Say what you will about Benioff and Weiss, their dialogue never sounded like Ye Olde Renaissance Faire 

No mention of Ser Bronn of the fuckin’ Blackwater?

Also, his discussion with Rhaenyra indicates that he’s looking for someone kind who can bring a sense of warmth to both their lives. Otto may have wanted Alicent to seduce him the old fashioned way but (whether intentional or not) Alicent won him over by helping him through his grief and having the dragon mended seems…

I *do* think Hightower wanted Alicent to fuck the king - I just don’t think she had it in her to try and do so (which, in the long run, was the right move even if she didn’t intend it as such). 

You’re both wrong. She died in childbirth but wasn’t really pregnant.

There’s been no evidence shown they had a sexual relationship.

Yeah, I thought that was a weird read—both that Alicent is a schemer & that she & Viserys are already sexually intimate. If anything, it feels like the show is taking pains NOT to suggest those things.

This is a truly hateful comment.

Yeah even Brienne - who was very serious - would occasionally comment on the utter stupidity of the people around her. 

(though I was fighting for my life against a spider for most of the episode, so I could’ve missed it)

I gotta say having the intro air this week made me enjoy the episode just a little bit more. Something about that theme just gets you going.

The lack of any levity is going to be a problem.  The most beloved characters in Game of Thrones, like Davos or Tormund, were very witty and entertaining alongside being serious.  Its what made me frankly root for them to survive, because they didn't just brood all day.  Those two were also probably the least damaged…

I also think it’s been apt in showing how the patriarchy pits thewomen against each other for what little power is available in the keep, which feels particularly cruel.

I got into this episode more than the first one. It was refreshing for this type of show to eschew action and violence and tell a character-based story. Sure, you could say they didn’t do anything new with the story and dialogue, but I was involved because of the actors, especially Paddy Considine, and the breakout…

Even if the rest of the show had been good his performance being the standout aspect would probably still be the case. Dude is a highlight in everything he does.

A list of some of silly episodes from older Star Trek:

Hey, can we call Strange New Worlds a winner? It had a really great first season, and is already on track to be one of the best Star Trek tv shows.

Can I nominate HBO for both winning and losing the summer? They kick off the summer with a bonkers season of Barry, Westworld defies all the odds and somehow becomes interesting again, and The Rehearsal might now be my favorite show of the year.

And then David Zaslav came through the door...

“Just seems like nerds need to learn to let shit go.”

That’s... That’s ridiculous. Okay, I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go, wai- I’ll go.