Game of Thrones 5.4 "The Sons of the Harpy" (spoiler alert)

[NewJeffCT]

The Faith Militant grow increasingly aggressive. Jaime and Bronn head south. Ellaria and the Sand Snakes vow vengeance.

[NewJeffCT]

1. mead is now hip thanks to Game of Thrones

http://qz.com/395720/game-of-thrones-has-made-mead-super-hip/

Back in the days of yore, before craft beer wars and Chinese wine conglomerates, there was mead.

The earliest references to mead, an alcoholic fermented honey beverage, come from the hymns of Rigveda, according to the American Mead Makers Association, a sacred Hindu text dating somewhere between 4000 and 1500 BC. Mead was the drink of deities. “God, as our Priest, be thou the first to drink it: We give thee of the mead to make thee joyful.”

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Do we finally get to meet the sand snakes?

[NewJeffCT]

3. Yes

they'll be in this episode. Almost seems like they have too many characters on the show now - Alexander Siddig (Doran Martell) has only had one scene so far and Jonathan Pryce one lengthy scene?

[NewJeffCT]

4. Forbes - "it's clear Game of Thrones will end after season 7"

http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2015/05/03/its-becoming-clear-game-of-thrones-will-end-at-season-seven/

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Ugh. I just realized that when Sansa dyed her hair, Little Finger may have had evil reasons for

dying it that color. That kiss was...ugh.

[NewJeffCT]

9. what reasons?

In the books, it's so people won't know she's Sansa Stark until the right time.

[Baitball Blogger]

11. Because it made her look more like her mother.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. I fear that Tommen is not going to get the time to make the necessary

changes to grow into the kingship position.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Bad ass Sand Snakes!

Too bad I can't support their cause, but they will be interesting to watch.

[NewJeffCT]

10. Glad they kept Melisandre

telling Jon Snow that he knows nothing.

[Baitball Blogger]

12. Made me miss Ygritte, because the red witch didn't say it right.

You know, if Jon Snow didn't cut Ygritte's head off before burying her on the North side of the wall, we may be seeing her again.

[NewJeffCT]

8. damn - not Ser Barristan

maybe my favorite character from the whole series - so, we don't get his big showdown with Krazz, and we don't get him leading the defense of Meereen, either.

(he's still alive in the "preview" chapters of book 6 that Martin has released)

[Baitball Blogger]

13. He didn't get his throat cut, so maybe he'll live through the other wounds?

[NewJeffCT]

15. From the previews

of next week, it looks like he doesn't... but, that could be one of those tricks.

[Godhumor]

18. His time is done

He is confirmed gone.

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/05/01/ser-barristan-dead-thrones

[NewJeffCT]

19. That sucks

At least he went out saving Grey Worm and taking out several Sons of the Harpy.

[Baitball Blogger]

21. As someone who hasn't read the books, I see two things happening:

Last edited Mon May 4, 2015, 03:04 PM - Edit history (1)

The first, that Daenarys is going to change and show no mercy to the Harpys, and the second, that she is in desperate need of a trusted advisor. So, hey, look who is sailing her way.

[NewJeffCT]

23. In the books

Ser Barristan becomes her most trusted adviser and leader of her military forces. I wonder if Daario and/or Tyrion will take over that role on the show? (Early in book 6, Tyrion is still on his way to meet her, and Ser Barristan is still alive)

[Baitball Blogger]

25. That article you listed says it all.

They are merging character plots and providing the main characters, who we are invested in, with the responsibility of carrying the story forward.

Let's see how it plays out

[Liberal Veteran]

14. Well, at least we got some fodder for the theory of a certain person's parentage.

Nothing book readers didn't already know, but interesting to see it mentioned so blatantly on the show.

[NewJeffCT]

16. yes

I was wondering how they'd work things into the show

[Baitball Blogger]

17. Did you see that double-take by Little Finger when Sansa said that

her aunt was raped?

I think he knows.

[NewJeffCT]

20. The books give you different impressions

depending on whose perspective it is that chapter - some say she was kidnapped & raped, others say she went willingly with Rhaegar.

[herding cats]

22. I liked that part, too.

It's wild watching the television series go off in different plot directions in some areas, but it's good to see some of the core items remaining the same. It gives me hope some of our (book readers) speculation will prove correct!

[NewJeffCT]

24. I wonder if

we'll get the Hizdahr zo Loraq "peace event" like in the book?

[herding cats]

26. I was wondering about that last night.

I suppose it's still possible they could pull it off. They could insert Tyrion to fill the void created by Ser Barristan's death. Or, as has been the pattern this season, they may go another direction all together and omit that part of the storyline entirely. My gut feels they're to a point of only remaining true to the original story insomuch as to keep the end players alive and heading in the proper directions for the finale.

It's fun to get to have the two variations of the story to follow. Having spent so many years speculating between books it adds a whole new layer of speculation to the experience.

[NewJeffCT]

27. I'm sure the folks over at

westeros.org have been going crazy this season...edited to add - since yesterday, the "rant and rave" section about yesterday's episode has had 739 posts as of a few minutes ago.

[herding cats]

28. I need to see how they're taking episode 4. I haven't looked yet.

I know people who almost lost it over the Sansa Stark storyline changes, and they're not even what I consider to be purist!

[NewJeffCT]

29. it's up to 916 posts now

just in that single thread. It seems almost pointless to look at the thread since it's so friggin' long.

[NewJeffCT]

30. I wonder what will happen with Sam

and Maester Aemon? Will that play out like in the books with the journey to Old Town? Will we get, "Egg, I dreamed I was old."?

[CrawlingChaos]

31. Things are picking up

I had previously complained about the sluggishness (IMO) of this season, but I find myself getting more drawn into the story at this point, even though there still hasn't been a ton of action.

I was surprised to see Ser Barristan get offed, but like most people I assume this opens the door for Jorah to get back in Dany's good graces. At least we got to see Barristan in combat before his exit. He had that great moment telling the King's Guard he could cut them all down like carving a cake, but I don't think we'd actually seen him fight before? Anyway, I assume Grey Worm is still alive. He collapsed but I don't recall him receiving any unambiguously fatal wounds. I definitely think they're going somewhere with his storyline - a romance with Missandei and all that so I'd be surprised to see him taken out, after all the time spent building up romantic tension. It's GOT though, so who the hell knows.

I really like Jaime and Bronn together. I think that pairing is going to be fun. I think I just like those two actors, especially the guy who plays Bronn. The importance of charismatic actors makes or breaks this show, IMO, and as I previously complained, they've already killed off most of the strongest presences on the show.

The rivalry between Cersei and Margery is also fun. I don't like either one of them so there's no one to root for, but it is fairly entertaining. I have a general idea of what happens to Cersei this season, and now I'm guessing it happens as a result of Margery striking back in a major way.

One thing I thought was a bit ho-hum was the introduction of the Sand Snakes. I think that should have been a lot more dramatic and frankly, so far they're not coming off as particularly deadly or mysterious. Particularly after the indelible impression left by Pedro Pascal (I'm still crushing) as Oberyn, they seem a bit lackluster so far.

But I do find myself getting more engaged - not like the anticipation I felt at what I consider the high point of the series, but definitely looking forward to next week. Can't believe we're almost halfway through the season!

[NewJeffCT]

32. In the books

Dany is going out amongst her people when she gets ambushed by The Titan's Bastard (the guy above Daario Naharis in The Second Sons). Ser Barristan - using just his staff - manages to get the best of The Titan's Bastard, and kills him. This was before he was revealed as Ser Barristan, though. (In the books, he was disguised as an aged squire of Strong Belwas)

Also, he later has a great showdown with one of the top pit fighters in Meereen in the books as well.

[CrawlingChaos]

34. Too bad we won't get to see any of that

Sounds like those could have been great sequences, and I think they could use more action on the show. I would love to see more epic clashes between formidable bad asses. They have done this VERY well in past seasons (like the fight between Khal Drogo and that other Dothraki dude who challenged him for instance - that was awesome), they just don't do it enough. They are also very stingy with the dragons, IMO. C'mon folks, we know you've got the budget now...

Although I will say I did enjoy the fight between Bronn/Jaime and the Dorne soldiers. Especially Jaime discovering a new use for his false hand.

Since they're changing the books anyway, I wish they would give us more of what they KNOW we want. Reunite some Starks!

Speaking of Starks, we haven't even seen Bran at all this season at all. I'm totally okay with that but when you think about how much time they spent getting him where was going, it's curious. I guess they'll get around to him eventually.

[NewJeffCT]

37. The showdown

with Barristan and the pit fighter Khrazz was one of my favorite one-on-one showdowns of the series. Not as good as Oberyn Martell vs the Mountain, but still pretty cool. It also comes later than what has transpired on the show so far.

[NewJeffCT]

33. a bit more on Ser Barristan

at the linked article:

http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/ask-the-maester-the-tale-of-brave-ser-barristan-the-faith-militant-and-the-fighting-harpies/

[CrawlingChaos]

35. Thanks!

That really helps answer some questions and fill in the gaps. I'm saving it since I'm sure I'll want to refer to it again.

Thanks again!

[CrawlingChaos]

45. Something else I wanted to ask you if you have a minute

Did Jaime mean it when he told Bronn he intended to kill Tyrion if he ever saw him again? Am I remembering the book correctly that it was Tyrion who wanted nothing more to do with Jaime after Jaime told him of his part in the deception involving his first wife?

It just didn't seem right to me that Jaime wouldn't sympathize with what Tyrion had done. Then again, maybe the two brothers will never cross paths again and the point will be moot.

[NewJeffCT]

46. It's possible

In the books, I think it's the opposite. Tyrion is furious with Jaime because Jamie never told him that the supposed whore that he married (Tysha) was not really a whore, but really was a crofter's daughter.

If you recall, Tyrion told Bronn that when he was young, Jamie and Tyrion saved a young crofter's daughter from being mugged. While Jamie drove off the muggers, Tyrion comforted the young girl and ended up getting a drunken septon (priest) to marry them. When Tywin found out, he was furious and forced the marriage to be annulled and to have Jamie tell Tyrion that Tysha was really a whore that he paid to fall for Tyrion. Tywin then had all of his men take turns raping Tysha in front of Tyrion to prove his point. (she had so many silver coins she could not carry them all in her hands)

Jamie kept silent about it until he helped Tyrion escape his execution for the murder of Joffrey. Tyrion was furious that the brave knight Ser Jamie - arguably the best fighter in the realm before he lost his hand - never had the courage to defy his father and tell him the truth. So, in the books, Tyrion leaves King's Landing with a clean break from his family - his father is dead and he hates both his sister and his brother.

Tywin just did not want Tyrion married to a commoner.

[CrawlingChaos]

47. Thanks! That's the way I (vaguely) remember the book

I remember Tyrion being furious with Jaime, but I don't recall Jaime's reaction to Tyrion killing Tywin (maybe that was covered in Feast for Crows?). I had the impression that all of Tywin's offspring hated him, but maybe not. His death saved Cersei from having to marry Loras, and Jaime from having to follow through on marrying against his wishes also, but aparently it also leaves them vulnerable to their enemies, with Cersei unable to inspire the same level of fear as her father, I guess.

I was just somewhat taken aback by Jaime's reaction as I thought he had more affection and sympathy for Tyrion. And it's not like Tywin didn't richly deserve it. I wonder if they'll ever have them meet up again. Normally I'd assume that scene was foreshadowing some future event, but again, this is GOT and just because they set it up, doesn't mean they're going to resolve it anytime soon. But, time will tell....

[Frankykhale]

36. Why...

Why he is letting Sansa marry the devil.

[NewJeffCT]

38. It seems like

Littlefinger doesn't know much about Ramsay Snow/Bolton. He even admits as much on the show. While Roose is a Bolton, he is cunning, and not the loose cannon Ramsay is.

[NewJeffCT]

39. Good background on Rhaegar Targaryen here

good article.

https://www.yahoo.com/tv/s/most-important-game-thrones-character-youve-never-seen-164321262.html

[La Lioness Priyanka]

40. i like the sansa/fake arya diversion from the book. i think that story line is more interesting

[NewJeffCT]

41. It depends on what happens next

I'd not be too happy if Sansa got the Jeyne Poole treatment

[La Lioness Priyanka]

42. that's what i dont think will happen. because that one side of his character is getting boring

it was boring in the book too. like, i get it, he is a sadist. what else does he have?

[NewJeffCT]

43. some of the purely evil characters

from the series were not always developed that well - Viserys, Joffrey and now Ramsay. Probably because we never get their point of view in the books. (Of course, you could also say that about Robb Stark and Oberyn Martell in the books as well, as we never get their points of view, either)

[NewJeffCT]

44. The weekly "If Game of Thrones Took Place on Facebook"

Love seeing Admiral Ackbar in there!

http://valarbloghulis.someecards.com/got-recap-season-5/if-game-of-thrones-took-place-entirely-on-facebook-season-5-episode-4/