I didn't like how they killed Biter and Rorge off in such an under whelming manner. Rorge was supposed to find the Hound's helm after his "death", and rampage the Saltpans while everyone thought it was the Hound. Brienne was supposed to fight Rorge kill him eventually, and then Biter overpowers her, and takes off half her face before Gendry sticks a spear thru him. Instead Rorge just stands there and lets Arya stab him uncontested, and Biter gets his neck snapped in 2 seconds.
I don't mind how they killed Bitter or Rorge since that can have just about anyone do the things that they do later in the books. It doesn't really matter at all who wears the Hounds armor or who ends up attacking Briann IMO. Those villains are even really noticed by the non-book readers in the series.
I'm thinking that after the encounter with Hot Pie last night, they're paving a more direct route for Brienne encounter the Brotherhood Without Banners and Lady Stoneheart. No Maidenpool or Ser Hyle Hunt or Nimble Dick. No chasing after the Hound when she hears he's with a girl she presumes to be Sansa. After last night, she's already heard about the Hound (while he's still alive) and knows that he's with Arya. I think that they're setting it up for her to pursue the Hound now, meaning she won't be pursuing someone masquerading as him. And in the process of trying to find him, she'll seek out the Brotherhood since they were there the last time Hot Pie saw Arya. And with that she'll meet Lady Stoneheart, bypassing the encounter with Rorge and Biter at the crossroads in the process. And if that's the plan, then I guess they thought they'd find some other way for Rorge and Biter to die. When was the last time we even saw the Hound with his helm in the show?
Sure "anyone" can do what Rorge and Biter do to Brienne, but why bother bringing them back for such a weak death? I don't care that much that they died, but more so the way they died. If the Hound had fought the two of them like Brienne did in the book, fighting and killing Rorge, then getting attacked by Biter, getting bit, and Arya saves him, that would have worked for me. Rorge standing there and letting Arya stab him with no effort and Biter getting his neck snapped instantly after one bite was going to be a weak scene even if it had just been 2 random bandits.
I think they did it the way they did in order to develop Arya's character into the person she is to become as well as show that she is learning from the Hound. Rorge wasn't expecting a little girl to stab him in the heart and Arya is supposed to be quick, it would make sense that she could fatally stab him before he could react.
I pretty much agree with this, but i think they could have filmed it better, maybe speed up the shot. Maisie Williams didn't move nearly quickly enough to make the kill believable, even on an unsuspecting person. It's doesn't really bother me, because I understood what they were trying to convey. They have really developed Arya's killer instinct. She face to face killed a man, and most viewers didn't even seem to notice, it's become like par for the course.
Where do we see these last episodes ending 1. Arya going to Bravos 2. Tyrion escaping 3. John Snow as the Commander of the watch? 4. Danyres - ??? 5. Briann - ?? Rocket River
who is Briann? I suspect Bran will meet the Children of the Forest http://winteriscoming.net/2013/11/13/octavia-alexandrus-role-revealed/ Did you mean Brienne? Meets LS? Nice big reveal.
It didn't impress me as being that quick. Rorge was a challenging foe for Brienne and already had his sword out. They have complete surprise and Biter attacks and Rorge just stands there watching, then starts chatting after Biter is instantly killed, and then he gets killed without a fight. Just seemed really poorly written to have an ambush where one ambusher just watches his partner die, then starts chatting as if nothing happened.
It seems like a lot of the main points of this season have been rushed. There's also been more pointless (at least as of now) plot points added. I don't mind changes from the books so long as they're not a total waste.
Yes I think some things seem very rushed I know they have limited funds and time I worry if they push to quickly they will lose as many fans as if they moved to slowly Rocket River
Will the battle at the wall happen this season? I feel like that could be a whole episode, a la blackwater, but I feel like they will scale it down in a major way unfortunately. Does anyone else feel like they are going farther and farther away from the books? I thought season 1 followed book 1 very closely, and while the overall events are still the same, I feel the presentation has been vastly different then the books this season
Agreed. I wonder will the leave to come back at certain points or will they leave to explore completely new avenues Rocket River
They've changed details to make it fit better, they have to slow some angles (Arya), and speed others up (Lysa) in order to have the season finish on the right notes and make entertaining TV. Episode 9 is called Watchers on the wall, i'm guessing most of that episode is dedicated to the battle at the wall. Ultimately they haven't made any major changes, all of the primary characters are on the exact same path as the books. I don't understand why some of the book readers are so dead set on the show being a shot for shot retelling of the books. I actually enjoyed being in the dark for the crasters keeps scene.
Wasn't saying its a bad thing, just an observation. While in the first season I could directly remember most of the scenes counterparts in the book, I can rarely do that this season.
