Jon was kind of a jerk before the whole nuclear reassembly thing, though. Becoming Captain Atom just accelerated what was already there. Bran was a decent kid.

Or they could retake Highgarden? I would say that Kings' Landing is on the way to Dragonstone, but Dany didn't want to invade it with Unsullied or Dothraki. Pyke looks closer next, but that's a series of islands. Maybe they're good swimmers?

It's implied that Littlefinger knows and stated that Bran does. Since Bran doesn't want to stake his own claim, it's probably not going to be an issue, but he's still the actual legitimate heir. Sansa would be a clearer heir if she were unmarried, but being a widow to another house probably complicates that. On the…

Yeah, but he's the illegitimate nephew of the distant descendent of the last king before Robb (since the Lords of Winterfell between Torrhen and Ned were not kings - just the wardens. I think I'm splitting hairs, though). That's not unprecedented in history, but he has the weakest claim of all of the kids. I still…

Sansa's linked by marriage to both the Lannisters and the Boltons. I think she's technically the last of the Boltons as Ramsay's window, and hence not a Stark.

Keep in mind that Jon is a Targaryen, and not a Stark (by male lineage, at least), so his actual claim is even weaker. I don't think that's going to be a major plot point, but the show's gone a long way from the psychological intrigues of the first book/season to dragons and wights and ignoring motivations. But if…

And Arya probably doesn't want it either. It does seem odd that her murder spree has come to an abrupt end. I missed her this week. It seems too sentimental, but maybe she won't leave Jon's side if they finally reunite? She'd make a pretty badass bodyguard.

At the kingsmoot? I realize GOT is only loosely modeled on historical events, notably the war of the roses, but Jon is a bastard and Bran is a full heir. This isn't an elected position. It's hereditary. Both Bran and Sansa have greater hereditary claims. Granted, I don't think Bran wants it, to Michael's point. h…

Is the show just going to ignore primogeniture here? Bran, then Sansa, then Jon (maybe) would be the line of succession. Him showing up to Winterfell should be a major deal to the Lords of the North.

I agree they were unsympathetic characters, and also agree with the author here that it's refreshing there was no sexual violence in this scene. The torture reminded me of "the pain" from Princess Bride, that is pretty horribly cruel overall. I doubt the show is going to return to this, though. There doesn't seem…

I think they played up Dany's insistence that the dragons are invulnerable - the episode after introducing the dragon ballistas - too much for not at least one dragon to be killed with one once they're introduced to combat.

I don't think any of them were great military strategists. Out of all the leaders so far, Ramsay Bolton seems closest, and he was thwarted by Jon's plot armor. Jamie's feint was interesting, and probably effective, but the show hasn't gone to great lengths to support the military significance of Casterly Rock to…

I think it was intentionally vague in the book. Not sure if linking to Reddit is kosher, but here's a lively debate on what "that other thing" Reek had flayed may be: https://www.reddit.com/r/as…

The Dothraki do in the books. Historically, invading armies do that sort of thing. I don't think there's been a historical army of eunuchs, but it's unlikely they would be raping.

Varys and the Unsullied were completely castrated. In the book, Theon *implies* his penis was flayed, without it being completely explicit (at least, that I can recall). In the show, it was more explicit that his penis was amputated. Neither book nor show mentioned testicles.

I don't think they've shown anyone but Bran worg out on the show. Perhaps I misremember.

I think they made too long of a pan of him floating on flotsam for him not to survive. In what capacity is an interesting question. His is probably my least favorite arc, but I don't necessarily agree with the author here that he bailed merely out of cowardice. He's no match for Euron.

I like your Borderlands reference - I can relate to that. I often play games in god mode just to go through the story and not get distracted with dying and reloading. I do occasionally get bored with games like Borderlands, Skyrim, the Sims, etc and go on murder sprees. That's kind of what the man in black reminds…

I think Arya having guts of steel was a bit much, but as to the final fight being offscreen, what would you have preferred, night vision? Dark fumbling? I think given the story arc and the medium they did the best they could with excising the final scene. Granted, later holding Jaqen at swordpoint uncontested felt…

Magic opium.