EccentricLily

I have re-watched the scene, with many stop-action pauses. Nothing happens inside the crypt until after the NK raises the newly dead. Then the first hand punches through a sarcophagus. Note how thin the ‘wall’ is, and how hollow within the opening. The body is enshrouded and tumbles out, still loosely wrapped. Shortly afterward a second one punches through at the upper right corner of another sarcophagus. I contend that if the first wight had burrowed through earth and stone to break into the crypt, its attire would have been shredded and torn and filthy. If the crypt sits below Winterfell as described, any wights would have had a great deal of tunneling to do. As an aside, in the fourth chapter (“Eddard”) of the book Game of Thrones: “...By ancient custom an iron longsword had been laid across the lap of each who had been Lord of Winterfell, to keep vengeful spirits in their crypts. The oldest had long ago rusted away to nothing, leaving only a few red stains where the metal had rested on stone. Ned wondered if that meant those ghosts were free to roam the castle now. He hoped not. …” Perhaps there were a few Starks who had no swords, but whose bones yet remained. In a later scene of this episode, the fugitives in the crypt are gathered about several unbroken tombs whose statues still have swords. I would just as soon the Stark dead had not been affected by the NK, but this is why it seems to me at least some of them were.

It looked to me as though several of these were swathed in cerements so, yes, right from the grave, er, sarcophagus! Ugh. It really is a shame we weren't shown Sansa and Tyrion resisting the wights along with the others; this left an unfavorable impression of them both.

You're out shopping, you see a sign reading "GOT Gift Cards", and you think "Game of Thrones gift cards??"

How about the Green BBQ?

I freely admit that Arya’s brazen parading of herself and her coin through the streets of Braavos irritated the heck out of me. How could they blow it so badly? Having watched three times, this is all I can come up with: Arya made her decision to leave the guild of assassins, suspecting lethal resistance was likely. She was deliberately larking about Braavos with her bags of silver in order to smoke out the Waif and lure her back to her den…and Needle. And although the Waif was quicker and more deadly than a girl had anticipated, she ultimately managed to carry out her plan. This was the outcome Jaqen was hoping for. The look of concern on his face as he followed the bloody trail in the House of Black and White told me that he was worried the new addition on the wall might actually be Arya’s. His little smile and subtle dip of the chin when she announced she was Arya Stark etc. gave me to believe this was his plan all along. I think he took a liking to Arya following his rescue by her in Westeros and decided the best way to assure her survival there was to hone her self-defense skills, at the same time conveniently facilitating her ability to check the names off her List. If there was a deeper reason, it’s beyond me. The Seven only know what Martin’s version will be, but Jaqen wasn’t even at the House of Black and White as far as I can remember. (Now I’m wondering who the Waif was to begin with, but don’t suppose we’ll ever know. )

Sorry; having trouble with the Quote thingy. (Trying to post for the first time with a reluctant iPad; please forgive.) Wanted to say that I thought the remark about Benjen's head ringing like a bell sounded familiar! Thanks for bringing that up, Eyes High. Also loved Stillshimpy's remark about slowly peeling Ramsay with a potato peeler. That would be wonderful, indeed! (Would like to have quoted, but don't want to be here until midnight.) As for my general observations, I loved the flashback; it was fine to see happiness at Winterfell, and to meet Lyanna at last. And--complete surprise--Wylis! One can only imagine Hodor’s wonder at being addressed as “Wylis” by Bran after so many years as “Hodor”. It must be a relief. Another relief: I’m glad we are over the Jon-Snow-is-Dead/Alive hump; I was afraid it would occur later rather than sooner. (It reminded me of Ben’s bringing Ruthie ‘back’ in Carnivale, but I suppose there are only so many ways to portray someone waking from the dead.) I wondered whether Ghost had anything to do with Jon's resurrection--surely his own awakening and that upward glance were not coincidental. Davos and Melisandre’s conversation was interesting in light of their history and relationship in earlier seasons. I’m curious to see how the result of her work alters her demeanor next time. One of Jon’s stab wounds was crescent-shaped. How did that happen? Loved Davos’ apology for his lack of fighting ability. He’s a keeper; always thought so. ...And Tormund’s succinct “Until you” following Thorne’s brag about the Night’s Watch fending off the Wildlings for thousands of years. I hope they shut that creep Ollie in an ice cell and forget about him. Tyrion’s visit with the dragons. Maybe I’m being too realistic here, but wouldn’t a dragon’s den reek? The uneaten raw meat and their breath could be just a bit unpleasant. IMO Tyrion was brave going down there without so much as a kerchief over his nose. Can’t wait for Dany to find out someone else has a way with her pets. And we’re still not finished with Ramsay Bolton. Enough already. Seeing him meet a really gruesome end would be great--bring on that potato peeler!--but at this point I’d accept his being plugged in the back with an arrow loosed at great distance. The actress playing Walda did well in her brief role portraying her fear and distaste, even while believing she was still under husband Roose’s protection. Now if only dear Walder will learn of her fate. Good to see Arya moving on with her apprenticeship as one of the Faceless Men, and I am happy Jaqen apparently believes her claims to have no name. (I don’t.) Completely bored with Tommen. But Jonathan Pryce and Max von Sydow in the same episode? --O, be still my beating heart!

I enjoyed the final season very much for the most part, despite Daisy’s histrionics. The first season and the final are my favorites of the entire series. I really have no complaints about the final episode, even with the seemingly overabundance of fortuitous events and happy endings. I decided to simply accept them as they were written, even if such an abundance of fair fortune seldom occurs during such a brief span of time, and especially at Downton Abbey. I like to think that at some future date, having gathered for reasons sad or festive, the Crawleys and their friends will think back to that one remarkable holiday season back in 1924 when they had so much to celebrate and be thankful for, before gloomy events of one sort or another closed in on their world yet again. I would love to hear all of the reminiscing. One thing really did jump out at me. Maybe it was her blue eyes and coloring, and the cloche, but Bertie’s mother’s looks so reminded me of Lady Diana Cooper at a similar age that I poked Mr. Beetle in the ribs and said so. Just imagine my surprise when I looked up actress Patricia Hodge and discovered that she had played Lady Diana in 1978’s “Edward and Mrs. Simpson”. (Must dust that set off and re-watch.) I’ll miss the show, the unbelievable costumes, the accoutrements, the settings, and most of the characters. I’ll miss reading the rehashing on the message boards. I just can’t quite believe it’s finished. What a yawning void has Sunday night become! (And holy smokes, what a change in gears to switch to Game of Thrones late next month.)

Yes, I think Daisy needs a brief meeting with the Bus of Justice, and the sooner, the better! Aside from her asinine behavior, and that of Carson, I enjoyed the episode. My favorite scene was Robert's with the young 'philosopher'. So unexpected, and so human. I wonder what other rooms the little dickens investigated during his wanderings. Also, enjoyed hearing the word "swanky" used again. The only person I have ever heard use it was my grandfather (born in 1903)! I never realized it was a 1920's term.

Beautiful. (You obviously watch Game of Thrones, too!) ETA: GoT remark

O, two thumbs up! As for Thomas, in the last episode his pallor, dark eyes and slicked-back hair reminded me of Rudolph Valentino. I had no trouble whatever picturing him costumed as The Sheik. Does anyone else remember Harriet Walter as Julia Comstock in “Keep the Aspidistra Flying” (“A Merry War” in the US)? Jim Carter is there too, along with Richard E. Grant and Helena Bonham-Carter. (It’s a gem.) Mary. I've always liked her in spite of the sniping. At times I get the impression she snipes at Edith purely because it's expected of her. As far as the monkey-typewriter-Bible remark, I assumed she was emphasizing the unlikelihood of her own compliments to Edith.