Game of Thrones

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Personally, I love AFFC. I really look forward to the scenes set in Dorne, Cersei's clumsy glad-handing as Lannister matriarch, and Arya's training. Oh and of course Sansa.

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^^Please be respectful that some on here haven't read the novels. I tried to start a separate discussion thread for book readers, but it never took off. Best practice is to put book spoilers (anything that hasn't happened in the show up to the present episode) in white text. People can highlight the text if they want to read it.

Anyway, the battle pit scene where Dany tames and rides Rhaegar will probably end episode 9 while the final chapter of ADWD, where Dany comes across the khalasar led by one of the dothraki that betrayed her after Khal Drogo died, will probably end season 5. That's how I'd do it, anyway.

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While the show has strayed quite a bit from parts of the book this season, I think the scene y'all are speaking of will end the season, as it ended A Storm of Swords.

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Loved the fight, but the episode's highlight was Sophie Turner's acting. And Sophie Tuner in that dress later on. And the potential story ramifications of Sansa being out in the open at the Eyrie.

The one thing I wish happened was Tyrion vomiting after Oberyn dies and Tywin sentences him to death. For a while I thought "maybe that won't be the right tone for how they do it on the show," but I think it would have worked.

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Scenes I am most looking forward to in the final two episodes:

When they trap the wildlings on the staircase and then burn it in the battle of Castle Black.
Stannis' cavalry saving the f***ing day
Tyrion's final confrontation with Tywin.
Jon being elected Lord Commander, turning down Stannis' offer to be Lord Stark.
Whatever happens with Sansa (since it's probably going to be non-book territory).
Arya getting passage to Braavos with the valar morghulis coin.
Lady Stonehart

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I was a little sad that they cut "Is this a castle, Jon Snow?"

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I am currently leaning towards abandoning the TV show if they go past Winds of Winter. It's nothing personal; I love the show.

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According to HBO the finale will be 66 minutes long.

As for the Wall:
I hope we can at least end, if not with the Lord Commander election, but with Stannis offering to legitimize Jon and make him Lord Stark of Winterfell.

With finales they occasionally do a prologue, I'm hoping the episode will begin with Jon and after Stannis' cavalry comes in it transitions excitingly into the credits.

I predict that Lady Stoneheart will be a ~2 minute coda to the episode. We may see Brienne's story intersect with LSH the way it does near the end of A Feast For Crows...this is speculation based on comments I saw on a website.

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So is The Hound definitely done for?

Many book readers believe an unidentified character in book 4 is the Hound. He's in the background of one scene in a POV chapter. However the character of that chapter has never met the Hound, so doesn't recognize him.

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It's not

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Arya's turned into a terrible character though. Is she as much of a sociopath in the books? The Hound is obviously a pretty terrible person, but he still fought for her. Literally the least she could do is stab him in the heart. Also not really sure how she goes from tending to his wounds a few episodes ago to hating him again in this one?

The show changes some of the details (e.g. the Brienne-Hound encounter doesn't happen in the books), but it's been clear for a while that it is keeping Arya's arc intact. Season 4 leaves Arya amost exactly where she is at the same point in the books, having abandoned the Hound to a seemingly certain death and boarded a ship to Braavos.

Readers have complained about the show "whitewashing" characters to preserve their appeal to viewers, but I don't understand how anyone who's been paying attention to Arya could believe that the showrunners are afraid to take the fans' favorite characters in a very dark direction.

Where are you getting these "book reader" opinions? asoiaf.westeros.org?

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Finding online fan discussions isn't difficult.

I think you missed the point of my question.

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I can't wait for the Comic Con panel this year. Their panels are always awesome, though last year the questions were pretty rote. Hopefully that will be better this year.

Anyway, I used to post on asoiaf.westeros.org. Their book purists are really intense, but then again that community existed for book readers before the show existed.

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The Oberyn/Mountain fight should have been two minutes longer.

I loved the Brienne/Hound battle! It was really exciting. And the scene beforehand, Brienne meeting Arya, and getting one last chance to turn away from the darker path she's been taking, was beautiful. The contrast of who Arya could have been in Brienne and who she really is in herself.

Anyway, my favorite part is when Brienne bites off the Hound's ear.

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The Hound/Brienne fight was one of the best duels I've ever seen in any TV show or film.

Ugh.  Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh.  Go away.  That scene was the worst.  And there was such whiplash, because the scene with the Hound was so excellent afterwards.

Don't tell me that you're one of those people who enjoys Brienne's aimless wandering in AFFC.

I can't speak for him, but AFFC is my favorite book.