Behind the Battle of the Bastards, and what else we can expect

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The next episode of Game of Thrones,  “Battle of the Bastards” featuring a clash between the Boltons and the Starks, was a massive undertaking and this week Entertainment Weekly goes behind the scenes of the show.

Expected to be an epic sequence, the Battle of the Bastards required a lengthy filming process. We followed it closely here, last fall, as the cameras rolled in Saintfield, Northern Ireland. According to EW, shooting on the battle took place over a period of 25 days, and that doesn’t include time spent filming other storylines included in the episode. It took 600 crew members, with 4 camera crews, to make it happen.

EW reports that 500 extras were needed to create the armies of the Northern houses at war. They say, “The armies were trained separately to create a competitve off-screen rivalry that would hopefully then become apparent on camera during the fighting scenes. Visual effects were then used to expand the armies into the thousands.”

The show used 70 horses and 25 stunt performers in the creation of the battle scenes, so I imagine we can look forward to some creative deaths and exciting stunts.

A slightly less sexy tidbit from EW: the 160 tons of gravel needed to fix the field where they filmed. It rains a lot in Northern Ireland, turning the grounds to mud. The gravel helps add traction to the surface.

There’s other news about “Battle of the Bastards,” today, and we mean the episode as a whole, not just the fighting sequence in the North. Back during season 6 filming, we’d seen some indication that there would be a Meereen scene in episode 9, but the previews and promotional material for episode 609 have focused entirely on the Battle of the Bastards.

Today, a magazine article surfaced, finally confirming in print what was long suspected: we will see Daenerys and her companions in Meereen, this Sunday night. Joanna Robinson of Vanity Fair shared this spoiler-containing image on Twitter:

script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js">

The issue of TV & Satellite Week magazine reads:

As Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton do battle in the North, elsewhere in the Seven Kingdoms it’s the female characters who look the most likely to rule Westeros as season six comes to a close.

This week’s episode sees Yara Greyjoy and her brother Theon finally make it to Meereen where the Ironborn warrior finds an admirer in Daenerys.
“That’s the beauty of the show,” says Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys. “As women, we accept our femininity and take strength from it.”

So we can look forward to Greyjoy action, and another huge moment with Daenerys meeting more people from Westeros!

Sue the Fury
Susan Miller, Editor in Chief of WatchersOnTheWall.com

372 Comments

  1. Oh good, I don’t think I’d cope with the stress of the battle at Winterfell lasting a whole hour!
    I’ll be very interested in how Tyrion reacts to Theon. He had plenty of disdainful comments to make to him back in season one.
    Would Tyrion know of all Theon’s misdemeanours since they last saw each other? Probably not.

  2. Oh good, I don’t think I’d cope with the stress of the battle at Winterfell lasting a whole hour!
    I’ll be very interested in how Tyrion reacts to Theon. He had plenty of disdainful comments to make to him back in season one.
    Would Tyrion know of all Theon’s misdemeanours since they last saw each other? Probably not.

  3. YES! This pacing makes much more sense to me. I’m anticipating some great parallels to what’s happening in the West (Jon/Ice) and East (Dany/Fire).

  4. Hmm.. I had a feeling this would happen.
    annoyed AT MYSELF that I spoiled its confirmation
    Im curious, why would an article spoil this, when HBO is trying to keep it hidden?

    I didn’t think she was the type to report spoilers

  5. I’m so glad we get Yara and Dany this season! Anything to spice up Dany’s storyline. Hopefully it gets more exciting from here and the Ironborn don’t get dragged down like Tyrion has this season.

  6. I do look forward to the Greyjoy siblings rolling with Dany’s crew, even if I ain’t big on Dany herself. S7 should be great with them all in Westeros.

  7. Mihnea,

    Same here. It’s been interesting seeing characters whom we’ve never seen interact with each other in the same scene. Maybe Theon and Grey Worm can bond somehow.

  8. I soooo can’t wait!! And I have to wait till Monday:(
    Since I saw that promo pictures yesterday, my heart can’t stop doing bombombom.
    And I knew that IMDB syn for ep 9 ll be correct 😉

  9. Ironborn in Mereen is the only way Dany sets sail this season.

    #makeitso
    Sean C.,

    The Ironborn need to take the ships from the masters. They can’t let Drogon burn them all.

    Showrunners have already said they weren’t going to do 6 seasons in Essos. She has to sail this season.

  10. Ironborn attacking from the sea, Dothraki attacking from the land and dragons attacking from the air. Probably safe to say the Masters will surrender.

  11. Ravyn:
    EW’s Facebook page has a new still of Jon in BoB and it’s pretty fierce.

    WOW! Thanks for the info!

    I love this article!

  12. Can’t wait to see Tyrion’s reaction to the news that Sansa married Ramsey Bolton.

    Is he still technically married to Sansa even though they didn’t consumate?

  13. Pretty exciting stuff!

    Although I’m kinda bummed at the mention of Theon being an “Ironborn warrior”.. Dany admires true strength and presence, neither of which post Reek Theon possesses IMO (nor should/would he after what he’s endured). A mere pep talk from big sis would be nowhere near enough to snap him out of his PTSD, surely?

  14. Bloody hell Jon looks FURIOUS in that shot…

    I want it to be sunday already!! Going to be a insane episode.

  15. M W,

    That’s a pretty good D&D party there in the front, Giant, Barbarian, and Necromancer.

    Don’t forget Jon Snow… He’d be a Ranger!

  16. Jon keeps reminding me of Aragorn… If his arc ends the same as Aragorn’s I can die happy.

  17. Sounds like Yara is going to sail triumphant into Meereen the way that Tywin rode triumphant into the great hall.

  18. Wow this is fantastic news! I feel slightly spoiled (self-inflicted of coruse) but since it will make me excited instead of dreading this episode, I don’t mind this time. 😛

    Apollo: Although I’m kinda bummed at the mention of Theon being an “Ironborn warrior”.. Dany admires true strength and presence, neither of which post Reek Theon possesses IMO (nor should/would he after what he’s endured). A mere pep talk from big sis would be nowhere near enough to snap him out of his PTSD, surely?

    Based on the next sentence it seems to me the Ironborn Warrior Dany “admires” is definitely Yara, not Theon.

  19. Mihnea:
    Rhaenys Stark,

    ”You bow to no one my friends”

    I still cry when I remember this. God I loved LOTR

    Oh God me too. I can picture him saying something similar to the wildlings in the end…

  20. I love Yara and I hope she hooks up with Dany ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) . You know what I mean.

    That being said, I hope Meereen doesn’t take up too much of the episode. I hope the Bastardbowl gets most of the screentime and the last scene is in DA NORF!!

  21. Halfman,

    I’ve speculated this for some time.

    Look at the teaser, you’ll see Jon getting up and looking down shortly. I think it’s Rickon dying in his arms.

  22. It should be quite a surprise for the Greyjoys to find Tyrion where he is when nobody else in Westeros seems to have heard yet. Both Tyrion and Theon are quite different people than when they last spoke. It will be interesting to see if they mend fences very quickly or if old verbal sparring rekindles.

    I can see how Daenerys would admire Yara. She’s not seen another woman in a leadership position before. Hopefully Yara (and Theon) find Dany to be everything they expect from rumors and stories. I suppose it’s hard to find her anything less when she’s commanding 100k plus men while riding around on a dragon with two more in tow.

    So there are just two episodes left. When, how and why is Shae (dream? hallucination?) going to make an appearance? Whatever she was on set in costume for
  23. Mihnea,

    I’ve been sailing it, since I heard the rumors they would give Victarion’s story to Yara.

    I name it Yanerys!!

    it-is-law.gif

  24. “I was particularly interested in depicting both the horror of war and the roll of luck in battle.” Ok there is a clue hidden here somewhere.
    & Did he mean “roll” as in dice roll,or its a typo & it was supposed to be role.

    My God!! I’m losing my mind… & I’m loving it! woohoo! 🙂

  25. QueenofThrones:
    Wow this is fantastic news!I feel slightly spoiled (self-inflicted of coruse) but since it will make me excited instead of dreading this episode, I don’t mind this time.?

    Based on the next sentence it seems to me the Ironborn Warrior Dany “admires” is definitely Yara, not Theon.

    Oops… My bad… I didn’t see the last part of the article on my phone screen!

    Makes way more sense now 🙂

  26. Mihnea,

    Just replayed it. I see what you mean. I think I mentioned on a previous thread that the fact they hadn’t bothered using Rickon in anything but one scene up to now didn’t bode well.

  27. So Yara and Theon may earn some sort of Dany trust or appreciation – but what will happen when Euron arrives?

    Dany will have already given Yara and Theon safety, but will she flip to Euron after he explains his involvement with the Harpys – aND promises to cease their rebellious acts? I hope not.

  28. Mihnea,

    Well its not as dark as where you guys usually go.
    I speculated this would happen in epi 10.
    But the fact that it will happen sooner is making me go

    “YAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS”

    I am more excited about the GOT epis than going on another vacation in a few weeks.

    geez

  29. What if part of “Terms of surrender are rejected and accepted.” refers to Meereen?

  30. Manless Face,

    Nah, she’s with Vanity Fair. And she does two pretty good podcasts – “A Cast of Kings” (spoiler free) and “Storm of Spoilers”

  31. Flayed Potatoes,

    There are 2 cockless guys there. Doubt it.

    But to be fair, I don’t remember him making fun of GW. He made jokes only with Varys who he is a good friend.

  32. Rich Stark,

    As in how quickly luck changes….like the roll of a dice or something. Ramsay can start the battle with the larger army, but that doesn’t mean luck will always be by his side throughout the whole thing.

    edit: Oh never mind. EW didn’t pay an intern to spellcheck.

    Raynald Westerling,

    I’m pretty sure Euron is still chopping wood that doesn’t exist in Pyke.

  33. trarecar:
    Can’t wait to see Tyrion’s reaction to the news that Sansa married Ramsey Bolton.

    Is he still technically married to Sansa even though they didn’t consumate?

    In the medieval world the consummation was considered more important than the wedding ceremony, which was for political grandstanding, really. It was the consummation that brought the couple together; it was such an important ritual that it was often watched by members of the newlyweds’ family (if they were too young to engage in sex and procreation, as they sometimes were in the medieval world, they had to lie on a bed together and press their stockings or lacings together as a form of symbolic unity.)

    Failure to consummate meant the marriage could be forfeit if challenged legally.

  34. Clob,

    I bet they were just trolling.Remember this was after the kit picture on the battlefield and I think they did that to mud the waters and get us back lol

  35. Dee Stark,

    I just feel really disappointed about the storyline in the North after the set up in episode 7 and the subsequent failure of Brienne’s mission in episode 8. These two things in my view made it too obvious what’s going to happen. Jon’s forces decimated, probably including at least Tormund and probably many others dying, then LF rides in to “save the day”. And, because Sansa didn’t share that information with Jon, people are throwing their lives away that don’t have to.

    I don’t feel any suspense or excitement. I’m just dreading it. 🙁 I do hope I’m wrong but I wouldn’t bet on it.

  36. Do you think we’ll see all 3 dragons this episode in Mereen, or is that a finale moment? What about a naval battle with the Greyjoys and Masters?

  37. Sword of the Morning:
    What if part of “Terms of surrender are rejected and accepted.” refers to Meereen?

    Was definitely thinking this, too, now that I know Meereen is in. Wise masters are gonna crap themselves when they see dragons, Dothraki, and a pirate navy all coming for them from every direction. They could try to give up and Dany will have none of it and burn them all anyway.

  38. Sean C.,

    No but the Iron born know how to TAKE ships..if Danys babies dont burn them all up she will have Iron Born AND Masters Fleet… that will be a heck of a lot more ships then she has now

  39. QueenofThrones,

    Ah okay, I understand.

    Yeah, its kind of obvious that LF will come in and save the day. Even to the casual viewer. I really hope Sansa tells Jon, not that it would change anything. Its too late for planning purposes.

  40. Team Theon!

    Glad Dany and Yara will like each other. We need alliances more than ever.

    Finally an expression from Jon that isn’t shell-shocked or non-committal. Roar!!!

  41. Jack Bauer 24,

    I think we’re getting all of these because the show wants to secure the Special Effects Emmy (and probably even the directing one).

  42. Dee Stark:
    I really hope Sansa tells Jon, not that it would change anything. Its too late for planning purposes.

    It would change quite a lot. Jon would be insane to initiate battle if he knew House Arryn was near at hand.

  43. Apollo:
    Pretty exciting stuff!

    Although I’m kinda bummed at the mention of Theon being an “Ironborn warrior”.. Dany admires true strength and presence, neither of which post Reek Theon possesses IMO (nor should/would he after what he’s endured). A mere pep talk from big sis would be nowhere near enough to snap him out of his PTSD, surely?

    I think they were referring to Yara there 😉

  44. Mihnea:
    QueenofThrones,
    LF hasn’t given any word any sign that he’ll come to help.

    Jon would have attacked anyway.

    Sansa should have tried to talk to Jon. Maybe he believes her, maybe he doesn’t. But whether LF comes or not, it is imperative for Jon to know this is a possible outcome and prepare militarily for it. Especially because as it is we have been told there is exactly zero hope for the force headed by Jon being victorious. Jon pushing forward with zero hope of victory is stupid. Sansa not allowing the military leader Jon in on a possible relief force (even if not confirmed) is stupid.

    It’s a combination of Jon and Sansa acting irrationally stupidly for no good reason and the only purpose for it is to build artificial tension. They did it with Arya and they did it in the Northern story.

  45. Sean C.,

    Yet they have no idea that he would come.

    Sansa: I sent word for LF. But we had absolutly no sign whatsoever that he got my latter and that he’ll come.
    Same words from previous episodes, Jon:” If he didn’t answer by now, he isn’t coming”

    He would begin the battle anyway. Nothing would change.

  46. I still hope that Jon will manage to save Rickon. He needs this small personal victory in the beginning of the battle to regain confidence and to inspire his troops. Of cause, my hope is fading after the last episode but still I have a feeling that Rickon will be the end-game survivor, though he won’t do much and rather serve as a cause for the others to fight. Being a child he symbolizes the future, so Jon HAS to save him.

  47. “Hold your ground! Hold your ground!

    Sons of The North, Free Folk, my brothers,

    I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me.

    A day may come when the courage of men fails,

    when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship,

    but it is not this day.

    An hour of wolves and shattered shields,

    when the age of men comes crashing down,

    but it is not this day!

    This day we fight!!

    By all that you hold dear on this good North,

    I bid you stand, Men of the NORTH!!!”

    – Jon Snow 2016

    Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

  48. QueenofThrones,

    He would start the battle anyway.

    They have no way to find out if LF will come or not. What should they do, hang around until LF gives a sign? Praying Ramsey doesn’t go after them…

    To quote Jon again ”if he didn’t answer by now, he isn’t coming”. I don’t see why he would have any different response to LF, then he had to Manderly.

  49. Mihnea,

    And then….

    A raven flies into the tent carrying a message….

    “Sansa, look to my coming, at first light, on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East.” – CIA

  50. Mihnea,

    Flayed Potatoes,

    Halfman,

    I also thought it was roll &yours logic was sound,but as Halfman pointed out,they spelled it correctly in the subheading of the article. Either way,let’s hope luck is on the side of our beloved underdog team.

    Although fate of Rickon is looking pretty grim at this point & all I keep thinking of is the scene in the pilot, where Rickon hands Jon the last of arrows & runs away & Jon lets out the most genuinely heartwarming smile. *tears*
    Oh god! I’m gonna die this monday!!

  51. Flayed Potatoes,

    He got to Moles town alone. He could have sent a rider to inform them he’ll join and help. Or a raven to CB. Anything.
    He didn’t, for obvious reasons, he wants to do what he planned with Bolton/Stannis.

  52. Dee Stark,

    I think she does tell him (thats the convo we see in the tent) and he tells her cant wait for an army that may or may not come , especially if she plays up the cant trust him angle when trying to explain why she didnt tell him before (which we all knew was gonna bite her in the ass)

  53. Mihnea:
    They have no way to find out if LF will come or not. What should they do, hang around until LF gives a sign?

    Er, yes, exactly. Send scouts to look for his forces. Or march southward to link up with them.

    Praying Ramsey doesn’t go after them…

    Only an issue if they’ve already gotten so close to Winterfell that they can’t escape his cavalry.

    To quote Jon again ”if he didn’t answer by now, he isn’t coming”. I don’t see why he would have any different response to LF, then he had to Manderly.

    A) Baelish was summoned far more recently than Manderly.
    B) Unlike with the Northern lords, there’s no reason to think he’s not coming.

  54. Flayed Potatoes:
    Jack Bauer 24,

    I think we’re getting all of these because the show wants to secure the Special Effects Emmy (and probably even the directing one).

    We still have the clip from the trailer of the Harpies attacking though. That might be when the dragons come. That clip looks like it’s broad daylight and sunny, while the current attack from the Masters looks like it’s at night, so they are separate attacks.

  55. Mihnea,

    LF was just written to that very day, whereas Manderley and Cerwyn had been written to several weeks ago. I don’t see how it could make any sense for Jon to repeat “if we haven’t heard, he isn’t coming” in that context. At least they should calculate “ok what’s the soonest they could hear, and when’s the soonest they could send word or arrive” and then plan to attack in coordination with that time line. Without the information from Sansa Jon may attack too early.

    Plus it’s outright stupid for Jon to attack at this moment whether or not LF is coming. If he doesn’t have the forces to have even an outside chance of winning, he shouldn’t attack.

    There is an outside chance we’ll have Manderley show up, or Umber turncloak. If that happened, it would make me happy even with this nonsense.

  56. selena,

    This, the only moment things could have gone differently is if she accepted his help then.

    And even then, what if he goes to get the Vale but gives no more answers, no sign, nothing. Jon wouldn’t wait forever, he would start the battle.

  57. Mihnea,

    To be fair, we haven’t seen the Northern storyline since Sansa sent her raven. We’ll see if they get an answer this episode. Jon is forced to march either way.

    The Knights of the Vale are assembled on Sweetrobin’s orders to save Sansa, so Littlefinger can’t go against his lord.

    Cersei is also losing power in KL, so it might be in LF’s benefit to ally himself with the North instead.

  58. Why does everyone believe Little Finger will ride in at the last moment with the men of the Vale and save the day? What’s in it for him? He is indeed going to show up, but, to help whom?

    Who is the known hero on the show?
    Who was recently brought back from death?
    Who killed a Wight at Hardhome?
    Who saved the Nights Watch during the Watchers on The Wall battle?
    Who went to negotiate with Mance, knowing he will probably die?

    Why wouldn’t you believe that Jon will be the true hero during the BOTB – something huge is going to happen where we will finally see Jon emerge as Azor Ahai A/K/A The Prince That Was Promised. I think he is going to die, but, comes back without help from Mel or anyone else – there’s foreshadowing all over the place this season for this. He’s said “if I fall, don’t bring me back” to Mel twice during the show and Kit mentioned it verbatim in the EW article published in May (check it out).

    It makes perfect sense. This wimpy Jon we have seen most of this season has to ago away. There is no way he will be able to take on the Walkers when the wall finally comes down. No way…

    And…it all gets wrapped up in a pretty bow during episode 10 with the Tower of Joy reveal.

    I will bet money on this.

  59. I can’t wait for Tyrion to see The on again. Do you think he’ll make a cock joke about Grey Worm and Theon?

  60. Jack Bauer 24,

    Aren’t they looking at ground level though? Maybe it’s the Dothraki charging. Otherwise, Dany’s subjects are caught in the fire and I’m not sure Dany wants that.

    Jack Bauer 24,

    I pray for a glimpse of politeness, but Ralloo shows me only cock jokes.

    Probabaly.

  61. I can’t wait for Theon and Yara to meet Dany! I never thought before this season that anything like that would actually happen. I could see Yara and Dany hitting it off. They’re both strong women with goals of power in mind. I can only imagine the outtakes with Gemma and Emilia though. There has to be some comedy gold in there somewhere.

  62. is it possible that the burning crosses are just actual burning crosses, or it’s not anyone we care about??

    Jon and Sansa have never spent that much time with Osha, right? If Rickon is still at least temporarily alive, why would that be a particularly scary sight for them? I don’t think there’s time in his episode for Ramsay to catch Brienne and Pod. I really don’t think the show would have Edd/NW die off camera and have unrecognizable bodies on the crosses.

    The point being, are those bodies even recognizable? Or is it just a warning like this is what’s coming to you.

  63. VegoDread,

    I’d put money on it that they won’t kill him off again. It would be daft having spent so much time on his death and resurrection. All it would do is cheapen what they spent so much time over and fans and critics all rolling their eyes.

    LF has the Vale army, headed by Yohn Royce, under orders from Lord Robin to help his cousin Sansa. We saw that in an earlier episode. LF now also has a letter asking for help, so that is what the Vale army will do. LF I’ll no doubt start meddling and manipulating after the battle but I don’t have any doubt at all that the Vale army will arrive to help the Starks. Whether they are too late or not is the question.

  64. QueenofThrones,

    Well you don’t know how much time has passed between the end of episode 7 and the start of episode 9.If there is no news from the vale,he knows the northern houses won’t support them and he knows the weather can turn at anytime.Ramsay has his brother so what can he do appart from attacking and hope for the best.As he said battles have been won against worse odds

  65. QueenofThrones,

    Let’s just disagree. Don’t want to fill the thread with pointless rants, from both of us.

    I truly think Jon should attack. As he himself says in the teaser ”battles have been won against greater odds”. I do not see why he should wait, while Ramsey has his little brother.

    Anyway let’s end this here, neither one of us will change his mind anyway..

  66. Btw, why is everyone acting like it is all Jon’s stubbornness that was pushing the battle forward?

    He committed to pushing ahead because he needed to draw Ramsay’s army out in battle, his smaller force couldn’t mount a a siege and especially with the weather. He didn’t know about the Vale. But now that he’s DONE that, and Ramsay knows it’s a smaller force, OF COURSE Ramsay will ride out. And then what is Jon supposed to do, be like “jk jk jk jk jk jk.” The die has been cast. Sansa waited to tell him, waited to call LF, and even if the Vale IS coming, they just can’t wait now.

    But I think Jon might be stalling in part if he challenges Ramsay one on one. But Ramsay uses Rickon to force Jon’s hand, because Ramsay knows his larger army can decimate Jon’s.

    Basically even if Jon wants to wait, Ramsay now WON’T LET HIM.

  67. Halfman,

    The last Tyrion heard, Theon had lost Winterfell and was missing.

    Their meeting should be very cool indeed ! I hope there will be some kind of throwback to their conversation in 1.04.

  68. I know I should reserve judgement because by all accounts the Battle of Mereen – basically doing the battle of fire and the battle of ice like the books – should be awesome.

    But I’m just like “groaaaannnnn more Ironborn and Dany expressionless ‘destroy them all’ face.”

  69. Nadia,

    Funny, thing. That is exactly why I’m looking forward to it…..
    Also because this means she will leave Meereen in EP10..

  70. Oooooohh by the way!!!

    The one opening that Theon/Yara going to Dany is that Dany will learn of the Starks and probably most in particular that she’ll learn about Jon.

    The Starks in her minds are traitors, but Tyrion happens to know and think way more highly of these two Starks better than all the others.

  71. What I would consider as the absolute plot surprise is that instead of Littlefinger and the Vale, it is Jaime and the Lannisters who save the day.
    Of course I know Sansa probably wrote to the little weasel and you guys that follow spoilers may know something more about the actual filming of the battle (if this is so, DON’T TELL ME, please!), but a plot twist like that, Jaime Lannister giving up on his cheating, half crazy, egotic sister would really do it for me.
    Although I must say that giving up on Cersei now would be burdening the show with one more season of the Faith Militant, and unless the High Sparrow knows some voodoo that can rid us of the WW and/or zombies, one more season of those little sons of bitches is not what I imagine season 7 to be like.

  72. Halfman,

    Oh, undoubtedly. Should be very interesting to see how things play out, and I also wonder how Euron will factor in. Theon and Yara will surely warn her about him, and it seems Dany will use the ships they brought as well as some of the masters’ ships to sail west, so I’m very curious to see what role Euron could play in the story. There definitely won’t be any alliance between him and Dany, unless it’s a temporary one designed to trick him into handing over his fleet.

  73. Sou,

    I don’t think there will be Faith militant after this season, honestly.

    I also think Jaime will be back in KL.

    No spoilers, just speculation.

  74. Dee Stark:
    Mihnea,

    Well its not as dark as where you guys usually go.
    I speculated this would happen in epi 10.
    But the fact that it will happen sooner is making me go

    “YAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS”

    I am more excited about the GOT epis than going on another vacation in a few weeks.

    geez

    You finally cracked? Nooo, you were doing so good. Well, I have to go see what you are so happy about.

  75. Mihnea,

    Plus the winter is coming for real, everything is like Arendela after Elsa got nervous (hello Disney fans) and all those people are practically homeless. Either they take Winterfell or freeze in the snow.

  76. Nadia,

    Very true, though the Boltons still hold the North and even if Jon wins, Theon and Yara won’t know about that, so they’re unlikely to mention the Starks as a relevant political ally just yet. The Boltons would not support Dany’s claim, and even if the Starks retake the North, it’s very unlikely that the Northern lords would give up their independence to support a Targaryen.

    I’m thinking Jon and Dany are far more likely to become aware of each other within the context of the war against the White Walkers.

  77. One possibility is that Sansa tells Jon about the Vale and Jon tells Sansa that if LF does come, Ramsay and his goons will just sit in Winterfell and remain unbeatable. They need Winterfell NOW before winter fully arrives.

    So Jon and Sansa just decide to play with Ramsay’s ego and decide to lure him outside to get crushed in a field battle.

    Sansa NEEDS to tell Jon, it just doesn’t make sense. Plus what else could they be talking about in the tent?

  78. Newbietothegame,

    Well I didn’t expect a spoiler when I clicked on the article.
    And then I was reading and the article said “spoiler containing image” so I was like okay I am not going to look at pictures… cause I don’t want spoilers.
    Then I continued to read and the tweet seemed spoiler free. I didn’t click on the link to the picture because I thought that was the spoiler.

    Continued to read and it was too late at that point. And to be honest I was 100% sure it was going to happen this season. Just did not know when. Its pretty small spoiler.

  79. Sou,

    Yeah if the snows trap them, they’ll either have to all go back to their castles, thus loosing, waiting for the weather to turn or they could try to march sure….look how that worked for Stannis though.

  80. VegoDread:

    Why does everyone believe Little Finger will ride in at the last moment with the men of the Vale and save the day? What’s in it for him? He is indeed going to show up, but, to help whom?

    1.) Because Sansa wrote to him for help, and he’s not going to answer her and wait until Jon’s men are nearly wiped out. The Vale looks heroic, swooping in to save the North.

    2.) The three things he cherishes most in life: Power, Sansa under his thumb, and getting numerous opportunities to f–k the Starks.

    3.) Himself.

    VegoDread:

    I will bet money on this.

    Don’t. This is GoT, you never know how things turn out.

    And, Team Yara and Dany FTW.

    🙂

  81. Nadia:
    I know I should reserve judgement because by all accounts the Battle of Mereen – basically doing the battle of fire and the battle of ice like the books – should be awesome.

    But I’m just like “groaaaannnnn more Ironborn and Dany expressionless ‘destroy them all’ face.”

    If Dany isn’t out of Meereen by the end of this season, she can bloody well stay there for all I care. ?

  82. Sou,

    But where we are in the show there is no reason for the character of jaime to do that.He is devoted to his family and wants to return to cersei asap.He doesn’t have any reason to turn against cersei yet and frankly he has no reason to side with the starks either.With the brienne and the sword he considers his oath to catelyn fullfilled.

  83. Flora Linden: 1.) Because Sansa wrote to him for help, and he’s not going to answer her and wait until Jon’s men are nearly wiped out. The Vale looks heroic, saving the North.

    2.) The three things he cherishes most in life: Power, Sansa under his thumb, and getting numerous opportunities to f–k the Starks.

    3.) Himself.

    Don’t. This is GoT, you never know how things turn out.

    Agreed, except I think he likes fucking everyone over that benefits him, not just the Starks.

  84. Nadia,

    I agree.

    Assuming Jon knows the Vale is coming:

    – If Jon waits for them to join him and Ramsay finds out the Knights of the Vale are involved, he’s not coming out of the castle. Team Jon will be forced to mount a siege that could take a very long time (even longer if the weather gets worse). Winterfell is also very difficult to siege and Team Jon stands to lose even more men (assuming they even have resources to mount a siege, which they don’t). His best chance is to draw Ramsay out with his small army and last long enough for the Vale to come. Ramsay has a big ego and won’t resist.

    Assuming Jon doesn’t know about the Vale (which I hope doesn’t happen for Sansa’s sake lol):

    – He has to attack Ramsay anyway. If he waits too long then the weather could get worse, his supplies would dwindle, the army’s morale would worsen. Basically, he’d put himself in Stannis’s position and allow Ramsay to attack his camp. Jon has to take the fight to Ramsay.

  85. Adam: Was definitely thinking this, too, now that I know Meereen is in.Wise masters are gonna crap themselves when they see dragons, Dothraki, and a pirate navy all coming for them from every direction. They could try to give up and Dany will have none of it and burn them all anyway.

    No kidding, right? They began their big assault believing that Daenerys’ defenses include less than 10k unsullied and second sons which have already been struggling against the harpies. Not to mention there’s only been one dragon sighting recently and that one left with Daenerys weeks ago. They throw everything they’ve got into the battle to suddenly be faced with three large free-roaming dragons, 10k men inside the city, an Iron fleet pinning them in from behind and 100k Dothraki approaching the city from land. It should be a slaughter!

  86. I think people are really flattening LF’s character, that his goal in life is to punish the Starks.

    I think he got exactly what he wanted – he got revenge on Ned. BUT, is he really determined to destroy Jon?

    Here’s the interesting thing the show is doing by bringing LF to the North. They’re putting a character we think of as purely power-hungry, and they’re sending him to a character who has 1) been brought back from the dead and 2) is telling everyone that the White Walkers are coming.

    Now, will LF believe Jon? Because if he does actually come to the North and comes to believe that the White Walkers are the threat, perhaps he really does actually believe his standing is tied to supporting Jon as Lord of Winterfell or KITN or AA or whatever the heck else he is.

    I don’t think it’s as simple as “LF is going to screw Jon.”

  87. Markus Stark,

    I’m not sure how Euron fits in now. I’d be surprised to see him again this season. I can’t imagine Dany being very enamoured of his manners somehow anyway if she ever met him lol.

  88. I have really high hopes for this episode. I just watched “No One”, and although I enjoyed it well enough, I have to say this whole season stresses me out. So many storylines open and only two episodes left. Plus all those plots with no visible reason to them.
    Take Riverrun, for exemple. The Black Fish’s return would have been meaningful if he agreed to take even a portion of his army and go help his niece and nephew. No I get the feeling he only came back to give a reason for Jaime’s departure from KL. I don’t mind he died off screen, but I would have liked him to die for something more important – and more relevant to the rest of the show.

  89. Halfman:
    VegoDread,

    I’d put money on it that they won’t kill him off again. It would be daft having spent so much time on his death and resurrection. All it would do is cheapen what they spent so much time over and fans and critics all rolling their eyes.

    I guess I should be more specific – Jon is going to “fall/die” but will come back “immediately” – and we will all know what that means.

    I am and have always been a huge fan – I will not be rolling my eyes, but will be jumping for joy as I did when he came back in episode 2. Again, something has to happen in Episode 9 or 10 this season to bring the real Jon back.

    Instead of destroying my ideas, pray tell…what are yours. Or do you think, this wimpy Jon will be able to save the world?

    Really?

  90. Jenny:
    Sou,

    But where we are in the show there is no reason for the character of jaime to do that.He is devoted to his family and wants to return to cersei asap.He doesn’t have any reason to turn against cersei yet and frankly he has no reason to side with the starks either.With the brienne and the sword he considers his oath to catelyn fullfilled.

    I agree with you, but from the trailer we can see Lannister soldiers at the Twins where Walder and the Freys are celebrating, presumably the retaking of RR. I just can’t figure out what they’re doing there, so far north of where Jaime and his forces should be heading.

  91. Pigeon:

    I think he likes fucking everyone over that benefits him, not just the Starks.

    True, but given his history with the Stark clan, LF probably gets the most personal enjoyment and satisfaction taking them down a few pegs. His seeming hold over Sansa is a symbol of that. I’m interested to see how this whole thing plays out finally. 🙂

  92. Apollo,

    Are they definitely at the Twins and not at River Run? Walder Frey never seems to travel but I can’t remember if anyone has positively identified the set as being the one seen at the red wedding.

  93. VegoDread:

    That part about the Prince that was promised, that ship’s long sailed I reckon. Its not Jon, its Daenerys. Her birth in Dragonstone, her affiliations with fire, being ‘re-born’ from the flames with a comet heralding it etc.

    GRRM uses Aemon Targeryan to literally confirm it in ‘A feast for crows’ (while also making fun of the people who use the ”Its a Prince, not Princess” argument)

    You only need to look at how their big scenes are done. Jon’s resurrection-followed by a cock joke by Tormund, Melisandre becomes a believer but she hasn’t exactly got a good record at this, nobody else even talks about it. Deanerys- How many scenes has she gotten with thousands of people kneeling before her, people lifting her above their heads, calling her mother etc ? I mean, the show is shoving in our faces that she’s some sort of a God incarnate.

  94. Nadia:
    I think people are really flattening LF’s character, that his goal in life is to punish the Starks.

    I think he got exactly what he wanted – he got revenge on Ned. BUT, is he really determined to destroy Jon?

    Agreed. Littlefinger hated Brandon and Ned Stark for obvious reasons, but he’s never given any indication he has anything against the rest of them. I believe his affection for Sansa is legitimate, if opportunistic. More than anything, I think he just wants to be on their good side the same way he is with Robyn Arryn. I think his goal in both the North and the Vale was to endear himself to the kids, kill the parents, and gain influence that way, but he doesn’t want direct control of either region. He wants proxy armies that will owe him and help him. King’s Landing and taking down Cersei, if she doesn’t take herself down, is ultimately his goal, and the support of the Starks and Arryns could go a long way toward achieving that.

  95. Flora Linden: True, but given his history with the Stark clan, LF probably gets the most personal enjoyment and satisfaction taking them down a few pegs. His seeming hold over Sansa is a symbol of that. I’m interested to see how this whole thing plays out finally.

    Definitely. I won’t be particularly enthused if he dies, however, like so many seem hungry for. I’d find it much more interesting if it turns out that he uses his machinations for something that turns out much bigger than political spats between houses. A rousing game of chess with the Night’s King is my main goal (the pieces made from dragonglass for a bit more sass and all that). 😉

  96. The Vale army will probably arrive in the nick of time by chance, luck or whatever. But… maybe LF deliberately waits until the situation for Jon/Sansa becomes hopeless?

    I can surely picture him watching the battle from a safe place and tell the knights of the Vale to attack just at the right time, so he will make a greater impact and be praised by the remaining Northmen as their guardian angels.

    I don’t know, just guessing (aren’t we all?).

  97. BranTheBlessed: That part about the Prince that was promised, that ship’s long sailed I reckon. Its not Jon, its Daenerys. Her birth in Dragonstone, her affiliations with fire, being ‘re-born’ from the flames with a comet heralding it etc.

    GRRM uses Aemon Targeryan to literally confirm it in ‘A feast for crows’ (while also making fun of the people who use the ”Its a Prince, not Princess” argument)

    You only need to look at how their big scenes are done. Jon’s resurrection-followed by a cock joke by Tormund, Melisandre becomes a believer but she hasn’t exactly got a good record at this, nobody else even talks about it. Deanerys- How many scenes has she gotten with thousands of people kneeling before her, people lifting her above their heads, calling her mother etc ? I mean, the show is shoving in our faces that she’s some sort of a God incarnate.

    Which likely means that’s she’s not in fact TPTWP.

    I don’t really have strong opinions over one or the other I should add- I think they both fit the bill, but so do several other characters.

    My bet is we won’t even get the “reveal” as to who AA, TPTWP etc actually is- it’ll be left to our own interpretation (and decades of fan debates).

  98. Flora Linden,

    I think you’re taking a remarkably short-sighted view, which LF doesn’t take.

    LF is going North to Sansa AND JON – and the WWs are coming. Will LF be out to get Jon with the Wall coming down and the Long Night coming?

    The irony will be the man who loves chaos for his own gain confronted with true threats to mankind – it seems exactly the kind of thing GRRM AND D&D would play up.

  99. In the midst of the Battle of Bastards, and while Snow is fighting Bolton, Winter arrives (ala Hardhome), and with it the Night King’s Army…!

  100. Oooh… interesting! I knew Meereen was going to be the only other location this episode, but I wasn’t expecting the Greyjoy sibs to make it there! Me likey! Interesting meet-up between Theon, Yara, Daenerys and Tyrion for sure……

    But if Yara is sailing into the bay with her ships, them what happens to the ships of all the good and wise Masters?

  101. Apollo,

    I think walder frey invited them to celebrate and they went.But I don’t think jaime will be with them.Wouldn’t we have seen him

  102. Sou:
    VegoDread,

    Don’t; I bet money on it not really being Arya who was stabbed, and of course I lost!!

    Yea, I know but fu*k it – I’m already out there on a limb, might as well go for broke (smile).

  103. Bearded Onion,

    I agree. It’s pretty much the only way both of them (and especially Sansa) won’t come across as idiots.

    VegoDread:

    “Why does everyone believe Little Finger will ride in at the last moment with the men of the Vale and save the day?”

    It’s a dramatic trope used in TV and movies that’s been forshadowed for most of the season. LF also makes himself look like a hero to the North, especially to the Starks.

    “What’s in it for him?”

    Sansa’s loyalty. She wants to see that “he is true to his word”. He will also try and ally himself with the North now that Cersei (his other ally) is losing power in KL and the Tyrells (his other allies) are hanging on by a thread with their only male heir imprisoned and losing ground to the High Sparrow. LF makes power moves, but he makes them if he knows he has or can gain allies out of it.

    “He is indeed going to show up, but, to help whom?”

    Sansa and himself. If he regains Sansa’s trust he thinks he’ll be able to manipulate her again. He’ll also have to help Jon, because I don’t think Sansa would be able to trust him if he lets Jon die.

    “Who is the known hero on the show?….”

    Jon, but he simply doesn’t have the numbers or the military advisers needed to win. The show has planned things so he will have to rely on the Vale for help. He will fight bravely and display leadership, just like he did at the Battle of Castle Black and was helped by Stannis. Just like Aragorn fought bravely and needed the help of Rohirrim at Helm’s Deep.

    I’m not too pleased about LF and the Vale army tbh. I would have preferred Manderly to make it a 100% Northern victory. But that seems unlikely, so I’ll have to accept it and hope the show does Jon’s character justice and doesn’t turn him into a bumbling idiot.

  104. Halfman:
    Apollo,

    I’d initially wondered that too, but someone pointed out a while back that Walders chair, the dais and the huge door at the far end of the hall are from the Twins.
    Are they definitely at the Twins and not at River Run? Walder Frey never seems to travel but I can’t remember if anyone has positively identified the set as being the one seen at the red wedding.

  105. I dont know why people are dreading LF saving the day, theyve already done the same thing twice with Tywin and the Tyrells coming at Blackwater, and Stannis coming to the wall. Might as well make it 3 with LF coming to Winterfell

  106. Apollo:

    My bet is we won’t even get the “reveal” as to who AA, TPTWP etc actually is- it’ll be left to our own interpretation (and decades of fan debates).

    I don’t even understand the clamor for Jon to be revealed as AA/TPTWP/A Targeryan etc. This story’s filled with characters who use their family name/status to demand respect. Jon Snow’s a welcome relief in that he earns respect- he’s humble, he leads by example and others follow.

  107. Sou,

    The Riverrun siege wasn’t about the Blackfish. It was about Jamie. And there are unconfirmed rumors that they contemplated filming the Blackfish’s last stand but Clive Russell couldn’t pull it off for physical reasons and they did t have time to come up with Plan B.

  108. Nadia,

    Littlefinger only loves chaos if it’s chaos that HE can control. He has no idea what the Night’s King will unleash.

  109. Dolorous (N)Edd:
    The Vale army will probably arrive in the nick of time by chance, luck or whatever. But… maybe LF deliberately waits until the situation for Jon/Sansa becomes hopeless?

    I can surely picture him watching the battle from a safe place and tell the knights of the Vale to attack just at the right time, so he will make a greater impact and be praised by the remaining Northmen as their guardian angels.

    I don’t know, just guessing (aren’t we all?).

    Agreed, we are all guessing and making assumption. That’s why I love this site, it’s great. However, some folks take it waaaay to seriously.

    I keep going back to the picture of Littlefinger, somwhere in the snow, when he turns around…who does he see?

  110. Think about how meaningful it will be for Theon to meet a capable army full of eunuchs. A good model of empowerment for him.

  111. I think Jaime coming to the rescue is wishful thinking but it’s a nice little thought, especially if he did so after finding the letter Brienne had delivered, left behind in Riverrun.

  112. Apollo,

    Thanks for the confirmation, in which case, it does seem strange that Lannister soldiers would travel north to the Twins. Jaime was in a hurry to rush off back to KL unless he sent a convoy with the Freys for some reason.

  113. Side effect of Dany joining up with the Ironborn – I can’t see the people in the North supporting her after that. The Ironborn brought all sorts of war and destruction to their lands…. Maybe Ice and Fire won’t be on the same side in this…

  114. Nadia: I know I should reserve judgement because by all accounts the Battle of Mereen – basically doing the battle of fire and the battle of ice like the books – should be awesome. EDIT: AND add to that Sansa, my least favorite main character.

    But I’m just like “groaaaannnnn more Ironborn and Dany expressionless ‘destroy them all’ face.”

    Some of us feel pretty much the same thing about a battle between men and horses in a muddy field…… 😉 The more I hear about the BATTLE in the North (not character beats), the more my groans for those scenes. 😉

  115. Sou: Plus all those plots with no visible reason to them.

    And yet, lots and lots of people are complaining about how the show is getting less and less like the books. 😉

    I’m going into this episode with such trepidation.
    There’s no question some characters will be lost I don’t want to lose.
    Fuck.

  116. Apollo,

    A mere peptalk does not but people with PTSD DO live on and they DO outwardly act and talk to a very great extent like “normal” people. I know my sad share of rape victims and veterans and those victims are strong! Most of them somehow find a way to go on living despite everything. Lots of them break completely but many find a way somehow. That’s not to say that they aren’t forever scarred and hurt but they can pull of acting and living normal pretty well – happily even.

  117. I can see Sansa telling Jon about LF in the tent before the battle. That’s how Ramsay comes up.

    After all, it’s because of Ramsay that she kept quiet about meeting LF. It can’t be easy for her to explain to her half brother what she’s been through with LF, from aunt Lysa to being “sold off” to Ramsay for raping. She knows Jon won’t understand why she would tell LF to piss off with his army when they need them so badly, so she’s kept it quiet. But that secret WILL come out. All secrets do in drama.

  118. Antilles58:
    Side effect of Dany joining up with the Ironborn – I can’t see the people in the North supporting her after that. The Ironborn brought all sorts of war and destruction to their lands…. Maybe Ice and Fire won’t be on the same side in this…

    Yes they are rather the odd ones out in Westeros. They think buying something is beneath them, you just steal it by force instead (the iron price) Theft/robbery is far more honourable. They should get on well with the Dothraki on that score lol.

    Essentially Dany is planning on invading Westeros in company with cultures both alien and/or disliked by those in the west. I’m very interested in seeing how that pans out.

  119. Off-Topic Otto:
    Think about how meaningful it will be for Theon to meet a capable army full of eunuchs. A good model of empowerment for him.

    That thought never crossed my mind. Good point. He will see that he doesn’t have to be weak just because he lost his shalaylee.

  120. Markus Stark: I’m very curious to see what role Euron could play in the story.

    Right now, my speculation is: Euron will be THE villain of Westeros next season. He will cause devastation to the western shores – Casterly Rock, HighGarden etc.

    Mihnea: I don’t think there will be Faith militant after this season, honestly.

    Same here….. 🙂

    Sou: No I get the feeling he only came back to give a reason for Jaime’s departure from KL.

    I have been wondering if it was also to show the almost complete end of ONE of the previous great houses, the Tullys. Like the Baratheons, they are now gone. Yes, Edmure and baby son live, but as minor vassals of Lannisters. My gut feeling is that the final battle against the WWs will be fought in the Riverlands, so this also established how this area is being left for the endgame.

  121. Nymeria Warrior Queen: And yet, lots and lots of people are complaining about how the show is getting less and less like the books.

    I’m going into this episode with such trepidation.
    There’s no question some characters will be lost I don’t want to lose.
    Fuck.

    I’m feeling very similar. I am not ready!!! 🙁

  122. Flayed Potatoes:
    Bearded Onion,

    I’m not too pleased about LF and the Vale army tbh. I would have preferred Manderly to make it a 100% Northern victory. But that seems unlikely, so I’ll have to accept it and hope the show does Jon’s character justice and doesn’t turn him into a bumbling idiot.

    I agree about your bumbling idiot comment – I loved Jon’s character before he died, he was a fully flushed out character and so well written – I can’t stand post death Jon. That’s why I’m holding on to the hope that he is this sap of a character because of his story arch, and not just because of atrocious writing.

    Because that would be a damn shame.

  123. Clob: That thought never crossed my mind.Good point.He will see that he doesn’t have to be weak just because he lost his shalaylee.

    I really thought Varys might still be there when Theon arrived, and they could all form some sort of support group… 😛

  124. Flayed Potatoes,

    That’s my point though.

    People here are giving a very flat expectation of LF, that he wants to screw the Starks and so he’ll screw Jon, but he’s smarter than that.

    1) He wanted revenge on Benjen and Ned. He got that.

    2) The show is sending him to the one character who knows and is preparing for the fight against the WWs. Thus far, everyone around Jon now believes or has seen the WWs, and even those who haven’t seen them (Davos, Sansa) know that is the war to come. So this idea that LF is going to screw Jon over when we know Winter is coming, the Long Night is coming, the White Walkers are coming – that’s just not happening.

    Having LF back Jon and Varys behind Dany seems like exactly the kind of thing D&D and GRRM would do. He’s not going to be disposed of by Sansa. He’s going to play some role to come. Wouldn’t it just be perfectly ironic if LF joins the fight and stands behind Jon in the chaos to come? Because I think that’s exactly what’s going to happen….

  125. Sou,

    Yeah, I don’t think Dany’s conquest is going to be all that welcome…. dragons and Dothraki and Unsullied? Westeros could be forgiven for thinking the insane Targs are back.

  126. Flayed Potatoes,

    And then Jon and Davos are on the side of a volcano with lava all around them and Davos says ‘look Jon, the Falcons.’…

    p.s. it’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly a year of waiting for this battle.

  127. Antilles58: Side effect of Dany joining up with the Ironborn – I can’t see the people in the North supporting her after that.

    If the Wall comes down in the season finale, will the people in the North really worry about who to support down South? I mean, really?

  128. Dee Stark,

    Your version is so much more cathartic than mine, which is that LF becomes important in the wars to come 🙁

    Again, there’s no reason for Sansa/Jon to kill him now, and when the Wall comes down he’s not going to be in “screw the Starks” mode.

  129. Pigeon,

    Yeah, the only two I’m almost completely confident will survive are Jon and Sansa. Pretty much any other character I like I figure is fair game, and may well not survive the episode. The worst part is, thinking back to information gathered during filming

    I think Ramsay may survive this episode, and skedaddle back to Winterfell. I do think he’ll be dead by the end of the season, but that bit of satisfaction I would get from his death may not happen this episode. Looking on the bright side of that, though, if that information about the meeting at Winterfell where Wun-Wun busts through the gates is correct (yes, I know he did gate-busting at Castle Black, so that may have been the gate-busting moment, and he won’t be breaking another gate), at least Wun Wun survives the battle.

    I’m not holding out for that, either, though. I’m pretty much putting everyone, again, except for Jon and Sansa, on deathwatch. 🙁

  130. Kay: If the Wall comes down in the season finale, will the people in the North really worry about who to support down South? I mean, really?

    It’s not about who they support down South, it’s that I don’t know how well they’ll work together with Dany and her crew in repelling the Walkers. It seems to be more and more that Jon and Dany are being set up in opposition to each other, rather than for partnership.

  131. mau,

    If they need to fit 10,000 warriors on a ship, ships will be found tol fit them. Perhaps Kinvara casts a spell that shrinks the warriors or something. 🙂

    More seriously, perhaps the Volantine and Yunkai and Astophorian ships (and maybe Quarthian ships) will be rounded up as well. Or perhaps this is left to our imaginations.

  132. Nadia,
    I actually had that Littlefinger/Varys thought earlier..though it hasnt been in your face the show has made a point that these two are not working the same agenda and it would be yet another parallel between Dany and Jon that they each get a true kings landing “insider” on their team..

  133. Nadia,

    I was agreeing with you.

    It seems like this is where they’re going with Varys and LF. I wonder, however, if Bran heading south and The Hound heading North will somehow ruin LF’s plans by revealing he betrayed Ned.

  134. Flayed Potatoes:
    Nadia,

    I was agreeing with you.

    It seems like this is where they’re going with Varys and LF. I wonder, however, if Bran heading south and The Hound heading North will somehow ruin LF’s plans by revealing he betrayed Ned.

    Would be awesome if in LF’s final ep in s7 it looks like he has complete control and about to gain a huge ass army only for it to be revealed the Starks have been playing him along and he ends up getting killed by Sansa, to mirror Ned’s betrayal in S1.

    Whatever happens though, I just want Sansa to be the one to kill him. No one else would have as much impact or payoff.

  135. Dee Stark,

    Why? Cock jokes aren’t funny and man, they are getting oooold in this show. And honestly cock jokes thrown at people who’ve been maimed and abused is just… I don’t see the humor in it at all. ONE cock joke might have made me smile at one time, but now… yaaawwwn.

  136. Also, Tyrion and Varys are “friends”. Him throwing a cock joke at Yara’s traumatized brother would land him a punch in the nose from her and a diplomatic rift for Dany. Not smart.

  137. Hoyti Von Totiy,

    If it is what I think you are talking about that person was wrong.. last week eps, not this week

    **yes I ran to spoiler forum as soon as I saw this lol**

  138. Clob,

    He will see that he doesn’t have to be weak just because he lost his shalaylee.

    LOL

    Speaking of which, happy Bloomsday everyone!

  139. singedbylife,

    I find them funny because of the awkwardness it creates
    I think it would be a funny awkward moment with theon also

    It’s gonna happen once more so don’t be pissed about it lol

  140. BranTheBlessed,

    Dany is so obviously the promised one. That is why it won’t be her, or not solely her. It goes against GRRM’s words here: “Prophecies are, you know, a double-edged sword. You have to handle them very carefully; I mean, they can add depth and interest to a book, but you don’t want to be too literal or too easy.” — GRRM. Dany is too literal. She has “Chosen One” in neon letters on her forehead, basically.

    The show have Mel declaring Jon TPTWP for a reason. Admittedly, she has given poor reasoning for this, especially compared to the books where she literally asks to see Azor Ahai and “R’hllor show me only Snow.” However, I doubt the show would have name dropped Jon as a candidate if he was just another mishap in the way of Dany, especially after Mel failed with Stannis. I think Jon and Dany are both integral to the prophecy.

  141. Antilles58:
    Side effect of Dany joining up with the Ironborn – I can’t see the people in the North supporting her after that. The Ironborn brought all sorts of war and destruction to their lands…. Maybe Ice and Fire won’t be on the same side in this…

    Sou:
    Antilles58,

    I am pretty sure they will not be crazy about the pollaging/raping/maiming Dothraki either!

    The dortraki I agree with, however if the choice is between the Ironborn under command of Euron versus Yara with the men who are loyal to her…I think Yara seems like the far better option unless they can take all the ship’s of the masters and have no need for a fleet anymore

  142. Dee Stark,

    Not going to be pissed. Just not amused. I mean, don’t you think that it’s been too much this season? I’ve loved season 6 but been booooored with Tyrion and Varys and the whole Meereen part. Cock jokes did nothing to bring it to a better level, that’s for sure.

  143. Antilles58: It’s not about who they support down South, it’s that I don’t know how well they’ll work together with Dany and her crew in repelling the Walkers. It seems to be more and more that Jon and Dany are being set up in opposition to each other, rather than for partnership.

    I’m getting the opposite impression, it seems like more and more they are being set up for a partnership. Tyrion and the Stark children seemed to get on well. Theon and Sansa appear to be in each others good graces. There was already the connection with Jorah Mormont and LC Jeor Mormont (and now the rest of House Mormont). Sam seems like he could be poised to be a part of Dany’s storyline.

    mostly based on books and Marwyn; though Aemon and Sam did have that conversation about Dany in S5

    Now it probably won’t be smooth but as I’ve stated; there are multiple characters that can serve as a bridge between Jon and Dany. Also Jon and Dany both seem like characters that can be reasoned with. But we’ll just have to wait and see.

  144. Antilles58: It’s not about who they support down South, it’s that I don’t know how well they’ll work together with Dany and her crew in repelling the Walkers. It seems to be more and more that Jon and Dany are being set up in opposition to each other, rather than for partnership.

    I’ll have to see what happens in King’s Landing before I can get a better feel for where things might go. Right now it seems like there could be complete chaos in the south before Daenerys even gets to Westeros. Hell, there may not even BE a King’s Landing by the time she gets there. The peasants appear to fully support Tommen and the Faith union but we haven’t heard much from the Houses. House Tyrell obviously doesn’t back them. I guess I can see it possible that she doesn’t have much opposition until whatever happens with the NK. To be honest even if all of the armies in Westeros united it doesn’t seem like they’d be a match for what Dany supposedly has right now even without gaining any supporting houses. If D&D are thinking they can finish the series in less than fifteen more episodes they don’t have time to burn. If the “great war still to come” is indeed between the living and the dead they’re going to have to work rather quickly to get all the segments of the living united.

  145. Hey, why can’t Theon find his true meaning in life as an Unsullied Warrior? I’ve been hoping that after the battle in Westeros, the Unsullied will all be given a homestead an a little puppy to retire with. When Tyrion finds out that Theon is not in any condition to compete for the ladies, he will be great friends with him.

  146. With all of this Mereen anticipation. It will be sucks if they decided to kill Theon in the battle even before he met Tyrion 🙁

    I hope it won’t happen but i still have this feeling Theon won’t survives this season. I think the reason for Theon kept alive because Iron Island plot need someone familiar (just like Jaime in Dorne), now that Yara met Dany and Tyrion, Theon’s role is done. He already redeemed himself when he saved Sansa.

  147. Clob: I’ll have to see what happens in King’s Landing before I can get a better feel for where things might go.Right now it seems like there could be complete chaos in the south before Daenerys even gets to Westeros.Hell, there may not even BE a King’s Landing by the time she gets there.The peasants appear to fully support Tommen and the Faith union but we haven’t heard much from the Houses.House Tyrell obviously doesn’t back them.I guess I can see it possible that she doesn’t have much opposition until whatever happens with the NK.To be honest even if all of the armies in Westeros united it doesn’t seem like they’d be a match for what Dany supposedly has right now even without gaining any supporting houses.If D&D are thinking they can finish the series in less than fifteen more episodes they don’t have time to burn.If the “great war still to come” is indeed between the living and the dead they’re going to have to work rather quickly to get all the segments of the living united.

    Totally agree. And yet people are still convinced that we’ll be getting all the extraneous fluff such as LFs continued scheming, Sansa going south again and eating lemon cakes in the Vale and Euwrong being the shows next big villain (when we have thousands of them north of the wall). Theres just. No. Time.

  148. Antilles58: It’s not about who they support down South, it’s that I don’t know how well they’ll work together with Dany and her crew in repelling the Walkers. It seems to be more and more that Jon and Dany are being set up in opposition to each other, rather than for partnership.

    From my viewing of the show, I have absolutely never got ANY impression that Jon and Daenerys are being set up in opposition to each other (which has always been a very fond hope amongst certain fans, mainly book readers). I also have got no impression that they are being set up for a partnership either. All I have seen are some character parallels between the two; both have taken up the cause of outsiders: Jon with his connection to the Wildlings and Daenerys with her connection to slaves. In any case, repelling White Walkers will become the priority for people in the North, just to ensure survival. It’s up to Daenerys and her hordes to decide if they want to at all get involved in that fight. If they decide to and offer help, I honestly can’t see a scenario where Jon, Sansa and crew will want to oppose her. 😀

  149. This finally got me excited for the episode. I think the BOB, as much of a spdctacle as it may be visually, isn’t nearly as intense a battle as Blackwater. It suffers from the same problems as Watchers on the Wall, which is an underdeveloped opposing faction (Ramsay is horrible, and Umber and Karstark appeared in just a couple of scenes). Now what made Blackwater so perfect was that you had no idea who would win (unlike the BOB which will without a doubt go to the Starks) and that added tension to every fight scene. The tables kept turning, and I was at the edge of my seat. The Watchers on the Wall, on the other hand, and what I fear will happen in BOB as well, is that we’re just seeing 60 minutes of people swinging swords and pretty explosions ahead of an obvious win for the “good guys”. It doesn’t help that Ramsay is a charicature villain that has far overstayed his welcome.

    On the other hand, though, I loved Hardhome. Why? Because it wasn’t 60 minutes of Wildling slaughter. It was closer to 10 minutes of slaughter, 15 minutes of setup for the slaughter and anothet 30 monutes of the standard GOT fare. It was the perfect structure for an episode.

    Now this news gets me excited. It will be very interesting to see how they handle this, structurally. Hopefully it’s as much of a home run as Hardhome.

  150. Thinking about the description “Terms of surrender are rejected and accepted.”

    Maybe there’s a surrender in Meereen after the Greyjoy ships arrive? And no surrender in Winterfell of course.

  151. Apollo,

    I think that by “Ironborn warrior” they refer to Yara. Yara is the leader of the iron fleet, that must be impressive to Danny

  152. Nymeria Warrior Queen:
    Pigeon,

    Yeah, the only two I’m almost completely confident will survive are Jon and Sansa.Pretty much any other character I like I figure is fair game, and may well not survive the episode.The worst part is, thinking back to information gathered during filming

    I’m not holding out for that, either, though.I’m pretty much putting everyone, again, except for Jon and Sansa, on deathwatch.

    Yes, I think you’re right. The one I’m almost certain will go is Tormund, and it’ll gut me. I am 100% ok with being wrong, and will cross my fingers, toes, and eyeballs that I am. I feel like Davos is slightly ‘safer’, but still worried. Our middle-aged wise characters don’t seem to fair well this year.

    I am one of the few who doesn’t need or particularly want Ramsay to have some overdramatic death via Jon or especially Sansa. Being killed by his dogs is A-OK by me, but it almost seems as though it would be too predictable and maybe a little pandering to be flayed or tortured or whatnot. I understand why some want that though – I certainly feel as strongly towards other characters! 🙂

    I don’t think anyone needs to be worried about Sansa. She’ll live to the end, while everyone else gets cut down around her.

  153. I think the breakdown of screentime for this episode will be approximately 15-20 minutes in Meereen, 10-15 minutes of pre-battle set-up in the North (known scenes include Davos discovering Shireen’s pyre and presumably confronting Melisandre, Jon talking with Sansa, and Jon telling Melisandre not to resurrect him if he falls. Perhaps we’ll get a pre-battle scene with Ramsay as well, but that’s less certain). Then, about 25-30 minutes for the battle itself.

    I am curious how the screentime will be distributed within the episode. Once the battle starts, I really don’t see them cutting away. So my guess would be that the show opens with the North on the eve of the battle, then cuts away for an extended sequence in Meereen. Once that’s wrapped up, we return to the North on the day of the battle, and stay there for the rest of the episode.

    I suppose it’s possible that Meereen could open the episode. Then, once the show goes to the North, it could stay there for 40-45 uninterrupted minutes. I’ll be happy either way, but since the episode is called “Battle of the Bastards”, my preference would be for the North to open and close the hour. The bracketing structure feels more natural.

  154. Looking through the pics AGAIN and I just noticed Ghost is MIA. This wolf sure lost interest in Jon post resurrection. Or Wun Wun is a costly giant!

  155. ramses,

    I mean if I was Jon I wouldn’t want ghost in the battle either.Wouldn’t the arrows and spears kill him??It’s too dangerous lol

  156. Pigeon,

    The irony of Ramsay’s death will be he goes out not with a bang but a whimper. It will be so quick and subtle that no one will even know he’s dead until later. Then the fandom will howl. And speaking of howl, where is ghost?

  157. Formulating new theory…. the whole time Sansa and Jon were recruiting for their cause, Ghost was travelling solo on his own recruitment mission offscreen. Yadda yadda yadda, he runs into

    lil sis Nymeria and her amassed wolf pack. Now just when all hope is lost for the Stark forces… the savage beasts arrive!

    I love it. Who needs Littlefinger now?

  158. Very excited for the battle of Meereen!

    Those harpies are trapped. Dragons from above, Ironborn from behind, Dothraki from the mainland and Unsullied/Second Sons from the city. Goodbye harpies!

    I’m good with 15 action-filled minutes for Meereen, and the rest for Winterfell.

    Weren’t there speculations for the Riverlands to appear as well in this episode?

    Edit – I really hope for some proper screentime for Ghost!

  159. Marlana:
    Pigeon,

    The irony of Ramsay’s death will be he goes out not with a bang but a whimper.It will be so quick and subtle that no one will even know he’s dead until later.Then the fandom will howl.And speaking of howl, where is ghost?

    I think that Ghost will rip Ramsays throat out and feast on his entrails. He’s been way too absent.

  160. ramses,

    My favorite theory for this whole season. I thought Nymeria et al would ravish the Twins and commit genocide upon the Freys, but she might as well make herself useful and go where needed first.

    A howling wolf pack is a perfect complement to the ragtag northern army of Wildlings, a few Mormants, and remnants of whatever else passed this way. Really, one slavers at the thought.

  161. If Ghost dies I will cut a bitch! No more unnecessary direwolf slaughter, the dragons taking all the CGI ugh.

    Honestly, I think Meereen will be great this ep, it’s always suffered from being the less impactful arc but I think they’ll wrap it up well. Bringing Yara and Theon into the fray with Dany, Tyrion is exciting stuff given that they share experiences with characters back in Westeros. One thing I can’t tolerate is Dany being in Meereen any longer, no excuses now you’ve got the fleet!!

    As for the BotB, I KNOW it won’t disappoint.

  162. ramses,

    Okay this theory is speaking to my soul. Ghost and Nymeria having a reunion will be right up there with Jon and Sansa.

  163. Jack111,

    Yes, Tyrion/Grey Worm may not know it, Harpies/Former Masters may not know it, but militarily the Former Masters are in a catastrophic military situation- they “think” they are besieging Meereen and have the upper hand, but really they are surrounded on literally all sides and massively outgunned.

  164. Apollo,

    I think seeing Grey Worm and the unsullied and how they have survived and are still great fighters will help him heal as well.

  165. Shaz: Ghost and Nymeria having a reunion .

    THE two most dynamic of the direwolves. They should start a direwolf dynasty. There is still time to incorporate these plot concepts into Ep 9.

  166. Jenny,

    Ghost probably said, “Screw this. You Starks have gotten nearly all my brothers and sisters killed off. I’m outta here. Later, Snow cone”.

  167. Marlana,

    D&D hate all direwolves. We don’t even know if Nymeria makes into the show and who knows what Ghost. I wish he was fighting with Jon.

  168. jpwf,

    And speaking of luck shaping the results of a battle, who opposing Dany could have predicted the arrival of tens of thousands Dothraki screamers and how many Ironmen pirates?

    Will the Former Masters be exterminated or sue for peace? What a way to finally solve the slavery issue.

  169. Flayed Potatoes:
    I love Yara and I hope she hooks up with Dany ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) . You know what I mean.

    That being said, I hope Meereen doesn’t take up too much of the episode. I hope the Bastardbowl gets most of the screentime and the last scene is in DA NORF!!

    Most likely breakdown would be 10-15 minutes in Meereen, presumably with most of that being a sea battle involving the Greyjoys and the Masters and 45-50 minutes of the Battle proper, with about 5-6 minutes of pre-battle scenes (Davos looking at Shireen’s pyre, Jon and Melissandre at the tent (“If I fall don’t bring me back”), and Jon-Sansa (“You don’t know him”)

    I guess Davos-Mel is going to be in the next episode??

    Oh, and I guess from the spoiler above the Yara-Danny meeting will go swimmingly well and It’ll be a “mutual admiration society” type of deal…LOL.

  170. Geralt of Rivia: D&D hate all direwolves

    The direwolves stand for concepts central to Westeros and the story – elemental forces, indigenous deities, the other indigenous creatures, Starks of the First Men, secrets in the Stark crypts, and whatever the red eyes stand for.

    The show omits symbols and concepts incorporated in the direwolves. Can Giants and Dragons make up for it? No.

  171. Marlana:
    Pigeon,

    The irony of Ramsay’s death will be he goes out not with a bang but a whimper.It will be so quick and subtle that no one will even know he’s dead until later.Then the fandom will howl.And speaking of howl, where is ghost?

    I still like the ‘step on a nail and get tetanus’ idea. 😉

  172. I’m pretty sure Littlefinger is coming to the battle whether Sansa wants him there or not. There’s opportunity from a battle like this, and Littlefinger never misses out.

  173. Pigeon: I still like the ‘step on a nail and get tetanus’ idea.

    And with Lady Crane dead, there’s nobody left who can so deftly cure a puncture wound. “What are nails compared to filthy canals?”, mused Arya Peritonitis.

  174. Singedbylife,

    And it will serves the shocking effect as well, just when we’re exited on how Theon will meet Tyrion & Grey Worm, Boom!

    If he must die, I hope HBO respects him enough to give him a satisfying death scene, not off screen like Blackfish or Waif 🙁

  175. caliopesnow,

    That was a fantastic read, and one hell of an endorsement from the great Liam Cunningham! I thought it wasn’t possible for me to get any more excited about what we’re going to see on Sunday. I was incorrect. 😉

    For the record, I actually believe that Davos is going to survive this battle and go on to fight in the wars to come. But if he doesn’t, Liam Cunningham will be sorely missed. Honestly, I’m not sure that any actor has been a more genuine and passionate advocate for Game of Thrones than he has. That enthusiasm – and his wonderful performance, of course – has made me a fan of his for life.

  176. For those trying to piece together how the episode will break down, I haven’t seen anyone mention a couple of characters we know were being cast, but I don’t believe we’ve seen, yet. I’ll put it under spoilers for those who didn’t follow that news during the off-season. I’d guess their scenes would be in this episode.

    Fletcher: He’s a fat Northern nobleman in his 60’s who makes a stirring speech. Fletcher may not be the character’s real name.

    Boyce: He’s a callow young Northern nobleman in his 20’s who has been thrust into a position of power before he is ready. He has a couple speeches and was scheduled to film on the same day as Fletcher.

  177. After all the time spent showing how brutal Ramsey acts through his dogs, and factoring in Rooses “mad dog” quote, surely Ramsay’s demise has to come at the hands (paws) of some dogs or wolf, right? And I’m not talking figuratively in the Stark sense…

    C’mon Ghost, I’m counting on you.

  178. Mihnea:
    QueenofThrones,

    I truly think Jon should attack. As he himself says in the teaser ”battles have been won against greater odds”. I do not see why he should wait, while Ramsey has his little brother.

    I agree with your point about Jon having to attack. I don’t think him having Rickon is a major factor as such – it’s just that time in general is against them. They set out from Castle Black quickly because the letter indicated Ramsay wanted action ASAP and would presumably launch an attack himself in the near future. Furthermore, they couldn’t stay in the camp because of the risk of a devastating snow storm – doing that Stannis’ undoing. I don’t know what else he can do really.

    caliopesnow,

    Jared,

    Wow, what a great little interview! I love his enthusiasm for the show, and his comments about Kit are lovely. Liam is one of the best things about this show and they’re damn lucky to have snagged him. Like you, Jared, I’m a fan for life.

  179. Joey: I’m pretty sure Littlefinger is coming to the battle whether Sansa wants him there or not. There’s opportunity from a battle like this, and Littlefinger never misses out.

    The fact that Sansa does not want LF but summons him anyway gets to the heart of this year’s story. All of the main characters are struggling with what needs to be done in order to set sides and alliances. And, of course, it shows Sansa evolving: she still has idealism to lose if she is ever going to succeed in being someone who can advocate for any of her ideals.

  180. ramses,

    You don’t think that this would be just a little Deus ex Machina? (And by “a little,” I really mean “one humongously large pile”) 😀

  181. Jared:
    caliopesnow,

    That was a fantastic read, and one hell of an endorsement from the great Liam Cunningham! I thought it wasn’t possible for me to get any more excited about what we’re going to see on Sunday. I was incorrect.

    For the record, I actually believe that Davos is going to survive this battle and go on to fight in the wars to come. But if he doesn’t, Liam Cunningham will be sorely missed. Honestly, I’m not sure that any actor has been a more genuine and passionate advocate for Game of Thrones than he has. That enthusiasm – and his wonderful performance, of course – has made me a fan of his for life.

    Totally agree with you! He’s genuine and passionate, Liam Cunningham is one of my favorite actors! His character is amazing and his performance is awesome! I love him! 🙂 Yeeeah! This interview is GREAT, I can’t wait for this episode!!!
    “His fight work (Kit) he’s like a dancer when he moves” Hahahaha! Beautiful words!
    Fingers crossed for Davos!! 🙂

  182. Jared,

    Yeah I’m absolutely in love with Liam and I can’t imagine anyone else playing Davos-who is one of my favorite characters from the books. I don’t like it when he uses words like “was” and “culmination” because I’m paranoid and worried about his safety. Other than that-great article and really gets me excited about what’s coming.
    During Hardhome they actually mixed some truly emotional and human moments in with all the cliff diving wights–and with these battles, particularly BOB, that’s exactly what’s needed-so yay this director! 🙂

    PS on Davos I feel like the character is still necessary, so I’m crossing everything that he’s still standing at the end.

  183. VegoDread,

    I totally love your theory and have seen other things to indicate the same. The thought of LF saving the day makes me cringe, almost as much as several potential twists that didnt come to pass earlier this season. Would love it if those too were intentionally left out so that most fans would not expect anything but the obvious to happen, only to be truelly blown away with a major twist that is remenicent of other episode 9 reveals. Otherwise I will continue to be underwhelmed with the writing this season.

  184. Sean C.,

    Isn’t he already doing that regardless of the Vale? He wants to March because of weather and doesn’t think they have time. So he isn’t waiting for Manderly or Cerwyn.

  185. <a
    Pigeon,

    See I think Davos isn’t safe. He is gonna be blood thirsty after finding out about Shireen. He represents no one or faction. He will fight gloriously but undoetunately die. Tormund reps the Wildlings. He and the Wildlings will be given the Dreadfort, Karhold, or The Last Hearth. That is why I think he is safe. Lord Giantsbane or House Giantsbane!

    LIVE: Jon, Sansa, Mel, Lyanna, Tormund, Baelish, Ramsay.
    DIE: Davos, Wun Wun, Lord Umber, Lord Karstark, Rickon, maybe Lord Royce

  186. VegoDread: Why does everyone believe Little Finger will ride in at the last moment with the men of the Vale and save the day? What’s in it for him? He is indeed going to show up, but, to help whom?

    This season is telling a story about the personal costs of alliances. Sansa dismissed LF in part because she thought that she would have an easy time getting Northern allies against the Boltons. Instead, she learned that loyalty not only has to be earned, but it can be forfeit: and the actions of her family members have cost the Starks the loyalty they once had. Thus, just as we’ve seen the other major characters do, Sansa had to bend and ask LF for help.

    VegoDread:Who is the known hero on the show?

    This is not the sort of story with heroes.

    VegoDread:Why wouldn’t you believe that Jon will be the true hero during the BOTB – something huge is going to happen where we will finally see Jon emerge as Azor Ahai A/K/A The Prince That Was Promised.

    Again, this is not that sort of story. Jon is a person: his role in the story is to evolve from the simultaneously stuck-up, pent-up, and desperate-to-prove-himself young man of the first story to a leader willing to compromise with enemies in the last story to the person willing to try to do what must be done for allies in this story. And his role is to continue to evolve (in strong parallel to Daeny) to whatever will create the climax of the Dream story.

    So, do not expect any Deus ex Machina devises of this sort that are the cliches of fantasy. The show has not resorted to them yet: why would it do so now?

  187. Sean C.,

    Yara knows she needs more ships..
    Dany knows she needs more ships.

    The ships of masters are worked by slaves ..

    The slaves will revolt and turn against the masters and yara will attack from behind and dothraki on the front ..

    Dany and her dragons from the above

    mau,

    I can’t see how it will be any less than that either.
    We have how many main characters there .
    Yara .,theon , and tyrion and dany …20 mins should be what it must be ..

    But I don’t know how I feel about this because iam afraid its going to be rushed or it will be hated for not having north alone in this episode..maybe they should have added it in last episode..

    But on other hand looks like yara will meet dany next episode which i thought will happen in finale..

    I remember there was filming reportd of thousands of dothraki fighting in nothern ireland so that means we will be getting them to fight as well..

  188. JohnnyLaw:
    After all the time spent showing how brutal Ramsey acts through his dogs, and factoring in Rooses “mad dog” quote, surely Ramsay’s demise has to come at the hands (paws) of some dogs or wolf, right?And I’m not talking figuratively in the Stark sense…

    C’mon Ghost, I’m counting on you.

    Wow – I like the way you think – but I really think the fandom wants to see Jon slice him up into little slices.

  189. Oh yeah iam little bummed that this report spoils many viewers we will be getting meereen also in this one ..

    If HBo is hiding them then there must have been a good reason like something we are going to see for the first time which has never happened and this may take the surprise taken and so much for GEmma dodging that question a week before ..

  190. VegoDread: Wow – I like the way you think – but I really think the fandom wants to see Jon slice him up into little slices.

    Different fans want different things. Similarly, different viewers will want different things, too: and what the plurality of viewers want might not be what the plurality of fans want! (It rarely is, after all.)

  191. Stargaryen,

    Yeah, he knows how hard it is to lay siege to Winterfell-especially with his current group. They have no siege weapons or supplies. They are all tense with each other already. One small snowstorm and that’s it, they’ve lost their chance and everyone will scatter.

    I think even though he’s aware of how outnumbered they are, he knows at least they’ll have a battle. Ramsay called them out via letter and he knows he has more men than Jon. The Umbers and Karstarks and Ramsay has-up to this point-never lost a fight. Every reason to be confident and meet them on the field.
    It’s really the only chance they have, and waiting isn’t an option. Rickon’s safety, those tenuous alliances and the weather are all forcing the situation. He might be a bit of a martyr but I think…he does know some things.
    Still hope he at least finds out about Sansa’s request to the Vale before hand. *crossing things* Family communication is good.

    VegoDread,

    I don’t think Jon is capable of torturing someone-he’s too busy torturing himself-and that’s what makes him special.
    I do however, think he’d have no problem beating the smirk and stuffing out of that lunatic and then letting Sansa decide exactly how to kill him. Because he’s a good half brother 😉 (for the record-I think it has to be death by dogs or wolves-too many references. Though personally I’ve wanted him to be hunted since I saw that early scene with him hunting that girl for fun, I’m willing to accept any death for Ramsay, as long as it sticks)

  192. Wimsey,

    No, SmallJon had a completely different casting call.
    “Lord of Noble Northern House: (Casting age anywhere between 25-50) The lord is a savage warrior, and he rules a distinguished house in the very far North, and the role is said to be an impactful one. He’s described as a massive bear of a man with a beard and temper to match, and hatred that run deep, and he can be violent”

    So this Boyce guy is definitely someone we have not seen yet.

  193. This news actually make me wonder how the arc wipl be done in the books with victarion ..

    As someone who believed he will die when he tries to steal a dragon like quentyn …he may survive it seems..

    But once dany gets to westeros iam sure asha will go to dany who will be fighting euron

  194. Wimsey:

    This is not the sort of story with heroes.

    Again, this is not that sort of story.Jon is a person: his role in the story is to evolve from the simultaneously stuck-up, pent-up, and desperate-to-prove-himself young man of the first story to a leader willing to compromise with enemies in the last story to the person willing to try to do what must be done for allies in this story.And his role is to continue to evolve (in strong parallel to Daeny) to whatever will create the climax of the Dream story.

    So, do not expect any Deus ex Machina devises of this sort that are the cliches of fantasy.The show has not resorted to them yet: why would it do so now?

    Are you kidding me, we’re not talking about book Jon, we’re talking about TV Jon – two completely different characters. I have never considered TV Jon to be stuck-up. Pent-up, maybe – needing to prove himself, definitely.

    And yes, Jon has indeed evolved into a hero because that’s how the character has been written – by definition making it that type of a show in some part.

    Oh, and I do expect a deus ex machina moment from Jon because the Starks are long overdue and I need it damn it (smile).

  195. Yara will have a thing for Daeny Im sure

    Can’t wait for the Battle o’ Bastardos…I don’t think any of us will ever be the same again!

  196. VegoDread,

    I agree that Jon is a hero. And in some ways a traditional hero (again I refer to his unknown origins) but at the same time the show /books are a modern take on that traditional hero character. He’s not Aragon, but they share many of the same attributes: great fighter, descended from kings, reluctant leader, etc.

    What I’m wondering is why no one is talking about the terms of surrender. I’m thinking Jon rejects terms and the Harpies accept them. But that’s very optimistic. The other possibility is that Dany accepts them bcuz she wants to leave for Westeros. But I feel like that would cause adhesion problems with the unsullied who backed her because of her anti slavery stance. It’s an interesting little puzzle.

  197. Wimsey,

    Could Sansa have been writing to Theon and not LF? Excuse my ignorance but I’m not a book reader and dont have a lot of ‘in depth’ knowledge about it all…..Theon did say he would protect her, which is in line with what she wrote

  198. Jorah’s Mormont,

    I really doubt that. It’s useless for one, with Thein in Essos, so why include such a thing in the script. Also he left her under Briennes protection, he doesn’t command an army, and they don’t need ships. So I’m going with no.

  199. Demon Monkey,

    Its not that much of a puzzle for Me..I said it in the thread about emmy nomination so I will say again..

    Terms of surrender will be accepted – Jon accepts Ramsey’s surrender..

    Terms of surrender will be rejected – dany rejects the surrender of masters and kills every one of them ..

  200. If Lyanna Mormont doesn’t make it, I will be extremely upset! She better live!

    Caroline: Thinking about the description “Terms of surrender are rejected and accepted.”

    Maybe there’s a surrender in Meereen after the Greyjoy ships arrive? And no surrender in Winterfell of course.

    I would imagine just the opposite. Once LF arrives with the Vale forces, Ramsay inside Winterfell surrenders. In Meereen, slavers try to surrender, thinking they will be successful like they were with Tyrion, and are instead annihilated.

    Singedbylife: The Greyjoys take them! The slavers have pretty much placed themselves in a neat trap.

    Yes, I realize that now. 😀 I almost feel sorry for the slavers. When they woke up that morning, did they imagine they would be surrounded on all sides, including above? 😀

    Lyanna_Targaryen: I think being around Grey Worm and the Unsullied will help Theon heal from hat particular wound.

    An awesome idea! Perhaps that’s why D&D wanted Theon to go to Meereen? The last leg of his journey to healing?

  201. M W,

    Even Shadow Priests can cast revive, it just took her a few minutes to find it in the spell book cos she never made it keybound.

  202. Jorah’s Mormont: Theon did say he would protect her, which is in line with what she wrote

    Being a book reader would not help: this is adapting a book that has not yet been published.

    But how would writing to Theon serve the story? How would Sansa be conflicted about that?

    Halfman: Would Tyrion know of all Theon’s misdemeanours since they last saw each other? Probably not.

    Tyrion would know that Theon led the sack of Winterfell: that was known before Tyrion was forced to flee. Tyrion would not know anything else that had happened, however. He would have known that the Boltons had been given Winterfell, but he would not have known that Ramsay had Theon or anything about Ramsay to make Theon realize what that would mean.

  203. dragonbringer: Terms of surrender will be accepted – Jon accepts Ramsey’s surrender..

    Terms of surrender will be rejected – dany rejects the surrender of masters and kills every one of them ..

    I would not be surprised if Jon rejects surrender and then accepts it later; and Daeny rejects surrender and then accepts it later.

  204. Nadia:
    is it possible that the burning crosses are just actual burning crosses, or it’s not anyone we care about??

    Jon and Sansa have never spent that much time with Osha, right? If Rickon is still at least temporarily alive, why would that be a particularly scary sight for them? I don’t think there’s time in his episode for Ramsay to catch Brienne and Pod. I really don’t think the show would have Edd/NW die off camera and have unrecognizable bodies on the crosses.

    The point being, are those bodies even recognizable? Or is it just a warning like this is what’s coming to you.

    Neither would have the slightest clue who Osha was. She didn’t show up until after they left Winterfell. But Tormund might.

  205. A flayed man none,

    Ironborn in Mereen is the only way Dany sets sail this season.

    Don’t forget Stannis’ fleet that carried thousands of Hardhome refugees to CB. Tormund said that “only” 2,000 of them were battle-worthy (the rest children and elderly).

    The ships are probably still docked there because since Stannis died, Dragonstone apparently has been vacant–so there is nowhere else for them to go. Have they been officially forgotten?

    Could Varys, Tyrion, Theon or Yara know about them? If so, maybe the Ironborn navy could fetch them.

    Speaking of Stannis, he told Sam that Dragonstone has abundant dragonglass resources and urged him to learn more about it at The Citadel.

    My hunch is that Sam (like Hurley, the fat guy in Lost) will turn out to be *very* important! In my dreams, he teams up with Gendry and together they furnish an army with WW-killing weapons.

  206. Wimsey,

    the person who came to mind for me for the second character mentioned was Cerwyn. he was the one whose family was flayed by Ramsey for something like not paying taxes and suddenly found himself the new lord of his house. we haven’t seen him yet, have we?

    also, the letter Sansa wrote almost certainly has to have been written to LF. as an earlier article on this site has already shown, the letter was screen captured, reversed, and deciphered.

    it had two telling sentences in it.

    ‘you promised to protect me’ and ‘you have control over the vale army’

    or words to that effect.

    either sentence alone could be meant for several different characters. but both sentences together can only apply to LF.

  207. Wimsey,

    Why would Ramsay accept surrender when he’s got more men. Jon will probably propose one on one fight. Ramsay could agree to it and then releases Rickon. Daeny would accept surrender but Masters wouldn’t want to surrender themselves unless Ironborn are there and Dothraki.

  208. Should be interesting

    For mine the “terms of surrender are accepted and rejected” always pointed to the Masters accepting surrender after their siege fleet is crushed by the Ironborn from the rear and Dany’s Dragons from the front. (geez not very subtle with the Dany + Yara defeat the mysognist Patriarchy Masters are we). As I said earlier, would have been good for character development to have this siege start earlier, show Greyworm + Tyrion counter-siege abilities and then maybe bring Dany in but anyway…..

    Always figured Dany would get on well with Yara, indeed having a very capable battle Navy (eg not just a transport Navy) who know battle formations and are well drilled etc is very handy to go with ones newly acquired horde of Dothraki

    I am rather curious to see how Dany would get on with Varys, he turned up right after she flew off and then leaves to presumably Dorne to negotiate a foothold right before she gets back

    For mine though, would have been much better rather than hit the abort button, they had Doran actually making plans, eg his marriage of Trystane to Myrcella could quite easily be explained this season to hot-headed Ellaria by ensuring unity with House Lannister after the next war, eg put Tyrion in charge at CR.

    Of course we could have gotten the “Fire + Blood” speech, let’s not forget, he was in charge I believe when they sent 10,000 spears to fight under Rhaegar at Battle of the Trident

    So it’s quite feasible that all that time he could have been devising a pro-Dany plan but instead they added insult to injury with that E1 nonsense and so we are set for some OTT “girl power” dynamic where Dany and Ellaria and Yara attack the big bad patriarchy from the south, ugh

  209. Look what I don’t get is why didn’t Sansa (and Theon) escape via the secret tunnels mentioned by Maester Luwin and if you want to take Winterfel, and you know of these tunnels, then sneak inside via them. I guess they must have been known only to the Maester and Ned Stark…

  210. LyannaBanna:
    A flayed man none,

    Don’t forget Stannis’ fleet that carried thousands of Hardhome refugees to CB. Tormund said that “only” 2,000 of them were battle-worthy (the rest children and elderly).

    The ships are probably still docked there because since Stannis died, Dragonstone apparently has been vacant–so there is nowhere else for them to go. Have they been officially forgotten?

    Could Varys, Tyrion, Theon or Yara know about them? If so, maybe the Ironborn navy could fetch them.

    Speaking of Stannis, he told Sam that Dragonstone has abundant dragonglass resources and urged him to learn more about it at The Citadel.

    My hunch is that Sam (like Hurley, the fat guy in Lost) will turn out to be *very* important! In my dreams, he teams up with Gendry and together they furnish an army with WW-killing weapons.

    Yeah I always wondered if the Sellswords that deserted Stannis with all his Cavalry would come into play, eg they are presumably still in the area

    Maybe they made their way to Eastwatch and boarded the ships somewhere?

    But still surprised that Jon and Davos didn’t try to get them onside either

    But this is the show so…

  211. Nymeria Warrior Queen:
    For those trying to piece together how the episode will break down, I haven’t seen anyone mention a couple of characters we know were being cast, but I don’t believe we’ve seen, yet.I’ll put it under spoilers for those who didn’t follow that news during the off-season.I’d guess their scenes would be in this episode.

    I mentioned it in the thoughts on the BOB thread but it’s easy to miss stuff with so many comments. I’m copying it over…just a theory

    Both Northern lords who have been cast get a short scene and speeches. If one is Lord Manderley (Fletcher) then maybe the other is the new Lord of House Karstark. The casting call stated he had been thrust into a position of power before he is ready. If the current Lord Karstark is killed in battle, his other brothers are already dead, a grandson could be the heir and not agree with how the Karstarks allied with the Boltons. Ramsay is a kinslayer and the Karstarks know what he did to Roose, Fat Walda and his baby brother.

    Speeches after the battle from varying houses makes more sense at this point and surely they’d only be making speeches if the Starks have retaken Winterfell. Houses then bending the knee to the new King in the North?

  212. Halfman,

    It is much more likely that the other lord is Cerwyn. Ramsey killed his parents and left him as lord, so it would fit the description.
  213. Mihnea,

    Yes that’s true, it could be either. I just like the idea of it being a Karstark as I’m hoping the current Lord Karstark gets killed in the battle
  214. I hope the episode ends with Daenarys giving a speech about being a conqueror on top of Drogon.

  215. caliopesnow,

    Great find, thank you for sharing!

    iridium:

    Wow, what a great little interview! I love his enthusiasm for the show, and his comments about Kit are lovely. Liam is one of the best things about this show and they’re damn lucky to have snagged him.

    Yes! His work as Davos has been so great, and HBO couldn’t find a better promoter. And his comments about Kit and his upcoming performance…I thought I couldn’t get more excited, but there you go!

    And I would be very, very surprised if Mr. Harington isn’t taking up a statue at the end of this. The amount of stuff I saw Kit doing out there… his fight work. His stunt work. He’s like a dancer when he moves. I think he’s blossomed from a young man into this fantastic character that he’s playing in this. I said it to him at the time, that his work is beautifully subtle on this. I’ve watched him from viewing him, and also working with him on this season, just blossoming as an actor. And that’s one of the things an older actor can admire about quite a few of the younger actors on this show. But to watch him blossom like that, especially in this episode? It’s going to be jaw-dropping.

    CANNOT WAIT FOR E9!!!

  216. As for what else we could expect from BotB, I’m a little nervous for Daario. Michiel Huisman was on Seth Meyers this week, talking about his new project. The timing is worrying ?

  217. Isabelle,

    I personally don’t find the prospect of Daario dying worrying at all 🙂 . I can’t see him heading to Westeros, it would not be surprising if he died, imo.

  218. ghost of winterfell:

    I personally don’t find the prospect of Daario dying worrying at all . I can’t see him heading to Westeros, it would not be surprising if he died, imo.

    I think it’s more Michiel’s performance, but I’ve become so fond of the show’s Daario ? It would (will?) be tough to lose him. Agree with you, though–what would they do with him in Westeros, especially with so many other characters in play and heading towards each other?

  219. ghost of winterfell,

    Yeah I don’t find anything in Daario to root for. He’s a hangers-on. I find it hard to see his personality besides sucking up to a queen. I don’t even remember how he was introduced. I vaguely remember the Fabio looking dude. Then all of a sudden there’s this totally different guy hanging around.

  220. imjustsayin,

    VegoDread,

    If it’s not a big Jon “reborn” resolution over a LF rescue, as you indicated, I hope for a unexpected twist along the lines of Jamie’s redemption arc. Perhaps he will choose to deliver on his promise to Cat and ride to assist Sansa before heading back to Cersi, after all the comments made to him about his honor from BF, Edmure and most important Brianne, actually get to him. Possible foreshadowing of this came in ep 1….
    Roose to Ramsey…
    “Do you feel like a victor? I rebelled against the crown to arrange your marriage to Sansa Stark. Do you think that burning wagons in the night and mowing down tired, outnumbered Baratheons is the same as facing a prepared and provisioned Lannister army?…A reckoning will come.”

    Then after the battle, Sansa tells Jaime who really killed Jofferey, and Royce/Robin truth about Lysa, and they all corner LF in the snow. Jamie then takes LF head back to KL/Cersi as explanation for his delay.
    BOOM.
    Oathkeeper honor on the rise, two deserving creeps offed in a single battle, and something to help fill out that blank page.
    A girl can dream right. ?

  221. Super pumped for both the Battle of Fire and Battle of Ice in the same episode!

    Isabelle,

    Keyword is “Miniseries”.. Just a few episodes I’d reckon.

    As for Daario.. I really want to know if he was the one sending messages to the Masters of Yunkai/Astapor/Volantis. He went to treat with Yunkai and everything was cool, but obviously it wasn’t.. So did he switch sides when he saw Dany couldn’t control her dragons and then got that FML moment when he saw Dany riding Drogon in 5×09, stepping out of the fire in Vaes Dothrak and controlling Drogon again in 6×06. His reactions to those scenes are always a bit off. It’s never just sheer admiration (like Jorah), but also regret in some ways.

    TL;DR: I think Daario betrayed Daenerys after he made the “A Dragonqueen without dragons isn’t a queen”-line.

  222. iridium: I agree with your point about Jon having to attack. I don’t think him having Rickon is a major factor as such – it’s just that time in general is against them. They set out from Castle Black quickly because the letter indicated Ramsay wanted action ASAP and would presumably launch an attack himself in the near future. Furthermore, they couldn’t stay in the camp because of the risk of a devastating snow storm – doing that Stannis’ undoing. I don’t know what else he can do really.

    caliopesnow,

    Jared,

    Wow, what a great little interview! I love his enthusiasm for the show, and his comments about Kit are lovely. Liam is one of the best things about this show and they’re damn lucky to have snagged him. Like you, Jared, I’m a fan for life.

    YES!!! Kit & Liam are amazing!! Totally agree! 🙂

  223. Isabelle:
    caliopesnow,

    Great find, thank you for sharing!

    Yes! His work as Davos has been so great, and HBO couldn’t find a better promoter. And his comments about Kit and his upcoming performance…I thought I couldn’t get more excited, but there you go!

    CANNOT WAIT FOR E9!!!

    You’re welcome, Isabelle! My pleasure!!! Totally he is amazing!… SUNDAY!!! I can’t… 🙂

  224. Ghosts Lunch,

    Yes–thank you! I almost forgot about Stannis’s mercenary deserters who bailed out with horses *before* his attack of WF. What did they do next?

    There is no followup in the HBO story (I’m not a book reader). It is possible that off-screen, they were admitted back through the gates of CB before action resumed with Davos’s and Mell’s arrivals and independently sailed to Parts Unknown.

    This loose end/connection may be ignored, or it may turn out to be significant. Who knows?

    Regardless, I still think that Sam (like Hurley, the fat guy in “Lost”) and Gendry (the only known living Robert Baratheon bastard not hiding somewhere in Essos) are *important.* Between them, they will equip the anti-WW army with dragonglass and Valyrian steel weapons.

    Davos may be the only one who can join their knowledge/talents, so I predict that he will survive at least long enough to serve this purpose.

  225. ramses:
    Formulating new theory…. the whole time Sansa and Jon were recruiting for their cause, Ghost was travelling solo on his own recruitment mission offscreen. Yadda yadda yadda, he runs into

    I love it. Who needs Littlefinger now?

    ROFL love it

    Wolf Horde saves the day

    Who needs a Dothraki horde when you have Nymeria and her wolf pack

    Seriously, what happens when Dany reaches the RL, plenty of Horses for the Wolves to feast on…

  226. LyannaBanna:
    Ghosts Lunch,

    Yes–thank you! I almost forgot about Stannis’s mercenary deserters who bailed out with horses *before* his attack of WF. What did they do next?

    There is no followup in the HBO story (I’m not a book reader). It is possible that off-screen, they were admitted back through the gates of CB before action resumed with Davos’s and Mell’s arrivals and independently sailed to Parts Unknown.

    This loose end/connection may be ignored, or it may turn out to be significant. Who knows?

    Regardless, I still think that Sam (like Hurley, the fat guy in “Lost”) and Gendry (the only known living Robert Baratheon bastard not hiding somewhere in Essos) are *important.* Between them, they will equip the anti-WW army with dragonglass and Valyrian steel weapons.

    Davos may be the only one who can join their knowledge/talents, so I predict that he will survive at least long enough to serve this purpose.

    Yeah Gendry is important, at the very least as a legitimised Lord Baratheon of Storms End.

    You may have an interesting point, I figured Sam nicked Heartsbane to study it, eg find a commonality between that and Dragonglass as to why they harm White Walkers etc

    Not sure if they’d meet or how, but there are questions revolving around how you fashion and mould Dragonglass into effective weapons, eg turn them into spear and arrow heads etc

    Similarly, I reckon Thoros of Myrs trick with the Wildfire-lit sword may come to be relevant too

  227. What if….

    Team Jon are winning the battle and Ramsay runs away back to to Winterfell where Rickon is being held captive to use him as a last minute card to play (You like games little man?) only to find that Rickon has managed to warg into his lead hound who, with her subordinates, seems a little bitey?

    It might be wishful thinking but the actor did say that Ramsay might find Rickon to be more of a handful than he expected so Im thinking he has to do *something.*

    That would be an ace ending for Ramsay 🙂

  228. Isabelle,

    caliopesnow,

    Caliopesnow, can I just say that your constant enthusiasm is a delight. Cheers to a fellow diehard Thrones fan, and an admirer of KH. I’ve enjoyed his performance in spite of my cynical instincts (read: ovarian override), and your joyous comments are always a pleasure to read.

    Isabelle, I agree Huisman will be a loss, but the character is disposable. I’ve heard a theory that he could rule Meereen in Dany’s stead. That could work – if he had the right advisors, i.e. GW and Missandei – but either way Michiel will be gone from our screens. Don’t despair! Dany and Jon will hook up and have the GBtwP (Gorgeous Baby that was Promised) and Michiel will be back in other projects 🙂

  229. iridium,

    Dont even joke about it ..people will start jumping for your throat .

    Ghosts Lunch,

    Or you know something dragons can feast on ..

    I agree about Michael huisman I love him because of orphan black and I like him as darrio as well….while daario is disposable and I do believe many conspiracy theories around darrio will only going to lead lots of disappointed ones when daario turns out just darrio who likes fight and fuck..

  230. Kay,

    My problem with this surrender scenario is I can’t see Ramsay surrendering. Jon is more the type. And if Ramsay offered, it would be a trap.

  231. Isabelle,

    ygritte,

    I have never been fond of book Daario or show Daario. The former was so ridiculously flamboyant and flashy, whereas the second show Daario seems so “normal” that he doesn’t have much personality, just my opinion 🙂 . He seems the most dispensable of the characters left.

    iridium,

    Based on what has been set up so far, I think Greyworm and Missendei will be the ones to rule Meereen once Dany leaves. I can’t see Daario ruling at all.

  232. Geralt of Rivia:
    Wimsey,

    Why would Ramsay accept surrender when he’s got more men. Jon will probably propose one on one fight. Ramsay could agree to it and then releases Rickon. Daeny would accept surrender but Masters wouldn’t want to surrender themselves unless Ironborn are there and Dothraki.

    I agree that it makes no sense for Ramsay to surrender. If he is choosing to come out of Winterfell for a pitched battle it’s because he has the numbers. Of course the Vale and maybe the Manderlys could make a difference. But I still can’t see his character admitting defeat.

  233. ghost of winterfell:
    Isabelle,

    ygritte,

    iridium,

    Based on what has been set up so far, I think Greyworm and Missendei will be the ones to rule Meereen once Dany leaves. I can’t see Daario ruling at all.

    Barring the utter decimation of the former ruling class, I can’t see any scenario in which Dany leaves Mereen, much less the whole of Slavers Bay, I’m freedom. She would need to leave the bulk of her army, and that would be a bad move. I think she’s got to go all in Westeros, or Bye Felicia Weateros. This could mean leaving sympathetic Dany for the ppl behind and choosing Dany the conqueror.

  234. Daenerys…yawn. Get out of my episode of awesome le ebin meme speech giver! “Muh titles! Muh dragons! Me so cool!”. No, just go away. Sail to Asshai and disappear.

  235. iridium:
    Isabelle,

    caliopesnow,

    Caliopesnow, can I just say that your constant enthusiasm is a delight. Cheers to a fellow diehard Thrones fan, and an admirer of KH. I’ve enjoyed his performance in spite of my cynical instincts (read: ovarian override), and your joyous comments are always a pleasure to read.

    Aaaaaw! Thank you so much for your beautiful words, dear!!! 🙂 Hahaha! You’re very kind!!!
    Likewise, I love your comments and yeees, I understand you perfectly!!! 😉 Go GoT, Go KH!!! 🙂
    All the best!

  236. iridium:
    Isabelle,

    caliopesnow,

    Caliopesnow, can I just say that your constant enthusiasm is a delight. Cheers to a fellow diehard Thrones fan, and an admirer of KH. I’ve enjoyed his performance in spite of my cynical instincts (read: ovarian override), and your joyous comments are always a pleasure to read.

    Isabelle, I agree Huisman will be a loss, but the character is disposable. I’ve heard a theory that he could rule Meereen in Dany’s stead. That could work – if he had the right advisors, i.e. GW and Missandei – but either way Michiel will be gone from our screens. Don’t despair! Dany and Jon will hook up and have the GBtwP (Gorgeous Baby that was Promised) and Michiel will be back in other projects

    AAAAAW! Thank you so much for your beautiful words, Iridium! you’re very kind, dear! 🙂
    Likewise, I love your comments and yeeeees, I understand you perfectly, hahaha! 😉 GO GoT! Go KH!
    All the best! 🙂

  237. imjustsayin,

    I dunno where I stand on Jaimes path in the forthcoming eps: whether he goes back south to Cersei/ act as Valonquar or rides north. He certainly seemed to be seriously conflicted with the combined BF/Brienne/Edmure scenes… That has to go somewhere surely.

    If it’s south, then it’s bye bye Cersei, if North then LFs days are numbered for sure in the finale, as Jaime knows of his mission from Cersei. He’ll possibly also deal with the Freys. We see Lannsiter forces at the Twins in the trailer, so Lannisters are going north in some capacity, for reasons yet unknown…

  238. Sou,

    Jaime could send Bronn and some soldiers to aid Brienne/Sansa, he could even direct Edmure Tully to send some men, while he takes the rest back to KL to support Cersei & Tommen. It’s possible.

    I’m at least hoping Jaime will make some kind of gesture to Brienne of that kind. He can’t “officially” do it, but unofficially he could do something. Now Bronn isn’t the type who would fight a losing battle, so Jaime would have to “sweeten” it for him, give him an incentive.

    Every time I think of what Littlefinger might do, because he is such a snake, I get angry.Whether Sansa addressed her letter to Robyn & Lord Royce or to Littlefinger, Littlefinger will show up with the Vale army. If Royce is there too, I hope, after the battle, he kills Littlefinger. That would be a fitting “reward” for his treachery to the Starks.

    Thinking about Edd & Castle Black. I hope he stays alive for Season 7. I had this fear Ramsey would ride against CB and wipe out the NW. I’m looking forward to Bran and Meera to arriving there, and for Edd to at least know what happened to BenJen.

  239. I like the idea of Yara and Theon meeting Dany. She currently views the Starks as enemies, but Theon will no doubt tell her about Sansa, Jon, and what the Starks as a whole have been up to the past few seasons. So far, only the Lannisters and Wise Masters are the “noble” enemy of Dany. Many of those who have directly afflicted her family have passed.

  240. BranTheBlessed,

    He is a prisoner of the masters along with one of the blood rider of dany Who she sent as hostages

    Barristan has made an alliance with tattered prince to rescue daario and jhogo

  241. dragonbringer:
    BranTheBlessed,

    He is a prisoner of the masters along with one of the blood rider of dany Who she sent as hostages

    Barristan has made an alliance with tattered prince to rescue daario and jhogo

    I know-six hostages, but in the final chapters in ADWD Shaveplate storms into Barristan’s meeting with the Green grace and says something along the lines of ‘Trebuchets-All six’.

    Probably those six hostages were killed by the Yunkish.

  242. BranTheBlessed,

    Yeah they could be but I think they are just those pale made affected people that they are throwing at the city..

    And if they indeed did throw daario and jhogo and hero that way …
    Good luck having dany accepting their surrender.

  243. dragonbringer:
    BranTheBlessed,

    And if they indeed did throw daario and jhogo and hero that way …
    Good luck having dany accepting their surrender.

    They aren’t surrendering though. Throwing those corpses via Trebuchet was the Yunkish masters’ reply to Ser Barristan’s offers of peace. I don’t think there’s any chance of peace in Essos, Daenerys tried her best and failed. She’s gonna burn them all and leave the place in ruins.

  244. Dee Stark,

    🙁 So sad.

    dragonbringer,

    You might be right-but I look at it more for Dany’s evolution than Daario. I was sure he would betray her, he’s cute but not an interesting character, and other than Jorah (who is going to find a magic arm cure and will be back) she hasn’t really had to suffer loss since Khal Drogo and she has a definite blindspot for the Tyroshi.
    *3 betrayals shall you know*
    But maybe for show they’ll just decide to have him choose to stay behind and break up with her because he’s freaked out about her walking out of a burning building and riding on her giant dragon. Or maybe he sees Tyrion with dragons-wants some of that power for himself and–oops-dragons don’t like Uncle Daario. 🙂 I’d be surprised if he dies heroically…more surprised if he sticks with her when she leaves.
    I can’t really see him in Westeros.

    Roz’sGhost:
    Sou,

    Thinking about Edd & Castle Black. I hope he stays alive for Season 7.I had this fear Ramsey would ride against CB andwipe out the NW.I’m looking forward to Bran and Meera to arriving there, and for Edd to at least know what happened to BenJen.

    I’m worried about Edd too. I love that guy. Jon has lost Pip and Grenn, LC Mormont and Maester Aemon-and Sam is a world away. And that’s just NW brothers. Edd is the last one standing and he doesn’t have enough men to defend either direction–if Ramsay decided to do that… As horrible as it sounds, I can’t help wondering who is burning outside of Winterfell on those crosses and if it’s anyone Jon would know. *not thinking about it or I’ll ugly cry*

  245. VegoDread: Wow – I like the way you think – but I really think the fandom wants to see Jon slice him up into little slices.

    One vote for that. (Raises hand) He can then give steaks to Ghost.

  246. jentario:
    The Watchers on the Wall, on the other hand, and what I fear will happen in BOB as well, is that we’re just seeing 60 minutes of people swinging swords and pretty explosions ahead of an obvious win for the “good guys”. It doesn’t help that Ramsay is a charicature villain that has far overstayed his welcome.

    I would be perfectly fine with this. And an obvious win for the good guys would be a nice change of pace I believe. I think Blackwater is the weakest battle of those sorts of episodes, Hardhome being the strongest. The battle at the Wall was incredible to me though. Tense and funny and great action scenes. And we even got one annoying character killing another annoying character with an arrow. And a big frickin’ scythe. Sam participating in a fight instead of cowering. Pip and Grenn RIP. Alliser Thorne and Jon being bad asses and far more inspirational than Tyrion, to me. That is one of my all time favorites and I prefer episodes like that to more scenes of people in rooms talking. But I guess that’s what makes the show great. A little something for everyone. Which is why I have to keep saying “to me”. Hahaha. Night’s Watch! To me!

  247. Aryakills,

    In theory they might know of Osha, if Theon filled Sansa in on all the details around Bran and Rickon’s survival/escape offscreen, which would presumably include the details of their traveling companions. But yes, neither of them ever met her or would have any emotional attachment to her.

  248. Why is everyone assuming Ramsay will die if the Starks win? He could go on the run or cut a deal. In the GOT world, the bad guys sometimes win even when they lose.

  249. Ok, not sure if this is the right thread for this but two thoughts on the BotB.

    1. We’ve heard whispers about LF being granted the title of Warden of the North and him double-crossing Jon/Sansa. Does Sansa pull a Cersei “tears up proclamation”….

    2. Remember that “mad dog” comment Roose made earlier this season, was it foreshadowing? Will Ramsay go to far for the other Northern houses and they give him the “mad dog” treatment?

    Just a couple of thoughts seeing as how BotB is apparently all I can think about this week.

  250. One thing that stood out in the article is the “strategic pitchfield battle” line. I am really hoping to see Jon utilize his knowledge of the land and the area to get the upper hand. Maybe Ned raised them all on how to attack and defend Winterfell as they grew up. We know Rob learned a lot from his father in the are of battle.

  251. Hawk: I like the idea of Yara and Theon meeting Dany. She currently views the Starks as enemies, but Theon will no doubt tell her about Sansa, Jon, and what the Starks as a whole have been up to the past few seasons. So far, only the Lannisters and Wise Masters are the “noble” enemy of Dany. Many of those who have directly afflicted her family have passed.

    I am a show watcher. How do you infer that Daenerys currently views the Starks as enemies? Are they on her radar except in general “breaking the wheel” terms? Also, except for Jon, what else have the Starks been up to, that would interest her enough to hear from Theon? As for the Lannisters, her deputy in Meereen is a Lannister, Tyrion. 😉 It’s quite complicated…….

  252. A Wildling,

    I like that idea. Maybe the Umbers witness the brutal killing of Rickon, which may be the arrows through the air; “do you like games little man.” And they turn on him. I wonder if there will be a central meeting in the battle field, Jon says something regarding the Whits which Umber turns a head to, then Rickon sets him over. Realizes he chose the wrong side.

  253. I also wonder if there is any room for Bran to do something mystical to manipulate the battle. He wargs all enemy horses. They mention the “luck” in battle and Bran using his powers to turn the tide of war from afar would be great. He is a Stark asset after all

  254. Kay,

    She thinks Ned stark along with tywin and Jon arryn rebelled against her father to crown Robert. .
    And she blames them for the murder of aegon and rhaenys ( children of rhaegar ) and Elia ..
    She thinks Ned stark is in the same league as tywin ..visrerys used to call them usurper’s dogs

    But of course this all goes out of the window when you remember that dany knew about her father and accepted that rebellion is justified ..and like you say she has made tyrion son of tywin as her advisor ..and when she doesn’t hold fault children for their father’s mistakes ..

    Iam mostly looking forward to the meeting of arya and dany ..arya worships nymeria and dany is nymeria come again ..and also as someone who know about leading a life in streets and running and hiding and being hungry dany will take arya into her wing as her sister ..

  255. I am still of the opinion the Stark alliance is going to be routed, Rickon is killed, Undead Jon heads north towards Bran, and Ramsay is victorious. I think Littlefinger despite his affinity for Sansa, will betray them again either in action or inaction.

    And maybe this is out there and maybe it is not, but a coworker and I were talking and he posited the idea that this battle may result in Sansa being killed & subsequently resurrected by Thoros or Melisandre and taking on the position that Lady Stoneheart occupied in the books. This would explain the re-appearance of the Brotherhood without Banners after a long hiatus as well as The Hound’s return (who championed her better?).

    The showrunners often consolidate characters and this seems like a perfectly plausible direction for a character who has gotten darker as the series has progressed. Her stern warning to Jon may be the unheeded-warning-that-gets-me-killed-and-torments-Jon.

  256. dragonbringer: and like you say she has made tyrion son of tywin as her advisor ..and when she doesn’t hold fault children for their father’s mistakes ..

    Bingo! She has been slightly sensible in treating each person as an individual, not as someone’s son, slave, etc..

    Iam mostly looking forward to the meeting of arya and dany ..arya worships nymeria and dany is nymeria come again

    I’m not. I’m looking forward to Daenerys and Jon meeting, because deep down, they have quite a few values in common. Arya has just found herself and finally grown up – that was the entire point of her arc in Braavos. Daenerys grew up a long time ago, as did Jon.

  257. AirPurdue: may result in Sansa being killed & subsequently resurrected by Thoros or Melisandre and taking on the position that Lady Stoneheart occupied in the books

    Boo! If she dies I’d rather she stay dead. People keep trying to stuff everyone into the unnecessary LSH role.

  258. Wimsey,

    I just wonder what the reward that appeared to be promised in the letter might be. There are all kinds of rewards … good and bad

  259. Mihnea,

    He got that whole debriefing upload. Based off what the writers have said he is caught up with the realm, at least as far as I understood. They were safe enough to take a break so maybe the pass a tree, he taps in and see’s whats up

  260. Clob,

    Clob: People keep trying to stuff everyone into the unnecessary LSH role.

    I hear you. I just think we’ve got a battle that isn’t any sort of lock like everyone makes it out to be for no other reason than they think the good guys should win (Hi Ned! Hi Oberyn! Hi Robb!). If they lose, she could stay dead, but I think that’s a waste of a good actress and aspect of the ASOIF story. The timing of the BWB return suggests to me that sumfin is goin on.

  261. singedbylife,

    The cock jokes have been so lame that Tyrion who was once a favorite character of mine is just sort of meh now. Get him back to Cersei so I might feel as invested with either as I did years ago.

  262. AirPurdue:
    I am still of the opinion the Stark alliance is going to be routed, Rickon is killed, Undead Jon heads north towards Bran, and Ramsay is victorious.I think Littlefinger despite his affinity for Sansa, will betray them again either in action or inaction.

    I sincerely hope that doesn’t happen. Didn’t the director say something about luck? Surely that means luck for Team Jon. Ramsay doesn’t need luck. But I’m also of the opinion that Littlefinger could betray them somehow just like what he did to Ned in the Throne Room. But maybe he’ll try something and then that scene of him in the snow looking afraid will be Ghost coming to eat him after Jon and Sansa are aware of his scheme. Haha.

  263. HunterMac87,

    You have brought up some creative ideas. Jon is going to need unexpected events to turn the tide of battle to his advantage. Looking for way outside the box options to cause the final result.

  264. Ser Oromis Locke:

    Keyword is “Miniseries”.. Just a few episodes I’d reckon.

    Good point. Other actors fit in entire films, so why shouldn’t he be able to do both?

    As for Daario.. I really want to know if he was the one sending messages to the Masters of Yunkai/Astapor/Volantis. He went to treat with Yunkai and everything was cool, but obviously it wasn’t.. So did he switch sides when he saw Dany couldn’t control her dragons and then got that FML moment when he saw Dany riding Drogon in 5×09, stepping out of the fire in Vaes Dothrak and controlling Drogon again in 6×06. His reactions to those scenes are always a bit off. It’s never just sheer admiration (like Jorah), but also regret in some ways.

    TL;DR: I think Daario betrayed Daenerys after he made the “A Dragonqueen without dragons isn’t a queen”-line.

    Oh I hope he didn’t! I’ve also read that Varys was responsible. It would certainly make it more interesting, but I’ve come to really like Daario. His last few scenes with Jorah, while slightly trollish, seemed to have some genuine depth to them, respect and admiration for what Jorah’s put himself through. IDK if this was script, direction or Huisman himself, but that’s what I got from them & really enjoyed. Am not quite ready to say goodbye!

  265. caliopesnow,

    iridium:

    Caliopesnow, can I just say that your constant enthusiasm is a delight. Cheers to a fellow diehard Thrones fan, and an admirer of KH. I’ve enjoyed his performance in spite of my cynical instincts (read: ovarian override), and your joyous comments are always a pleasure to read.

    All of this, x 100 <3

    I agree Huisman will be a loss, but the character is disposable. I’ve heard a theory that he could rule Meereen in Dany’s stead. That could work – if he had the right advisors, i.e. GW and Missandei – but either way Michiel will be gone from our screens. Don’t despair! Dany and Jon will hook up and have the GBtwP (Gorgeous Baby that was Promised) and Michiel will be back in other projects

    Holding you to this. With a trebuchet.

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