell). Stannis Baratheon calls the few bannermen that are his from Dragonstone (which used to belong to the Targaryens, and was given to him by Robert after the rebellion), and sails to Storm's End. When Renly is killed, the bannermen sworn to Storm's End recognize Stannis as the Lord of Storm's End and join his forces. The Tyrell bannermen leave. Effectively Stannis peels off about half of Renly's former army. Unknown to either Stannis or Tyrion, Tywin forges an alliance with the Tyrells and combines his forces with the Tyrell army that had once been allied with Renly. During the siege of king's landing, the Lannister bannermen under Tywin, and the Tyrell bannermen (of whom Randyll Tarly has the command) arrive and take Stannis's forces from the rear. In the TV show Loras is dressed in Renly's armor, but in the books it is his older brother Garlan who wears the armor. In either case, it appears as if the ghost of Renly has arrived to take revenge on Stannis, and this helps break the morale of Stannis's troops. The one who slashes Tyrion is a member of the Kingsguard, who was presumably under orders from Cersei to kill Tyrion if he got the chance and make it look like Tyrion died in battle (as opposed to being openly murdered). Saan's role in the battle was to arrange his ships outside the bay and protect the rear of Stannis's fleet from any ships that may have been hidden further up the coast (no matter how much you pay a pirate, he's never going to accept being in the van of an all out assault). After the disaster Tyrion concocted in the bay, Saan's ships picked up what they could of what remained of Stannis's army and carried them to safety.
Blackwater Bay was a great fucking episode. Now hopefully they saved some cash for what they're going to do in the House of the Undying which is crazy as fuck and will be a huge payoff for those who don't know how big of a deal Dany is going to become. I had a fucking nerdgasm hearing Rains of Castermere sung by Bronn and also the end credits. The story behind that song which I know they'll have to get into, will make Tywin more of a bad ass. And yeah, The Hound doesn't switch alliances. He just is really fucking against fire. Definitely another plot development fail with the Sansa and Hound storyline, not having the two defining actions of that relationship happen.
I thought they ended a fantastic episode a bit sloppy, as I had to ask my roommates who read the books for clarification, but I liked how it further solidified Tywin as a badasss. Charles Dance brings such a presence to the screen in the character and he's just awesome. Also, I know we've said it ad nauseum, but got damn Peter Dinklage. Just masterful. Great episode for Lena Heady/Cersei. Her attitude and one-liners were awesome.
At first I didn't want Lena playing Cersei, because I'm in love with her and wanted not to hate her, but she is fucking killing it. Also the ending appears like their editing room was hit my a missile. But fuck they have one episode left and it is going to be good.
Mmmmm...violence. That was bloodier than every other episode put together. Fucking carnage. Made up for the slow pace of this season and then some. Try to tell me NOW that the character(s) of Bronn/Tyrion is not the best part of this show. The Hound was awesome (until his anxiety attack) and Stannis was a bonifide badass, first one on shore AND up the ladder. Awesome. No surprise it was directed by none other than Neil Marshall (Centurion, The Descent, Doomsday) that explains the graphic nature of the episode's style. I want Wildfire for this July 1st weekend.
So the Warlock is all shifty and clever, can't be stabbed, yet is set ablaze that easily? Those dragons are so awesome though. Quote from my roommate when Ducksauce and the hot slave were locked in the vault: "So what do you think you do in that situation? Just say fuck it and bang until you end up dying?"
My guess is the Warlock, who's powers he was getting from Dany and the Dragons made him more susceptible to them. But it did seem quick and odd. Where did al her new khalisar come from she had like 5 before they were all butchered the other week, now she has like two dozen more. Did I miss something with John Snow and that guy he killed? Was the guy really pissed at him? I thought it felt like a ruse so they could get the drop on their captors but he ended up killing dude. Was wondering what the fuck? I missed what the dude said to him as he died. I'm kind of torn if it was really a good episode I'd say it still feels like a more solid over all season ender than last. They tied up most everything a lot better and the ending cliff hanger was just as good. Though there is still quite a bit left up in the air. Sansa is just kind of in limbo at the kings court. Brianne and Jamie are left digging graves for whores. Stannis starring at fire. Rob, married but really not much else. I wonder his predicament most, the Lanisters have joined with the Tyrells and Stannis is out of the picture. Rob could not have picked a worse time to piss off a Bannerman. And in another what the fuck moment in this episode. What happened to the siege force outside of Winterfell? The Iron born burn down Winterfell as they leave and the Bannermen Rob sent just leave or what? Anyone else hoping Ayra would have left with the redheaded dude and learned his magic ways? I guess the biggest story of the season was Tyrion and that kind of ended in a let down. I guess the book or next season will flesh out how his actions in battle will go over with his father and how all of his gained power has vanished. God I fucking cursed the Grand Measter's smug ass. But for being the focus of most of the season as well as the whole of the last episode, there was nothing other than him talking with Shea. No interaction with, Tywin, his sister, fucking Bronn.