GoT - the Battle for Winterfell

[d_Guy]

Last night HBO presented a truly epic battle.
With the exception of the Main Battle Tank that was Wun-Wun everything else was pretty conventional (no dragons, zombies, white walkers, etc), with a wide mix of pre-gun powder weapons and tactics. I thought it very well done!  Do others have opinions?
(And for the sake of those who plan to watch - please, no spoilers about the final outcome)

[kipt]

I thought it was well done but confusing. Of course that may be because we watched it on an iPad.

Bloody.

[Leon]

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! - It's hard to discuss the show without things slipping out...!

I enjoyed the episode but there were so many things that frustrated me:

- Why didn't Ramsay's 'victim' try running in zig zags or at least not in a straight line.  If he's only shooting arrows at you, you could almost run backwards and make sure they all missed? 
- Why make battle plans and then throw them out of the window to run in like a fool? 
- The 'Gandalf' moment was so obviously coming.
- Sansa complained about not being listened to, not being able to offer an opinion, then somehow forgot to mention when asked, that she might have a solution?  You could say that she let all those people die rather than tell Jon?
- I liked the giant.

[d_Guy]

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! - It's hard to discuss the show without things slipping out...!

I enjoyed the episode but there were so many things that frustrated me:

- Why didn't Ramsay's 'victim' try running in zig zags or at least not in a straight line.  If he's only shooting arrows at you, you could almost run backwards and make sure they all missed? 

Some wag on io9 said it was because the 'victim' hadn't seen "Apocalypto]" 

- Why make battle plans and then throw them out of the window to run in like a fool? 

Yeah - rather like Ney at Waterloo. That character (who I have never considered the sharpest tool in the shed) is much like his father.

- The 'Gandalf' moment was so obviously coming.

And it felt just as good too! Missed the brilliant rays of glory however.

- Sansa complained about not being listened to, not being able to offer an opinion, then somehow forgot to mention when asked, that she might have a solution?  You could say that she let all those people die rather than tell Jon?

Giving the benefit of the doubt - she probably didn't  know if it was actually going to happen. Still she seemed a bit petulant like the old Sansa. Probably going to have to pay a high price too.

- I liked the giant.

That be Wun-Wun 

IMHO - the use of horse, archers, and foot all seemed pretty correct for 13th - 15th century Europe.
Not sure about the pavise (?) shields use to cover the pikemen. Interesting tactic however.
[/quote]

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Scots used pavaises at Flodden (not that it helped)!