The letter was a massive focus in the book, and it wasn't even clear who wrote it. It's more of a plot device in the show, which is totally fine because it keeps the pacing balanced.

Which letter are you talking about?

The one Ramsay sends to Jon about several different things depending on if you're in the book or the show.

I don't think it was more of a focus in the book necessarily. It was part of the gigantic shit-hits-the-fan moment at the Wall after loads of build up, and it has potential to be more focal in the future, but we didn't get much time with it in aDwD :p

I do like the book theory that Ramsay didn't write the letter though. I kind of doubt they'd have that kind of complexity in the show at this point - the shoe fits so Ramsay will just wear it and it will work.

Hey by the way anyone remember Dorne?

My only memories of Dorne are of Bronn being amazing.

I miss Bronn :(

I'm trying my best to forget.

I remember the Viper was from Dorne. Man, that fight was amazing.

Episode 7 was also amazing, a tone of scenes that were really good, and I wasn't expecting the return of you-know-who, so that was a little squeal moment for me.

My favourite scene had to be Arya's, and my only gripe of the episode was not having a Sam scene. Really wanted to know what went on there.

Are we forgetting about the FUCKING HOUND?????????????

Uh, did you think I was talking about Voldemort when I said you-know-who?

The Hound is back. I'm so happy.

Who's the Hound?

THAT WAS HIM HOLY FUCKING SHIT

Where did Meli go?!

I'm having some trouble believing Arya survived that many stabs to the abdomen, including one seriously nasty twisting of the knife. She should have been dead right then and there. Let alone being able to swim ashore and wander around the city looking for help. Taking a little bit too many artistic freedoms there.

The thing is that stab wounds in the gut don’t tend to kill the victim that quickly – all the vital organs are in the ribcage, so the body can survive for long enough to suffer from slowly bleeding out or from infections caused by the intestines being pierced.

Which Arya definitely would do if this was real. Obviously, she won't though.

Remember how Robert Baratheon died? Yeah, Arya surviving this is going to take a lot of suspension of disbelief.

Or a really good doctor. Or magic.

They aren't going to ignore infection - I'd guess that's why they've clearly had her stabbed in that way and then fall into water.

Book stuff:

In the book we've already seen Victarion get saved from fatal infection by Moqorro, and now Victarion believes in the Lord of Light somewhat. Berric Dondarrion had a similar thing. I'm expecting book Jon to go the same way too, or to at least question his Old Gods. I don't know if the show making Arya lean towards the Red would be something we'll see in the book, or covering for other non-show characters.

So yeah books aside incoming Red magic.

Or incoming hidden metal plate on her chest and bags of pigs blood. Which was totally my first thought. And then someone else pointed out that the troupe of actors had done something similar, which just deepens my suspicion.

Oh damn that is good.

That would be kind of dumb though, why would she walk through the streets like that? How would she know the Waif would stab her exactly there? Also what are these bags made of that they can hold pig's blood? There's no plastic in GoT.

Also, iirc Arya was wearing a slim dress, not only would we have been able to see it but the knife would've gone right through the bag and into her chest.

Given that she knew the Faceless Men were after her, I think the better question is why Arya would walk through the streets like that. She's either an idiot or she was trying to lure the waif out of hiding.

It was certainly a gamble as to where the waif would stab her, but I have heard an opinion that the waif only ever hit her on the body, so she may have assumed that's where she'd be stabbed.

The bags would be made of pigs bladders or leather or some other material. There's plenty of waterproof material in that universe.

And I've attached a screengrab of what she was wearing. It's not bulging, but it's not tight fitting either.

I guess it's just a contingency for like the one killing you could avoid? The waif could have used poison or stabbed her in the neck, and there isn't much you can do about that, but in the case that happened it isn't the worst idea in the world to have some kind of chest protection.

Well the Waif has always hated Arya, and she wanted to make her suffer (which is why I believe Jaquen will either kill the Waif or congratulate Arya on doing it and call it even). I think it makes sense that Arya would walk through the streets like that, she'd just been stabbed and she needs to find help ASAP, what else could she do?

I just thing bags of pig's blood would be a bit of a cop out.

OR

Arya stabbed the Waif with Needle, and it's the Waif who's running confusedly through the streets.

BWWWWUUUUMMMM

Changing faces is one thing, but why would the Waif suddenly shrink 6 inches?

I think when you shape shift in GoT you just take on the size and appearance of the person whose face you're using. The Mountain's face on Arya would look a bit weird if she stayed 5' with a 18yr olds body.

They don't shape shift though, they only take the person's face and voice iirc.

Whaaat, but that doesn't make sense, unless I guess they have quite a vast network of devotees to fit the builds of the faces...idk man, you're confusing me.

Not really, most people wouldn't really take notice of differing builds if the face is the same. They wouldn't question it.

I mean, maybe. Now I do want to see The Hound/The Mountain's face on Arya, lel.

Tbh I just assumed this was a bunch of shape shifters so, thanks for clearing that up.

Nah they're essentially just really really good, slightly magical masks.

Maybe in the book, but I doubt they’d go with that for the TV show. Not that it’s likely to ever come up.

You know what? I think you guys might be right.

This is one of the weird things in the show really. In the book I felt like the faceless men had to be anybody, not nobody. I always thought that wearing a face was about just becoming somebody, not the specific person whose face it was. The lying game was very different - it wasn't all about Arya not being Arya, it was about Arya being able to lie and pick a liar. I guess they had to externalize her conflict more.

This is really making me rethink all of the stuff in the book about the waif's past though.

Mind you apparently I misunderstood the prologue to AFFC when I read it, so apparently in the book there is actually a case of someone being "replaced" by a faceless man wearing their face.

Oh and I read a really good theory about Lady Crane, Arya and the waif which is similar to what's suggested in that video, but also proposed that Arya might not be going back to Westeros from here. The faceless men might need her in the east...

I meant the way she was walking around the streets immediately before being stabbed, completely carefree and not looking out for danger.

The waif turned into Jaquen in the last episode of season 5.

Or was it the Waif? I love that Jaquen isn't even a person, he's just this transcendent face that lives on and on.

See, I know my shit. >:(

So it was just bad writing that Arya would strut through the streets like she did. I want to know how she slept off getting stabbed in the intestine too. Unless there's just gonna be a huge double bluff next week, but I feel like that's just giving them way too much credit.

That episode was fucking great.
Also, I don't think it was poor writing, more that Arya was just pretty dumb.

Also as great as that episode was, not seeing the fight between Arya and the Waif was pretty shit.