# Game of Thrones 5.03 "High Sparrow" 4/26/15 \[Show Discussion\]

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 26, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583 "2015-04-26T17:06:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 16\
**Page:** 9

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**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/161 "2015-04-30T03:56:04Z")

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> [@LawMonkey](#):
>
> Ser Prize… are you related, by any chance, to Ser Pounce?
> 
> Sorry, couldn’t resist. 🆒
> 
> Also, hey, I’d last a lifetime in GoT!

Yeah, but he doesn’t return my phone calls.

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**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/162 "2015-04-30T04:01:06Z")

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> [@Mijin](#):
>
> No, I’m sure it was death or the wall, and more choose death. I think it was Tyrion that said it, which takes us way, way back.
> 
> My gf just got into GoT (thanks to me!) and is watching series 1 now. I’ll ask her to listen out for that line (it’s gonna sound like one hell of a geek request…)

[https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=gahBVcGTCMacNsCRgeAH&url=http://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Do5kxiJYJNVA&ved=0CBwQtwIwAA&usg=AFQjCNFFw\_T3e2U93fi-xL-RozTgHunuSg&sig2=1GsqNVRAxGl0OK1-5zT8TA](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=gahBVcGTCMacNsCRgeAH&url=http://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Do5kxiJYJNVA&ved=0CBwQtwIwAA&usg=AFQjCNFFw_T3e2U93fi-xL-RozTgHunuSg&sig2=1GsqNVRAxGl0OK1-5zT8TA)

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**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/163 "2015-04-30T04:31:00Z")

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Ah, right you are. I was thinking the line was “Most choose the blade” and thought it was in the context of beheading.  
Thanks, ignorance fought.

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**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/164 "2015-04-30T07:26:52Z")

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> [@Tangent](#):
>
> Was Arya’s direwolf still alive, last we saw? Way back when she drove her away so she wouldn’t be killed on the trip to King’s Landing?
> 
> Robb’s and Sansa’s wolves are dead.
> 
> Ghost is with Jon at the Wall.
> 
> Rickon and Bran’s wolves are with each of them?

Hmmmn, yes, Jon’s hasn’t even featured for a bit. It was let loose at the battle of the wall last season, but it seems to be the only one in play at the moment…

I don’t think Arya’s has featured since season 1…

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**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/165 "2015-04-30T13:28:56Z")

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> [@Smid](#):
>
> Hmmmn, yes, Jon’s hasn’t even featured for a bit. It was let loose at the battle of the wall last season, but it seems to be the only one in play at the moment…
> 
> I don’t think Arya’s has featured since season 1…

An establishing shot this week showed Ghost chowing down on a bone.

Technically Bran’s and the youngest son’s are also “active” but we aren’t following either character at the moment. I think Arya’s is the only one that is MIA. The rest are either dead ( ☹ ) or with their charges. As an aside I never really understood why the creeps who took over the house north of the wall didn’t kill Ghost but I am glad they didn’t.

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**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/166 "2015-04-30T22:52:16Z")

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> [@Quimby](#):
>
> As an aside I never really understood why the creeps who took over the house north of the wall didn’t kill Ghost but I am glad they didn’t.

It was a power thing for the knifey guy. He could hold dominion over a fierce beast.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/167 "2015-05-02T05:03:46Z")

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> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> I don’t think Ned Stark executed that deserter because of any special oversight of the wall, but because the guy deserted from his position on the Night’s Watch. That’s a capital offense anywhere in Westeros.

You make a excellent point here.

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**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/168 "2015-05-03T14:18:16Z")

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How many night’s watch people are at Castle Black? Seems like a real small number based on the election and other scenes. Not sure how that small group is supposed to guard the wall.

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**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/169 "2015-05-03T14:44:24Z")

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I don’t know the exact number, but the fact they don’t have enough people has been a plot point since season 1. Getting slaughtered at the fist of the first men didn’t help their situation much either.

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**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/170 "2015-05-03T18:04:12Z")

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Before the big battle at the wall, they had almost exactly 100 men. That was one of the major issues with Jon leading an away team to kill the deserters at the camp: So they wouldn’t tell the wildlings there are only 100 crows, not 1000 as Jon told Mance.

When Jon’s group left there were (I think they said) 102, down to 100 when Jon returned after losing two. (If I recall correctly.)

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**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/171 "2015-05-03T18:16:25Z")

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> [@EllisDee](#):
>
> Before the big battle at the wall, they had almost exactly 100 men. That was one of the major issues with Jon leading an away team to kill the deserters at the camp: So they wouldn’t tell the wildlings there are only 100 crows, not 1000 as Jon told Mance.
> 
> When Jon’s group left there were (I think they said) 102, down to 100 when Jon returned after losing two. (If I recall correctly.)

I’d guess probably half those died during the battle. I think they got reinforcements from one or more of the other castles though. The old man in the running for Lord Commander was from Eastwatch.

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**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2015, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/172 "2015-05-09T11:33:03Z")

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We’re just catching up on the episodes. One nice touch worth mentioning is Jon’s naming of duties. First he announces latrine detail, and you see Janos’s expression, but no, it goes to the ginger. Laughs all around. Next he calls out Janos and you think Eastwatch, but instead he lays on the compliments and makes him First Ranger. Then he calls out Janos’s best ally and sends him to a remote location, with possibly predictable results. All in all a great way for a leader to keep his biggest enemy closer.

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**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/173 "2015-05-10T03:24:45Z")

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> [@Maserschmidt](#):
>
> We’re just catching up on the episodes. One nice touch worth mentioning is Jon’s naming of duties. First he announces latrine detail, and you see Janos’s expression, but no, it goes to the ginger. Laughs all around. Next he calls out Janos and you think Eastwatch, but instead he lays on the compliments and makes him First Ranger. Then he calls out Janos’s best ally and sends him to a remote location, with possibly predictable results. All in all a great way for a leader to keep his biggest enemy closer.

True, but I thought it was just Jon trying to do his job well. Janos is very experienced and he would be wasted just digging latrines.  
Meanwhile the other guy…I can’t remember his name…is no fighter but is experienced in ordering people around. Get him to rebuild the ruins.

I think Jon is savvy enough to keep his eye on Janos, but I don’t see the decision as motivated by keeping his enemies close.

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**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/174 "2015-05-10T03:28:01Z")

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Janos Slynt is the guy who got executed by Jon – the new First Ranger is Ser Allister Thorne.

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**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/175 "2015-05-10T03:30:04Z")

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Ser Alliser is the guy named first ranger. The one who taught combat skills. Lord Janos Slynt was the former commander of the city watch that Tyrion exiled. Be was the one decapitated.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-5-03-high-sparrow-4-26-15-show-discussion/718583/176 "2015-05-10T03:33:55Z")

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> [@iiandyiiii](#):
>
> Janos Slynt is the guy who got executed by Jon – the new First Ranger is Ser Allister Thorne.

> [@SenorBeef](#):
>
> Ser Alliser is the guy named first ranger. The one who taught combat skills. Lord Janos Slynt was the former commander of the city watch that Tyrion exiled. Be was the one decapitated.

Oops, yer right, thanks.

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