Frones Revoo (SPOILERS DO NOT READ UNTIL YOU'VE SEEN EP 2)

It was short (not quite as short as the last one) but didn't feel short - they packed a lot in there.

I didn't get Davos going to Melissandre at all. What gave him that notion? Why didn't he ask about Shireen or Stannis? The resurrection scene was nicely done - van Houten did a great job again, lots of nuance and vulnerability, and waiting until it was just Jon and Ghost before the eyes opened was well done. But the set-up jarred for me, so minus a point there. No sign of Jon warging into Ghost.

I loved WunWun - though I'd rather hoped to see Ghost vs Oly. We will have to wait and see what kind of Jon has come back - how he will have changed, what happens to Thorne et al.

I thought Arya would have to learn to fight a bit better before going back in to the HoBaW. Presumably she'll stay blind in there for a bit. No sign of her warging cats.

I liked Disaffected Meera, and the signpost that Bran isn't now stuck there for the rest of his days like Bloodraven was.

Ramsay killing Roose, fat Walda and the Rooselet was always going to happen. Something didn't quite ring true though when Walda was pleading in the kennels - that scene didn't quite work for me.

I loved Tyrion and the dragons (great band name, right there). However for the second episode out of two, Tyrion's dialogue - apart from the killer line "I drink and I know things - it's what I do" - was not up to the usual standards. Two lame and unnecessary cock jokes in two episodes? The dialogue in general in this season so far doesn't feel as tightly crafted as we've been used to in earlier seasons (pace Dorne - let's all just try to forget about Dorne). Hopefully that improves a bit as we go on. So minus a point for that.

What was the point of the Frankenmountain scene, other than to establish what we'd already kind of realised, that he's badass and can kill The Unbefrankened quite easily?

Jamie and the High Sparrow was excellent. I found Tommen a bit annoying but Heady rescued that scene with (again) some great acting.

Loved Euron. Great actor, great character, bodes well for the rest of the season - Yara and him facing off and the whole Kingsmoot thing. I hope they take some time as there's plenty they could put in to that to make it really interesting, nuanced and strong. I liked Damphair and hope we see more of him.

Wasn't quite convinced by Theon leaving when he did but Exposition Calls. He's needed to be Yara's shill, I guess - the extent to which he's up for being anyone's shill right now is not clear to me, but we'll find out.

Why didn't Brienne name the Hound? Sansa would have known instantly who it was, of course

Old Man Rating: 8/10

Posted By: Old Man, May 2, 11:12:10