# Game of Thrones 6.04 "Book of the Stranger" 5/15/16 \[Show discussion\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 15, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869 "2016-05-15T20:20:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/41 "2016-05-16T14:35:43Z")
The Dothraki are going to make terrible liberators of Mereen, because even if they ride in on horseback, defeat the masters and the Sons of the Harpy and free the slaves, the next thing they’re going to do is to pillage the city and rape all the women. As I remember, Dany got Khal Drogo killed when she insisted that his men not rape the women of some village they invaded. He then had to fight another Dothraki who was pissed that he didn’t get to rape the women. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/42 "2016-05-16T14:40:19Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Would Ned’s bannermen follow a bastard? They might if it means rescuing a true Stark. He has Sansa on his side, contributes a fairly sizable army on his own and has a letter from Ramsay admitting he has the Stark heir hostage. If there are any Stark loyalists left they would at least unite forces with him if they are not willing to follow. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/43 "2016-05-16T14:46:31Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Would Ned’s bannermen follow a bastard? Maybe not, but in combination with Sansa, the oldest Stark child still living? I’d say it’s a fair chance. > [@](#): > > And I agree, keeping Rickon alive is risky for Ramsay. In the long term, perhaps, but in the short term, he’s good leverage to get to Jon Snow, and get Sansa back in order to use her to secure his hold over the north. Also, right now, I think the best chance anybody has defeating anyone else is just to throw Daenerys at them, and have her come out at the top of yet another army. ---
**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:** [May 16, 2016, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/44 "2016-05-16T14:51:25Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > They might if it means rescuing a true Stark. He has Sansa on his side, contributes a fairly sizable army on his own and has a letter from Ramsay admitting he has the Stark heir hostage. If there are any Stark loyalists left they would at least unite forces with him if they are not willing to follow. There has to be some payoff for “the north remembers,” right? Unrelated note- does Sansa even know about the White Walkers? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/45 "2016-05-16T14:58:23Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > So how does Jon Snow plan to attack Winterfell with a smaller, less organized army than Ramsay commands, and with his brother as Ramsay’s hostage? What Jon does have going for him is that Ramsay is not a great leader, and also I think his bannermen are not totally on board with him. I don’t know. He’s a lunatic, but we have seen Ramsay do some pretty impressive things. He pretty much single handedly took out Stannis’ army, didn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/46 "2016-05-16T14:59:41Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Would Ned’s bannermen follow a bastard? > > So Daario knows Jorah is dying. Missandei seemed a little too pissed off at Tyrion for my comfort. And I agree, keeping Rickon alive is risky for Ramsay. > > So, Theon is going to help his sister rule the Iron Islands. I wonder if he wants revenge too. Daario has been a real jerk to Jorah. I get that’s part of his character, that if his mouth is open, he’s mouthing off. But still, pretty damn rude to be rubbing Jorah’s face in the fact that Daenerys didn’t want him. Regarding Missandei, keep in mind that she doesn’t have the history with Tyrion that we do. We know that he’s a badass when it comes to diplomacy. We know he’s smart, resourceful, good at reading people, and above all, a good person. Missandei doesn’t have any of that history, all she knows is that these two people just showed up from Westoros and Daenerys decided to trust them. She hasn’t yet seen the true depth of Tyrion’s competence, nor his commitment to doing the right thing. She just sees a willingness to compromise with despicable people. I hope that Tyrion’s gambit gets a chance to play out, and not just truncated by Daenerys’ reappearance with her new army. I really think he’s exactly what this Slaver’s Bay situation needs. Neither side wants to compromise because they each see the other as sub-human. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/47 "2016-05-16T15:02:04Z")
This was a better episode because things got rolling again. We know several things are going to happen over the course of the rest of the season: (1) Ramsay is going to get his comeuppance (2) Dany is going to ride with the Dothraki and set things right in Slavers’ Bay (3) The faith militant thing is going to go badly for the Tyrell’s I’m hoping they resolve these quickly so we can get on with the main stories of the competition between the contenders to the iron throne and winter coming. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/48 "2016-05-16T15:02:21Z")
I feel that now that they’ve moved past the books, the show has become a much more typical fantasy epic than the more twisty unpredictable beast it was in its earlier days. Nonetheless, I enjoyed just about every aspect of it thoroughly this week. Interesting forward progress made on all storylines. Extra props to the actor who plays Robin Arryn, who is every bit as weaselly and pathetic as he was before, but in a different, older, way. Man he’s just the worst. Well, no, Ramsay Bolton is the worst. But Robin is _the worst_. And best of all, I have literally no idea what’s going to happen next. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/49 "2016-05-16T15:02:28Z")
We had three different brother/sister reunions this episode and all three basically boiled down to the women telling the men to quit being pussies. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/50 "2016-05-16T15:08:30Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Did Sansa and Jon get along well in their childhood in Winterfell? I remember Jon being close to Arya (he gave her Needle) but can’t remember his relationship with Sansa. Also, where was Jon proposing that he and she go? He said “somewhere warm” but where could that realistically be? Dorn comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/51 "2016-05-16T15:08:49Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > From eyeballing the show ‘official’ maps of Essos, Vaes Dothrak looks to be (roughly) several hundred miles northeast of Slaver’s Bay. Maybe on horseback and over good terrain, several weeks journey? I really hope we don’t have to have several episodes of “Dany travels back to Mereen” now. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/52 "2016-05-16T15:21:50Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I really hope we don’t have to have several episodes of “Dany travels back to Mereen” now. We almost never do unless they serve a purpose, hence we have Sansa and Theon both making their destinations at the same time without any issues. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/53 "2016-05-16T15:24:19Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I really hope we don’t have to have several episodes of “Dany travels back to Mereen” now. Well, hopefully all that came from the time of mirroring the [unmentioned source material]; she wandered the desert pretty much aimlessly for practically real-life _decades_. Yes, hopefully now they can just teleport her like they did this episode with Theon (in particular; finding a boat and then sailing all the way to Pyke) and Brienne/Pod/Sansa. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/54 "2016-05-16T15:29:20Z")
> [@treis](#): > > (3) The faith militant thing is going to go badly for the Tyrell’s Please please no. I want the Sparrows story to be over, its boring and pointless. Let’s have the Tyrells and the Lannisters slaughter the sparrows and thats the end of it. ---
**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 16, 2016, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/55 "2016-05-16T15:30:53Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I don’t know. He’s a lunatic, but we have seen Ramsay do some pretty impressive things. He pretty much single handedly took out Stannis’ army, didn’t he? I assumed Roose was in command at the battle at Winterfell. Ramsay did a little raid on Stannis’s camps and lit tents on fire, but we don’t know if he has any sort of strategic mind. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/56 "2016-05-16T15:41:08Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Well Sansa specifically said they did not get along during this episode, Jon mostly agreed. > [@Biggirl](#): > > She didn’t say they didn’t get along, she said that she sometimes was a little shit and she was-- to everyone. She was as obnoxious as any pubescent little spoiled princess could be without actually being the daughter of a king. > [@DigitalC](#): > > Well she specifically said “I was awful to you”. Sansa was close to Catelyn, who hated Jon as a reminder of Ned’s (supposed) infidelity. Sansa no doubt followed Catelyn’s example in distancing herself from Jon. As a tomboy, Arya was closer to Ned and thus interacted more with Jon. > [@ivylass](#): > > Would Ned’s bannermen follow a bastard? The Bolton forces had no problem following Ramsay before he was legitimized. (However, he was acting as his father’s deputy at that point, and Jon doesn’t have that authority.) I don’t think if Ned’s bannermen want to get rid of the Boltons they would have a problem with following Jon. He’d be better than anyone else. > [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Extra props to the actor who plays Robin Arryn, who is every bit as weaselly and pathetic as he was before, but in a different, older, way. Man he’s just the worst. Well, no, Ramsay Bolton is the worst. But Robin is _the worst_. Given this, I have my fingers crossed that Littlefinger’s end will involve him being tossed out the Moon Door after he’s crossed Robin in some way. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/57 "2016-05-16T15:47:02Z")
> [@treis](#): > > (3) The faith militant thing is going to go badly for the Tyrell’s Cersei has engineered things so that only Tyrell forces will be involved in the assault on the Sparrows, putting Margaery and Loras at risk. She’ll be overjoyed to see them both killed. I’m surprised Olenna doesn’t catch on to this. (But I wouldn’t put it past her that she does and has something else up her sleeve.) ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/58 "2016-05-16T15:48:47Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The Bolton forces had no problem following Ramsay before he was legitimized. (However, he was acting as his father’s deputy at that point, and Jon doesn’t have that authority.) I don’t think if Ned’s bannermen want to get rid of the Boltons they would have a problem with following Jon. He’d be better than anyone else. > . They don’t have to follow Jon, they would follow Sansa, who is the eldest heir of the Starks and the legitimate lord of the North. She can appoint Jon her lord commander and thats that. AFAIK we’ve never been told that the Starks follow strict male primogeniture, or have we? Or even if they do have male primogentiure, she’s the regent since the oldest surviving male heir is under age or captured. Either way she should have no problem commanding the loyalty of the north under her own banner. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/59 "2016-05-16T15:51:18Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Cersei has engineered things so that only Tyrell forces will be involved in the assault on the Sparrows, putting Margaery and Loras at risk. She’ll be overjoyed to see them both killed. I’m surprised Olenna doesn’t catch on to this. (But I wouldn’t put it past her that she does and has something else up her sleeve.) Yeah, and if things go wrong, it’s Kevan who let the Tyrell forces into the city. So if things work out, everyone is happy, if things go wrong, Kevan and Lady Olenna get booted from the small council or maybe beheaded. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2016, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869/60 "2016-05-16T15:55:29Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Cersei has engineered things so that only Tyrell forces will be involved in the assault on the Sparrows, putting Margaery and Loras at risk. She’ll be overjoyed to see them both killed. I’m surprised Olenna doesn’t catch on to this. (But I wouldn’t put it past her that she does and has something else up her sleeve.) Well what are Olenna’s options? let the Lannister forces help? That is obviously right out of the question. So is letting Margaery do the walk of tits or Loras confess his sword swallowing. The reality is that Cersei would be fine with either outcome, but this is still the best move for the Tyrells. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-04-book-of-the-stranger-5-15-16-show-discussion/754869.md?page=4)