Game of Thrones

[CSTowle]

Wait, what was because it was giant instead of lion? They changed the line why?

[PwrdOn]

I would have bought Dany's storyline if everything wasn't easily given to her

The problem with Daenerys' storyline is that it takes place far away from all of the other important characters, which effectively allows her to carve out her own little Mary Sue principality within the larger narrative. Nobody really cares about the backstory or motivations of the people she meets or interacts with, they exist purely to advance her story, which makes for quite a jarring contrast to what's going on back in Westeros where you're not quite sure who to root for or who will come out on top in the end. To even hear the other characters talking about her seems weird, it's like they're breaking character to talk about someone from a completely different show.

[julusnc]

I very much enjoyed this episode because you found out about almost all the story lines which is always a good thing.For anyone that has not read the books we have kinda ventured into a elseworld story between the books and tv show.Many things remain the same and headed towards the same goal but enough has changed that maybe the show goes off on its own line.....Banks, Pirates, Assassins, Dragons, White Walkers, and Suprise await us all.

[Spike-X]

The problem with Daenerys' storyline is that it takes place far away from all of the other important characters, which effectively allows her to carve out her own little Mary Sue principality within the larger narrative. Nobody really cares about the backstory or motivations of the people she meets or interacts with, they exist purely to advance her story, which makes for quite a jarring contrast to what's going on back in Westeros where you're not quite sure who to root for or who will come out on top in the end. To even hear the other characters talking about her seems weird, it's like they're breaking character to talk about someone from a completely different show.

I hadn't thought about it that way before. Good point.

[King Of All Nerds]

The problem with Daenerys' storyline is that it takes place far away from all of the other important characters, which effectively allows her to carve out her own little Mary Sue principality within the larger narrative. Nobody really cares about the backstory or motivations of the people she meets or interacts with, they exist purely to advance her story, which makes for quite a jarring contrast to what's going on back in Westeros where you're not quite sure who to root for or who will come out on top in the end. To even hear the other characters talking about her seems weird, it's like they're breaking character to talk about someone from a completely different show.

So very true.

[pro]

I'd be mildly amused if Daenerys's boat sinks with her and her army before they reach Westeros .

[Spike-X]

That would be all kinds of hilarious.

[CSTowle]

She's definitely my least favorite character of those I'd imagine they want you to root for. Joffrey was obviously supposed to be the most hated, and his mother a close second (at least for now), and of course her brother. It seems inevitable she'll succeed, but I just can't root for her.

[byc]

Daenerys peaked too early. All of her really interesting things happened already.

-arranged marriage
-found love
-convinced the Dothraki to cross the Narrow Sea
-loses Drogo and Raego
-gets dragons
-finds her way around through the Red Wastes
-overcomes Qarth's machinations
-goes to Astapor to begin her "destiny" by recruiting troops using Qarth's gold
-sacks Astapor once she gains her army
-sacks Yunkai with little difficulty
-sacks Meereen with little difficulty

The problem is unless she invades Westeros soon, she's going to lose momentum with the TV audience. She's has her arc. She had nothing, and now she has everything (just on the wrong continent). There's actually no reason for her to go over to Westeros, a place she doesn't even remember. I suppose she's one of the keys to stopping the White Walkers, but considering they haven't moved in 4 seasons, I have no idea how long it's supposed to be before Dany makes it over to Westeros.

Another annoying thing with her is that her triumphs feel extremely Mary Sue-ish. Things just WORK out for her. Everybody loves her. Qarth felt especially egregious. She finds a paradise, gets into trouble, literally does nothing to get herself out other than her dragons breathing fire, and then takes the gold during the city's turmoil (you know, having no leaders all of a sudden).

At least early on she had to win over Drogo with seduction, and then the khalasar with eating horse hearts. Now everything is handed to her.

[Vibranium]

well both Yunkai and Mereen have been lost or are about to be, so we will see where it goes

[Jmacq1]

Wait, what was because it was giant instead of lion? They changed the line why?

I am purely and totally speculating here, but possibly because Dinklage himself might not have been comfortable with it? He's had to deal with dwarfism in real life, after all, and while it's not as stigmatized in our world as it is in Westeros, it probably still has its very "down" moments.

The problem with Daenerys' storyline is that it takes place far away from all of the other important characters, which effectively allows her to carve out her own little Mary Sue principality within the larger narrative. Nobody really cares about the backstory or motivations of the people she meets or interacts with, they exist purely to advance her story, which makes for quite a jarring contrast to what's going on back in Westeros where you're not quite sure who to root for or who will come out on top in the end. To even hear the other characters talking about her seems weird, it's like they're breaking character to talk about someone from a completely different show.

Daenerys peaked too early. All of her really interesting things happened already.

-arranged marriage
-found love
-convinced the Dothraki to cross the Narrow Sea
-loses Drogo and Raego
-gets dragons
-finds her way around through the Red Wastes
-overcomes Qarth's machinations
-goes to Astapor to begin her "destiny" by recruiting troops using Qarth's gold
-sacks Astapor once she gains her army
-sacks Yunkai with little difficulty
-sacks Meereen with little difficulty

The problem is unless she invades Westeros soon, she's going to lose momentum with the TV audience. She's has her arc. She had nothing, and now she has everything (just on the wrong continent). There's actually no reason for her to go over to Westeros, a place she doesn't even remember. I suppose she's one of the keys to stopping the White Walkers, but considering they haven't moved in 4 seasons, I have no idea how long it's supposed to be before Dany makes it over to Westeros.

Another annoying thing with her is that her triumphs feel extremely Mary Sue-ish. Things just WORK out for her. Everybody loves her. Qarth felt especially egregious. She finds a paradise, gets into trouble, literally does nothing to get herself out other than her dragons breathing fire, and then takes the gold during the city's turmoil (you know, having no leaders all of a sudden).

At least early on she had to win over Drogo with seduction, and then the khalasar with eating horse hearts. Now everything is handed to her.

well both Yunkai and Mereen have been lost or are about to be, so we will see where it goes

This has summed up the problems with Dany's storyline nicely. In point of fact, the whole bit about "having everything she wanted, just on the wrong continent, so why leave?" is something George R.R. Martin himself has said he's struggled with. You have to understand: Martin isn't a writer that plans out every little detail ahead of time. He plans in broad strokes, but doesn't plot out every little step along the way that gets there. So sometimes (as with Dany) he writes his characters into a position that...becomes kind of boring and has trouble finding ways to get them out of it.

I'll say this: In the books, Dany's storyline does become a slog for a while at this point, only picking up towards the end of the "book after next" (and even then ending on a bit of a cliffhanger). However, the show has largely done a fantastic job of punching up some of the weaker stuff in the books and making it shine, or making up new stuff/scenes altogether that in some cases are just as good or better than the books, so I'm confident they'll spin some straw into gold here.

[Vibranium]

so this "trial" is not going to end well

if Tyrion picks Jamie, Tywin is looking at two dead sons - and no heir to Casterley Rock

if Tyrion picks someone else, Tywin will pick Jamie and Jamie will have to basically send his brother to die

[Jmacq1]

so this "trial" is not going to end well

if Tyrion picks Jamie, Tywin is looking at two dead sons - and no heir to Casterley Rock

if Tyrion picks someone else, Tywin will pick Jamie and Jamie will have to basically send his brother to die

Logically speaking...no one is going to pick Jaime.

Tywin knows he doesn't fight as well as he used to (not even close)...so he'd likely lose to any reasonably skilled fighter that might champion Tyrion.

Tyrion probably doesn't want his brother to get killed. The only way he'd pick Jaime is as a giant FU to Tywin, but it'd probably cost Jaime (and Tyrion) his life. Plus, being in the Kingsguard Jaime could likely be told "You cannot champion Tyrion" by Tommen (Well, Tywin speaking through Tommen).

Jaime is NOT the badass he once was. Not even close, and pretty much everyone knows it.

[Vidocq]

From The Escapist's Critical Miss

[Jmacq1]

From The Escapist's Critical Miss

The punchline would be stronger if they hadn't explained precisely why going after the mutineers was relevant, and if it had been longer than one episode since it occurred to declare it "immediately forgotten" given that many characters "skip episodes" on the show regularly.

And y'know, if the showrunners hadn't already answered the question that sets it all up: They know how the story is supposed to end, and if they overtake Martin's writing, they'll chart their own path (with George's collaboration) to reach it.

In other words, I would rate it as HIGHLY likely we see the end of the Song of Ice and Fire on-screen before we see it in the books. The details will be different in the books (because of the vast multitude of tertiary characters and whatnot) but the basic gist will likely be the same.

Though I wouldn't put it past Martin to throw in a big curveball just to have one last "shock."