Small Council S8 E3 “The Long Night”

Published April 30, 2019 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hey guys,

Great instacast as always, here is my take on things. The anxiety. The stress level. The yelling at the tv. All of it. After this episode was over I wanted more and it took sitting down and writing this out to really crystallize my thinking. I have been talking with friends and listening you guys and it’s clear the I’m in the “Prophecy” camp. I have unanswered questions.

First: What’s the deal with the Prince or Princess who was promised? Is it officially Arya? Is she Renly’s Ham, born in smoke and salt? Smoke from Gendry’s forge when he told her he was staying with the Brotherhood and salt from her tears as he was taken by the Red Woman is the best I can come up with. Whatever, it doesn’t matter because she is and always will be the GOAT assassin!!! She can’t kill Cersei because it would be too obvious now. “Let’s just send Arya, she can do anything!” Also, I would like to nominate the “Jordan Hand Switch” as best Arya Meme for episode 3.

https://images.app.goo.gl/thJhN4aFCkrMv2fTA

Second: The Night King was waaaay too relaxed. If he can come up with a plan to get a dragon and knock down the wall he is thinking things through. In classic Bond Villain style, he walks away from Jon instead of making sure Jon is finished off, he took his time in the godswood instead of just sending in a bunch of his Lieutenants to take care of business, and he played hero ball instead of delegating. My best “Night King meme” nominee has to be questioning the defensive effort of your teammates.

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Third, the body count. We’ve got Sam, Brienne, Jamie Grey Worm and Pod fighting their way out of multiple pile ups. While I’m all for keeping the starting lineup intact, at some point they needed to get to some cover to make it more believable (yes I know I’m complaining about believability in a show with dragons). Edd took one for Sam, House Mormont is for all intents and purposes wiped out and Theon completed his redemption arc. I’m over here more frustrated that the body count isn’t higher until I did some thinking. Jorah never stopped fighting for danaerys until the wights all dropped. Then he collapsed. Edd saved Sam, in a selfless act of brotherhood. Theon. There were times throughout this series that I couldn’t watch what Theon was going through. All he really wanted was to be loved and now he will be forever. My nomination for an “In Memorium” came from Twitter

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Tyrion grabbing that huuuuge wineskin on his way down to the “safest place in winterfell” was perfect for his character and also because he was evidently meeting up with the Real Housewives for a drink. Sanaa’s lesson on fighting from Arya was such a great throwback line! I liked the two of them together this week and it feels like they have a better bond now than before. But I do love this one so here’s the Sansa / Tyrion meme nominee

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Finally Bran. I spent so much emotional energy on bran. Why? Warg in to something! Help out! Contribute! Finally twitter instructed me why Bran didn’t do any of those things, because he knew what needed to happen. Not what we needed but what the story needed. My last meme nomination is just a screenshot of the tweet the brought it all together for me.

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I have been critical of the writing of this show after they diverged from the books. I wasn’t awful about it but I was of that opinion. I stand corrected. That’s how you bring it all together.

Thanks guys for all of the incredible work you put in. I know that memes are a visual so I’ll understand if you don’t use my submission on the podcast but thanks for taking the time to read my meanderings. Take care

Paul Everson

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