I didn't feel that way, but I did feel like it was very predictable… and there was really no reason for the waif to close the door and there was ample time to attack and kill Arya well before she got the candle out… the whole tyhing just missed the mark for me. Meryn Trant was a much better climax for the story arc…

Could be regarding Dorne also now that I think of it… She did say she wanted little birds everywhere, and I think she mentioned Dorne.. which (mercifully) we haven't seen for weeks…

It does seem that passing the books is a problem for 2 reasons… one simply being the writing of dialogue Character arcs etc… the other being the transition from human drama to fantastical dragons vs zombies action. My concern is that the former is being wrapped hap hazardly by just killing off people or simply moving…

Your last point is the key. This was the first time either of them lightened up a bit… and then Blam… they are attacked

we got to see some heart felt giggles from the beautiful Misandae… and Greyworm noticed as much as we did. They loosened up for the first time… last time Tyrion got nowhere

"There was nothing in his life experience that predicted him being a brilliant political operator in Westeros" Yes there was… he knew how people in Westeros behave… He has always been bright. But he's always been dealing with people he understands. from houses he's familiar with etc…

Nah, I'm guessing wildfire stockpiles… She'll finally "Burn this Cit-ty to the ground"

Here we have a situation where he genuinely has no idea what drives his allies. Also, his allies (who he has no idea what drives them) had a far better idea of what drives his enemies. This is a first for Tyrion… and I think it is relevant that politics are not the same everywhere.

Seems to me they brought back the Hound for the express purpose of saving this episode… I'm still on the fence about it.

there was a solid 15 minutes in there

That's kinda my point… if she's not coming… can we get on with killing those creeps the way the show is planning on it? It feels a little like they are lost with where some stories should go.

very interesting…

Well really… don't we have enough revenge motivated characters currently? What sucks is that we're 8 episodes in and we still have Walder Frey and Ramsay Bolton kicking around.

seems correct… that's why the truthers are beginning to stock up on tin foil… it's looking less and less likely… this was probably the nail in the coffin

but it's only a couple hundred… They'll still need more

admittedly the drunken babbling is better among other drunken babblers.

It might be that he does that… he's not gonna kill them all. But I would note he basically commanded them to open the door… he could likely compel them to do anything… saving Sansa wouldn't require much pushing.

true enough… I also thought the lady Crane thing was lame… but we did get to see the immediate aftermath, and she's a side, side character so I would have given it a pass… but you're right… she dies off screen…

in the books he's dead… from bringing back Lady Styoneheart

1. 2 off screen deaths? C'mon now…