re: I rewatched "Blackwater" last night.

7 & 8 being the weakest depends on how they fare this far past the source material.

first 2 episodes for sure weren't really a good start.

so far Jaime, jon, daeny, cersei and everyone have been transparent with the political maneuvering. Jaime just asks tarly to head the armies and promises him dominion over the reach. Tyrion flat out tells us his plan (though I like how his plan was turned on him)

they're just putting the cards on the table for these scenes. instead of giving us something and leaving us with some intrigue and speculation. for instance when roose Bolton meets Jaime Lannister...there was something going on, we were given a taste, but we weren't told explicitly Bolton was allied with the lannisters and was going to betray robb. the only time I've felt like I don't know what's going to happen or at least i don't feel like i'm just being told what is going to happen is during the battle scenes...oh frick, they might kill drogon, they might kill Jaime, they might kill bronn, daeny may be defeated. the iron fleet battle, it felt like who lives/who dies who wins/who loses was all up in the air