part of television history that. That battle scene is up there with saving private ryan's battle scene and the gladiator battle scene. Just absolutely amazing. The only other thing that i can think of is that massive long take in episode 4 of true detective season 1 that comes close, and hardhome.
Also i will pay top money to see Yara greyjoy and dany spend a bit of "ahem" alone time together.
That was fantastic. Very realistic I think, the bodies piling up, the claustrophobia, the chaos.
The Rickon bit was tense too, if that and Littlefinger arriving was predictable.
Ramsay getting his face smashed in and the final scene was very satisfying.
Tormund "pulling a Rick" (for the Walking Dead watchers) on the Umber was brilliant too. Really thought the Umbers would switch sides - traitors! Their shield thing was such a good idea.
Just brilliant.
And that's before the dragons, and Yara being charming - big fan of hers.
I'm glad ghost wasn't involved. He would have caused some bloodshed but got properly nailed also and I'm fed up of the dire wolves being nutted
Brilliant tv. As others have said amazingly shot and that claustrophobic feeling was awesome. Think we can all forgive the slower episodes now, although there is a hell of a lot to be done and settled still. And I've got a very ominous feeling about Jons wellbeing again
I'm obviously in a minority (of one?) here, but I thought the battle was dreadful. The mounds of bodies piling up, the perfectly executed envelopment by shield wall while the wildlings just stand around watching, the just in time charge of the Vale Knights, knocking over men with great long pikes as if they were dominos. I know it's fantasy but come on!
I'm obviously in a minority (of one?) here, but I thought the battle was dreadful. The mounds of bodies piling up, the perfectly executed envelopment by shield wall while the wildlings just stand around watching, the just in time charge of the Vale Knights, knocking over men with great long pikes as if they were dominos. I know it's fantasy but come on!
I'm obviously in a minority (of one?) here, but I thought the battle was dreadful. The mounds of bodies piling up, the perfectly executed envelopment by shield wall while the wildlings just stand around watching, the just in time charge of the Vale Knights, knocking over men with great long pikes as if they were dominos. I know it's fantasy but come on!
Pretty realistic if you ask me. Jon snows forces were essentially untrained barbarians whilst the bolton's were battle hardened from fighting the greyjoys and disciplined. On a medieval battlefield where do you think the thousands of dead bodies went? They would pile up, just like that.
The rohirrum style last minute save is more or less a call back to that, but the boltons were in formation facing inwards, it takes a lot of effort to turn around a pike facing the other way. Apart from the just in time it's the most realistic medieval battle I've ever seen.
I'm obviously in a minority (of one?) here, but I thought the battle was dreadful. The mounds of bodies piling up, the perfectly executed envelopment by shield wall while the wildlings just stand around watching, the just in time charge of the Vale Knights, knocking over men with great long pikes as if they were dominos. I know it's fantasy but come on!
The giants and dragons didn't bother you no?
Sansa arrived with the Knights of the Vale, therefore I believe she held them back until she could be sure of victory.
I was disappointed that Umber fellow never changed allegiance. Though I did enjoy Tormund tearing his throat out with his teeth.
Some bits were admittedly very predictable, but the Dogs at the end was a satisfying way to deliver that kill.
I wanted Wun Wun to survive so much too... But someone major had to die I guess...
Yeah I agree about Littlejon umber, but remember I think he wanted to fight the wildlings, when he was confronted with Jon he didn't attack him. Like he didn't want to kill the stark he was loyal (and had sworn an oath) to.
I'm obviously in a minority (of one?) here, but I thought the battle was dreadful. The mounds of bodies piling up, the perfectly executed envelopment by shield wall while the wildlings just stand around watching, the just in time charge of the Vale Knights, knocking over men with great long pikes as if they were dominos. I know it's fantasy but come on!
The guys with the long poles were facing inwards.
Given that the executed a flawless encirclement in the face of a wildling army, It's hard to believe they couldn't execute a 180 degree turn to face a cavalry charge.
Kent - bodies would not have piled up in mounds of 10 feet high. They would be much more spread out that that because, generally speaking, people don't want to climb up 10 feet mounds of writhing, slippery bodies (most of whom will not be dead) to fight when there is clear ground right next to them.
I'm obviously in a minority (of one?) here, but I thought the battle was dreadful. The mounds of bodies piling up, the perfectly executed envelopment by shield wall while the wildlings just stand around watching, the just in time charge of the Vale Knights, knocking over men with great long pikes as if they were dominos. I know it's fantasy but come on!
The guys with the long poles were facing inwards.
Given that the executed a flawless encirclement in the face of a wildling army, It's hard to believe they couldn't execute a 180 degree turn to face a cavalry charge.
Kent - bodies would not have piled up in mounds of 10 feet high. They would be much more spread out that that because, generally speaking, people don't want to climb up 10 feet mounds of writhing, slippery bodies (most of whom will not be dead) to fight when there is clear ground right next to them.
So then turn their backs on the wildlings who would do anything to break free? The Bolton men would know they were fucked as soon as the cavalry arrived
The battle was contained in quite a small space because Jon went walkies and the Bolton cavalry tried to kill him whilst the stark loyalist cavalry were trying to defend him. Then the arrows. There's tonnes of art throughout the centuries (and poetry) that depict men climbing over dead bodies, being killed and falling on them. Do you think some ones going to say "hey listen here old chap, there's a few dead'uns over there. Mind if we come over here for a sword fight what what?" Plus, they were being crushed. Never underestimate a persons desire to stay alive.
I'm obviously in a minority (of one?) here, but I thought the battle was dreadful. The mounds of bodies piling up, the perfectly executed envelopment by shield wall while the wildlings just stand around watching, the just in time charge of the Vale Knights, knocking over men with great long pikes as if they were dominos. I know it's fantasy but come on!
The guys with the long poles were facing inwards.
Given that the executed a flawless encirclement in the face of a wildling army, It's hard to believe they couldn't execute a 180 degree turn to face a cavalry charge.
Kent - bodies would not have piled up in mounds of 10 feet high. They would be much more spread out that that because, generally speaking, people don't want to climb up 10 feet mounds of writhing, slippery bodies (most of whom will not be dead) to fight when there is clear ground right next to them.
Whilst you are correct the Bolton troops were well drilled but the show showed them as lacking any real imagination or plan B if plan A went awry. The show showed them as carrying those huge spears which were each wielded by three men and arrayed in a shield wall, but with no melee weapons. So when attacked on two sides they were left with a choice of which enemy to face, although the cavalry were the greater threat until they struck home it was unclear on which side they were actually on. The Knights of the Vale had until that point been neutral but Littlefinger was supposedly a true servant of House Lannister.........but more importantly it is a tv programme.
If you want to pick holes ask where the hounds following Sansa disappeared to when Brienne arrived or how the Sandsnakes caught up with their cousin's ship.
That was a decent read, GRR Martin always speaks of war, and how everything in Game of Thrones relates to historical legend and some historical fact. It's easy to believe a lot of what he writes for me when it comes to ways of killing people, war tactics or even getting drunk with prostitutes.
I'm obviously in a minority (of one?) here, but I thought the battle was dreadful. The mounds of bodies piling up, the perfectly executed envelopment by shield wall while the wildlings just stand around watching, the just in time charge of the Vale Knights, knocking over men with great long pikes as if they were dominos. I know it's fantasy but come on!
The guys with the long poles were facing inwards.
Given that the executed a flawless encirclement in the face of a wildling army, It's hard to believe they couldn't execute a 180 degree turn to face a cavalry charge.
Kent - bodies would not have piled up in mounds of 10 feet high. They would be much more spread out that that because, generally speaking, people don't want to climb up 10 feet mounds of writhing, slippery bodies (most of whom will not be dead) to fight when there is clear ground right next to them.
Whilst you are correct the Bolton troops were well drilled but the show showed them as lacking any real imagination or plan B if plan A went awry. The show showed them as carrying those huge spears which were each wielded by three men and arrayed in a shield wall, but with no melee weapons. So when attacked on two sides they were left with a choice of which enemy to face, although the cavalry were the greater threat until they struck home it was unclear on which side they were actually on. The Knights of the Vale had until that point been neutral but Littlefinger was supposedly a true servant of House Lannister.........but more importantly it is a tv programme.
If you want to pick holes ask where the hounds following Sansa disappeared to when Brienne arrived or how the Sandsnakes caught up with their cousin's ship.
Truly they were the Curbishley's Charlton of the North
Whilst you hear of piles of bodies, and subsequent waves having to trample the dead and the dying, I've never heard of a kessel using an impassable wall of bodies to close the cauldron.
Frankly it was an idiotic battle. Any General would want some news on when Blucher would arrive. Nearly all battles happened in pulses. Whilst I enjoyed Snow in the melee, frankly the wider battle strategy was poorly realised.
Whilst you hear of piles of bodies, and subsequent waves having to trample the dead and the dying, I've never heard of a kessel using an impassable wall of bodies to close the cauldron.
Frankly it was an idiotic battle. Any General would want some news on when Blucher would arrive. Nearly all battles happened in pulses. Whilst I enjoyed Snow in the melee, frankly the wider battle strategy was poorly realised.
Should have made it a dawn until dusk episode, eh?
Whilst you hear of piles of bodies, and subsequent waves having to trample the dead and the dying, I've never heard of a kessel using an impassable wall of bodies to close the cauldron.
Frankly it was an idiotic battle. Any General would want some news on when Blucher would arrive. Nearly all battles happened in pulses. Whilst I enjoyed Snow in the melee, frankly the wider battle strategy was poorly realised.
This is a bit like how jazz musicians react to Whiplash. But I figure it's their loss for taking themselves too seriously to suspend disbelief and enjoy the story for what it is.
You're talking about a battle with a giant in it. Why even bother watching narrative-led shows? You can find plot flaws in pretty much everything if you care to look. Why not just stick to Disccovery Channel?
Whilst you hear of piles of bodies, and subsequent waves having to trample the dead and the dying, I've never heard of a kessel using an impassable wall of bodies to close the cauldron.
Frankly it was an idiotic battle. Any General would want some news on when Blucher would arrive. Nearly all battles happened in pulses. Whilst I enjoyed Snow in the melee, frankly the wider battle strategy was poorly realised.
This is a bit like how jazz musicians react to Whiplash. But I figure it's their loss for taking themselves too seriously to suspend disbelief and enjoy the story for what it is.
You're talking about a battle with a giant in it. Why even bother watching narrative-led shows? You can find plot flaws in pretty much everything if you care to look. Why not just stick to Disccovery Channel?
Whiplash is a great film if you haven't seen it I highly recommend it. I agree with everything else you said there Jimmy, cracking episode of a Game of Thrones.
Whilst you hear of piles of bodies, and subsequent waves having to trample the dead and the dying, I've never heard of a kessel using an impassable wall of bodies to close the cauldron.
Frankly it was an idiotic battle. Any General would want some news on when Blucher would arrive. Nearly all battles happened in pulses. Whilst I enjoyed Snow in the melee, frankly the wider battle strategy was poorly realised.
If you were watching, they had a battle plan, which was to draw Ramsey down the hill and surround him, much in the same way he surrounded them. But when he killed rickon all hell broke loose. Jon went completely against his own battle plan and was quickly defeated and only saved because of the Knights of the vale
Comments
Very good episode but like others think the Hardhome sequence is still the show's highlight so far
Also i will pay top money to see Yara greyjoy and dany spend a bit of "ahem" alone time together.
How old is the bird who plays Sansa stark?
I second the suggestion kentaddick made about yara and danaerys
The Rickon bit was tense too, if that and Littlefinger arriving was predictable.
Ramsay getting his face smashed in and the final scene was very satisfying.
Tormund "pulling a Rick" (for the Walking Dead watchers) on the Umber was brilliant too. Really thought the Umbers would switch sides - traitors! Their shield thing was such a good idea.
Just brilliant.
And that's before the dragons, and Yara being charming - big fan of hers.
Where was Brienne though? And Ghost?
Brilliant tv. As others have said amazingly shot and that claustrophobic feeling was awesome. Think we can all forgive the slower episodes now, although there is a hell of a lot to be done and settled still. And I've got a very ominous feeling about Jons wellbeing again
The rohirrum style last minute save is more or less a call back to that, but the boltons were in formation facing inwards, it takes a lot of effort to turn around a pike facing the other way. Apart from the just in time it's the most realistic medieval battle I've ever seen.
Sansa arrived with the Knights of the Vale, therefore I believe she held them back until she could be sure of victory.
I was disappointed that Umber fellow never changed allegiance. Though I did enjoy Tormund tearing his throat out with his teeth.
Some bits were admittedly very predictable, but the Dogs at the end was a satisfying way to deliver that kill.
I wanted Wun Wun to survive so much too... But someone major had to die I guess...
Kent - bodies would not have piled up in mounds of 10 feet high. They would be much more spread out that that because, generally speaking, people don't want to climb up 10 feet mounds of writhing, slippery bodies (most of whom will not be dead) to fight when there is clear ground right next to them.
The battle was contained in quite a small space because Jon went walkies and the Bolton cavalry tried to kill him whilst the stark loyalist cavalry were trying to defend him. Then the arrows. There's tonnes of art throughout the centuries (and poetry) that depict men climbing over dead bodies, being killed and falling on them. Do you think some ones going to say "hey listen here old chap, there's a few dead'uns over there. Mind if we come over here for a sword fight what what?" Plus, they were being crushed. Never underestimate a persons desire to stay alive.
I personally found it impossible to suspend disbelief, but as I said I'm clearly in a minority and it's great that most people enjoyed it. I
If you want to pick holes ask where the hounds following Sansa disappeared to when Brienne arrived or how the Sandsnakes caught up with their cousin's ship.
Frankly it was an idiotic battle. Any General would want some news on when Blucher would arrive. Nearly all battles happened in pulses. Whilst I enjoyed Snow in the melee, frankly the wider battle strategy was poorly realised.
You're talking about a battle with a giant in it. Why even bother watching narrative-led shows? You can find plot flaws in pretty much everything if you care to look. Why not just stick to Disccovery Channel?