I read an article the other day that described the series (both books and TV) as reaching an incredible narrative high with the death of Ned Stark, then constantly chasing that same high with diminishing returns. Which is pretty accurate imo, if a little harsh.

Not for nothing, but it almost looked as if Jon's eyes were changing to a lighter colour in that final shot. It's just as likely to have been the lighting — worth paying attention to for the Jon-is-still-alive-truthers, though.

While it was absolutely a despicable act, and one that will probably throw me off of Team Dragonstone for the foreseeable future, I can't help but think about Stannis' burning of Shireen through the lens of seeing Stannis as a prophetic figure.

I can see Helena starting a mass rampage on the entire Scarborough drug scene until it's just the Hendrixes left at the top with no one to threaten them.

So far, Cosima is two for two with love interests that turn out to be plants from the antagonists. That's gotta be rough.

Okay…………..Felix's Canadian accent/straight guy/not-camp act was really doing it for me………………

The moment where Ravi comforted Liv back at her apartment was really, really sweet. I'm constantly surprised by how invested I am in their friendship.

right! (it really says a lot about my experience with the books that I've read them all twice and still manage to forget 80% of them.)

Question: was it explained in the episode how Jon managed to kill that White Walker? It looked different, effects-wise, than when Sam killed a Walker with dragonglass, and I didn't see Jon pick any dragonglass up. So is this some sort of Azor Ahai-related-thing? More Targaryen shenanigans?

That line reminded me of this bit in Mulan:

Sam's whole speech to Olly about 'making hard choices'…..this doesn't bode well for Jon in the finale.