Dany's arc has been nothing to do with real leadership. Most of the time the "recognition of the compromises" has been provided not by her, but by a (male) advisor at her shoulder. So it proved again this week. But she did get to play The Suffering Mother. So that's a real step forward.

I'm not talking about "happily tuned in". I'm sure folks will tune in, because there'll be another series of simplistic confrontations to be had. I'm sure people tuned in in their droves the week after the Viper/Mountain fight.

Brienne vs Hound? Stannis vs Mance? You're kidding aren't you? How heavily, sentimentally weighted was the outcome towards the former in each case?

I'm not talking morally unimpeachable, I mean that in every confrontation it is made CRYSTAL CLEAR who we're supposed to be barracking for and against.

So this is meant just as a contrary perspective and not a troll - yes! there's a difference! … at least I hope there is! - but I think GoT has been pretty disappointing from the second season onwards. In the first there seemed to be a strong arc, with characters deepening as the show unfolded, and driving the story…

http://youtu.be/5Xamrasj3Cc

Really? I think the difference is significant and immediately apparent: the show takes the characters seriously again.

Totally disagree. I think there was an enormous vested patriotic (nee jingoistic) interest in "Saving Private Ryan" Stateside, and I think it blinded more than a few folks to the script shortcomings of that movie. In fact, after the opening sequence (for which the term "bravura" was surely invented, it's horrifying…