Rewatching Valar Morghulis now, and I have to take a moment to actually say out loud how fan-freakin-tastic Conleth hill has been as Varys these last two seasons. He's amazing.

I retract my earlier white font confirmation on rewatch. I think that was just an Other at the end (not specifically Cold Hands ). As the camera pulled back, there was another one behind him in the processional, also on zombie-horseback. Both of them carried the trademark crystalline swords. Again, not quite how I pictured the Others. I always thought they were described more as shimmery and hard-to-see, like Predator camouflage or something. Not draugr. Although draugr works for me.

Has it been at all clear to non-book readers that there's two different kinds of monsters in the "northern threat"? That the "walking dead" problem is actually subordinate to and caused by the actual monster threat of "The Others"? (Have they even said the words "The Others" on the show? Maybe once way back in first season as part of a casual expletive or curse, maybe? Are the producers just relying on all of us book readers to clear up any lingering mysteries they don't bother to dwell on?)

Also, I hope we get to see giants next season.

Has it been at all clear to non-book readers that there's two different kinds of monsters in the "northern threat"?

Just answering for my in-laws, no. They were massively confused by that scene.

Have they even said the words "The Others" on the show? Maybe once way back in first season as part of a casual expletive or curse, maybe?

It's come up a few times, and we did get Sam explaining that three horn blasts mean Others (and the rest of the group being all "Whatevs dude there haven't been three horn blasts in over a thousand years" and he's all "BITCHES IT'S CALLED FORESHADOWING." I mean, that's how I remember it, anyway.)

Pam and Jessica thank their makers on Maker's Day.

I'm looking at this [link] about GoT hair and costuming (slide 8 has "whore" fashion, so NSFW), and I got to the [link] about Maisie, and all I can think is "Wash that off your face right now, young lady! Where do you think you're going with your sister's clothes and all of her makeup?"

It's possible I don't remember being 15 very well.

Ha!

Maisie comes off delightfully in interviews and in the S1 commentary, so she gets a pass from me to dress up as she likes. :-)

I'm trying to decide if I want to start watching True Blood again. I have 6 eps of the show sitting on the tivo since last season. I watched the recap so I'm caught up on the basics. Wondering if its worth it, is anyone still watching?

I think I will probably still watch it. But I don't love it anymore.