One thing a lot of people forget about Game of Thrones is that some people tune in just for the crazy sword fights. I have a friend who's top favorite scenes this season are the Craster's Keep Battle and Mountain v. Viper and "everything else is kind of boring" to him. I think we around here with our analytical minds…

Maybe Sam is you, Victarion.

Should be noted that the finale is 66 minutes, as opposed to the usual 53-ish.

Oh don't worry, that's what 95% of The AV Club's commentariat does.

She spared Gilly, though.

My point exactly up above. I don't think people are thinking with their showrunning caps right now.

We are beyond the pale with TV here, I think. Any other show delivering half the spectacle that this episode did would get a triple A, but for Game of Thrones, it was a "meh."

Shut it, T-Dog

The entire female viewership probably cares if Ygirtte dies or not. A lot of the guys probably, too.

Just think about what you're saying. They had about 7-8 minutes left to make it the longest episode of the season, and you want to cram a Mance/Jon debate scene AND the route caused by Stannis into that last 8 minutes? What?

I'm willing to bet they think it's awesome. No one knows about Stannis, so what is there to be disappointed about?

Shut up with that logic. What are you, a Game of Thrones showrunner?

I wasn't surprised. I think it will be better to jam it all in next week.

Pyp and Grenn died in place of what's-his-name one-armed Blacksmith guy in the book, who isn't in the show.

Someone pointed out on reddit that the giant anchor might be a callback to the chain the show was unable to afford in Blackwater.

I'd be interested to know if show watchers have the same reaction.

You forgot to put "The AV Club" over that. Or is that my job?

Ozymandis times 10

Next week is going to blow a load all over the internet's chest.

I'm from Wyoming, and any time we travel on the interstate, we're at the mercy of truckers. Despite it being illegal for them to get in the left lane (except to pass) they do this all the time. Just a few years ago, one of them caused a 75 car pile up that killed 12 people and MELTED the fucking highway. We were on…