Looking Forward Ep. 27 and Awful Television

Oz of Thrones: Greeting and Salutations from the Unsullied Oz of House Oz, where a man is contemplating a contract with Littlefinger to take care of an unruly neighbor. It seems that if you have visitors to your Castle, and visitors disturb the grass of a neighbors castle, this is cause for a tongue-lashing from said neighbor. Being that I am a mild-mannered Lord, I took the lashing in stride while promising to said neighbor that future grass-disturbing incidents would not be tolerated by guests of House Oz. Undisturbed grass is apparently happier grass.

Ozzette’s sentiments were not as kind. “It’s a damn good thing he didn’t come over and talk to me. It’s freakin grass!” My lady has a point. While I somewhat understand the neighbor’s issue, his approach was confrontational and unnecessary, and now there is a weirdness whenever I see he and his very friendly family.

My grandmother always said, “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” I still believe this to be true, as what I really want to do is take the truck over to his front yard and see if I can carve out the Hand of the King symbol in it while spinning my tires. But, a man must have restraint.

Here is the point, if there is one: It’s easier to let your emotions get the best of you; it’s easier to let your children run wild and give them no discipline; and it’s easier to throw a fit when someone unknown touches your chemically-infused centipede. But, is it best for us as a society? The short answer is no. So, how about we try to be civil to one another, especially if it involves something as simple as grass, or GoT message boards. We welcome all Sullied and Un alike to read and comment on non-book reader posts. But be nice. If it involves the book, just don’t mention it here. Cool? *End change-the-world-rant here*

Worst Episode?
A man has been subjected over the past few days to comments such as this: “Worst episode ever”, “dull”, “slow”, and even “boring” in regards to Episode 26 The Climb. Everyone has the right to their opinion, but that opinion may or may not be marginalized based on a rationale for such an opinion. A man also has the right to disagree. Let’s dissect those comments in reverse order:

Boring: No. Just no.

Dull or Slow: If you thought the episode was dull or slow, then you could either be comparing it to other high-intensity dramatic episodes accompanied with climactic scenes or you care very little for most of the characters involved in the episode. There is also a possibility of those that felt that the pacing itself was slow. As I mentioned in the newbie recap, I for one enjoyed the pacing. The episode was not as fast to jump from scene to scene, and we actually got to spend some quality time with some great characters. To each his own, but remember that one of the reasons the shows works is because we take time to invest in the characters, and we gradually get attached to them with some sort of emotional connection before some of them ultimately meet their demise. Otherwise, it would just be killing people. And there is plenty of mindless killing elsewhere on television where someone gets the business and you think, “meh, another fictional television death.”

Worst Episode Ever: This is a relative statement. Is it the worst episode ever on TV? Um, hell to the no. Is it the worst episode of GoT ever? I guess this is debatable. But I remember my father quoting something my great grandfather used to say about another topic: “The worst I ever had was good.” Draw your own conclusion as to what he was referring to. But it fits in this discussion as well….. Was it the worst episode? Arguably. But it was still damn good.

Awful Television
I have said before on many occasions that Game of Thrones has ruined me. I measure every other show by the GoT standard now, which is probably not fair and is undeniably unrealistic in terms of expectation.

Case in point: We don’t get to take in a whole lot of television at House Oz. Ozzette and I both work full time jobs. We are involved in our community. And we are extremely hands-on when it comes to the Ozlings. This leaves about an hour at night for some mindless TV.

The other night, I turned on one of the big four networks to check out the local news and I caught the last ten minutes of a show I have never viewed before. I don’t know what it’s about, or what the plot is, or who the primary players are other than the main character who I did recognize from another series. What I immediately noticed was this: the acting was horrible. The setting was atrocious. The production value was not good. And the scene itself was laughable.

Now, before we get all delvy into how good or bad Episode 26 was, let Oz be your friendly reminder that compared to most shows, especially those on the big four, GoT is head and shoulders above the rest. Yes, I know the budget is bigger, the cast is larger, and not all shows can be filmed in 4 or 5 different countries and be made to look like a feature film. But there is not much excuse for poor writing, directing, and acting.

So, thank you GRRM, D&D, and HBO for giving me this wonderful hour of escapism every week, and for making a lot of other television look like total junk in my eyes. For every positive there is a negative, indeed.

Looking Forward Ep. 27
Please keep in mind that Oz, as well as many others that read and follow are Unsullied (translation: we ain’t read no books). We discuss, speculate, and give our best guess on what might be coming up, as well as story lines that we would like to see more of in the coming episode. Sullied take part, but if it in involves the books, please do not speak of it!

**Are previews that have been released on HBO and other networks considered spoilers? My opinion is no, but if you disagree, read no further!

Here are some things that are true or might be true:

• “The Bear and the Maiden Fair” is the name of the episode, written by George R. R. Martin.
• There could be a bear in it.
• It could involve Brienne, but I don’t know for sure. One of the previews depicted her in what looked like a pit with a gash on her neckline. Doesn’t look good either way.
• Dany meets a guy who could be the leader, or ruler, or president, or slave trader, or dragon bait, of the new location we have seen on the credits called “Yunkai.” This too is only a guess. My primary question here is, what does she need from him or from Yunkai? My first guess is ships. Maybe dragon food? Do they have a Pet Supermarket there? Do they stock dragon food?
• Theon might get tortured.
• Sansa may try to swim out to get on Littlefinger’s boat.
• Loras may swallow a sword.
• Jon Snow may cut off Orell’s sword
• Tormund may be the biggest badass of any of them
• Ygritte may say, “while we wait on the wall, Jon Snow, can you do that thing with your tuuungue?”
• Hodor may say, “Hodor”
• Robb may stay where he is, and…
• Arya may get into some mischief

Other than that, I have no idea. But it should be awesome.

Let’s put out the RSP (Raven Search Party) for Bronn. I may be mistaken, but I don’t think our brothel loving, Tyrion protecting swordsman has been seen since Ep. 2 of the current season.

The last subject of our RSP was for Lancel, and I am beginning to think we are not going to see him this season at all as he recovers from his wound suffered at Blackwater and his sword recovers from being used so much by Cersei. But he will surely be needed later by Cersei, especially if her marriage to Loras goes through and Jaime fails to make it back to King’s Landing.

Again, if you know the answers because you have read the books, or you have answers because you sought them from some other source, please DO NOT GIVE THE ANSWERS!!

Winter is a nice guy, but if he and FaB, HmR, and OitF have to moderate my posts much more, they may send Littlefinger after me. Please be respectful of the Unsullied, and my existence.

Until Monday with the Episode 27 Newbie Recap, have a great weekend! And may there be peace in your realm. -Oz

• Published on 05/10/2013 at 12:51 PM CDT
• Last updated on 10/21/2016 at 12:02 PM CDT