some of them left in one piece and some she damn near broke
Game of Thrones
SO YEAH Jaime's hand was the one thing i was definitively spoiled for because nobody on the internet can shut up about it. Nobody even bothered to wait until the episode to start making jokes! God what a bunch of toolbags amiright
Anyway, that was pretty brutal. As much as it's like "eh, he'll live" and he deserves it for a lifetime of pompous assholery and murder and attempted child murder, i still feel bad for the guy. I mean, not THAT bad since it's the major starting point of his journey to becoming a better human being and all, but within the context of an episode where he was actually being an okay dude for once it's a bit of a downer. More than anything though i'm happy about gruesome turning points for character development, taking away everything that makes an asshole who he is so he's forced to redefine his identity and how he approaches the world, WHAT A GOOD PLOT POINT, I'M EXCITED!!! If this were Doctor Who we'd be getting a Jaime clone in a couple seasons! And if it were Star Wars he'd be getting a robot hand! Everybody loses a hand once in a while.
The whole time Jaime was bargaining for Brienne (which: !!!!!!!) i could barely pay attention because i was too horrified by the screams coming from the forest. GOD NOOOOOO. I'm assuming nothing actually happened to her, since... that was the deal... but they were out there for a distressingly long time. I DON'T LIKE THIS PLACE
Jaime and Brienne tied up on the horse! Arguing about their fight! So delightful i'm falling all over myself. Jaimeeeeeee and Brieeeeennnnnneeeeeeeeee. I spent most of the episode waiting for scenes of them. :/ I'm a little obsessed. :/
The Small Council chair scene was comedy gold. CERSEI, aahhhh
The funeral was a really elegantly concise introduction for Edmure and the Blackfish. GOD, EDMURE. I'm pretty excited that they finally bothered to go to Riverrun! FISHIES!
Whoops i kind of started shipping Dany and Missandei
HOT PIE, awwww. That bread and Arya's reaction to it and Gendry's awkwardness were the cutest.
I have no idea what's going on with Theon and Misfits dude; obviously something's not right, but the only guess i can make based on how cryptic his identity is at this point is Roose Bolton's bastard, except this is too far removed from the way he was introduced in CoK to make any sense. His use of "winter is coming" implies he's loyal to the Starks, but in that case why would he be helping Theon? The story about Asha/Yara waiting for them is obviously a lie since she doesn't give a shit about Theon, but if it's all a trap, why remove Theon from the torture chamber at all? None of it adds up. But if this is all from a much later book, MAYBE IT WILL NEVER ADD UP!
I really liked the version of The Bear and the Maiden Fair during the show, but the credits version was jarring and annoying (and i'm surprised they didn't save it for the upcoming actual bear stuff!). If they were gonna go with something modern and out of place obviously they should have just been playing The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand". Although on the way home from work today Stone Temple Pilots' "Creep" was on the radio, which is one of those '90s songs that is so ubiquitous you don't pay any attention to it anymore, and i fucking busted out laughing because: "take time with a wounded hand, 'cause it likes to heal", "i'm half the man i used to be", HAHAHAHA JAIME
One of the things i'm noticing about this season is that i'm following it a lot better than i did the beginning of last season. It's probably because so far most of the new characters they've introduced are late introductions to characters i already knew from the books, but i dunno if they’re doing it more smoothly as well. I just recall last season i was SO COCKY going into it because i'd just read the first book so i had a much better idea of what was going on and who everybody was, and then i lost that grasp as soon as the show started because they introduced so many new people and places at once.
Survivor
This season was pretty rough with all the Shamar and Brandon awfulness, and the one dominant tribe vs. one loser tribe always gets incredibly annoying to watch so i was really disappointed that that trend continued even after the tribe swap. It's so fucking boring when the challenges are just grueling shit that the physically stronger tribe is obviously going to win every single time.
But these last two episodes have really picked things up and been AMAZING. The merge was so good. I was frustrated that Cochran was commenting on how weird it was that Corinne was so adamant about not voting off Eddie or Reynold without seeing what she was doing, so the relief i felt when Dawn spilled the beans and they got the ball rolling on the blindside only added to how awesome that whole move was. I love that Dawn's backstory totally informed what happened, and that Dawn and Cochran are acting as a team because i like them the best. (and this is adorable)
Plus it was just amazing to watch the smugness melt off of Corinne's face. I love blindsides of people i don’t like! Especially after that famous-last-words clip of her saying she’d never been part of a blindside before and it was time for one. I don’t think she was wrong for being aggravated with Philip, but the way she talked about Michael as "my gay" was what really turned me against her -- just saying that one time would be bad enough, but the fact that it was something she NEVER STOPPED REPEATING and that she kept fixating on him as her prized possession got really, really weird.
Really the main highlight of the season has been Cochran. I liked him a lot his first time around but he could be a little irritating and his social game left a lot to be desired, although it didn't help that he was stuck with a bunch of people who treated him like shit. This time though he's obviously so much more comfortable being in the game and his astute and hilarious commentary has been friggin amazing. HE IS A DELIGHT. So to see him win immunity in the first individual challenge was pretty much the greatest thing i've ever seen.
I haven't been digging Malcolm as much this time around, but it was bound to happen -- a lot of the time if i really liked a player the first time around, they'll probably reveal themselves to be an idiot or an asshole on return plays or i'll just get sick of them, whereas some of my favorite players are people i haaated in their original season (Boston Rob, for one!). The magic of editing! I didn't even like Malcolm at the start of last season -- it wasn't until he and Denise became the heroes of their dying tribe that he grew on me. Without her around this time and not playing as an underdog, his douchey side is revealing itself more. :/
SPEAKING OF DOUCHES THOUGH, Reynold hadn't said anything too terrible in a while, but his comment at the reward last week about the women and how "none of them are worth fucking anyway" was like WOWWWWW WHAT. CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING A REPULSIVE HUMAN BEING. Cochran's confessional about having no interest in "masculine tomfoolery with these numbskulls" was the greatest.
I was loving Andrea and Dawn scheming to get Malcolm out and i was so pissed at Andrea for changing the plan at the last minute just because she was scared, and then it... turned out to be the right move?!? Malcolm's play was BONKERS. It's pretty great that he still hasn't revealed he has his own idol -- i hate when people immediately tell someone -- but the fact that he went so far as to [successfully!!!!] convince Reynold to give him the other idol is some next level shit. I don't think it'll necessarily work out for him in the long run, considering everybody else is still gunning for him AND now he pissed off Reynold, but it was an awesome twist nonetheless. I'm glad he wasn't quite as oblivious as he was seeming throughout the episode.
Anyway, yeah, episodes like these last two remind me why i still love Survivor so much. I don't know how after all these years it can still be the one reality show i'm really invested in, but it is. (i still enjoy The Amazing Race too, but i think the strategy and characters on Survivor make it the more compelling show.) I'm sure it helps that it's basically tradition in my family now to get together to eat pizza and watch Survivor every week, and it's just more fun to watch and comment on it with a group.
SO YEAH Jaime's hand was the one thing i was definitively spoiled for because nobody on the internet can shut up about it. Nobody even bothered to wait until the episode to start making jokes! God what a bunch of toolbags amiright
Anyway, that was pretty brutal. As much as it's like "eh, he'll live" and he deserves it for a lifetime of pompous assholery and murder and attempted child murder, i still feel bad for the guy. I mean, not THAT bad since it's the major starting point of his journey to becoming a better human being and all, but within the context of an episode where he was actually being an okay dude for once it's a bit of a downer. More than anything though i'm happy about gruesome turning points for character development, taking away everything that makes an asshole who he is so he's forced to redefine his identity and how he approaches the world, WHAT A GOOD PLOT POINT, I'M EXCITED!!! If this were Doctor Who we'd be getting a Jaime clone in a couple seasons! And if it were Star Wars he'd be getting a robot hand! Everybody loses a hand once in a while.
The whole time Jaime was bargaining for Brienne (which: !!!!!!!) i could barely pay attention because i was too horrified by the screams coming from the forest. GOD NOOOOOO. I'm assuming nothing actually happened to her, since... that was the deal... but they were out there for a distressingly long time. I DON'T LIKE THIS PLACE
Jaime and Brienne tied up on the horse! Arguing about their fight! So delightful i'm falling all over myself. Jaimeeeeeee and Brieeeeennnnnneeeeeeeeee. I spent most of the episode waiting for scenes of them. :/ I'm a little obsessed. :/
The Small Council chair scene was comedy gold. CERSEI, aahhhh
The funeral was a really elegantly concise introduction for Edmure and the Blackfish. GOD, EDMURE. I'm pretty excited that they finally bothered to go to Riverrun! FISHIES!
Whoops i kind of started shipping Dany and Missandei
HOT PIE, awwww. That bread and Arya's reaction to it and Gendry's awkwardness were the cutest.
I have no idea what's going on with Theon and Misfits dude; obviously something's not right, but the only guess i can make based on how cryptic his identity is at this point is Roose Bolton's bastard, except this is too far removed from the way he was introduced in CoK to make any sense. His use of "winter is coming" implies he's loyal to the Starks, but in that case why would he be helping Theon? The story about Asha/Yara waiting for them is obviously a lie since she doesn't give a shit about Theon, but if it's all a trap, why remove Theon from the torture chamber at all? None of it adds up. But if this is all from a much later book, MAYBE IT WILL NEVER ADD UP!
I really liked the version of The Bear and the Maiden Fair during the show, but the credits version was jarring and annoying (and i'm surprised they didn't save it for the upcoming actual bear stuff!). If they were gonna go with something modern and out of place obviously they should have just been playing The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand". Although on the way home from work today Stone Temple Pilots' "Creep" was on the radio, which is one of those '90s songs that is so ubiquitous you don't pay any attention to it anymore, and i fucking busted out laughing because: "take time with a wounded hand, 'cause it likes to heal", "i'm half the man i used to be", HAHAHAHA JAIME
One of the things i'm noticing about this season is that i'm following it a lot better than i did the beginning of last season. It's probably because so far most of the new characters they've introduced are late introductions to characters i already knew from the books, but i dunno if they’re doing it more smoothly as well. I just recall last season i was SO COCKY going into it because i'd just read the first book so i had a much better idea of what was going on and who everybody was, and then i lost that grasp as soon as the show started because they introduced so many new people and places at once.
Survivor
This season was pretty rough with all the Shamar and Brandon awfulness, and the one dominant tribe vs. one loser tribe always gets incredibly annoying to watch so i was really disappointed that that trend continued even after the tribe swap. It's so fucking boring when the challenges are just grueling shit that the physically stronger tribe is obviously going to win every single time.
But these last two episodes have really picked things up and been AMAZING. The merge was so good. I was frustrated that Cochran was commenting on how weird it was that Corinne was so adamant about not voting off Eddie or Reynold without seeing what she was doing, so the relief i felt when Dawn spilled the beans and they got the ball rolling on the blindside only added to how awesome that whole move was. I love that Dawn's backstory totally informed what happened, and that Dawn and Cochran are acting as a team because i like them the best. (and this is adorable)
Plus it was just amazing to watch the smugness melt off of Corinne's face. I love blindsides of people i don’t like! Especially after that famous-last-words clip of her saying she’d never been part of a blindside before and it was time for one. I don’t think she was wrong for being aggravated with Philip, but the way she talked about Michael as "my gay" was what really turned me against her -- just saying that one time would be bad enough, but the fact that it was something she NEVER STOPPED REPEATING and that she kept fixating on him as her prized possession got really, really weird.
Really the main highlight of the season has been Cochran. I liked him a lot his first time around but he could be a little irritating and his social game left a lot to be desired, although it didn't help that he was stuck with a bunch of people who treated him like shit. This time though he's obviously so much more comfortable being in the game and his astute and hilarious commentary has been friggin amazing. HE IS A DELIGHT. So to see him win immunity in the first individual challenge was pretty much the greatest thing i've ever seen.
I haven't been digging Malcolm as much this time around, but it was bound to happen -- a lot of the time if i really liked a player the first time around, they'll probably reveal themselves to be an idiot or an asshole on return plays or i'll just get sick of them, whereas some of my favorite players are people i haaated in their original season (Boston Rob, for one!). The magic of editing! I didn't even like Malcolm at the start of last season -- it wasn't until he and Denise became the heroes of their dying tribe that he grew on me. Without her around this time and not playing as an underdog, his douchey side is revealing itself more. :/
SPEAKING OF DOUCHES THOUGH, Reynold hadn't said anything too terrible in a while, but his comment at the reward last week about the women and how "none of them are worth fucking anyway" was like WOWWWWW WHAT. CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING A REPULSIVE HUMAN BEING. Cochran's confessional about having no interest in "masculine tomfoolery with these numbskulls" was the greatest.
I was loving Andrea and Dawn scheming to get Malcolm out and i was so pissed at Andrea for changing the plan at the last minute just because she was scared, and then it... turned out to be the right move?!? Malcolm's play was BONKERS. It's pretty great that he still hasn't revealed he has his own idol -- i hate when people immediately tell someone -- but the fact that he went so far as to [successfully!!!!] convince Reynold to give him the other idol is some next level shit. I don't think it'll necessarily work out for him in the long run, considering everybody else is still gunning for him AND now he pissed off Reynold, but it was an awesome twist nonetheless. I'm glad he wasn't quite as oblivious as he was seeming throughout the episode.
Anyway, yeah, episodes like these last two remind me why i still love Survivor so much. I don't know how after all these years it can still be the one reality show i'm really invested in, but it is. (i still enjoy The Amazing Race too, but i think the strategy and characters on Survivor make it the more compelling show.) I'm sure it helps that it's basically tradition in my family now to get together to eat pizza and watch Survivor every week, and it's just more fun to watch and comment on it with a group.