Things I Liked / Random Observations

• Oscar Tully is about 14, and the funny thing is, that’s the age Robb and Jon were in AGoT. So we just saw that accurate book-lore ages could have worked (in this case, at least).
• I honestly thought Daemon and Oscar had planned to “win” the Riverlords by dealing Daemon a “blow to his ego” (calling him Prince). I started getting nervous (with Daemon and Simon Strong) as Oscar “went off-script.”
• Someone get cartwheels for Oscar Tully and Hugh to carry their massive cojones.
• Jace’s classicist tirade was great writing, in my opinion. It hits his weak spots and mixes with genuine points and his own self-loathing (bastardy).
• Can’t deny it: That last shot was fucking cool.
• Piper, Darry, and Mooton sigils sighted!
• Silverwing: “I CAN FIX HIM…”
• Vermithor got a TREAT YO-SELF DAY: A catered meal and a new rider.
• Ulf accidentally claiming his dragon while running for his life is perfect for (our lovable) Oaf.
• Was that joyride on Silverwing more than just a joyride? It made it look like this was all a ploy to get Aemond to see Team Black Mk II.
• I have thoughts about Hugh’s maternity “reveal”:
  • Hugh Hammer’s mother is (now being hinted to be) Saera Targaryen. In the spirit of R+L=J, S=HH.
  • I need to revisit F&B - so is S=HH only canon for HOTD? Or is this also hinted at in the books?
  • Perhaps Vermithor sensed part of The Conciliator’s “unbreakable” will in Hugh? Jaehaerys could be incredibly stubborn (as in the case of Hugh’s mom, Saera), so Vermithor recognized that quality in Hugh.
  • If S=HH, shouldn’t he know Valyrian? I thought he was going to yell “STOP” in Valyrian to save that woman, and that was going to be the thing that got Vermithor on his side.
  • Finally, it is ironic (and poetic) that (probably) Saera’s bastard ended up claiming Jaehaerys’s dragon. That’s such a big middle finger, and I’m all for it.
• I kept waiting for Alicent’s bath scene to go horribly wrong as the before-the-finale event.
• This is very GRRM-esque: Aemond’s management style has people afraid to bring him information, and thus he misses out on crucial intelligence until it’s too late. That’s the sort of detail that the books would showcase to show the pitfalls of villainy.
  • This certainly would not have been done by D&D in Game of Thrones.
• I saw a possible stand-in for Nettles, and Rhaena is on a Sheepstealer-stealer mission… it kinda looks like the HOTD writer’s room is trying to have their cake and eat it too.
• Interesting development with the dragonkeepers. Could they be descended from a branch of their order who came with Aenar/Daenys? I perceived a “hint” of Valyrian exceptionalism in there.
• Rhaenyra’s obsession with the prophecy getting to fanatical levels is a nice parallel with Rhaegar’s and other Targs.
• I kept recognizing Rickard Thorne’s actor and could not pinpoint from where. It’s Garp from Live Action One Piece.
• Addam and Allyn’s mother being the parent with dragonlord heritage is a great development, in my opinion.