Updated! Emilia Clarke arrives in Cáceres; Game of Thrones House Flags in Old Town; Disparate Characters Team Up in Belfast

Game of Thrones VFX "Aerial" (Dragon) Unit at Los Barruecos
Game of Thrones VFX “Aerial” (Dragon) Unit at Los Barruecos

The show’s invasion of Cáceres started to take shape yesterday, as the production turned their chosen locations in the provincial capital’s Old Town into Game of Thrones sets. Today, prop flags of a certain House confirm what these streets will be used for. Concurrently, the Mother of Dragons herself is spotted in the city, just as the VFX team prepares for some dragon action in the last days of filming at Los Barruecos.

Meanwhile, in Belfast, a rather curious mix of cast members was sighted last night. Their characters have never crossed paths before —In fact, in six seasons they have never even been in the same location or storyline—, so some may consider the sighting to be too revealing. And the text that contextualizes the gathering certainly contains spoilers!

Photo: @javiborrega / Twitter
Photo: @javiborrega / Twitter

Apparently, most of the props in Cáceres are being used at the Plaza de las Veletas to turn it into a busy Westerosi marketplace of some sort. But where in Westeros? As we suspected, it’s King’s Landing. Pictures surfaced today of Lannister flags at Las Veletas:

UPDATES:

In addition to the set creation, a new cast member has come to the city, either to film at the Old Town or in nearby Malpartida: On her Instagram, Emilia Clarke shared a funny video of herself ice-skating, and @yeahclarke spotted that it was located in Cáceres:

Furthermore, it can’t be a coincidence that just as Emilia arrived, the team in charge of simulating the dragons on set has been sighted working at Los Barruecos:

Proudly present GOT's Aerial Unit #filming #bts #cinematography #aerialcinematography #setlife #onlocation #vfx #wolfunit #fying #gameofthrones

Una foto publicada por Kevin Descheemaeker (@leadingeye) el

This probably means that Emilia came in order to film the last few days of the major Malpartida action sequence. If you are not up to date, the battle involves Daenerys ambushing Jaime and his forces (supported by the turncloak Lord Randyll and his son Dickon.) Since the Mother of Dragons has very big dragons at her disposal, and that’s sadly not the kind of thing that can actually be filmed, most of Dany’s involvement was expected to be filmed in-studio in Belfast. Until now, it wasn’t clear whether a portion of the sequence at least would involve Daenerys on land, and it seems that’s the case!

There is also a new detail in the Plaza de Las Veletas set. In the following photograph, if you follow the finger of this eagle-eyed fan, you will see “Davos skiff” written in a bench hidden behind the props. It remains to be seen whether Davos is involved in a scene here or if it is merely mislabeled, perhaps a remnant of a previously shot scene.

Stalking Game Of Thrones ???

Una foto publicada por Ra Tona (@ra.vergara) el

If the labeling is correct, it will probably still be connected to said scene, which involved Davos, Gendry and Tyrion fleeing King’s Landing. When they film next Wednesday and Thursday, I wouldn’t be surprised if we spotted Liam Cunningham and Joe Dempsie at least, and perhaps Peter Dinklage as well. Considering this is King’s Landing, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to also expect Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, and Jerome Flynn.

In regards to the current shoot near Belfast, these photos are surprisingly telling:

Just bumped into the Game of Thrones cast in Belfast ? #lovemylife #Gameofthrones

Una foto publicada por Kathryn Lowery (@kathrynloweryy) el

Never know who you’d meet on botanic avenue nowadays ❄️??#mormontissmashed #got #gameofthrones

Una foto publicada por Liam Smyth (@liamsmyth6) el

We have reason to believe Iain Glen, Rory McCann and Kristofer Hivju are all working together at Wolf Hill, an old disused quarry turned into a dramatic frozen lake with an island in the middle. These actors are not alone: As we exclusively revealed last week, Kit Harington was spotted filming in that location, and the following photos with excited fans show that —as of yesterday— Harington was still in Belfast:

#KitHarington with fans last night, in Belfast. ?

Una foto publicada por Kit Harington / Jon Snow.❄ (@jonsnowrules) el

This coming together of disparate cast members just as a major action sequence is being filmed at Wolf Hill Quarry indicates that, just as other sources have alleged in the past, at least Jon, Jorah, Sandor and Tormund will travel north together for this quest.

176 Comments

  1. This cast seems to be unusually fan-friendly. I know it’s part of the business, but they still seem very accommodating.

    Oh, right: um: Seymour!!!!

  2. The Wight Hunters’ Squad is here!

    I am very eager to see the interactions between these characters. Can’t wait to see Jon interact with the Hound as well as Jorah. The Hound Tormund interactions should be interesting as well.

  3. Won’t be time for interaction, they will be Leroy Jenkins-ing their way there, and then have their asses handed to them. It’s all about action, even when it makes no sense.

  4. Kristofer looks positively tiny next to Rory. And he usually towers over Kit. I can’t tell who is taller, Ian or Kristofer. It’ll be pocket size Jon next to these guys next season, that’s for sure.

  5. Luka Nieto,

    Tormund could tell the Hound how much he prefers biting off parts of his enemies 🙂 . And reminisce about a certain warrior lady!

  6. Damn the set designers are amazing. They transformed that collapsible plastic table yesterday to look like a real authentic wooden table. Good job guys. Can’t even see the LOC/GOT anymore.

    But really the KitN and his merry band of traveling tough guys will be television gold. However much screen time they get, it won’t be enough.

  7. Kay:
    I am really looking forward to the Hound and Jorah and Jon interactions!

    Agreed, and I’ll add Sansa to that list, since her and the Hound have such a weird history, especially in the books. For instance, hiding his bloody cloak in her cedar chest — wassup with that, Sans? Inquiring minds want to know!

  8. I still question how all of these individuals come together where they supposedly do.

    at Eastwatch, if the leak is accurate. For Tormund, Beric, Thoros and Sandor to join Jon’s group at Eastwatch it has to be pre-planned (as in sending a letter before leaving Dragonstone). Tormund wouldn’t just happen to be there. I suppose the other three might but it seems unlikely. It seems more probable that Beric’s group goes to Winterfell and are there when Jon calls for Tormund via raven and choose to go with him. OR, will Jon actually ‘swing by’ Winterfell before heading for Eastwatch? I don’t think we’ve seen any ‘leak’ specifically stating that he does that, but we’ve been waiting for certain reunions and they could happen then. It’s a lot of extra travel but in any scenario there’s going to be a lot of distance traveled quickly and conveniently.
  9. OK, WotW, you’re undoubtedly dissecting that new ‘Reign’ promo video shot by shot right now, but I can’t wait! Can it really be Jorah who tells Jon, ‘You’re a Targaryen’? Whom else would he say those words to? Dany scarcely needs reminding. And here we were, all figuring that Jon would hear it from either Bran or Howland, with Baelish the dark horse candidate…

  10. Luka Nieto,

    When Jorah realizes that The Bear gave Longclaw to Jon, that should be an interesting moment. On that note was there ever any acknowledgement by Lyanna Mormont that Jon had their ancestral sword? I dont think so but maybe the books will address it.

  11. Wimsey:
    This cast seems to be unusually fan-friendly.I know it’s part of the business, but they still seem very accommodating.

    PR stunts.

  12. Firannion,
    It’s an amazing video, but I’m pretty sure it’s fan made. It’s full of shots from other things, like some shots of Jon and Jon’s voiceover is from Kit’s movie Pompeii.

  13. HunterMac87,

    I’m sure Jorah will understand it. He gave it away in the first place when he departed for Essos. If Jeor gave it to somebody, he respected that person and give it to him for a reason. It would kinda of nice for Jon to give him then sword but then he has no sword to fight with.

    phantomcloud,

    Leaks spoilers.

    It won’t be only action, some dialogs will happen during this mission. We got Jon and Beric with Thoros to talk about resurrections. Tormund/Hound, Jon/Gendry or Jorah. Some interesting options for a dialog. The best part of this.
  14. I’d like to image that Tormund and Sandor, as two straight-talkin’ dudes, will get along and become good friends. I suppose goofball shippers would give that pair a silly name…

  15. Clob,

    Leaks:

    All this was covered in the leaks. Tormund is tasked with manning Eastwatch (presumably by Jon, with other Wildlings I assume). Thoros, Beric and the Hound turn up there because their new mission is to help against the WWs. ( I wonder why Eastwatch? Why not CB?) . However Tormund has them thrown into the dungeons.
    When Jon, Davos, Jorah and Gendry arrive there from Dragonstone, they all get together for this mission. Nobody goes to Winterfell.
  16. After the incredibly interesting period where they were doing Dragonstone filming and we got all the stuff with Kit, the rest of the Spanish location shooting has seemed very dull by comparison.

    Clob,

    [Leaks discussion]

    The leak specifically indicates that Jon doesn’t meet Arya or Bran this season, so he doesn’t return to Winterfell after he leaves.

    I believe Tormund is at Eastwatch because he’s garrisoning it, though I could be wrong there. The Brotherhood characters are said to be present because they went North to the Wall to join the fight against the White Walkers; they also did not go to Winterfell, according to the leaker, and the Hound specifically states he has no interest in going there since he knows Brienne is there.

  17. Im trying to stay spoiler free but what i have see about the North of the wall stuff it makes me worried for this bad ass group to get together.. They are like the Westeros dream team and i want their teaming to bad ass, formidable and somewhat long lasting… hell give me a spin off series on this haha

  18. Firannion,

    I’m not sure what you’re referring to. There is no promo, as far as I know.

    There is an obviously fan-created video teasing season 7 by that name, but it’s patently recycled season 6 footage with shots from other movies, and shoddy added effects and poor editing, so I imagine you can’t be talking about that.

  19. Love this team!

    I can’t wait to see the dialogue between Jorah and Thoros. They are fight side by side again 🙂
  20. How disappointing. I didn’t recognize the footage from other movies, so assumed it was new. It did seem early for more than a tiny teaser! Whoever put that together did a pretty slick job. It looked convincing on my tiny phone screen, at least.

    Don’t mind me, I’ll just put on this pointy hat and sit in the corner for a while.

  21. The potential for these four characters is amazing; one of the things I love about Thrones is characters that have previously had nothing to do with one another crossing paths. And these four characters…….

    First off, the Hound meeting a member of the free folk is simply fantastic; he is as straight-talking as they are and I can see he and Tormund getting on over a few legs of chicken and some ale/sour goat’s milk (though they may disagree on the issue of Brienne!).

    Jon and the Hound is another interesting one, purely given the latter’s interactions with Arya. She told him that Needle was given to her by her brother (though she did not specify which one) so it will be interesting to see if the topic of Arya (or even Sansa) is raised between the two of them.

    Jorah and Tormund doesn’t seem that interesting on the surface of things, but given the anti-wildling attitudes of Northerners, it will be intriguing to see Jorah interacting with one of them, and to see his attitude towards Jon’s decision to allow Tormund and the rest of the free folk south of the Wall.

    The one that intrigues me most, however, is Jon and Jorah. Jorah’s father clearly had a lot of faith in Jon and in his abilities, and his cousin Lyanna is one of Jon’s most prominent supporters. Jon also saved Jeor’s life, and avenged his death – any conversation these two have has so much potential! – and that is before we even get to the matter of Longclaw. I wonder if it is the gift of that sword more than anything else that will convince Jorah of how much his father valued Jon. And after they get bored of discussing those topics, they can move on to the anti-Ned Stark tendencies Jorah has displayed in seasons past.

  22. Alba Stark,

    Actually Jorah and Tormund can also be interesting because there is a possibility that Tormund might have hooked up with Mormont ladies in the past and might even have produced bastards (some even suggest Lyanna Mormont).

    But I highly doubt that we will see long interactions between those characters; Jon/Sandor, Tormund/Sandor, Jon/Jorah, Tormund/Jorah…there is not enough time for these. There are only 7 episodes, all these characters have separate plots and their interactions wouldn’t really serve to main plots (maybe except Jon and Jorah), they would just be some light moments like Tormund/Brienne and there is no time for those anymore. I think their interactions will be limited to action scenes as some people suggested here.

  23. ghost of winterfell,

    I was not aware of these leaks, very interesting. Why does Tormund throw them into the dungeons, because they don’t recognize Jon as the King in the North perhaps. I am trying to think why? I can see all of them at Eastwatch because they all take a boat to get there it is the quickest.
  24. They should do a spin-off with these people. Would love it!
    Tormund seems so little next to Sandor. I really thought he was much bigger because he was towering over Jon past episodes. Jon will be looking like a dwarf next to them. (But I know the feeling since I am quite small too)

  25. innocence:
    Alba Stark,

    Actually Jorah and Tormund can also be interesting because there is a possibility that Tormund might have hooked up with Mormont ladies in the past and might even have produced bastards (some even suggest Lyanna Mormont).

    But I highly doubt that we will see long interactions between those characters; Jon/Sandor, Tormund/Sandor, Jon/Jorah, Tormund/Jorah…there is not enough time for these. There are only 7 episodes, all these characters have separate plots and their interactions wouldn’t really serve to main plots (maybe except Jon and Jorah), they would just be some light moments like Tormund/Brienne and there is no time for those anymore. I think their interactions will be limited to action scenes as some people suggested here.

    The Tormund/Jorah thing occurred to me too, but I don’t think it has really been hinted at in the show, other than the time Ygritte told Tormund to stop going on about the night he spent with a bear. Aside from Ygritte calling Tormund out on the BS she felt he was spouting, I don’t think there is the set-up for the show to go with that story line. That said, it would be quite cool to watch!

    I don’t think I’ll get to see all these characters interacting the way I want them too (sadly) but I do think that Jon and Jorah will at least have to mention the Old Bear. This is most likely to be the interaction that the show focuses on.

    Although there isn’t the time for it, I would love a Tormund/Hound scene with them eating chicken and bonding.

  26. Sandor and Jorah…..sigh. I shall swoon.

    Heck, I’m of the opinion that Sandy somewhat begrudgingly respects that ‘woman’ who kicked his ass – I think he and Tormund could have some hilarious interactions.

  27. innocence: Actually Jorah and Tormund can also be interesting because there is a possibility that Tormund might have hooked up with Mormont ladies in the past and might even have produced bastards

    I don’t think even Book!Tormund makes such outlandish claims!

  28. Clob: I still question how all of these individuals come together where they supposedly do.

    There are any number of means by which this might happen. Anticipating specific plot and narrative details is very difficult, to put it mildly!

  29. Catspaw Assassin,

    In the books there’s some imagery in Sansa’s POV after Blackwater that points toward something more happened between them. But then again, it could just be Sansa romanticizing the situation and nothing really happened.
    That group together, in combat battling together, is going to be the most watched episode in TV history. The banter alone will make TV history.
    Can’t wait. Hope that group has enough chickens for the Hound ?

  30. Catspaw Assassin,

    I don’t recall anything similar happening on the show. In fact, any Hound/Sansa shipping deal was played down, or ignored entirely. Plus, show Sandor is significantly different from book Sandor.

  31. ghost of winterfell,

    ” I wonder why Eastwatch? Why not CB?”

    Likely they covered the significant distance north via ship, instead of fighting their way overland through a war-ravaged, increasingly snowy countryside. Potentially much faster and safer, even with the Winds of Winter blowing.

  32. Alba Stark: Aside from Ygritte calling Tormund out on the BS she felt he was spouting, I don’t think there is the set-up for the show to go with that story line. That said, it would be quite cool to watch!

    The other issue is that both are supporting characters. The “bonding” between the main characters (particularly Jon & Daeny) is going to be much more important to the story. Those two in particular might affect one another’s character evolution in multiple ways, particularly given how much parallel evolution between the characters we already have seen.

    What also could be key will be how Jon and Sansa renew their relationships with Tyrion. And, of course, Arya probably will be back in the picture soon. She never had any relationship with Tyrion, but she had very different relationships with Jon and Sansa.

    And, of course, there is a huge plot issue that I’m curious to see revealed: what mobilizes these disparate forces to move north? “The White Walkers are coming” is not going to cut it unless the Walkers have made it obvious that there is some invasion of Westeros happening. (It does not have to be known that White Walkers are the invaders: and I can easily imagine people accepting that there is an invasion without accepting who the invaders are.)

  33. Wimsey,

    Sure he does! In fact, there’s even the remote possibility that the bear was one of the Mormont women – they say they’re skinchangers who go off into the woods to mate with (other) bears…

  34. Before some people get all excited. Brienne and Jon, Melisandre and Sansa, Pod and Jon also had their arcs intertwined, they also came together, but they didn’t even share a word with each other or a scene without others present. And there were 10 episodes, not 7. Don’t get your hopes up for any meaningful interaction, especially under their circumstances. It’s gonna be all action not character dynamics for that plotline (which will cover less than 1 episode btw).

  35. Flayed Potatoes,

    I don’t think that’s the case at all. Why will Jaime try to carry so many food supplies to KL from Highgarden if things are good in KL? And what about the iron bank conflict mentioned earlier; I think earlier spoilers on this site had said that Cersei can’t pay to iron bank etc. And the leaks

    also suggested that Tyrion tries to convince Jaime in the 5th episode that although Daenerys is not perfect either, she is still better than Cersei etc.

    I’m pretty sure that all the spoilers so far suggest that Cersei will suck pretty hard as a ruler like his father had thought (he had said that it was not because she was a woman, but because she wasn’t smart enough) and fans expected, and Jaime will try to fix and compensate for her mistakes

    until he gives up on her in the finale too
  36. zandru:
    ghost of winterfell,

    ” I wonder why Eastwatch? Why not CB?”

    Likely they covered the significant distance north via ship, instead of fighting their way overland through a war-ravaged, increasingly snowy countryside. Potentially much faster and safer, even with the Winds of Winter blowing.

    The only thing that saved them during Hardhome was the water so it makes sense from that perspective.

  37. innocence,

    I admit I’d love it if she ended up being a capable queen just to piss off the fandom. But we all know she’ll be a hot mess.

  38. One would think Cersei would have to be even more miserable as queen. She’ll never be able to leave the Red Keep in relative safety again. The people hated her before for simply being told she’s a sinner, throwing shit and insulting her on her Walk. It won’t be a secret who was responsible for blowing up all those people, the Great Sept and the HS, whom they’d all begun to ‘worship.’ She’s a prisoner of her own making.

  39. LEAKS

    The forthcoming season 7

    sex scene between Jon and Dany is not gonna take place on the ship but in the cave in the North, and you know what, Jorah and Tormund are gonna guard the entrance

    into the cave.

  40. phantomcloud,

    Firannion,

    Yeah, it is fake. Jorah used that “your a Targaryen, your the Mother of Dragons” line to Dany after they took Mereen and found out Joffery died and Dany said “I need to be more than that”

  41. Damn Emilia is so good at hiding, one minute she’s in Belfast and the next in Spain and we have no idea how long she’s been at either.
    No one can find Emilia unless she wants to be found lol.
    Saying that, I thought we knew what was to be filmed at Caceres but Emilia being there puts a element of surprise in the works.

  42. Mel,

    I don’t think Emilia will film in Caceres, she may be in Spain to film her part in the ambush with NCW, Peter Dinklage etc.

  43. Cáceres really look to be dressed for a parade and public celebration: so many Lannister banners on the square.
    But Emilia’s presence is intriguing. Maybe she has been doing some shots for the ambush battle, or has it been wrapped up already?

  44. Emilia’s most likely there for final days of the Malpartida shoot, along with Peter. The old town filming doesn’t begin until Dec 14 and the ambush filming is believed to be wrapping sometime over the weekend or Monday as of the latest reports.

  45. Mel,
    Doesn’t kit tower over Emilia? She was in stiletto heels at the Emmys and he was still slightly taller. Ian is probably just a bit taller than Kit.

    Emilia has been in spain since the week started.

    Clob,
    Cersei will make the lannister soldiers hold of the aggressive people. She will have her parade!

  46. Abbie:
    Mel,
    Doesn’t kit tower over Emilia? She was in stiletto heels at the Emmys and he was still slightly taller. Ian is probably just a bit taller than Kit.

    Iain is literally half a foot taller than Kit. 6’1″ and 5’7″.

  47. A Spanish redditor @cinetrabajadora

    photo is gone because production request. there are body props inside king’s landing too. Cáceres is king’s landing and other places like Oldtown. you won’t see photos of Oldtown filming though. (…) game of thrones will film more scenes in Cáceres.
  48. Abbie,

    No he doesn’t, don’t forget men’s shoes also have heels on them now. In the filming pics on Dragonstone with neither of them wearing heels I’d say Emilia is up to Kit’s nose while her head is closer to Iain’s chest level.

  49. As a side note, both Sophie and D&D confirmed Sansa is wearing heels too. I remember reading D&D’s interview where they mentioned it’s to make Sansa tower over her co-stars even more. Why would they want that is anybody’s guess.

  50. phantomcloud,

    Body props inside king’s landing? Interesting. Maybe, there’s gonna be some rain on the parade after all? But I guess, we have to wait for more info, and especially, which of the directors will be filming. Matt Shakman is almost certain now, if Tyrion and Davos are to be involved. But will it be one sequence or two separate ones?
    If it’s one, then I guess the parade will be Jaime’s triumphant return celebration combined with Tyrion’s stealth mission in KL

    most probably, Tyrion’s attempt to meet with him in private and to pave way for the negotiations on the armistice

    .
    On the other hand Tyrion and Davos in KL, and the parade of whatever other sequence they intend to film, may be different events happening in different episodes.
    Or it will be only Tyrion and Davos in KL sequence, which is also entirely possible. And the parade or whatever other extravagance will be filmed in Dubrovnik…

    Need more spoilers and leaks!!!

  51. Mel: No he doesn’t, don’t forget men’s shoes also have heels on them now.

    “Now”? Men’s shoes have had heels since the 1960’s. Elton John routinely wore shoes that were more heel than boot!

    (Ask your grandmother about him….)

  52. innocence: Why will Jaime try to carry so many food supplies to KL from Highgarden if things are good in KL?

    If Kings Landing is where they decide to gather everyone and “hold the fort,” then they would be moving people and provisions there. I am sure that we can think of numerous other possible explanations with a little effort.

  53. Clob: One would think Cersei would have to be even more miserable as queen …. She’s a prisoner of her own making.

    I think that Cersei derives happiness from people doing what she tells them to do and other expressions that she interprets as people recognizing her innate superiority. Thus, not only has popularity never has been a source of happiness for her, unpopularity probably is: being hated by the weak and the failed is another proper expression of Lannister-envy.

  54. phantomcloud:
    Lena has been spotten in Caceres too

    Let me guess, in the gutter outside of a tapas bar?

    Note: Having spend some time in Spain – on at least two occasions literally in the gutter – I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, and judging by her Twitter feed I believe Lena just might agree with me. 😉

  55. Wimsey: “Now”?Men’s shoes have had heels since the 1960’s.Elton John routinely wore shoes that were more heel than boot!

    (Ask your grandmother about him….)

    Ancient civilizations even used heels, for men and women. Mind you, the 60’s were a long time ago….?

  56. Regarding th photo of the cute young lady flashing the peace sign on the Plaza de Las Veletas set: thank you for knowing which side of the hand is used for a peace sign, as lately I’ve been a wee bit miffed and disappointed by how many people don’t know the difference between a peace sign and (hand reversed) an “up yours” sign.

    Signed, the ghost of Mace “Stuffy” Tyrell

  57. Wimsey,

    Lol they did but when I was a child in the 90s men didn’t wear heels on their dress shoes and were horrified at the thought of having even a slight heel on their shoes.

  58. Confirmed!!!I have just seen Peter Dinklage in a car passing by next to me in Cáceres!I didn’t have time to take picture!!

  59. I like that Emilia is having fun on her day off but I would appreciate if someone in the team told her to stay away from activities that might cause her to break a leg and/or any other body part.
    She literally has her hand in every single plot pot this season, from Pyke to Dragonstone to Highgarden to King’s Landing and the North + the Wall. If something happens to her, we’re fucked. No GoT ’till 2018. That’s a dark, dark thought.

  60. Jon’s Mom:
    Catspaw Assassin,

    In the books there’s some imagery in Sansa’s POV after Blackwater that points toward something more happened between them. But then again, it could just be Sansa romanticizing the situation and nothing really happened.
    That group together, in combat battling together, is going to be the most watched episode in TV history. The banter alone will make TV history.
    Can’t wait. Hope that group has enough chickens for the Hound

    Definitely romanticizing on Sansa’s part. My understanding is that when asked about

    the Unkiss

    GRRM’s response was along the lines of “Sansa is an unreliable narrator.” Exaggerating what really happened with the Hound would certainly echo the way she eventually blamed Arya for Lady’s death, even though *she* was the one who lied about what happened with Mycah and Nymeria.

  61. ygritte,

    Eastwatch-by-the-Sea is the easternmost castle/fortress/stronghold on the Wall. It’s fairly popular with the Wildlings, because they can trade their goods with whatever ships brave the northern seas to trade with the Wildlings and the Night’s Watch. My recollection from the books is that any goods available at Castle Black from across the Narrow Sea (spices, etc.) have been obtained in sale or trade at Eastwatch.

  62. Mel:
    Wimsey,

    Lol they did but when I was a child in the 90s men didn’t wear heels on their dress shoes and were horrified at the thought of having even a slight heel on their shoes.

    Well I’ve never made a secret about my age (in the same decade of my life as GRRM) and in their early days (or at least early famous days) when Brian Epstein got them wearing suits the Beatles wore “Cuban” heels. I’m linking an online article about the history of the Cuban heel https://www.shuperb.co.uk/blog/2014/01/cuban-heels-history/

    There are still loads of men who won’t wear a raised heel – my late father wouldn’t have worn one – granted he passed some years ago. It’s down to individual choice I guess. Being female I wore raised heels sometimes when I was younger though I preferred a medium heel to a full-blown stiletto but nowadays I go with “flatties” for comfort even for special events.

  63. ygritte,

    There can be a number of potential explanations, why some misunderstanding may be happening between Tormund and Beric/BwoB. BwoB sees itself as an independent player, which takes orders from no lord but the Lord of Light, and Tormund would have a good reason to distrust that Lord. Moreover, Beric has been resurrected 6 times, so he may have reasons to believe that he is the chosen one and there may be a clash with Tormund on this issue (would be interesting). So, maybe the BwoB will try to sneak outside the Wall without Tormund’s permission or similar: good as they are, private companies with private initiatives have to learn discipline at war. I just hope, there won’t be blood.

  64. ygritte:
    Sean C.,

    Why do you think Tormund throws them in the dungeons though, doesn’t trust they are also wanting to join the cause?

    Not sure whose going to be with Tormund but my guess is because the Hound has been known to be a Lannister loyalist as far a rumors up north.
    Maybe the Hound didnt play well with others when asked to go back and got him in the slammer. I mean, we are dealing with Free folks and a Clegane here. Blades are bound to be drawn

  65. Irina Stark,

    If something happens to her, they’ll just use a body double. She’s not swordfighting or running in the middle of battles like some of the other characters. They can just have her sit down in her scenes like she does on the dragon.

    And no she doesn’t have a hand in the North plot. You’re probably mistaking her for Jon.

  66. Jon’s Mom,

    Yup. She’s annoyed me to all hell, but there’s a part of me that really, really hopes that she’ll openly acknowledge that the only men outside of her family and their retainers who have ever been kind to her (or more importantly, protected her) were men viewed as monsters by the world at large: Tyrion and Sandor.

  67. PEOPLE, I think I nailed it:

    Sandor “The Hound” Clegane is FIRE and Tormund Giantsbane is ICE!

    Theirs is the song of Ice and Fire!

  68. Flayed Potatoes,

    Cersei would probably pay that Theater company to make a play called ” Cersei, the Great” instead of actualling doing her job and ruling with kindness and justice.

    But you make a good point: it would be a hell of a twiste if Cersei actually turned out to be decent enough Queen- I will not stretch it so much as to sell her as capable though- woman clearly is too fond of wine to ever think straigh.

  69. Flayed Potatoes,

    The North plot consists largely of the WW. And Dany will be at Eastwatch and north of the Wall. So yes, she’s part of the North plot now. It’s the Winterfell plot she’s not a part of yet.

  70. El-Bobbie,

    North Plot = Winterfell plot because Winterfell is in the North (where she’s not a part of)

    The rest is Beyond the Wall or at the Wall. Separate locations, separate plots from the Northern one.

  71. Wow, so weird to see previously disparate characters coming together etc

    Jon, Jorah, Hound and Tormund

    Hound and Tormund would be quite something

    Just as Jon and Jorah would be, especially given Jons close to his niece(?) and Jon was steward to his Dad Jeor

  72. Wolfish: GRRM’s response was along the lines of “Sansa is an unreliable narrator.”

    GRRM has emphasized this more than once: all of the narratives are subjective first/third party narratives. (The general narrative is third-party, but these are mingled with first party thoughts.) GRRM describes what he imagines the PoV character to observe, feel and think. This is a great way to provide subtle character development: we get different amounts of detail (and details about different things) depending on who is the central character.

    Another prominent idea created by this is the idea that Robb’s Book!Wife is alive and pregnant. One character regards Book!Wife as having good birthing hips. However, another character regards Book!Wife as thin-hipped. A ha! They cannot be the same woman because female hip-width is something that all people observed with complete objectivity, right? Of course not: the second character’s idea of feminine beauty is a much older woman who has had multiple kids and who currently is getting pudgy.

    This is one big blessing/curse of the written medium vs. the cinematic medium. Cinema has to show what is, and they cannot show two different people seeing the same thing differently easily. (This is sometimes done with immediate flashbacks, where they will enact one person’s version of the story and then another person’s: but you cannot do that for every scene!) Writing can do this: however, the readers have to recognize that they are seeing all of this “through Sansa lenses” and therefore extrapolate about what really happened.

  73. Catspaw Assassin: Having spend some time in Spain – on at least two occasions literally in the gutter

    I’m told that Franco was very proud of what he did for Spain’s gutters. Or did I mistranslate that?

    (Ducks while Luka starts to go atomic….)

  74. Flayed Potatoes,

    They managed to still use Kit in sword fighting scenes in Season 3 despite his broken ankle, so they even have ways of filming around that. Yeah, I think Emilia can probably brave the elements of any local skating arenas, miniature golf courses, bowling alleys, or yoga studios she comes across on her days off.

    Isabelle,

    That’s something I could get behind if he and Andy Samberg ever break off their engagement.

    Ser Bergh,

    Good to have that confirmed. Note that Taylor seems to be the only director not filming anything in Spain this year, and Podeswa commented on FB that at least he gets to film in Iceland. Looks like Episode 6 will be extremely heavy on icy exteriors. I guess if any southern locations appear in that episode, they’ll be interiors only. Although come to think of it, KL has sat out every penultimate episode since Blackwater, so I suppose they could always just keep that trend going this year.

  75. leak

    Guys, someone on reddit posted their PM from Lads. Could as well be fake but nevertheless. It says that the last scene of season 7 will actually be a 3-way montage involving Jon and Daenerys having sex, Night King destroying The Wall AND Bran and Sam figuring out Jon’s parentage. Firstly, I don’t know how it can be possible to make it without it being insufferably cheesy and cringey. Secondly, talk about a heavyhanded foreshadowing of Jon and Daenerys’s relationship going down the drain in season 8. Jon and Daenerys are doing it for the first time at the same time Bran and Sam figure out Jon’s parentage/Jon being closely related to Daenerys AND on top of it the crumbling of The Wall (what a symbol). It’s not even foreshadowing, it’s telegraphing.
  76. phantomcloud:
    leak

    What I don’t get from that is (LEAK)

    doesn’t Bran already know Jon’s parentage? Or are they saying that Bran and Sam are together discussing it somehow? *scratches head*. I know reading vs watching something are 2 different animals, but I agree with you, it could be cringey.
  77. Alexander4344:
    Can’t wait for this –

    Jorah and Thoros. Pyke 2.0.

    Holy hell, I’d totally forgotten that Jorah and Thoros fought side-by-side not too long ago. I know the show will be pressed for time and most likely won’t have Jorah and Thoros reminisce about their past but I’d love it if they at least have a moment where they acknowledge each other, the battle on Pyke, or Thoros’s flaming sword.

    Isabelle:
    Kit’s also said hello to Zach Braff–

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BN0uilPjOT3/?taken-by=zachbraff&hl=en

    The caption

    O.M.G.

  78. Pigeon,

    yes that part

    about Bran only figuring it out with Sam in 710 after three flashbacks makes little sense. Wouldn’t it be easier to just look into the events of young Ned naming Jon, returning with him to WF and claiming him as his bastard? Why do they need to make it so contrived?Is it only because they want to directly connect it to the boat sex scene?
  79. BunBunStark,

    Well, usually action sequences don’t take long: 10-15 min. Meanwhile, Ep 6 should be around 60 min. So, even with some KL and or Winterfell scenes interfering, we should get some 20 to 30 min. for Team-Jon travelogues and interactions. (Maybe, this mission was not a bad idea after all.)

  80. Leak

    If it’s for real, the three-way montage is either going to be unspeakably awesome or the most unintentionally hilarious closing moments of any television show in recent memory. And I am so game for either option. I swear, if the writers not only accidentally imply that Jon and Dany’s sex life has cataclysmic repercussions but also reveal that they’re aunt and nephew while they’re screwing each other into next spring, I just might forgive them for Dorne. It’s too bad everyone and their mother already knows that Jon’s a Targaryen, because that would be the best reaction video whiplash moment since Melisandre took her necklace off.
  81. elybe,

    I know right? Of all the things to worry about lol….

    elybe,

    They don’t have Miguel to save them, so I’m going for hilarious. Please D&D pander to me and make it as ridiculous as possible lmao.

    To think that they will even accidentally imply that

    Jonerys sexy time makes the Wall go down lmfao. I’m almost sorry Mylod isn’t directing the episode.
  82. Inspired by the leaks 😛

    Sunset found her squatting on Jon’s small pecker, groaning. Every thrust was quicker than the one before. By the time the sun set in the east, a blue rose grew from a chink in a wall of ice, and the air smelled fouler. The more Jon thrust, the more the chink grew, and the more the chink grew, the more pieces from the wall of ice fell, and the blocks of ice sent the Night’s King and his wights crawling up the battlements of Castle Black.
  83. phantomcloud,
    I think it would be great!

    I think it could be interpreted in other ways than just a foreshadowing of a downfall in their relationship or that their coupling is the reason the Wall is coming down. The leaks also say that the scene between J&D includes him privately pledging himself for her as she agrees to help his cause. I think we’ll have a couple scenes that will further indicate Jon’s bloodline previous to this, but it may not be specifically seen and/or stated by Bran until this moment. Viewers have been witness to twin sibling lovers the entire series and other incestuous relationships. I don’t think that would be the primary focus, at least for myself. Instead of that I’d see it more for the confirmation that there are now two blood-of-the-dragon Targaryens bound to each other. Two special and powerful characters are together and will be leading the living against the leader of the dead, the NK. I’d view this ‘montage’ as a focus on those three and their war in S8.

    Pigeon,
    I’m assuming that Bran isn’t going to know any more than the viewers do at the moment, that Lyanna is Jon’s mother. Yes, yes, a lot of people have figured out who the father is but it hasn’t been clear yet for show watchers only – meaning it hasn’t been clear to Bran what’s going on. It hasn’t even been specifically stated in the books for many readers to know. I have a friend that’s read all the books and watched the entire series but she does so for entertainment and doesn’t read or participate in anything online. She doesn’t “dig in” deeper in other words. Knowing that, I asked her after she’d watched S6 who she thinks is Jon’s father. She said Robert Baratheon. She made me tell her and then point out hints and clues before it cleared up.

    Anyway, Bran still hasn’t shown to be in control of what/when he sees. He’s seen Jon’s birth but to find out more surrounding it he will need to visit specific events. Otherwise all he has to go on is what he’s been told his whole life. He’s going to have to learn to control it better and then slowly piece it together as he gets new information.

  84. Ladies and Gents, we better start preparing ourselves for the unique and marvelous smash hit Montage of Orgasmic Doom, starring Jon Snow as former King in the North, Daenerys Targaryen as Mother of 3 Dragons – 1, Night’s King as Night King, Viserion as Wight Ride, Bran Stark as Happy Tree-Hugging Wizard and Sam Tarly as Wannabe Maester. Coming to our tellys in the fall of 2017
  85. Flayed Potatoes,

    You received an advanced copy of TWOW, didn’t you? Didn’t you?

    Although GRRM would never go for something as pedestrian as “small pecker” (and come on, compared to Tormund, whose isn’t?) when it comes to genitalia. I think we need something more poetic and resplendent. Something like the sight of her naked body making his dragon take flight or Dany climbing his northern pole would be a start. It’s tough, because the juiciest ones are already taken. Dany’s probably never even been to Myr.
  86. elybe,

    maybe 😉

    As Daenerys Targaryen rose to her feet, Jon hissed, pale smoke venting from his mouth and nostrils. She had awoken the ice dragon. She pulled away from his chest and added her voice to the call, translucent wings unfolding and stirring the air, and for the first time in hundreds of years, the night came alive with the music of mating dragons. It was a song of ice and fire.

    😉

  87. phantomcloud,

    When they finally saw Jorah looking through the peephole, they raised their heads and looked at him with eyes as red as coals.

    Wordless, the knight fell to his knees. Tyrion and the Unsullied came up behind him. Greyworm was the first to lay his spear at their feet. “Blood of my blood,” Jorah murmured, pushing his face to the deck. “Blood of my blood,” they heard Tyrion echo, holding a glass of Imp’s Delight in his left hand. “Blood of my blood,” Greyworm shouted.

    I’m simply adapting book quotes from unrelated scenarios to this scenario, but I’ll gladly take a writing gig. This new development is feeding my creative juices and schadenfreude. 😛

  88. Leaks:

    I love a good montage and the show has already given us one. I absolutely loved “Chaos is a Ladder” from S3 – the music, Littlefinger’s speech, Ros’s death, Sansa crying, Jon & Ygritte reaching the top of the Wall, it was freakin’ perfect. So I have faith that D&D and Ramin Djawadi will do a similarly good job on the upcoming Jon/Dany/Night King montage.

    And I agree with Clob:

    Two special and powerful characters are together and will be leading the living against the leader of the dead, the NK. I’d view this ‘montage’ as a focus on those three and their war in S8.

    The montage is going to make it pretty damn clear to the general audience who the major players are heading into S8. And as a fan of all 3, I can not wait.

  89. Flayed Potatoes,

    haha right, there’s much potential for parody here. I’m sure we can rely on the internet to deliver us that in spades next year.

    I half-wanted this to be the reason for the Wall’s fall (D&D seem intent on ridiculous over-the-top stuff so why not?)

    http://imgur.com/a/GGUlz

    There’s some ‘get your nut’ joke for Jon in there.

  90. Flayed Potatoes,

    You’re missing the best part. As Jon tenderly reached her lady parts, Daenerys smiled with pleasure on her face, starts heavily breeathing until Jon blessed her the Lord’s kiss Jon Snouuuuuw.

    Why the heck am I writing it? 😀

    If it realy happens, would you think it might foreshadow their relationship, The Wall crumbling down, burning by ice dragon fire. Btw agree he’ll probably knock her up.

    elybe,

    After Fat Pink Mast. That was some reading. I don’t have mch of faith in George.

  91. Flayed Potatoes:
    phantomcloud,

    I’m simply adapting book quotes from unrelated scenarios to this scenario, but I’ll gladly take a writing gig. This new development is feeding my creative juices and schadenfreude. ?

    I really feel as though

    Jorah deserves in on this action somehow, even if he’s just the one playing the saxophone for the segment.
  92. Pigeon,

    They will have Jorah

    hold Jon’s Longclaw and stand guard just outside the cabin when those two go at it loudly. Gosh, so much potential for hilarious scenarios.
  93. Rygritte,

    Which ice dragon is supposed to blow first within this sequence? Because I just thought of the perfect place to position that expulsion of blue flame shot.
  94. Pigeon,
    Leaks

    Tormund: Are they in there? You think they’re fucking?
    Jorah: What? No!
    Tormund: Why not? I’d fuck her. You’d fuck her, wouldn’t you?
    Jorah: I’m her adivsor.
    Tormund: The way she looks at him. The way all women look at him is frankly irritating.
    Jorah: Come on, you’re the one with the magic cock.
    Sandor: You think you’re hard man?
    Tormund: Ho-ho… I KNOW it.
  95. elybe,

    Both. I’m surprised there hasn’t been much discussion over the revelation of what the
    LEAKS

    Ice Dragon actually is/how it came to be. Haven’t we been speculating about this for years?
  96. Geralt of Rivia,

    Pull out, Jon!

    Legit, the worst thing they can do to Jon is have him sire a bastard. Maybe he’ll put a ring on it in between fighting the NK.

    Pigeon,

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UO5aV0rEi4

    from 1:21

    Instead of Sansa, picture Jorah on the boat hearing Jonerys fuck as a silent tear rolls down his cheek.

  97. Flayed Potatoes,

    Jon is doing his duty and to imagine he’s not that experienced in sex. Jon never wanted to father a bastard. Wedding between fighting white walkers is possible. I always pictured if wedding some grand not like Robb and Talisa intimate.

    You hate Jorah that much? 😀

  98. Flayed Potatoes:
    Geralt of Rivia,

    Pigeon,

    I just really think the guy deserves to get laid before he dies. I mean, I keep volunteering, but the restraining order continues to try to tell me that there’s a difference between the actor Iain Glen and the character of Jorah. Pfft whatever. Like Iain didn’t even have greyscale in real life, I’m so sure!!
  99. I just caught up with the new info. This thread is the funniest one I have read in a long time lmao.

    Flayed Potatoes,

    Every orgasm that Dany reaches coincides with a chunk of the Wall falling.
  100. I’m sending a silent prayer the drowned gods, old and new gods, the seven, Lord of light, the tree gods and gods of tits and wine for none of that to be true.

  101. Inga,

    I do hope Beric and Thoros becoming more involved means they provide us with some dialogue about what resurrections mean in this world.

  102. Young Dragon:
    phantomcloud,

    Yeah, I’m sure the characters will remain in sullen silences the entire journey North and won’t say two words to each other. /sarcasm

    “Long sullen silences, and an occasional punch in the face, The Mormont way”

  103. ygritte: I do hope Beric and Thoros becoming more involved means they provide us with some dialogue about what resurrections mean in this world.

    Why would it? And why do we need that? Jon told us everything we need to know: there is nothing after life, and being brought back is less than pleasant.

    There will not be an issue about how others perceive it simply because only a tiny number of people will be aware of it. This is not a world in which news easily disseminate, and by the time it does, Grimms’ Law has distorted it badly. People would hear a lot of crazy things, and the people who would readily believe that either Beric or Jon actually had died and returned probably believed that the Targaryens took power through voter fraud, too; and the more sensible people would roll their eyes and assume that Beric and Jon had simply escaped death very improbably and that this turned into tales of resurrection.

    phantomcloud,

    heh, you are writing about the final scene of the penultimate season! It had better not be foreshadowing: the time for that has come and gone. This is where ironic resolution of previously foreshadowed or prophesized events happen. This is where the remaining Chekhovian guns get fired. The scene you are describing sounds more or less like the fireworks heralding the wrap up: and that’s exactly how this season should end.

  104. Wimsey,

    Regarding discussion on death & resurrection impressions. You ask, why do we need that? Well… Think of it: how many modern people really believe in any kid of afterlife? And even when we speak of some earlier times, not that many believed in the afterlife either. So, the purpose of life has always been kind of an ever-standing question and no surprise that the fandom wants some answer or guessing at least from a beloved fictional character. But being an introvert, Jon can’t talk about his experiences with all and everyone: he needs a proper dialogue partner and Beric could really work. So, just like Ygritte I’m looking forwards Jon’s revelations, because so far we have heard only half of the story: we heard that there is no afterlife, but we haven’t heard what kind of conclusions Jon made out of that or at least not all of them.

  105. Wimsey:
    Wolfish,

    Why, thanks.Good Franco jokes are hard to invent these days….

    Chevy Chase’s recurring SNL line about him being ‘still dead’ remains true and appropriate for all occasions.

  106. Dame of Mercia: Well I’ve never made a secret about my age (in the same decade of my life as GRRM) and in their early days (or at least early famous days) when Brian Epstein got them wearing suits the Beatles wore “Cuban” heels.

    I am also of the Boomer generation, and can recall a time when ankle-high, pointy-toed black boots with Cuban heels were referred to as ‘Beatle boots.’

  107. phantomcloud: a 3-way montage involving…

    This notion takes us back to the days of the Hays Code, when the ‘acceptable’ way to symbolize people having sex in a movie was to cut away from the couple kissing to a roaring fireplace or pounding surf or fireworks or lightning. I find it hard to imagine how the alleged montage could be done without seeming absurdly tacky.

  108. Wimsey,

    Inga explained it very well but in adding my two cents it’s because I’m attracted to things of a spiritual nature and am looking forward to getting some hints of what the Lord of Light or whomever is behind the magic has in mind for Jon. In other words, I want to know what is the meaning behind Melissandre powers, the prophecies Rhaegar knew, and to see Jon interact with another guy who died as I think it will be nice for him. It’s not that I’m looking for “what’s in the afterlife” on the show. Many people like the WW aspect and I think the WW are kinda boring (like zombies) but I do have interest in the mysterious prophecy aspect of the story. Is it a wonder why is someone looking forward to the exploration of a main character’s dramatic event lol? (Dramatic to Jon on a personal level cause so far it was portrayed as rather underwhelming to the storyline itself aside from getting out of vows and carrying the plot along.)

  109. ygritte,

    It might not be that good of a thing considering when Arya met Beric and Thoros I remember them telling her that every time he was brought back less of him has come back, so every time it happens he looses more of himself. So I imagine if he tells Jon It’ll be the opposite of a spirtual revelation and that it’ll strengthen his resolve to make sure if he dies no one brings him back again.
    It would be interesting to find out what the Lord Of Light is but I don’t think we ever will, the author probably wants to keep the mystery alive. Just certain things we’ve learned about it though, it spoke to Varys after he was castrated, it keeps the red women eternally young to do it’s bidding, delivers great power if sacrifice is done in it’s name. It sounds a awfully lot like people doing deals with the devil.

  110. Mel,

    Yes, it would be interesting to learn more about how magic works in the world of ice or fire and what is the mechanism etc. But in general I have little hope to learn about the supernatural powers in GoT much more, than we already know: IMO we will simply have to accept that certain things (resurrections/dragons/glamouring) happen under certain circumstances but nobody really knows what is the mechanism etc. It’s basically the same thing as in our world: sometimes “miracles” also happen: not literally exactly resurrections/dragons/glamouring, but some “miraculous” events do occur from time to time and then people try to found out a reasonable explanation and/or what to do about it, etc. So, that’s what interests me in GoT: people like Jon or Beric who might be even having reservations in regard to magic, but who have a strong sense of duty and make decisions in controversial times.
    And yes, there is a risk that they are doing deals with the devil, especially if we see the (bad) devil not as an antithesis to the (good) god, but rather as one of the gods like Loki (that would be a more polytheistic/pagan interpretation within which any god can be bad/destructive, as well as good/constructive, but I don’t want to go too deep into religious ethics).

  111. Inga,

    Well for all we know one day G.R.R.Martin might write a in depth side story more about the religions after his finished the main story.

    Magic seems to be a almost normal thing in GOT now, it comes from Old Valyria and with that comes Targs like Dany with a resistance to fire (also prophetic dreams in the books) and Dragons that the woman in Quarth and the sorcerer basically said strengthen magic and religions like the Lord Of Light that also have ties to Old Valyria but then we have The Children Of The Forest (I have no idea where they got their magic from) and they created the living undead White Walkers. Then we also have people in Westeros with the Warg ability, which is a form of magic in itself and people like Bran who can see prophetic visions and the ability to do what he did to Hodor as a child.
    We are seeing more and more of it now in Westeros but I think before it was much more common to see magic in Essos.

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