Deadspin was dumb enough to base a so-called analysis on small sample size results rather than a reasonable analysis on when it makes sense to intentionally walk even a very good hitter (such as Yelich).

Jorah’s presence should logically be controversial with pretty much all of heads of the Northern houses, not just Lyanna Mormont.

I respectfully disagree.

“the punishment for manipulating service time to steal an extra pre-arbitration year can’t just be ‘Kris Bryant won’t re-sign with you in seven years.’”

“Nick Markakis ... after accepting an absurdly below-market deal of $6 million.”

I neglected to include a payroll change link above - http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25715085/mlb-payrolls-dropped-18-million-2018-first-decrease-2010

It would be reasonable for the MLBPA to target the luxury tax line increasing more in line with overall MLB revenue in the next CBA, but Normandin also is sorely lacking in his understanding of context:

“The luxury tax is an arbitrary anchor point, and if the Yankees and Co. are defining ‘Yankees money’ as a level below that tax threshold, then the rest of the league is going to follow suit.”

I personally take the view that “philosophically, it’s complicated, but pragmatically, it’s trivial” and come to the opposite conclusion. Pragmatically, I have plenty of evidence when I wake up each day that I’m the same person as yesterday and therefore believe that will be the case again tomorrow. I experience all…

“There is just too much arbitrary magic in Westworld and the worst part is they explain something and then selectively ignore it when it isn’t convenient and then selectively use it again when they feel like it or just overwrite it with something else.”

I’m in the same boat as you. I did enjoy Episode 8 with its focus on Akecheta, but that’s also highlighted for me that stories about the hosts “awakening” have so far been a lot more interesting to me than just about anything that they’ve done after they awaken or than Delos’ master plan.

That’s something of a plot hole, and there are other plot holes related to the memory card.

“this show is many things, but it sure as hell isn’t sloppy”

This exactly. I read the review and generally agree with Handlen’s criticisms, and I can’t see how they add up to a B+ episode. I’ve noticed the same in several other episodes this season: valid criticisms that leave me wondering how the episode can warrant as high of a grade as was given.

“This show is planned to go for at least 5 years. They will kill off main characters and wrap up plot points for each season - but not all of them. This is a planned 5 year arc with a new featured conflict (and characters) for every season, but people act like it needs to wrap everything up every year.”

“That’s how most people in large cities commute”

I agree with you. From what we’ve seen on the show, the hosts are physically vulnerable to damage to the control units in their heads. Being “killed” by other damage, such as gunshots to the body, appears to be a programmed response that can be changed.

My big problem with it has been that both QA security and the PMC teams coming in after the host uprising are a tough to believe combination of really incompetent but foolishly brave to the point of standing in the open to get shot.

Yes, Renee is Stan’s wife. It was established early in Season 6 that Stan and Renee got married at some point during the three year time gap between Season 5 and Season 6.

I don’t see any problems for Paige from Pastor Tim. He’s kept the secret for Philip and Elizabeth, and he’ll 100% continue to keep the secret for Paige, who is the only reason that he kept Philip and Elizabeth’s secret for so many years.