(August 29, 2017 at 1:21 pm)FatAndFaithless Wrote:

(August 29, 2017 at 1:20 pm)pocaracas Wrote: Arya... She had some "dancing" lessons from the finest swordsman in Braavos... Right there in season 1.

And we see her practicing when she's traveling with the hound as well.

It's not like she was really practicing. She was just sort of swinging it around, she didn't really know how to use it. The Hound comments on that at least a couple of times.

(August 29, 2017 at 1:47 pm)Aegon Wrote:

(August 29, 2017 at 1:21 pm)FatAndFaithless Wrote: And we see her practicing when she's traveling with the hound as well.

It's not like she was really practicing. She was just sort of swinging it around, she didn't really know how to use it. The Hound comments on that at least a couple of times.

The hound just said that against someone with heavy armor (and 'a big fucking sword') her style wouldn't work.  She's still versed in the water dancing style at this point.  

Point is, we've seen enough on screen (and implied offscreen) that establishes Arya as a capable fighter, and it's not some random out-of-the-blue shocking plot twist that she knows how to fight, as Homeless suggested.

(August 29, 2017 at 1:20 pm)pocaracas Wrote: Arya... She had some "dancing" lessons from the finest swordsman in Braavos... Right there in season 1.

Yes, I am aware of that. Funnily enough, though - she never showed any real skill at sword-fighting until season 7. So if you want to say she's been secretly a Bravossi sword-master for the past 6 seasons, after having taken lessons for the - presumably - relatively short time she was staying in King's Landing, during Ned's brief tenure as the Hand - that's not all that convincing. 

Of course - while it's not great story-telling - all sorts of things could have happened off-screen, but the show made quite a point of the fact, that Arya couldn't practice with the Needle, while training with the Faceless Men, which makes her sudden mastery, when sparring against Brienne - one of the most accomplished swordsmen in Westeros - somewhat surprising. If they were fighting with staves - that'd make way more sense.

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(August 29, 2017 at 1:41 pm)Whateverist Wrote: I think most of your criticism is justified but I don't agree with what I've bolded.  It was different when they had the books to build from.  Now they have to do the foundational writing themselves, not just translate a book to movie form.  The writing is bad but I don't think it is lazy.  It is a tough job being cranked out in record time in order to satisfy our yearly expectations.  I'm too grateful to the writers for making the effort to think the faults are all on them.

Fine - maybe "lazy writing" is not the most appropriate expression, considering the circumstances, but without knowing about GRRM's failure to release the last two books on time - the on-screen effect is the same. And let's face it - writing for TV requires adapting one's sophistication to the level of your average audience member, which - in the case of a massively popular show - is often way lower than that of your average book-reader. The good thing about books is - they don't have to appeal to the illiterate...

I do very much agree that the show is weaker since they've been writing their own stuff. Also, I do think they made wrapping up the series unnecessarily brief. That said, it's still the best show on television, so I'm just not going to complain. I'm just glad I live in a time where I can find myself engrossed in these sorts of shows and stories.

This show also has a great musical score and I love the time shift between 6/8 and 9/8 in the intro leaving you wondering where those three drumbeats are going to be.

Screw the wall. The white walkers. Cersei. The Night King. The Golden Compass. Euron. The North. The Vale. Cleganebowl.

Screw it all.

This is what I want to see in season 7:

Danaerys Targaryan and Jon Snow walking into Winterfell hand in hand. (Or swooping down on dragons, I'm cool with it.)
Danaerys holds Jon's hand lovingly.
"So this is your home?" She asks, her eyes darting at the bleak but strong and ancient castle.
"Aye." Jon says, breathing in the Northern air of home.
"I can't wait to meet your friends and family."
We see a huge figure from behind. Stunned at the sight. Beyond Jon turns to the feel of the fat man's eyes glaring at him.
Shift of camera.
"I kind of actually thought I'd never see you again." Sam's kind voice breathes.
Cue to Jon's smile. The two walk closer and embrace. Dany stands by, doting but lost.
Jon breaks the hug and gestures to her. "Where are my manners? Sam, this is Danearys Targaeryan. First of her name. Ruler of the andals, the Roynar and the First men. Mother of Dragons. Breaker of Chains. Rightfull heir to the Iron throne..."
Sam bites his lip.
"Lord protector of the Realm. And the last, best hope for Westeros in the fight against the army of the dead. Our Queen." Jon turns. "And this, your Grace, is my brother of the Night's Watch. My most loyal and best friend Sam..."
Danearys breathes to say something.
"Tarly." Jon finishes.
"Fuck." Dany lets escape.

Has Bran considered searching his brain for how the Night King and White Walkers were defeated before, during the Long Night? Or would that be too easy?

(August 30, 2017 at 8:12 am)Aegon Wrote: Has Bran considered searching his brain for how the Night King and White Walkers were defeated before,  during the Long Night? Or would that be too easy?

That'd be interesting.  It seems like he has to kind of know when/where something is taking place to 'see' it, like he doesn't just get everything downloaded from everywhere at once.  Maybe this is something Sam can help with, since Sam is a much bigger history buff and can provide the times/locations for Bran to check out?  That'd be neat.

I have the feeling cercei baby will belong to the bad guys king somewhere along the line. There were episodes showing them recruiting babies.

(August 30, 2017 at 4:45 am)Mr.Obvious Wrote: Cue to Jon's smile. The two walk closer and embrace. Dany stands by, doting but lost.
Jon breaks the hug and gestures to her. "Where are my manners? Sam, this is Danearys Targaeryan. First of her name. Ruler of the andals, the Roynar and the First men. Mother of Dragons. Breaker of Chains. Rightfull heir to the Iron throne..."
Sam bites his lip.

*ahem*

Her title is actually

Daenerys of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, The Unburnt, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Protector of the Realm, Lady Regnant of the Seven Kingdoms, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons

Geez, get it right, it's not that hard...