In terms of why it happened thematically, it's probably Melisandre getting a harsh dose of reality after her Jon prophecy got stabbed and Stannis the Mannis got grrl-powered. Blah blah literary interpretation it's art whatcha gonna do.
Of course, they have all the Night's Watch stuff at the beginning, then the rest of the episode happens, and then the GILF reveal happens, meaning it's a complete non sequitur both chronologically and in the tone of the episode.
To be fair Melly GILF was probably the best thing about that episode. It may have been completely out of tone and chronology for the episode, especially as followup to last season's finale - but the scene itself is dank. It opens up with Melly looking in the mirror under firelight. The camera pans away to her undressing through the shots of the chemicals she used to change the colours of fire and trick Stannis's wife. She's wondering how much of her faith is smoke and mirrors. She gets proper nekkid and we see her seeing her reflection, young and beautiful - and once she takes off her tricksy necklace we see her seeing her reflection (in addition to seeing much too much), seeing the frail, ancient woman that exists beneath. I think it was wasted revealing it now, as it only served to show that she has immense power which pretty much every season has established (except the last season, which cast doubt, or one might even say cast shade upon the extent of her power at all).
Rather notably, three leeches, three Kings. YET BALON STILL LIVES, SO SHE ONLY DELIVERED TWO OUT OF THREE AND COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT THAT WHEN BURNINATING SHIREEN.
Alas poor Mannis, your crime was in becoming more popular than Sueborn, so you had to die. Anyways it would've been pretty neat showing this scene before she abandons Stannis so you can really feel just how much she feels abandoned by Rh'ollor as she abandons the man she believes the embodiment of her god. Other than that I think this scene was done excellently.
I spent last weekend marathoning GoT. I guess I'll post here now.
I wonder how Arya will end up. Dead, most likely, but how? I was rooting for her through the whole series.
Disclaimer: this man disregarded books (as in didn't read them) and enjoys the show as a separate piece of cinematography.
If a character spends their whole life on the brink of death but never reaches it, it is because they are a main character who will probably never die (permanently)
If a character spends any long moment of time being successful they will shortly die soon
This is the GOT way
D&D review your lives
pls
But 5th edition was okay. /stupidjoke
nerf bards
*EDIT
So given recent events... Are we going to be following just Bran, WW, Tyrion, Betabros, Margaery, Yara, Brienne, Sansa, Dany, Cersi, Mel, Arya, Catfish (maybe) and the sand sneks now?
If this general trend continues D&D are gonna run out of blokes to axe xD
It's especially grueling reading about how fucked over Doran and Areo were. Doran for obvious reasons given how subtle his role was and how much good acting was required to make him as the grass to the viper but Areo's actor himself was fucked alongside his character. DeObia Oparei is a London-born actor and was definitely qualified for the casting of Areo, despite Areo not being black - DeObia Oparei is Shakespearean (literally, having acted in the Royal Shakespeare company). His role would've been incredibly complex and difficult given how he evolves to be a major character later on and how much of his acting would have to be done without dialogue - making himself as a taciturn, threatening and ever-present character constantly keeping aware of Dornish plots.
To understand how fucked Areo's character was, in the books he foils Arianne Martell's plot in order to keep to Prince Doran's master Dornish Plan.
In the show he is stabbed in the back by Arianne Martell's spontaneous plot, dying without a fight, failing to protect Prince Doran's life and his heir; all to get the empowered womyn message across that weak men will never rule Dorne again, completely missing the point that Prince Doran's plotline was about him using his weakness as strength. DeObia was looking forward to Areo taking on his significant role in AGOT, but I guess he can get fucked - he's literally been so underutilized that his only purpose has been to threaten Jaime Lannister once and stand around a few times. He gets one pimp slap at least.
That's a fucking dreadful waste of a Shakespearean actor and as one of the few positive black roles D&D bothered to put on they've rustled a whole new set of jimmies by axing him as a discardable extra for literally no reason other than sand sneks snexy: "please forget about Sansa m8s we promise not to rape her more" - D&D
But honestly, who needs Shakespearean actors when the writers want "bad pussy" and "greedy bitch"
A B S O L U T E L Y M E D I O C R ENot amused
*EDITx2
OH NO
THE GUY IN CHARGE OF THE OLLY "PLOT" WROTE EP 2
IT WILL GET WORSE