Uh... no.
They were clearly going to fight, or were at least undecided, before the dogs came into play. It was emphasized strongly, with the slow opening of the dog cage, etc., etc.
As for your "it's really easy to fight them with a big sword and awareness".... sigh. I would really fucking love to see you fight off multiple massive fighting dogs while their owners, also equipped with steel, come barging at you. Really, I'd pay to see that. And then hear your comments about how easy it was. I think my favorite pet peeve is starting to be nerds who state things about fighting manner-of-factly and claim things "easy" that they have no idea about.
Oh boy... now that i'm called a nerd i'm going to act like one and give u a wall as an answer.
First of all: I love when ppl rage about other ppl calling other other ppl capabale or not capable of fighting other other other ppl.
I did not say,
I was able to fight off dogs. But i guess wartrained Soldiers, killing stuff for a living would be able to. (Maybe now that i used color and size you will read it right)
But that's not even my main point. My main point is that u have to read between the lines. There are many symbolic actions in that scene that one might not notice when too much focused on barking dogs and swords.
For example the moment when he's at the lock and about to unleash the dogs....
First of all, if they'd really wanted to fight, they could've EASILY attacked the naked dude while he was opening the lock of the first cell - I mean he's doing that for like 10 seconds and they're 5 m away from each other. But there was some kind of insecurity in the air, caused by reeks resistance. They were of course holding on to their primary motivation of going there in the first place - but now they're like "what the hell is going on...", unable to get to a decision. That "release my brother and no more of your men will be harmed" was more halfhearted than determinant. While on the other hand, our naked dude's got quite the authority - and his side seems to be quite definite about their motives. Also, i would keep in mind, that even before that szene the ironborn lady had to fight a lot for her brother already (with her father, with her men, with theon himself)... and she was quite sure of doing the right thing - but now in that cell? After theon bit her? After he resisted? And after he repeated like 100 times that his name's reek? Im not so sure...
Second, even IF he'd release that ONE dog - are u telling me that would change everything? It would still be a fight, someone would not run from if this someone is a trained soldier and sure of the good cause.
Third, the scene doesn't close with him unlocking the door of the cell, but with 3, what i think important, moments :
1) Reek biting his sister (as mentioned above) ,
2) "you've got bigger balls than he ever had",
3) The very last frames of that scene are Reek's eyes and those of her sister. They have a last (not that friendly) eye contact in which she decides what to do next, since theon's already decided.
Thats the dramaturgical peak of the sister-brother-story.
So the cut's placed just right.
However, and that might enrage the more action-fanatic viewers amongst us, her conclusion and how the story goes on is not shown!
When returning to the boat the only thing she says is "my brother is dead". So what to do with that?
We did not actually see the naked dude releasing the dogs - only him handling the lock.
But given, that dogs run faster than humans why are they not visible at the beach?
Did they maybe remain in the dungeon AFTER being released, feasting on the fallen?
Were they even released in the first place?
U can still hear them - closing in.
But that as well could be just a dramaturgical way of showing the fierce resistance of all the men and dogs in that keep - including reek (instead of actually meaning they're closing in).
You can blend with audio as well as with video.
But the Fact is we do not know.
However, there's those who are thinking about what happened in that scene, and then there are those who'd rather call others nerds and unknowing just because their need for dull scenes did not get statisfied.
So spare me your "big-cock-I-am-so-much-better-than-you-talk" and piss off.
Maybe watch the episode again and try to actually watch it, not consume it.
