MTG Salvation

-Episode 1 "The Wars To Come"-

"Decent start to season"

3/5

Most of the episode seemed slow. Also, the episode tried to cut between too many different things. I wonder how necessary that was to get things started.

The recap seemed to have everything major from last season.

It took me a short time to realize the opening scene was a flashback to Cersei and Maggy the Frog, so well done on the ambiguity in setitng that up. What's this about Robert having 20 kids instead of 16? Seems like a pointless show difference.

The Unsullied still wanting affection is touching, and adds something of a plot dimension to the nude scenes. I also thought this about Grey Worm/Missandei.

So Brienne misses out on Sansa as well, not that she could have done anything about Petyr's men, but it was still a worthy parallel.

The highlight of the episode was Varys explaining things to Tyrion, followed closely by most of the Jon's scenes. Actually showing Mance's execution seems somewhat superfluous given that he had already chosen his fate in the conversation with Jon.

Still good to be back.

-Episode 2 "The House of Black and White"-

5/5

"Season getting up to speed quickly"

Maisie's acting and the Braavos setpieces were superb. (including the Braavos emphasis in the opening sequence).

And then Brienne? They're really bringing it with the fan favorite characters. More bad luck for her in the Stark girl quest. Why didn't Brienne stay with Littlefinger? That being said, the cavalry combat was awesome.

The Myrcella in Dorne plot seems to be going somewhere with all of the people involved. Ellaria represents the hotheaded Dornish well compared to Doran keeping his cool.

Varys-Tyrion and Jon were great in this episode too in the screentime they got. Some book moments set at the Wall were represented well - Lyanna's response to Stannis, Stannis talking about legitimizing Jon, and the Lord Commander election. Just three candidates was a great way to simplify the election while maintaining the major themes. Shireen was great in her various interactions. I liked simple practice books versus regular material as two ways of learning how to read.

Kevan telling off Cersei was great - where's the lie? Also, it's a good indicator of the current King's Landing political situation.

I am reminded of Robb's decision to execute Rickard Karstark for killing the Lannister prisoners - the high-minded thing to do was ridiculously impractical. In the Mereen scenes, the different counsel did a great job at representing what's going on.

Drogon's appearance was a great way to end the episode on a high note.

No excessive cuts between scenes like the last episode.

-Episode 3 "High Sparrow"-

5/5

"Great mix of faithful adaptation and changes"

The floor cleaning as training reminded me of The Karate Kid. I liked the recall to 'there is one god, and his name is death'.

I liked Tommen/Margaery in the s4e4 flirting, so I loved their wedding night and Margaery japing about it. The vows reminded me of Robb/Talisa from s2e10, so they're likely a standard feature of the Faith of the Seven.

I don't know why they're changing Ramsay/fake Arya to Ramsay/Sansa, but I'll see where that goes. The Littlefinger and Roose scenes later make the change seem like new opportunities for scheming, fair enough. I've long since stopped criticizing the show for differing from the books. Still, is HBO trying to find something even creepier than Peytr/Sansa? "Wherever Littlefinger is slithering around" - great line, Cersei!

It seems Stannis will waste no time in marching on Winterfell. I like the apparent speedup in that regard.

Roose talking sense into Ramsay about the over the top barbarism was a great illustration of both their characters.

Brienne's backstory, Arya's training, Janos' execution and the arrival of the sparrows were much as I remember from the book, represented well here.

The comments about the Castle Black latrine pit was an amusing addition. I thoguht Jon would have stuck Alliser with that, but the First Ranger promotion seems like a good example of being gracious.

The High Sparrow exposition worked well. That being near the end of the episode helped make the episode fit its title. It sounds like the show is imprisoning rather than killing the High Septon.

Tyrion and Varys arguing was a great mix of amusement and seriousness. I liked hearing about the popularity of Daenerys. From a meta perspective, it kept her involved without making the episode busy with too many scenes.

The Tyrion capture was a great cliffhanger.

-Episode 4 "Sons of the Harpy"-

5/5

"Keeps up the pace"

Gazing wistfully at Tarth, I see, Jaime; nice hint at his feelings for Brienne.

Bronn's attitude is great when talking to Jaime as well as Tyrion. The death conversation reminds me of Tyrion's jape to the mountain clans. "in my own bed, at eighty, with a belly full of wine and a maiden's mouth around my ****." I was surprised by them fighting off the Dornish soldiers rather than escaping or negotiating. The Sand Snakes making plans against them seems like a good counterweight and a good setup for future events.

Why did the show leave out that rearming the Faith Militant was repayment of the Iron Throne's church debt? I don't recall the fanatics going nuts on sinners outside the church, but it makes sense. I was reminded of Prohibition enforcer scenes. The anti-sex and especially anti-gay actions? Well, that escalated quickly. I figure Loras' arrest mainly highlights the lengths Tommen will go to for Margaery. I don't blame him for not starting a fight with the Faith. Carving the seven-pointed star into their skin is very oldschool, reminds me of lore aobut the Andal invasion.

Stannis saying Ned wouldn't have a bastard by a tavern **** seems like an R+L=J hint. Melisandre trying to seduce Jon seems like a salacious extension of how he stubbornly resists temptation. I noticed that her skin seemed to be an unnatural color.

There were some good exposition scenes - describing the Isle of Tarth, Littlefinger explaining the Tourney at Harrenhal to Sansa, and Tyrion analyzing Jorah's motives. The Shireen scene discussing her bout with greyscale seemed about as touching as one can expect from Stannis.

Again, the episode namesake shows up near the end. Interesting pattern. I knew Barristan needed to show up in time. Who actually survives and how Daenerys reacts seems like the cliffhanger.

-Episode 5 "Kill the Boy"-

4/5

"Deviated from the books fairly well"

I was surprised Barristan actually died. Narratively, it seems like motivation for a long in coming crackdown in Mereen. Daenerys' comments about her dragons (discipline but not give up, not feed them too much) seem apropos for Mothers' Day.

Jon catching hell for allying with the wildlings against the Others was a book theme represented will if not in exact detail.

Brienne still seems very in character on this non-book mission.

Did Ramsay's sadism really need to be sexually charged? However, he did have some amusing comments about his betrothal to Sansa.

Did Miranda find one of the Stark direwolves for Sansa? As such, I was surprised to see Theon. I thought Ramsay was going to physically torture Theon, buy making him apologize for the meeting seems like an avenue of mental abuse.

Frankly, I liked Ramsay's Fat Walda jokes; they fit with Ramsay's attitude. "A new man, well, a new person" was another great example of Ramsay's cruel wit.

Maybe a legitimate heir as a threat to Ramsay is an analogue to Domeric from the books. Roose talking about Ramsay's backstory was more good exposition.

Sam and Gilly had an interesting conversation about book compared to non-book knowledge. Stannis seems to respect Randyll and Sam separately, Sam becase Stannis and Sam both take the Others seriously.

Jorah and Tyrion sailing through Valyria was another well executed difference from the books. Was it a chance for exposition of the Doom? It was interest how it was presented as the opposite of pirates as in the books. It made sense that they didn't get out of that scott-free.

I knew Grey Worm was going to say his fear had something to do with Missandei. I like the ship and was glad to see the dialogue actually go that way. Likewise, I totally saw Mel giving Jon the eye (as Stannis' forces leave). I don't ship Jon/Mel yet, but I'm intrigued by the possibility.

Dany's decision near the end is a sudden return to the book narrative that feels unexplained in-character.