But there's a sign…

Unless she opens up a franchise in Westeros and funnels a percentage back to Bravos. You could write her off as a business investment.

"There is no universe where Arya loses that battle, and so the slow pan reveal of the Waif’s face in the House of Black and White struck me as profoundly odd."

In the show, which is one of the few flaws; doesn't Van Helsing battle Dracula? But couldn't she be a relative carrying on his work? That could play into the broader feminist themes. I'm spit balling here.

That could be her maiden name. Or maybe she's a Van Helsing protege? Where's he been?

Let me clarify, I'm a fan of Ruth Negra. And I think her acting is fine. This is a comic book adaptation after all. There's bound to be some broad strokes early on.

I'm holding out to see if she translates into some other fictional character. Or maybe the daughter of one? Or the mother of one? Oooooo…Bram Stoker's mom, whose adventures with Vanessa inspire the novel.

"…it feels like a dangerous expenditure of viewer faith to bring in new, seemingly unrelated narratives without making more than a token effort at connection."

"…a fencing duel she has won, either by cheating or due to superior tactics, depending whether you ask her or her male opponent."

Well Lady Mormount kicks ass, doesn't she? I like her. She's likely doomed then. And while Ian McShane's death certainly resonates, it's a pity he was only around for one episode. He will be missed, but I'm glad to see Sandor back.

Depends on how high it was flying. Surely anything over a few hundred feet and all hope is…lost.

I think there are a cadre of women comedians who brand themselves as "women comedians." They're usually as unfunny as the schticky male comedians who are just out their grinding vs. coming up with a truly original act.

"even if she’s temporarily siding with him"

Great theories, but I have to reserve judgment until the end. I don't know if TWD will be so optimistic if its ending is everyone dies and becomes zombies. Some sort of "we're all doomed, it just takes some of us longer to get there" theme. And GOT seems like it's heading to a happy ending where the good guys will…

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF. That's a dose of my F-ing machine gun and I used it to gun down everyone on FTWD. Okay, maybe Kim Dickens can live, but everyone else is a goner.

I think we have a consensus here; this show is awesome and this episode is a triumph.

Maria Bamford is Fargo incarnate. This show is gold, and as I'm so happy she's got the platform she deserves on Netflix. Any time someone says women aren't funny, just tell them to watch this. It's full of hilarious women lead by the brilliant Bamford…but I'm gushing.

I can see that as a stratefy, but a) it's not gamesmanship, imo, and b) I don't see it as a strategy for her, but the position she was left in by default. If she'd have gotten others to be the bad guy, I'd credit her for a strategy. This was just flying low.

"You don't win 5-2 without earning it…"
Sure you do; sour grapes.

Cydney and Aubrey were prettier than Michele, imo, but yeah, you're right.