Sure, I admit my focus on the crusades was a simplification of the complex process of knowledge transfer, mostly out of laziness on my part and not wanting to get into a whole dissertation on it. But, however the knowledge transfer happened, my point was that the knowledge being transfered had been developed before…

Ha, that would be great. I wish they would have done 2 full seasons. Seems like so many good possibilities might need to be left out because of time.

My broader point, however, was that you can't say the scientific achievements we enjoy today started with the renaissance (regardless of how you define the renaissance) because the advancements you mentioned (algebra, chemistry, etc.) were made before the renaissance.

Point taken. Though I'm not as convinced that is what most people think of when they think of the renaissance.

I have to push back a little on this. The implication that there wasn't any progress until the Europeans came up with the "stirrings" of the renaissance is problematic. First of all, the reason the renaissance could happen at all was the crusaders invaded a more sophisticated culture, that had not only preserved the…

I enjoyed reading this and hearing it in Bob Dylan's voice. "A hard ray-ee-anes a gonna fall." I also am enjoying the subsequent thought of Cersei singing along to this song and completely missing the point of it.

Good catch. Yeah, there seems to be some subtext about great men not needing a list of titles so much as their accomplishments, or something or other along those lines… basically, John is a self made man and proud of that fact. Which makes his bond with the Onion Knight so nice.

You have to give it to Cersei, she really is an artist when it comes to administering pain. No bland, "give her to the mountain" type mediocrity. It's too bad she never found some other hobby with which to channel all this creativity. Like writing. Maybe she could write an alternative history of recent Westerosi…

I hope you are right and they do make some sort of reference to why it was abandoned in future eps. My main problem with it isnt the idea that a protracted seige would take time, I'd love for them to take the time for it! But, rather, the arbitrary number of episodes remaining. I mean, it's not like Game of Thrones…

I would like see the mountain vs the sand snakes, after they are given to Cersei as the gift.

That would be amazing if Gendry showed up at Dragonstone next episode in his row boat with a couple freshly caught fish, only to see Dany's army before quietly slinking back to his boat and rowing off.

Lazy and under the pressure of a ticking clock. With so few episodes left, who's got time for a protracted seige of Dragonstone. That's why RR Martin can't finish the thing.

It does feel like the plot logic is breaking down under the pressure of expediency.

I just can't believe nobody was squatting in there. Okay, sure, Stannis deserted it and the Lions couldn't afford to send a troop to manage it. Still, a nice empty castle just sitting there for the taking, a whole country burnt down by war, someone is moving in there. Even if it's just a bunch of…

Thanks for reminding me. I've spent years trying to get over this series' lack of Stong Belwas.

This is a good point. It seems like Lynch wants you to actively collaborate in the artistic vision much more than most television shows. Like that sweeping scene. He can show you these things, but you have to work out the meaning. That's what I think people find frustrating. We aren't used to this with televsion as…

Seems like "birth" will be a major theme of the show.

Okay, I found the article:
http://ew.com/tv/2017/05/26…

Wow, I guess all white dudes with buzz cuts look the same to me. I'll have to explore that further in therapy.

I think you're on to something with this "birth" ritual idea. I read an interview (which Im too lazy to look up now) in which Lynch stated that birth is a theme he's exploring.