My main beef with the episode, other than the crazypants travel time nonsense, is that we were due for a major death or several and it didn't happen. Like, I was willing to bet all the farms I don't actually have that Jorah was gonna bite a big one. I mean, as detailed upthread, I flove Iain Glen, but c'mon. You have him reunited with his Khaleesi (Dany giving him this weirdly tender hug), then he and Jon have that weighted conversation about Longclaw and he's still left standing?

I guess they thought having one of the dragons turn wight was shocking enough and gotta admit, I did not see that coming AT ALL. Still. I feel weirdly bloodthirsty.

Wait, I forgot about the whole Sansa and Arya plot. That was terrible. Show, I resent you for making me kinda hate Arya, who has long been my favourite!! And I am confused re. why Sansa sent Brienne down to King's Landing, unless it was to imply that Sansa would be up to Nefarious Stuff that Brienne would hinder. If the show then has Sansa try to mount a preemptive deadly strike against her long lost sister with whom she has just been united, Ima gonna cut a bitch.

I would all over like white on rice with the Brienne/Jaime reunion though, no matter how contrived. So there's that.

Yeah, I'm waiting to see Jaime and Brienne when they see each other again. Wow, I really want to go back and watch the episodes where they were traveling and having all the UST.

The Sansa/Arya plot is just completely confusing. I don't like not liking Arya, either.

I understand the "get a wight" plan. If you are trying to convince someone who doesn't trust anything you say (including "but I saw them for realz") to commit to a fight against a foe that everyone knows is mythical, being able to prove its reality is in inarguable point. If I was asked to arm myself against an army of Bigfoots, I would be more likely to grab the bazooka if they had an actual live Bigfoot to show me to prove they actually exist.

Also! If the water stopped the army of the dead from approaching our heroes, why was it okay for them to go *into the water* to chain up the dragon (with the magical chains that appeared from nowhere)?

This season overall, but the last episode in particular, was not large with the logic. Honestly, the writing on the show often does not live up to its spectacular production values.

Talking about production values, here is an amazing post by Tom & Lorenzo on the costumes on the show this season: [link]

Some really nice insights there.

I feel like "behatted wildling" is the new "redshirt" Oh, the about-to-be dead guy has a hood? He's clearly no one we care about.

Yeah, I was basically expecting any/all of the Stupid Expedition except Jon and Sandor to die. And they kept faking us out on that front. I've been expecting wight dragon, so that was less surprising than Random Undead Chains...This is not a compliment.

I feel like I missed something in the "send Brienne to KL" plot beat, so I assume it was necessary to set up future plot, and that is 100% why it is happening*, and the whole Winterfell situation seems weird and dumb and poorly-communicated to the audience.

The "get a wight" plan makes EVEN LESS SENSE if Dany is half a day's flight from seeing the army of the dead herself. Because ain't no way Cersei cares. Cersei has run out of fucks.

* I will totally be paying some attention to the way this plays out, as it may give some clue as to future book happenings...I doubt much else of this will, though.

Also! If the water stopped the army of the dead from approaching our heroes, why was it okay for them to go *into the water* to chain up the dragon (with the magical chains that appeared from nowhere)?

I think the Night King was keeping them there long enough for a dragon to show up so he could turn one. They got played.

This season overall, but the last episode in particular, was not large with the logic.

It is known.

If the show then has Sansa try to mount a preemptive deadly strike against her long lost sister with whom she has just been united, Ima gonna cut a bitch.

I am still holding out for Sansa on the Iron Throne, with Arya as her Hand. I'm pretty sure it won't happen, but it would make me so happy.

I think the Night King was keeping them there long enough for a dragon to show up so he could turn one. They got played.

Ah! That makes a lot of sense.

Young GRRM looked like Kit Harrington: [link]