Matt in KC

You mean Mott Mandler?

Fantasy, and all good writing requires the willful suspension of disbelief. A central requirement for that (for me anyway) is internal consistency. I enjoyed chasing down the leads on the criticism that said the books say Dany isn't fireproof, snd that the show was out of line. Because I have read the books, watched the show, and didn't think so myself, and still don't. If you don't care about this point, then yeah, I get it, this back and forth is pretty boring. What do you think about GRRM slowly sliding into deeper and deeper fantasy? The first season (minus the opening white walker scenes) was largely realistic, what you might have expected to see in England a thousand years ago. Now the GOT world is full of dragons, giants, Nights King, three-eyed ravens, the Children, people returning from the dead, and now time travel. While I really like some of these aspects, I think I prefer the human dramas that were the focus of the first few seasons more.

Then again, if dragon fire gives her burns that warrant the same or less mention than blisters from climbing down a rocky cliff, the conclusion I reach is that her spending 5-10 minutes in a burning Dothraki hut is consistent with her other fire resistance. (Does she also not need oxygen? ) I don't think "she burned in the books, so that couldn't happen" is reasonable from what I have been able to find (and ignoring GRRM's comments in that Q&A session).

I don't read it that way, or at least it is ambiguous. Daenerys only has one chapter after the fighting pit escape, the last one in 5th book. At the very start it mentions she was climbing down a rocky cliff all day and the rocks had scraped her hands raw. After talking about her blisters (apparently from the climbing) she says "but her burns were healing." At most, I read this as yes, she can burn (from actual dragon fire or blood?), but she heals very quickly. Three pages later she remembers the birth of her dragons and her later flight saying "The fire burned away my hair, but elsewise it did not touch me. It had been the same in Daznak's pit," the big fighting pit in Mureen. And btw - I am not trying to be argumentative; I am just trying to see what the books say. I haven't seen a reference that cites anything other than a GRRM Q&A tht says Danny isn't innoculated against firr.

I just re-read the scene from where she jumps in the pit, to her riding off on Drogon (about one page, #764). There is no indication she gets burned. She is much more concerned with the sand in her eyes than the heat. A couple references sound like they support Danny being immune, or at least much more tolerant of heat. Burning, is not on the page, though she mentions being afraid he will burn her and eat her. I took this more as concern about the eating, the burning just the process he always uses to prepare his meal. (though there is no indication at all that her skin actually blistered.)

Maybe the Lady Stoneheart arc has a good ending and an important part in the ASOIAF mythology. Where would Lady Stoneheart "go" from here? Return to Winterfell? Forever wander the woods with wolves and lost souls? At this point it seems superfluous. I wouldn't like rapid successive reviving of John, Benjen (sort of) and Caytlyn. It diminishes the impact of all deaths. I really did like the chapters about Jaime at River Run. He does deserve his own purpose, and I am interested to see what his reunion with Brienne looks like. He sent her off to fulfill her vow to protect the Stark girls and is succeeding admirably. If Jaime really falls for her, he could be on the path to redemption. My guess is he ultimately sacrifices himself and completes that process.

I think you are splitting heirs. He has the best claim to River Run as the only surviving child of Hoster Tully. As such, he is a valuable hostage. We are headed back to the "A feast of Crows" River Run siege story, and who knows, perhaps a visit from Lady Stoneheart. (I hope not.) So much for the show out pacing the source material. This smacks of stalling until the new book is published.

Edmure, Catlyn's brother, is the heir to River Run, so he is a good hostage. Benjen is now 150% badass. I am very curious to see what happens to Loras. If he is significantly punished, I could see sweet little Margaery stabbing the high sparrow herself.

After further thought, I can think of three options for Arya to live. I don't think killing the waif saves her. In fact, it would underscore that she owes the many-faced god another life (hers). If she kills the waif, she will be killed in return, perhaps in the season 7 finale.... 1) Arya passed her test. The house of black and white really is more of a sacred community service than a group of assassins for hire. Perhaps understanding and living this distinction was her final test. In this case, if the waif did indeed want to kill Arya, her trying means the waif failed her training. In this case, Jaqen H'ghar appears and kills the waif, or stops her and releases her. What I don't like about this theory is Jaqen and the waif appear to have shifted and replaced each other at times, meaning the waif is not really in training as she appears, but another face of Jaqen. 2) Arya goes and talks to Lady Crane, only to discover she was the one who wanted herself killed for good reason. Arya kills her before the waif arrives. I will say Jaqen and the waif do NOT say directly the waif will kill Arya, just "her" which could be Lady Crane. 3) The waif goes to kill Lady Crane, who is now on guard. Arya saves the waif, and is owed a life by the many-faced god (hers).

I liked it. How does Arya get out of her situation? Or does she?

My guess is that the knights of the Vale will arrive, and after a very bloody battle the Boltons will soundly be defeated at Winterfell. (Will the Freys turn on them too? I don't understand how they didn't address the reaction to Walda Frey's murder.) As Ramsey is presented to Sansa and others, knowing he is likely headed to a unpleasant death, Ramsey lashes out and kills Rickon, to be killed immediately by someone reacting. I think he lays there smirking up at Sansa as he dies. Bastard!

I was really disappointed when Summer died. But, reflecting on it today, it makes more sense. I think her death thematically signals three things: 1) Winter has arrived (the death of Summer) 2) Brandon is no longer a Stark 3) If anyone cares: Brandon is no longer a child I now think it is likely Bran pushes/pushed the Mad King Aerys over the edge. For a minute, I Bran pulled past Hodor's psyche into future Hodor's body, and thought Hodor might start talking again (and couldn't all those years because most of him had "time traveled" to the future). Why did Hodor's eyes go white in the past, but Bran's did not? Is this just everything getting jumbled because Bran is untrained and has no practice operating inside a vision?

The wolves got a bum deal this week: > Ghost - - How was he not shown leaving with John Snow? > Summer - Did I miss a shot of Summer? It seems like they would have given some indication what he was doing while Bran was tree-warging > Shaggydog - he was always the most wild. I believe "the North Remembers" is a key truth in GOT, so I'm holding out hope Shaggydog died some less-traitorous way than it appear,s and house Umber is using the situation to get close to Ramsey to destroy him.

No, we're pretty open with our daughter and way ahead of the curve talking about sex, death, alcohol etc. (less about drugs, but it comes up sometimes). My real dilemma is that I love love love Janis, and want to watch the full thing, intently. That probably means watching as my daughter does homework (or after she goes to bed). I am comfortable watching shows with these topics with her when we stop and talk if I can she she is "processing." In this case, 1) I don't want to watch my daughter so closely 2) she will be watching passively and likely not speak up about what she sees. I am worried she is going to see someone with a lot of "red flags" and that her dad thinks it is great. While I probably would do this, and circle back with my daughter afterwards if I was a single dad, the extra layer of my wife reacting and potentially questioning my management of the situation is just too much overhead. It would be easier to just wait.

The still shots for the show have Janis smoking and holding bottle of some type. I am as concerned with her tragically low self-esteem, promiscuity etc.. I just don't know what is going to come up. If anyone has already watched it, let me know. I would love to watch with my daughter, but there are too many red flags to jump in blindly.

Me too. Limiting me is that I have a 9 year old daughter. I had introduced her to Janis's music a bit, but I don't think I want her to meet Janis the person until she is older. I'll have to watch after my daughter goes to be d for the night.

Classic! I wonder what John will feel like doing now that he has fulfilled his vow to the Night's Watch. My guess would be to head to Winterfell and kick some ass! http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Night's_Watch#Vows

Happy Name-day! Or that he is a Stark and a Targaryen! I am among those that think John's spirit was in Ghost while his body was unavailable. The books really point this way pretty strongly with other earlier references. I think Bran will at least visit his siblings or their wolves soon. Bran, Arya, and John all have strong warg/skinchanger indications in the books. I want both the books and TV to come back to Arya's estranged wolf, Nymeria, who I think is now queen of the wolves south of the wall, and leader of a formidable pack by now.

I'm with you. What do you think John's first words will be? "I have the worst headache!" or "I had the weirdest dream," or "Olly, I need a word with you."

My take on Bradham: > he has gotten better at being in the right place and has started to play like a comfortable veteran > he hits well when he is in the right place > he does not change direction quickly, and takes longer than most to get up to full speed running > he is not exceptional at anything, but is pretty good at everything > he seems like a good guy who meshes well with the other players

Just before Terrence McGee started missing significant time to injury. April really seemed to know how to draw up the returns with the old four-man wedge leading the way. On the flip side, it was awesomely entertaining to see Jason Peters fly down the field and single-handedly destroy the opposing wedge, making them look like so many bowling pins!

My guesses: Glenn - 4 years, $38 million, with a 5th year option at $12 million ($25 million guaranteed) Incognito - 2 years, $10 million, with a 3rd year option at $7 million ($8 million guaranteed) Gilmore - not re-signed - paid huge contract in FA

1. KC - I am not a big Chiefs fan, but I can't deny having the Royals and Chiefs win it all in the same year would be awesome. I would love to see how the city reacts. 2. Minnesota 3. Arizona 4. Carolina 5. Green Bay 6. Denver 7. Houston 8. Cincinnati 9. Pittsburgh 10. Seattle 11. Washington 12. New England

I agree, but that was not my impression last year and before. However after looking up some stats like YAC for the last few years, maybe I was just optimistic and responding to enthusiasm and streaks of great catches.