Winds of Winter

[glunn]

 

agreed, but if months are passing......how are tehy all eating on that island? How does it take months to sail back to dragonstone, if it only took days to sail that far away?

 

It's clear that time is passing, but it doesn't seem like much is passing. If that's all jon and dany have discussed in months.......

More good questions, all of which I have been thinking about.

 

I think that Yara stole supplies along with ships from the Iron Islands. She was stealing the best ships anyway -- why not also steal food.  

 

As for months to sail to Dragonstone, I saw nothing that suggested that it took months. If you look at the maps, crossing the Narrow Sea was a short distance.  https://www.google.com/search?q=map+westeros&tbm=isch&imgil=OpV1eyDE6zSFHM%253A%253BLe0L_MCjPCDbkM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fawoiaf.westeros.org%25252Findex.php%25252FKnown_world&source=iu&pf=m&fir=OpV1eyDE6zSFHM%253A%252CLe0L_MCjPCDbkM%252C_&usg=__AJQUXg6XCdW1FAsK6uLHOYinP5Y%3D&biw=1920&bih=947&ved=0ahUKEwjUk8zvr8nVAhVK9GMKHcHLBHkQyjcIRw&ei=e5eKWZTqKcrojwPBl5PIBw#imgrc=OpV1eyDE6zSFHM:

 

What bothers me the most was how easily Euron's fleet beat Yara's fleet. Yara supposedly took the best ships. My best answer is that in his travels Euron discovered ways to build better ships and use fireballs. Still, I was very disappointed by Yara and her fleet -- in wrestling terminology they were "jobbing" for Euron to build up his "heel" status.

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

 

More good questions, all of which I have been thinking about.

 

I think that Yara stole supplies along with ships from the Iron Islands. She was stealing the best ships anyway -- why not also steal food.  

 

As for months to sail to Dragonstone, I saw nothing that suggested that it took months. If you look at the maps, crossing the Narrow Sea was a short distance.  https://www.google.com/search?q=map+westeros&tbm=isch&imgil=OpV1eyDE6zSFHM%253A%253BLe0L_MCjPCDbkM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fawoiaf.westeros.org%25252Findex.php%25252FKnown_world&source=iu&pf=m&fir=OpV1eyDE6zSFHM%253A%252CLe0L_MCjPCDbkM%252C_&usg=__AJQUXg6XCdW1FAsK6uLHOYinP5Y%3D&biw=1920&bih=947&ved=0ahUKEwjUk8zvr8nVAhVK9GMKHcHLBHkQyjcIRw&ei=e5eKWZTqKcrojwPBl5PIBw#imgrc=OpV1eyDE6zSFHM:

 

What bothers me the most was how easily Euron's fleet beat Yara's fleet. Yara supposedly took the best ships. My best answer is that in his travels Euron discovered ways to build better ships and use fireballs. Still, I was very disappointed by Yara and her fleet -- in wrestling terminology they were "jobbing" for Euron to build up his "heel" status.

 

It's like the idea of scouts (land or sea) never occurred to anyone in centuries of war....

[glunn]

 

It's like the idea of scouts (land or sea) never occurred to anyone in centuries of war....

Keep in mind that it was very foggy when Euron attacked Yara's fleet.

 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Keep in mind that it was very foggy when Euron attacked Yara's fleet.

 

Euron found her no problem....and no scouts were helping Jaime at the battle of the loot train? 

[glunn]

 

Euron found her no problem....and no scouts were helping Jaime at the battle of the loot train? 

Euron knew that Yara would be starting from Dragonstone and possibly had intelligence that she was heading for Dorn.

 

As for the loot train, Jaime suspected that an attack was coming from the rear -- remember the discussion about flogging stragglers. Also, if Jaime had scouts the Dothraki probably ran them down and killed them (or Dragon ate them for a pre-battle appetizer).

[Mike Sixel]

Well, luckily for the living, the army of the dead won't be coming at them from all directions.....

[kab21]

 

I share your concerns. My theory is that without Dany in the saddle, the other two dragons would kill everyone, friend and foe.

There have been several mentions (maybe in the books only) that someone was needed to 'pilot' the dragons and a lot of speculation as to who that would be. Very likely Jon Snow (Targaryean blood) and someone else. 

 

I think the other thing that people need to keep in mind is that most of the books (seasons of the show) took place over a year. So much has been left out of the TV show that it might seem like two events occurred right after each other but there was actually a significant time gap.

Where are the rest of the @#$%^%$^#$% books? The show is great (I am behind) but the books are brilliant and tell so much more of the story.

[Doomtints]

I like watching GoT, but talking about it is torture. Websites use GoT to generate traffic for themselves by posting bizarre predictions. Another favorite is to post episode summaries that appear to be written by people who missed every important detail of what they were watching.

 

Real life GoT conversations tend to fall into, "Read the books, they are so much better, so much more detailed than what you see on the screen." Maybe I have a better imagination than others, but I bailed on the books after the first one as what I was reading was identical to what I saw in the first season. Life is too short, I can just watch the episodes again if I want to relive them! (Yes, I know some characters don't make it into the series. I'm OK with not knowing these details.)

 

Other GoT conversations focus on battles and nudity, which are things I would prefer to watch than talk about.

[gunnarthor]

 

I like watching GoT, but talking about it is torture. Websites use GoT to generate traffic for themselves by posting bizarre predictions. Another favorite is to post episode summaries that appear to be written by people who missed every important detail of what they were watching.

 

Real life GoT conversations tend to fall into, "Read the books, they are so much better, so much more detailed than what you see on the screen." Maybe I have a better imagination than others, but I bailed on the books after the first one as what I was reading was identical to what I saw in the first season. Life is too short, I can just watch the episodes again if I want to relive them! (Yes, I know some characters don't make it into the series. I'm OK with not knowing these details.)

 

Other GoT conversations focus on battles and nudity, which are things I would prefer to watch than talk about.

The books and show are pretty different b/c the show had to cut a lot of things, especially after the first book (the first season and the first book were pretty similar). I tend to think they are both good but understand why someone would only want to deal with one.

 

I've found that a lot of GRRM fans seem to be a bit crazy in their devotion to the guy. He's a good writer but he has real flaws and his books aren't perfect. I think he's a better story teller than writer, if that makes sense.  The show had (generally) done a good job of using it's advantages - i.e. cast, hour long story, beautiful scenery/people - very well. But it has had some pretty ham handed foreshadowing and some of the complaints about how it treats women are valid.

[kab21]

 

I like watching GoT, but talking about it is torture. Websites use GoT to generate traffic for themselves by posting bizarre predictions. Another favorite is to post episode summaries that appear to be written by people who missed every important detail of what they were watching.

 

Real life GoT conversations tend to fall into, "Read the books, they are so much better, so much more detailed than what you see on the screen." Maybe I have a better imagination than others, but I bailed on the books after the first one as what I was reading was identical to what I saw in the first season. Life is too short, I can just watch the episodes again if I want to relive them! (Yes, I know some characters don't make it into the series. I'm OK with not knowing these details.)

 

Other GoT conversations focus on battles and nudity, which are things I would prefer to watch than talk about.

I made it a point to read the books first since I think it could be difficult to stay focused on the books if you know the biggest parts of the story that happen.

But there is far more information in the books. A lot of character backstory is missing in the show and some parts of the story were cut out altogether. But both the show and the books were great. I can understand not reading the books. Not identical though.

[Mike Sixel]

I have advised many not to read the books .... lots of wasted paper, imo.

 

As for last night, that was a solid episode. Really like that littlefinger is till in the game, and the jail scene where they all realize they were enemies in teh past was great. Jaime can't be thrilled with his sister at this point. 

[kab21]

 

I have advised many not to read the books .... lots of wasted paper, imo.

 

As for last night, that was a solid episode. Really like that littlefinger is till in the game, and the jail scene where they all realize they were enemies in teh past was great. Jaime can't be thrilled with his sister at this point. 

Do you prefer any books vs the movie/TV shows?

[Mike Sixel]

 

Do you prefer any books vs the movie/TV shows?

 

 

most of the time I prefer the books. but, not everyone has teh stomach to read 150 (exaggeration) pages about a guy that just dies and moves the plot zero inches (and isn't all that interesting anyway).

 

The third book is one of my favorites ever. From there, they go downhill in search of dozens of plot threads that have no bearing on the book, or that are just boring (Bran's travels are about as boring as you can get). 

 

These books are also very, very long. And, lets face it, there is something unsatisfying in not being able to finish the story in the print genre.

[kab21]

 

most of the time I prefer the books. but, not everyone has teh stomach to read 150 (exaggeration) pages about a guy that just dies and moves the plot zero inches (and isn't all that interesting anyway).

 

The third book is one of my favorites ever. From there, they go downhill in search of dozens of plot threads that have no bearing on the book, or that are just boring (Bran's travels are about as boring as you can get). 

 

These books are also very, very long. And, lets face it, there is something unsatisfying in not being able to finish the story in the print genre.

I have been wondering how a few parts are going to tie together and I can understand the part of there being almost too much story (not enough focus on the main families in parts). And yes Bran's adventure is strange and not that interesting.

I keep hoping for the final books to make it out eventually. It has been awhile since the last book though.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I have been wondering how a few parts are going to tie together and I can understand the part of there being almost too much story (not enough focus on the main families in parts). And yes Bran's adventure is strange and not that interesting.

I keep hoping for the final books to make it out eventually. It has been awhile since the last book though.

 

understatement!

 

I really like the books, they just aren't for everyone.

[Mike Sixel]

Great episode, as long as you completely ignore the passage of time.....unless Jon and team slept there for like a week or two....

[gunnarthor]

 

Great episode, as long as you completely ignore the passage of time.....unless Jon and team slept there for like a week or two....

Yeah, that bugged me too.  

 

I noticed that the violence this season has been toned down. The violence we've seen is more like the traditional 'action movie' violence as opposed to the rigid scary violence of the first few seasons. Not that much blood and guts. More heroic and "fun" as opposed to gory and nihilistic. 

 

The Stark sister sub-plot is beyond dumb though. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Yeah, that bugged me too.  

 

I noticed that the violence this season has been toned down. The violence we've seen is more like the traditional 'action movie' violence as opposed to the rigid scary violence of the first few seasons. Not that much blood and guts. More heroic and "fun" as opposed to gory and nihilistic. 

 

The Stark sister sub-plot is beyond dumb though. 

 

The further we get from what Martin wrote, the more I question the show runners......it's still very good television, but there seems to be a lot of hand waving and other stuff to get us to the end on time (next year).

[twinsnorth49]

Where the hell did the dead get those chains?

[ashbury]

Where the hell did the dead get those chains?

At some chain store.

 

[gunnarthor]

These were all pretty good - https://www.buzzfeed.com/crystalro/here-are-all-the-funniest-tweets-from-this-weeks-game-of?utm_term=.ryDow5l9j#.qb4bWyL2z

[Mike Sixel]

Well then. Lots happened there. Some of it was predicable, but I did not see it all.

[jimmer]

Great episode!  Great season!  Stinks we will have so long of a wait for the rest.

[Mike Sixel]

The dragon breath seemed a bit strong to me, but then, what do I know. Has Jaime finally figured out his sister is not worth standing by? I did not anticipate what happened to Littlefinger, until they were in the room, and Sansa talked how she talked, then I did right before it happened. I really fell for the Euron bluff at first (which I thought was ridiculously out of character). 

 

Despite the season's weaknesses, it was still very good entertainment. Did any good guys did this year at all, or only bad guys?

[PseudoSABR]

I thought the blue fire knocking down the wall was a bit CGI-cheesy (CGIeesy?), it made the prior episode to capture the wight all the more stupid.  That said, I found the rest of the plot satisfying.  And was very glad of the outcome in Winterfell, as I was having trouble buying Stark-sister-battle.  I do think the writes wrote Littlefinger's plot into a corner a bit, and while it was great to see him go down, he really didn't seem to be climbing that chaos ladder all that successfully.   I still think the actor/Balish makes an appearance next season via our favorite faceless man.

 

I do agree, that show has diverted from George RR Martin's willingness to off the favorite characters.  Minor heroes have died, and only the major character is Balish (who seemed less consequential as the show went on).  

 

Really proud of Jaime for turning his back on Cersi--I thought he was goner for a few clicks.  If this was Martin's story, I think Jaime may have met with the Mountain's blade in that scene.  

 

This was a fine season, a lot of fan-service, but I do worry how they'll pull off the finale, now three seasons divorced from the books/Martin's guiding hand.

 

[Mike Sixel]

sigh, or good?

 

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/apr/25/george-rr-martin-winds-winter-not-coming-2018-sixth-volume-game-thrones-targaryen

[TheLeviathan]

Sigh.  Definitely sigh.

 

He has no idea how to work himself out of the mess he made.

[gunnarthor]

Gad. He'll never finish.

[TheLeviathan]

Yeah, he won't finish.  A lot of people have criticized the show for their choices (with good cause in some cases) but I think the real problems stem with the author.  And I worry he's realized that himself and has all but given up the ghost.

[Mike Sixel]

Has anyone read, or heard much about, the new history/novel?