[Re-Watch Project 6x08] No One - Discussion

I thought it was another solid episode, Really loved the scenes at Riverrun, Meereen was slow as usual, although I did like the farewell scene with Tyrion and Varys. I loved the scene with the Waif and Arya, I just wished we could have seen the fight. Arya telling Jaqen she is going home was one of my favorite moments of the season.

I too enjoyed this episode, probably more on re-watch than I did the first time around. I jumped on the wave of criticism about Arya's getaway scene because there was a lot of negativity aimed at it and Arya being my favorite character story overall made me a little defensive and disappointed in it. Firstly because it was previously set up badly with her seeming to get duped by the waif when we know Arya would have known better than to get near any stranger ... she knows the FM can appear as anyone. Then, this episode compounds some of the disbelief in how quickly she seems to recover from her wounds and take off again on a wild street chase. To be fair, as others have pointed out, we don't know how many days she had been sleeping there to recover her energy and adrenaline is certainly a hell of a thing when you're running for your life. It's enough I can suspend disbelief and am left only minorly disliking the way they directed the waif's 'Terminator' demeanor in the chase. The waif has always been an arrogant bitch but here she came across weirdly robotic and comic book villainous.

The ending with Arya's returning the waif's face in repayment of the debt owed was well done and more than made up for the fumbles of the earlier scenes.





The rest of the episode was absolutely spot on perfect. Jaime again paired off with great combos in the Riverrun siege. The scene between he and Edmure Tully was a total shocker for me because I previously only remembered Edmure being the bumbling idiot who couldn't even shoot a straight arrow to light his Father's funeral boat on fire and then suckered into a Frey wedding. Here, years later we see a much different Edmure Tully... one hardened by imprisonment and the reality of his situation. It was a surprise and amazingly powerful scene for Jaime. For that briefest moment we see where Edmure got under his skin and made a point. Jaime only pulls it back together by focusing on the one thing that's always given him power - his love (obsession?) with Cersei...



Bronn and Pod were awesome together as were Brienne and Jaime. The look they gave one another in the tent, as well as waving goodbye to one another in the end after the siege were both clearly telling. There's more there than either of them is comfortable with and able to express in words.

I'm glad Sandor got his justice from the men who killed his friend Ray even if it wasn't the way he would have wanted to do it. I'm also glad there's still plenty of fight left in him as he joins the Brotherhood heading northward for Season 7!

Cersei's resolve is definitely set in this episode when she's reduced to standing in the gallery to hear the decree by her son that trial by combat is now abolished. I believe this was the turning point for her where she realizes she has truly lost her son to the High Sparrow and her vengeance is just simmering there beneath the surface of her hardened look. Each person who has spat in her face in turn... The High Sparrow, Margaery, Kevan, Lancel ... they are done for and you can see it, you just have no idea how she's going to do it at this point!

Last but certainly not least ... my favorite conqueror queen has just arrived back home and she's PISSED. I loved it.

Never would this have dawned on me! I'm so glad you pointed it out.


I feel that way about the Tyrion, Missandei and GreyWorm scenes, too, and I've loved their interaction in Meereen. They've really gotten to know each other well through it - the way GreyWorm and Missandei 'fuss' back and forth with Tyrion over the way he handles the Masters reminds me a little bit of how siblings pick at each other - really a bonding thing underneath it all.

I agree too. For all the criticism their scenes got, they were at least some light-hearted comic relief in an otherwise very serious few episodes. "I make joke" from Grey Worm was great, and Missandei's tipsy giggling at him. The smile he gave her was perfect because we got the hint he was happy to make her laugh and is madly in love with her.

Guess I'll be the outlier. I didn't really enjoy this one. I mean I still gave it a 6, but that's low for me

There were of course some parts I really enjoyed. King's Landing was good. I am so glad that Tommen dies in 10 because I am sick to death of hearing that "two pillars" line over and over again.

I think that most of the Riverrun stuff - everything up to the first part of the last scene - is really well done. It's really nice seeing Jaime & Brienne (and Bronn & Pod) reuinite. Jaime in the tent with Edmure was also good. And I love the conversation on the walls of Riverrun between the Blackfish and "his" men, and the Lannisters walking in and the banners fall down. All very well-executed.

Unfortunately, they killed the Blackfish off-screen, and that is simply unforgivable to me. The number of times we've heard how he's this great warrior, and the closest we get is slightly unsheathing his sword to the Tully men. And it feels so lazy the way they tell us he died. "He died fighting" ... then nothing. Absolutely nothing. Such an underwhelming moment.



The Tyrion-Grey Worm-Missandei scene was okay, better than the first to be sure, but it just goes on for too damn long. And I didn't like Dany's return much either. It's just kinda ... awkward. It's like 'She's back!' Aaaand ... that's it. Again, underwhelming.

That first scene with the Hound is so pointless it may as well not be there. Why not just have the two other guys from last episode with the leader? Why are they separate in the first place? It's just not very well thought-out for the sake of some bad jokes and gratuitous violence (which also goes on for too long). The second Hound scene was okay, I guess. Nice seeing Beric and Thoros again, even if the execution is, again, kinda awkward. "Oh hi Sandor, wanna come North with us?"

And Braavos. Oh boy. If someone asked me "what is plot armour?" I would show them Arya's scenes from this episode and the last. Areo Hotah dies instantly from a tiny shiv in the back and Arya survives a slice to the stomach, numerous stabs, and a huge fall. After the way she was just casually strolling about with a cult of murderous face-changing assassins after her last episode, she deserved to die. She really did.
The Waif is just some cartoon villain with weak motivation, and the actual chase sequence is poorly executed. "I'm so jealous of you I'm going to stop while chasing you so I can adjust my clothes and stare at you menacingly, then monologue before I kill you! Muahahaha!"
And the Faceless Men... what a letdown. There's no kind of punishment for betraying them and murdering one of them? And Jaqen nods at her. How about a wink? Or a "good luck, kiddo!"? They're just gonna let her leave? I really hope they come back in some way in the future, otherwise this is probably gonna be my least favourite episode of the whole show. (no spoilers though you spoiler-hounds!)

I did like her last line though, and killing the Waif in darkness is pretty smart.