# Game of Thrones 6.09 "Battle of the Bastards" 6/19/16 \[Show discussion\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789 "2016-06-19T17:59:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/301 "2016-06-21T19:27:08Z")
We should have seen Greywolf. I’m glad we didn’t because, for sure, he would have been killed. But you’d think he’d be there for the battle. Maybe he was back at camp protecting Little Miss Mormont. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/302 "2016-06-21T19:34:29Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > But a very apt sigil for Petyr Baelish. Very apt, since a mockingbird doesn’t sing its own song, it imitates those of other birds. Everything it says is false. It’s a bit ironic though, since it truthfully depicts Baelish. > [@](#): > > Of course if he throws up a three finger salute then we know the jig is up and he’s really going to be the winner ;). Katniss’s bird is the Mocking_jay_, however. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/303 "2016-06-21T19:37:49Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > We should have seen Greywolf. You mean Ghost. Grey Wind was Robb’s direwolf, and was killed when he was. Dire wolves are another anomaly, since they were purely American and didn’t occur in Europe. They also weren’t that different in size from regular wolves. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/304 "2016-06-21T19:44:07Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > You mean Ghost. Grey Wind was Robb’s direwolf, and was killed when he was. > > Dire wolves are another anomaly, since they were purely American and didn’t occur in Europe. They also weren’t that different in size from regular wolves. Yeah, Ghost. Also it should be Little Lady Mormont. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/305 "2016-06-21T19:58:45Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Katniss’s bird is the Mocking_jay_, however. True, but Mockingjays are fictional creatures made by mating another fictional bird (jabberjay) with mockingbirds. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2016, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/306 "2016-06-21T20:07:35Z")
The zombies on the show are definitely more of the American kind of zombies than what were around in medieval England too. Everything’s out of place. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/307 "2016-06-21T20:11:01Z")
_Game of Thrones_ actually does not take place in Europe. Or on Earth. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/308 "2016-06-21T20:28:25Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > _Game of Thrones_ actually does not take place in Europe. Or on Earth. Yeah, but it’s a Class M planet with humanoid lifeforms. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2016, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/309 "2016-06-21T20:29:08Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > _Game of Thrones_ actually does not take place in Europe. Or on Earth. :smack: No! I never realized that before! 😃 Those kind of anomalies, of inappropriate plants or animals, don’t bother me in a world that has dragons and magic. Yet people will have endless arguments about whether this or that aspect of weapons or tactics or culture is appropriate for medieval Europe. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/310 "2016-06-21T20:32:28Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > The zombies on the show are definitely more of the American kind of zombies than what were around in medieval England too. Everything’s out of place. The native zombie of the Americas was the Haitian Zombie. They appear to be virtually extinct, having been replaced by the exotic Romero Zombie. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/311 "2016-06-21T21:14:00Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > So yeah, Dany is invading with at 3 different raid and pillage cultures. One of which is also really big on rape and slavery. Those groups probably make up, what, 80-90% of her military? I get that the dragons are impressive, but I think that luster would wear off a bit after conquest and they’re just hanging out and not doing anything their cultures are based around. I’m sure whenever they get the urge to rape and pillage, they’ll just gently remind each other “Hey guys, remember Daenerys said no raping!” and all will be well. > [@Colibri](#): > > It’s a bit out of place, since Mockingbirds are exclusively American and don’t occur in England or Europe. > [@Colibri](#): > > Dire wolves are another anomaly, since they were purely American and didn’t occur in Europe. They also weren’t that different in size from regular wolves. > [@Peremensoe](#): > > _Game of Thrones_ actually does not take place in Europe. Or on Earth. > [@Colibri](#): > > :smack: No! I never realized that before! 😃 > > Those kind of anomalies, of inappropriate plants or animals, don’t bother me in a world that has dragons and magic. Yet people will have endless arguments about whether this or that aspect of weapons or tactics or culture is appropriate for medieval Europe. I’m not sure why you’re trying to start this potato thing again, if you realize this is a different world from ours. It’s not an “anomaly”, it’s not “inappropriate”, it’s not an inconsistency, or an error at all. It can have whatever flora, fauna, or whatever else it wants, whether that’s based on something that came from America or Europe or Australia or Pluto in real life, or is a complete fabrication. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/312 "2016-06-21T21:25:15Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The simple fanwank about the dragons not being harmed by the fleet is that dragons have very heavy chest plating that arrows can’t punch through. You could probably shoot through their wings, but a dragon’s wings are so large compared to an arrow that it just doesn’t do much. Sure. In which case, we should have seen arrows hitting their chest plating and bouncing off, or something. I don’t mind the idea that the dragons are nigh invulnerable. I mind it being taken for granted and not even explained that the dragons are nigh invulnerable, given how definitely vulnerable they were when last seen. But now I’m repeating myself. (I think the best explanation is that the Masters had (correct) intel saying that Dany wasn’t there, one dragon was MIA, two dragons were still locked up. So they didn’t waste deck space on antiaircraft weaponry. And it would have taken just one or two quick lines of dialog to establish that. Instead, what we learned last season is just ignored.) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/313 "2016-06-21T21:45:32Z")
Very much enjoyed this episode, even though: > [@Colibri](#): > > However, it does seem like it’s become a habit to have battles always be resolved by the Cavalry unexpectedly charging in at the very last minute (Tywin at the Battle of the Blackwater, Stannis at the Battle of Castle Black, Dothraki and dragons at Mereen). When Jon et al were surrounded, I keep thinking: OK, when will the cavalry come and who will they be? I loved the line when Danny (or whoever) told The Masters that they were mistaken about who was going to be surrendering. I would have preferred more footage of the dogs ripping Ramsay to shreds. Perhaps they are saving that footage for pay-per-view. Could make a fortune off that!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/314 "2016-06-21T21:48:34Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Those kind of anomalies, of inappropriate plants or animals, don’t bother me in a world that has dragons and magic. They’re not anomalies, and wouldn’t be in the absence of dragons and magic, either. > [@Colibri](#): > > Yet people will have endless arguments about whether this or that aspect of weapons or tactics or culture is appropriate for medieval Europe. They’re failing to grasp what it is they’re watching. Don’t make the same mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/315 "2016-06-21T22:56:26Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > He made up his own several seasons ago: the [Mockingbird.](http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/gameofthrones/images/a/a4/House-Baelish-Main-Shield.PNG/revision/latest?cb=20160312092544) > > We’ve seen it on several communications from Littlefinger. It’s a bit out of place, since Mockingbirds are exclusively American and don’t occur in England or Europe. > [@Colibri](#): > > You mean Ghost. Grey Wind was Robb’s direwolf, and was killed when he was. > > Dire wolves are another anomaly, since they were purely American and didn’t occur in Europe. They also weren’t that different in size from regular wolves. Not the potato thing again! 😉 OK, can someone catch me up on which direwolves still might be alive? IIRC: Robb’s - Killed after the Red Wedding Jon’s - Alive, somewhere? Sansa’s - Killed in leiu of Arya’s Arya’s - Ran off, presumably alive Bran’s - Killed by Wights while he escaped the cave (?) Rickon’s - His head was used to prove that the Bolton’s had Rickon. (Although that looked like a boar’s head to me) ---
**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:** [June 21, 2016, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/316 "2016-06-21T23:47:53Z")
Yep. Two Wolves left. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/317 "2016-06-21T23:51:46Z")
> [@Rucksinator](#): > > OK, can someone catch me up on which direwolves still might be alive? IIRC: > Robb’s - Killed after the Red Wedding > Jon’s - Alive, somewhere? > Sansa’s - Killed in leiu of Arya’s > Arya’s - Ran off, presumably alive > Bran’s - Killed by Wights while he escaped the cave (?) > Rickon’s - His head was used to prove that the Bolton’s had Rickon. (Although that looked like a boar’s head to me) > [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > Yep. Two Wolves left. Ghost is the only one we know for sure is alive, since Nymeria (Arya’s wolf) is MIA. I think in a normal real world the default assumption would be that she’s _not_ alive, but because it’s GoT, I’ll concede that there’s a decent chance of her showing up again eventually. Also the names of the fallen wolves were Lady (Sansa), Grey Wind (Robb), Summer (Bran), and Shaggydog (Rickon). RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/318 "2016-06-21T23:52:31Z")
Jon’s Direwolf Ghost is, as far as we know, alive and well. Was expecting him to be killed in bastardbowl but I don’t think he even appeared, presumably he was left back at camp with Mel. Speaking of, I think the scene of Davos finding Shireen’s deer figurine was telling us that he’s figured out how Shireen died, I think previously he’d just assumed she was killed by the Boltons. Mel is in deep shit. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/319 "2016-06-22T00:08:00Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > I’m not sure why you’re trying to start this potato thing again, if you realize this is a different world from ours. > [@Rucksinator](#): > > Not the potato thing again! 😉 I’m not starting any “potato thing” over again, since I haven’t participated in any threads before this season. If I had, as I said before I’m not bothered by out of place flora and fauna, and would have been on the side of there not being a problem with it. > [@Rigamarole](#): > > It’s not an “anomaly”, it’s not “inappropriate”, it’s not an inconsistency, or an error at all. > [@Peremensoe](#): > > They’re not anomalies, and wouldn’t be in the absence of dragons and magic, either. I certainly don’t regard it as an “error,” but when most of the world is based on medieval Europe, often with a great attention to detail, it _is_ an anomaly or inconsistency. Given that one of the major pastimes of this place is nitpicking, it’s of interest to point out things that may not be of a piece with the rest. (I recall someone remarking that Riverrun was anachronistic in being from a different time period than all the other castles that were depicted. I found that interesting, though not the flaw that they considered it.) When I watch movies in non-fantasy settings, I enjoy picking out bird calls that come from different continents than where the movie is set. Just about every jungle movie ever made has an Australian Laughing Kookaburra calling in the background.🙂 > [@Rigamarole](#): > > It can have whatever flora, fauna, or whatever else it wants, whether that’s based on something that came from America or Europe or Australia or Pluto in real life, or is a complete fabrication. > [@Peremensoe](#): > > They’re failing to grasp what it is they’re watching. Don’t make the same mistake. I’m perfectly well aware that what I am watching is a made-up universe. But surely there is some degree of anachronism you would find jarring. Would you find it perfectly appropriate if it suddenly was revealed that Valyria had been destroyed by atomic bombs or that Littlefinger was actually an advanced robot from the future?😃 (To be clear, I don’t consider anything I mentioned about the fauna as being inappropriate.) ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789/320 "2016-06-22T00:31:31Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > I noticed that as well. That definitely felt like intentional exposition to me. It could be that Cersei is going to go wild for wildfire in the next episode to end the season with a bang. What is the chance that Jaime will kill her to prevent such a thing, as he did with the mad king? That would be the ultimate tragedy for him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-6-09-battle-of-the-bastards-6-19-16-show-discussion/757789.md?page=17)