Slow Burn to a fitting Crescendo

 Spoilers Below

As we hit the midway point of season 4 of Game of Thrones episode 5 started nice a slow.  Viewers were treated with more revelations that go back as far as episode 1 season 1.  While also a healthy dose of action that brought the episode to a thrilling end.  As usual rather than going through the entire episode here are the 5 moments that stood out to me.

5. Arya's Water Dance- Each time the show focuses on Arya and The Hound it's entertaining.  Since the wolf girl has been reunited with her sword Needle, you could see her getting closer to where she wants to be.  The Hound to me has become more a life coach to Arya as opposed to a captor.  It was just cool to see her practicing her Water Dance that was taught to her during Season 1.  But in true Hound fashion he tried to teach Arya how the real world works, when she attempted to use Needle on him.  The time with the characters this week was short, but still sweet. Though I look forward to seeing Arya's reaction when she learns that she can cross Joffrey off her list.

4. Brienne & Pod- Another short time spent with these two characters, and like The Hound and Arya; Brienne and Pod are another odd couple on the road.  Brienne not used to be waited on the same way she's not used to being seen as a lady.  But Pod is set on keeping his oath and serving as her squire.  You can see how the two will benefit from each other, and it was funny watching Pod trying to ride a horse, or setting a rabbit on fire while trying to cook it.  It wasn't until Pod told her of how he saved Tyrion's life that she seemed to soften a bit and let the squire do his job.

3. Return to The Vale (and that creepy kid)- This episode brought us back the Vale ruled by Lysa Arryn, Catelyn Stark's sister.  Haven't seen this crazy creepster since season 1, but as soon as you saw her it all came flooding back.  Still crazy and still coddling her son Robin like he's a newborn.  You immediately see she's not working with a full deck, but it's clear she's nuts about Littlefinger, and already jealous of Sansa.  The best moments came when Lysa was revealing how far back Littlefinger and their relationship goes.  As well as Littlefinger's marital hesitation, though with the track record of grooms in Westeros you can't blame him.   The look on Sansa's face during Lysa's & Littlefinger's consummation of their wedding, hilarious.  I think every viewer could feel her pain.

2. Littlefinger is Keyser Soze- More of the onion layers are being peeled from the character that is Peter Baelish aka Littlefinger.  Along with the reunion with Lsya Arryn not only do we find out they've been involved for some time, but we learn just how deep his scheming goes.  When we learn it was Littlefinger who directed Lysa to kill her own husband Jon Arryn a mystery that went back to season 1.  Not only that but he was the one that advised Lysa to send the letter to Catelyn which first warned her about the Lannisters.  Like The Usual Suspects character Keyser Soze operating in the shadows, getting others to do his dirty work.  Littlefinger has emerged this season as that figure the Devil in hiding right under everyone's noses.  I can't wait to see how Sansa actually adapts to this new environment.

1. -Close calls at Craster's Keep- Of Game saves the best for last, as Jon Snow and the Night's Watch move on Craster's keep.  This had it all action packed from Bran taking over Hodor to stop Ramsey's Snow spy Locke.  To the Night's Watch's battle with the deserters and murderers of Lord Commander Mormont.  Jon Snow definitely had the kill of the season thus far, and who didn't cheer as they set Craster's Keep a blaze.  Even better the return of Jon's direwolf Ghost as he exacted revenge on one of his captors.  But the best yet bittersweet moment was Bran being so close to being reunited with his half brother Jon.  All he had to do was call out and two Starks would be together again.  It wasn't like the first time they crossed paths when Bran saved Jon from the wildings by taking over Summer last season.  Bran was right there, but to finish his quest to find the 3 eyed raven like leaving Osha and his little brother Rickon he had to let go.

Mentions- Again I mention Danerys out of obligation as she decides to stay in Mereen to be queen.  Like in the books I've come to not care about her story, it will be interesting to see if they dive into the last book A Dance With Dragons to give her something to do for the rest of the season.  Seeing how this was how her story came to an end in a Storm of Swords.  I've noticed how the show creators this season have really tried to soften Cersei this season with her rightful anguish of losing a child.  While I still loathe the character I'll say it was nice to see her actually acknowledge Joffrey's evil, and it was revealing to see that she actually was affected by his evil deeds.  This was the first time I actually didn't see her as out right evil like her son.  Still can't wait for her to get hers but it was a nice moment.

Why 12 will be better than 24!
by William Walker Jr

It's been 4 years since the clock stopped ticking for Fox's hit TV series 24.  After 192 hours of explosions, poisonous gas attacks, shootouts, fist fights, torture scenes, choke-outs, and various exclamations of the word dammit!  Jack is back!  Last we saw Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer was on the run a fugitive.  That was how the eighth and final season of the action packed series ended.  For most fans it was fitting especially figuring we'd see the further exploits of Jack Bauer on the big screen.  A 24 feature film had been talked about since season 5, but alas the dream never materialized.  But fans would have reason to rejoice after Fox announced the show's return though as a mini-series.  24: Live Another Day would be only 12 episodes instead of 24.  Now my initial reaction was like what, how, why?  Especially when they said the series would still cover a full day, I was like how could you capture the full awesome of 24 with only a mere 12 episodes.  It wasn't until after I re-watched seasons 5-8 in anticipation of it's return that I realized only 12 episodes as opposed to 24 wasn't such a bad idea.  In fact I think it's a great idea and here are the 4 reasons why.

4. Jack may actually sleep: Okay that's not super cause for excitement.  But what person who watched 24 didn't wonder.  Is Jack going to go to the bathroom, heck I understand you don't want to take a power nap when terrorist are threatening to blow up the White House.  But I mean come on these people have eat, go to the bathroom, or at least sleep once in a blue.  Now you can have them do that stuff and it's not a big deal because it'll take place on the off hours.  Seeing how with the new format it's still taking place in a day just that they'll only show the most important 12 hours of the day.  Take a nap Jack you'll need your strength for this torture scene.

3. Jack is Rogue: Let's face it this is how it should be.  Not C.T.U. no problem those morons simply get in Jack's way.  Jack was always at his best when he had to go off book.  Give him a couple of guns and ear-piece and Chloe in his ear, and you knew Jack was going to get it done.  With the new show it's 4 years after C.T.U. has been shutdown.  Not only is it outside of the USA but C.T.U. is gone now I'm sure they'll be some group in their to try and hinder Bauer. But let's face it the man is going rogue the way it should be.

2.No Politics Jack: Something that struck me from my marathon of 24 watching, was how utterly annoying and distracting were the office politics of C.T.U.  Fitting into the same reason of Jack being rogue, with no C.T.U. you have no damn C.T.U. office politics.  Now I know the writers had to do it, because they needed to fill those 24 hours with something.  But GEEZ if I saw one more ridiculously contrived scenario. Like my sister's a crackhead and I have to leave from this terrorist threat to deal with her drug problem.  Or I'm being chased by an abusive Dad into the mountains on no a Mountain Lion! Who could forget the inter-office love triangle?  GOOD LORD no more! Thankfully with only 12 hours to fill instead of 24 craptacular scenarios should be a thing of the past.  This brings me to my final point.


1. No time to waste Jack: Like I said the writers only had to fill 12 hours as opposed to 24.  So we should get an action-packed tighter story.  The model for great TV has changed when you have shows like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, and Hannibal.  Telling insanely good and concise stories with only 10 plus episodes it makes for better TV.  That's the model we'll now be getting with 24.  We won't have to waste time watching a side character try and hide their gambling problem.  Or spend fifteen minutes watching Jack drive from one place to the next.  With the stipulation that only the most important 12 hours are being shown, we should get a faster paced more action packed story.  And that's reason alone to rejoice in 24's return.

Well there you have the 4 reasons why I think the shortened 12 episodes instead of 24 will make 24: Live Another Day even better than a full display of 24.  Let me know what you think in the comments below agree or disagree.