HBO schedule confirms last two episode titles for Game of Thrones season 6!

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Well, here we are folks, the end of season 6 of Game of Thrones! We had previously reported the rumored titles for episodes 9 and 10 but now HBO’s show schedule has officially confirmed them. Spoilers under the cut!

The rumors are true! Bastards, battles, and book titles!

Screen Shot 2016-06-08 at 10.40.10 AM
Credit: HBO’s show schedule

Episode 9: “Battle of the Bastards” will air June 19th.

Episode 10: “The Winds of Winter” will air June 26th.

Nate: Well this is exciting! Obviously they’re both going to be HUGE episodes but the largest thing on my mind beyond speculating what could happen is: will episode 9 be another episode set in one location? (i.e. S02E09 Blackwater and S04E09 The Watchers on The Wall.) Luckily we don’t have to wait so long to find out.

What are your thoughts? What jaw-dropping moments can we expect from this year’s episode 9? Let us know below!

Update 6/13: HBO has now confirmed via press release the final two episode titles of the season, as listed above.

440 Comments

  1. Blackfish

    Edit- Almost had it!

    Well the Episode 9 title is to the point putting it mildly. I feel they could’ve been more creative with something like “Snows of Winterfell” but it’s not the worst title I’ve seen.

  2. Wylis!

    I can’t believe they went with “Battle if the Bastards”. While I don’t like the name I can’t wait all the same.

  3. Obviously they’re both going to be HUGE episodes but the largest thing on my mind beyond speculating what could happen is: will episode 9 be another episode set in one location? (i.e. S02E09 Blackwater and S04E09 The Watchers on The Wall.)

    “Hardhome” had multiple locations, and I hope they’ll go for a similar formula in BotB. Obviously, though, this has been hyped as the largest battle they’ve ever done, so we might be all in the North. I tend to think that TWoW will also be a truly north-centric episode, so I imagine that both will have a few major scenes in other locales.

  4. The Winds of Winger is very suggestive. More evidence in favor of the wall coming down. I imagine that will be the last scene, like the first glimpse we had of the wight army.

  5. I like the episode 10 title, GRRM probably gave them permission to use it as an episode title. It also has to mean something…..

    The wall is coming down and winter has finally arrived….
  6. I am shocked that they with “Battle of the Bastards”. I don’t hate it but I think if they could have went with “Winterfell” and we all would have know what was at stake.

    Would have been a cooler title imo 🙂

  7. I think Winterfell would’ve been a beautiful title for episode 9. BotB sounds like the ultimate fan servicing, they could’ve dug a little deeper for a more poignant and thought provoking title, especially for the infamous episode 9. But it’s about the episode and not what it’s named.

  8. In keeping with the idea that GoT episode titles can have multiple meanings, the Battle of the Bastards might not be a one-location episode. We might actually see Dorne/the Dornish again (not that I want to…) and see the Sand Snakes (bastards) revving up to make some sort of play against the Lannisters.

  9. Usually GOT tittles have a large thematic that involves many characters so i am very intrigued as to which characters arc, beside the obvious Jon Snow’s, the tittle “Battle of the Bastards” refers to? also “Winds of winter” will mostly likely be the biggest GOT episode to date, it’s longer and foreshadowing a major event at the wall

  10. I’m going to have to take the Mondays after those episodes off from work, because no way will any work be done.

  11. Battle of the Bastards is a pretty crap name.. it isn’t only about Jon and Ramsay..

    Plus it just sounds…. really cheesy. The Winds of Winter sounds sick though.

  12. The finale title has is either a hint of the book coming out soon or D&D trolling every fan and also George, lol.

  13. Ginevra: “Hardhome” had multiple locations, and I hope they’ll go for a similar formula in BotB.Obviously, though, this has been hyped as the largest battle they’ve ever done, so we might be all in the North.I tend to think that TWoW will also be a truly north-centric episode, so I imagine that both will have a few major scenes in other locales.

    I suspect episode 10 will have a big Dany moment (i.e. The decision to sail /fly west). But it could be very North centric. I suppose that depends on how the other stories are treated in the next two episodes.

  14. Connor,

    “Lord Stark, fuck you yes he is”

    This is killing me lmao

    I would have preferred “The Bastard of Winterfell” as an episode title but anyway.

  15. I always thought that the thing to bring the wall down – wasn’t it supposed to be a horn? The Horn of Joramun, I think? ANYWAY, I always thought that the horn found in the cache of dragonglass at the Fist of the First Men was that horn (which I’m pretty sure Sam got), but as they haven’t been keeping up with it in the show I guess maybe they’re likely to go a different direction. Boo.

  16. Dawn:
    “Battle of the Bastards.”

    .

    It’s been months since Sansa escaped WF and there’s been nothing of this. Plus it would just create a giant plot point which would distract everything, for very little gain. Sansa won’t have Ramsay’s child.
  17. Flayed Potatoes,

    Its no big deal to me as long as the battle is badass! Actually, I like “A Time for Wolves” for episode 9, considering that Jon and Sansa will be taking back Winterfell. Also that was a working title for a Dream of Spring.

  18. Not gonna lie, I’m a little disappointed in Battle of the Bastards. It just kinda sounds more like a post-episode joke than an episode title, not to mention it’s so painfully obvious. I’m sure the episode will be fantastic and I’m not any less excited by any means, I just think they could have come up with something a little more creative.

  19. Miss Chanandler Bong,

    There is zero, zero indication that the horn Sam has, is the horn of Joramun.
    Instead of thinking they get it ”wrong” perhaps you should just accept that your theory might be wrong.

  20. I want Jon Snow to be killed and ressurrected a second time (a few minutes later at most!). It’d confirm for characters, especially those not there the first time, yeah that thing people say happened really happened.

  21. carbonUnit:
    Wylis!

    I can’t believe they went with “Battle if the Bastards”.While I don’t like thename I can’t wait all the same.

    The name is pretty cheesy but I am so ready for this. The end of this season is shaping up nicely.
    Cannot wait to see Arya’s arc come to a head. Jon in another fantastic battle. Cersei losing her shit in Kings Landing. Sandor Clegane is back and charging toward season 7 (I want a reunion, of sorts, so bad with him and Arya/Sansa).

    Just too many goodies over the next few episodes. I am sure episode 9 will be battle stuffed but I am hoping that the last few episodes do some checking in with everyone. I am sure they will but I want to know how the story lines are shifting for everyone. I want a lot of open-ended goodness for us to speculate on over the hiatus.
    I want to see Sam & Gilly. I need more Bran/Meera/Benjen. I want to see Arya step foot in Westeros (which may wait till next season but wouldn’t surprise me if she ends up there in episode 10). I want Yara/Theon to meet Dany. I want Cersei to completely lose her shit. I want Sansa to use the hell out of Littlefinger. I want Sandor to head north. I want Varys to return to KL to fuck shit up for Qyburn.
    I want…I want. I am just way to damn excited.

    *It feels so damn good to be saying “Sandor” again and not in passing! I am a fangirl to the core but his game isn’t over. He is a battle tested warrior (using that experience for good?). He has too much to do (fight Gregor, help Jon/North in the battle against the WW) and people he can help, which I think is his new mission. GAH…I am just too pumped!

  22. Connor,

    This would have been a ridiculously amazing name for Episode 9. It would have also been a great nod to the original book 6 title name before GRRM changed it to TWOW.

  23. Stavross,

    Haha! I feel the same! Winds of Winter… it’s going to be intense I bet. I hope we actually get some sort of dialogue from The Night’s King.

  24. Crap episode 9 title, as example the red wedding episode was not titled red wedding.
    And there are so many events to show with just 3 episodes left :
    – Cleganebowl
    – Snowbowl
    – Riverrun Siege part 2
    – Dany meets the Greyjoy
    – Arya comes to the riverland
    – LSH
    – Fall of the Wall
    – Tower of joy vision
    – Mad Queen Cersei/Tommen’s death
    – Fate of Loras Tyrell
    – Oldtown
    – Frey Pie

    Am I forgetting something ?

  25. Connor,

    myself, and most others, tend to agree with you that

    the Wall is coming down in this season’s finale but do you have any idea how? I’m thinking Benjen will lead Bran and Meera south to the Wall and they will pass under it but since Bran is marked on his arm, the magic holding the Wall up will be broken and the NK will raise his arms and the whole thing will shake and come crumbling down. My imagination and attention to detail is not up to par with others on this site though, so what do you think?

    Also, I have never been too critical of ep titles. Some are subtle and some are bold and in your face. These last two are fine. I’m sure the episodes themselves will be fookin legendary

  26. Wow. More pissing and moaning about episode titles.

    Ummm … anyone remember how everyone hated “The Door” as a title??

    First world problems …

  27. Most people who watch the show probably couldn’t name you more than one or two episodes. It is only people like us who actually know those sorts of details. I personally don’t really mind; what I care about is the actual quality of the episodes.

    Having said that, I do like “The Winds of Winter” as a title, and I think it is a really strong title for both the books and the show. Yes, the show is using it before George, but so what? He has had plenty of time to get the book published. If D&D think this is the right time to use that title, then I’m all for it. They can’t be expected to wait until next season to use it in the hopes that George actually manages to finish the novel by then. Besides it might not be a suitable title for any of the episodes in future seasons. They should do what is best for the show.

  28. Bearded Onion,

    I’m not sure how many months it’s been. How are you sure? No one could dispute her as Queen (regent?) of the North, if so. Cersei told her to “only love your children, for we get no choice in the matter,” (or something). Also GrrM’s original outline had Arya getting pregnant with Joffrey’s baby, iirc. I’m not saying it’s going to be joyful! Just… perhaps the title BotB isn’t as simple as we’re meant to think. The line from Sansa to LF about still feeling what Ramsay did to her in her body really spooked me.
  29. Remember we had that predict the titles thing here ..I wonder how many people had correctly predicted it ….
    anyway it was obvious that the two bastards were going to fight …I guess this battle will be like over 30 minutes …With first 28 mins dedicated to other storylines kinda like hardhome

  30. Battle of the Bastards
    Jon (debatable)
    Ramsay (legitimized)
    Tommen (now with more twincest)
    Gendry (confirmed)
    Tyrion (all dwarves are bastards in their father’s eyes)
    Ellaria and the sand snakes (no. just no)

  31. Still waiting for “Dark Sister” as an episode title. . (twiddles thumbs). . maybe next season. 😉

    “Battle of the Bastards” sounds like a WWE event, but whatever.

    Episode 10: “The Winds of Winter” will air June 26th.

    Bye, bye, Wall, nice knowing you. And Cersei takes down KL with wildfire, just as the first snowflakes begin to fall over the city, mingling with the ashes.

    The best thing: Miguel Sapochnik returns! 🙂

  32. I actually really like the “The Battle of Bastards” as title for S6E9. All the large battles in Westeros have names, and the only reasonable alternative to “Battle of (the) Bastards” is “Battle at/of Winterfell”, and this one is already taken (War of the Five Kings). So this battle will enter the History of Westeros as “The Battle of Bastards”. Since E9 will be all about this battle, its the best title I can think of.

    Also, the Winds of Winter is the perfect title for E10. The NK will finally arrive at the Wall, and I’m sure there will be a huge cliffhanger related to the Northern Storyline at the end of E10.

  33. Flayed Potatoes,

    That title will work better next season when Arya

    meets back up with the long lost Nymeria and her pack of hundreds/thousands of wolves roaming the Riverlands. I know things are being omitted and it will be a large CGI task but I’m still hoping to see it. Plus they will save all that money by not doing the giant Krakken in the II storyline folks have been speculating about, imo
  34. Battle of the Bastards as a title is growing on me, though I still wish they had been more creative/subtle about it.

    We also know that Meereen will feature in episode 9 (Not sure if this should be covered since it is shown in the Journey to Spain video which was officially released by HBO)

  35. Connor:

    Actually, I like “A Time for Mockingbirds” for episode 9, considering that Littlefinger will be taking back Winterfell.

    There, fixed. 😉

  36. Did anyone guess any of the titles right?

    I think Winds of Winter was guessed by many

    but any of the other 9?

    im so curious

  37. I’m not a huge fan of the title of episode 9. I would have gone with

    “Steel and Snow” for episode 9, which is more vague, but also fits an episode which presumably cotains a battle for Winterfell and would be nod to the title of the first half of the two volume version of “A Storm of Swords”. Last but not least, the battle is between two “snows”.

    The finale title is decent, but

    calling it “ice and fire” would have been cool if Jon Snow turns out to be the Song of Ice and Fire and the Tower of Joy flashback. And it would link the two episode titles in a sort of poetic way.

    But then again, all that really matters is that the episodes by themselves are good. Consider me hyped. ^^

  38. Will we get BATTLE OF MEEREEN this season?? Two scenes from the trailer jump out to me that have not been shown yet….Dany’s room at the top of the pyramid having been destroyed by something and the SotH stabbing fools in the streets…epi 10?

  39. Mihnea,

    that’s cool
    FANTASY (soon to be reality)..FIGHT BOOKING

    Jon vs shirtless Ramsey

    smalljon vs tormund

    wun wun vs 20 good men

    karstark vs Davos

    ghost vs Ramsey hounds ….

  40. Sean,

    Also the Dothraki charging at something if I remember correctly. Don’t think it will be a full scale battle though

  41. Flora Linden:
    Still waiting for “Dark Sister” as an episode title. . (twiddles thumbs). . maybe next season.
    AND HIS NAME IS JON SNOW!

    “Battle of the Bastards” sounds like a WWE event, but whatever.

    The best thing: Miguel Sapochnik returns!

  42. I might be reading too much into this, but I think Maisie might’ve accidentally spoiled something in a tweet today: She was tweeting something to Lena and ended it with “see you soon”. I don’t know how much time they spend together off set. Could that mean they’re both about to get together for the S7 table read?

  43. pras,

    Just unleash Ghost on Ramsay
    Sweet justice.

    If Ghost dies, I am DONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE with this show.

    Not.
    But I will break things.

  44. As hyped as I am for things to come, I am a little sad the season will be over soon.
    Not loving the episode 9 title.
    I was expecting something more mysterious.
    Maybe this is D&D giving us the finger and saying we know that you know and we won’t bother, LOL!!!

  45. I hate the title “No One”.

    Makes me think of that stupid Alecia Keys song!

    So unoriginal.

    *roles eyes*

  46. Dee:
    pras,

    Just unleash Ghost on Ramsay
    Sweet justice.

    If Ghost dies, I am DONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE with this show.

    Not.ButI will break things.

    This. No more direwolf deaths!

  47. Florian,

    You left out Tommen dying somehow… I think at the hands of Cersei – she will do something in anger toward the faith militant, and Tommen will be there and die in the process. Cersei will feel even more pain than child 1 or 2.

  48. Dee,

    Nice call… Ghost on Ramsay. Or maybe Ghost just incapacitates Ramsay and Sansa comes into the room and finishes him off, her first kill.

  49. Sean:
    Will we get BATTLE OF MEEREEN this season?? Two scenes from the trailer jump out to me that have not been shown yet….Dany’s room at the top of the pyramid having been destroyed by something and the SotH stabbing fools in the streets…epi 10?

    It seems likely, though the SotH assassins will be foiled at the top of the Pyramid by the two things Tyrion let loose at the start of this season.

    There is no way that the release of the dragons was a one-off gratuitous scene without plot consequences. Yes, that sounds like it is coming very soon.

    Ep #10, however, has the Big One that we’ve all been waiting for. The Promise and The Bed of Blood.

  50. Dee,

    Ramsey’s hounds (after the battle) : we lived long enough in the shadows …of a dog that kinda look like a human …but no longer coz we finally found a leader to follow …The dog that was promised …
    The one true dog in the north …..Ghost ….
    ….

  51. Here’s my prediction for the last 4 scenes of the season:

    1) Arya returns to Westeros and may or may not reunite with someone from her past (Brienne, or The Hound being top contenders. Outside contenders: Thoros of Myr, Gendry, Hot Pie, Nymeria)
    2) Dany, with the Ironborn’s ships, potentially the Sand Snakes, finally sets sail for Westeros to claim the throne and the viewing audience goes wild
    3) Cersei torches King’s Landing, burning everything Dany is coming to claim to the ground. Oh the irony
    4) Final scene of the season – the WW tearing down the wall and heading south, rendering the previous 3 scenes almost pointless

    I guess the ToJ reveal could happen toward the end of the episode as well, but I think it will happen more toward the middle.

  52. some people just love to complain! now it’s the titles, FFS

    i imagine the BotB title was one of those joke names that got used so much in the making of the ep that it just stuck and they couldnt imagine calling it anything else.

    anyway it really doesnt matter at all what the titles are

  53. Dee,

    They were at least in pre- production on S6 in July, at least according to Jack Bender who said he worked from July-December on his two eps.

  54. Newbietothegame,

    That’s a good point.
    A lot of people are complaining that the title is so obvious, yet half these people already know what is happening and seek out this information to begin with

    hahaha!

  55. Dawn,

    I believe that was Sansa and she actually had one or more children by Joffrey and sided with the Lannisters over the Starks at leaast at first which made Lady dying make much more sense.

  56. Florian,

    Did anyone who had not read the books suspect Edmure’s wedding will be a bloody one? Nope. Most didn’t see it coming. Why hint at it with the Red Wedding? Whereas everyone knows that Jon is marching towards Winterfell to face Ramsay “Snow” Bolton, no need for secrecy.

  57. I don’t mind BoB as a title and suspect this might attract more viewers knowing a battle is bound to happen. Can’t wait to learn who are on the burning crosses. I fear Ramsay somehow got to the NW while Jon & Co. have been touring the North and one of them is Edd.

  58. Mihnea,

    And Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl and other “bowls”, college American football games, which predated the Super Bowl by many years.

  59. I’ve come around on the title “Battle of the Bastards”
    In the end, I really don’t care…

    I think we could be in for the greatest 3 episode stretch ever!

    “The Winds of Winter” might just be my most anticipated episode of all time
    My speculations for it

    TOJ Reveal
    Jon and Sansa leading the North after winning the battle
    Cersei burning the Sept of Baelor (or Potentially the whole city)
    Dany leaving for Westeros (getting less and less confident this will happen tho..)
    Qyburn killing Kevan and Pycelle
    The Wall coming down

    Florian,

    I really doubt Cleganebowl will happen this season.. Especially since its rumored Cersei isn’t going to be allowed trial by combat… And also, how to we get the hound to kings landing and on the side of the sparrows?
  60. Laura,

    Those are great, but do they have time to get to all of those?

    I thought the wall coming down would end s6, but at this rate, I think it will push to s7. Could be a good s7 finale. s7 will be man fighting man, s8 man vs. ww. Plus I want to see more Bran/BenJen interaction and learning/flashbacks for a while yet. I would think ToJ would be this year, but they could push it since I think most viewers will need a lot of context around that reveal.

    I agree with the rest, Dany on the ships this year, Arya at least leaving for Westeros, and Cersei torching the Sept (and Tommen in the process).

  61. Love the titles.

    Do you think Theon/Yara will make it to Dany by the finale? Can’t wait to see their reactions to the dragons.

    It’s now really hitting me that there’s only 3 episodes left until next year 🙁

  62. Dee,

    Yes, Yara/Theon vs. Euron (maybe at sea on the way to Westeros), then Dany landing and fighting, etc.

    If man fights the WW in s7, what is going to happen in s8?

  63. Boston Snow:
    Laura,

    Those are great, but do they have time to get to all of those?

    I thought the wall coming down would end s6, but at this rate, I think it will push to s7.Could be a good s7 finale.s7 will be man fighting man, s8 man vs. ww. Plus I want to see more Bran/BenJen interaction and learning/flashbacks for a while yet.I would think ToJ would be this year, but they could push it since I think most viewers will need a lot of context around that reveal.

    I agree with the rest, Dany on the ships this year, Arya at least leaving for Westeros, and Cersei torching the Sept (and Tommen in the process).

    Young Ned is confirmed for the finale i believe, so rest of TOJ i think will happen.

    Isn’t it still too early for Cersei to burn KL?

  64. I want Bran to reunite with Jon and Sansa. They would be quite surprised to see him so grown.

  65. Ravyn,

    While I expect Cersei to die before the end of the series, I do not think that occurs this year. So I would expect her to be back next season, which may be her last.

    And if Jamie is to die in the arms of the woman he loves, and as of Episode 7 and the preview for Episode 8 it is definitely Cersei

    unlike the books

    I think they will have to be reunited before he dies.

    I thought I had the who and why worked out, but the longer Jamie’s arc on the show remains as it is, the more I’ve started to doubt my thoughts.

  66. I think that episode 9 Battle of the bastards may have something to do with Tommen (faiths representative for Cersei’s trial) as well, maybe the return of Gendry ( battle to survive).

  67. Jack Bauer 24,

    Agree, might be a little early, but for TV purposes, burning KL could be a good final shot to end s6. Wall coming down to end s7. Those would be quite spectacular final shots.

  68. Well the majority didn’t also like ‘Home’ and ‘The Door’ as titles and they proved to be amazing episodes and one of the top 10 ever for me, so I suggest we sit back and enjoy the epicness of episode 9, without thinking less of it because we don’t like its title. I know I like it more and more as the air date approaches.

  69. Dee,

    I think you speak for all of us! There will be many broken things in my apartment if they kill Ghost!

  70. Anton,

    probably won’t happen this season ….but next season it is very likely ….that Jon and bran would meet …..

  71. Darkrobin,

    I think Jamie survives the season. I think after Cersei burns KL, they have to show us Jamie finding out that Cersei did it (and possibly her being responsible for killing their last child) – so he finally, finally sees how horrible she is. I want them to show us that conversation. Some time after that, Jamie dies and Cersei is left utterly alone and goes completely mad.

  72. Angie,

    Oh that’s a good thought. I hadn’t thought of it as a double reveal. I like it. The R-part aspect is the part that needs more context, not the L-part.

  73. Boston Snow,

    The hound would’ve been brought back much sooner if he was going to be the faith’s champion.

    Some spoilers:

    There is spoiler speculation that Cersei will be denied a trial by combat.
    Also, we know from a Jonathan Pryce interview, that Cersei is not even going to show up to her trial, and that shes gonna cause some serious shit to go down
  74. So its too early for KL to burn down and the Wall to fall in the finale?

    The Winds of Winter really indicates the WW moving in closer.

    I don’t know.

  75. Rhaenys Stark:
    Well the majority didn’t also like ‘Home’ and ‘The Door’ as titles and they proved to be amazing episodes and one of the top 10 ever for me, so I suggest we sit back and enjoy the epicness of episode 9, without thinking less of it because we don’t like its title. I know I like it more and more as the air date approaches.

    Well said!

  76. Jack Bauer 24,

    My theory about the Harpy’s identity. Based on book and series stuffs:

    Because this would be the biggest twist and Dany got a prophecy about three treasons. Once for blood(Mirri Maaz Durr), once for gold(Jorah) and once for love(this will be Daario). He wants to be king on Dany’s side. He told this in the books and the series as well. ”Marry me as your king.” And Dany refused him, because she just can’t. Hizdahr convinced her that she must marry a Master to Meereen became peaceful place again. And she did. On that big day(book stuff) in the pit Daario wanted to poisoned Hizdahr and Belwas with those mantises, because Daario wants to kill the Masters and those people who meant to danger for him. (unsullieds books-series as well, and Barry in the series) Because: Daario advice was to Dany on that big day in the pit kill all the Masters. Dany refuges this advice, but still…that’s happened there, but only by the Harpies. And there was a scene where Hizdahr said he knows a wayout from this, and Daario start walking towards him like he want kill Hizdahr, but the Harpies kill him before it happens.
    And a little cliche: I think that after the big love(Drogo) she must experience some disappointment of love(Daario) before she meets Jon.
    And i know Daario kills a lot of Harpies there, but maybe they are just collateral damage and when they surrounds them they only want to kill Dany’s supporters, not her.

    And in season 6 Jorah said to Daario that Dany will disappoint in him. That was clearly a hint.

  77. On a completely different topic,

    I was just scanning through GOT reviews, and I just
    really really miss Andy Greenwald’s amazing reviews he used to write.

    The “After the Thrones” recap show is so bland… I want to see him back as a critic, and not just a silly recapper.

    r-hard,

    Its been a while since I read the books, and I’ve forgotten most of the Harzoos over the years, but I thought the general consensus was that the Harpy was the green grace.

    A year or two ago, when I was deep in book speculation, I had my reasoning for why it was her clearly sketched out, but i’ve forgotten it all now, lol.

  78. I only started watching GOT last year, binge watched four seasons, watched season 5 as it broadcast and then read the books. Until I looked up forums on the show, I couldn’t have told you what a single episode title was. I doubt many other casual watchers could either.

    They serve to titillate what the content might be so they’re interesting but I don’t really care what they turn out to be.

    Everyone seems to be saying the wall is coming down. How do we know this will happen? Has it been guaranteed somewhere?

  79. Dee,

    I agree with you on KL, but I think they will wait for s7 for the Wall. Just MHO.

    Maybe in the final shot, as KL is burning and they are zooming out to show the magnitude of the devastation, snow starts to fall in KL? I think there is something to support that?

  80. Demon Monkey,

    The Winds of Winger is very suggestive. More evidence in favor of the wall coming down. I imagine that will be the last scene, like the first glimpse we had of the wight army.

    Yeah, I have this image of Starks and company celebrating like Star Wars VIII, then hearing a big boom, and everyone turns north to see…..holy shit

  81. Boston Snow:
    Dee,

    I agree with you on KL, but I think they will wait for s7 for the Wall.Just MHO.

    Maybe in the final shot, as KL is burning and they are zooming out to show the magnitude of the devastation, snow starts to fall in KL? I think there is something to support that?

    I think it is an assumption. I would be surprised if the wall would come down this season. What might happen though is that the cold and snow will make it further south.

  82. Mihnea,
    Making the 8,

    If bran got all that info downloaded while he was warging, wouldn’t he know that would happen, and not go past the wall? Not sure how it works….just wondering

  83. Jack Bauer 24: This makes no sense to me. I see a lot of people say this, but why?

    If there’s a “Harpy” it’s definitely NOT Darrio.

    Think about it. After Darrio left, the Sons of the Harpies were still attacking people. Then Tyrion made peace with the leaders of three cities, and all of a sudden the attacks stopped.

    How the hell would Darrio, being all the way in the Dothraki Sea, know about the agreement that Tyrion made with the leaders and order the Harpies to stop attacking?

    Conclusion: Darrio has nothing to do with the Harpies.

  84. Boston Snow,

    my concern was with the Brienne meets friend turned foe in the fake (but not necessarily inaccurate) synopsis that were going over the Internet. Of course, many think it is LSH, but it could be Jamie, especially given the scene in the trailer which appeared to show Brienne and Pod escaping RR in a boat, after swords are drawn in the castle. Rumors have it that there will be a fight. Does it mean that the caption was accuracte? No. Even if accurate, is the friend turned foe, Jamie? Even if it is, does one die? Not necessarily. I guess really the longer they have Jamie attached by the umbilical cord to Cersei, the less I can see that would cause him to reject her. Yes if she kills Tommen or something similar. But his love at this point seems a little irrational. but my original hypothesis was that Jamie is the one to kill Cersei because of whatever she does and Jamie ends up dying in the process. Now I’m not so sure
  85. Boston Snow,

    There have been visions of snow(or ash) coming down on the Iron Throne. Also had visions of dragons flying over KL which was still standing.

  86. Demon Monkey,

    I agree with your thoughts on the season cliffhanger. If the Night’s King follows Bran to the Wall and the magic is broken…the wall will come down. Also the foreshadowing in Jon’s comment to Edd before leaving was telling.
    Demon Monkey,

    ash,

    ash,

  87. Boston Snow,

    I like that idea. Possibly will be several scenes evocative of the title. The Wall, WF, KL, the Riverlands – snow starts to fall over them all.

  88. Laura,

    For some reason, I think Arya makes it back before the end of the season. Maybe there’s a name to remove from her list this season. One could only hope. May he choke on his laughter.

  89. Florian,
    Let’s see:
    – Cleganebowl : Won’t happen this season.
    – Snowbowl : Ep. 9 confirmed.
    – Riverrun Siege part 2: Ep. 8 confirmed.
    – Dany meets the Greyjoy: Ep. 10
    – Arya comes to the riverland: Ep. 10. I hope this time she is just pretending to be someone else in the Twins, kills Walder Frey and just takes a face-off and escapes…
    – LSH: won’t happen ever.
    – Fall of the Wall: Mmmm … difficult … but I guess it won’t fall this season. I hope the northerners have some time to gather and plan a defense, get supplies, strength their castles and the Wall, burn all the corpses … even those in crypts.
    – Tower of joy vision: Ep. 10 confirmed.
    – Mad Queen Cersei/Tommen’s death: Ep. 10.
    – Fate of Loras Tyrell: Ep. 10.
    – Oldtown: Maybe Ep. 10.
    – Frey Pie: Won’t happen.
    Am I forgetting something ? Yes. A scene where King/Queen in the North is chosen, the attack of the Harpies and the arrival of Danny and her new Khalasar to Meeren, the murder of Pycelle and maybe Kevan, the revenge of the Hound, Little finger scenes, the arrival of Bran to Winterfell or the Wall, etc.

  90. Newbietothegame,

    That’s true
    Actually, good point!!! Maybe the wall wont fall, but winter will spread deeper

    “I feel the winds of winter as they lick across the land!” (S6Ep05!)

  91. Gendry,

    Ok, but imagine the high sparrow actually chooses tommen to fight on his side in Cersai’s trial by combat….!!!

  92. Darkrobin:
    Laura,

    For some reason, I think Arya makes it back before the end of the season.Maybe there’s a name to remove from her list this season.One could only hope.May he choke on his laughter.

    Her and us have been waiting for this anxiously.

  93. “Battle of the Bastards”? Really?
    Well, at least I guessed an episode title correctly. Though I said it was for Episode 9, not 10. And I said “Winds of Winter”, not “The Winds of Winter”. But it still counts, right? Right?

  94. Titles are kind of ‘meh’ to me in general, and I’m talking since S01E01. For me, since I’ve read the books, they just gave me a general idea of what to expect in the upcoming episode. I would guess that 90% of people watching have no idea what each episode is called.

    I’ve always wanted an interviewer to ask the process they go through to determine names of episodes and why the decided not to put them in front of each episode. To me, it seems like they actually take some time to name them (at least most of them). And other shows, like Dexter I know off hand, always put the name of the episode before the show started. Just an interesting tidbit where I’d like to hear how D&D think while making this show.

    Regard TBoB title. I think they’re will be multiple battles of bastard in the episode as others have pointed out. If this was episode was solely set at Winterfell, I think the episode would be called something different.

    And my GOD, I do get a feeling the Sand Snakes will show up for some reason. I don’t really care though, I don’t hate them as much as other people do here. Plus Jessica Henwick is babe.

  95. Dee,

    I thought that was a nod to the book, at first.

    But know SI think it’s forshadowing winters arrival in the show…..or it’s both.

  96. Harpy

    Euron has been speculated… setting Dany up for an alliance with moves like Littlefinger.
  97. Ryan,

    I doubt there will be Dorne in this episode.

    Most likely EP10, here I expect they will cover all storylines.

  98. If I get to see Wun Wun rip Ramsey in half at the torso or pull his head off and tear out his spine all past disappointments with things that have occurred in this series will be forgiven. However, if Wun Wun dies in the same season that we lost Hodor I am so f***ing done.

  99. Mihnea,

    I think we will see winter spread a bit more before the wall falls…. because if the wall falls at the end of season 6, with 13 episodes left that seems like a lot. Or else so many people will die. I don’t know
    so hard to tell.

  100. Angie:
    Boston Snow,

    I agree and fear only Jon’s mother will be revealed leaving the promises and reveal of his father as a cliffhanger.

    This is what will happen, I fear, it is the new ritual to end a season with a cliffhanger for Jon Snow 🙂

  101. I really can’t understand why some people don’t like the episode 9 title.Every single person that watches this show knows they are going to wage war against Ramsay.There is nothing wrong with the title at all.Plus there are other “bastards” that could be featured.

  102. Love the titles. To the point and quite descriptive.
    I really, really, really hope that many different locations are featured in both episodes. Esp. Bastards. Too much time on a battle and heaps of people dying and injured is depressing for me.

  103. That’s a wrap on the episode title game from March 1..

    342 guessed “The Winds of Winter”.
    81 people guessed “Battle of the Bastards”, with 27 others nearly there with “Bastards”.
    27 people guessed “No One”.
    “The Broken Man” wasn’t named exactly, but 41 people came close with “Broken Men”.
    “The Red Woman”, “Home”, “Oathbreaker”, “Book of the Stranger”, “The Door”, “Blood of my Blood” were not listed as a response.

  104. Angie,

    With all due respect, I really don’t see how they can reveal who his mother is without implicitly revealing who his father is as well. I mean, unless people are really confused about how reproduction works.

  105. Mihnea,

    The thing that has always bothered me is how everyone knows what everyone looks like. Ramsay and Jon likely have never met each other and will somehow walk right up to each other and battle.

  106. Οh God. I just realised I won’t be able to see episode 8 until Thursday!
    I feel sad…

  107. ghost of winterfell: This is what will happen, I fear, it is the new ritual to end a season with a cliffhanger for Jon Snow

    I have a question about that. Should we not get the reveal of the father and only know that Lyanna is his mother will he be no longer a Bastard but a Stark?

  108. The thing that excites me the most, is a huge part if not all of episode 9 will be the battle. Meaning we have two episodes to wrap up a lot of climatic events in the next two episodes as well as the aftermath of the battle , and since episode 8 is the longest in series history I think it will be epic.

    Kings Landing for example is going to completely explode and has been boiling. Cercei is backed into a corner. Also I think the scenes with the harpys happen as well in Mereen. Maybe we see the bad pussy rebellion as well. Maybe they are the ones who actually offs a certain Newly converted King and throws Cercei into total madness.

    In the Riverlands I’m fairly certain BF will be talked down by Brienne. You see her leaving in a boat at night. Maybe he heads north. Jaime heads back to KL to witness the aftermath. All I know is there will be lots of key deaths, no doubt.

  109. ghost of winterfell: This is what will happen, I fear, it is the new ritual to end a season with a cliffhanger for Jon Snow

    But we have known right from the very first episode that she had been taken by a very well-known person who fell in love with her. So no mystery.

  110. Angie,

    I don’t know why they would do that unless they plan on A+L=J or something like that. They wouldn’t do that to us, would they?

  111. You guys are forgetting the GoT penchant for having episode titles with multiple meanings. Sure Jonny and lil’ Ramram are going to have their spat, but I don’t think it’s going to be a Blackwater-style thing. There’s simply too much going on in the world to shit on all the other storylines for a whole week.

    So what about the other, more colloquial, ways the word “bastard” is used?

    Not just talking about like “that dude sucks, what a bastard!” but rather in reference to a corrupt or twisted version of something (“bastardized”.)

    E.g., After Sandor Clegane’s run-in with Preacher Ray, he began following his own bastardized version of the Faith of the Seven.

    E.g., Gregor Clegane appears to be alive, but Pycelle would be quick to tell you that Qyburn’s tricks are a foul illusion–a bastardization of actual human life.

    30-MINUTE-CLEGANEBOWL-IMMEDIATELY-FOLLOWED-BY-30-MINUTE-SNOWBOWL CONFIRMED!!!!
  112. Halfman

    Everyone seems to be saying the wall is coming down. How do we know this will happen? Has it been guaranteed somewhere?

    Anyone? :-/

  113. Darkrobin:
    Laura,

    For some reason, I think Arya makes it back before the end of the season.Maybe there’s a name to remove from her list this season.One could only hope.May he choke on his laughter.

    In my hopes, she hooks up with The Hound and they go on a Kill Bill-esque journey of revenge, starting with The Late Lord Frey.

  114. Newbietothegame,

    Still a bastard, just has a highborn mother now.

    7 hells, even if the father is proclaimed- still bastard unless pronounced by the King as being legit. Better check Lyanna’s crypt…

  115. Newbietothegame,

    I don’t think it works that way. If his father was unknown, then he would just be a bastard with an unknown father.
    But anyway this won’t happen, we all know his mother’s lover.

  116. The best important thing is that the main characters know about Jon’s parents. It makes no sense if it’s just us whose know the truth. Who do you think tell Jon about his parents ? Littlefinger ? Bran ? Benjen ? Howland Reed ?

  117. Steve Snow,

    I think in battles like that one the leaders were pretty visible so that their soldiers take courage. So I guess they could tell by the position, banners, clothes etc.

  118. Ryan,
    Been skim reading these posts imagining what fits in where for the next 3 eps and when I got to yours found the missing piece of the puzzle. I now have a vision of the final scene of S10 being the Wall collapsing because the Sand Snakes suddenly appear – apropos of literally nothing – and whip, dagger and spear it down. (Like rock, paper, scissors but a lot more violent.) The WW and wights on one side and Team Northern on the other just stare at each other incredulously through the now gaping hole, turn en mass to stare at the Sand Snakes, then back at each other and all go as one “What the actual f**k was that?” (You’ll all be glad to know I have zero influence over the writers! 😀 )

  119. I think the Battle for Winterfell will start in 8 with some psychological warfare from Ramsey to set the scene for 9.

  120. Sou,

    No mystery to those in-the-know, but for the more casual viewer, they may not understand the ramifications of the R-reveal.

    Mechanically, they could do the L-reveal near the end of e10, and then do the R-reveal in s7e1 when they can put more around it, so people understand the implications.

    Just a thought… who the hell knows what they’ll do! : )

  121. Halfman,

    I think it is a very broadly shared presumption based on the idea that the WW must somehow confront the living, otherwise why bother, just leave them on the other side.
    And if this is not the case and there is actual proof, please guys use spoiler tags,I don’t want to read anything that is not hypothetic.

  122. Obviously, there are a ton of fans who dislike the Episode 9 title. I think it would be fun to vote for our favorite, only choosing one title. Which is your favorite title for Episode 9?

    *Battle of the Bastards
    *Bastards of Winterfell
    *Battle of Winterfell
    *Lords of Winterfell
    *Winterfell
    *Bastards
    *Snow
    *Battle of Ice
    *Wolf and the Flayed Man
    *Battle for the North
    *Something else?

    My single vote would go to the “Battle of the Bastards.” I love D&D’s title, as I mentioned yesterday. The “Battle of the Bitches” would be my favorite alternate title, referencing Sansa vs. The Hounds (not to be confused with The Hound). The “Battle of the Asses” might be alright but, according to one, the British would assume this title could only refer to the DNC, Democratic National Convention. #donkeyconk

    Which title is your single most favorite?

  123. 6.09: SPECULATION but most likely going to happen this way (based on the trailer and some on set leaks)

    Jon faces Ramsay. Bolton forces outnumber Stark forces. Ramsay taunts Jon with Rickon. He then asks his hostage “Do you like games little man?” Then he tells him to run to Jon. Rickon begins to run and Ramsay pulls out a bow and a few arrows and starts shooting. Jon rides to save his brother… but this is GAME OF THRONES. The battle begins.

    Jon’s forces get beat back and surrounded. Just as they are about to lose, the Vale arrives and shocks the Bolton forces. Ramsay retreats into Winterfell. Wun Wun breaks the door and Jon fights his way to the final boss. The fight gets down and dirty. Both men are disarmed at some point and the fight ends with Jon beating Ramsay nearly to death.

    Then he turns his back to Ramsay and the Bolton bastard goes for his knife… that’s when Ghost eats him.

  124. Dee,

    Could they kill Ghost this season??? It seems Nymeria won’t appear yet. So, Ghost is the only direwolf left … Maybe he went to look for Bran … Ghost must be near Jon when he is chosen King in the North. He doesn’t have the Stark name but he has the last direwolf standing …

  125. Jeez, Battle of the Bastards, really??? If this is the new standard for episode names, we might as well get an episode called Cleganebowl next season. While we’re at it, why not call an episode “R+L=J” as well?

  126. Sou,

    Bran, Benjen and Meera will go to the south I guess, follow by the white walkers, and came to Winterfell.

  127. Anything harpy related wont happen this season; just not enough screen time. Dany will get there with her troops and dragons; probably release the other two that are chained up. Meet greyjoys and thats it.

    KL will be a bloodbath. Tommen; Lancel, Loras, probably Cersei, Pycell, and probably more. Nothing will be “resolved” though. Maybe a hint of Dorne mobilizing or formally seceding from the kingdom.

    North, maybe the wall falls but i doubt it. More like we will see whats gonna happen and foreshadowing of how it ill fall. KOTN and all that will happen too.

    Oldtown: sam will get the as q small side story in 9 or 10. We believe he took te sword to figure out why valy steel kills WW. They wont not come back to him this season.

    Braavos: thatll be resolved this week

  128. Mag,

    No was Ghost is getting killed. He was special right from the start. He’s the direwolf star, actually.

  129. Halfman,

    no, and if it does happen I dont think it will be this season

    Trust No One

    tyrion already unchained the other two dragons

  130. Ok, a silly question: I was just looking at that picture with the wall of faces, how come Cersei and maybe Catelyn Stark are grinning?

  131. Ginevra,

    The Bastard of Winterfell

    A Time for Wolves

    Our Blades are Sharp

    The Hour of the Wolf (heh)

    The Flayed Man and the Wolf

  132. Halfman,

    At least for me, the wall coming down means that the wights and the WW make it on the southern side of the Wall. Whether it literally falls or not, I lean against. In the books,

    there is this legendary horn which supposedly would bring the wall down, but it, or what people thought it was, was burned by Stannis and Mel

    .

    There are multiple gates to the wall. There’s the way Sam and Gilly and Bran, Jojen and Meera went through the wall, There is climbing over the wall (the wights certainly could do it). They could go around the wall at Eastwitch. Then there is the Bridge of Skulls near The Shadow Tower where the wall ends the other way.

    The gate/tunnel at Castle Black is still open. The rest were closed. I assume, for visual purposes, that it will be at Castle Black. The question seems to be whether there is magic that prevents the WW from passing through the wall. There is a question as to whether Bran, now that he’s been marked, will somehow allow the WW through. Or maybe they just ice up the door and walk through the tunnel.

    So to me its that the WW come to the south of the Wall. Not that it necessarily falls down.

  133. Upthread, some have speculated that there are lots of other bastards in the show and Ep. 9 could well feature them. The Sand Snakes definitely come to mind. Tyrion…………. Tommen? Daario is a bastard, he said so to Daenerys once. Is this the episode he bites it? Maybe at the battle of Meereen? I’ve long felt that he won’t survive. Wouldn’t it be a hoot if Gendry finally shows up too? 🙂

    Angie: Yeah, can you imagine the uproar it would cause if there is only the L reveal… it’d be so GoT like to leave it at that. LMAO

    This is something I’ve been wondering too. That the mother will be revealed, Jon’s world view will change that Ned was his uncle, and his aunt was his mother. Of course, if the father is still not revealed this season, then it follows that next season there will be more flashbacks from Bran to establish the father.

  134. Ginevra,

    Someone suggested Hour of the Wolves (based on GWWM’s original name for ADOS). I like that. It would cover Sansa, Jon, Bran, and Arya (and Ghost and Nymeria if she’s still standing).

  135. Ginevra,
    Something else:

    “Ramsay dies really slowly and horribly and those new bastards Karstark and Umber (although he is at least entertaining) go too, along with anyone else I don’t like plus zero casualties I care about (sorry extras) on Team KickAss and it’s all epic and karma is a biatch baddies f**k yeah let’s GOOOOO! Oh and nearly forgot my friend’s brother’s bit makes it to screen too! Woo hoo. GET HYPE LIKE YOU’VE NEVER HYPED BEFORE.”

    Although that might be a bit too spoilery? 😉

    I’m quite happy with the title as it is, although I did like the alternative Snowbowl that’s been in use too. If it has to be something else perhaps Battle of (or for) Winterfell or Battle of/for the North. Mind you, once we see it some of the others might seem more appropriate 🙂

  136. Darkrobin,

    The magic keeps them from attacking it so I guess the magic has to be removed which suggests Bran’s mark affecting it when he reaches the wall.
    On the other hand, if he still has the mark why hasn’t the NK caught up with him while Benjen was making him rabbit blood to drink?

    Cinematically it would be much more dramatic if it literally collapses. That will get Westeros’s attention! They could probably hear that from KL!

  137. Sou,

    House Bolton’s words 😛

    A flayed man has fewer secrets than a naked one. House Bolton’s porn empire confirmed!

    Corbyn Stark,

    I’m pretty sure you’re not the only one who has thought of it.

  138. Grayven Reyne:
    That’s a wrap on the episode title game from March 1..

    342 guessed “The Winds of Winter”.
    81 people guessed “Battle of the Bastards”, with 27 others nearly there with “Bastards”.
    27 people guessed “No One”.
    “The Broken Man” wasn’t named exactly, but 41 people came close with “Broken Men”.
    “The Red Woman”, “Home”, “Oathbreaker”, “Book of the Stranger”, “The Door”, “Blood of my Blood” were not listed as a response.

    http://watchersonthewall.com/guess-the-game-of-thrones-season-6-episode-titles/

    Though it wasn’t officially reported, lots of folks voted for “Oathbreaker” and “Home” and “Blood of My Blood,” as you can see from the self-reported comments in the link above.

  139. <st
    Kay,

    The Sand Snakes definitely come to mind. Tyrion…………. Tommen? Daario is a bastard, he said so to Daenerys once.

    Tyrion not sure about, tho I know that was speculated. Tommen, oh yeah if he’s not dead yet. Gendry too.

  140. fierce as a wolverine,

    I do think for the casual viewers the L reveal will be a huge surprise by itself. For them these kind of speculations will be new.

    Warginfortheweekend,

    I don’t know, I have been jumping from R to A and back to R too often over such a long time that I just want it to be known. 🙂

  141. Kay,

    Guys it has been referred in almost every seeason that Lyanna got kidnapped by Rhaegar Targaryen. We had all the story about him crowning her queen of beauty, love or whatever that was, we had Oberyn Martell bitching how the prince abadoned his sister for Lyanna, we even had innuendo that it was not as one-sided an infatuation as originally presented. A war actually took place over this couple, and this is show material. The minute we see (IF we see Lyanna Stark in that tower), and should there be a baby around, who will have any doubt concerning the dad? I mean unless we see Lyanna first, then hear a baby cry, and then the episode ends. That could be a cliffhanger, but a lame one imo.

  142. Mag,

    I really hope that Ghost doesn’t die
    I will rage

    I am also very intrigued that everyone things Jon will emerge king in the North..
    Me – I think it will be a queen

  143. TFT,

    Did Ramsay not send a letter to Jon declaring war?
    Are they not preparing for a battle?
    As of end of episode 7, we are waiting for the battle.

    I don’t see the big deal with the title

  144. GeekFurious:
    6.09: SPECULATION but most likely going to happen this way (based on the trailer and some on set leaks)

    I love this. My inner gaming nerd just squee’d a little. 😀

  145. fierce as a wolverine:
    Angie,

    With all due respect, I really don’t see how they can reveal who his mother is without implicitly revealing who his father is as well. I mean, unless people are really confused about how reproduction works.

    If they frame it so the Harenhall tourney is shown first, it will be obvious also.

  146. Battle of the Bastards is like if they actually called The Red Wedding episode “The Red Wedding”

  147. Sou:
    Kay,

    Guys it has been referred in almost every seeason that Lyanna got kidnapped by Rhaegar Targaryen. We had all the story about him crowning her queen of beauty, love or whatever that was, we had Oberyn Martell bitching how the prince abadoned his sister for Lyanna, we even had innuendo that it was not as one-sided an infatuation as originally presented. A war actually took place over this couple, and this is show material. The minute we see (IF we see Lyanna Stark in that tower), and should there be a baby around, who will have any doubt concerning the dad? I mean unless we see Lyanna first, then hear a baby cry, and then the episode ends. That could be a cliffhanger, but a lame one imo.

    The show also does the “Previously On…” really well to help remind everyone. I don’t think the casual non-book reader will have a problem keeping up.

  148. Dee:
    Bunny Without Banners,

    I hate that I don’t read spoilers some times LOL

    I curse the day I started. This season hasn’t been the same since I read all the pre-season spoilery stuff. I admire your strength, honestly! 🙂

  149. It would have been hilarious if they’d gone with Snowbowl. I agree that BotB sound straight out of one of our cheeky post comments here, but hey whatever. I don’t think people have too many illusions about who is fighting who at this point.

  150. Cool, after going 0 for 8 to start, the survey-takers from March got the last two episode titles right!

    http://watchersonthewall.com/the-results-are-in-here-are-your-guesses-for-game-of-thrones-season-6-episode-titles/

    Here’s how many guesses there were for each title in the entire survey (so out of like 9,300 total guesses). In the link above I had only listed titles with at least 25 guesses due to sheer volume and sorting issues:

    1. Red Woman – 3
    2. Home – 7
    3. Oathbreaker – 20
    4. Book of the Stranger – 0 (but nine guesses for The Stranger)
    5. The Door – 0 (but 59 for Hodor)
    6. Blood of My Blood – 14
    7. Broken Men/Man – 41
    8. No One – 27
    9. Battle of the Bastards – 81
    10. The Winds of Winter – 342

  151. Darkrobin:
    Ginevra,

    Someone suggested Hour of the Wolves (based on GWWM’s original name for ADOS). I like that.It would cover Sansa, Jon, Bran, and Arya (and Ghost and Nymeria if she’s still standing).

    “A Time for Wolves” was previously suggested, as the original book title.

    It is a lovely title, but it doesn’t really carry the same meaning that the current episode title does. The battle might not actually be a good time for wolves but rather for falcons. There might be a much better episode in the coming season that would be perfect for this title. And “A Time for Wolves” would tell us who wins before the battle is fought. But I’ll certainly take this title as your vote. Would you prefer “Time” or “Hour”?

  152. We’ll see how this happens … but they are both from the North, so they could have met before.

  153. Bunny Without Banners,

    Thank You 🙂

    when you hype shit up based on spoilers – it makes me even more anxious

    Just out of curiosity, what that has happened so far (episodes 1-7) did you know of beforehand ?

  154. Lulus Mum:
    Ginevra,
    Something else:

    “Ramsay dies really slowly and horribly and those new bastards Karstark and Umber (although he is at least entertaining) go too, along with anyone else I don’t like plus zero casualties I care about (sorry extras) on Team KickAss and it’s all epic and karma is a biatch baddies f**k yeah let’s GOOOOO! Oh and nearly forgot my friend’s brother’s bit makes it to screen too! Woo hoo. GET HYPE LIKE YOU’VE NEVER HYPED BEFORE.”

    Although that might be a bit too spoilery? ?

    I’m quite happy with the title as it is, although I did like the alternative Snowbowl that’s been in use too. If it has to be something else perhaps Battle of (or for) Winterfell or Battle of/for the North. Mind you, once we see it some of the others might seem more appropriate ?

    LMAO! (Or, as you Brits would say, LMDO: Laughing My Donkey Off!) I’m not sure that’d fit in the episode title slot or even in the synopsis slot. As the Bard says, “brevity is the soul of wit.” I say, verbosity is the spleen of wit. And that must count for something.

  155. Dee:
    Bunny Without Banners,

    Thank You

    when you hype shit up based on spoilers – it makes me even more anxious

    Just out of curiosity, what that has happened so far (episodes 1-7) did you know of beforehand ?

    It was mainly just the stuff from filming spoilers that I read here, mostly the resurrection and Mel’s glamouring. Sometimes, it was fun to know. But when the season started, the absence of the surprise, shock, and awe wasn’t there like it was in previous seasons (I haven’t read the books so each episode was surprise, shock, and awe for me). I’ll have to remember this feeling for next season so I don’t ruin it for myself. Kudos to everyone here who keeps everyone informed, though. This site is wonderful!

  156. Ginevra,

    Either “Winterfell” or “Lords of Winterfell.” I also like “The Wolf and The Flayed Man.” Any of these is better than Battle of the Bastards.

  157. Sou:
    Flayed Potatoes,

    “Our blades are sharp”??
    Sounds like porn!?

    Words of House Bolton. That is a kickass title for this episode, IMO. But I still like the original title best.

  158. Dee,

    Mel, Jaime at the sept with the Tyrrel army, though we didn’t knew of Tommen.
    Jon coming back, obviously…..

    We knew a Dothraki building was burning, though most assumed Drogon would do it. We saw a photo of Dany and Daario at the head of the Dothraki, looked like EP6 scene
    Sam meeting his family in EP4-5. I think we even knew Umbesr will give Rickon to Ramsey.
    We knew Theon will be on the Iron Islands….etc.

    Almost the entire TOJ scene, someone climbed and crawled a hill, so HBO won’t spot him to film it.

    And a bunch of more actors spotted on the set or around. We knew the Hound will be back for example. He was seen in a hotel near the set.

    And we know a bunch of the battle itself….Won’t say anything though.

  159. Brett Aiken,

    Not at all.The Red Wedding was something unexpected for non-book readers.In this case every single person that watched this season knows Jon & Co go to fight Ramsay,there is not a single person in the world that has watched till this week and doesn’t know they go to attack Ramsay.Nothing wrong with the title.

  160. Corbyn Stark:
    Flayed Potatoes,

    Yeah, same old shite. Someone rips me off and gets tons of praise for it from their knobhead mates while I get treated like I don’t even exist. I hate the human race so much, I just want you all to just… fuck off!

    Are you claiming exclusive rights to a title you took straight from George’s mouth?

  161. Corbyn Stark:
    Sou,

    Hells yes it’s serious. If you actually knew anything about me or the way people treat me EVERY SINGLE DAY, you wouldn’t even ask that.

    Now don’t ever respond to me again.

    LMAO. Do it, Sou. Please do it.

  162. Ginevra,

    Episode 9 wish title: “For Winterfell”. Northerners used to say that before battle, right??? But, the army is mainly wildlings and Jon is fighting for Rickon. I don’t mind the title that much … in several years, I will watch the title and remember when Ramsay was defeated.

  163. Dee,

    We knew the locations and characters but not how the scenes will play out.

    The sept scene is a good example, many thought there will be a fight and we knew little of Margeary and nothing of Tommen.

    Same with the Hound, hell we didn’t know he’ll be back, we just saw a picture of him in a hotel near the set.

  164. I guess this confirms that we wont find out if Jon isn’t a bastard until episode 10.

  165. Ginevra,

    Let’s go with Time to match the others.

    Hour of the Wolf could just refer to the hour between night and dawn. Of course the battle wouldn’t likely start until after dawn. But it would make good visuals with an unexpected attack by the underdogs before the Bolton army had time to form it. But doubt it would happen.

  166. Dee,

    If it hadn’t been for that leaked set photo of Kit Harrington, I would have been just like you. LOL

  167. OFF TOPIC: Here’s a Game of Thrones easter egg from The Witcher 3 Blood and Wine expansion, it’s an Arya one.

  168. Dee,

    Funny thing. We knew will find out Hodor’s origin story, no one knew what it was though. and there were many, many complaints about this, that it is pointless, a waste of screen-time….etc.

    When the episode finally came, let’s say I smiled a bit, thinking of these people.

  169. OT: I saw Emilia’s new movie – it was excellent. And Emilia was wonderful in it. My friend who doesn’t watch GOT fell in love with Emilia as well. I am biased because I know of her and love her to begin with !

    Charles Dance is in it as well!
    And the actress who played Sam’s mom (cuter!!)

  170. Halfman,

    yes that was what happened in one of the alledged spoiler threads – everyone in Westeros hears a horn being blown and the wall come tumbling down. In the books it is clear that there is magic in the wall. I don’t recall if they were specific on the show. Given their deemphasis on magic, I don’t think so but could be wrong
  171. Darkrobin,

    Thanks, Darkrobin. It is powerful imagery, and I cannot wait until it truly is a time for (or the hour of) wolves!

    When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.

  172. Mihnea,

    There is art work I had seen around somewhere…might have been a calendar…that showed Marg with the Faith symbol on her…arms I believe. It might have even been linked to from this site. That seemed like good foreshadowing that she was going to join the Faith.

  173. Dee,

    Would you say, someone who isn’t really into romance movies will like it?
    I want to try it only for Emilia, really like her acting, but I’m not that much into romance movies.

  174. rhymeswithweak,

    That artwork also depicted Jaime as attacking. I think he just took inspiration.

    We only heard someone saying she saw her in ragged clothes, that’s how I remember it, might be wrong though…..we had so many spoilers LOL.

  175. Mihnea:
    Dee,

    Would you say, someone who isn’t really into romance movies will like it?
    I want to try it only for Emilia, really like her acting, but I’m not that much into romance movies.

    The movie is an emotionally-driven, emotionally-intense movie. If romance isn’t your thing and emotions aren’t really your thing, this movie is probably not for you. There are still some funny moments, but the heart of the movie is built on love and emotion. That’s my opinion. Dee may see things differently.

  176. Ginevra,
    I shall be using donkey to replace arse (or the far less frequently used ass) from now on. Get your donkey in gear, it’s time to go! Does my donkey look big in this? 😀

    Back to ep9, one thing no-one seems to have a clear idea about is

    who the bodies on the crosses are? Although there seem to be 6 crosses in the series trailer I haven’t seen anything which suggests there are more than two bodies on them. This next bit sounds like it’s going to be a massive spoiler but isn’t, so it’s safe to read on: I’ve read lots of spoilers which have been pin point accurate and have obviously come from people who know what’s going to happen, but not one of them seems to have a good idea who the bodies are (or were technically speaking). If they’ve mentioned them at all they have all said they are just guessing who it might be or genuinely have no idea. So far that definitely seems to be the best kept secret of the series.
  177. Laura,

    Laura those are great ones but im going a little different
    Next ep Arya will be saved by Gendry and the two of them will return to Westros where she meets back up with the Hound EP10 meeting

    Dany will set sail with the Iron Born and please no sand-crabs but also she will have amassed her fleet by destroying all of slavers bay and taking the ships. Last seen of the EP will be her leaving for Westros and First scene in Season 7 will be her landing at Dragonstone

    Cersei will torch KL with Wildfire and be the cause of Tommens death. Danny will come to KL in S7 EP2, Dany will walk in and we get the vision scene from erlier

    Last one I completely agree with you on.

    TOJ is s6-3p10 that’s been as good a secret as Jon coming back to life.

  178. rhymeswithweak,

    He’s married out of wedlock; either way he’s a bastard. It remains to see if he’s a Snow kind of bastard or… wait; what’s the other option?

  179. Dee,

    Ginevra,

    Thanks! Not really into romance movies, but I like most of the actors I saw in the trailer, so I think I’ll give it a try.

  180. Ginevra,

    It is a very emotional movie. That is true. I wouldn’t fully call it a Romance movie per se.

    If you really like Emilia, Mihnea, I would give it a shot. She is so damn cute in it

  181. In keeping with the theme that an episode’s title refers to multiple characters, I’ve included a short synopsis of Battle of the Bastards;

    In a flashback, a much loved character (Catelyn Stark) reveals to a young Stansa that she is not her true mother. We leave the scene just before the name of the mystery parent is uttered.

    Cut to a tight close up of Brienne of Tarth. As the camera pulls away it is noted by eagle eyed viewers that she is holding a child’s toy set. Speculation begins that it is a tall knight killing (kissing?) a doll with long red hair. Later in the week a fan’s hugely magnified image appears to show that the red-haired doll has a scruffy red beard.

    Meanwhile, in Winterfell, there is a feast occurring to celebrate their victory over the pitifully numbered host at their gates. Rickon has been tied to a spit as the main course. As Ramsay bends over to pick up some firewood, one of his hounds jumps up and knocks the spit from its mounting. It impales Ramsay through the asshole as his final scream is “you bastard” – thus naming the episode.

    The remaining troops declare Rickon “Lord of the North” in a scene that critics compare to the Wizard of Oz – the wicked witch is dead.

    The gates of Winterfell are thrown open for a happy family reunion. Unfortunately, the wildfire that was seen in Bran’s vision is actually in the crypts of Winterfell. It spontaneously combusts and destroys the castle and everyone inside.

    Everybody dies…

    Sorry if that’s a wee bit spoilery.

  182. Halfman,

    I think there should be an Earthquake in all King’s Landing when the wall falls … Yeah, it must happen. There is a wall that separates the world of the living and the death … it must fall down for the Long Night. But I don’t know if it will this season because the northerners would be completely slaughtered. They aren’t prepared. I hope they take measures to protect the population and build some defense. I remember Old Nan tales where the people hide in the castles and starve to death. Not everyone will fight.

  183. Ginevra,

    “The Winds of Winter”
    “The Hour of the Holf”
    “Lords of Winterfell”
    “Ice and Blood”
    “The Flayer and the Wolf”

  184. Kay:

    This is something I’ve been wondering too. That the mother will be revealed, Jon’s world view will change that Ned was his uncle, and his aunt was his mother. Of course, if the father is still not revealed this season, then it follows that next season there will be more flashbacks from Bran to establish the father.

    Mother should be revealed but don’t think Jon will know about his parentage, Audience will. Jon will always look up to Ned as his true father as he never knew Rhaegar. Or do you think Jon will all of sudden acknowledge Rhaegar as his true father?

  185. Dee:
    Ginevra,

    If you really like Emilia, Mihnea, I would give it a shot. She is so damn cute in it

    Her eyebrows aren’t as thick as Maisie’s, but holy shit: she can make each of them do a full phase of a sine wave!

  186. Miss Chanandler Bong:
    I always thought that the thing to bring the wall down – wasn’t it supposed to be a horn? The Horn of Joramun, I think? ANYWAY, I always thought that the horn found in the cache of dragonglass at the Fist of the First Men was that horn (which I’m pretty sure Sam got), but as they haven’t been keeping up with it in the show I guess maybe they’re likely to go a different direction. Boo.

    If i remember right it made no sound or “didn’t work”

    Or rather they couldn’t make it work properly…big lol of it is horn of Joramun

    Anyway for Bastardbowl would have preferred something more sophisticated but double meaning wise, can involve Ellaria, s snakes, Tommen and Gendry etc as well so can make sense

    I think we get Varys to Dorne

    And Olenna unleashes “handsome young man” Gendry as a bid to dissolve alliance, Gendry arc has gone since season 1 so needs tying up as well

  187. Sou,

    Are we sure there wasn’t some secret ceremony? People in power can just do what they want.
    Maybe they had a ceremony with different gods?

  188. Sou:
    rhymeswithweak,

    He’s married out of wedlock; either way he’s a bastard. It remains to see if he’s a Snow kind of bastard or… wait; what’s the other option?

    Not necassarily, if Rhaegar + Lyanna married before Isle of Faces (Old Gods) then Jon in any R+L=J scenario would be trueborn given Targs allow for polygamy

    Indeed Sansa’s show arc could be a hint, eg married Tyrion under the 7 in Sept of Baelor and Ramsay via Old Gods

  189. Dee,

    When the season began, I though Sansa was going to be Queen, but now I doubt it. The show made it clear she isn’t ready to lead the Northerners. Maybe Sansa will be Queen someday but I don’t see this happening yet. Northerners are tough and difficult to handle as Cersei once said. Bran is nearby and could get the title. But Isaac said Bran was a kingmaker, so maybe he will pass his right to Jon because he can’t fight the White Walkers directly and he is the 3ER.

  190. I like how people are complaining about the tittle and coming up with their crappier versions.
    I’m also laughing at people saying is too much on the nose but forgot The Red Viper vs The Mountain or The Wolf vs The Lion.

  191. Miss Chanandler Bong: I always thought that the thing to bring the wall down – wasn’t it supposed to be a horn? The Horn of Joramun, I think? ANYWAY, I always thought that the horn found in the cache of dragonglass at the Fist of the First Men was that horn (which I’m pretty sure Sam got), but as they haven’t been keeping up with it in the show I guess maybe they’re likely to go a different direction. Boo.

    There’s no need for a horn. The chekhov’s gun has already been introduced : the Night King used it to break the magical barrier at the 3ER cave. He will touch the Wall with his hands and there will be a huge fault that will break the Wall.

  192. Mag,

    Hmmm, I don’t see Bran making it to Winterfell this season. As much as I would love that.

    And to be honest, IF Jon and co win, and Ramsay dies, then the people left would be a few wildings, the small northern houses left, and the Vale army…. I am sure they would all bend the knee to Sansa Stark (assuming Rickon dies, which I think he will – my prediction).

  193. Ghost’s Lunch,

    Don’t think so. Last time they practised it would have been like a long time ago and they had dragons to force this. Polygamy would be considered by many as illegal in today’s Westeros.

  194. I know that a lot of folks don’t like ep9 title (fair enough), but it really has absolutely zero bearing on the content of said episode and for this to ruin your excitement over the proposed content (as some here have actually said) is just ludicrous and borderline childish IMO.

    Anyway… we know what ep9 will bring.

    But “Winds of winter”?? WOW…Delighted that we have confirmation on this! It’s so damn obvious what this means- The Wall is coming down people! I mean what else could this possibly be? A severe blizzard in Last Hearth? Erm…No.

    Arguments we’ve seen here against the wall falling:

    1. It’s too soon
    2. We can’t have two seasons of mankind fighting the WWs
    3. Dany hasn’t even arrived yet
    4. I don’t really like this idea
    5. It’s only June! (Joke)

    Argument FOR the wall falling

    1. We only have 13 episodes left after this. 13!! So season 7 will be the WWs advancing south, The North panicking, maybe a few skirmishes and the rest of Westeros finding out. Jesus- it’s taken a whole 8 episodes for the North to get their shit together and for Ramsay to get off his ass and travel a few miles for the battle to take place.

    2. Bran has been marked by the NK heavily foreshadowing the WWs ability to breach the magic of the Wall/ COTF when he passes through it.

    3. There is nothing left for the WW to do except to advance on the Wall. Otherwise, we won’t see them for another season? They’re the major threat to the entire world!

    4. Jon’s parting words to Edd “Don’t knock it down while I’m away”.. Guns hanging and all that shit.

    5. Set reports of …… SPOILER….

    . Wun Wun breaking into WF because of imminent danger outside. Could this be tremors caused by the Wall falling?

    6. The episode title is WINDS OF GODDAMN WINTER

    I challenge any of the naysayers (many of whom I bet go deliberately silent now), to come up with a better and more plausible reason to explain this choice of episode title.

    Get HYPOTHERMIA people!

  195. Sou:
    rhymeswithweak,

    He’s married out of wedlock; either way he’s a bastard. It remains to see if he’s a Snow kind of bastard or… wait; what’s the other option?

    obviously I meant born; at least I made myself laugh!

  196. Ginevra,
    Not sure how much you’ve been following what we know about that scene but we first heard rumblings last summer, I think before you were back on here full time, and Sue was able to confirm some stuff specifically. Spoilers for Snowbowl, obviously but this is all stuff that has been posted officially on here (rather than by us speculating in the comments).

    Rickon is definitely not on either of the crosses. The only other thing she was able to say was that one of them is someone we knew of from before S6. I took this to mean that the other is someone we didn’t know previously but that could obviously be a misinterpretation on my part. Can’t remember the exact wording but it didn’t seem to imply that either of them were very high profile or important, just unlucky, so could be just about anyone and they may well already be dead. Best guess (by me) for someone we didn’t know before would be one of the new Northern lords. Perhaps Glover lives to regret not joining Team KickAss? Despite what they did to my darling Shireen I can’t believe they’d do that to Ms Awesome Mormont. Kill her off screen perhaps but not flay’n’display a child. Anyone else though is a possible.
  197. Geralt of Rivia,

    I would bet Wun Wun is going to die because he uses CGI and they need to use that budget for wights and Night’s King next season. Of course, being GOT, most likely Tormund is also going to die.

  198. Winds of Winter will be about the dead- WWs and new ones. So both E9 and E10 will be mostly in the North? I wonder how will Dorne, Denny and KL factor into both?

  199. rhymeswithweak,

    Ok, why not. Don’t know if they had polygamy, but why not, after all they didn’t mind incest. My question still stands though: if a northern bastard is a Snow, a Dornish a Sand, a whatever Baratheons are a Waters etc, what is a Targaryen bastard?

  200. So much criticism of the titles, but some of the alternatives are painfully bad and if those were the titles I would laugh/groan.

    Battle of the Bastards is interesting because it speaks to how battles are named and spoken of in memory but it’s also ironic – neither of them are bastards in the way people think they are.

    “A Time for Wolves” I think is really presumptuous. Just because Jon/Sansa win the battle – and would probably lose without the Vale – hardly means this is a time for wolves. And given we don’t know if Rickon makes it out of Ramsay’s clutches alive, and we don’t know what Arya’s situation leads to, it’s really hard to label it “A Time for Wolves.” Just because we know/think Jon/Sansa win the battle doesn’t at all mean the Starks are resurgent yet, or that a title should imply that.

    I love love love LOVE Winds of Winter. I don’t think this a troll to GRRM at all! He had to give permission. I think it’s a great homage, bringing the books and show together.

    Having said that, I don’t actually think the Wall comes down. I know this might be an unpopular opinion, but 13 episodes of the WWs coming into Westeros just seems SO much. Part of the thrill of WWs is the more limited glimpses we see of them. The show has done that very much on purpose. There’s a creepiness to the WWs that’s diminished if you see them for 13 hours, talking, hanging out, fighting, losing, etc.
    If you just had wights crawling around Westeros for 13 eisodes, it’ll turn into the weird zombie WWZ /The Walking Dead show. I think it would lose all impact, all suspense.
    Also, there’s no indication that even GRRM intends for the WW invasion to last that long. It MIGHT. It might not. Still, as fans we think we want to see battle after battle but the show can’t do 13 episodes of this.

  201. Sou,

    Jon Waters???? because it’s the name for bastards from Dragonstone and his father was a Targaryen … or Jon Sand because he was born in Dorne???? Not sure … He should keep Snow if he is still a bastard.

  202. Ghost’s Lunch,

    A lot of people are speculating that Olenna was writing to Dorne in last weeks ep. But it could just as well be Varys since they’ve had an alliance in the past to sell off Sansa. Maybe if he becomes disillusioned with Tyrion’s plan , he acts as broker to Dorne in S7. Hopefully, the next time we see Dorne, they’ll have figure out how to fix it.

  203. Apollo,

    This is a spoiler which I wish you had covered for those that didn’t read that filming report here.

    Nevertheless, nowhere did it say that’s why Wun Wun broke in. I think you’re speculating that, which is totally valid, but it’s not what the report said.

  204. Darkrobin:
    Boston Snow,

    Okay, think about this for a second. You acknowledge that those episode descriptions were fake, but you say they aren’t necessarily inaccurate (!), and then continue to inquire into what they might mean? Don’t you realize that them being fake means they were based on nothing except an attempt at tomfoolery? You can’t get blood from a stone. And every freaking fake episode description ever seems to have the trademark of “subtly” hinting at LSH.

  205. Nadia,

    I’m not sure of it, but based on Dany’s book vision, the thought has been expressed that the WW get to the Trident and then there is a second battle there, a second Battle for the Dawn, So it could easily take Season 7 to get to this battle.

    And then there has to be at least a few episodes for the aftermath. That could be Season 8. I believe thatithey won’t have the battle being in the next to last episode and then one (or two) episodes to wrap things up. It would seem that there should be more of that and more remaining plot lines to untangle.

  206. Off-Topic Otto,

    I don’t disagree. But there is one and perhaps two sources on Reddit who have done a pretty good job of predicting some of the major events of this season. Someone who has been privy to some of the parts of the episodes could have put together their own synopses, which would not be the official ones. I’m not giving any credence to it. Even without this (and I know others say that Jamie will have a sudden break from Cersei), the longer Jamie and Cersei remain as they are, the harder the break will be believable to me. Unless Cersei is responsible for Tommen’s death in more than an indirect way. I’m not certain that even burning a city would change Jamie’s view at this point. I hope I’m wrong but …

  207. Sou:
    rhymeswithweak,

    Ok, why not. Don’t know if they had polygamy, but why not, after all they didn’t mind incest. My question still stands though: if a northern bastard is a Snow, a Dornish a Sand, a whatever Baratheons are a Waters etc, what is a Targaryen bastard?

    Bloodraven (Three-Eyed Raven/Crow) was Brynden Rivers, a Targaryen bastard. I think the last name depends most on where the bastard is raised: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/52/8d/7b/528d7b05f9c818618fff7265da18ea71.jpg

    There are Stones, Rivers, Waters, Snows, Sands, Pykes, Hills, Storms, and Flowers. Robert has a Storm and a Stone, at least. I suppose Gendry would be a Waters, but Gendry never knew he was the spawn of gentry, making him worthy of a last name.

  208. Check the scene with Catelyn en Jaime in the Riverlands, back in season 2. She picks up a stone in the form of a stone heart. It is prominently visible in the shot of Jaime and Catelyn together.
    A big easter egg. Haters gonna hate, but she is coming, guys! The BWB last episode who cited ‘the night is dark and full of terrors’. They are clearly led by a powerful new person, who killed all those people. Lady Stoneheart is the new big bad. Get HYPE!

  209. Ghost’s Lunch,

    But that wasn’t the reason why Sansa could marry Tyrion after Ramsay. She was able to marry Ramsay because her marriage to Tyrion was void since it was not consummated.

  210. Mag:
    Dee,

    When the season began, I though Sansa was going to be Queen, but now I doubt it. The show made it clear she isn’t ready to lead the Northerners. Maybe Sansa will be Queen someday but I don’t see this happening yet. Northerners are tough and difficult to handle as Cersei once said. Bran is nearby and could get the title. But Isaac said Bran was a kingmaker, so maybe he will pass his right to Jon because he can’t fight the White Walkers directly and he is the 3ER.

    Remember though, in season 7 or 8 of S1, the Northern lords had little faith in Robb at first but he proves his worth soon enough and the proclaimed him King in ep10.

    The same could (emphasis on COULD) happen to Sansa if she does indeed bring the Vale into the battle to save the day (cue controversy…).

  211. Ginevra,

    Not really. You’re assuming it matters for him to be legitimate for….sitting on the Iron Throne? I don’t think it matters at all, just like being the song of ice and fire only matters so much. In the end, it’s not his lineage that will do anything but his choices and his actions. Prophecies are self-fulfilling, as this show has shown.

    If he lives and sits on the throne at the end – which I kind of doubt – it won’t be because of R+L. It’ll be because he leads the fight against the WWs.

  212. On the season 6 trailer, we can clearly see

    the Freys celebrating with the Lannisters. So I’m guessing they will get Riverrun back this sunday and the Tully army will go north to help Sansa.
    But that same scene with Walder and those fookers celebrating was on the same hall that the Red Wedding, a perfect set for A Girl Who Has No Name to appear wearing a different face….and you can imagine the rest.
    She will get there on a super speed boat from Braavos to the Twins, sure, but A Man Can Only Hope.
  213. Apparently the BotB is the biggest battle that GoT has ever had, which is saying A LOT, because I thought the battles of Blackwater Bay, Castle Black, and Hardhome were absolutely massive. That just makes me so excited for episode 9! Time for the Starks to take back Winterfell from their turncoat. It’ll be great to see Sophie, Kit, Iwan, and (potentially) Aidan all on the same screen together. They’re all so fantastic.

    SPOILERY STUFF BELOW:

    Heard from somewhere on Reddit that at the end of BotB, Jon imprisons Ramsay instead of killing him. Which, I suppose, makes sense, because wasn’t there sightings of Sophie and Iwan filming their own scenes during production last year? Maybe Sansa ends up killing Ramsay while he’s imprisoned. That’d be so kickass.

  214. Flayed Potatoes:
    I feel like it’s too early for the Wall to come down.

    Next season hopefully.

    The show is moving incredibly fast now though. I think we will see the Night King one more time this season.

  215. Mag,

    Trusted source from reddit said Wun Wun lives and this guy or girl was spot on so far.

    No word on Tormund but he’s likely to die. Sue said that we’ll say goodbye to couple of well known characters and he fits the bill.

    Ginevra,

    It isn’t because Daeny got another relative in the world, he’s got their blood. Could bond with a dragon. This is far moe imortant than being a legitimate Targayren. George always tried to deconstruct popular tropes and what is more popular than hidden prince. He doesn’t have to be legitimate and in fact their marriage would likely be against laws of today’s Westeros. Bsides Daeny would nver setp aside ofr him or anyone else, Jon would never claim throne and so his legitimacy is pointless unless it’s after the war and then it might be relevant.

  216. I doubt I’m the first to say this, but my guess is The Winds of Winter is a major hint that the book will finally come out between this season and next.

    Fantastic promotional tie-in, getting everyone pumped for the book, and perfect timing for the show. What better way to end the season thank signifying that winter has arrived.

    I just wish we had more than two (short) seasons left. I feel like there’s still so much to explore. Yes I want things to get a move on (and after ep 1 this season has been on a roll!), but I still don’t see how these storylines wrap up in 15 episodes. I also really enjoy some of the more personal, human scenes like The Hound. I’d be willing to wait a little for a final conclusion to see more great TV like that.

  217. Jack Bauer 24,

    They have 2 seasons left though. Looking at the speed the NK can destroy everything, he’ll be done with the whole of Westeros in 2 episodes.

  218. Apollo:
    I know that a lot of folks don’t like ep9 title (fair enough), but it really has absolutely zero bearing on the content of said episode and for this to ruin your excitement over the proposed content (as some here have actually said) is just ludicrous and borderline childish IMO.

    Anyway… we know what ep9 will bring.

    But “Winds of winter”?? WOW…Delighted that we have confirmation on this! It’s so damn obvious what this means- The Wall is coming down people! I mean what else could this possibly be? A severe blizzard in Last Hearth? Erm…No.

    Arguments we’ve seen here against the wall falling:

    1.It’s too soon
    2.We can’t have two seasons of mankind fighting the WWs
    3.Dany hasn’t even arrived yet
    4.I don’t really like this idea
    5. It’s only June! (Joke)

    Argument FOR the wall falling

    1.We only have 13 episodes left after this. 13!!So season 7 will be the WWs advancing south, The North panicking,maybe a few skirmishes and the rest of Westeros finding out. Jesus- it’s taken a whole 8 episodes for the North to get their shit together and for Ramsay to get off his ass and travel a few miles for the battle to take place.

    2.Bran has been marked by the NK heavily foreshadowing the WWs ability to breach the magic of the Wall/ COTF when he passes through it.

    3.There is nothing left for the WW to do except to advance on the Wall. Otherwise, we won’t see them for another season? They’re the major threat to the entire world!

    4.Jon’s parting words to Edd “Don’t knock it down while I’m away”.. Guns hanging and all that shit.

    5.Set reports of …… SPOILER….

    6.The episode title is WINDS OF GODDAMN WINTER

    I challenge any of the naysayers (many of whom I bet go deliberately silent now), to come up with a better and more plausible reason to explain this choice of episode title.

    Get HYPOTHERMIA people!

    For winds of winter you’re wrong. Remember who told you so.
    I just don’t want you coming in here throwing a hissy fit because your anticipation for something to happen won’t happen. Remember who warned you

  219. This moaning is doing my head in. It’s all about context. How do we know that Battle of the Bastards isn’t a line from the show? Or maybe Jon makes an epic speech pre-battle about his bastard status? Or Ramsay taunts Jon with the word bastard in the flesh as he already has done in writing? Or it refers to other characters in the story (Tommen, the Sand Snakes, etc)? It could be the perfect title and the only choice for the episode and most of the contributors here have decided they don’t like it before they’ve even seen it. There’s no pleasing some people…

  220. Flayed Potatoes,

    Yet they’ve been north of the Wall for over 5 seasons and have yet to attempt to take the Wall. Was the Night King waiting for Bran[or someone else] to do something stupid so that he could discover BR’s cave? It’s not like BR’s cave was close to the Wall.

    Regarding Bran, if all that it takes to go through the wall is to mark anyone they could have done that a long time ago with any of the NW. It has to be more than that. Maybe they had to mark him while he was in a vision. Or maybe he’s special or maybe it’s not Bran. That one I cannot figure out.

  221. Darkrobin,

    Or maybe the magic of the children of the forest dies with the children, leaving the cave and Wall vulnerable. So maybe it was important to kill the children in order to take down the Wall. The NK was also busy killing everyone who lived beyond the Wall to bolster his forces (it makes no sense to let people escape, when they can be meat for your army).

    Tbh if the Wall falls in the season finale, that means around 13 episodes with only WW battles and it gets pretty repetitive after a while.

  222. Flayed Potatoes,

    I like the CotF angle. Maybe the army only arrives at the Wall at the end of the season. You see them marching and the camera pans out to show the Wall and then black. Then there is some sort of battle for the Wall early next year.

    I know GRRM said we will go further north than ever in TWOW and ADOS but that doesn’t mean that we will on GoT. So south seems the only option for Bran and company as well.

  223. Nadia,

    Exactly. And yes that is what I heard as well. I think we’ve had enough WW action for this season anyway.

    Darkrobin,

    Yeah it makes no sense for Bran to go north on the show. Maybe he’ll use greenseeing, but I can’t imagine him going there physically.

  224. Flayed Potatoes:
    Jack Bauer 24,

    They have 2 seasons left though. Looking at the speed the NK can destroy everything, he’ll be done with the whole of Westeros in 2 episodes.

    You think so? It’s taken them 6 seasons to even get to the wall. They’ve been mooching around the Haunted forest, Milkwater, Fist of the first men, Hardhome and 3ER cave all this time.

    And they’ve been waiting around for 8000 years, they’re in no hurry and so I don’t think they’ll be srambling down Westeros at light speed.

    Season 7 will be the slowish journey south with inevitable Northern casualties, an exodus of the population fleeing south, the rest of Westeros finally believing the tales and getting their fingers out their asses in time for the big battles in S8. Not to mention the Dany, Arya, Riverlands, Euron and Kings Landing stuff.

    It takes time for all of this to happen…and we have very little time left..

  225. Apollo,

    The point is, you haven’t SEEN them do that. They may have been on the move for years, but you see them very rarely because the impact is less if they’re just always around. You see glimpses here and there of their movements, and it adds to the drama.

    Either once the Wall comes down you barely see them again, which I doubt, or you have an army of CGI zombies slowly moving across Westeros, which diminishes any urgency. Or is the show going to have the WWs standing around talking and plotting strategy sessions? It’s too much.

    The exodus of people fleeing south – doesn’t sound like a huge plotline that takes up a lot of time.

  226. Bunny Without Banners: The show also does the “Previously On…” really well to help remind everyone.I don’t think the casual non-book reader will have a problem keeping up.

    I’m not suggesting that viewers won’t have any context, I just don’t think they will have enough context. If R+L=J, there will be some pretty huge ramifications – those are the things that I think will need more screen time to explain, and would be best done the following season. I think the ripple effect loses some oomph if they reveal this season and explain next season. That’s all, and that’s just IMHO.

    I agree with Dee too – everyone keeps saying KOTN. What about QOTH? She has the name. And if R+L=J happens, then J could end of being KOTW (world).

  227. Apollo,

    They were mooching that long because the NK needed to: get his army of wights (so that involves travelling to every Wildling settlement), get more WW babies from Craster and wait for most of them to grow old enough to use in battle, successfully enter the cave to kill Bloodraven and the Children of the Forest (who I suspect were the reason why he couldn’t make it past the cave or Wall). Once the Wall is down, it’s lit. NK isn’t stopping for tea anywhere.

    The show needs to give Jon some time to prepare his army and the smallfolk. Otherwise, they’ll all be dead in the season 7 premiere, and I doubt we’re going through all this storyline with Jon and co, only to have them killed in episode 1 of season 7. The show also needs to get Dany and her armies to Westeros and have her at least start her conquest in the south before shit hits the fan.

  228. King Podrick: For winds of winter you’re wrong. Remember who told you so.
    I just don’t want you coming in here throwing a hissy fit because your anticipation for something to happen won’t happen. Remember who warned you

    LOL.. Well I’ve never, ever throw in a hissy fit here buddy so that’s where you’re way off.

    So enlighten me… What’s your reasoning that I’m wrong? Cos you’ve not given any..

  229. I am wondering if Brienne and The Hound will meet up. I could see him killing a bunch of BWB and then meeting up with her and choosing NOT to kill her (or even try) showing that some of what Brother Ray taught him sank in. It would also strengthen the parallel between him and Arya, as they both now know there are people who do and don’t deserve to die and each has a very similar moral code.

  230. My take on the battle is…Bolton’s vs Stark’s…Bolton’s begin winning, both armies losing many men…Jon reinforces with mounted men…battle swings…Ramsay uses his hand…battle shifts again…Vale arrives and attacks both armies, driving them into WF; episode ends. (Remember that leaked image of Ramsay, Sansa and Jon inside WF, liked they’re trapped).
    Episode 10…WF besieged by Vale, BF, Brienne and Jaime arrive with Lannister army. This is the impetus that brings ll the forces together when the wall falls.

  231. Darkrobin:
    Flayed Potatoes,

    Yet they’ve been north of the Wall for over 5 seasons and have yet to attempt to take the Wall.Was the Night King waiting for Bran[or someone else] to do something stupid so that he could discover BR’s cave?It’s not like BR’s cave was close to the Wall.

    Regarding Bran, if all that it takes to go through the wall is to mark anyone they could have done that a long time ago with any of the NW.It has to be more than that.Maybe they had to mark him while he was in a vision.Or maybe he’s special or maybe it’s not Bran.That one I cannot figure out.

    I think it may have something to do with Brans greenseer powers. He’s the greatest greenseer who ever lived, IIRC.

    I do believe that the NK was waiting for Bran to screw up though as the WW were literally on the doorstep when he was marked. It only took a few minutes for them to arrive at the cave after all.

  232. Geralt of Rivia,

    Imagine if GRRM left all of those R+L=J breadcrumbs all over the place in the story, and then in the end, he throws a twist at us and the truth is something else. Kind of like a Hodor twist, under our noses the entire time, but most people missed it. He has been leading us all down the R+L=J path for such a long time now… would almost be disappointing if it turns out to be that simple. I’m probably over thinking it now though.

  233. Flayed Potatoes,

    Yeah I’ve said a few times, I don’t think we’re going to go from the end of this season to WW invasion. Otherwise there’s no point to Dorne/Olenna/Varys/Dany etc.

    I think at least initially, Dany is going to land in the south in Dorne, and people are going to be freaked the f out over her, her dragons, the blood thirsty Dothraki and the weird AF Unsullied. The Northern areas are NOT going to be bending a knee to another Targ who has dragons whose bringing these bloodthirsty horse riders into Westeros.

    I think we will at least BRIEFLY see some conflict between the North – Jon & Co, backed by LF – with the South – Dany, Tyrion, Varys, etc. There’s real drama there, including with Tyrion perhaps confronting the Lannisters again, but on Dany’s side.

    All of that setup is for naught if the Wall is already down. I really don’t think it’s the point of all this for Dany to arrive on Westeros when the Wall is down and go straight into fighting the Walkers. That assumes that she will automatically turn to be the hero with her dragons in those battles, rather than anything to do with her coming back to Westeros.

  234. And I forgot to mention point 7)…

    The wall falling would be a massive cliffhanger to cap all season cliffhangers. And after all that’s gone / will go down this season.. We need something huge as the last scene to close the season (in addition to KL etc). Jons parentage is simply not big enough for that.

    Apollo:
    I know that a lot of folks don’t like ep9 title (fair enough), but it really has absolutely zero bearing on the content of said episode and for this to ruin your excitement over the proposed content (as some here have actually said) is just ludicrous and borderline childish IMO.

    Anyway… we know what ep9 will bring.

    But “Winds of winter”?? WOW…Delighted that we have confirmation on this! It’s so damn obvious what this means- The Wall is coming down people! I mean what else could this possibly be? A severe blizzard in Last Hearth? Erm…No.

    Arguments we’ve seen here against the wall falling:

    1.It’s too soon
    2.We can’t have two seasons of mankind fighting the WWs
    3.Dany hasn’t even arrived yet
    4.I don’t really like this idea
    5. It’s only June! (Joke)

    Argument FOR the wall falling

    1.We only have 13 episodes left after this. 13!!So season 7 will be the WWs advancing south, The North panicking,maybe a few skirmishes and the rest of Westeros finding out. Jesus- it’s taken a whole 8 episodes for the North to get their shit together and for Ramsay to get off his ass and travel a few miles for the battle to take place.

    2.Bran has been marked by the NK heavily foreshadowing the WWs ability to breach the magic of the Wall/ COTF when he passes through it.

    3.There is nothing left for the WW to do except to advance on the Wall. Otherwise, we won’t see them for another season? They’re the major threat to the entire world!

    4.Jon’s parting words to Edd “Don’t knock it down while I’m away”.. Guns hanging and all that shit.

    5.Set reports of …… SPOILER….

    6.The episode title is WINDS OF GODDAMN WINTER

    I challenge any of the naysayers (many of whom I bet go deliberately silent now), to come up with a better and more plausible reason to explain this choice of episode title.

    Get HYPOTHERMIA people!

  235. Nadia,

    This is speculation, but I’ll put it in spoilers just in case:

    Yeah we’ll certainly need to have Jon consolidating the North, Jon/Sansa vs. LF, and Sansa maybe doing something to bring the Vale and Riverlands with them.

    I agree about Dany. She’ll probably land in Dorne, and make her way to KL from there. She’ll have to face Euron and maybe Cersei. No idea where Jaime is headed after the siege this season, so that should be interesting.

    Then we’ll probably get some faux Jon vs. Dany nonsense (maybe R+L=J plays a part in this too) before the NK comes for dinner and they all have to set their differences aside.

  236. Boston Snow,

    True. I completely forgot dumbass Sam didn’t tell Jon about all that dragonglass on Dragonstone.

    Maybe they can use dragons to make Valyrian Steel too. That would be cool.

  237. Dee,

    The Got/AsoIf fans have powers that border on the occult,I tell you! Ps.On the other hand,I couldn´t care less if the episodes are named ¨Piña Colada¨ just as long as they deliver 😉

  238. Apollo:
    And I forgot to mention point 7)…

    The wall falling would be a massive cliffhanger to cap all season cliffhangers. And after all that’s gone / will go down this season.. Weneed something huge as the last scene to close the season (in addition to KL etc). Jons parentage is simply not big enough for that.

    s6 ends with KL burning and snow beginning to fall above the flames of the city ruins.
    s7 is men fighting men and the players becoming fewer.
    s7 ends with the wall falling (remember, probably shortened season)
    s8 will be men vs. ww for all the marbles.

  239. Flayed Potatoes,

    A regular dragon factory with them breathing fire on steel and glass operations – one dragon per factory. The Lannisters and Tyrells finance the startup costs. The wildlings finally find gainful employment working the glass and steel assembly lines. New bitchy Sansa manages the factory floor, yelling at people to keep them working hard. Jon and Dany sit in their office looking down on the factory floor, mapping out strategy.

  240. ThisGirlHasNoName: I doubt I’m the first to say this, but my guess is The Winds of Winter is a major hint that the book will finally come out between this season and next.

    As of last August, GRRM thought he could finish TWOW by the end of last year. Even if he was off on the time schedule by a factor of three, that implies he’d finish at the end of this summer, in time for a holiday release date after editing and binding. So yes, it is highly probable that we will have TWOW before next season.

  241. Boston Snow: s6 ends with KL burning and snow beginning to fall above the flames of the city ruins.
    s7 is men fighting men and the players becoming fewer.
    s7 ends with the wall falling (remember, probably shortened season)
    s8 will be men vs. ww for all the marbles.

    The KL climax seems pretty likely now I agree. But this is ASOIAF… What better way to end the season, than the contrasting imagery of an inferno in the south with a 700ft high ice wall falling in the north? 😉

  242. Apollo,

    One other story point. BenJen told Bran that he will be at the Wall, and he will be ready, when the WW arrive at the Wall. If the Wall just comes down immediately at the end of s6, Bran and BenJen (and Meera) are obviously goners (as is everyone at Castle Black). I don’t think Bran and BenJen’s story is done yet (and I’ll throw a bone to Meera too).

    Maybe it will be something prolonged, so when it finally becomes evident that it will come down, Bran & Co. can high tail it out of there.

    Or maybe the WW arrive at the Wall to bring it down at the end of s6, but somehow Bran repels them and makes them retreat for the time being.

    I like that last idea.

  243. I skipped many of the comments, so not sure if this has been mentioned, but the title is AWESOME. I don’t believe it is merely for the pleasure of fans. Looks at previous wars: War of the Five Kings; War of the Ninepenny Kings; Robert’s Rebellion: etc.

    The entirety of Westeros would likely give this battle that very same name just as quick as the readers of the books would. It’s legitimizing (heh, pun not intended) the battle as a piece of Westeros lore.

  244. Boston Snow,

    I don’t recall Benjen specifically saying they’d be at the wall, but rather that the walkers would make their way to the World of Men, and when they do, Bran will be waiting.

    He could mean the wall, or winterfell, or king’s landing, or wherever imo.

  245. Chad Brick: As of last August, GRRM thought he could finish TWOW by the end of last year. Even if he was off on the time schedule by a factor of three, that implies he’d finish at the end of this summer, in time for a holiday release date after editing and binding. So yes, it is highly probable that we will have TWOW before next season.

    Oh my sweet summer child.

  246. Halfman,
    Hello small one *waves* this is actually carrying on a conversation we were having in another thread but this seems the best one to catch people at the moment. Re: the person in blue in Braavos. I’ve just rewatched that scene on an HD tv and there is a striking similarity with you know who. Right build/height and hair and although you only see a bit of their face, very similar profile. I thought it was unlikely based on the photos you posted but now I’m thinking it could well be correct. Which probably means there’s no way in hell it is him! 😉 I seem to remember reading that actor was one of the people originally cast for just one scene who impressed the production team so much their role was expanded (Ramsay’s mate Myranda was another). Only *looks at countdown clock* 4 days 4 hours or so to find out 🙂

  247. Boston Snow,

    Well prepare for episode 10 because there is no other explanation than that. Show offered us only this and Jon’s parentage needs to be revealed. It would be bad storytelling if it wasn’t true.

    Flayed Potatoes,

    It’s not about bastard, legitimate. It’s about blood. His legitimacy would likely be against laws of Westeros and besides that is Jon would have precisely no time to pursue it. Nobody would believe him unless he’s got some solid proof.

  248. Geralt of Rivia,

    Not true. I think the Winds will be when it starts snowing in the south, in Kings Landing. It will be a shock to everyone down there. Wake them up. Finally realize that things are changing. The Wall coming down is too huge, too dramatic, or it to happen too quickly. I think they will draw it out… the battle for the Wall might last all s7 before it finally comes down. They can get go much mileage and story out of the WW trying to take down the wall.
    To squeeze it into a 10 minute segment wouldn’t do it justice. It’s The Wall!

  249. Flayed Potatoes,

    You do know that the war for the dawn was at the end of the long night? So there’s not gonna just be one huge return of the Jedi battle with the WW and then the aftermath in the space of a few episodes. That’d be just laaaame. If past seasons are anything to go by, we’re gonna have a lot of shit go down: major characters being killed and turned, coming back as wights etc etc. Just to punch us in the guts.

    This “Great War” will last quite some time (I seem to recall Mel making some comment about years perhaps but I can’t be certain).

    Also… And this is where I get my geek on:

    http://awoiaf.westeros.org/images/6/6c/Westeros_-_Byound_the_wall.jpg

    http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Cave_of_the_three-eyed_raven

    Disclaimer: distances and times are approximate before folk start nitpicking.

    Looking at these maps (and on the assumption that each season occurs over the same timescale, which we kinda know it doesn’t) the rate we’ve seen the WWs move is approximately as follows:

    S2: Crasters-FOTFM. 300km in 8eps
    S2-5 FOTFM-Hardhome (via near chez Crasters in S4E4), 600km in 3 seasons (28 eps).
    S5-S6,-Hardhome-3ER cave, 500km in 6eps.

    So the fastest we’ve seen them travel is just over 115km per episode on their last leg. (And by the way..they’re becoming faster!)

    Distance from 3ER cave- wall is around 500km. Which is about 4-5 episodes. Boom.

    Now I know that there’s huge room for variation here, and it’s only a crude illustration, but with these times /distances at maximum speed (that we know of) it places them at least near the Wall, especially seeing as they have nothing left to do north of the wall but to go south (they have everything they need).

    And once they’re in Westeros, at that pace (or even a bit faster) it’s clear they’re not exactly gonna reach Dorne by season 8.

    And in any case.. I only said the wall will fall, I never mentioned the WW being present. Perhaps it’s Bran simply passing through that causes its collapse (for the record though, I do think they will be at the wall).

  250. Knight of the Walkers: Oh my sweet summer child.

    And your evidence to the contrary is?

    If there is one thing we know about GRRM, it is that he doesn’t bullshit about the progress of the books. If he told us that as late as last August that he was hoping to finish by year’s end, then that is true. He wouldn’t have been hoping to hit that deadline unless he was reasonably close to the finish line.

    I just can’t wait to collect on my bet with mau on this topic. He was fool enough to make the cutoff date 1/1/2018! It all likelihood, I’ll be reading it over the Christmas holidays. If not, next spring.

  251. Boston Snow,

    Jon said to Edd “don’t knock it down while I’m gone” the Wall will go down soon. Jon will likely want prepare for the battle so he’ll head North or liberate Riverlands. Depends when WW strike.

  252. Apollo,

    Honestly, that’s not super useful. The show takes a lot of liberties with distances and how long it takes to get from one place to another. Just look at Jaime making it from KL to Riverrun in one episode this week, or LF arriving from the Vale to Mole’s Town in one episode (and the Vale army being assembled in one episode and already at Moat Cailin). They have to make it there in those episodes to move the plot forward. The WW appear in these locations and at certain times because that is what is necessary for the plot. Idk what the point is for the Wall to fall if the WW aren’t there to capitalize. It loses all impact.

  253. Nadia:
    Ginevra,

    Not really. You’re assuming it matters for him to be legitimate for….sitting on the Iron Throne? I don’t think it matters at all, just like being the song of ice and fire only matters so much. In the end, it’s not his lineage that will do anything but his choices and his actions. Prophecies are self-fulfilling, as this show has shown.

    If he lives and sits on the throne at the end – which I kind of doubt – it won’t be because of R+L. It’ll be because he leads the fight against the WWs.

    If it isn’t his lineage but only his actions that count, then R + L = J does not matter. The reason he is the song of ice and fire is that he is the prince who was promised. A bastard is not a prince. If prophecies didn’t matter, they wouldn’t be part of the series.

    I’m certain he will sit the Iron Throne, but not because of R + L = J, or at least not only. Not even most. George is building Jon into a ruler as much as he’s building Dany as a conqueror.

  254. Flayed Potatoes:
    Apollo,

    Honestly, that’s not super useful. The show takes a lot of liberties with distances and how long it takes to get from one place to another. Just look at Jaime making it from KL to Riverrun in one episode this week, or LF arriving from the Vale to Mole’s Town in one episode (and the Vale army being assembled in one episode and already at Moat Cailin). They have to make it there in those episodes to move the plot forward. The WW appear in these locations and at certain times because that is what is necessary for the plot. Idk what the point is for the Wall to fall if the WW aren’t there to capitalize. It loses all impact.

    And I was very, very clear that it was only an illustration of my point.

    So answer me these two questions (which as far as I can see, nobody with opinions similar to yours has yet answered) :

    1) With no Wildlings left to kill, a huge army of the dead, 3ER and COTF dead, as well as the likely ability to penetrate the magic that holds the wall up… What else do the WW have to do, other than march on the wall?

    2) What is your rational explanation for the episode 10 title?

  255. Flayed Potatoes:
    Ginevra,

    I agree with you.

    A known bastard discovers he is….a secret bastard lol.

    I know, right? And you’re right. Best to save my breath (fingers) and let “The Winds of Winter” do my arguing for me.

  256. Dawn,

    You know, that did cross my mind – that Sansa’s pregnant. All that talk about feeling what Ramsey did inside her body, standing there right now. Anyway, she must have known when she married into the family that slaughtered her mother, her brother and his army, that she might become pregnant. What was her plan to deal with a
    pregnancy – before she found out what Ramsey was?

  257. Just now, I dreamed that, while I slept, my husband watched “Battle of the Bastards” without me. (I should have known it was a dream since I’ve never gotten him to watch any episode with me, much less without me.) He was trying to tell me what I’d missed, and I was like, “What? No! Stop!”

  258. Nadia:
    Flayed Potatoes,

    Otherwise there’s no point to Dorne/Olenna/Varys/Dany etc.

    There’s never been a point to Dorne. They have no pointy beginning. They have no pointy middle. They will have no pointy end.

  259. I heard George said something about Deny and don’t know if it’s true. I heard he said that Deny is like Nymeria.

    The most notable thing about Nymeria, is that she evacuated a whole lot of people via ship.

    Someone here suggested that the army of men may not win this war. What if indeed the WW take over all of Westeros, and everyone is looking at an evacuation.

    …speculation, of course 🙂

  260. Flayed Potatoes:
    Boston Snow,

    True. I completely forgot dumbass Sam didn’t tell Jon about all that dragonglass on Dragonstone.

    Maybe they can use dragons to make Valyrian Steel too. That would be cool.

    I hope so! Dragonstone might have enough dragonglass, but there doesn’t seem to be enough Valyrian steel. Assuming there are 100 Others, it would be nice to have 100 Valyrian swords. There are only just over a dozen, and we don’t even know where all of these are. http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Valyrian_steel#List_of_known_Valyrian_steel_blades

  261. Apollo,

    1) The wall has been such a key location and device in the show for ever. If the NK simply approaches it and it falls, that would be a huge disappointment. They can make it tougher and drag it out and build more drama, i.e. Make the story better.

    2)Bran and BenJen will be at the wall to meet the NK. BenJen says Bean will be ready for them. That means there will be a battle or struggle of some sort. Plus if Bran and BenJen are there and the wall collapses, they die and I don’t think they’re done yet.

    3) it’s too early. Too much other stuff needs to happen before the dead get south of the wall. I think the wall comes down at the end of s7 to set up the final war of man vs dead. Wide open war of multiple armies of men plus the dead would just be a chaotic free for all.

    4) the title is that as we have heard for 6 years, the long winter is coming. My guess it that it will start snowing in KL and other southern areas. “Paving” the way for the NK to march south eventually.

  262. Geralt of Rivia:
    Flayed Potatoes,

    It’s not about bastard, legitimate. It’s about blood. His legitimacy would likely be against laws of Westeros and besides that is Jon would have precisely no time to pursue it. Nobody would believe him unless he’s got some solid proof.

    Westeros is a monarchy. Targaryens wrote every single Westerosi law before Jon’s birth. It’s not likely they outlawed the practice that Aegon the Conqueror was famous for.

  263. Boston Snow:
    Apollo,

    One other story point.BenJen told Bran that he will be at the Wall, and he will be ready, when the WW arrive at the Wall.If the Wall just comes down immediately at the end of s6, Bran and BenJen (and Meera) are obviously goners (as is everyone at Castle Black).I don’t think Bran and BenJen’s story is done yet (and I’ll throw a bone to Meera too).

    Maybe it will be something prolonged, so when it finally becomes evident that it will come down, Bran & Co. can high tail it out of there.

    Or maybe the WW arrive at the Wall to bring it down at the end of s6, but somehow Bran repels them and makes them retreat for the time being.

    I like that last idea.

    You actually make a great point about Benjen coaching Bran to be ready and in control of his powers when the NK comes. I don’t think they’d be in the shadow of the wall, likely far enough for them to get away from the devastation.

    My guess is that they’ll call at the Weirwood near the wall where Bran will get the remainder of the info the audience require (ie Jons identity), and will finally get a grip on his powers.

    We’ve still to get the line “they’ve no idea what’s going to happen” from Bran, my guess is he’ll get wayyy more info than just Jons parentage and they’ll go south. Benjen will either follow (I imagine he can now as Bran is marked) or will die for real this time defending them or as the wall falls (can’t see what else he can bring to the plot).

    But the WW will not be far behind Bran, and they need him to pass through the wall for it to fall/WW to get through I’m guessing.

    And you may be right.. Perhaps he holds them back…for a time.

    But I reckon he is directly involved (or even responsible) for that wall coming down.

  264. Ginevra: There’s never been a point to Dorne.They have no pointy beginning.They have no pointy middle.They will have no pointy end.

    And also, we have no confirmation of Olenna/Varys/Dorne. That’s not even a thing.. It’s based around a few photos of Diana Rigg and Conleth Hill out for dinner in Almeria. Hardly a cast iron plot point.

  265. Apollo,

    Exactly. Something like that. But in the end I think there will be a struggle/battle for The Wall that will take some time. So I don’t think it gets resolved this year. I think there is a lot more story here. They might milk it all next season and have the wall fall during the season or the s7 finale.

  266. Ginevra,

    I wish Dark Sister had made it on the show. Useful little blade.

    Apollo,

    1. It’s an homage/tribute. Even one of the episodes last season was named The Dance of Dragons after the Targaryen war of succession (and it’s not like dragons were fighting against each other that episode).

    2. Bran arrives at the Wall knowing that winter is literally coming. It’s only a question of when. That Wall isn’t falling on his head when he gets there because he has a lot of storyline left to go, as this season hinted.

  267. Ginevra,

    I think the point of Dorne is to serve as a landing strip for Dany’s squad.

    I’ll die laughing if she becomes allies with the Sneks though.

  268. Flayed Potatoes:
    Ginevra,

    I wish Dark Sister had made it on the show. Useful little blade.

    Apollo,

    1. It’s an homage/tribute. Even one of the episodes last season was named The Dance of Dragons after the Targaryen war of succession (and it’s not like dragons were fighting against each other that episode).

    2. Bran arrives at the Wall knowing that winter is literally coming. It’s only a question of when. That Wall isn’t falling on his head when he gets there because he has a lot of storyline left to go, as this season hinted.

    You didn’t actually answer any of the two questions, but evaded them. The title may be a homage (clearly) but, as we all know (and are debating here constantly), the episode titles are always much, much more than that- and that they have very clear (and often unclear) links with the constituent storyline of that episode. The dance of dragons may not have included Drogon and Rhaegal doing the foxtrot down the street of steel, but we still had a bloody great dragon flying around the fighting pit, as well as the reference from Shireen.

  269. Halfman,

    Guaranteed? No. Foreshadowed? Yes. (Jon’s line to Edd.) Threatened? Sort of: Ramsay has threatened to wipe out the Watch. Desired? Definitely by the White Walkers.

    That does not add up to “guaranteed”: but it does add up to “probably.”

  270. Apollo,

    I thought I answered the questions in previous comments. The Wall will fall when it is necessary to move the plot forward. Jon needs to consolidate the North, Bran needs to make it south and share his WW (and maybe ToJ) knowledge, and Dany needs to get her ass to Westeros and start her campaign. There are loose ends that need to be tied up before that happens.

    D&D wrote TWOW (the title) into one of the episodes this season. That didn’t mean the Wall fell down that episode or some massive snowstorm covered half of Westeros.

    Look at another title this season: Blood of my Blood. Everyone expected to see A LOT of Dany and the Dothraki, since that is a saying that is typical of the Dothraki culture. All we got was a brief tacked on scene at the end that could have been added in the previous episode without any changes to the plot. Most of the episode seemed centered on KL. Just because the episode is called The Winds of Winter, it doesn’t 100% guarantee that the Wall will fall down that episode. For all we know, it could fall in season 7.

  271. Flayed Potatoes:
    Apollo,

    Jon needs to consolidate the North, Bran needs to make it south and share his WW (and maybe ToJ) knowledge, and Dany needs to get her ass to Westeros and start her campaign. There are loose ends that need to be tied up before that happens.

    Look at another title this season: Blood of my Blood. Everyone expected to see A LOT of Dany and the Dothraki, since that is a saying that is typical of the Dothraki culture. All we got was a brief tacked on scene at the end that could have been added in the previous episode without any changes to the plot. Most of the episode seemed centered on KL. Just because the episode is called The Winds of Winter, it doesn’t 100% guarantee that the Wall will fall down that episode. For all we know, it could fall in season 7.

    None of the loose ends you mention need to be tied up before the wall falls at all, I don’t understand where you’ve got that from? Dany can just as easily return to Westeros that’s been ravaged by fire in KL, war in the Riverlands and the WW advancing southward, and Jon certainly doesn’t need to find out his parentage this season, but it’s very likely the audience will. That can all just as easily happen in season 7.

    And as for “blood of my blood” it had several themes related to the title other than the obvious two related to Dany: the Stark AND Tarly family reunions, the Tyrell’s marching for family, Arya being reminded who she is by watching her family portrayed on stage. Hell, we even had Bran drinking blood from his uncles cup. As I said- episode titles have great relevance and several thematic references to the plot. I see no reason why “Winds of Winter” will not follow that very well established pattern, that we all frequently discuss here.

  272. Ginevra: There’s never been a point to Dorne. They have no pointy beginning. They have no pointy middle. They will have no pointy end.

    Dorne served its purpose last year: it was the backdrop for Jaime’s story. It did not have a point in and of itself: but it let Jaime have a point.

    I am pleased to see it cut this year. I suspected that would be the case once it became clear that Aegon was not being cast. Still, I could not be 100% that I was not rationalizing because of my contempt for the general plot line! I think that I envisioned it a little differently: I thought that Ellaria & SS would head east to join Daeny without killing Doran; however, offing Doran was fine and dandy with me. (If only his horrid daughter could have been snuffed, too….. 😀 ) As none of the main characters have any business in Dorne, we will (at most) see the Dornish in the end, I suspect: more volunteers for Daeny’s army.

  273. Excuse this silly question….but could Wun Wun become a wight if he was killed off? Always wondered this but never asked

  274. Ginevra: There’s never been a point to Dorne.They have no pointy beginning.They have no pointy middle.They will have no pointy end.

    I really wish they would have a pointy end. Bleh. Just watch, series finale – Snakes appear randomly and stab the NK in the back. ?

  275. Dee:
    pras,

    Just unleash Ghost on Ramsay
    Sweet justice.

    If Ghost dies, I am DONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE with this show.

    Not.ButI will break things.

    LMAO… me too just NOT breaking the TV or anything that will disturb my viewing of future episodes.. but def do NOT KILL GHOST!! Seeing as how all of the Direwolves have come to mean the “essence” of the Starks arc Im really curious as to what GHOST’s future will be? I mean does this mean Jon will be a GHOST of who he was before? Will his character be GHOST like? Im just not sure how that will play into it since Lady was represented as Sansa wanting so badly to be a Lady, Nymeria representing Arya’s badass lifestyle, Summer dying as Winter approaches, Grey Wind was synonymous with Rob’s war style and Shaggydog kinda being a wild extension of Rickon. So I wonder what everyone’s idea will be for Ghost to most represent for Jon?

  276. Ginevra: If it isn’t his lineage but only his actions that count, then R + L = J does not matter.The reason he is the song of ice and fire is that he is the prince who was promised.A bastard is not a prince. If prophecies didn’t matter, they wouldn’t be part of the series.

    I’m certain he will sit the Iron Throne, but not because of R + L = J, or at least not only.Not even most.George is building Jon into a ruler as much as he’s building Dany as a conqueror.

    woot woot … Im all for Jon being TPTWP… God’s be true … Im so hoping for this!!

  277. Flayed Potatoes,

    I want to be on your side, FP, but I tend to think the Wall is gonna fall, too. Unlike Apollo, though, I don’t think we’re guaranteed it will fall, but here’s why I think it is likely.

    “Oh, my sweet summer child,” Old Nan said quietly, “what do you know of fear? Fear is for the winter, my little lord, when the snows fall a hundred feet deep and the ice wind comes howling out of the north. Fear is for the long night, when the sun hides its face for years at a time, and little children are born and live and die all in darkness while the direwolves grow gaunt and hungry, and the white walkers move through the woods.”

    “Thousands and thousands of years ago, a winter fell that was cold and hard and endless beyond all memory of man. There came a night that lasted a generation, and kings shivered and died in their castles even as the swineherds in their hovels. Women smothered their children rather than see them starve, and cried, and felt their tears freeze on their cheeks.”

    “In that darkness, the Others came for the first time.” — AGoT, Pg 233.

    The Long Night should be long. Previously, the Long Night lasted “a generation,” which should be about 20 years. I don’t think this Long Night will be quite that long, but it should last at the very least a year, which each novel representing approximately one year. George will want narrative explaining the “happily ever after” rather than just saying it was that, so the Long Night will end well before ADoS does, most likely. That means the Long Night should start before the last book begins.

    The Long Night is closely associated with ice, Others, and the cold. The Wall currently holds back the Others and the cold they bring, but it only makes sense that, as soon as the Wall falls, Westeros will “feel the winds of winter as they lick across the land.” When else would we expect “The Winds of Winter” to be so strong?

    Dany will reach a Westeros in ruin. We have the House of the Undying vision where she sees the Red Keep and Iron Throne in ruins, but it won’t just be King’s Landing that is so afflicted by the time Team Dany finely moseys on over to Westeros.

    That night she dreamt she was Rhaegar, riding to the Trident. But she was mounted on a dragon, not a horse. When she saw the Usurper’s rebel host across the river they were armored all in ice, but she bathed them in dragonfire and they melted away like dew and turned the Trident into a torrent. Some small part of her knew that she was dreaming, but another part exulted. This is how it was meant to be. The other was a nightmare, and I have only now awakened. –ASoS, Pg. 374.
    The Others apparently make it all the way to the Trident before Dany and her dragons can stop them. That implies Dany won’t be in Westeros before the Others leave the North.

    But I’m 100% certain that nothing is 100% certain in future episodes of GoT. I’m with you there!

    In “Blood of My Blood,” I expected to see Dothraki pledge themselves to be bloodriders and to follow Dany to Westeros, which is pretty much exactly what we got. We rarely stay in one locale for more than a few minutes. At the announcement of the title, I countered those who said it would be an uber-Dany episode:

    Yes. I remember how “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken” was 5 minutes of Dorne. Targaryens didn’t overwhelm “Fire and Blood.” And the Greyjoys and ironborn didn’t overrun “What is Dead May Never Die.”

  278. Ginevra,

    I think the Wall will definitely fall, but I don’t think it needs to happen this season. I see where you’re coming from, but these things might be changed, so we don’t know. KL could be in ruins because Cersei torches the place, for all we know. Maybe Dany is all the way down in Dorne when the Wall falls or on her way to KL.

  279. Flayed Potatoes: The things I mentioned are things that need to happen in season 7 before the Wall falls.

    I have to agree with Ginevra and Apollo. I see no reason why those things have to happen. For one thing, how can Jon really unify the North? Nobody but one 10 year old buys into the stories about White Walkers being back at all. Moreover, Sansa is going to be more interested in handing out judgement on the “traitors” than in preparing for them. Really, the Wall has to fall for the North to unify.

    Daeny does not have to be back. When she lands, there can be fighting in the North: but the southerners will sift through the garbled tales about Wildlings, Giants, White Walkers, etc., and just assume that the superstitious northerners are exaggerating tales about the Wildling invasion. If it does become a concern, then the concern will be about an apparent alliance between Northerners and Wildlings (oh, the treason of it!). Indeed, what could help Daeny shore up support quickly is stepping into a leadership void and preparing the defense of the south against a Northern/Wildling invasion. heh, perhaps Jon will try to use the impossibility of dragons as a counter to her claim that there are no such things as White Walkers!

    And there is no particular reason why Jon has to know who his mother is at this point. He needs to know before the pinnacle of the series: the compromises that Ned made for Jon almost certainly are going to foreshadow the compromises that Jon has to make. But that means it has to happen by the middle of Season 8, not before the Wall comes down.

  280. Ice Spider: LMAO… me too just NOT breaking the TV or anything that will disturb my viewing of future episodes.. but def do NOT KILL GHOST!! Seeing as how all of the Direwolves have come to mean the “essence” of the Starks arc Im really curious as to what GHOST’s future will be? I mean does this mean Jon will be a GHOST of who he was before? Will his character be GHOST like? Im just not sure how that will play into it since Lady was represented as Sansa wanting so badly to be a Lady, Nymeria representing Arya’s badass lifestyle, Summer dying as Winter approaches, Grey Wind was synonymous with Rob’s war style and Shaggydog kinda being a wild extension of Rickon. So I wonder what everyone’s idea will be for Ghost to most represent for Jon?

    Oh no, not Ghost! I fell in love with him the moment Jon picked him up and Theon mocked. “Eh, runt of the litter. That one’s yours, Snow.” He’s my favorite direwolf.

    As for what he represents, I often wondered if his being white represents the Ice in Jon and his red eyes the Fire in him.

  281. Ginevra,

    , but it should last at the very least a year, which each novel representing approximately one year.

    I’ve been told (when I suggested that BR was 127 instead of 125) that 300 AC the year of Joffrey’s and Margaery’s wedding was the same year for AFFC and ADWD. If that many pages happened in a year, I shudder to think what would happen if the long night lasted even a year. It would be 3,000 pages later (theoretically, GWWM would never finish the book).

    So at best we are at 301 AC. Please, please, please let the Long Night be short. We will never see the end unless it is.

  282. Wimsey: Dorne served its purpose last year: it was the backdrop for Jaime’s story. It did not have a point in and of itself: but it let Jaime have a point.

    To me, it was like the point of a question mark. It’s like “Eh?” “What the….?” They obviously just needed something for Jaime to do last season (since his RR story will have to wait until season 6) so off to Dorne he went.

    Anyway, I also expect Dorne to be an ally of Dany and that could be the first kingdom she visits. Dany + Yara + Ellaria/SS + QoT(?). It’s gonna be female to the nth power!!!

  283. Flayed Potatoes:
    Ginevra,
    KL could be in ruins because Cersei torches the place, for all we know. Maybe Dany is all the way down in Dorne when the Wall falls or on her way to KL.

    I am almost (not 100%) certain that Cersei will be the reason for KL, yes.

    If Dany is in Dorne, why would she not fly straight to the Wall on dragonback in a day or two? It is possible, I agree, but it doesn’t seem as likely.

  284. Florian:
    Crap episode 9 title, as example the red wedding episode was not titled red wedding.
    And there are so many events to show with just 3 episodes left :
    – Cleganebowl
    – Snowbowl
    – Riverrun Siege part 2
    – Dany meets the Greyjoy
    – Arya comes to the riverland
    – LSH
    – Fall of the Wall
    – Tower of joy vision
    – Mad Queen Cersei/Tommen’s death
    – Fate of Loras Tyrell
    – Oldtown
    – Frey Pie

    Am I forgetting something ?

    You’re living in ‘Cloud Cuckoo Land’ if you think all that’s going to happen in Season 6! I agree probably some of those events will happen, but ‘Cleganebowl’ and ‘LSH’ I very much doubt.

    Let’s hope I’m proved wrong 😉

  285. Lulus Mum,
    Halfman,

    They did a terrible job of continuity if you are talking about the blond guy in the blue outfit who pivots around Arya as he passes her on the street. The close up he bumps into her and then passes her. Then on the wide shot immediately after he is behind her again walking towards her and catching up with her again. Unless this another time loop, it seems like the close up should have followed the wide shot.

    I don’t know who it might be, if that’s who you are referring to although he appears blonde and handsome.
    .

  286. Mihnea:
    Miss Chanandler Bong,

    Instead of thinking they get it ”wrong” perhaps you should just accept that your theory might be wrong.

    My response to every Preston Jacobs video ever :’D

    When people were predicting episode names like “Battle of the Bastards” and “Kingsmoot”, I was always puzzled cos i thought they sounded too fanmade. Its interesting how everyone thinks that way now too. I think just “Bastards” would be great as a name(could also apply to sand snakes, gendry!!???) but nevertheless super hyped up now!

  287. Is it confirmed that episode 9 is all about the battle?

    The Winds of Winter is a great title. I’d like to see the Wall coming down as the cliffhanger ending, although the R + L = J confirmation works too.

  288. Connor,

    Other option, after Ramsay visits Castle Black in episode 8 because Jon didn’t answer his letter, “No one” is left to defend the wall and the magic dies with the last watcher. But Bran seems more likely, though why wouldn’t he, Benjen or Meera think this through before passing under the Wall?

  289. Ross Doherty:
    I think Winterfell would’ve been a beautiful title for episode 9. BotB sounds like the ultimate fan servicing, they could’ve dug a little deeper for a more poignant and thought provoking title, especially for the infamous episode 9. But it’s about the episode and not what it’s named.

    Wasn’t that title originally leaked from the set, someone who was there while they were filming the episode?

  290. Did it ever occur that the Walkers might not even make it that far? They could get beat back before they ascend upon Westeros proper.

  291. Guys what if that shot in the trailer of Davos looking down at a pile of wood or bones, whatever it is, isn’t Shireen’s pyre but happens in the last episode and is from one of the burning bodies on a cross? If so that could only be Mel cause Davos is not close to anyone else right?

  292. Ginevra,

    Excellently put. The long night needs to be long, dark, cold and utterly terrifying with several twists within that storyline. GRRM will eventually do that justice and I have every faith D&D will too, at least as much as possible with the limitations of a (huge) budget.

    Whilst I’m pretty convinced the wall comes down in ep10, and have made a pretty valid case for it, I can’t guaranteed it though- I know by now that in this show, there are no guarantees 😉

  293. Ginevra,

    Yeah she could, but it would take longer for the army to get there. We also don’t know how she’ll react to hearing news of the WW and if she’ll believe it instantly.

  294. My guess is Season 7 is about all houses to meet each other and unit ( Dany’s arriving to westeros, the Starks, the Lannister, imagine all the main characters in the same scene ). And Season 8 will be the new war for the dawn.

  295. Wimsey,

    I think Jon knowing about his parentage depends on when the writers will have Bran tell him (or whomever they decide will do that). I’m curious just how much of the ToJ they will show and if we’ll ever see Rhaegar before that happens.

    If Jon/Sansa are in a position of authority at the end of this season (running the North) they can start preparations for the Long Night and everyone will have to follow their orders.

  296. Ginevra,

    Daeny was proclaimed to be The One Who Was Promised as Jon. It might be both but it might be only one. This hidden prince troupe is so overdone.

    Like I said polygamy wouldn’t be accepted by many. Some might will but at the ed of the day. His parentage is not so far serving for Iron Throne. There is no time for him to pursue it. He needs to organize against White Walkers

  297. Flayed Potatoes:
    Boston Snow,

    True. I completely forgot dumbass Sam didn’t tell Jon about all that dragonglass on Dragonstone.

    Maybe they can use dragons to make Valyrian Steel too. That would be cool.

    I had assumed he did tell Jon, off screen. It would be totally dumb not to tell Jon before he left the Wall. I wonder when, if at all, all that dragon glass in Dragonstone will come into the picture.

  298. I’m not sure it’s going to be Cersei burning down KL, and it certainly isn’t going to happen this season, most likely the city goes to take the army of the dead out while Bran, Jon, Dany and anyone else who is left try and stop the Nights King.

    Of course this is all just speculation, like Arya replacing Frey’s new wife to cross him off her list, but then speculation is all we have now we’ve gone off book.

  299. I hope hope hope that battle of the bastards also brings an old face back (Gendry) to confront the other ‘baratheon’ bastard (Tommen).

    That would be nice!

  300. Darkrobin,
    This is a continuation of a conversation Halfman and I were having in another thread about whether this person is an overused extra who a couple of eagle eyed viewers have spotted, or someone we already know who will be revealed next episode. We’re being deliberately vague to avoid spoiling anyone else. This person has no logical reason to be there and we were both thinking it’s highly unlikely to be them, but when I went back and looked at the scene again it was striking how similar they are, which raises the question how on earth do they fit into a scene which already seems strangely off? The person it appears to be is…..potential spoiler for weird plot twist so look away now anyone who doesn’t want to know….

    Olyvar, Loras’s former ‘friend’.
  301. pras:
    Mihnea,

    that’s cool
    FANTASY (soon to be reality)..FIGHT BOOKING

    wun wun vs 20 good men

    Yeah, Wun Wun would be worth a fair bit more than 20 men though. They’d need to hit him with a siege engine to have any impact. Ramsey will definitely not be expecting a giant, lol.

  302. Episode 9 “The one where Ramsay died”
    Episode 10 “The one where the Night King says Hi”

  303. Angie:
    Boston Snow,

    Yeah, can you imagine the uproar it would cause if there is only the L reveal… it’d be so GoT like to leave it at that. LMAO

    But if Lyanna is Jon’s mother, who else could be the father but Rhaegar?

  304. xylia1225,

    It really seems inevitable considering events leading up to this point. Ellaria and the Sand Snakes have it out for Cersei and the Mountain. There will be some kind of resolution of that story line. There have been too many important events in the past to just leave it unfinished.

  305. Sou: He’s married out of wedlock; either way he’s a bastard. It remains to see if he’s a Snow kind of bastard or… wait; what’s the other option?

    It depends on the location. But since the Tower of Joy was in Dorne, he’d be a Sand.

    I don’t think it’s based on where the bastard is born, but rather on where the family that takes the bastard in is from. Baby Jon was born somewhere in the South, that much is known (remember Ned brought baby Jon home to Winterfell from his campaign during Robert’s Rebellion, so Jon Snow clearly wasn’t born in the North), yet he has the “Snow” surname.

  306. King Podrick: I’m also laughing at people saying is too much on the nose but forgot The Red Viper vs The Mountain or The Wolf vs The Lion.

    Good thing those were never the actual titles then.

    The actual titles were “The Wolf and the Lion” and “The Mountain and the Viper” (along with “The Lion and the Rose” for 4×02).

  307. Flayed Potatoes:
    Darkrobin,

    Or maybe the magic of the children of the forest dies with the children, leaving the cave and Wall vulnerable. So maybe it was important to kill the children in order to take down the Wall. The NK was also busy killing everyone who lived beyond the Wall to bolster his forces (it makes no sense to let people escape, when they can be meat for your army).

    Tbh if the Wall falls in the season finale, that means around 13 episodes with only WW battles and it gets pretty repetitive after a while.

    The Wall falling this season does NOT mean that we get 13 episodes of WW battles. There’s still the set-up to do, the gathering of various armies to take on the WWs, a WW slaughter or two (like Hardhome, but minus the battle), and creations of alliances to take on the WW.

    If the Wall falls down (which I am 80% positive will be the final scene of S6), there will probably be only one WW battle in S7 and one or two big WW battles in S8.

    The WWs would be making more appearances in S7 & S8, yes, but it wouldn’t be 13 straight episodes of nothing but battles.

  308. Ginevra,

    Hardhome was not episode 9. It was episode 8. And i hope they do one location cuz previous ones been absolutely the best in shows history

  309. This title seems a little on the nose? Could tvere be some subtext hidden in the obvious.

    I suppose the question is who is the biggest bastard; Ramsey, Jon, Peter, or Sansa?

  310. Geralt of Rivia:
    Ginevra,

    Daeny was proclaimed to be The One Who Was Promised as Jon. It might be both but it might be only one. This hidden prince troupe is so overdone.

    Like I said polygamy wouldn’t be accepted by many. Some might will but at the ed of the day. His parentage is not so far serving for Iron Throne. There is no time for him to pursue it. He needs to organize against White Walkers

    In the books, Dany is proclaimed as TPTWP. Loudly. And Often. One time after such a Dany = TPTWP proclamation, Merwyn says the problem with prophecies is that they suck you in and then bite your cock off when you least suspect it.

    You are right that the secret bastard trope is not done nearly often enough. Do you know why? No one would read that shit. Why in the world would we have a secret bastard? Why would we keep that secret except out of shame? Who would care when the bastard came out of the closet? Why would a bastard with no claim to the throne be worth Ned betraying his honor and lying to his wife until his dying day?

    Yes, the Great War comes first, and Jon won’t be distracted by a thirst for power, obviously. Bran could tell him, however, that being king is the only path to defeating the Others. Mel implied that Stannis needed to be king first, and Bran (Isaac) said in an interview that he was going to be a kingmaker. But it is obvious that Jon’s number one priority will be defeating the Others first, as it should be.

    After the Long Night has ended, though, what then? George has spent thousands of pages setting up Jon ruling (Night’s Watch) and Dany ruling (Meereen). I cannot imagine that was for naught. And George even says that he believes (and wants to show) that a good person is not necessarily a good ruler. So it makes sense that these thousands of pages are to show two good people: one who is and one who is not a good ruler. And if he went through that much effort, how could we possibly believe that anyone else would sit the Iron Throne at the end of the tale?

  311. NewMember:
    Ginevra,

    Hardhome was not episode 9. It was episode 8. And i hope they do one location cuz previous ones been absolutely the best in shows history

    Hi, NewMember! The episode number shouldn’t affect the quality of the episode or the number of locales. I don’t see how these are related.

    The two best IMDb-rated (likability) shows in GoT history are “Rains of Castamere” and “Hardhome,” both at 9.9, http://graphtv.kevinformatics.com/tt0944947. As you can see, “Blackwater” at 9.7 and “The Watchers on the Wall” at 9.5 are both excellently rated episodes, but they are both quite a bit further from the perfect 10 than “Hardhome” is.

  312. Ginevra,

    If Dany is in Dorne, why would she not fly straight to the Wall on dragonback in a day or two? It is possible, I agree, but it doesn’t seem as likely.

    I agree but at present she has no understanding of the white walker threat. Sam has to get to her to make her understand before she moves. He’ll also be the instrumental in convincing her Jon is not a threat to her -which she will almost certainly think he is. Again Tyrion will be able to mediate here as well. Again perhaps T will be the man to convince his brother to join the Lannister army to the battle for the dawn.

  313. Simon:
    Ginevra,

    If Dany is in Dorne, why would she not fly straight to the Wall on dragonback in a day or two? It is possible, I agree, but it doesn’t seem as likely.

    I agree but at present she has no understanding of the white walker threat. Sam has to get to her to make her understand before she moves. He’ll also be the instrumental in convincing her Jon is not a threat to her -which she will almost certainly think he is. Again Tyrion will be able to mediate here as well.Again perhaps T will be the man to convince his brother to join the Lannister army to the battle for the dawn.

    Not sure about Tyrion being able to convince Jaime. For all we know his big brother still wants to kill him for killing good old dad.

  314. newbietothegame,

    I’m thinking Tyrion because it wouldn’t make sense story wise for Jamie to come North on Brienne’s advice – which I’m sure she will give – because he as another hero must resist the call at least once or twice.

    Yes Jamie will be pissed at him but if Cersei goes crazy and burns KL down and is in some way responsible for Tommen’s death he will have no family left.

    This is just speculation but I can see Cersei being responsible because she is so committed to protecting her son while at the same time wanting to destroy her enemies she will overplay her hand. I mean after all she is the woman with wildfire in her eyes.

  315. HelloThere:
    I legit think Vanity Fair might have pieced together the Arya mystery!
    http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/06/game-of-thrones-arya-kill-the-waif-plan

    Yes, that is quite similar to what others and I theorized from the beginning, although the biggest question mark is still there: how is she planning on not dying? How does she heal that quickly? Was she really stabbed to begin with? Have we seen magical anti-stabbing potions before? It seems that any resolution will be far-fetched, but I do believe that is by far the most likely route.

    Ginevra
    June 6, 2016 at 12:51 am in the Open Chat

    So, Arya lures the Waif into stabbing her, fakes the blood everywhere, and then goes through the streets to lure the Waif into a chase to the death – a wounded wolf and an easy kill, or so the Waif thinks. And then Arya reveals the plan she was hatching in this episode: the trap for the Waif. Right? I mean, if Arya had really been stabbed four times in the gut, could she be running and leaping like that in the very next episode?

  316. HelloThere,

    Interesting and pretty close to what went down. I’m not sure Arya is as badly wounded as we think. The walk through the streets is an act. I also think she has worked out the Waif is a Frey (speculation) and the stab to the gut is a pointer in this direction – which also explains her antagonism and the reason she wants Arya to suffer. Remember the Waif’s story involved wanting to kill a stepmother and her children and not her father. I know her story doesn’t make complete sense because Walder Frey has has so many wives and children her age would have placed her well down the pecking order in terms of inheritance and power however there is probably still a spattering of truth in the story – enough to seem genuine but not enough to give away her identity.

  317. newbietothegame: Not sure about Tyrion being able to convince Jaime. For all we know his big brother still wants to kill him for killing good old dad.

    Remember the story Tyrion tells Bronn and Shae about his first wife Tysha? Well, in the books

    Jamie tells Tyrion (just prior to releasing him) that Tysha actually was a crofter’s daughter and NOT a whore.

    He should have known how pissed Tyrion would be and therefore not have been surprised at what happened next.

  318. FanofTyrion,

    Agreed. Tywin also proves himself to be hypocrite by taking Shea into his bed when he disdained his own father for taking a common woman as a lover after the death of his own mother.

    Tywin’s bedding Shea also suggests that Tyrion may not in fact be his son. By sleeping with Shea Tywin in a roundabout gets revenge on the Mad King who slept with his wife buy sleeping with the Kings Bastard son “wife”. Again having Tyrion’s first wife used as whore by his soldiers also speaks to a similar motivation.

  319. Sunday June 19th 2016 is Father’s Day so get ready to see a lot of Jon Snow/

    Targaryen

    …. The battle of the Bastards

  320. Simon:
    FanofTyrion,

    Agreed. Tywin also proves himself to be hypocrite by taking Shea into his bed when he disdained his own father for taking a common woman as a lover after the death of his own mother.

    Tywin’s bedding Shea also suggests that Tyrion may not in fact be his son. By sleeping with Shea Tywin in a roundabout gets revenge on the Mad King who slept with his wife buy sleeping with the Kings Bastard son “wife”. Again having Tyrion’s first wife used as whore by his soldiers also speaks to a similar motivation.

    Not so sure about revenge on the Mad King motivation, but it does suggest an almost pathological hatred of Tyrion, which to me suggests that Tyrion is not his son, rather the Mad King’s bastard.

  321. firstone,

    Oh crap, I didn’t realize the battle episode is on Father’s day. I’ll have to watch on DVR after it airs but damn if I won’t be thinking about what I’m missing while sitting at the folk’s house. They don’t have cable or internet 🙁

  322. Mihnea,

    ME TOO!

    And I love the title of this episode!
    They are both bastards so it makes perfect sense

    And remember, Winterfell was temporarily taken over by Ramsay, but it has always been and will always be the STARK house! I can’ t wait to see this episode! Hoping to see a terrific Jon and Ramsay battle, but I want Sansa to be the one who gets to finally kill Ramsay!

    I think she’s earned that right!

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