Nice feel good ending for the season. I thought it was all excellently paced. Loved the small council meeting with Joffrey.

 

I seriously thought the series would end with

Lady Stoneheart being ressurected.

Guess that might happen at the end of the Season 4 premiere though.

While I really enjoyed the finale and the last scene, I have a few gripes and they are the same problems I've had the whole season which is the way they build up to certain scenes. I just don't understand why they didn't save the battle of Yunkai scenes for episode 10, rather than have them in episode 9, which really should have been a purely Stark centric episode. Episode 10 could've included the battle of Yunkai and the Mhysa scene would've been the perfect conclusion. As it was, it felt completely tacked on.

 

The same thing has happened a few times this season, like episode 4, again with an amazing Dany scene (that is the best thing that's ever been on telly), but it had absolutely no build up. And also Sam killing the White Walker. The scene from the start of episode 7 should've been in episode 8 as a prelude to the Sam the Slayer moment.

 

As for Theon, the trouble with that storyline is that in the books, his torture is never really seen. *Slightly spoilerish* In the books, Theon is knocked out in Winterfell at the end of book 2 and you don't see him again until book 5. At this point, he's been psychologically worn down by Ramsay and you only really know of his torture through flashbacks. It's never even explicitly stated that Ramsay chopped his bits off although it is implied. It's got slightly more interesting now with Yara (Asha) coming to rescue him as this is a deviation from the books.

 

The best moments for me in this episode were (obviously) Mhysa, but also the few reunions that took place. It was nice to see the Night's Watch together at Castle Black and also Jamie's return gave me goosebumps.

Whilst everybody in the show puts in good performances, character and acting wise Lena Headey and Peter Dinklage absolutely dominate every scene they're in and even some they don't, and with actors of the qualitly of Charles Dance in there that's no mean feat.

 

All in all though despite having two of the best scenes of the series (small counsel and Bolton/Frey gloating) it was a largely underwhelming episode. Aside from the obvious very little of note has actually happened this season (forced by the books) to most of the characters and pretty much everyone is in the same position on the chessboard that they began in.

 

We're three seasons complete and no nearer to the inevitable battle between 'fire and ice' and one hopes that Mr Martin won't be rushing to write those last few books/seasons

 

Nice feel good ending for the season. I thought it was all excellently paced. Loved the small council meeting with Joffrey.

 

I seriously thought the series would end with

Lady Stoneheart being ressurected.

Guess that might happen at the end of the Season 4 premiere though.

 

I spoiled that bit for myself by Wiki'ing but I CANNOT WAIT. I think it's going to be hard to hide though

when Michelle is back filming scenes for S4.

 

Whilst everybody in the show puts in good performances, character and acting wise Lena Headey and Peter Dinklage absolutely dominate every scene they're in and even some they don't, and with actors of the qualitly of Charles Dance in there that's no mean feat.

 

All in all though despite having two of the best scenes of the series (small counsel and Bolton/Frey gloating) it was a largely underwhelming episode. Aside from the obvious very little of note has actually happened this season (forced by the books) to most of the characters and pretty much everyone is in the same position on the chessboard that they began in.

 

We're three seasons complete and no nearer to the inevitable battle between 'fire and ice' and one hopes that Mr Martin won't be rushing to write those last few books/seasons

 

Peter Dinklage hasn't had a lot to work with this season, but he's always good. Next season he'll be back in Emmy contention. Charles Dance steals every scene he's in, but personally I think Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has been the best actor this season at least.

 

The show is going to pass the books, that much is inevitable. I've only read the first three, but while they're splitting book three in to two seasons, from what I've read from various tibits of others who have read the books, no-one's sure whether it is possible to spring books four and five out without having key characters disappear for long stretches. I'd wager the show will last 7/8 seasons, although I guess a bit does depend on when the next novel gets published.

 

A few stories are moving at snail pace, but with so many characters it's hard to not. Like previous finales, this was just planting the very first seeds for what's to come, which is exciting!

 

I spoiled that bit for myself by Wiki'ing but I CANNOT WAIT. I think it's going to be hard to hide though

when Michelle is back filming scenes for S4.

 

It will be hard, but

she'll be there for one scene maximum, and there's such a large cast it could very easily get caught up amongst other things that no-one sees it. Not sure whether they'll have it in the premiere, or more towards the end of the season cos I'm not sure what timescale they're working on anymore!

 

All in all though despite having two of the best scenes of the series (small counsel and Bolton/Frey gloating) it was a largely underwhelming episode. Aside from the obvious very little of note has actually happened this season (forced by the books) to most of the characters and pretty much everyone is in the same position on the chessboard that they began in.

 

I think it seems things haven't moved on because season 3 ends roughly two thirds of the way through Storm of Swords. In this book though, I feel like the majority of the characters' story lines culminate quite well, but most of them happen in the third act which is what will be season 4.

 

I think already though you can see some big changes have happened, the biggest being that Dany now has her army and the Starks are out of the war of the five kings.

 

I don't see the TV show catching up with the books too soon. There's just so much to happen yet in a Storm of Swords that I think season 4 will predominantly be the rest of that book. The only storyline I see being a problem is Dany's because after taking Yunkai she spends the rest of the book

besieging Mereen

. Books 4 and 5 are both pretty hefty and they actually take place over the same period of time so will probably be combined for TV. The main problem is the story gets quite convoluted at this point with lots of smaller characters and sub plots that don't really go anywhere. There's probably 2 seasons worth of material there but I think the TV show will have to start getting very creative.

 

If the TV show does catch up with the books, I was thinking it would be quite nice if there was maybe a season one year which covered Robert's rebellion and Rhaegar's death on the Trident and the sack of King's Landing. It something that becomes quite important for characters that appear later on.

^a prequel to bridge the gap would be great.

 

But considering the Winds of Winder is according to Martin around 1500 pages long, it's more than enough to cover 2 seasons, so I don't think the show will ever catch up if the gap between Books 6 & 7 is the same as Books 5 & 6 (3 years).

 

I wonder what they'll do with books 4 & 5, will they mix them or will we get a season without some of the main characters?

^a prequel to bridge the gap would be great.

 

But considering the Winds of Winder is according to Martin around 1500 pages long, it's more than enough to cover 2 seasons, so I don't think the show will ever catch up if the gap between Books 6 & 7 is the same as Books 5 & 6 (3 years).

 

I wonder what they'll do with books 4 & 5, will they mix them or will we get a season without some of the main characters?

 

The problem they will have though is it is not possible for the major TV characters to go missing. One they're contracted to work, and two they'll lose viewers. I can't see the show finishing ANY later than 2018, that will eight seasons. Everything I've read hints at 7/8 seasons maximum.

I think there's probably too much to fit into 7 seasons, I've always envisioned it being more like 10. I've never actually read the books so no idea how it all pans out regarding that, just a FEELING.

I think there's probably too much to fit into 7 seasons, I've always envisioned it being more like 10. I've never actually read the books so no idea how it all pans out regarding that, just a FEELING.

 

I think most of the actors are contracted for 7/8 seasons, that's why I believe it will go on for 7/8 seasons. Not sure HBO will want to re-negotiate everyone's contracts! All the producers envision it as 80 hours of television. The show will peak next season I'm sure of it, especially when a certain something happens. I've not read the 4th and 5th books cos while I enjoy they, everyone says there's a lot of waffle and not a lot happening. Everyone thinks they could adapt books 4 and 5 in to one season. I do think it will end up being 8 seasons in the end, just seems the right number.

 

They needed to split book 3 up because so much happens. There's no way it could have fitted all in to one season.

I think most of the actors are contracted for 7/8 seasons, that's why I believe it will go on for 7/8 seasons. Not sure HBO will want to re-negotiate everyone's contracts! All the producers envision it as 80 hours of television. The show will peak next season I'm sure of it, especially when a certain something happens. I've not read the 4th and 5th books cos while I enjoy they, everyone says there's a lot of waffle and not a lot happening. Everyone thinks they could adapt books 4 and 5 in to one season. I do think it will end up being 8 seasons in the end, just seems the right number.

 

They needed to split book 3 up because so much happens. There's no way it could have fitted all in to one season.

 

Feast for Crows isn't that great to be honest, but I loved Dance With Dragons, even though it does finish before the major things it's been leading up to happen. There's a brilliant Dany chapter that is possibly one of the best in the whole series.

 

I think from now on the TV seasons won't be focusing on one book. I imagine the next three seasons will contain material from book 3,4 and 5 all mixed up. The timelines are already differing from the books.

 

I watched the last three episodes of this last night, so I've caught up to the present (TV Show). After watching 'The Rains Of Castamere' I genuinely sat in stunned silence for nearly 15 minutes. I kinda saw Robb dying at some point even though I didn't want to; he's one of the characters that its easiest to root for, but I never saw it happening to Catelyn as well. :(

 

The ending of 'Mhysa' made everything (kinda) right with the world again - now there's just the long wait for Season 4 that I won't be able to bear. (I'll read the books up to where the TV show is if I get time, kinda obsessed, in no small part because of the terrific acting on display, particularly with the King's Landing characters but the rest of the cast too)

I watched the last three episodes of this last night, so I've caught up to the present (TV Show). After watching 'The Rains Of Castamere' I genuinely sat in stunned silence for nearly 15 minutes. I kinda saw Robb dying at some point even though I didn't want to; he's one of the characters that its easiest to root for, but I never saw it happening to Catelyn as well. :(

 

The ending of 'Mhysa' made everything (kinda) right with the world again - now there's just the long wait for Season 4 that I won't be able to bear. (I'll read the books up to where the TV show is if I get time, kinda obsessed, in no small part because of the terrific acting on display, particularly with the King's Landing characters but the rest of the cast too)

 

Robb was easy to root for because The Starks are the characters we were the characters we were introduced to at the start, and plus everyone rooted for Ned. But they're dropping like flies now, and most of Westeros assumes them all dead bar Sansa. I just found the ending of Mhysa so cheesy. Feel good, but cheesy. There's so many bad guys on the shoe that have done awful things, they're only an act or two away from redeeming themselves, just look at Jamie Lannister!

I've never found myself rooting for Robb, or indeed any of the Starks bar maybe Arya towards the latter half of this season. I know it's only going to lead to sorrow but The Lannisters ALL THE WAY for me.

 

I always liked Catelyn, but her role was only ever going to be as the fabulous middle aged female behind the big and powerful men.

Robb was easy to root for because The Starks are the characters we were the characters we were introduced to at the start, and plus everyone rooted for Ned. But they're dropping like flies now, and most of Westeros assumes them all dead bar Sansa. I just found the ending of Mhysa so cheesy. Feel good, but cheesy. There's so many bad guys on the shoe that have done awful things, they're only an act or two away from redeeming themselves, just look at Jamie Lannister!

 

Yeah, but I also found him really likeable and the sort of man who really SHOULD be king. Out of those in the war at least (because I doubt anyone in their right mind would actually want Stannis or Joffrey on the throne based on personality, one's been an awful bore for two seasons and the other an irredeemable cunt for three. Jaime was at least charimatic in the beginning before he started becoming awesome). Daenarys to triumph now.

 

And obviously he was holding the Stark family together and kind of representing them having a strong centre, they're all on the run or subdued now. :(

 

The Lannisters are all being played by TERRIFIC actors, even above the high quality that most of the actors are at, so on the basis of making the show interesting they need to stay alive as long as possible. And actually I wouldn't be too remiss at the idea of any of them apart from Joffrey 'triumphing'. But I doubt it's going to be as simple as one set of characters winning.

Yeah, but I also found him really likeable and the sort of man who really SHOULD be king. Out of those in the war at least (because I doubt anyone in their right mind would actually want Stannis or Joffrey on the throne based on personality, one's been an awful bore for two seasons and the other an irredeemable cunt for three. Jaime was at least charimatic in the beginning before he started becoming awesome). Daenarys to triumph now.

 

And obviously he was holding the Stark family together and kind of representing them having a strong centre, they're all on the run or subdued now. :(

 

The Lannisters are all being played by TERRIFIC actors, even above the high quality that most of the actors are at, so on the basis of making the show interesting they need to stay alive as long as possible. And actually I wouldn't be too remiss at the idea of any of them apart from Joffrey 'triumphing'. But I doubt it's going to be as simple as one set of characters winning.

 

I always viewed The Throne as metaphorical, even more since I read the books. The King thinks they have the power, but they don't it's only a title. At least as Lord of the their respective Houses' they have power. But as King, you're just a figure. The Hand and the small council manipulates them in to how they would rule. Joffrey's a great King because he's truly mad. I quite like the idea of Stannis being King, but I'm sure at some point he's going to die.

 

At the end I'm not sure anyone will win tbh, all characters at some point are going to suffer some form of major disappointment. I think it's a theme throughout. George Martin really does like having unhappy characters! Everyone is going to have to come together at some point to fight the White Walkers, although I'm sure it will be nowhere near as simple as I've put it.

Really good last episode yet again. I thought the scenes between Tyrion/Tywin towards the beginning and Tyrion/Cersei later in the episode were the highlights - incredibly well done and a testament to how strong they are as characters (and actors as Iz mentioned).

 

And an absolutely stunning final scene to end it all. BRING ON 4 NOW!