And arguably even before that, with the hedge witch and Khal Drogo.

I get what you're saying. Knowing Ramsay like we know Ramsay, Roose should have been more cautious. But I'd argue that Roose was just as certain of his ultimate control over Ramsay as Tywin was sure that his kids weren't spawning illegitimate grandchildren, or his certainty that Tyrion was nothing more than a…

And on the way, they somehow morphed from Bloodhounds back into Rottweilers.

Echoes of Tywin seeing everything clearly except his own children.

Not Auntie Dany!

Yeah, it would be a strong move to have her take the Queen Elizabeth stance, and just play suitors off one another while running the show in the North herself.

Sure she is. It still counts as instruction, even if it's non-verbal. This first lesson was "Stop Feeling Sorry For Yourself and Practice Swinging That Staff For the Next 24 Hours".

And I was glad it didn't start with a flashback, like S5. That backstory for Cersei was important, but it started the season on a weird note.

I'm wondering how Needle will factor in to her completely letting Arya go. Does Jacquen know she stashed it? Doesn't it have to come back up somehow?

I agree. Jon made that speech, or something like it, to the assembled NW before the trip to Hardhome. The reception was mixed, as I recall, but was effective enough that Thorne chose to open the gates when he got back with the willings.

At Hardhome, the Thens leader walked out of the talks with Jon and Tormund, and I don't remember seeing any of them (with their notable head scars) in the crowd that filed through Castle Black. Not sure if some of them were implied to have jumped in the boats and escaped Hardhome anyways.

| Also the expectation that the Royal guards just sort of stood there… it was ridiculously silly.

Come on, people! Feel the Brienne! It could still happen!

Chutes & Ladders of Chaos.

Littlefinger said that to Ramsay when he arrived at Winterfell. It was unclear if he really didn't know, or was just needling Ramsay about his recently updated status.

My guess is this is the detour that gets Dany an army, once Drogon shows up and puts some Stallion Who Mounts The World-caliber panic into the Dothraki.

Gotta admit, though, that Rickon, Osha and a couple more badass giants storming in would have been great.

Oh god… that was great.

I have been wondering, if Sansa makes it through to become Wardeness of the North, or something similar in a Jon/Bran King of the North scenario, who will the show match her up with? Pod would be great… but kind of a wasted chance at a powerful alliance. Is it to crazy to think it could be Tyrion?

Similar to Sansa arriving at the Vale and Arya at the House of B&W. That sense that a vulnerable character has finally arrived at safety is usually the tip that it's about to get worse.