Game of Thrones Season 6 episode 9 "The Battle of the Bastards" discussion

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Comments

  • I know its going to be an unpopular opinion but thats how I felt,

    four+ volleys of arrows and jon stood right where the two sides clashed. Him being one of the main targets of the battle.

    Jon dodging every arrow, sword and everything else was kinda dumb Anyone who survives a battle like that must have luck on his side. So was Jon lucky? Yes - just like everyone else who survived that chaos.

  • He is main target for Boltons, but at the same time he is the most protected man when it comes to his own men.

    I know its going to be an unpopular opinion but thats how I felt, four+ volleys of arrows and jon stood right where the two sides clashed. Him being one of the main targets of the battle.

  • Jon dodging every arrow, sword and everything else was kinda dumb, it just took me out of the scene completely.

    Yup all that and 100% fine.

    Lets be honest the Boltons should have won, tactically they were 10 times better, Jon fell for the trap and got surrounded, they broke formation and were outnumbered to begin with.

     Not as bad as 20 good men but still ridiculous. I wanted to add that Ramsay also had the most powerful houses in the North behind him (pretty much). May fortune favor the main character

    I thought the episode was decent Positives * The battle was cool I guess * The mereen battle and everything with it was really good

  • edited June 2016

    But you know, they would have won. They had the advantage and Jon made a mistake with going into Ramsay's trap - and that would've led to Bolton's victory. The reason the Starks won was the Vale army, so I really don't get what's so ridiculous about it? Predictable? Perhaps, but completely logical.

    Clemenem posted: »

    Jon dodging every arrow, sword and everything else was kinda dumb, it just took me out of the scene completely. Yup all that and 100

  • I'm talking about the scene after the Battle)

    It scares me that Sansa actually seemed to never care about Rickon. Nah, I think she did care, she is just thinking rationally. I me

  • Yes, he was screwed anyway.

    Wolfenus54 posted: »

    That moment when Rickon runs straight and you are yelling at the screen:"zig zag rickon zig zag!" I don't think that Rickon would es

  • Huh? You mean when they brought the body? I didn't really pay attention to Sansa in that scene.

    Ace24_ posted: »

    I'm talking about the scene after the Battle)

  • I like how Littlefinger was just smiling and that's all he did in the episode, besides bringing the army.

    He has the face like he's won the Game of Thrones

    KCohere posted: »

    Dang, I wish Theon could have been there to see Ramsay die, but that works too. The Bolton family did so much to the Starks, the last being

  • Just want to point out that Ramsey mentioned his hounds being starved after Sansa rode off from the group.

    But other than that, I'm so glad to see the battle of the bastsrds be more than Jon and Sansa. Yara was perfect, Tyrion was perfect... Greyworm was sooooo perfect.

    I think the extras in the battle did a really great job. They made the battle look so realistic, like they were trying to actually kill each other.

    Iwan Rheon will be missed, he was not only a great presence in the show but a masterful actor, especially in this episode. Loved Davos and Tormund..

    Can't wait for this ToJ reveal next week

    Ten outta ten

  • Just want to point out that Ramsey mentioned his hounds being starved after Sansa rode off from the group.

    Yeah, noticed this too with second viewing. Not a plothole necessarily since Jon (or Davos or Lyanna or...) could've had told her. Change the line to "I heard you haven't been feeding them lately." or something like that and it would have been perfect :p

    ShaneGrimes posted: »

    Just want to point out that Ramsey mentioned his hounds being starved after Sansa rode off from the group. But other than that, I'm so gl

  • Hopefully Lyanna. I need her to be in the next episode

    Just want to point out that Ramsey mentioned his hounds being starved after Sansa rode off from the group. Yeah, noticed this too wi

  • edited June 2016

    How many dogs did Ramsay have in that pen? I can't remember.

  • Btw, speaking of Lyanna, some interesting casting news (for season 7) earlier this week: a teenage Northern girl, and ~10 yo Northern boy. And they are supposed to be in an important scene with lead cast. Many have speculated that these are Alys Karstark and Smalljon Umber's son, doing some Northern politics with Jon, Sansa & co. I liked Alys Karstark in the books so I hope it's true :) The North is basically ruled by child lords/ladies at this point :D

    ShaneGrimes posted: »

    Hopefully Lyanna. I need her to be in the next episode

  • (Internally screams)

    Can't wait for the children of the thrones to take over... At literally the worst possible time

    Btw, speaking of Lyanna, some interesting casting news (for season 7) earlier this week: a teenage Northern girl, and ~10 yo Northern boy. A

  • I bet he thinks he has if he is planning to force Sansa to marry him.

    ShaneGrimes posted: »

    I like how Littlefinger was just smiling and that's all he did in the episode, besides bringing the army. He has the face like he's won the Game of Thrones

  • Greatjon must be rolling in his grave. He was true blue at least.

    And for some reason, I find Smalljon Umber far more threatening than Ramsay. He made a badass speech. He reminded me a bit of Harys from the

  • As do I, especially little lady Mormont.

    Let us remember the unsung heroes. The warriors of House Mormont, Hornwood and Mazin. They stayed loyal and many gave their lives to restore the Starks to power. I hope the survivors gets rewarded for their loyalties.

  • I have a particular feeling that LF may be the first to see the wrath of winter.

    That scene was by a weirwood tree.. Would be pretty cool to see it happen. As much as I love Aiden Gillen on the show I wouldn't have a problem if he goes out in that way, especially after what I think might happen at the weirwood.

    Not only marriage, he would want an heir to Winterfell. I could see the episode getting real creepy.

    KCohere posted: »

    I bet he thinks he has if he is planning to force Sansa to marry him.

  • Is Alys Karstark a child in books? I only remember she married Sigorn the magnar of Thenn.

    Btw, speaking of Lyanna, some interesting casting news (for season 7) earlier this week: a teenage Northern girl, and ~10 yo Northern boy. A

  • I have a huge boner for Sansa right now.

    The Forresters send their regards. But still, I'm gonna miss Ramsay. A very fitting end to an awesome villain, just like Joffrey.

  • All right, I'll be there at your funeral.

    I have a huge boner for Sansa right now.

  • edited June 2016

    Honestly, I just wanted to see more Ramsey. There is not anyone to really hate like that. Cersei hate is not as strong this season, most likely the Freys will be dealt with next episode, technically Euron is not much of a factor to the realm yet.

    KCohere posted: »

    Can I ask why? It seems theyre going to be focusing on Kings landing next episode and winding down the Winterfell part.

  • It would be some nice poetic justice if Tormund becomes the new lord of Last Hearth. Thus gaining control over the Umber lands. :)

  • Ok, I've rewatched the Battle of the Bastards and now I have another question.

    When Ramsay has shot a funal arrow that killed Wun Wun, Jon was standing right next to the giant and didn't even move. Why didn't Ramsay try to kill Jon? That was really stupid. He just wasted his arrow. He could've killed his enemy!

  • She's like fifteen or sixteen IIRC

    Euron posted: »

    Is Alys Karstark a child in books? I only remember she married Sigorn the magnar of Thenn.

  • I'm still conflicted over this episode.

    On one hand, it was a masterful work of artistic genius... the best episode of the season, and one of the best episodes, overall, of the entire show.

    On the other hand, Ramsay was so, so underwhelming throughout it, I can't help but feel sour over the fact. (They made him into a Joffrey-esque coward... so much so, when Jon knocked him the fuck out, it wasn't even satisfying. I felt like I could have done it, Ramsay was so pathetic by that point).

    It just feels so disconnected to the character I've been watching on screen for over three years now... does anyone else feel the same? It doesn't seem like it, though I've just put it down to people being too gladdened by his death to care (which I understand).

  • I wouldn't say coward - he acted like a rational commander. Unlike Jon, who would've got all his men slaughtered if Littlefinger hadn't come to save them.

    DillonDex posted: »

    I'm still conflicted over this episode. On one hand, it was a masterful work of artistic genius... the best episode of the season, and on

  • I get that, and Ramsay clearly outperformed Jon in terms of tactics... but never getting involved in the battle, never even drawing his sword, running away at the first sign of trouble; this doesn't feel like the same character who rushed a wall of Ironborn soldiers with a knife and no shirt, who took on Stannis' army last season, and so forth.

    I just wanted him and Jon to fight, but they didn't. I wanted Ramsay to go out as he lived; an evil, yet fearless, and totally psychopathic badass. But he didn't. And in the end, he reminded me of Joffrey at the Battle of Blackwater, more than anything else.

    I'm glad you answered, though. :) You always seem to put an optimistic spin on this stuff, and that's what I'm looking for, really. It's not like I want to feel negatively about this.

    I wouldn't say coward - he acted like a rational commander. Unlike Jon, who would've got all his men slaughtered if Littlefinger hadn't come to save them.

  • Aye, true commanders stays behind his line to have an overview of how the battle is happening. Stannis is for example known to be a commander from the rear, and he's one of the best battle commander known. (the show put him in frontline for more badassery I guess). Otherwise you end up dead or injured, just as Robb ended. Though shooting arrows on your own troops isn't the act of a rational commander :P

    As for the comparison with Joffrey DillonDex made: Joffrey commanded just nothing, and he left when shit was going on, while Ramsay did and retreated to his castle just as any other sane lord would do. It also felt more in character with how his book counterpart is.

    I wouldn't say coward - he acted like a rational commander. Unlike Jon, who would've got all his men slaughtered if Littlefinger hadn't come to save them.

  • Of course she cared about him. He was her little brother, but she is trying to be strong and seeing her young brother like that might have been a little hard to take in that moment. Not everyone reacts to grief by breaking down and falling apart.

    Ace24_ posted: »

    RIP Ramsay and His fucking plot armour( already missing Iwan Rheon) Boltons Got Littlefingered. That moment when Rickon runs straight and

  • I have heard that they originally planned for Jon and Ramsay to fight in the battlefield. But they changed it to Winterfell's yard.

    I still wish that Jon and Ramsay have a proper one on one duel, but if I were Ramsay, I would have probably used my preferred fighting style as well.

    DillonDex posted: »

    I'm still conflicted over this episode. On one hand, it was a masterful work of artistic genius... the best episode of the season, and on

  • I recall hearing that, too. Maybe it was in the "Inside the Episode," thing or something?

    And yes, which is basically the crux of my only complaint with the otherwise perfect episode, not only did Ramsay and Jon never fight... but Ramsay just looked so unthreatening, especially at the end. Which feels so wrong to me. What happened to the Ramsay who suicide charged Greyjoy soldiers with no armour and just a knife, where did he go!?

    Again, I still loved the episode, and I'm glad it is getting all the praise that it is, I just wish they handled Ramsay differently.

    I have heard that they originally planned for Jon and Ramsay to fight in the battlefield. But they changed it to Winterfell's yard. I sti

  • but never getting involved in the battle, never even drawing his sword, running away at the first sign of trouble

    Well, perhaps he should've unsheathed the sword at the courtyard instead of using the bow, but other than that there wasn't really a reason for it. And it was basically thousands of men vs. Ramsay and 2 of his officers when LF arrived. Again, I'd say it's more rationality than cowardice to retreat to Winterfell at that point.

    this doesn't feel like the same character who rushed a wall of Ironborn soldiers with a knife and no shirt

    That's one of my least favorite scenes in GoT so I'm actually glad about that :D

    who took on Stannis' army last season

    He did lead the cavalry last year, but that was against a beaten down infantry. That was basically a massacre. BotB was very different kind of battle in nature, and someone needed to lead the forces from behind and stay on top of the situation. But yeah, I understand, that's not very badass, especially seeing how Jon led his men. Then again, it was Jon's worst mistake in the battle.

    I just wanted him and Jon to fight, but they didn't.

    Understandable. I guess a duel in the courtyard would have been good, though Jon is better with sword so the outcome would've been the same.

    he reminded me of Joffrey at the Battle of Blackwater, more than anything else.

    With the exception that Joffrey was there only to let everyone see his shiny armor and to giggle for Stannis' soldiers burning, while Ramsay actually was a key element in his army's success (until the Vale army's arrival).

    You always seem to put an optimistic spin on this stuff, and that's what I'm looking for, really.

    Hah, I guess it's just that I always try to see and understand what they were going for with each choice in the storytelling :D Obviously there are mistakes there too, but this is an episode I have already fell deeply in love with so I am quite eager to counter any criticisms of it when I feel there is something to counter with :p

    DillonDex posted: »

    I get that, and Ramsay clearly outperformed Jon in terms of tactics... but never getting involved in the battle, never even drawing his swor

  • Cause he got a lucky shot off. Everyone else turned to Ramsey after the shot... Forcing his hand

    Ok, I've rewatched the Battle of the Bastards and now I have another question. When Ramsay has shot a funal arrow that killed Wun Wun, Jo

  • Though shooting arrows on your own troops isn't the act of a rational commander :P

    Yeah that's true :D Though I suppose they were the ones who could afford doing that, while Davos was wise to pass it because they were already short on men. But I imagine it's not good for the morale of the forces to see their own get killed by arrows coming from behind, shot by their own archers xD

    Euron posted: »

    Aye, true commanders stays behind his line to have an overview of how the battle is happening. Stannis is for example known to be a commande

  • Guys I think we have to realize how much his character changed over the course of his tenure from the Bastard son to the Warden of The North. As much as we could say it was in character for him to go straight psycho and rush Jon, it was actually much smarter to try and beat Jon by securing Winterfell.

    He didn't want to fight Jon. He was terrified of Jon. Im not sure I can say that maybe his demons finally caught up with him, but when he was getting punched he looked like he knew he kinda deserved it.

    DillonDex posted: »

    I'm still conflicted over this episode. On one hand, it was a masterful work of artistic genius... the best episode of the season, and on

  • When Jon kept punching him and he smiled, I thought about Batman and Joker :D

    ShaneGrimes posted: »

    Guys I think we have to realize how much his character changed over the course of his tenure from the Bastard son to the Warden of The North

  • Because of how they handled Ramsay, I saw Smalljon Umber as the far more threatening antagonist in the battle.

    DillonDex posted: »

    I recall hearing that, too. Maybe it was in the "Inside the Episode," thing or something? And yes, which is basically the crux of my only

  • And that's how it should be ;)

    Focking goatfockers!

    Because of how they handled Ramsay, I saw Smalljon Umber as the far more threatening antagonist in the battle.

  • A lot of people are suggesting that her plan was to use jon as bait and then unveil her knights (jon would have wasted them) as she knew he would be reckless. Additionally it has been suggested that perhaps even with the ( repressed internal) hope of him being killed. Thus giving her the power over the army rather than loyalty be divided.

    I think the first part is more likely than the second and honestly quite good strategy if anything. Plus it shows elements of cersei and littlefinger who have been her main teachers.

    KCohere posted: »

    Of course she cared about him. He was her little brother, but she is trying to be strong and seeing her young brother like that might have been a little hard to take in that moment. Not everyone reacts to grief by breaking down and falling apart.

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