Fandom Mashups (4)

Fandom Mashups is a feature hosted by Lunar Rainbows Reviews. There's a different scenario each week, and you choose a "dream team" of five characters from five different fandoms whom you think are best suited for the situation.

This week's topic is:
The most evil dark lord/lady of all time has come into power with plots for world-domination. Who do you take with you into battle?

1. Harry Potter: Harry was the first character who popped into my head when I saw this topic. He definitely has LOTS of experience in this area, lol.
2. Percy Jackson: First, Percy is a demi-god. Second, he's gone up against mythological creatures and had to outwit gods and goddesses, so I think he has what it takes to be on this team. Plus, I'd just love to see an HP/PJ alliance!
3. Yoda: Experience fighting against evil? Check. More wisdom than an entire galaxy? Check. Able to wield a lightsaber? Check, check, check!
4. Elsa (Frozen): She can just freeze the bad guy/girl, while singing a song about it!
5. Celaena Sardothien (Throne of Glass): OK, I know that I included Celaena on last week's list as well, but I needed the Heir of Fire to complement Elsa's ice powers. And I also wanted to make an Ice and Fire pun since I didn't mention any Game of Thrones characters this week. :P

Discussing Game of Thrones: The Gift

* Spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen “The Gift.”

Hey—I actually posted a recap before Friday, lol! It wasn't without some difficulty, however. I tap my episode notes in the Evernote app on my Kindle while watching (because if I had to rely on memory alone, there wouldn't be much of a recap). I try to watch each episode twice, just to make sure I haven't missed anything important. I was rewatching "The Gift" late Sunday night and somehow, in my state of tired, completely erased my notes as the episode was just about over. Poof. Gone. I have no idea how I accomplished this, but I can tell you that my idiocy greatly annoyed me because I usually copy and paste my notes from Evernote straight into Blogger and polish the post from there. So I scrambled to jot down as much as I could remember while it was still pretty fresh, and I think we're OK.

Off to Hardhome

Jon is preparing to leave Castle Black for Hardhome with Tormund Giantsbane. Tormund is led out, and Dolorous Edd removes his shackles. Once unbound, Tormund gives Alliser Thorne a pretty awesome "Come at me bro" look. Jon gives command of the Night's Watch to Thorne in his absence, and Thorne cheerily lets Jon know that this is a foolhardy mission he's about to embark on. Jon thanks him for his honesty. Then Jon and Sam have a nice bro moment as they say goodbye, and Sam sends him off with some dragonglass, to be used in case of White Walker emergency. The next scene also takes place at the Wall, where Sam and Gilly are watching over a dying Maester Aemon, who urges Gilly to take her baby south before it's too late.

Your Name Is Theon Greyjoy

Theon brings Sansa's meal to her in her locked room. She's covered in bruises and begs Theon to help her. He tells her to do as Ramsay wants, otherwise Ramsay will hurt her. Sansa insists that she still has friends and gives him a candle so he can light it in the broken tower. He goes to Ramsay instead. Cut to Brienne watching the broken tower for Sansa's signal.

And Now His Watch Is Ended

Maester Aemon dies, and Sam speaks at the service before the body is burned. Thorne tells Sam that he's losing all of his friends.

I Can't Unsee That

As snow falls steadily around them, Ramsay tells Sansa that she's made him very happy. He then mentions that Stannis and his army are on the move but hampered by the snow. Sansa asks him what will happen if his stepmother, Walda, has a son, a touchy subject with Ramsay. He insists that won't matter since he's been legitimized by the Iron Throne, plus, Jon Snow is a bastard and now he's Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. The news surprises Sansa. Ramsay then shows her the flayed body of the loyal Winterfell servant who was trying to help her.

We March Now or Else

The snow is wreaking all kinds of havoc for Stannis. Davos advises marching back to Castle Black to wait for the snow to clear, but Stannis says they have no idea how long the winter will last. They have to march now. After Davos leaves the tent, Stannis asks Melisandre if she's sure they're heading in the right direction. She says she's seen herself walking along the battlements at Winterfell. But, to ensure victory, she wants to sacrifice Shireen! Stannis orders her out.

Sam the Man

Two of the Night's Watch find Gilly alone and try to assault her. Sam tries to defend her but takes one hell of a beating from his "brothers." And then Ghost turns up! Gilly tends to Sam's injuries and then the moment we've been waiting for between these two happens.

Tyrion Negotiates a Package Deal

After exaggerating some of Jorah's achievements, the slaver sells him. Tyrion insists that he must go with Jorah because they're a team and attempts to prove he's a fighter, too, by knocking his captor to the ground and whaling on him with his chain. Thanks to his antics, which come across more amusing than fear-inspiring, Tyrion gets to stay with Jorah.

Daario's Proposals Get Shot Down

Daario tells Daenerys to marry him instead of Hizdahr, but she says she can't. He then advises her to gather all the masters on the day of the great games and slaughter them all, an idea that draws even less enthusiasm than his previous one.

Olenna vs. the High Sparrow

Lady Olenna goes to see the High Sparrow and offers him gold if he releases her grandchildren. The High Sparrow is not having it; he replies that he serves the gods and the gods demand justice. Outside the sept, she receives a message from Littlefinger.

I Love Her

Tommen is with his mother and vents his frustration over being King yet unable to do anything to help his wife, whom he loves. Cersei offers to speak to the High Sparrow on his behalf.

In Other Teen Angst. . .

Jaime gets to speak alone with Myrcella and says that her mother is worried about her safety and wants her to return with him to King's Landing immediately. A defiant Myrcella declares that she loves Trystane and is going to marry him, and they're not leaving Dorne. Meanwhile, Bronn is locked up in a neighboring cell alongside the Sand Snakes. Jerome Flynn has such a lovely singing voice; if there's a sequel to Game of Thrones: The Musical, this guy NEEDS to be in it! Tyene starts messing with Bronn and reveals that she coated her dagger with poison. He starts feeling the effects, and after Tyene has had her laughs, she tosses Bronn the antidote.

Littlefinger's Gift

In his sacked brothel, Littlefinger meets with Olenna. She warns him that if House Tyrell goes down, he will too because they plotted to kill Joffrey together. He says he has information that Cersei doesn't.

YES! THIS REALLY HAPPENED!

Daenerys and Hizdahr are attending a kind of preliminary round for the great games. Jorah spots Daenerys in the crowd and makes his way into the fighting pit. He puts on an impressive display and whips off his helm, face all expectant, to which Daenerys says, get him out of my sight. Tyrion then makes a fantastic entrance and introduces himself to Daenerys Targaryen, an event that readers of the books still await.

Karma!

Cersei pays Margaery a visit in her cell, and obviously, Margaery is NOT pleased to see her. Cersei is unbearably smug in her triumph, but, not so hasty there, Cersei. The High Sparrow has a surprise for you: Lancel has spilled the beans about her sordid deeds and now she's under arrest, too. Serves that hateful bitch right.

In the Next Episode

Tyrion and Jorah go before Daenerys. It's Cersei's turn to not look queenly. Long time, no see, Rattleshirt!

Fandom Mashups (3)

Fandom Mashups is a feature hosted by Lunar Rainbows Reviews. There's a different scenario each week, and you choose a "dream team" of five characters from five different fandoms whom you think are best suited for the situation.

This week's topic is:
It's the apocalypse! Eeep! Who do you want with you as you face off with the end of days?

My brain has had a rather exhausting week and was having difficulty thinking of characters for this week's topic. So I turned to some expert help on the subject of apocalyptic/disaster/dystopian scenarios—Ally! She came up with the first three picks in a matter of seconds as we carpooled to work on Friday, lol.

1. Daryl Dixon (The Walking Dead): Ally says that Daryl is really the only person you need in this situation, especially if it's a zombie apocalypse.
2. Deadpool (Marvel): Because he's got katanas and he knows how to use them!
3. Ronan Lynch (The Raven Cycle): Ronan can pull objects out of his dreams, which might be very useful when facing the end of the world.
4. Celaena Sardothien (Throne of Glass): A team of badasses staring down the apocalypse would not be complete without this lady. She also knows a thing or two about survival.
5. The Tenth Doctor: If all else fails, we can all hop in the TARDIS. And if I'm going to be doing some time traveling, you'd better believe it's going to be with David Tennant's Tenth Doctor! ❤

Game of Thrones: The Musical!

THIS. I've lost track of how many times I've watched it since I first saw it because it's so. Freaking. HILARIOUS!

The entire 12 minutes is ingenious, but here are a few of my favorite bits:

• The enthusiasm of Coldplay's Chris Martin for the project. Because who wouldn't want to throw down some cold hard cash to see Game of Thrones in a musical format?
• Mark Addy (Robert Baratheon) saying that he only showed up because Sean Bean was supposed to be there and owes him a fiver.
• Chris Martin calling Kit Harington "Jon Snow," and after Kit corrects him, Chris calls him "Kit Snow." BAHAHAHAHAHA!
• Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy) and Iwan Rheon (Ramsay Snow/Bolton) locking tense gazes and then hugging, LOL.
• Kit Harington serenading Rose Leslie (Ygritte) with "Wildling," sung to the tune of "Wild Thing" by The Troggs. Just too clever!
• "Rastafarian Targaryen," now permanently stuck in my head because it's so damn catchy.
• "Closer to Home," an over-the-top ballad about how Jaime Lannister has found love, er, closer to home.

I truly, truly hope there's a follow-up to this in the works because this was just insanely brilliant! :D

Discussing Game of Thrones: Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken

* Spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken.”

A Girl Is Never Done Cleaning

It's time to check in on the House of Black and White, and Arya is cleaning another dead body. After she's finished with her task, she spies an open door but the Waif slams it. The Waif demonstrates the level of lying aptitude that it apparently takes to succeed at the Game of Faces. Later, Jaqen wakes up Arya and peppers her with questions. Every time she answers, he accuses her of lying and strikes her with a stick. Don't sign me up for a round of the Game of Faces, thank you.

I'm Not Your Traveling Companion

It's time to check in on Tyrion and Jorah. Tyrion tells Mormont that he killed Tywin and reminisces about meeting Jorah's father, Jeor, when he visited the Wall. From the expression on Jorah's face, Tyrion realizes that Jorah didn't know that his father was dead—oops. Jorah asks how it happened, and Tyrion has to tell him that the Old Bear's own men turned on him.

Putting the "Face" in Faceless Men

Arya is scrubbing the floor again when a man comes in carrying his sick daughter. The man begs Arya to end his daughter's suffering, and Arya tells the girl a string of lies before urging her to drink the deadly water. Meanwhile, Jaqen is taking in the entire scene. Arya finally passes her test, and Jaqen takes her through the forbidden door and down into a huge chamber filled with . . . faces! Faces everywhere! I swear, I thought that the face Arya touched would open its eyes or do something creepy, and my heart and bladder were very grateful that it didn't. Jaqen says that Arya isn't ready to become no one, but she's ready to be someone.

The Hard Road to Meereen

Tyrion is in the middle of asking Jorah why Daenerys, who's grown up an exile from Westeros, is fit to rule it when they suddenly find themselves surrounded by slavers. Tyrion is deemed worthless and is to be killed but manages to use his wits to garner a reprieve. He and Jorah learn from their captors that Daenerys has reopened the fighting pits in Meereen, and Tyrion volunteers Mormont to fight. The slavers are skeptical, but Mormont bolsters his own cause by declaring that he once killed a Dothraki bloodrider.

Littlefinger Lives to Serve (His Own Interests)

Littlefinger arrives back in King's Landing per Cersei's summons and is greeted by Lancel, who informs him of all the work that the Sparrows have done in his absence. Lancel also warns him about his, ahem, business dealings. Littlefinger sits down with Cersei, and they discuss Loras's imprisonment. Baelish questions the wisdom in pissing off House Tyrell (Remember who helped turn back Stannis and his army at the Battle of the Blackwater? Oh, that's right—House Tyrell.) Littlefinger reveals that Sansa has returned home to Winterfell and will marry Ramsay. Cersei is incensed at this news and vows to flay Roose Bolton & Ramsay. Littlefinger advises letting Roose and Stannis fight it out and then attacking the victor. He further offers the service of the Knights of the Vale to send North. If his plan succeeds, he wants to be named Warden of the North.

For F**k's Sake

It's off to the Water Gardens in Dorne, where Trystane Martell is telling Myrcella that he wants to push up their wedding as Trystane's father, Doran, and Areo Hotah, the captain of the guards, observe them. I thought Trystane and Myrcella were really sweet together. But, as this is GoT, no one must be happy! Riding for the Water Gardens are Jaime and Bronn, disguised in the clothes of the Dornishmen they killed. If the sellsword gig doesn't work out, Bronn could always sing professionally! Meanwhile, Ellaria is about to set the Sand Snakes loose to grab Myrcella. Jaime and Bronn find Myrcella with Trystane, who spots the blood on Bronn's clothes. The young prince draws his sword, and Bronn knocks him out. And then the Sand Snakes attack! There are a few minute of highly choreographed fighting before Areo Hotah breaks up the melee and Jaime, Bronn, and the Sand Snakes are all forced to drop their weapons. Ellaria gets arrested as well.

Put the Pen Down, Dear

Lady Olenna is back! She tells Margaery to let her handle Cersei, and the ensuing showdown between the Queen Mother and the Queen of Thorns is tense. Cersei pointedly continues writing as Lady Olenna speaks, thus prompting the latter to tell her to drop the pretense. Cersei says that she can't do anything about Loras's situation as Queen Mother. Olenna threatens to cut the ties between their houses, but Cersei resorts to the old, "But I didn't imprison Loras" excuse. Olenna gets dismissed without getting anywhere.

Cersei 2, House Tyrell 0

The High Sparrow questions Loras about the rumors surrounding him and Renly, which Loras vehemently denies. Margaery is questioned as well, and she swears that her brother is innocent. Then Olyvar is called in to give testimony, and it's all over for Loras. Olyvar also says that Margaery walked in on them and wasn't surprised. Cersei feigns indignation at Olyvar's accusations, and Loras lunges at him before being restrained. Both Loras and Margaery are to go on trial. The look Cersei gives Lady Olenna at the end of the scene is appallingly smug.

. . .

It's Sansa's wedding day, and Myranda shows up to draw her bath. Myranda washes out the hair dye and talks about what happened to some of the women who bored Ramsay. Sansa tells Myranda that she can't frighten her. Oh, Sansa. Myranda is a crazy, jealous bitch, but she's not lying about what a monster Ramsay is. Theon arrives to escort Sansa to the godswood. He begs her to take his arm or Ramsay will punish him, but she says she doesn't care. During the ceremony, Theon says his own name! And then it's all horror from that point on as Ramsay replaces Joffrey as the most despised character on GoT.

In the Next Episode

Jon rides off with Tormund for Hardhome. Stannis heads towards a showdown with the Boltons. Incarceration doesn't appear to be agreeing with Margaery.