After thinking this is the most disappointing season of them all, episode 8 pulls out the gripping p, heart in mouth sequence in the entire show.

Was thinking the same mate, very tame until last episode.

Tonights episode9 is going to upset some

Best episode yet from season 5. Can't wait for Stannis to get his comeuppance for that.

Well, its Stannis v Ramsey - who's the biggest "monster" ?

Ramsey just shades it IMO. Hope they both suffer for their sins anytime soon.

I have sneaky suspiscion that the boltons will come out on top...I hope i am wrong though

Well that that episode had one or two suprisesicon_wink.gif

Ho-lee s***!!!

Hope the next series is more satisfying, just too many opened ended threads left this time around.

They really have to be careful where they take this predictable 'let's-kill-off-the-one-nobody-expected' thing, because if it continues they will be left with a shallow soap, with characters nobody cares for and a story just going round and round in circles, with absolutely no end result in sight.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy it (though this series was slow and just seemed to be filling time while Martin catches up with the TV show), but there has to be an aim to find a satisfying conclusion to the whole thing and not just allow it to meander on, killing off established characters and bringing in others who are blatantly just being introduced in order to stretch out the franchise - If it does, it will sadly become another soap opera, living on past glories.

Personally, I think the writers have found themselves in the classic literary quandary of being unable to write the ending to what has been an enthralling tale... By spinning it out they are simply treading water until they agree on an ending that pleases all involved, from Martin, through to the TV writers and the millions of fans.

I've not read the books, but surely the majority of the story in the TV show follows the story in the books? Would Martin allow them just to start killing off random characters that exist later in his story?

I've not read the books either but I believe there is significant deviation in the TV series.

Couldn't agree more. I'm starting to lose interest simply because I'm running out of characters I care about.

It's all very well going for the shock factor, but even that is becoming dull and repetitive. Any good story has to engage the audience by means of emotional engagement, which is lacking when the characters you've followed and built a relationship with (good or bad) are all killed off.

I'll carry on watching, but it has to improve markedly to regain the heights of the first few series, and I fear the 'new' characters simply aren't strong or interesting enough.

I am guesing the character you are talking about was the one at the end.

He is not dead. Where do you think Melisandre was going at the end. To save the one true king !

Try to keep up at the back.

Although there are some deviations from the books they are mainly to avoid bringing too many new characters in.

The key characters are there. The film producers as well as Martin know exactly where this is going.

Ye of little faith.