Even if CleganeBowl doesn't happen, I'm so happy that Sandor is back. He's been one of my favorite characters since I started reading the books. I'm wondering if maybe his motivation now is to take on the Brotherhood Without Banners after what they did.
Pretty decent episode. More table-setting it seems like. These last three episodes seem to be getting set up to be pretty forceful. I'm hoping that the feeling that the world and conflict is getting smaller as these people converge returns, especially if the reports of the next two seasons being shorter are true.
Crazy episode. Kind of ironic that the same episode The Hound comes back, Arya is nearly killed. No way the Clegane Bowl doesn't happen now, right? I mean it's like he said, "hate" kept him going. Love Ian McShane. Shame he could only stick around one episode. Very interested with what's happening at Riverrun. Or I think that's where they are. This Jaime/Blackfish showdown is going to be something to see. I've always been very intrigued by the concept of a seige. Especially that of a castle. Glad they Bronn is back too. He has been missed. Still no Dorne? Love it. The less, the better. Ser Davos serving Jon is so cool. Two of my favorite characters. I wonder if Theon will make something of his new self. Hopefully he does. Ideas as to who, if anyone, will come to the aid of Jon? He needs to be made a Stark soon by someone. 3 episodes left and numerous story lines to touch on still.
Well, Littlefinger's forces seem poised to be the force Jon and Sansa are looking for. I assumed that was the recipient of the letter that Sansa sent out.
The only thing I'm bummed about is that it seems Theon won't be the one to kill Ramsay. Hopefully it's Sansa then.
Ghost getting him would also be very fitting. If Arya died there it would have been the most anticlimactic 6 season story arc ever.
This season is going to end with a Stark family reunion right? Because I can definitely see them all finally coalescing in the North at the at the end of this season, Jon and Sansa are already there, Bran is headed to The Wall (I think), Arya is obviously ready to go home, Rickon might get saved.
For a second there I was afraid the episode would end with Arya floating up to the surface of the water, facedown and dead. No way she's dying with all the stuff she's learned at the House of Black and White though. I feel like she'll be putting it to good use when shit hits the fan near the very end of the series.
I thought it was weird that they did a pre-credits scene. Come to find out, it's only the third time in the series they have had one. edit: Source - Rolling Stone
So how long was The Hound gone for? It was only the end of the fourth season that Arya left him, I can't imagine that much time has actually passed.
Cogman said they did it because they didn't want to ruin the surprise to get ruined by people seeing his name in the credits.
I thought this was the strongest episode of the season because it was more dialogue-driven (which is strange considering the most dialogue-heavy characters of Tyrion, Varas, and Littlefinger were completely absent from the episode). I didn't, however, like how the Jaime/Blackfish story line has the potential to start a completely new tangent. Also, the Arya plot line just seems unnecessary considering we know that she isn't going to die and we're all waiting for her story to progress and for everything to congeal. With all the side-plots (Theon, Blackfish, etc.), it just seems like future episodes are going to have to be more rushed action and less dialogue like this one. She gets so little screen time that I always forget how much I like her character. That actress plays the part so incredibly well. After The Hound, she's probably my favorite character. Then Bronn, but he's become pretty meaningless within the plot.
My favorite part from this great episode: "A Lannister always pay-" "Don't. Don't you fucking say it."
Couple things: -Lyanna Mormont was so great -weird about the brotherhood. They were pretty ruthless under LSH leadership in the books, but she isn't being introduced far as I can guess, so idk what was up with that ending. -I think it only makes sense for Sandor to kill Gregor, but no way is it going to happen with him as the Faith's champion as per the theory. Unless just any fight between them will be the 'CleganeBowl', then yeah that seems like the obvious conclusion to their stories.
CleganeBowl may still happen, but I don't think it will be how it's been predicted, and maybe not even this season. it looks like Sandor's gonna have some business to take care of in the river lands these next few episodes. may even run into Brienne again. Knights of the Vale defs coming to back up Jon/Sansa, maybe they arrive midfight ala the Rohirrim. Bran is going north, way north. heart of winter north.
Yeah the only other pre-credits scenes I rememebr are the pilot and S4Ep1 with Tywin melting down Ice