Carl Alves's Blog, page 29
June 26, 2016
Hammered by Kevin Hearne
I picked up this book because I liked the concept and I’m a big fan of Norse mythology. What I immediately enjoyed was the narrative voice employed in the story. I think it worked well with the character of Atticus O’Sullivan. However, my enjoyment of this novel did not last very long. This novel was flawed in many ways, and in the end I was barely able to get through this book.
For one thing, I thought there were too many characters and subplots. This novel could have used some trimming. The novel practically grinds to a halt when each of the characters that are going up against Thor have to give a narrative of why he dissed them. This was backstory overkill in a big way. The character of Atticus O’Sullivan was far too powerful for my liking. He kills the Norns and Sleipner, ancient characters thousands of years old with ease. It shouldn’t come that easily. My biggest complaint about the novel is Hearne’s interpretation of Thor. Thor has consistently been depicted as a noble character and great warrior, but according to Hearne he is a coward and basically an evil bastard. I have read much about Thor, so why should Hearne’s depiction override everything I already know? It doesn’t, and the story doesn’t work. In the end, I was rooting for Thor even though I knew he would lose. Ultimately, this novel didn’t work for me and I would advise skipping it.
For one thing, I thought there were too many characters and subplots. This novel could have used some trimming. The novel practically grinds to a halt when each of the characters that are going up against Thor have to give a narrative of why he dissed them. This was backstory overkill in a big way. The character of Atticus O’Sullivan was far too powerful for my liking. He kills the Norns and Sleipner, ancient characters thousands of years old with ease. It shouldn’t come that easily. My biggest complaint about the novel is Hearne’s interpretation of Thor. Thor has consistently been depicted as a noble character and great warrior, but according to Hearne he is a coward and basically an evil bastard. I have read much about Thor, so why should Hearne’s depiction override everything I already know? It doesn’t, and the story doesn’t work. In the end, I was rooting for Thor even though I knew he would lose. Ultimately, this novel didn’t work for me and I would advise skipping it.
June 22, 2016
Game of Thrones: Battle of the Bastards
In the appropriately titled, Battle of the Bastards, we finally get the epic showdown between Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton, and it was epic indeed. I don’t like to toot my own horn—what am I saying, of course I love to toot my own horn—but my predictions have been pretty spot on. As I predicted, Daenerys would eradicate the slave masters with her newfound Dothraki horde (and dragons), and Jon defeated Ramsay Bolton to retake Winterfell with an assist from the Knights of the Vale. Now to the breakdown.
Daenerys Targaryan
I thought the scene where Tyrion is fumbling about trying to make excuses for why Mereen is under siege was kind of humorous. Tyrion thought that Dany was going to want to have his head removed, but she seemed pleased that he was able to keep the peace for as long as he did. Tyrion then had to talk her off the ledge when she wanted to destroy all of her enemies, reminding her that she sounded a lot like her father, the Mad King. Dany is turning more and more to the dark side with each episode. At some point, she may even fall into full villain mode.
This episode was a great payoff for all of the Mereen parts of this season. Dany turned it around on the slave masters, ascending on Drogon and burning down their ships. This scene provided some great visuals and awesome special effects as the dragons rained down fire on the enemy ships. I guess this also answered the mystery of just where the hell did the other two dragons went after Tyrion freed them. They were just hanging around until Dany returned. Okay, that part was not handled all that well and remains a bit of a plot hole, but the majesty of this scene made up for it.
Sansa Stark
You know, just when I was warming up to Sansa this season, she showed once again why she is the worst character on the show not named Theon Greyjoy. First, when she pleads that they should be listening to her even though she has no combat experience because she knows Ramsay better than anyone, yet when Jon asks her for advice she tells him to not do what Ramsay wants him to do. That may be the single most useless piece of advice I’ve ever heard. Also, it makes zero sense that she had this side deal with Littlefinger, and never told Jon about it. What possible benefit could she have had of not informing Jon that hey, the Knights of the Vale are going to come on down and help us fight. That information would have been useful, and probably could have saved countless lives. I did enjoy the final scene where she unleashes Ramsay’s dogs upon him. A fitting end for a poorly designed villain.
Jon Snow
What a truly epic battle scene. I think the battle against the White Walkers at Hard Home was better but this was close behind. The fighting was brutal and it put the viewer right in the middle of the scenes. Battle scenes are rarely filmed that close to the action. There were so many great parts to it, such as where Jon is off of his horse and randomly fighting his foes. It’s amazing that anyone could survive that. The part where he nearly suffocated after being trampled on was insane. Then his battle against Ramsay was great payback. For me, the MVP of the fight was Wun Wun. He was lifting up the enemy and tearing them apart with his bare hands. I loved the part where Ramsay was all smug behind the gates at Winterfell, and it didn’t occur to him that there was a giant at the gates ready to batter it down. Wun Wun finally went down after about a million spears and arrows. RIP Big Guy.
This was the rare feel good Game of Thrones episode, where the good guys prevailed and the villains got what was coming to them. It was the best episode of the season and will go down as one of the show’s most memorable episodes. I like the similarities between Jon and Dani. They both use unconventional forces (Dothraki in Dani’s case and wildlings in Jon’s case), and they both use creatures that were thought not to exist (dragons for Dani and a giant for Jon). I didn’t feel bad about Rickon dying because we barely got to know the character, and Rickon is supposed to be about eight years old and the actor playing him looked like he was old enough to drive.
I think in the finale, the High Sparrow is going to go down in flames. When Cersei was plotting about a rumor that she had heard, I think this rumor is going to turn out to be that there is wildfire stashed all over King’s Landing, which she will use to burn down the Faith Militant.
Daenerys Targaryan
I thought the scene where Tyrion is fumbling about trying to make excuses for why Mereen is under siege was kind of humorous. Tyrion thought that Dany was going to want to have his head removed, but she seemed pleased that he was able to keep the peace for as long as he did. Tyrion then had to talk her off the ledge when she wanted to destroy all of her enemies, reminding her that she sounded a lot like her father, the Mad King. Dany is turning more and more to the dark side with each episode. At some point, she may even fall into full villain mode.
This episode was a great payoff for all of the Mereen parts of this season. Dany turned it around on the slave masters, ascending on Drogon and burning down their ships. This scene provided some great visuals and awesome special effects as the dragons rained down fire on the enemy ships. I guess this also answered the mystery of just where the hell did the other two dragons went after Tyrion freed them. They were just hanging around until Dany returned. Okay, that part was not handled all that well and remains a bit of a plot hole, but the majesty of this scene made up for it.
Sansa Stark
You know, just when I was warming up to Sansa this season, she showed once again why she is the worst character on the show not named Theon Greyjoy. First, when she pleads that they should be listening to her even though she has no combat experience because she knows Ramsay better than anyone, yet when Jon asks her for advice she tells him to not do what Ramsay wants him to do. That may be the single most useless piece of advice I’ve ever heard. Also, it makes zero sense that she had this side deal with Littlefinger, and never told Jon about it. What possible benefit could she have had of not informing Jon that hey, the Knights of the Vale are going to come on down and help us fight. That information would have been useful, and probably could have saved countless lives. I did enjoy the final scene where she unleashes Ramsay’s dogs upon him. A fitting end for a poorly designed villain.
Jon Snow
What a truly epic battle scene. I think the battle against the White Walkers at Hard Home was better but this was close behind. The fighting was brutal and it put the viewer right in the middle of the scenes. Battle scenes are rarely filmed that close to the action. There were so many great parts to it, such as where Jon is off of his horse and randomly fighting his foes. It’s amazing that anyone could survive that. The part where he nearly suffocated after being trampled on was insane. Then his battle against Ramsay was great payback. For me, the MVP of the fight was Wun Wun. He was lifting up the enemy and tearing them apart with his bare hands. I loved the part where Ramsay was all smug behind the gates at Winterfell, and it didn’t occur to him that there was a giant at the gates ready to batter it down. Wun Wun finally went down after about a million spears and arrows. RIP Big Guy.
This was the rare feel good Game of Thrones episode, where the good guys prevailed and the villains got what was coming to them. It was the best episode of the season and will go down as one of the show’s most memorable episodes. I like the similarities between Jon and Dani. They both use unconventional forces (Dothraki in Dani’s case and wildlings in Jon’s case), and they both use creatures that were thought not to exist (dragons for Dani and a giant for Jon). I didn’t feel bad about Rickon dying because we barely got to know the character, and Rickon is supposed to be about eight years old and the actor playing him looked like he was old enough to drive.
I think in the finale, the High Sparrow is going to go down in flames. When Cersei was plotting about a rumor that she had heard, I think this rumor is going to turn out to be that there is wildfire stashed all over King’s Landing, which she will use to burn down the Faith Militant.
June 19, 2016
10 Questions with Drake Vaughn
1. What does crinkled fiction mean to you?
I chose the word “crinkled” for my fiction because it evokes both a visual and a sound, neither of which are pleasant. There’s something off about the word and that’s why I love it. Unlike glossy romanticized fiction, my writing delves into the gloom and pain lurking behind shiny surfaces. The bigger the warts, the better. It’s an extension of the veristic style that focuses on the character’s flaws and shortcomings, rather than a heroic quest. The best way to understand crinkled fiction is to read it.
2. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
As a teenager, I read every Stephen King novel I could find. Unlike the books we were forced to read in school, I actually enjoyed King. Even though his yarns are filled with over-the-top crazy, he manages to hit on certain truths, such as relatable characters and working-class struggles absent from other novels. Since then, I’ve expanded my taste in horror fiction, but King was the original spark that set me down this path. I’m a proud “constant reader” and a huge fan.
3. Why did you set your novel When the Devil Climbs on a billboard?
The idea for a billboard came from a family friend who worked hanging them. I thought they offered the perfect setting for a horror story since they are isolated and possess the natural danger of falling. The idea of being trapped atop one is terrifying, especially since one has a clear view of the surroundings. Plus, on a more metaphorical side, they are glossy ads on the surface, but cover a darker, more hidden truth, which is the underlying theme of the book.
4. What’s the greatest moment in your writing career?
I really enjoy hearing from fans that’ve been touched in some way by my writing. After I published my novella, The Test, which deals with a high-school student who discovers his best friend is gay, I had a man email me about a similar experience from his past. Getting paid is nice, but really, it’s these correspondences that motivate me to keep writing.
5. Do you outline prior to writing your story, or do you work out the plot as you write?
I always outline. Before I start the first sentence, I have detail character sketches and know their arcs. That’s not to say I don’t deviate from my original outline. Most times, it’s more of a sketch than a paint-by-number routine, and I typically add more and more crazy with every edit. The plot can be quite fluid, but as long as my characters remain true to their arcs, the story turns out fine.
6. How did you land your agent Melissa Carrigee and what is your relationship with her like?
Melissa is terrific! I read Publishers Weekly along with listening to their podcasts, and LLA (the agency she works for) did a press release welcoming her to the agency. New agents tend to be looking for new writers, so I contacted her and passed along my manuscript. She loved it and took me on as a client.
7. What made you start writing?
Being a huge reader throughout my entire life, becoming a writer seemed a natural step. There was no exact moment I made a decision, but I’ve been writing since I was a child. In school, I’d draw cartoons and comics, many featuring silly caricatures of the teachers, and received positive attention from the girls. That’s probably my underlying psychological motivation. That and pain.
8. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
No! I adore exploring arenas that are typically forbidden in real life. That’s the point of make-believe. The darker the better. Nobody was ever hurt by a book. If you aren’t triggering something, you’re doing it wrong!
9. How do you define success as a writer?
Success is having devoted readers. All the other stuff is a distraction.
10. If Hollywood was making a film adaptation of When the Devil Climbs, and the director asked you to cast the role of Russ Grote, who would you choose?
Ha! If I could only be that lucky. Honestly, I’d take whoever wanted to do it. In make-believe land, I’d have Tim Fehlbaum direct. He did an amazing job on Hell. The post-apocalyptic world he created was unbelievably terrific and truly terrifying. I can’t wait for his next feature. As for casting Russ, I’d choose someone like Stephen Moyer or Zeljko Ivanek. Both do amazing southern accents and express a hidden painful past, which would be perfect for Russ.
I chose the word “crinkled” for my fiction because it evokes both a visual and a sound, neither of which are pleasant. There’s something off about the word and that’s why I love it. Unlike glossy romanticized fiction, my writing delves into the gloom and pain lurking behind shiny surfaces. The bigger the warts, the better. It’s an extension of the veristic style that focuses on the character’s flaws and shortcomings, rather than a heroic quest. The best way to understand crinkled fiction is to read it.
2. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
As a teenager, I read every Stephen King novel I could find. Unlike the books we were forced to read in school, I actually enjoyed King. Even though his yarns are filled with over-the-top crazy, he manages to hit on certain truths, such as relatable characters and working-class struggles absent from other novels. Since then, I’ve expanded my taste in horror fiction, but King was the original spark that set me down this path. I’m a proud “constant reader” and a huge fan.
3. Why did you set your novel When the Devil Climbs on a billboard?
The idea for a billboard came from a family friend who worked hanging them. I thought they offered the perfect setting for a horror story since they are isolated and possess the natural danger of falling. The idea of being trapped atop one is terrifying, especially since one has a clear view of the surroundings. Plus, on a more metaphorical side, they are glossy ads on the surface, but cover a darker, more hidden truth, which is the underlying theme of the book.
4. What’s the greatest moment in your writing career?
I really enjoy hearing from fans that’ve been touched in some way by my writing. After I published my novella, The Test, which deals with a high-school student who discovers his best friend is gay, I had a man email me about a similar experience from his past. Getting paid is nice, but really, it’s these correspondences that motivate me to keep writing.
5. Do you outline prior to writing your story, or do you work out the plot as you write?
I always outline. Before I start the first sentence, I have detail character sketches and know their arcs. That’s not to say I don’t deviate from my original outline. Most times, it’s more of a sketch than a paint-by-number routine, and I typically add more and more crazy with every edit. The plot can be quite fluid, but as long as my characters remain true to their arcs, the story turns out fine.
6. How did you land your agent Melissa Carrigee and what is your relationship with her like?
Melissa is terrific! I read Publishers Weekly along with listening to their podcasts, and LLA (the agency she works for) did a press release welcoming her to the agency. New agents tend to be looking for new writers, so I contacted her and passed along my manuscript. She loved it and took me on as a client.
7. What made you start writing?
Being a huge reader throughout my entire life, becoming a writer seemed a natural step. There was no exact moment I made a decision, but I’ve been writing since I was a child. In school, I’d draw cartoons and comics, many featuring silly caricatures of the teachers, and received positive attention from the girls. That’s probably my underlying psychological motivation. That and pain.
8. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
No! I adore exploring arenas that are typically forbidden in real life. That’s the point of make-believe. The darker the better. Nobody was ever hurt by a book. If you aren’t triggering something, you’re doing it wrong!
9. How do you define success as a writer?
Success is having devoted readers. All the other stuff is a distraction.
10. If Hollywood was making a film adaptation of When the Devil Climbs, and the director asked you to cast the role of Russ Grote, who would you choose?
Ha! If I could only be that lucky. Honestly, I’d take whoever wanted to do it. In make-believe land, I’d have Tim Fehlbaum direct. He did an amazing job on Hell. The post-apocalyptic world he created was unbelievably terrific and truly terrifying. I can’t wait for his next feature. As for casting Russ, I’d choose someone like Stephen Moyer or Zeljko Ivanek. Both do amazing southern accents and express a hidden painful past, which would be perfect for Russ.
June 15, 2016
Game of Thrones: No One
In this episode, the Clegane brothers kick some serious butt and Arya Stark finds out who she really is (thankfully ending one of the shows weaker storylines in the process).
Tyrion Lannister
I’m not quite sure why the show writers insist on having Tyrion try to joke around with Grey Worm and Missandei. The two times they have tried this, the scenes have completely fallen flat. Hopefully, now that Daenerys is back, we won’t have to endure any more of it. Alas, Tyrion’s negotiation with the former slave masters has fallen apart completely, although I thought it was a sound strategy at the time. With Mereen under full out assault, Dani comes to save the day. I can’t help but to think that Tyrion was relieved. He may be skilled in politics, but the way they do things in Mereen is a good bit different than in Westeros. With her newfound Dothraki hoard, Daenerys will now crush the slavers in battle.
The Hound
Definitely my favorite part of the show, the Hound came back with a vengeance as he split apart four of the members of the Brothers Without Borders with his axe. Great brutality in this scene. I also thoroughly enjoyed the return of Beric Dondarrion. They had great chemistry in their scene when they relived the Hound killing Beric before he was brought back to life by one of the Red Priests he keeps in his band. The Hound will join up with Beric and will begin his life of servitude, helping the little folk and striking out against the Lannisters and Kings Landing.
Jaime Lannister
I found it kind of sad when Jaime was talking to the returning Edmure Tully, who looks like hell turned over, and fessed up that everything he’s doing is for his love of Cersei, the only person in his life that means anything to him. If Cersei is the only person who means anything to you, then that’s rather pathetic, especially considering their incestuous relationship. Edmure turned traitor against his people when Jaime threated to use his baby—whom he’s never met—as a catapult. I guess I can’t blame Edmure too much. He really has had a rough go of things. Meanwhile, Brienne’s appearance served absolutely no purpose other than her reunion with Jaime. They have good chemistry together, and perhaps he would be better off with her than Cersei. But the heart goes where the heart must.
Cersei Lannister
The Mountain showed his devastating might against the Faith Militant when they advanced on Cersei. This was a terrific scene with the best line of the episode. When Cersei’s weak-kneed cousin asks her to step aside and allow them through or fight them, she replied, “I choose violence.” It was pretty chilling and a harbinger of things to come.
Arya Stark
This was a disappointing episode to a mediocre story line. After Lady Crane meets her demise, the Waif chases Arya through the streets of Braavos where Arya leads her back to the House of Black and White, snuffs out a candle, and proceeds to kill her. This was utterly ridiculous and not remotely believable. Let’s recap what we know about the situation. Arya was badly wounded and had a hard time even running. She has routinely and repeatedly been bested by the Waif. Despite all of that we’re supposed to believe that she recouped from her injury and bested the Waif. Even if the situation were reversed, that would be tough to swallow. At least this storyline is over and Arya has figured out who she is and has developed some fighting skills to boot.
The High Sparrows days are numbered. I’m guessing that Jaime will be the one to lead him to his demise as the Lannisters declare war against the Faith Militant. Just when Cersei has her victory, the Sand Snakes will be approaching from Dorne to take out everyone who was involved in the murders of Ilya Martel and the Red Viper.
Tyrion Lannister
I’m not quite sure why the show writers insist on having Tyrion try to joke around with Grey Worm and Missandei. The two times they have tried this, the scenes have completely fallen flat. Hopefully, now that Daenerys is back, we won’t have to endure any more of it. Alas, Tyrion’s negotiation with the former slave masters has fallen apart completely, although I thought it was a sound strategy at the time. With Mereen under full out assault, Dani comes to save the day. I can’t help but to think that Tyrion was relieved. He may be skilled in politics, but the way they do things in Mereen is a good bit different than in Westeros. With her newfound Dothraki hoard, Daenerys will now crush the slavers in battle.
The Hound
Definitely my favorite part of the show, the Hound came back with a vengeance as he split apart four of the members of the Brothers Without Borders with his axe. Great brutality in this scene. I also thoroughly enjoyed the return of Beric Dondarrion. They had great chemistry in their scene when they relived the Hound killing Beric before he was brought back to life by one of the Red Priests he keeps in his band. The Hound will join up with Beric and will begin his life of servitude, helping the little folk and striking out against the Lannisters and Kings Landing.
Jaime Lannister
I found it kind of sad when Jaime was talking to the returning Edmure Tully, who looks like hell turned over, and fessed up that everything he’s doing is for his love of Cersei, the only person in his life that means anything to him. If Cersei is the only person who means anything to you, then that’s rather pathetic, especially considering their incestuous relationship. Edmure turned traitor against his people when Jaime threated to use his baby—whom he’s never met—as a catapult. I guess I can’t blame Edmure too much. He really has had a rough go of things. Meanwhile, Brienne’s appearance served absolutely no purpose other than her reunion with Jaime. They have good chemistry together, and perhaps he would be better off with her than Cersei. But the heart goes where the heart must.
Cersei Lannister
The Mountain showed his devastating might against the Faith Militant when they advanced on Cersei. This was a terrific scene with the best line of the episode. When Cersei’s weak-kneed cousin asks her to step aside and allow them through or fight them, she replied, “I choose violence.” It was pretty chilling and a harbinger of things to come.
Arya Stark
This was a disappointing episode to a mediocre story line. After Lady Crane meets her demise, the Waif chases Arya through the streets of Braavos where Arya leads her back to the House of Black and White, snuffs out a candle, and proceeds to kill her. This was utterly ridiculous and not remotely believable. Let’s recap what we know about the situation. Arya was badly wounded and had a hard time even running. She has routinely and repeatedly been bested by the Waif. Despite all of that we’re supposed to believe that she recouped from her injury and bested the Waif. Even if the situation were reversed, that would be tough to swallow. At least this storyline is over and Arya has figured out who she is and has developed some fighting skills to boot.
The High Sparrows days are numbered. I’m guessing that Jaime will be the one to lead him to his demise as the Lannisters declare war against the Faith Militant. Just when Cersei has her victory, the Sand Snakes will be approaching from Dorne to take out everyone who was involved in the murders of Ilya Martel and the Red Viper.
June 11, 2016
When the Devil Climbs by Drake Vaughn
When the Devil Climbs is a gritty psychological thriller with some good horror elements mixed in. Four ex-cons are putting up a massive billboard known as Big Bertha. It’s just a typical day until a group of pigs that are carrying some sort of disease show up and kill one of the men. From that point forward, the remaining three are stuck on the billboard as the pigs circle around down below. Without a working cell phone, they are cut off from the rest of the world with no real way of escaping, lest they take their chances with the pigs. All Russ Grote wants to do is to go see his estranged son, who he has not seen in years after being in jail for a spell and going through drug and alcohol addiction, but his goal remains elusive.
I had a chance to get a look at this novel when it was still in its developmental stages and got to see an evolution in Drake Vaughn’s writing, one that in the final stages shows maturity and strength. The novel is tough and gritty, not an easy, uplifting read by any means but one that shows a great deal of realism in its characters. Despite his many flaws, Russ has a sense of humanity, a real underdog. You would like to see him reach his goal of surviving and seeing his estranged son, but there is lingering doubt as to whether that will ever happen. The ending kind of fit the tone of the rest of the novel. This is a good, tight read for fans of thrillers and horror.
I had a chance to get a look at this novel when it was still in its developmental stages and got to see an evolution in Drake Vaughn’s writing, one that in the final stages shows maturity and strength. The novel is tough and gritty, not an easy, uplifting read by any means but one that shows a great deal of realism in its characters. Despite his many flaws, Russ has a sense of humanity, a real underdog. You would like to see him reach his goal of surviving and seeing his estranged son, but there is lingering doubt as to whether that will ever happen. The ending kind of fit the tone of the rest of the novel. This is a good, tight read for fans of thrillers and horror.
June 4, 2016
Movie Review: Captain America Civil War
It was interesting that DC Comics and Marvel each came out with a movie featuring superheroes fighting other superheroes. While Batman vs. Superman was universally hated and was a box office flop, Captain America Civil War has been universally lauded as a high quality movie. I can’t comment why Batman vs. Superman sucked so much, but I can tell you why Captain America worked.
First, the plot made a lot of sense. You come to expect great action, special effects, and fighting from Marvel movies, especially in the Disney era. They generally are very well done with a couple of exceptions, i.e. Iron Man 3 and the Fantastic Four reboot. To make this believable, there had to be an appropriate vehicle to pit these heroes against each other, which takes place in the form of Iron Man and company wanting the Avengers and other heroes to be put under the control of the governments of the world, while team Captain America felt that they should be the ones in control of their own destiny. Team Captain America is clearly on the right side, something that Iron Man eventually concedes.
The finale features a great fight between the two central characters in the movie, despite Iron Man’s concessions. The plot that Baron Zemo put in place to start all of this was logical and believable. The one thing that didn’t work for me is that it would make more sense for Iron Man to be on the side of not wanting to cooperate with world governments since he notoriously doesn’t follow rules and does what he pleases, where Captain America is the ultimate loyal soldier, who would be more inclined to follow the rules that were set forth. This was a cool movie, not as good as Winter Soldier, but definitely worth watching.
First, the plot made a lot of sense. You come to expect great action, special effects, and fighting from Marvel movies, especially in the Disney era. They generally are very well done with a couple of exceptions, i.e. Iron Man 3 and the Fantastic Four reboot. To make this believable, there had to be an appropriate vehicle to pit these heroes against each other, which takes place in the form of Iron Man and company wanting the Avengers and other heroes to be put under the control of the governments of the world, while team Captain America felt that they should be the ones in control of their own destiny. Team Captain America is clearly on the right side, something that Iron Man eventually concedes.
The finale features a great fight between the two central characters in the movie, despite Iron Man’s concessions. The plot that Baron Zemo put in place to start all of this was logical and believable. The one thing that didn’t work for me is that it would make more sense for Iron Man to be on the side of not wanting to cooperate with world governments since he notoriously doesn’t follow rules and does what he pleases, where Captain America is the ultimate loyal soldier, who would be more inclined to follow the rules that were set forth. This was a cool movie, not as good as Winter Soldier, but definitely worth watching.
June 2, 2016
Game of Thrones: Blood of my Blood
This episode saw the day of reckoning for Arya Stark, Daenerys possibly pivoting from the virtuous queen doing noble things like freeing slaves to becoming a blood thirsty conqueror, and the return of Benjen Stark just in time to save his nephew.
Daenerys Targaryan
In this episode, Daenerys seemed to turn the corner. She seemed to be in full out conqueror mode as she drove her Dothraki hoard into a frenzy as she rode on the back of a returning Drogon. I’ve heard some theories that Daenerys by the end of the show is going to be full out evil. After all, she is the daughter of the Mad King. I don’t buy that, but she is no longer the innocent and lovable Danni that she started off as.
Bran Stark
Bran was still out of it as poor Meera dragged him along through the snow as he was uploading a couple thousand years worth of information. Of note, were several images of the Mad King and Jaime Lannister. Bran is now the three-eyed raven and is only in part the boy he used to be, but unfortunately his data upload had to happen in fast forward mode. When I saw the rider come to their rescue I knew that it was going to be Benjen Stark because I couldn’t think of another character who it could possibly be. Benjen came just in time for his nephew, and looks like he will now be Bran’s protector, a job far too big for Meera. One interesting thing about Bran. Even though he is going to be the protector of Westeros against the White Walkers as the new three-eyed raven, he is also responsible for humanity’s doom. Because the Night King touched him, the White Walkers were able to penetrate the barriers in that cave created by the Children of the Forest. In that same vain, the White Walkers can’t penetrate The Wall because of similar magic protection. That is what protects Westeros against the White Walkers. The moment Bran goes south of the wall, that protection is gone. This makes Bran both the protector and destroyer of humanity.
Sam
All I can say is what a complete and utter a**hole Sam’s father, Randyll, turned out to be. He’s a bully and a creep in every aspect of his being. The way he dressed down Sam and Gilly was pretty rough. I liked the fact that Sam took Heartsbane, his sword, from the mantel. Now he can use it against the White Walkers. From here, Sam and Gilly along with little Sam will go to Old Town where Sam will study to become a Maester, but what I think the real goal for him will be to find information to help Jon Snow defeat the White Walkers.
Arya Stark
As I predicted, Arya did not go through with killing the actress. It’s not as simple as just deciding not to go through with the assassination. Jaqen told her that one way or another, a face would wind up in the wall. The implication is that if she didn’t go through with it, they would kill her. With her new fighting skills, and now that she has Needle back, she will take out The Waif when she comes after Arya.
Tommen Baratheon
Every time I see Tommen, I want to punch the kid in the face. He is softer than a family pack of Charmin toilet paper. Jaime was ready to kill some Faith Militant, but his son not only shot that down, but relieved Jaime of his duty as the head of the Kingsguard. Jaime is going to now try to take back River Run from the Blackfish, who is the Grand Uncle to the Stark children. This is a story line from the book that I found to be fairly useless, but I imagine they will try to spice things up in the show.
Daenerys Targaryan
In this episode, Daenerys seemed to turn the corner. She seemed to be in full out conqueror mode as she drove her Dothraki hoard into a frenzy as she rode on the back of a returning Drogon. I’ve heard some theories that Daenerys by the end of the show is going to be full out evil. After all, she is the daughter of the Mad King. I don’t buy that, but she is no longer the innocent and lovable Danni that she started off as.
Bran Stark
Bran was still out of it as poor Meera dragged him along through the snow as he was uploading a couple thousand years worth of information. Of note, were several images of the Mad King and Jaime Lannister. Bran is now the three-eyed raven and is only in part the boy he used to be, but unfortunately his data upload had to happen in fast forward mode. When I saw the rider come to their rescue I knew that it was going to be Benjen Stark because I couldn’t think of another character who it could possibly be. Benjen came just in time for his nephew, and looks like he will now be Bran’s protector, a job far too big for Meera. One interesting thing about Bran. Even though he is going to be the protector of Westeros against the White Walkers as the new three-eyed raven, he is also responsible for humanity’s doom. Because the Night King touched him, the White Walkers were able to penetrate the barriers in that cave created by the Children of the Forest. In that same vain, the White Walkers can’t penetrate The Wall because of similar magic protection. That is what protects Westeros against the White Walkers. The moment Bran goes south of the wall, that protection is gone. This makes Bran both the protector and destroyer of humanity.
Sam
All I can say is what a complete and utter a**hole Sam’s father, Randyll, turned out to be. He’s a bully and a creep in every aspect of his being. The way he dressed down Sam and Gilly was pretty rough. I liked the fact that Sam took Heartsbane, his sword, from the mantel. Now he can use it against the White Walkers. From here, Sam and Gilly along with little Sam will go to Old Town where Sam will study to become a Maester, but what I think the real goal for him will be to find information to help Jon Snow defeat the White Walkers.
Arya Stark
As I predicted, Arya did not go through with killing the actress. It’s not as simple as just deciding not to go through with the assassination. Jaqen told her that one way or another, a face would wind up in the wall. The implication is that if she didn’t go through with it, they would kill her. With her new fighting skills, and now that she has Needle back, she will take out The Waif when she comes after Arya.
Tommen Baratheon
Every time I see Tommen, I want to punch the kid in the face. He is softer than a family pack of Charmin toilet paper. Jaime was ready to kill some Faith Militant, but his son not only shot that down, but relieved Jaime of his duty as the head of the Kingsguard. Jaime is going to now try to take back River Run from the Blackfish, who is the Grand Uncle to the Stark children. This is a story line from the book that I found to be fairly useless, but I imagine they will try to spice things up in the show.
May 25, 2016
Game of Thrones: The Door
Overall, I thought this was one of the weaker episodes, salvaged somewhat by a really strong (and sad) ending. There was far too much time spent on the Arya storyline, which seems to be going nowhere, and on the Iron Islands—one of the least interesting storylines with the worst character on the show (Theon Greyjoy)
Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion continues to rule in Daenerys’s absence, and I think he’s doing a fine job of it, better than Dany would if she were still in Mereen. His deal with the slavers has worked (for now at least) and he brings in a new and younger red priestess into the fold to spread the word of the greatness of Daenerys Targaryan. There were two interesting things in this scene. One was the way the new priestess put Varys on his heels when she spoke about what happened to him when he lost his genitals at the hands or a sorcerer. Usually Varys is so in control of the situation. This was a rare instance where he was off guard and unsettled. The other interesting thing is that Malisandre is clearly in the camp of Jon Snow being the savior while this priestess is convinced that it’s Daenerys. Which of them is right? Are they both correct or is neither? My theory is that both Jon and Daenerys will be the pivotal people in the fight against the White Walkers.
Sansa Stark
Sansa was a little hot and cold in this episode. I liked how she took Littlefinger to task in this episode. Like Varys, he’s usually so in control of things because he has so much information and is a master manipulator. But that leads to part of the problem with this storyline. In the books, Sansa never marries Ramsay Bolton. It is an Arya Stark imposter instead that Ramsay takes as his bride. They wanted Sansa to take that role instead, which I thought was a good idea. The problem is that it makes no sense that Littlefinger would deliver her to Ramsay. He would certainly have known what Ramsay was all about, and there is no way he would have ever given Sansa away to that monster. For all his faults, he truly cares about Sansa, just as he did her mother. Also, it doesn’t make sense that she would purposely lie to Jon Snow about her meeting with Littlefinger.
Daenerys Targaryan
It was a good scene between Daenerys and Ser Jorah. That he never acknowledged his feelings about her until this moment made it all the more impactful, especially with the revelation of his gray scale. My guess is that we won’t see Jorah again, at least not for a long while.
Bran Stark
This was definitely the best part of the episode. There were two very interesting reveals in these scenes. One is that the White Walkers were actually created by the Children of the Forest. Previously, it had been revealed that they helped the First Men defeat the White Walkers the last time they appeared. But they had to create these evil creatures to fight against those pesky humans. The second reveal was the origin of Hodor’s life. It was pretty stunning that he was who he was (a simpleton who could barely function) all to protect Bran in general but specifically in this one moment where he had to hold the door from the wights who were trying to kill him. The Bran storyline seemed a bit rushed and we still haven’t gotten the Lyanna Stark revelation, which I thought would happen in this episode. The fight scene was thrilling as well as a bit sad, with Hodor and Summer biting the dust. That leaves one Stark dire wolf left in this world. I’m not sure how Bran is going to get around with only Meera left to provide him transportation and protect him.
Next week will bring a confrontation between the Lannisters and the Faith Militant. I believe the High Sparrow will meet his demise. I also think Arya fails her test and does not become one of the Faceless, but at least she has honed her fighting skills.
Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion continues to rule in Daenerys’s absence, and I think he’s doing a fine job of it, better than Dany would if she were still in Mereen. His deal with the slavers has worked (for now at least) and he brings in a new and younger red priestess into the fold to spread the word of the greatness of Daenerys Targaryan. There were two interesting things in this scene. One was the way the new priestess put Varys on his heels when she spoke about what happened to him when he lost his genitals at the hands or a sorcerer. Usually Varys is so in control of the situation. This was a rare instance where he was off guard and unsettled. The other interesting thing is that Malisandre is clearly in the camp of Jon Snow being the savior while this priestess is convinced that it’s Daenerys. Which of them is right? Are they both correct or is neither? My theory is that both Jon and Daenerys will be the pivotal people in the fight against the White Walkers.
Sansa Stark
Sansa was a little hot and cold in this episode. I liked how she took Littlefinger to task in this episode. Like Varys, he’s usually so in control of things because he has so much information and is a master manipulator. But that leads to part of the problem with this storyline. In the books, Sansa never marries Ramsay Bolton. It is an Arya Stark imposter instead that Ramsay takes as his bride. They wanted Sansa to take that role instead, which I thought was a good idea. The problem is that it makes no sense that Littlefinger would deliver her to Ramsay. He would certainly have known what Ramsay was all about, and there is no way he would have ever given Sansa away to that monster. For all his faults, he truly cares about Sansa, just as he did her mother. Also, it doesn’t make sense that she would purposely lie to Jon Snow about her meeting with Littlefinger.
Daenerys Targaryan
It was a good scene between Daenerys and Ser Jorah. That he never acknowledged his feelings about her until this moment made it all the more impactful, especially with the revelation of his gray scale. My guess is that we won’t see Jorah again, at least not for a long while.
Bran Stark
This was definitely the best part of the episode. There were two very interesting reveals in these scenes. One is that the White Walkers were actually created by the Children of the Forest. Previously, it had been revealed that they helped the First Men defeat the White Walkers the last time they appeared. But they had to create these evil creatures to fight against those pesky humans. The second reveal was the origin of Hodor’s life. It was pretty stunning that he was who he was (a simpleton who could barely function) all to protect Bran in general but specifically in this one moment where he had to hold the door from the wights who were trying to kill him. The Bran storyline seemed a bit rushed and we still haven’t gotten the Lyanna Stark revelation, which I thought would happen in this episode. The fight scene was thrilling as well as a bit sad, with Hodor and Summer biting the dust. That leaves one Stark dire wolf left in this world. I’m not sure how Bran is going to get around with only Meera left to provide him transportation and protect him.
Next week will bring a confrontation between the Lannisters and the Faith Militant. I believe the High Sparrow will meet his demise. I also think Arya fails her test and does not become one of the Faceless, but at least she has honed her fighting skills.
May 22, 2016
10 Questions with Armand Rosamilia
1. How much of your novel Chelsea Avenue is based on real life events?
The Haunted House pier fire was a real event from my teen years. I still remember the commercials for it. I was 17 when it burned down. Murphy’s Law was also a real club but it had nothing to do with the fire in real life. It closed years later. Many of the settings are real fixtures in Long Branch.
2. Is there an overall theme to your writing?
If there is I don’t see it. I am just trying to tell a fun story. I’m not interested in subtle meanings and making the reader do anything other than enjoy a good story. If it means something more to someone, that’s very cool. But not intentional. I want to be a pulp writer and not a literary author.
3. Out of these three things, rank them in order of how they define you as a person: horror, heavy metal, zombies?
heavy metal
Heavy Metal would be first. Not a day goes by I’m not listening to music and usually metal. It is the driving force behind my day. Second is zombies but that is just a slight notch above horror. When I’m writing anything not a thriller lately it is usually zombies, like my Dying Days series. Otherwise I’m getting into more of the crime thriller, suspense thriller, paranormal thriller… writing thrillers.
4. What advice do you have for beginning writers?
I always say to read a lot. Not just your genre you love but anything else to get an idea and appreciation for different style of writing and to understand the structure of how certain genres work. Writing a romance is different from writing a mystery at times, and you need to read and understand the differences. A good writer wants to dabble in every genre to see what happens.
5. Although you live in Florida, how much of New Jersey is still in you?
You can take the boy outta Jersey… I still say you’s guys. I still eat pork roll, egg and cheese sandwiches. I still curse way too much. I love living in Florida but I’ll always be a Jersey Boy.
6. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
I’ve mellowed out over the five years I’ve been writing full-time. I no longer think shocking the reader is so important. Gripping them to turn the page is more important for a good story. I’ve slowly changed my writing to stop with the over the top graphic violence and/or sex and write what could be called more mainstream but still holding onto the edge. I don’t like writing about children being brutalized. I’m not going to write bizarre fiction because it isn’t my thing.
7. Where do you see your writing career five years from now?
I hope the career path continues to shoot up. 2015 was the best year ever for me. In fact, December 2015 was the best month ever with sales, an Audible deal, winning a Kindle Scout contract and selling a few books for 2016. I don’t aspire to be rich (although I won’t give it back) but I just want to be comfortable in my life and write every day. So far, so good…
8. What is your best quality as a writer?
My focus and the ability to write a decently clean first draft. I’m not a guy who does 57 drafts of a book. I do one edit through, hand it to beta readers who get me to do a third edit, and it’s off to the editor for the final draft. 95% of the book is done with the first draft. I’m writing 400,000 words in a year, so they need to be good from the beginning.
9. How did you develop the mythos behind Chelsea Avenue including Wiy of the Water?
The four elemental ‘gods’ were actually created in my head when I was in high school for a Dungeons & Dragons game I wanted to DM. Yeah, I’m the heavy metal and D&D geek with the mullet you went to high school with in the late 80’s. I never used them until I wrote Tool Shed, a horror novella currently out of print. I used the earth elemental as the main bad guy. While I was writing that book I put the four elementals on an index card and when it was time to really write Chelsea Avenue (which had been kicking around about a dozen years) I knew Wiy was the boss bad guy for it.
10. If Hollywood was making a film adaptation of Chelsea Avenue, and the director asked you to cast the role of Manny Santiago, who would you choose?
What’s really weird is when I was writing the second half of the book and Manny is older I had Kirk Acevedo in my head as the lead. I guess because of the Latino and he’s a great actor to me. But Hollywood will attach Tom Cruise to the role and pay me a huge chunk of cash and it won’t matter anyway. Tammy Kelly is based on an actual Tammy Kelly, a woman I grew up with in New Jersey. I’ve known her since kindergarten or thereabouts. There are many real people I grew up with in the book and I got to kill most of them. Always wonderful as an author.
The Haunted House pier fire was a real event from my teen years. I still remember the commercials for it. I was 17 when it burned down. Murphy’s Law was also a real club but it had nothing to do with the fire in real life. It closed years later. Many of the settings are real fixtures in Long Branch.
2. Is there an overall theme to your writing?
If there is I don’t see it. I am just trying to tell a fun story. I’m not interested in subtle meanings and making the reader do anything other than enjoy a good story. If it means something more to someone, that’s very cool. But not intentional. I want to be a pulp writer and not a literary author.
3. Out of these three things, rank them in order of how they define you as a person: horror, heavy metal, zombies?
heavy metal
Heavy Metal would be first. Not a day goes by I’m not listening to music and usually metal. It is the driving force behind my day. Second is zombies but that is just a slight notch above horror. When I’m writing anything not a thriller lately it is usually zombies, like my Dying Days series. Otherwise I’m getting into more of the crime thriller, suspense thriller, paranormal thriller… writing thrillers.
4. What advice do you have for beginning writers?
I always say to read a lot. Not just your genre you love but anything else to get an idea and appreciation for different style of writing and to understand the structure of how certain genres work. Writing a romance is different from writing a mystery at times, and you need to read and understand the differences. A good writer wants to dabble in every genre to see what happens.
5. Although you live in Florida, how much of New Jersey is still in you?
You can take the boy outta Jersey… I still say you’s guys. I still eat pork roll, egg and cheese sandwiches. I still curse way too much. I love living in Florida but I’ll always be a Jersey Boy.
6. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
I’ve mellowed out over the five years I’ve been writing full-time. I no longer think shocking the reader is so important. Gripping them to turn the page is more important for a good story. I’ve slowly changed my writing to stop with the over the top graphic violence and/or sex and write what could be called more mainstream but still holding onto the edge. I don’t like writing about children being brutalized. I’m not going to write bizarre fiction because it isn’t my thing.
7. Where do you see your writing career five years from now?
I hope the career path continues to shoot up. 2015 was the best year ever for me. In fact, December 2015 was the best month ever with sales, an Audible deal, winning a Kindle Scout contract and selling a few books for 2016. I don’t aspire to be rich (although I won’t give it back) but I just want to be comfortable in my life and write every day. So far, so good…
8. What is your best quality as a writer?
My focus and the ability to write a decently clean first draft. I’m not a guy who does 57 drafts of a book. I do one edit through, hand it to beta readers who get me to do a third edit, and it’s off to the editor for the final draft. 95% of the book is done with the first draft. I’m writing 400,000 words in a year, so they need to be good from the beginning.
9. How did you develop the mythos behind Chelsea Avenue including Wiy of the Water?
The four elemental ‘gods’ were actually created in my head when I was in high school for a Dungeons & Dragons game I wanted to DM. Yeah, I’m the heavy metal and D&D geek with the mullet you went to high school with in the late 80’s. I never used them until I wrote Tool Shed, a horror novella currently out of print. I used the earth elemental as the main bad guy. While I was writing that book I put the four elementals on an index card and when it was time to really write Chelsea Avenue (which had been kicking around about a dozen years) I knew Wiy was the boss bad guy for it.
10. If Hollywood was making a film adaptation of Chelsea Avenue, and the director asked you to cast the role of Manny Santiago, who would you choose?
What’s really weird is when I was writing the second half of the book and Manny is older I had Kirk Acevedo in my head as the lead. I guess because of the Latino and he’s a great actor to me. But Hollywood will attach Tom Cruise to the role and pay me a huge chunk of cash and it won’t matter anyway. Tammy Kelly is based on an actual Tammy Kelly, a woman I grew up with in New Jersey. I’ve known her since kindergarten or thereabouts. There are many real people I grew up with in the book and I got to kill most of them. Always wonderful as an author.
May 19, 2016
Game of Thrones: Book of the Stranger
The episode ended with a fiery ending with Daenerys emerging from the fires just as she did in season 1. That for me was the low point of an otherwise enjoyable episode. And now to the dissection.
Cersei and Jaime Lannister
It is now Queen Margaery’s turn for her walk of shame. Margaery is looking like hell right about now and her beloved brother, Ser Loras, looks even worse. There is clearly no love lost between Cersei and the queen, something that even her dim-witted son was able to pick up on, but in this case Cersei uses this event to find common ground with the Tyrells, and overthrow the High Sparrow and faith militants once and for all. It was a savvy play by Cersei, showing that she’s finally back on her game after being humiliated.
Tyrion Lannister
I was disappointed with Tyrion’s scene last week, but I thought he rebounded quite nicely in this episode. He showed the sort of political savvy that Daenerys has lacked as a ruler. Daenerys has been a bit of an idealist. She wants all or nothing. Tyrion, who has been around powerful people all of his life, is more into playing the role of a Donald Trump, someone who is all about making deals. And the deal he makes is a sensible one. You can’t expect a complete change in culture and lifestyle over night. This way, Tyrion is giving them an opportunity to adjust out a slavery society.
Ramsey Bolton
Ramsey once again plays the role of the one-dimensional villain. There’s just no nuance to this character. He likes to kill people and revels in his villainry. This time it is Osha who falls victim to his dastardly deeds. Once she started making a play for the knife that was on the table, I knew it was over for her.
Jon Snow and Sansa Stark
Ah, what a happy reunion. The funny thing is, these characters never particularly liked each other. They commented about it on this episode, but this was never something that was revealed in the show, but was dealt with in more detail in the books. But hey, they are all the family they have at the moment. Jon is kind of like Michael Corleone from the Godfather in this episode. He wants to get out, but they keep dragging him back in. I normally don’t care for Sansa, but I liked the Stark grit that she showed here telling Jon she will go to battle with Ramsay with or without her. Without wanting to toot my own horn (hell, I do want to toot my own horn) Jon Snow is going to go to war with Ramsey Bolton and retake Winterfell as I predicted. He’s got the wildings. He’s got a large chunk of the North who remain loyal to the Starks on his side. This is the ultimate showdown of good vs. evil. Ramsay is a one-dimensional bad guy, and Jon is the pure good guy. Jon will bring Ramsay down and reclaim Winterfell for the Starks. Also of interest in these scenes was the interaction between Brienne and Malisandre and Davos. I like her dig at Malisandre, but I thought it was beneath her character to rub Davos’s nose in the knowledge that she killed the man he once served as the hand of the king. Meanwhile, Tormund seemed to be digging Brienne in this scene. A possible romance between them?
Daenerys Targaryan
This was my least favorite part of the show. I was cool with Daenerys being fire resistant. She showed this before. She’s the mother of dragons. Fire doesn’t bother her. Cool. The fact that the building burnt down as quickly as it did was ridiculous. Even more absurd was that while all of this was going on, all of the Khals, who are serious bad-ass warriors, just let the place burn down and never once even tried to kill Daenerys. In fact, they acted like a group of ten-year-old boys. The moment they saw fire, they completely panicked. None of this scene worked for me at all and it muted the impact of Danny’s emergence from the fire.
Absent from this episode is young Ned Stark finding his sister on death’s door after giving birth to Jon Snow in a Bran flashback. I think we’ll see this in the next episode. I’m going to guess that Tyrion’s agreement with the Wise Masters will fall apart once Daenerys returns with a horde of Dothraki following her. She won’t like Tyrion’s compromise and will look to smash her enemies. The Lannisters will overthrow the Faith Militant only to find their enemies from Dorne breathing down their throat.
Cersei and Jaime Lannister
It is now Queen Margaery’s turn for her walk of shame. Margaery is looking like hell right about now and her beloved brother, Ser Loras, looks even worse. There is clearly no love lost between Cersei and the queen, something that even her dim-witted son was able to pick up on, but in this case Cersei uses this event to find common ground with the Tyrells, and overthrow the High Sparrow and faith militants once and for all. It was a savvy play by Cersei, showing that she’s finally back on her game after being humiliated.
Tyrion Lannister
I was disappointed with Tyrion’s scene last week, but I thought he rebounded quite nicely in this episode. He showed the sort of political savvy that Daenerys has lacked as a ruler. Daenerys has been a bit of an idealist. She wants all or nothing. Tyrion, who has been around powerful people all of his life, is more into playing the role of a Donald Trump, someone who is all about making deals. And the deal he makes is a sensible one. You can’t expect a complete change in culture and lifestyle over night. This way, Tyrion is giving them an opportunity to adjust out a slavery society.
Ramsey Bolton
Ramsey once again plays the role of the one-dimensional villain. There’s just no nuance to this character. He likes to kill people and revels in his villainry. This time it is Osha who falls victim to his dastardly deeds. Once she started making a play for the knife that was on the table, I knew it was over for her.
Jon Snow and Sansa Stark
Ah, what a happy reunion. The funny thing is, these characters never particularly liked each other. They commented about it on this episode, but this was never something that was revealed in the show, but was dealt with in more detail in the books. But hey, they are all the family they have at the moment. Jon is kind of like Michael Corleone from the Godfather in this episode. He wants to get out, but they keep dragging him back in. I normally don’t care for Sansa, but I liked the Stark grit that she showed here telling Jon she will go to battle with Ramsay with or without her. Without wanting to toot my own horn (hell, I do want to toot my own horn) Jon Snow is going to go to war with Ramsey Bolton and retake Winterfell as I predicted. He’s got the wildings. He’s got a large chunk of the North who remain loyal to the Starks on his side. This is the ultimate showdown of good vs. evil. Ramsay is a one-dimensional bad guy, and Jon is the pure good guy. Jon will bring Ramsay down and reclaim Winterfell for the Starks. Also of interest in these scenes was the interaction between Brienne and Malisandre and Davos. I like her dig at Malisandre, but I thought it was beneath her character to rub Davos’s nose in the knowledge that she killed the man he once served as the hand of the king. Meanwhile, Tormund seemed to be digging Brienne in this scene. A possible romance between them?
Daenerys Targaryan
This was my least favorite part of the show. I was cool with Daenerys being fire resistant. She showed this before. She’s the mother of dragons. Fire doesn’t bother her. Cool. The fact that the building burnt down as quickly as it did was ridiculous. Even more absurd was that while all of this was going on, all of the Khals, who are serious bad-ass warriors, just let the place burn down and never once even tried to kill Daenerys. In fact, they acted like a group of ten-year-old boys. The moment they saw fire, they completely panicked. None of this scene worked for me at all and it muted the impact of Danny’s emergence from the fire.
Absent from this episode is young Ned Stark finding his sister on death’s door after giving birth to Jon Snow in a Bran flashback. I think we’ll see this in the next episode. I’m going to guess that Tyrion’s agreement with the Wise Masters will fall apart once Daenerys returns with a horde of Dothraki following her. She won’t like Tyrion’s compromise and will look to smash her enemies. The Lannisters will overthrow the Faith Militant only to find their enemies from Dorne breathing down their throat.
