The seventh season of Game of Thrones starts July 16. In preparation, I’m re-watching the first six seasons of the show. Below are 15 thoughts I had while watching the ninth episode of season four, “The Watchers on the Wall.” Spoilers for the entire series, but for this episode in particular.

1. Even though this episode is similar to Blackwater (in that it focuses only on one storyline), I don’t enjoy it as much. Not that it’s bad, it’s just not as good.
2. Although I do love that 360 degree shot in it.
3. I love Jon trying to explain sex to Sam. I guess teenage boys will be teenage boys, no matter where they are.
4. “I’ve never heard you curse before.” – I was actually just thinking the same thing, Pyp.
5. Thorne was an awful bully (especially to Sam and Jon), but it was big of him to admit that he was wrong to Jon.
6. Sam and Gilly finally kiss! One bit of light in a rather dark episode.
7. I love that the giants are riding mammoths.
8. You know Castle Black is a tough place when the cook doesn’t panic at the sight of an armed wilding.
9. Poor Pyp! He didn’t deserve to die like that.
10. The wildings might have giants, but the Night’s Watch has a direwolf.
11. It’s interesting that Olly saves Jon’s life in this episode, only to help kill him a year later.
12. Tormund really is a stubborn one.
13. Slynt is such a bloody coward, hiding like a baby.
14. Poor Grenn, too. Losing him and Pyp both in one episode is a double blow.
15. Jon giving Sam Longclaw for safe keeping really touches me. Probably because Longclaw is Jon’s only possession of value.

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