# Game of Thrones 7.04 "The Spoils of War" 8/6/2017 \[Show discussion only\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 6, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955 "2017-08-06T22:53:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/81 "2017-08-07T08:25:52Z")
Please tell me the eldest Tarly also ended up extra-crispy? > [@UncleRojelio](#): > > I realize that it made for a great battle scene but why commit the Dothraki at all? A surprise strafing run by the dragon would have accomplished the same thing with no casualties. That actually is one of the better battle decisions made in the series. - Cavalry cannot defeat or dislodge determind infantry which is in formation. - Air power works best against enemy concentrations. The Lannister-Tarly forces were dispersed when the battle began, hence not good targets for Drogon. When the Dothraki charged they rushed into formation, suddenly becoming _very good tagets_ for Drogon. Once Drogon started to spit fire; they wisely dispersed; (we even hear Jamie ordering them to). Unfortunatley, if infantry breaks, it becomes easy pickings for cavalry. So they were presented with a [del]Hobson’s[/del] _Dany’s_ choice. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/82 "2017-08-07T09:08:58Z")
Wow, that was a hell of an episode. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/83 "2017-08-07T09:19:37Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > It was stupid of Bran to announce to Littlefinger what he knows, as that just put a big target on him. Has it ever been firmly established exactly who ordered the assassination attempt on Bran with the dagger? We assume it was Cersei, but for all we know it may have been Littlefinger himself, as part of his chaos/ladder thing. ---
**Author:** ![theR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@theR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theR)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/84 "2017-08-07T10:31:07Z")
> [@treis](#): > > By tackling him into the one lake that is 30 feet deep 5 feet from the shore This took me out of the last few seconds. His horse was galloping through the same water he fell into. It can’t be that deep. ---
**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:** [August 7, 2017, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/85 "2017-08-07T10:44:47Z")
Noah Syndergaard, pitcher for the mets had a non speaking cameo role. Are people going to throw tantrums over that cameo too? ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/86 "2017-08-07T10:59:18Z")
> [@theR](#): > > This took me out of the last few seconds. His horse was galloping through the same water he fell into. It can’t be that deep. Not all bodies of water are gently sloped. It’s not impossible for a river to have a deep pool close to a bank. I agree that it looked a bit unlikely, but it doesn’t break the laws of physics like, for example, a napalm-spewing dragon. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/87 "2017-08-07T11:01:32Z")
That was an entire army. Dragons aren’t indestructible. There’s no way she could have done that without the Dothraki. Or someone on the ground. Bran isn’t dumb or smart for being open to Littlefinger. He’s beyond all that now but bewteen Bran’s knowledge, Arya’s skill and Sansa’s guile he’s very very nervous which is dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/88 "2017-08-07T11:05:34Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > That battle scene was epic. The Lannisters had absolutely no chance, even without the dragons. They were mostly on foot, against a mounted army. Buh-bye. I’m glad that the show made that point as well. Actually, it looked to me like they were doing OK - the shield wall was (mostly) holding (they could have used longer spears) and hadn’t yet brought their archers to bear (which seemed odd). They weren’t definitely losing until Drogon punched a hole in the shield wall - once the Dothraki got behind them they were doomed. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/89 "2017-08-07T11:22:15Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > The long take following Bronn through the battle with an off center camera was really well done. Yes, it was. They did a similar long take of Jon during the battle at Hardhome in season 5. Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/90 "2017-08-07T12:05:31Z")
All the time spent in the catacombs of Winterfell has to be foreshadowing. There’s a lot of bodies down there. I bet the final stand against the white walkers will be in Winterfell. We’ll see a zombie Ned Stark before the show ends. ---
**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:** [August 7, 2017, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/91 "2017-08-07T12:18:02Z")
Oh, yes. Field of Fire 2.0. About time Dany started getting some wins. But where were Rhaegal and Viserion? CGI budget is where they were, to answer my own question. > [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Bronn laughing at Dickon was great. I was much more concerned about Bronn dying than Drogon or Dany. Ok, I’m gonna get lynched for this because he’s a fan favourite, but does anyone else think Bronn \*should’ve \*got toasted there? These last second jumping out the way cuts just seem a bit un-Game of Thronesy. Seriously doubt Jaime goes out, I’m thinking one or both of the Tarlys are dead, though. Dr Branhattan needs to pull his flipping finger out and let Sansa/Arya know how Littlefinger held a dagger to their father’s throat and started the entire war that ended with him, their mother and brother dead because “chaos is a ladder”. ---
**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:** [August 7, 2017, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/92 "2017-08-07T12:26:00Z")
Dickon is being set up so that we can watch a sympathetic character die at Dany’s command. When Dany tells the Lanister forces to bend the knee, Tarly Sr. will refuse. Dickon will also refuse to support his father. Then…“Dracarys!”(sp?) No way Jaime or Bronn are dead. ---
**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:** [August 7, 2017, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/93 "2017-08-07T12:54:15Z")
They saved Bronn because of some other purpose he must have in the story. That’s the only possible reason, I think – the producers of the show are more than willing to kill characters, especially if they’re not “core” characters (i.e. Tyrion, Jon, Daenerys, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and to a lesser extent Cersei and Jaime, by my estimation). I thought the episode was fantastic – the best of the season so far. Hopefully Dany and Tyrion will come up with a plan to deal with those ballistae. ---
**Author:** ![Meme\_Chose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Meme\_Chose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meme_Chose)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/94 "2017-08-07T13:00:47Z")
So, the Children of the Forest created the White Walkers to help them battle men. And later teamed up with men to defeat the White Walkers. Against fireball-throwing children and WWs, it’s surprising there were men left to join the later battle. Wonder how that all went down. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/95 "2017-08-07T13:06:53Z")
> [@theR](#): > > This took me out of the last few seconds. His horse was galloping through the same water he fell into. It can’t be that deep. Is it a lake or river? Rivers often change depth suddenly. Already mentioned I see now. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/96 "2017-08-07T13:22:46Z")
> [@Meme\_Chose](#): > > So, the Children of the Forest created the White Walkers to help them battle men. And later teamed up with men to defeat the White Walkers. Against fireball-throwing children and WWs, it’s surprising there were men left to join the later battle. Wonder how that all went down. Wouldn’t be shocked if one of the prequel spin offs they are tossing around is set during this exact era or at least somehow sheds light on it. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/97 "2017-08-07T13:24:46Z")
“Men shit their pants when they die. What, they didn’t teach you that at Fancy Lad School? I learned that when I was 5.” ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/98 "2017-08-07T13:26:37Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > It was stupid of Bran to announce to Littlefinger what he knows, … This had me very confused. I thought Bran said “chaos is a letter”, and was perhaps referring to one of the raven messages alluded to last week. But, “chaos is a ladder”? I infer from posts here that Littlefinger said this earlier in the series? Can someone please fill in the gaps for me please? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/99 "2017-08-07T13:31:18Z")
> [@Algernon](#): > > This had me very confused. I thought Bran said “chaos is a letter”, and was perhaps referring to one of the raven messages alluded to last week. > > But, “chaos is a ladder”? I infer from posts here that Littlefinger said this earlier in the series? > > Can someone please fill in the gaps for me please? Thanks. Season 2, I think, Baelish said something like, “Chaos is a ladder for ambitious men,” when discussing the plotting with Varys. ---
**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:** [August 7, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955/100 "2017-08-07T13:38:50Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Has it ever been firmly established exactly who ordered the assassination attempt on Bran with the dagger? We assume it was Cersei, but for all we know it may have been Littlefinger himself, as part of his chaos/ladder thing. I _thought_ we learned that Littlefinger was responsible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-7-04-the-spoils-of-war-8-6-2017-show-discussion-only/792955.md?page=6)