I might have gotten my replies confused; this thread is starting to get unwieldy!

My partner calls him Falcor, for some reason

The way the wall splintered and fell did suggest super-freezing.

I wouldn’t bet against the books being completed, but I would bet in favour of them being completed posthumously. Either “edited” from copious notes a la Christopher Tolkien prepping his dad’s unfinished manuscripts, or completed by a second writer authorised by the estate. (What has worried some is that Martin…

I’m in the camp that believes that the forces of wild success, perfectionism/procrastination, aging/health issues are conspiring to ensure that George RR Martin is never gonna finish his saga. YMMV, and that’s okay.

Agreed. The show moved past internal logic long ago. It’s a shame, especially since it’s looking increasingly likely that the books will never be completed.

It’s good to study confused (if profitable) storytelling. So many examples of deus ex machina, plot armour, fan service, etc. What’s most fascinating is how this show started out subverting tropes, but now is just advancing them unironically.

I’m not totally sold on the idea that the ice dragon spits fire so hot it’s blue. What if it’s... wait for it... ice magic?

The most surprising thing about the Dragonpit was how small it was. Now wonder those poor dragons became small; no way their larger ancestors could fit there comfortably and still flex their wings, let alone fly.

My ship for Brienne is that several of Westeros’ most eligible bachelors end up vying for her hand, in a subversion of her very bad prom night where only Renly was nice to her.

How to spot a pretentious blowhard:

You write: “It’s quite the opposite, it’s mainstream, at least in liberal circles such as ours.”

Hey, Sophie, you know what else is taboo to discuss?

You’re not wrong. But I am as straight-edge as they come yet I have empathy and a level-headed recognition of what works (compassion,regulations, public health programs) and what doesn’t (stigma, demonising, DARE).

SCIENCE:

So sad. Toxic Hollywood.

Aside from the increased pressure to go on publicity tours and press junkets there was also the increased pressure to lose weight for roles. I cannot imagine that helped matters.  

You do realise that your goddaughter will grow up, yes? Someday she will be choosing her own role models. I’m a teetotaling never-tried-drugs square myself, but I am honest with my own children (in age appropriate ways) about “unpleasant” subjects like mental illness and addiction because, one way or another, they…

She WAS a good person. Through her writing and stage performances (one woman shows etc.) she helped many people also suffering from mental illness to understand their disease. I am one of them. As a person with bipolar I literally owe the real Carri Fisher (as distinct from the role she played as Princess Leia) my…

Her writing also helped save my life. I also have bipolar disorder and reading about her addiction issues made me consciously steer away from ever even trying to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. I cannot imagine that I am the only one. I’m so grateful to her family for continuing her work to destigmatise mental…