Game of Thrones fans here?

[Galway Eagle]

Anyone notice the dagger that was drawn in Sams book is the dagger used to try to assasinate Bran? Had to be a reason they did that

[MU82]

Anyone notice the dagger that was drawn in Sams book is the dagger used to try to assasinate Bran? Had to be a reason they did that

Didn't notice. I'll have to look for that when I watch it again.

[B. McBannerson]

Great way to start the season.  Can't believe 2018 no Game of Thrones and we have to wait until 2019 for the final season. BOO. 

[brewcity77]

Great way to start the season.  Can't believe 2018 no Game of Thrones and we have to wait until 2019 for the final season. BOO.

Maybe we'll finally have The Winds of Winter by then. 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Great way to start the season.  Can't believe 2018 no Game of Thrones and we have to wait until 2019 for the final season. BOO.

2019?!?!  Jesus. 

[Stronghold]

Great way to start the season.  Can't believe 2018 no Game of Thrones and we have to wait until 2019 for the final season. BOO.

So we get 13 episodes total in a 3 year span.  Ugh.

[Galway Eagle]

So we get 13 episodes total in a 3 year span.  Ugh.

Wow I really hadn't thought about it like that. That's some crap right there.

[Galway Eagle]

So that's one interesting way to get rid of grayscale

[MUBurrow]

So that's one interesting way to get rid of grayscale

Ugh everything about that storyline is dumb. So you're saying this ancient, banishment worthy disease can just be cured by... cutting it off? And we know about this but don't try it because the maester can get sick? And why does Sam care that much? Because he knew Jorah's old man? Even though Jorah more or less tells him he was disowned? Seems kind of insufficient considering Sam's other self-identified goal is saving the world through his study of a how to defeat an undead army. And Sam also has his own family. But you know, Jorah, you seem like a good enough guy that he'll risk all that for this stupid, dangerous treatment.

[MU82]

Ugh everything about that storyline is dumb. So you're saying this ancient, banishment worthy disease can just be cured by... cutting it off? And we know about this but don't try it because the maester can get sick? And why does Sam care that much? Because he knew Jorah's old man? Even though Jorah more or less tells him he was disowned? Seems kind of insufficient considering Sam's other self-identified goal is saving the world through his study of a how to defeat an undead army. And Sam also has his own family. But you know, Jorah, you seem like a good enough guy that he'll risk all that for this stupid, dangerous treatment.

Wasn't there a special salve that Sam had to whip up following some recipe that the maester said hadn't worked on a previous trial? If so, it's not about just cutting it off, but cutting it off as a precursor to the salve. And since the salve hadn't worked before (supposedly), it's reasonable to understand why others wouldn't want to try it.

As to Sam's motivation, Sam is probably the biggest goody-two-shoes in the history of the series. And yes, his family did know Jorah's.

Plus, they obviously want to get Jorah back with his Khaleesi, so they need to cure him! 

[brewcity77]

Good episode. I liked the grayscale storyline. I like it giving Sam a reason to be in there, as well as another reason to eventually tie Jon and the battle with the Night King to Daenaerys and her dragons through the Sam/Jorah connection.

Also nice to see that Cersei won't be going anywhere without a fight. The anti-aircraft gun equivalent and crazy Euron are keeping the whole battle for Westeros interesting. Though it will be really interesting when Cersei has wreaked havoc on Dany's army only to realize that the army she plans to destroy is the only one that will stop the advancement of the Army of Darkness coming from the North. I think Cersei's storyline will be very interesting from here on out.

[forgetful]

Ugh everything about that storyline is dumb. So you're saying this ancient, banishment worthy disease can just be cured by... cutting it off? And we know about this but don't try it because the maester can get sick? And why does Sam care that much? Because he knew Jorah's old man? Even though Jorah more or less tells him he was disowned? Seems kind of insufficient considering Sam's other self-identified goal is saving the world through his study of a how to defeat an undead army. And Sam also has his own family. But you know, Jorah, you seem like a good enough guy that he'll risk all that for this stupid, dangerous treatment.

I think you are selling this treatment/story line short.  Honestly, if you had to dissect away the entire surface tissue on what looks to be about 30% of the body, even with modern medicine survival and long term prognosis would be poor, and even with modern pain therapy almost unbearably painful.  In equivalent time periods, such a treatment would be almost certainly a death sentence and the pain alone could have caused a heart attack. Given that it also poses a risk to the Maester it is not a surprise that it is forbidden.

So extremely risky...not to mention as MU82 points out there is also some salve, likely containing a mix of natural sources of anti-virals/antibiotics. 

As for why saving Jorah, and putting himself at risk?  I think you underestimate the importance of Jeor Mormont to Sam.  Sam would have been left for dead if Jon (and Jeor) didn't fight for him to be a steward to Aemon and then Jeor.  So he likely feels a bit of duty to his former leader and mentor to do what he can.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Loved how they did the sea battle. Euron is a little more mad than I pictured from the books but I kind of love it. The stare down at the end where Theon eventually crumbles was filmed beautifully and the crazy laugh from Euron sealed it.

Just gotta say, from a strategy standpoint, I think you should have at least one dragon flying escort when the brunt of your fleet is transportting your most valuable ally home to lead her armies. One dragon and that entire battle goes the other direction.

[jesmu84]

Loved how they did the sea battle. Euron is a little more mad than I pictured from the books but I kind of love it. The stare down at the end where Theon eventually crumbles was filmed beautifully and the crazy laugh from Euron sealed it.

Just gotta say, from a strategy standpoint, I think you should have at least one dragon flying escort when the brunt of your fleet is transportting your most valuable ally home to lead her armies. One dragon and that entire battle goes the other direction.

Euron seems way too strong right now. Handles the sand snakes with ease? If I'm remembering correctly, these were the same girls who dominated bronn and Jaime. And what happened to their weapons being laced with poison?

[CreightonWarrior]

Euron seems way too strong right now. Handles the sand snakes with ease? If I'm remembering correctly, these were the same girls who dominated bronn and Jaime. And what happened to their weapons being laced with poison?

They were the worst developed characters on the show and were unbearable (even to their last scene in the hammocks). I'm fine seeing them go.

[Galway Eagle]

They were the worst developed characters on the show and were unbearable (even to their last scene in the hammocks). I'm fine seeing them go.

+1

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Euron seems way too strong right now. Handles the sand snakes with ease? If I'm remembering correctly, these were the same girls who dominated bronn and Jaime. And what happened to their weapons being laced with poison?

Its been three years since I read the books, but I seem to recall something in the books about Euron claiming to be immortal or gaining some otherworldly power from his time overseas. Maybe this has something to do with that? There also is significant difference to fighting on a boat vs fighting on land. Euron would have the advantage. He did seem to take some shots to the legs though that should have hamstrung him.

They were the worst developed characters on the show and were unbearable (even to their last scene in the hammocks). I'm fine seeing them go.

I do agree though, I think the Sand Snakes and their mother were the worst adaptations from the books. Loved Oberon but the rest of Dorne has been a let down.

[jesmu84]

They were the worst developed characters on the show and were unbearable (even to their last scene in the hammocks). I'm fine seeing them go.

I don't disagree. That doesn't change what happened

[forgetful]

Its been three years since I read the books, but I seem to recall something in the books about Euron claiming to be immortal or gaining some otherworldly power from his time overseas. Maybe this has something to do with that? There also is significant difference to fighting on a boat vs fighting on land. Euron would have the advantage. He did seem to take some shots to the legs though that should have hamstrung him.

I do agree though, I think the Sand Snakes and their mother were the worst adaptations from the books. Loved Oberon but the rest of Dorne has been a let down.

I believe what you may be referring to is him having the dragon binder.  The horn is said to kill anyone that blows it, but will bind any dragons that hear it to them as their master.  Euron seems to be a combination of Euron and Victorian in the books.  I'm not sure if the dragon binder or the horn of winter will make appearances on TV, especially since the producers want to downplay many of the elements of magic from the books.

I also agree that the Sand Snakes (like the dire wolves) are terrible adaptations from the books.  They (I think) will continue to be key deviations from GRRM and the HBO show.  The dire wolves are downplayed because they are too expensive and time consuming to animate; my guess is that fully developing the Sand Snakes took too much time and distracted too much from the main story line they were pushing on TV. 

[MUBBau]

Not exactly the cream of the crop there

[Galway Eagle]

It would seem we're headed toward a stark reunion pretty soon.

[tower912]

We are whittling down the field.   

[Galway Eagle]

So does anyone think sam discovers jons heritage in one of those old rotting books? Or discovers anything interesting?

[MU82]

So does anyone think sam discovers jons heritage in one of those old rotting books? Or discovers anything interesting?

Well, he did discover a cure for Jorah's creepin' crud!

[warriorchick]

Well, he did discover a cure for Jorah's creepin' crud!

And that Dragonstone was sitting on a crap ton of dragonglass.