Pa Hupu @ 9/6/2015 8:08

Boc @ 8/6/2015 23:32 Pa Hupu @ 8/6/2015 10:49 i think this season has consistently been very good except for the dorne shit would you rank it any higher than previous seasons? Now that we're almost at a point where we can evaluate the whole thing I would say it's only below seasons 2 and 3 for my favorite. Season 4 was really disjointed and aimless, and for the problems you can throw at season 5's plotting, it's had a lot of focus and every scene has been purposeful. It finally feels like the show has really gotten how to address its many plotlines on a regular basis, while still lending character moments out.

I kinda feel like there's been less character moments honestly, and most episodes have been made up of a bunch of scenes that serve only to incrementally nudge the plot forward rather than getting any time to breathe and DWELL on any of the new circumstances the characters find themselves in. It does come with the territory though since each season gets bigger and adds more plots in (though according to the writers this is the season when everything's supposed to start merging more and more...which has happened with Tyrion/Dany and Sansa/Ramsay I guess). Like Season 1 had a ton of great character work, but it also had the advantage of being limited to really just three major storylines (King's Landing/Wall/Dothraki). So I understand the predicament they're in now but I feel like they could be handling a lot of it better. Season 4 had just as many storylines but I feel like they did a better job with them (but again it very well could just be the books slanting my view now)

Really in an ideal world HBO should've just bumped each season up to 12-13 episodes

Wikey @ 9/6/2015 3:58

Well, I no longer have anybody to root for in the North. I was on team Stannis but that...that was harder to watch than the Red Wedding. All we have left is a bunch of unlikable assholes fighting over Winterfell. I'm rooting for them all to die miserably. Also, huge book spoilers below: Spoiler + Only warning you once, you don't want to read this + With regards to a certain scene at the Wall next episode, who do you think is going to be involved? (You know which one I mean!) I've read some speculation that it is going to be Olly...and the case can be made that it has been foreshadowed plenty this season. What do you guys think to that, if it happens?

I'm on Team Brienne/Pod/Sansa/Reek! (: I was kinda dreading the possibility of Brienne killing Stannis but now I'm definitely rooting for it

RE: book spoiler

+

Spoiler + Spoiler + I'm reallyyy hoping it's NOT Olly just because of how obvious they've made it. Seriously, the first couple times they showed his disapproving look it was good foreshadowing. But after that it's like they've been beating us over the head with it every episode to the point where I'd be surprised if half the show fans don't semi-see it coming by now so ya I'm hoping it's a misdirect, but I can't really see it being anyone else. Alliser's the next most likely candidate but I feel like they've set him up to be someone who sticks up for Jon despite their differences. Other than that the only really known characters left at the Wall at this point are Sam and Edd I think? And there's no way either of them does it

Boc @ 9/6/2015 23:57

Really in an ideal world HBO should've just bumped each season up to 12-13 episodes

Oh absolutely. I think given the limited time frame they do a strong job with being economical and clear with showing how the characters are reacting to new circumstances. Like with Stannis' men, I totally understood the desperation of the impending Winter and why that would drive him to doing what he did. But with a few more episodes (and a few episodes that were more geographically limited - episode 7 this season spent its first half focused on the Northern storylines and it felt much stronger because of it) much more time could be spent with the characters in downtime, like in seasons 1 and 2.

ftr I felt like nothing in season 4 had any impact on any other plotlines. It was like
a. Tyrion's on trial!
b. Dany's in a state of relative prosperity!
c. Jon Snow has to unite the Night's Watch!
d. Stannis is fucking about!
e. Just like Arya and the Hound!
f. Just like Brienne and Pod!

I think even if the plots have felt a little compressed for time, this season has done a much better job of not letting characters appear for a couple minutes every few episodes to accomplish nothing.

Boc @ 9/6/2015 20:08

Wikey @ 9/6/2015 3:58 Well, I no longer have anybody to root for in the North. I was on team Stannis but that...that was harder to watch than the Red Wedding. All we have left is a bunch of unlikable assholes fighting over Winterfell. I'm rooting for them all to die miserably. Also, huge book spoilers below: Spoiler + Only warning you once, you don't want to read this + With regards to a certain scene at the Wall next episode, who do you think is going to be involved? (You know which one I mean!) I've read some speculation that it is going to be Olly...and the case can be made that it has been foreshadowed plenty this season. What do you guys think to that, if it happens? I'm on Team Brienne/Pod/Sansa/Reek! (: I was kinda dreading the possibility of Brienne killing Stannis but now I'm definitely rooting for it RE: book spoiler + Spoiler + Spoiler + I'm reallyyy hoping it's NOT Olly just because of how obvious they've made it. Seriously, the first couple times they showed his disapproving look it was good foreshadowing. But after that it's like they've been beating us over the head with it every episode to the point where I'd be surprised if half the show fans don't semi-see it coming by now so ya I'm hoping it's a misdirect, but I can't really see it being anyone else. Alliser's the next most likely candidate but I feel like they've set him up to be someone who sticks up for Jon despite their differences. Other than that the only really known characters left at the Wall at this point are Sam and Edd I think? And there's no way either of them does it

Spoiler	+
agreed 100% it's been super annoying.