The Game of Thrones Fantasy League – 6.04 – Book of the Stranger

Game of Thrones – 6.04 – Book of the Stranger

Well, now I feel silly! I completely guessed incorrectly as to how Daenerys’ pickle was going to get resolved and I’m glad I was totally wrong, as what happened on screen was much better than I could imagine. Alicia Keys and Katniss Everdene would be proud. While it was a triumphant moment for Dany on a story level, finally acting rather than reacting, she did kill a whole load of people, so on a fantasy league level, she didn’t score too highly. It’s emerging that the most valuable point to gain this season is Reunites with Previously Lost Blood Relative as this season is all about family reunions: Starks, Greyjoys and Tyrells alike, returning to each other. Hopefully this will continue, as potentially Margaery and Ser Loras could reunite with Olenna and Mace Tyrell. You can be sure Theon will gain some around his uncle in forthcoming weeks, and maybe Jon and Sansa might hook up with Rickon? After this last episode, I can’t wait to see what the next episodes bring!

After the detailed points, here are the scores for the fourth episode of Season 6.

Possible points of contention:

I could not give Tyrion, Varys, Missandei or Grey Worm points for walking around a garden plotting as I could not tell whether or not they were in a Meereenese garden.

Likewise I could not award Baelish the same as there was very little walking.

None of the people at Castle Black gain points for drinking wine as it’s not confirmed that the alcohol is wine, it is most likely ale.

Ser Jorah and Daario both gain points for witnessing magic when they see Daenerys emerge from the flames unscathed. Dany does not.

Character Scores

Here is a full list of the characters and their awarded points. If one of your characters does not appear in the following lists, this is due to their absence from the episode, for which you shall be deducted five points per character:

Group A – Main Characters

Arya Stark – -5 points: does not appear (-5)

Bran Stark – -5 points: does not appear (-5)

Cersei Lannister – 5 points: appears (+5)

Daenerys Targaryen – 25 points: appears (+5), 2 X kills (-10), gets naked (+15), last line (+10), last on screen (+15)

Jaime Lannister – 5 points: appears (+5)

Sansa Stark – 59 points: appears (+5), rides a horse (+10), reunites with previously lost blood relative (+30), 2 X eats (+7)

Tyrion Lannister – 13 points: appears (+5), drinks wine (+8)

Group B – Supporting Mains

Brienne of Tarth – 22 points: appears (+5), rides a horse (+10), eats (+7),

Margaery Tyrell – 45 points: appears (+5), says the episode title (+10), reunites with previously lost blood relative (+30)

Melisandre – 5 points: appears (+5)

Petyr Baelish – 5 points: appears (+5)

Ramsay Bolton – 17 points: appears (+5), has a kiss (+15), kills (-10), eats (+7)

Ser Davos Seaworth – 5 points: appears (+5)

Ser Jorah Mormont – 45 points: appears (+5), gets injured (-5), witnesses magic (+30), last on screen (+15)

Theon Greyjoy – 60 points: appears (+5), travels by boat (+15), visits Iron Islands (+10), reunites with previously lost blood relative (+30)

Varys – 5 points: appears (+5)

Group C – Rest of the Mains

Daario Naharis – 30 points: appears (+5), 2 X kills someone (-10), witnesses magic (+30), last on screen (+15)

Missandei – 5 points: appears (+5)

Tommen Baratheon – 5 points: appears (+5)

Tormund Giantsbane – 12 points: appears (+5), eats (+7)

Group D – Side Characters

Grand Maester Pycelle – 5 points: appears (+5)

Grey Worm – 5 points: appears (+5)

High Sparrow – 5 points: appears (+5)

Olenna Tyrell – 5 points: appears (+5)

Podrick Payne – 22 points: appears (+5), rides a horse (+10), eats (+7)

Group E – Side Characters to the Side Characters

Kevan Lannister – 5 points: appears (+5)

Ser Loras Tyrell – 35 points: appears (+5), reunites with previously lost blood relative (+30)

Group F – Weirdos

This episode was devoid of weirdos!

Group G – Animals

No one scored for this as the only appearing animal was Robin’s nameday falcon. Perhaps it can join Group G next year?

Group H – Definitely Dead?

Jon Snow – 62 points: appears (+5), first on screen (+15), first line (+5), reunites with previously lost blood relative (+30), eats (+7)

Group I – Where are these fuckers?

Osha – -10 points: appears (+5), has a kiss (+15), dies (-30)

Yara Greyjoy – 45 points: appears (+5), reunites with previously lost blood relative (+30), says the C word (+10)

The Leaderboard

Players can see their scores by consulting their initials in the table below. Congratulations to LH for retaining her hold on the top spot for the THIRD week in a row, now leading by over a hundred points! And separately, congratulations to me for gaining the most points this week :)

See you next week for The Door!

The Game of Thrones Fantasy League – 6.03 – Oathbreaker

Game of Thrones – 6.03 – Oathbreaker

After the points free for all last week, here is a bit of a comedown with very few positions on the leaderboard changing. This was an episode with a lot of talking and not a lot of doing, but these are pieces are being moved around on the chess board: you can expect this at the current point in the season. Arya has her eyes back...but that hasn’t helped her scores in any way. I think a lot of the players who chose her are regretting it! Don’t be disheartened, these are early days, she might catch up. Does anyone else feel that the show is following a rather predictable progression? Jon Snow’s release from his vows was something that many had guessed. I hope that the later episodes of the season pack in some surprises – for example, the most predictable way for Dany out of her current plot inconvenience is to have Drogon rescue her from Vaes Dothrak and, upon seeing her ride a dragon, the Dothraki plead fealty to her and all the khalasars unite under her (then return to Meereen and solve all the issues there, and then come over to Westeros to seat her on the Throne in time to battle the White Walkers). Let’s hope that what actually happens won't be so predictable! Although seriously, where tf is Drogon? And does he even like his family?

Anyway, here are the scores for the third episode of Season 6 after rulings that may require some explanation.

Possible points of contention:

Bran gets points for reuniting with Ned again. Judging from his arc, I can expect this might be a frequent points ruling!

I did not award Jon points for getting naked last week: that has now been adjusted.

I did not spot Ser Robert/Ser Gregor in episode one: that has now been adjusted.

Tormund, Melisandre, and Davos get witnesses magic points for witnessing live Jon.

Missandei saying that she does not drink gains her points for turning down wine.

Kevan gets points for reuniting with Jaime.

Mace Tyrell gets a slew of points for coming back to King’s Landing from Braavos. He does not gain points for travelling by boat, however as that needs to be seen on screen.

Character Scores

Here is a full list of the characters and their awarded points. If one of your characters does not appear in the following lists, this is due to their absence from the episode, for which you shall be deducted five points per character:

Group A – Main Characters

Arya Stark – 0 points: appears (+5), gets injured (-5)

Bran Stark – 75 points: appears (+5), appears in vision (+40),  reunites with previously lost blood relative (+30)

Cersei Lannister – 5 points: appears (+5)

Daenerys Targaryen – 20 points: appears (+5), gets naked (15)

Jaime Lannister – 35 points: appears (+5), reunites with relative (+30)

Sansa Stark – -5 points: does not appear in episode (-5)

Tyrion Lannister – 13 points: appears (+5), drinks wine (+8)

Group B – Supporting Mains

Melisandre – 35 points: appears (+5), witnesses magic (+30)

Ramsay Bolton – 5 points: appears (+5)

Samwell Tarly – 20 points: appears (+5), travels by boat (+15)

Ser Davos Seaworth – 60 points: appears (+5), first on screen (+15), first line (+10), witnesses magic (+30)

Varys – -5 points: appears (+5), parts with money (-10)

Group C – Rest of the Mains

Gilly – 20 points: appears (+5), travels by boat (+15)

Jaqen H'ghar – 35 points: appears (+5), witnesses magic (+30)

Missandei – 15 points: appears (+5), turns down wine (+10)

Tommen Baratheon – 5 points: appears (+5)

Tormund Giantsbane – 35 points: appears (+5), witnesses magic (+30)

Group D – Side Characters

Grand Maester Pycelle – 5 points: appears (+5)

Grey Worm – 5 points: appears (+5)

High Sparrow – 20 points: appears (+5), communicates with deity (+15)

Olenna Tyrell – 5 points: appears (+5)

Group E – Side Characters to the Side Characters

Kevan Lannister – 35 points: appears (+5), reunites with previously lost blood relative (+30)

Mace Tyrell – 70 points: appears (+5), crosses the Narrow Sea (+50), visits King’s Landing (+15)

Ser Alliser Thorne – -25 points: appears (+5), dies (-30)

Group F – Weirdos

Leaf – 35 points: appears (+5), witnesses magic (+30)

Qyburn – 5 points: appears (+5)

Ser Robert Strong – 5 points: appears (+5)

Three Eyed Crow – 75 points: appears (+5), appears in vision (+40), witnesses magic (+30)

Group G – Animals

Ghost – 5 points: appears (+5)

Shaggydog – -25 points: appears (+5), dies (-30)

Group H – Definitely Dead?

Jon Snow – 30 points: appears (+5), first line (+10), unsheafs his sword (+10), 2 X kills (-10), last line (+10), last on screen (+15)

Group I – Where are these fuckers?

Osha – 5 points: appears (+5)

Rickon Stark – 5 points: appears (+5)

The Leaderboard

Players can see their scores by consulting their initials in the table below. Congratulations to LH for not only retaining her hold on first place but being the player who gained the most points this episode!

See you back here for Book of the Stranger

The Game of Thrones Fantasy League – 6.02 – Home

Game of Thrones – 6.02 – Home

Finally, the worst kept secret in TV history can be put to bed. “Home” delivered on many events that a lot of us predicted would happen: that Euron would kill Balon, Bran’s training would give him ancestral visions, and of course, Melisandre would bring Jon Snow back from the dead. Despite things turning out pretty much how we all expected, the episode still managed to cram in some surprises. I did not see Roose’s death coming so soon, nor that Tyrion would have such affinity with dragons. Hopefully the rest of this season will proceed less predictably. This was the single highest scoring episode by a country mile, out of ALL aired episodes, even the ones from seasons 1-5! The total of points awarded for this episode was 905. The previous champion was 4.02 – The Lion and the Rose, which gained 773 points due to Bran having a vision, various characters eating, drinking, marrying and kissing.

Here are the scores for the second episode of Season 6.

Possible points of contention:

There is justifiable confusion regarding the “witnesses magic” at the end of the episode. The magic itself refers to Jon’s transformation from dead to living, in which case I can award Ghost as he is present for Jon’s resurrection. Tormund, Davos and Melisandre herself witness her performing a spell/prayer but the effect does not come into play until they’ve left. Jon does not gain points for witnessing magic as he arguably is unconscious when this happens.

Should Tormund and Davos and Ghost get points for witnessing magic as they are seeing Melisandre in her young form? In this case, magic refers to her transformation so no. If they were there to witness her change from old to young, they would be awarded points.

Last time we saw Melisandre, her hair was white. It is now red, therefore she gains hair colour change points.

Last time we saw Bran and the Three Eyed Raven, they both had long hair. Now they have short hair and have gained haircut points.

It can be assumed that the woman speaking to Meera is a recast Leaf.

The first noise we hear is a crow squawking but the first line of dialogue we hear is from Bran. Both gain first line points.

The last spoken line is from Melisandre but the last noise we hear is Jon gasping. Both gain last line points.

Tommen gains points three times for encountering previously lost blood relatives, Jaime, Myrcella and Cersei. All three also gain points for encountering him.

While Varys does not go right up to Rhaegal and Viserion, he gains points for encountering both dragons.

Yara gains points for communicating with deity as she murmurs What is Dead May Never Die at her father’s funeral. She and Balon do not gain points for doing this in earlier scenes as the words were not uttered personally to the Drowned God.

Hodor, Bran, Leaf and the Three Eyed Crow gain points for witnessing magic. This is referring specifically to Bran’s eyes changing from cloudy to normal.

Bran’s vision does not count as a flashback as he did not live the events when they happened. The sequence counts as a dream sequence/vision.

Benjen gains points for mentioning Lyanna as he literally calls her by name.

Character Scores

Here is a full list of the characters and their awarded points. If one of your characters does not appear in the following lists, this is due to their absence from the episode, for which you shall be deducted five points per character:

Group A – Main Characters

Arya Stark – 0 points: appears (+5), gets injured (-5)

Bran Stark – 245 points: appears (+5), first on screen (+15), appears in dream sequence (+40), first line (+10), mentions Lyanna (+25), witnesses magic (+30), says the episode title (+10), has a haircut (+20), 3 X encounters previously lost blood relative (+30),

Cersei Lannister – 35 points: appears (+5), encounters previously lost blood relative (+30)

Daenerys Targaryen – -5 points: does not appear (-5),

Jaime Lannister – 35 points: appears (+5), encounters previously lost blood relative (+30)

Sansa Stark – 5 points: appears (+5)

Tyrion Lannister – 53 points: appears (+5), drinks wine (+8), 2 X encounters dragon (+20)

Group B – Supporting Main Characters

Brienne of Tarth – 5 points: appears (+5),

Melisandre – 45 points: appears (+5), hair changes colour (+15), communicates with deity (+15), last line (+10)

Ramsay Bolton – -15 points: appears (+5), 2 X kills (-10),

Ser Davos Seaworth – 15 points: appears (+5), unsheafs sword (+10)

Theon Greyjoy – 15 points: appears (+5), says the episode title, (+10)

Varys – 45 points: appears (+5), 2 X encounters dragon (+20)

Group C – Rest of the Main Characters

Jaqen H'ghar – 5 points: appears (+5)

Missandei – 5 points: appears (+5)

Roose Bolton – -25 points: appears (+5), dies (-30),

Tommen Baratheon – 95 points: appears (+5), 3 X encounters previously lost blood relative (+30)

Tormund Giantsbane – 17 points: appears (+5), leads army into battle (+22), kills (-10)

Group D – Side Characters

Grey Worm – 5 points: appears (+5)

High Sparrow – 5 points: appears (+5)

Meera Reed – 5 points: appears (+5)

Podrick Payne – 5 points: appears (+5),

Group E – Side characters to the Side Characters

Hodor – 75 points: appears (+5), appears in vision (+40), witnesses magic (+30),

Ser Alliser Thorne – 5 points: appears (+5),

Group F – Weirdos

Leaf – 35 points: appears (+5), witnesses magic (+30),

Ser Robert Strong – -5 points: appears (+5), kills (-10)

Three Eyed Crow – 120 points: appears (+5), first on screen (+15), first line (+10), has haircut (+20), appears in vision (+40), witnesses magic (+30),

Group G – Animals

Ghost – 35 points: appears (+5), witnesses magic (+30)

Rhaegal – 5 points: appears (+5),

Viserion – 5 points: appears (+5),

Group H – Definitely Dead?

Benjen Stark – 70 points: appears (+5), appears in vision (+40), mentions Lyanna (+25)

Jon Snow – 95 points: appears (+5), has haircut (+20), comes back from the dead (+45), last line (+10), last on screen (+15),

Myrcella Baratheon – 35 points: appears (+5), encounters previously lost blood relative (+30)

Group I – Where are these fuckers?

Balon Greyjoy – 5 points: appears (+5), encounters previously lost blood relative (+30) dies (-30),

Yara Greyjoy – 20 points: appears (+5), communicates with deity (+15),

The Leaderboard

Players can see their scores by consulting their initials in the table below. Congratulations to LH for creeping into first place overall! And massive props to DH for being the player who gained the most points this episode. Keep up the good work, see you next week!

The Game of Thrones Fantasy League - 6.01 - The Red Woman

Game of Thrones – 6.01 – The Red Woman

After an agonising wait, season six has finally begun and with its commencement, the Game of Thrones Fantasy League is under weigh! 240 points were awarded in this episode, one of the lowest scores for a premiere in the show’s history. The character scores are below, but first here are my reasons for some results which might require explanation. Be warned, this post contains spoilers for episode one.

Possible points of contention:

Cersei gains points for encountering Jamie and Myrcella under the heading of "previously lost blood relative", and vice versa. Once you have been held captive, as Jaime was in Dorne and Cersei was with the faith militant, you now count as a “lost” blood relative. Myrcella also counts as a lost relative to Cersei, as Cersei believed her life to be under threat upon receiving her necklace in Season 5, arguably ignorant of Myrcella’s state of wellbeing. You can receive encountering points even after you die.

Melisandre gains points for getting a haircut, as her hair thins out after her transformation.

Trystane, Nymeria and Obara all gain points for travelling by boat. Due to the architecture of Trystane’s room and the establishing shot of the boat just before the scene begins, we can infer that it takes place on a boat.

Prince Doran gains points for walking around a garden plotting, as he hobbles around the Water Gardens slagging off Oberyn. Ellaria and Tyene don’t gain points for this as they don’t join in with him.

Ghost and Ser Davos both get points for having the first line of the premiere. Ghost is the first character to make a noise through their mouth this episode, and Davos is the first character in the game to speak a line of dialogue. Therefore both gain points.

Ghost affectionately nudges Jon Snow with his mouth. This counts as kissing points for both Ghost and Jon. Why, how else do you kiss?

Tyrion parts with money when he hands his coin to Varys. Varys in turn incurs a loss as he hands the money to the Meereenese beggar woman.

Character Scores

Here is a full list of the characters and their awarded points. If one of your characters does not appear in the following lists, this is due to their absence from the episode, for which you shall be deducted five points per character:

Group A – Main Characters

Arya Stark – 0 points: appears (+5), injured (-5)

Bran Stark – -5 points: doesn’t appear in episode (-5)

Cersei Lannister – 65 points: appears (+5), 2 X encounters previously lost blood relative (30)

Daenerys Targaryen – 5 points: appears

Jaime Lannister – 65 points: appears (+5), travels by boat (+15), visits King’s Landing (+15), encounters previously lost blood relative (+30)

Sansa Stark – 5 points: appears (+5)

Tyrion Lannister – -5 points: appears (+5), parts with money (-10)

Group B – Supporting Main Characters

Brienne of Tarth – -10 points: appears (+5), rides horse (+15), 2 X kills someone (-10), injured (-5)

Margaery Tyrell – 5 points: appears (+5)

Melisandre – 100 points: appears (+5), gets naked (+15), hair changes colour (+15), haircut (+20), last onscreen (+15), magic (+30)

Ramsay Bolton – 5 points: appears (+5)

Ser Davos Seaworth – 45 points: first line of premiere (+20), appears (+5), says the episode title (+10), last line (+10)

Ser Jorah Mormont – 15 points: appears (+5), rides a horse (+10)

Theon Greyjoy – -5 points: appears (+5), kills someone (-10)

Varys – -5 points: appears (+5), parts with money (-10)

Group C – Rest of the Main Characters

Daario Naharis – 15 points: appears (+5), rides a horse (+10)

Ellaria Sand – -5 points: appears (+5), kills someone (-10)

High Sparrow – 5 points: appears (+5)

Roose Bolton – 5 points: appears (+5)

Group D – Side Characters

Obara Sand – 10 points: appears (+5), kills someone (-10), travels by boat (+15)

Podrick Payne – 5 points: appears (+5), rides horse (+10), kills someone (-10)

Prince Doran Martell – -10 points: appears (+5), walks around a garden plotting (+15), dies (-30)

Tyene Sand – -15 points: appears (+5), 2 X kills someone (-10)

Group E – Side characters to the Side Characters

Areo Hotah – -25 points: appears (+5), dies (-30)

Nymeria Sand – 20 points: appears (+5), travels by boat (+15)

Ser Alliser Thorne – 15 points: appears (+5), says the episode title (+10)

Trystane Martell – 0 points: appears (+5), travels by boat (+15), unsheafs sword (+10), dies (-30),

Group F – Weirdos

No one from this group appeared in this episode!

Group G – Animals

Ghost – 40 points: first line of premiere (+20), appears (+5), kiss (+15)

Group H – Definitely Dead?

Jon Snow – 50 points: first on screen of premiere (+30), appears (+5), gets kissed (+15)

Myrcella Baratheon – 65 points: appears (+5), travels by boat (+15), visits King’s Landing (+15), encounters previously lost blood relative (+30)

Group I – Where are these fuckers?

Fuck knows.

The Leaderboard

Players can see their scores by consulting their initials in the table below. Congratulations to MS!

Join me next week, for "6.02 - Home"...where I suspect quite a few characters may get points for saying the episode title. Valar Morghulis!

The GAME OF THRONES Fantasy League

The GAME OF THRONES Fantasy League is finally here!

How to play:

Select ONE character from EACH Group. Once Season 6 begins, I will award points to each character. The aim is to finish the season with the most points. The winner shall get several Game of Thrones goodies!

Points are awarded to characters if they are seen to perform certain tasks on screen, e.g. killing a White Walker or drinking wine. Points can be given but can also be taken away, mostly for incompetence or violence, e.g. getting injured or killing someone.

5 points are given just for appearing in an episode, conversely 5 points are taken away if your character does not appear in the episode.

Regard the points system carefully before choosing your team of characters.

There will be a capping system in place in the event your character kills more than two people in a single episode. A character like Bronn who killed thousands of people with a single arrow in the episode 'Blackwater' would never be able to gain those points back if not for a capping system in place, so you would never lose more than 20 points if your character killed over two people in a single episode.

All events must be seen on screen.

Now that is out of the way, on to the Character Groups!

The Characters are sorted into nine groups:

Group A: Main Characters - anyone picking a team of nine Game of Thrones characters would include Arya, Daenerys, Tyrion etc: you can only pick ONE of the main characters. Choose wisely, the character you pick here may be what makes or breaks your team.

Group B: Supporting Main Characters - these are characters who have enough screen presence that they can carry storylines and scenes on their own, but are not key points of view in the song of Ice and Fire

Group C: Rest of the Main Characters - all the other characters whose actors have their names in the opening credits as of season 5

Group D: Side Characters - important characters but not important enough to have their names in the opening credits

Group E: Side Characters to the Side Characters - significant characters that aren't important enough to carry their own scenes

Group F: Weirdos - these people are just strange, their significance in the overall story has yet to be seen

Group G: Animals - you need an animal on your team, take your pick!

Group H: Definitely Dead? - these are characters that are dead or presumed dead but there is still a hope among fans that they might return to the show

Group I: Where are these fuckers? - characters who have been shown to be highly significant but the show seems to have forgotten about them. God knows if any of these will be back for Season 6

Pick one character from each group, assemble your team and we will see you back here in 2016 to see who has won the Game of Thrones Fantasy League!

RIP Harris Wittels

Yesterday I received some shocking news. Harris Wittels died last week at age 30. You might not know who he is but you probably know his work. He wrote for Parks and Recreation, The Sarah Silverman Program, Eastbound & Down among others. He coined the term “humblebrag” and wrote a book on it. He also played in the band Don’t Stop Or We’ll Die. And he even wrote rude jokes for President Barack Obama. Last year I was very unhappy, I relied a lot on my friends to pull me through but I also medicated myself on copious amounts of podcasts. I listened to at least 700 podcasts last year. Through the Comedy Bang Bang podcast I discovered Harris Wittels and would crack up giggling uncontrollably on the overground when I listened to his intentionally awful jokes like “I hate smoking sections. Unless it’s Jim Carrey’s The Mask. Then the smoking section is my favorite part!” I revisited Parks & Rec this year, I really love the show, especially Harris' episodes. I also loved the music of his band. They wrote a song which means a lot to me, I would listen to it repeatedly before I went to New York, I even wrote about it in my diary and it still affects me, I even had a dream about it last month where I was in an assembly and the song played and I got everyone to sing and dance along to it. It’s such a shock that he’s gone at such a young age and managed to achieve so much in his career and touch me so deeply in such a short space of time. I don't know what more to say other than I am very upset he's gone. I loved his writing, his music, his standup, his improv, his podcasts. Harris was going to be known worldwide as comedy legend but I will always think of him as one anyway.

He's seeing that New York sky line.