That was one of the best medieval-esque depictions of a battle I've seen in a long long time, the cavalry vs cavalry charge was brutal, as it would have been, although I really wouldn't fancy Jons chances of not getting Snow-plowed in between those two cavalry forces. The sheer muddy, bloody confusion of battle leading up to the shield wall-pike encirclement (clever little tactic that, I presume it was a real life tactic although not one that I've encountered before...although I don't think I've got to that episode of the British History Podcast yet) and the rout in which Jon nearly gets crushed. Rarely has there been such a brilliant visceral view on such a battle. The cinematography reminded me a bit of Passchendaele or Band of Brothers but without the firearms. Sure, Jon pulled a dumb move, and played straight into Ramsays ploy, but then how often has Jon commanded a large scale army? He doesn't strike me as the strategic or tactical thinker, he's more Titus Pullo than Gaius Julius...ok, maybe not so much Titus Pullo, but the point is, despite being a Commander of the Nights Watch, he's not lead an offensive force in a traditional battle, so he's going to want to Leeroy Jenkins and kill the bad guys. I look forward to Sansa taking over the role of commanding the army in the future, she's clearly got more savvy.
Sure, we all knew Littlefinger was going to save the day, and I suspect that he might now try to put the creep on Sansa, but that's going to backfire hard in his face, but since the Tully forces are going to be about the only thing projecting Stark power in the north after Jons army got badly mauled, she's not going to have the lee-way she hopes she has. And eventually, but probably not until next season or the season after, the Lannisters are going to realise that there are Starks in the north again, and that's not something that can stay unanswered...although I imagine by then Daenarys will be landing her forces and at some point the Sand Sisters are going to stop holding the idiot ball and start avenging.
At this point, the militant faith are the least of the problems for the Lannisters, but I don't think that Cersei and Jaime quite realise that yet, Kevan probably does since he's pretty much the one running the show, and yet gets so little air time. :shifty:
Yeah, the scene with Daenarys was a bit cringey, although I did like her and Yara bonding, that did make me grin. I can't see the Ironborn giving up their raping and pillaging ways though, but I suspect that storyline might suffer a fair bit of handwavium since by then other more prominant stories will be taking place.
Meanwhile, I imagine Euron has managed to construct a small rowing boat using the twigs he has gathered from the Iron islands, a series of islands well known for their forests capable of manufacturing a thousand ships, and he is probably rowing to meet Varys. :yeah:
So yeah, damn fine episode I think, and unless the next episode pulls a direwolf out of the hat I think it's going to be overshadowed significantly by this one.
Oh...and Ramsays demise...brilliant, although personally I'd have dropped him in an oubliette so that he had plenty of time to reflect on his mistakes before he died of dehydration or starvation, or blood loss from clawing at the walls trying to get out. Seriously, oubliette...I'd probably take the dogs, a great deal of pain and then it's over, a matter of five-ten minutes.
Probably a good thing I was never a medieval lord... :dead:
