I thought this was the best episode of the entire season.
I felt like the writing really came together here. Finally.
Let's start with The Ice Bowl.
This was perfectly written. Jon Snow still knows nothing. One way he shows ineptitude is by not listening to his sister, the other is by acting just as everyone expects him to, with Stark honor.
Sansa tries to explain to Jon that Ramsey is devious, it is his aptitude for torture that continually allows him to win. Jon states this doesn't help him -- it does not tell him what Ramsey is going to do. He misses the point. He misses what Sansa is trying to tell him. Jon is dealing in absolutes, she is dealing in concept. She tries to forewarn him that what Ramsey will do is something unexpected, that it will be a taunt and it will be horrific. She tries to tell Jon that this IS the uncertainty and to plan not to react to it. To keep a level head.
This is all very interesting from the standpoint of where these two characters have spent the last few seasons. Sansa is able to see the game of thrones than Jon can not. Jon has been dealing with admirable men. He has been dealing with the Knights Watch and Stannis. These people, for the most part, are forthright with their intentions. You fight head to head, you win or lose.
Unfortunately, not everyone plays by "the rules".
The show has been heavy-handed with this Stark-hero-failure notion for a long while now. Tyrion just joked about it last week with his fly joke. The Starks are known for their hero/goodwill and it is consistently their downfall.
Ned caused so much Westeros damage because he acted upon being a hero - by doing the fair, right thing. By not lowering himself to other people's standards. Jon does the same. It was this naivete that was the cause of Jon's death (and Ned's). He didn't see the backstabbing by the Knights Watch coming. Jon leads his life by the general rule that most people are what they seem and that they are honorable.
Sansa, on the other hand, has learned the harsh reality that most in Westeros win by being devious and using any method necessary. That in fact, the person who is willing to cheat, steal, kill, trick, or deceive the best is the one who wins.
Think about who Sansa has dealt with: Cersei, Joffrey, Tywin, Margaery, Theon, and Ramsey. Sansa has had a front seat to unlikely alliances, broken promises, and villainous behavior. She has witnessed pure evil on two occasions, Joffrey and Ramsey. She has learned about people planning three, four, and five steps ahead.
Another interesting part of the Ice Bowl was that the Stark camp had all the tools necessary, and insight, to see where Ramsey would go with his plan of attack.
Despite this foresight on camp Stark, Ramsey plays to Jon's hero complex anyway. And why not? Ramsey knows Jon is predictable to a fault. Jon won't be able to help himself. Ramsey knows Jon will risk everything, himself included, to save his brother and to ultimately avenge his death.
Jon Snow does just that. He falls right into the very type of trap that Sansa warned him against.
Ramsey gets Jon to rush to save his brother. Not only does this serve the purpose of destroying the leader of the Wildling/Stark/North army, but gets that very same army to rush after their leader. Jon Snow essentially single-handedly leads not only himself, but his army to death.
(Interesting, it is the "second in command" who helps both Jon and Danny refrain from their true nature. Sansa tries to help Jon not be the hero-failure like Ned Stark, and Tyrion tries to help Danny not be a Targaryen hot head, but more on Danny later.)
I felt like the writing really came together here. Finally.
Let's start with The Ice Bowl.
This was perfectly written. Jon Snow still knows nothing. One way he shows ineptitude is by not listening to his sister, the other is by acting just as everyone expects him to, with Stark honor.
Sansa tries to explain to Jon that Ramsey is devious, it is his aptitude for torture that continually allows him to win. Jon states this doesn't help him -- it does not tell him what Ramsey is going to do. He misses the point. He misses what Sansa is trying to tell him. Jon is dealing in absolutes, she is dealing in concept. She tries to forewarn him that what Ramsey will do is something unexpected, that it will be a taunt and it will be horrific. She tries to tell Jon that this IS the uncertainty and to plan not to react to it. To keep a level head.
This is all very interesting from the standpoint of where these two characters have spent the last few seasons. Sansa is able to see the game of thrones than Jon can not. Jon has been dealing with admirable men. He has been dealing with the Knights Watch and Stannis. These people, for the most part, are forthright with their intentions. You fight head to head, you win or lose.
Unfortunately, not everyone plays by "the rules".
The show has been heavy-handed with this Stark-hero-failure notion for a long while now. Tyrion just joked about it last week with his fly joke. The Starks are known for their hero/goodwill and it is consistently their downfall.
Ned caused so much Westeros damage because he acted upon being a hero - by doing the fair, right thing. By not lowering himself to other people's standards. Jon does the same. It was this naivete that was the cause of Jon's death (and Ned's). He didn't see the backstabbing by the Knights Watch coming. Jon leads his life by the general rule that most people are what they seem and that they are honorable.
Sansa, on the other hand, has learned the harsh reality that most in Westeros win by being devious and using any method necessary. That in fact, the person who is willing to cheat, steal, kill, trick, or deceive the best is the one who wins.
Think about who Sansa has dealt with: Cersei, Joffrey, Tywin, Margaery, Theon, and Ramsey. Sansa has had a front seat to unlikely alliances, broken promises, and villainous behavior. She has witnessed pure evil on two occasions, Joffrey and Ramsey. She has learned about people planning three, four, and five steps ahead.
Another interesting part of the Ice Bowl was that the Stark camp had all the tools necessary, and insight, to see where Ramsey would go with his plan of attack.
- Davos, warns Jon against charging into battle. Davos states it is of the utmost importance that it is Ramsey who rushes toward the Wildling/Stark/North army. That it is they that need to trap Ramsey's army in a confined space and flank them.
- Sansa tries to warn Jon that Rickon might be Ramsey's play. Sansa Strong advises that Rickon is already lost to them -- their brother will be dead, regardless of his current status. She knows how the game is played -- Rickon's outcome is inevitable. She warns not to let Rickon guide his behavior.
- Sansa knows in the game of thrones people (Rickon) are casualties for the greater good of the House. The Blackfish knew this of Edmure. The Blackfish and Sansa are right.
Despite this foresight on camp Stark, Ramsey plays to Jon's hero complex anyway. And why not? Ramsey knows Jon is predictable to a fault. Jon won't be able to help himself. Ramsey knows Jon will risk everything, himself included, to save his brother and to ultimately avenge his death.
Jon Snow does just that. He falls right into the very type of trap that Sansa warned him against.
Ramsey gets Jon to rush to save his brother. Not only does this serve the purpose of destroying the leader of the Wildling/Stark/North army, but gets that very same army to rush after their leader. Jon Snow essentially single-handedly leads not only himself, but his army to death.
(Interesting, it is the "second in command" who helps both Jon and Danny refrain from their true nature. Sansa tries to help Jon not be the hero-failure like Ned Stark, and Tyrion tries to help Danny not be a Targaryen hot head, but more on Danny later.)
This is the reason Sansa doesn't tell Jon about her alliance with Littlefinger. Sansa rightfully fears that Jon won't be able to help himself and will jeopardize the whole Stark army. If Jon knows about the Vale army, then he will incorporate them into the Stark/Wildling/North army. This will be problematic because then the entire army will be subject to Jon's vulnerabilities. Davos, despite warning that they must get Ramsey's army to come to them, not the other way around, even falls victim to Jon's Achilles' heel. Davos tries to hold back, to stick to the original Jon Snow game plan, but can't. He feels the pressure to charge in after his leader, and thus, ultimately, the whole army is doomed. The Vale would have been included in this ambush if she had told Jon about the alliance.
Many viewers think the Vale shows up too late, however, I would again disagree. Yes, lives are lost, but the battle is won by Sansa, Littlefinger and the Vale because she waited. Recap: Ramsey baits Jon, he takes the bait, Jon tragically lets his whole army become surrounded, but ... all of Ramsey's army is now too centralized and confined in a tight space ... easy pickings for the Vale army. Strategic if you ask me.
I, for one, can not wait to see what Littlefinger's move is next. He has made so many different alliances to win the North. He stated to Sad Sansa that she could either win the North from within the Boltons or wait for the Stannis army to defeat the Boltons and relieve her of her marriage duty. Littlefinger also made agreements with Lord Tywin and Cersei for the North. It will be very interesting to see how this plays out.
Many viewers think the Vale shows up too late, however, I would again disagree. Yes, lives are lost, but the battle is won by Sansa, Littlefinger and the Vale because she waited. Recap: Ramsey baits Jon, he takes the bait, Jon tragically lets his whole army become surrounded, but ... all of Ramsey's army is now too centralized and confined in a tight space ... easy pickings for the Vale army. Strategic if you ask me.
I, for one, can not wait to see what Littlefinger's move is next. He has made so many different alliances to win the North. He stated to Sad Sansa that she could either win the North from within the Boltons or wait for the Stannis army to defeat the Boltons and relieve her of her marriage duty. Littlefinger also made agreements with Lord Tywin and Cersei for the North. It will be very interesting to see how this plays out.
As for Danny, that was a pretty sweet series of scenes. I loved that fact that Tyrion did not back down from Danny. Not all negotiations work. It was still the best course of action to try (violence can always follow). His didn't work with the Masters, but, like Jaime, that does not deter him. He doesn't throw one bad decision after another. He stands his ground. He corrects Danny when she falls prey to her family tendency of hot-headedness and rash vengeance. Yes, while Danny ultimately delivers vengeance, it is pragmatic and with purpose -- thanks to Tyrion. He makes sure there are survivors so that the news can spread. He saves the lives of the innocent. Strong work Tyrion.
Also, it is been heavy handed this season about Danny's possible descent into madness, like her father. She made a big leap in that moment with Tyrion -- a woman who didn't even want her dragon to kill one child (let alone even a few goats) to slaughtering whole cities. Interesting.
Other thoughts:
Also, it is been heavy handed this season about Danny's possible descent into madness, like her father. She made a big leap in that moment with Tyrion -- a woman who didn't even want her dragon to kill one child (let alone even a few goats) to slaughtering whole cities. Interesting.
- Yes ... the dragon CGI was cool
- Yes ... Greyworm was fierce
- Yes ... it was totally random the two other dragons finally decided to leave their kennel
Other thoughts:
- I know a lot of people were over Ramsey being so evil, but I was not. I loved him. He was so delicious. Yes, him torturing Theon got a bit old, but Ramsey as an overall evil dude could have gotten his dogs into many more situations. He totally had to die, but I will miss him. You were so spectacularly evil!
- I'll miss you last giant
- Yes, it was totally random that Ramsey shot the giant at the moment instead of Jon Snow. It would have been game over for Jon at that point. He would not have seen it coming.
- The battle scenes were all very cool. Well done art and CGI departments!
- It goes without saying that Rickon should have zigzagged.
- Do we get to see Lyanna Mormont again since her side won? Yes, please!
- I loved the framing of the scene with Sansa Strong and Ramsey. I loved how she went to walk away from him being devoured by his dogs to stepping back into the frame to be a voyeur to his demise. Awesome camera work. It told the scene very well. Great job people!
Until next time.
** If you would like to read my other blogs, please find them at:
http://www.madelinefresco.com
http://www.ihatemyback.com.
**** Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Diego. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at http://www.madelinefresco.com. Her second book THE CHOICE, is available on Kindle at Amazon. Her third book ANGUISH, is available for Kindle at Amazon.com
** If you would like to read my other blogs, please find them at:
http://www.madelinefresco.com
http://www.ihatemyback.com.
**** Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Diego. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at http://www.madelinefresco.com. Her second book THE CHOICE, is available on Kindle at Amazon. Her third book ANGUISH, is available for Kindle at Amazon.com