I guess there is no way for Sansa, etc. to know exactly what Walda's fate was, but oh man I can't *imagine* all the grisly stuff that's probably stashed around Winterfell just waiting to be discovered.

Even if they don't it's still pretty questionable, but it's kind of one of those things that you just have to handwave or it will disproportionately impact your enjoyment of the show. I mean, think about how just this season Brienne has traveled from within sight of Winterfell, to The Wall and then to The Riverlands,…

Westeros is unstuck in time and people are able to just kind of fold the map in on itself.

I will shortly be returning to The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan. I already read Nixonland, but didn't realize until recently that there was a predecessor volume about the Goldwater era called Before the Storm, so that will probably be next.

I think people feel the meandering doesn't begin until the 4th book. (Personally, I like the whole 'being inside people's heads' thing, so I was fine with it.) The third book pretty much punches you in the face with action throughout, especially the last thirdish.

I too think if he wanted to clarify it at all, "ravens generally fly between two defined points" would be the way to go. Otherwise, just leave it without any explanation outside "they are reliable enough to be used for relatively important communication." There are enough hints at their intelligence that we could…

Also, I guess we have to get Jon out of Stannis's book plotline and back into his own and return him to The Wall for the next stage in the battle against the others.

Since in the show the Freys and Boltons are no longer allied, Frey pies will have to be served at Red Wedding 2.0 next week, or probably all hope is lost.

In general, Northerners prefer the boiled leather approach, probably because of the weather. This has been fudged some for the show, I guess to help distinguish between various factions.

Smalljon is dead at the hands (more accurately: the teeth) of Tormund Giantsbane.

End credits song for the finale: Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves.

Alas, that flayed old lady was basically the only part of The North that Remembered outside Hornwood, Bear Island and that one other house whose name they mushmouthed over a couple of times.

Minor Spoiler About How Ravens Work from A TWOW Sample Chapter Released by Martin:

Yeah, remember when Mel was old that one time? Did that… mean anything or was she refreshed so much by Jon's resurrection that she's good to go now?

Sansa wins, until Littlefinger wins.

Srsly, the other day I flipped open the TWOIAF page with the picture of the ice spiders and showed it to my husband to be like "Why haven't THESE been on Game of Thrones?"

The logic of how ravens work is honestly completely out the window in the show (and it's kind of questionable in the books sometimes.) So maybe? There's also not much in the way of getting a handle on how time is passing, so it's hard to say how much time has gone by at all this season.

A major part of the problem is that the Iron Islands are pretty resource poor. I think they have something in the way of a mining industry, but their leadership has been very pro-Old Ways recently.

I was sort of distracted at her declaration that she wasn't his servant but the Lord of Light's when just a few episodes ago she told Davos that she would do as Jon Snow commanded because he was The Azor Ahai That Was Promised.

Given that a Vale Knight Swoop In was Littlefinger's strategy last season, I assume he'll have to turn and slaughter the remaining Stark et al contingent unless Sansa meets whatever terms he sets out. I can't IMAGINE what he wants from her!