Mystery solved! Well, partly.
We’ve been wondering who the redheaded actress is who was photographed with the Game of Thrones cast last week in the set photos published by The Daily Mail. The young woman was seen in northern-style costume and later out of costume in street clothes, giving Kit Harington a hug goodbye. In the articles, she’s labeled as Sophie Turner’s double, but with more time and consideration of the evidence at hand, it seems less and less likely to us that this is correct; in fact this actress probably has her own role in season 7.
She’s been identified by WotW commenter Darkstar, and now we know: the actress in the photos is Megan Parkinson.
Parkinson, who is 19 years old according to a profile of her published in May, is a National Youth Theatre alumnus, and hails from Yorkshire. She’s appeared on Holby City and has filmed roles in the upcoming TV movies To Walk Invisible and Our Loved Boy.
Initially we took The Daily Mail‘s report, referring to her as Turner’s double, at face value. However, after examining the photos further there are aspects that make it look like Parkinson is playing a new character this season.
The photographer who snapped the original photos of the cast that appeared in the Mail also posted a few more on their own Twitter, including this one of Parkinson. A crew member is fixing a leather belt onto her, and it looks like the round pommel of a sword is stuck up out of the belt:
The costume is northern and very plain in style. It’s not completely out of the realm of possibility for something Sansa might wear, but it’s unlikely. Similarly, we’re not likely to see Sansa with a sword belt. Parkinson is also probably not Turner’s double when she is a few inches shorter her, based on the photos of her standing with Harington.
So, who is Parkinson playing? Back in June, the first casting notices for season 7 included one for a 16-year-old Northern girl character. The character is part of “a high-stakes scene with leading cast members,” so working with Kit Harington, Gwendoline Christie, Liam Cunningham and more certainly fits the bill.
The same casting call was searching for a 10-year-old Northern boy, to be a part of the same “high-stakes” scene as the teenage girl. We saw in the pictures from The Daily Mail, there was also a boy about that age present and in costume.
Who is this Northern Girl? The show’s version of Alys Karstark, maybe? We didn’t see Lord Karstark die in season 6, but he may have off-screen in the battle, leaving that house to need a new representative. Or is she from another house in the North?
Of course she could be a completely new character, making her un-guessable! But hey, speculation is half the fun.
What do you think, readers?
Hodor
My guess is Karstark judging from her appearance and that we never really closed out their part in the storyline definitively, but its just a guess.
Well, even if she is not Sansa’s body double, they sure look alike. I don’t think this is a coincidence. She is probably meant to look a lot like Sansa for some plot reason.
She’s red so something to do with Jonnyboy.
Assuming this is correct (seems likely), it must have been weird and/or frustrating for her to have photos of her filming reported in newspapers, but with her role misidentified.
Summer,
I wondered about that, but when physical appearance matters to that degree (needing to resemble an existing character) the show typically includes relevant details in the casting notice. The “Northern girl” didn’t say anything about hair or eye colour.
She looks so much like Sansa that I am wondering if there would be a reason for Jon to need a Sansa decoy? Especially because Cersei would definitely be offering a high reward for Sansa’s death at this point.
My current theory:
-The girl is the Karstark or Umber heir.
-The boy is one of Glover’s kids.
-Jon will negotiate a marriage between them to bring Karstark/Umber back into the fold.
r-hard,
LOL
A good rule of thumb is that the Daily Mail is wrong! This applies to everything.
Carbonunit,
Alys Karstark is a ‘grey girl’, she looks like a Stark. Sansa does not look like a Stark. If she has a sword I would have guessed she’s Lyanna Mormont’s aunt.
I’m pretty convinced that the boy and girl are the heirs to Karstark and Umber. It seems like this scene is in the first two episodes so it would make sense to include a scene of Jon doing his first real king’s work bringing the rebellious houses back into the fold.
Which is which, though, who knows. Going by the book you would think the girl is Alys Karstark, but the show referenced Umber’s daughters last season, and that they were trained in hunting/fighting, so I could see them switching her to an Umber just for continuity’s sake and making the new Lord Karstark a little boy instead.
Either way, I would guess this is a riff on the Alys Karstark plot and she’ll marry Tormund to bring her own house, whichever it is, back into Jon’s fold and to tie the wildlings closer to the North. I could see Tormund going for a redheaded swordswoman, particularly is she’s maybe of the feisty Umber sort.
The most likely option seems to be that she is a Karstark (Harald Karstark being a redhead as well) , so she might be the show version of Alys Karstark. I wonder if she will have a similar role to that of book Alys or will her role on the show be something different.
The high stakes scene could be the Umber and Karstark heir being called to Winterfell to have Jon decide the future of their houses. The boy might be the next Lord Umber – TinyJon 🙂 .
The resemblance to Sophie is interesting, even though her build is quite different from Sophie’s.
Sean C.,
You’re right. But maybe there was some part of the casting call that we didn’t see? They could have gone with every type of girl there is, and they go for an actress that looks so much like Sansa that everyone thought she was a body double? I think that even if she isn’t a decoy for Sansa, their similarity is going to be brought up.
She’s not related to Art Parkinson (Rickon), is she?
I was pretty sure she wasn’t ST’s double given how light her hair is and how plain her clothes were. I have to wonder if she’s playing a highborn at all. At this point, I don’t see why so many are trying to align the show with parts of the novel story. Why not a lowborn victim of Ramsay’s or a servant who gets in the middle of things? She could frankly be anything.
Kev,
No. She’s British, and Art is Irish.
The Drunk of the North,
you cant bring the Umbers into the fold anymore.They gave up their liege lord to die. They must be exiled and Last Hearth passed on to a new house. The Karstarks yes….they are starks after all …they rebelled because of Robbs stupidity.
My first thought was one of Tormunds daughters, maybe marrying her into a Northern family to cement an alliance. In the books it was Alys and a Thenn, could be here we have Tormunds daughter and maybe the young Lord from the end of the season, can’t remember his name (Lyanna shamed him in the scene, mentioning how his father was skinned alive).
Could be Alys thought…but this girls a red head, but wouldn’t be the first time they’ve changed hair colors. Karstark could of escaped the battle, returned home to Karhold and kicked out the siblings and taken the castle himself. Then the kids run to Winterfell. Or she could she just be a Wildling fighter? Or maybe the shows version of Val.
Carries a sword, redhead. Yep, Jon is getting some love and she fits the bill perfectly. 😀
Maybe being forced to marry. You know, KITN needs a wife. but in all honesty Alys wasn’t redhead in the books. Maybe it is different version of Alys Karstark or completely new character.
Sansa decides to say fuck it and learns water dancing with the sword.
Although she doesn’t look like the book Karstark, it is probably more important that she looks more like the show version of Lord Karstark, even though she does look too old to be his daughter.
That detail was only relevant in the books for a plotline that the show isn’t going to do, so she can look however the show wants her to look (they aren’t particularly sticklers for physical appearance, particularly for minor parts).
She’s not one of Tormund’s daughters.
She’s not a Wildling.
And she’s not marrying Tormund.
These things can be gleaned from her look, from the casting description that blatantly relates to her and from a basic grasp of reality.
She could be Lyana Stark in a flashback scene
Geralt of Rivia,
Seems unlikely that it will be Jon’s wife… For starters, she was seen sayign goodbye to Kit, *presumably* because she is in her one high stakes scene (singular) and done with the show. Jon’s wife would likely need to be around for awhile.
Also, it seems to me that strategically, Jon is not going to marry simply to unite the North. He has sansa, and two houses (Umber & Karstark) that he can deploy new liege lords to. Given what we know about his parentage and his claim to the throne, I feel like the show will keep him single until he finds that information out to set up the Dany marriage. If she is a show-Alys version, Jon was very concerned with marrying her to tie the wildlings into the North, so I think there’s a better case for Tormund than Jon himself.
Stark Loyalist,
Oh you mean like House Glover who abandoned all the Starks to die, but now is Jons BFF. This is just a wrong assumption.
If she and the young northern boy are part of a “high stakes” scene with the main actors, I wonder if it’s some alliance between the Starks and another Northern House, where Jon perhaps has to offer to marry the girl?
However, after that battle where the Karstarks and Umbers were basically wiped from the face of the earth by the Vale army, and considering all of the northern houses who have united with Jon and Sansa already, would the Karstarks really have many chips to play here as far as having any power over the discussions or enough men to trade their support with? Couldn’t Jon just say “join us in the wars to come or join the army of the dead when they come knocking at your door. k thks.”?
Did you guys knew about this ?
Kit is to produce and star in BBC drama about Guy Fawkes. http://www.techinsider.io/kit-harington-bbc-drama-guy-fawkes-2016-10
Ramsay’s 20th Good Man,
lol, true enough. But could still be Tormund daughter. Also why can’t Wildlings start dressing like Northerners? And nothing has been confirmed that she is casted for the part of the “16 year old northern girl” right? Hell, everyone thought just because she was a ginger that it was Sansa’s body double.
Couldn’t the same be said with her dress? Can’t jump to 100% final conclusions. One way for the Wildlings to start becoming part of the North would be to adapt to their clothes.
I put smile just behind that part meaning I am just joking. She is that girl in one or two scenes. Possibly Alys Karstark or one of Umbers. Maybe even Manderly’s daughter. Bettting more on Karstark or Umber.
First of all claim to Iron Throne means nothing because person who will take the throne, will do it by conquest. Jon claim is lesser than Dany’s and even if by some miracle Rhaegar married Laanna (unlikely), he has no intentions to purse it given threat Beyond the Wall.
We don’t know where or when will Jon find out about his parentage, If he does, you really think he’ll go to Dany and set up marriage or he’ll even want to? Given his moral standards that would be something to put him off this idea. Dany does not need any marriage. She is strong enough and has enough support. It almost got that disney feeling, throw into it what some people want them to fall in love. I can see them doing it but not supporting it or to think it’s needed.
Wtf?
House Glover didnt hold Rickon Stark hostage..House Glover didnt give Rickon Stark to Ramsay. House Glover did charge onto battle against House Stark EVEN THOUGH House Bolton helped them regain their castle….. Just like the manderlys and 90% of the North they just stayed away from that fight.
House Umber, gave up the HEIR TO WINTERFELL to be killed, when they were known to be the most loyal banner of house stark and thats why bran sent Rickon to Last Hearth. Rickons death could jeopardize House Starks future. You think if Ned Stark was alive hewould allow House Umber to rule Last Hearth if they rebelled again the starks nad got one his sons killed??? No!
Do you see the difference…
mandzipop,
Alys Karstark was Rickard Karstark’s daughter, so if this was some version of Alys, Harald Karstark would be her brother.
I’m guessing she’s either Alys Karstark or some other Northern lady and her looking like Ygritte/Sansa is relevant for some storyline on the show.
Is it possible it could be one of Karsi’s daughters that got on the boat before the massacre at Hardhomme? Or were those two girls too young to be 16 now?
Myname,
He’s been working on this for a while. Glad it’s getting made.
Geralt of Rivia,
Didn’t know marrying one’s aunt is disney lmao
Aside from similar hair colour, this girl looks nothing like Sansa, either in face or figure.
The boy could be her brother, and I’m also betting on a middle of the night scene. It doesn’t sound like they’ll be around for longer than that.
Myname,
Cool.Good for GOT actors working other on projects on the side. Hopefully it won’t be years before it gets made.
Didn’t know he has a production company, seems like most actors do nowadays.
Pigeon,
I don’t think it’s a middle of the night scene. Based on the fact that Kit, Gwendoline and Portman were wearing cooling tubes, it seems they will be in their armour for the scene. They were photographed either before they had put on their costumes or after being done for the day.
I have a hunch that Lord Karstark will return.
I thought I recognized this girl from somewhere, but with those limited IMDB entries I’m thinking I must have mistaken her for someone that looks very similar. and no, not Sophie – not much resemblance there
Alys makes sense or another noble girl from one of the northern houses. Will the Alys story be “high stakes” in the books or enough so to make it such for the show at this point? Jon will probably spend most of the season attempting to unite all of the houses/people against the NK, so if this girl is the new Lady of one of those that hasn’t joined him it would make sense.
She is Wylla Manderly that looks like a merman engraved on her belt. The boy is prolly the Kastark heir, but could be anyone in the North or even from the Riverlands (Blackwood?). I think the Umbers are gone, Tormund will be the new lord of Last Hearth.
ghost of winterfell,
It’s a middle of the day scene! ?
If the boy is the Umber heir (or any other relevant member of House Umber), another possibility would be to have him become a ward/hostage to House Stark and live in Winterfell like Theon did.
I don’t understand people who say this new actress Megan Parkinson looks like Sansa. The hair colour is similar though not the same (Sansa’s hair is a darker, deeper auburn colour), that’s about all. Sophie’s face is more of a heart shape, Megan’s face is more square and the eyes and mouth are quite different, too. Also, judging by the pictures with Kit, Megan is nowhere as tall as Sophie. (Sophie is taller than Kit, I believe.)
Flayed Potatoes,
Main heroes and if they fall in love even more so. Which many fans seems to think so. Classic route, much like hidden prince trope.
As to who Megan Parkinson could be playing… She could fill a similar role Alys Karstark does in the books, i.e. a young northern noblewoman marrying a wildling leader to cement alliances.
Tormund’s really the only wildling leader viewers of the show know and care about… But…But… What about Tormienne! 😀 Isn’t Tormund supposed to be wildly in love with Brienne? 😀 (I really liked the brief Tormund/Brienne bits, most of all because it showed to Brienne that men can desire her, a nice boost for her self-confidence – Tormund essentially filled book!Ser Hyle Hunt’s function, though there are differences. However, it was one-sided, Brienne only loves one man, Jaime.)
Stark Loyalist,
SmallJon did that. And he got what was coming to him. His children shouldn’t be punished for it.
Wild North,
I tried to take a closer look at the belt piece earlier but it’s not clear what it is. It sort of just looks like curlicues, decorative bits, and not an exact sigil to me. But I also don’t have the best eyes so other people can take a look.
http://i.imgur.com/570jHsa.jpg
Stark Loyalist,
Under normal circumstances the Starks would probably remove the Umbers and Karstarks from power and crush them militarily if necessary.
But Jon doesn’t need any more conflict right now. He needs the North to unite as quick and easily as possible, and he doesn’t need more men dying trying to root the Umbers and Karstarks out of their castles.
So he will seek a compromise that will re-establish their oaths and offer them an opportunity to prove their loyalty to House Stark once more.
House Bolton is the only House that they’ll wipe off the map completely.
Geralt of Rivia,
Why does Dany not need a marriage? IF she took the Iron Throne and is barren then what happens when she dies? And if she took the Iron Throne and is not barren and has kids, then they are bastards. What happens when she dies? If she legitimizes them, all she does is set the path forward for another round of Blackfyre style rebellions. What a legacy to leave behind. And the North? It’s an independent Kingdom now. Is she going to be okay with the largest chunk of land in Westeros not under her control?
Disney or not, I won’t ignore what has been set up from almost the beginning of the story. It doesn’t need to be a love story. They don’t even need to like each other. But it’s going to happen.
The House of Black and Gold,
Now I have a sad. 🙁
Never for a second thought of her being Sansa’s body double – this post is the nail in the coffin.
By the way, her twitter is @megz8roze. She’s surprisingly quite.. obscure!
Are they not filming any southern/KL stuff yet? Nikolaj just posted on IG and he’s in Denmark and I haven’t seen any photos of Lena yet.
OMG just think how Bran is going to feel once he hears the news about Rickon and Osha. Osha adored Bran and he knew it, and he basically sent her and Rickon to their deaths. Of course, he had no way of knowing that Smalljon would turn out to be a traitorous p.o.s. but he will feel horrible just the same.
About the new redhead – I would have originally said she was a peasant girl defying some army foraging around for food, thus the “high stakes” part of the casting call, but her being outfitted with a sword might change things a bit. I don’t know how many peasant girls would have access to swords, or be able to keep their hair in any decent shape, especially those long red locks she has. So maybe she is a female member of one of the higher houses. I would expect that if she is a highborn northern girl, her family is impoverished by the ongoing wars and grieving at the loss of their men. With most of the men gone from these families, the girls would have to take on the part of defending the family from poachers and such. (which will make Arya much more acceptable to some of the more snobbish ladies) So, my vote is somebody high-born, but the family is having a bad time of it.
talvikorppi,
Yes, Tormienne! I think it would be perfect, if Jon could marry Brienne to Tormund and then send them to Tarth on the honneymoon combined with the WW awareness raising campaign. Jokes aside, Brienne’s father has a good reputation among the lords of Westeros, and if Brienne could persuade him that the WW threat is real, he could turn into a valuable ally for Jon. So, IMO, Jon will be shipping Tormienne himself and I hope that Brienne will get over her silly crush on Jamie as easy as she got over her silly crush on Renley.
As for the ginger gal with a sword, of cause she may end up marrying some other wildling, but her primary role won’t be related to forging alliences. IMO, she will be bringing a message on some kind of a new threat: the fact that she carries a sword implies that she has just been under attack – girls don’t carry swords for ceremonial purposes even in the North, even Lyanna Mormont was going around unarmed. Therefore, it’s logical to assume that the girl and the boy were under some kind of attack they escaped (probably with the help of Brienne and Pod as their presence in the scene implies), and now they come to Jon to ask for aid, which cause him some frustrations.
However, the most intriguing question in such scenario would be the identity of the supposed attacker. It could be either Cersey (from the land) or Euron (from the sea). My bet would be on Euron: he may organize a raid on the North to create an impression that he is planning a full scale invasion and to mask his true goals.
Jack Bauer 24,
I wouldn’t overanalyze it. They’ve both been in Belfast plenty. KL shoots a lot inside on the set where people wouldn’t see them.
Probably Alys Karstark.
A part of me hoped she would be playing the younger version of Catelyn and the 10yo blue eyes boy littleLittlefinger
Summer,
Yes, I think you are absolutely right. There is no way that this is a coincidence. This show even changed the name of Asha (Yara) because we might get it confused with Osha. The show has so many options to make this character look a certain way. In fact, the publicity photo doesn’t indicate Sansa to me at all. However, her photo on set yells Sansa to me. They definitely made her look like Sansa. I wonder why????This should be interesting.
Geralt of Rivia,
Yet R+L=J still happened despite how trope-y people think it is. George isn’t as edgy as fans like to think. He has worked with plenty of tropes in the books and on the show. Jon and Dany have had parallel journeys and a marriage would make perfect sense both politically and from a storytelling perspective.
Megan Parkinson does not seem to be a natural redhead. Brown eyelashes and brown roots. They made her a redhead for a reason.
Inga,
Any potential attack Euron makes on the North would be along the stony shore, which is the opposite side of Westeros from KL/ Dany’s most likely potential landing sites. And given that he’s supposedly allied with Cersei in S7 and he’s been focussed on Dany last season, I can’t see him making that move. Also, Brienne and Pod wouldn’t pass that way between Riverrun and Winterfell.
Starkmad,
Except The Man of the Year Award for Hitler, that was pretty on point. 😛
Jay Sneed,
Her hair was that color before she joined the show.
http://www.airedalesprings.co.uk/to-walk-invisible-actor-visits-airedale-springs-ltd/
This is so exciting! Another cool Northern gal! I loved Lyanna M. so maybe this girl will be awesome too 🙂
She is really really beautiful wow!
She reminds of the model Rianne Van Rompaey: http://www.wmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Rianne-4-6-201547934_3-279×420.jpg
I don’t think allowing the merger of the Karstarks and Umbers into one mega-house would be wise political move for the Starks. (assuming this girl is the head of her house)
One thought I’ve had is that perhaps Jon agrees to marry the girl, but then is confronted with a more politically advantageous offer and is put in a similar spot to Robb, having to choose between political gain and personal familiarity/attraction.
I am betting on Alys Karstark.
If Megan’s character doesn’t fill the books’ Alys Karstark function (marry a wildling leader, and in the books, also prevent a house allying with the Boltons, but that’s irrelevant in the show now), she could still be someone with a potential for alliances.
Sam’s lovely mum, in that awkward Tarly family dinner scene, mentioned that Lord Umber has let her daughters be trained in hunting (possibly even fighting?), and this actress was being fitted with a sword belt and possibly also a sword in those pictures. Youngjoan Umber? Bringing the Umbers back into the Stark/KitN fold?
And, as several commentators have said, Jon Snow has suddenly become very eligible to northern houses that acknowledge his kingship. No longer bound by NW vows, and a King, no less! I don’t think Jon’s going to rush into marriage, the WW threat takes all priority for him, but can’t blame northern lords for trying to put forward their nubile daughters… There’s even potential for conflict there, if a northern lord feels Jon snubs his daughter (=him). I don’t think the show will go down that path but it’s a possibility.
A redhead wielding weapons… So, not your typical Westerosi young lady… Hmm… Just Jon’s type…
In the bigger picture, the show had Dany dump Daario because she might need to be free to marry someone for an alliance in Westeros. Let’s see who’s there (only major houses which can bring substantial lands and/or troops count, so no love match with some lovely and gallant “Ser Ronald of Sunnybridge” type)
Dorne – Ellaria and the Sand Snecks killed the prince and his heir, the young, eligible Prince of Dorne, and took power, so no marriage prospects there.
The Reach – the Tyrells equal old Lady Olenna and maybe some distant cousins. Lord Randyll Tarly, however, has a young, eligible son in Dickon Tarly, even if he’s a bit of a dick. But he is Sam’s brother, so maybe not all bad…
Stormlands – no idea. The Baratheons are gone and I have no idea who holds the Stormlands now. Probably Cersei, nominally, but I doubt their allegiance is very strong. Dany could appoint some Stormlord the new Lord Paramount, I guess, and marry him – but not going to happen in the show because we don’t know any Stormlords and there’s absolutely no foreshadowing for this.
Westerlands – Jaime Lannister… erm. No. He killed her dad. And in Dany’s reign, Casterly Rock goes to Tyrion, anyway.
The Iron Islands – Dany is already allied with Asha and Theon, so no marriage with Euron.
Riverlands – Edmure is married and the Freys might be in some disarray, involved in internal fighting, and most senior Freys are married anyway. So, no Riverlands alliance.
The Vale – Lord Robin Arryn. He’s a bit young, but for a political marriage… But even Dany would be a bit eww… (She likes strong warrior types.)
The North – Jon Snow. King in the North, former LC of the Night’s Watch. Officially a rebel against the Seven Kingdoms as per his title, obsessed with a threat from beyond the Wall.
So, Dany’s choices are maybe Dickon Tarly, Robin Arryn or Jon Snow. Or a total wildcard from the Stormlands, but that’s unlikely to happen in the show. Would she marry before the wars or promise to marry after the wars? (Jon Snow, KitN, faces the same dilemma.)
Will Jon’s parentage become known, and if so, to whom and when? and will anybody believe it and how will it affect potential marriage prospects?
Dany Targaryen would be delighted to have family (proved by some dragon bonding?) and wouldn’t mind marrying a nephew, but Jon Snow (Stark/Targaryen) might be more conflicted about that. But he’ll do whatever it takes to fight the WW and save humankind, even promise to semi-incestuosly marry Dany for the dragons and troops. He’s desperate. Dany has no idea how desperate.
Anyway, I don’t think both Jon and Dany will survive the ultimate war, so them promising to, or actually marrying doesn’t matter. When it’s all over, they’re both dead, or maybe one of them surviving. So, even if they did get married somewhere along the line during the war, it wouldn’t matter for the post-end game. (Unless there was a baby, but that’s such a long shot I’m not counting on it.)
Sorry for stupidly long post. I should learn to be less verbouse.
I agree. But at the same time both houses have no armies and both houses will always be known has traitors in the north. Its not like they hold a massive army that Jon needs help with.
Sue the Fury,
Just saying’ . . .
https://twitter.com/megz8roze/media
For hundreds of years the north has been independent with a king in the north as their leader. Until the Targaryen Conquest, they never bent the knee. This is what I remember from the books but I guess I could read it again. Historically the north is almost impossible to hold due to the fact that it’s about 1000 miles away from everything else and the people in the south can’t handle the cold the way northerners can. Stannis’s defeat is recent proof of that. The only reason the 7 kingdoms stayed together after Robert’ rebellion or ( the usurper) is due to the family/friend relationship between Robert and Ned. Ned is the reason that the south was able to hold the north. Even before the fall of the Targaryens certain families were banding together and they were arranging marriages within their houses. That is why Prince Rhaegar paid for the tournament at Harrenhal, so he can unite with the northern houses and overthrow his crazy father. I think theoretically speaking, if Dany held Kings Landing then maybe Jon (as her nephew) could hold the north and we could see something similar to what Ned and Robert had. But I also don’t think that will happen since George stated that fire is Dany and ice is the white walkers. George’s words, not mine. This is Dany’s purpose. So the face off in this magical world is between those two forces of nature, fire and ice. The other set up from the very beginning has been Bran’s story. I know he is paralyzed and he’s not this exceptional warrior like Jon is, but he’s not even completely human anymore in this fictional world. He is meant to face the night king. George might be planning something that isn’t so obvious or even as popular as what we might hope will happen. That is why I love to speculate and not get locked on one theory. As far as the young girl, it could be possible that a marriage between a northern house and the free folk could unify the north even more. I know that what I am writing isn’t based on tons of research on the books and note taking to prove a theory but I like to believe that GRRM will continue to throw us off in unexpected ways.
I think we all need to move away from this marriage obsession. Neither Jon nor Dany need any form of marriage to strengthen their forces and the impending icemageddon will bring their combined forces together, rather than a wedding. There’s just no time for this. Besides which- there’s no way Jon will agree to marry his aunt (or his cousin). Period.
I do not think she is Wylla Manderley. Lyanna Mormont’s speech in S6Ep10 served a similar purpose to Wylla’s speech in the book. I could not see a distinctive design on the belt but will check later and compare to sigils.
Oh honey, in the realm of stupidly long posts this one is left at the gate. Just wait until Winter, (ha) after filming, when things really get slow and the tiniest tidbit is leaked for us chew on, a tidbit that might open the door to comment about plot lines, (usually about Sansa) and you will see some stupidly long posts, mine among them. At least you maintained your thread of thought and made good points. And yours might have been long but it wasn’t “stupid” … so, no worries, carry on and stick around the whole off season. We’ll need you 😉
Stark Loyalist,
I doubt that they’ve been left with no fighting men at all.
The Umbers, for example, wouldn’t have left the Last Hearth totally undefended considering that the reason they chose to ally with the Boltons was because of the threat they felt the Wildlings posed.
I think both Houses will still have more than the Mormonts’ 62 men to pledge to Jon’s cause. Even if they’ve only got a few hundred men left between them, that’s still the sort of number Jon would appreciate in his army at this time and which would be a nuisance if the Starks were forced to subdue them by force.
Anyway, the sooner Jon brings these Houses back into the fold the sooner he will be able to order evacuations or defences of the various lands and castles of the North when the White Walkers breach the Wall.
Be it fighting age men, women or children, all of these Houses’ subjects are potential soldiers in the army of the dead.
The less time spent trying to re-establish their fealty to the Starks the better for planning the North’s defences and potential evacuation plans.
Apollo,
You are right: Euron’s attacks should be expected along the stony shore, which is the opposite side of Westeros from Dany’s potential landing sites. However, what about the Neck and Moat Cailin? It’s pretty close to the Iron Islans, it has a strategic importance as the gateway to the North and the Ironborn held it in S2-4 which implies that Moat Cailin is accessible from the western coast. Moreover, if the attack happens early in the season (Ep1-2), Euron will still have “time” to sail around Westeros till Ep4 (or later), when we expect him to attack Dany’s fleet. Varys went from Dorne to Meereen in one episode, right?
And there may be more plot twists involving Moat Cailin. First of all, I would like to know how Littlefinger past through it with the army of the Vale? Could that be related to his friends in the North he mentioned in “The Book of the Stranger”? Of cause, the showrunners may simply leave these questions unanswered, but it would be fine to have the loose threds tied or rather wooven into a new plot.
Her hair us auburn, like a young Catelyn, kid is probably young Littlefinger. Saw this on Because Geek.
icequinn,
Several years ago Harignton said in an interview that he was interested in producing. So, good to know he pursued his interest. Hopefully it gets done quickly. Sounds interesting…
Because Geek posted an interesting theory on Youtube about Megan and the young blue-eyed boy: they could be young Cat and young Littlefinger. It could make sense. LF will most probably play an important role in the next season. Flashbacks are likely to explain his motivations further ; also, we have yet to meet Brandon Stark. Therefore, we will probably be introduced to young Cat, young Lysa and young LF at some point. But I had not noticed the belt Megan was wearing… I do not imagin young Cat with a sword. So, we’ll see…
Jay Sneed,
Not sure what you’re getting at. She has the same color in all those photos.
Ispahan75,
Those actors were filming with several main cast members, which we know both from the casting notice and because they were literally photographed together. They are not flashback characters. I’m frankly baffled that possibility keeps coming up.
Even setting all that aside, I really don’t see what people think flashbacks of them would add. Littlefinger’s plans are mysterious; his motives are not. He wanted to marry Catelyn, and didn’t get what he wanted, and his crushed dream curdled into villainy.
I was about to say that Moat Cailin is only accessible from the east (and Yara’s apparent teleportation there has bugged me for so long), but on looking at another Westeros Map it does indeed appear to be accessible from the West coast… so you could have a point. And I’m glad I can put that annoyance to rest so thanks 😉
Summer,
not out of the realm of possibility. They have to be as secretive as they can be!
Sean C.,
They were photographed together exiting a make-up truck. So, they were filming at the same moment, yes. It does not mean that they were filming together. I guess multiple opinions are authorized on this forum, no? Baffling or not.
As I also noted, the casting notice for those two roles specified that they would be in a scene with “leading cast members”, rather like the several leading cast members they were photographed with. There’s no indication Isaac was there (if he would even count as “cast members” plural).
could it be in Arya in some trippy return to Winterfell, tricking Jon, Davos and Brienne into thinking she is Sansa and then Bran (young northern boy casting call)?? The sword obviously isn’t needle, lots of ways to disprove this theory but it would make the Sophie resemblance make some sense
I think if they still wanted to keep the Umbers, they could simply do it like this. SmallerJon was good friends with Rickon and got pissed when SmallJon betrayed him. Jon wouldn’t exile a boy of 10.
Inga,
Inga, I really like your wild speculations and enjoy reading them though I seldom agree.
Take this “Tormienne” thing. There’s NO way it leads into anything. Tormund might’ve crushed on her immediately – she’s what wildlings like in a woman: tall and strong and wielding weapons – but Brienne is a southron lady, she values courtesies and chivalry and oaths and kneeling. Tormund has no idea. He’s not a bad man, I actually love him, HAR! But he and Brienne will never be, because she loves another.
She loves another who shares her high ideals of knighthood. Even if he hasn’t been able to fulfill those ideals. Brienne’s and Jaime’s connection is so spiritual it’s off the scale. Tormund is lovely but he’d never understand her and all her vows and oaths and why they matter to her. Tormund’s not a kneeler. He’s an honourable and honest man but he’d never understand the southron chivalric code Brienne lives by.
HAR! Brienne and Jaime! In the books it’s more obvious but the show might finally be getting there as well.
talvikorppi,
Your post was just OK for me: keep writing. And I do share your thoughts. I think that Dany will be choosing between Jon and Dickon, and though Jon looks definitely better, rejecting Dickon may backfire: his dad may take it as an insult and turn to Cersei.
As for Jon and Dany, I also thing that their marriage will be either uncomfortable or short-lived (or both). The problem is that Dany is turning colder and colder towards all the potential suitors. She treated Hizdahr like shit (poor guy), she treated Daario even worse, I feel like she is going to treat Jon the same way (at least in the beginning), and then we’ll see whether Jon will be able to tame the dragon.
Wonder if she could be a Mallister – sigil on belt looks a bit like a high flying bird to me…
Emphasis mine.
It was not a publicity photo. It was a pap shot. Nothing to do with HBO or any of the production companies involved with GoT.
Also, I don’t think Megan Parkinson looks anything like Sophie Turner. But please carry on.
talvikorppi,
The photos of her on set do have the Sansa look. I obviously am not the only one to think so considering she was first mistaken as Sophie, and then as her double. I think the camera shots of her in costume from behind (with the braided hair) are pretty identical to Sansa. Certainly she isn’t exactly like Sansa, but very close. I think too close to be a coincidence. My apologies for calling the picture that is posted on this site (above- her portrait ) a publicity photo. I was just trying to reference the picture above.
At first I thought she looked a bit like the actress/extra who played Jeyne Poole in season one, minus the hair color ofcourse. But they completely sidestepped the Jeyne Poole masquerade storyline on the show so I doubt it will be brought up now.
But I agree with some of the commenters here that the resemblance in her appearance with that of Sansa’s is probably not a coincidence.
So does this mean Sansa won’t be in the scene, although everybody else seems to be? I think she wasn’t seen there and the body double thingy is out of the way now too. Any thoughts where she might be?
Sj,
Beth Cassel would sort of fit that role, she’s believed to still be a prisoner at the Dreadfort in the books, and I can’t imagine she’s been treated gently. And coincidentally the character is a redhead who’s around the same age as Arya who is 17 in the show. But yeah she could be someone not from the books…
There are new pictures posted on the guy’s twitter account
We finally have a pirture of Tormund and one of the Maester who worked for the Boltons on season 6 (I don’t remember his name)
https://twitter.com/pap4u/status/783047946866745344
Understanding that people are split on how these two will interact in the remaining story, IF there is a marriage or romantic relationship between Jon and Daenerys I don’t know that we’ll see (most of ) it in the show. I could see the kindling being lit and that inevitable result being alluded to, but the ‘ever after’ being left to our imagination similar to Aragorn and Arwen at the end of The Return of the King. Dany has yet to choose anyone due to love so I don’t think we can compare her attitude toward one that she might. She grew to love Drogo but was forced into that relationship. Hizdahr was simply a political pairing and Daario was more of a ‘partner’ than a permanent companion.
Of course, some believe one or both are definitely going to die before then end so I guess then it wouldn’t really matter. 😛
Could it be a girl that Jon falls for? Red hair like his last GF? Just a thought.
Edith,
Maester Wolkan played by Richard Rycroft.
Lord Stamps,
Jon getting with someone who looks that much like Sansa would be creepy af. Not just the hair but she resembles her features.
Like that’s even creepier than getting with Sansa herself, which would be creepy, because at least then he isn’t projecting his weird fantasies on someone else.
I feel like there won’t be any time for romance, I feel like any unions will strictly be political.
talvikorppi,
Well, Tormund could learn some courtesy – I can even imagine him asking Jon for an advise (that would be hilarious)!
But on a serious note, I think that when Brienne said that she loved Jamie as a brother, she was closer to the truth than she thought. Let’s be frank: she is extremely vulnerable and every man who shows her kindness appears to her as a knight in shining armour. That was the case with Renley, that was the case with Jaime, and now she loves them both. Of cause, her relationship with Jaime is deeper, because she kind of feels that he needs her and her belief that he can be a better man. And that’s a really admirable relationship, that can really drag Jaime out of Cersei’s claws. But that’s not love – not that type of love. For Jaime Brienne is an absolute moral authority, a substitute of a mother or an elder sister, and reducing her to a subject of sexual interest would be simply vulgar (at least for me, but I think the showrunners share that oppinion based on the dialog between Bronn and Pod).
So, summing up I think that Brienne’s love to Jaime is really sacred and should stay in heaven, but if she wants to be happy in this world, she should turn her eyes on someone more earthy, like Tormund. And I want her to be happy. Really. Life is short, especially in GoT. And if she loses that chance of happiness she has, she will be a fool undeserving any sympathy whatsoever.
Well from a distance she resembles Sophie could we have a playon the Davos head scene where LF tries to play Cersei?
Right now I lean for a Ally Karstark version in the show.
Edith,
I’m so happy the maester is back lmao. He had such a terrible time working for Ramsay. I felt bad for him.
So…
Likely options:
– Alys Karstark.
– “Smalljean” Umber
Less likely options:
– One of Tormund’s daughters (he has two).
– Val?
Yeah, he’ll have a much better time in service to Jon. Presence of a maester is also interesting given a theory I have regarding Sam (that the 610 scene where he arrives at the Citadel and they pointedly have no knowledge of the change of leadership at Castle Black sets up Sam finding out what happens to Jon in 610 before he finds out what happens to Jon in 510).
She has similar colouring to Paul Rattray who played Harald Karstark last season. Maybe we’ll find out what happened to Lord Karstark. He disappeared.
Clob,
Yes, I would like to have Dany meeting Jon in the last episode of the series, so the further development of their relations could be left for the imagination of the viewers. Or at least something similar to the ending of the Gone with the Wind. Killing one of them or both would be too final and a bit melodramatic IMO.
Edith,
Interesting photos. Now it looks like Littlefinger is having a scene with the maester, whereas Jon, Davos, Brienne, Pod, Lord Glover, and the ginger gal with the sword (and the boy) are involved in another. Tormund should be in it too, I guess. So, basically it’s KITN with his Small Council + two new characters + Brienne and Pod who might be their escort. But where is Sansa? Is she being allienated or allienating hersef from decision making? Looks like that, but why? Can she be sick or… pregnant? (NO, please D&D, not that!) But anyway she may have some health problems that would keep her in her chamber and also explain the presence of the maester and Littlefinger having a private talk scene with him.
Megan Parkinson and Sophie Turner look nothing alike. One’s got a square jaw, the other a heart-shaped face, not to mention different eyes and mouths. The only resemblance is long red hair (which Sophie dyes for the role, she’s a natural blonde). By your reasoning, I could look like Sophie Turner/Sansa if I dyed my long blond hair red. I wish. 😀
But if you want to feel creepy at an imaginary thing, go right ahead.
Apollo,
I agree on your sentiments regarding Jon. Also, Jon and Dany can agree to ally with each other just by the fact that they are related. Marriage is not necessary.
Inga,
Let’s be frank. Brienne called Jaime a monster and Kingslayer before she got to know him properly. Before she got to know the real story of his defining moment in life. Before she understood what made Jaime tick. The point when she calls him Ser Jaime is huge. Both book and show. How can Jaime not appreciate someone who sees into his innermost self even better than he does, and still appreciates him? It’s true love, though neither of them quite know it yet.
Brienne is Jaime’s conscience, his hope of redemption. Jaime knows it. He gave Brienne a Valyrian steel sword to keep his oath, to try to do some good for a change. Later, he went out of his way to resolve the Riverrun siege peacefully, contrary to Cersei’s wishes, which were to kill everyone. I think it was important that in the same episode Cersei “chose violence”. The episode where Jaime decidedly avoids violence.
Terrence,
If they are going with the Jon/Sansa thing (which I don’t believe would actually become anything important), maybe they could be setting it up by having Jon engage in some mild flirtation with a girl who looks a lot like her? Like, so it will feel deliberately weird to the viewer and to the characters around. I don’t like the disney thing of Jon and Dany marrying at the end, but I do feel it’s the only way to go. But to keep it GOT tragic, Dany might fall in love, but not Jon. And then of course he dies saving the world.
The son and the Daughter of Mance Rayder.
Zig,
Yep, I’m with BG on this. Bran wandering back through Littlefinger’s past – sees Brandon wound him, then him betray Ned in the Throne Room. Pure speculation, but it’d be awesome to see LF come undone like that.
Maybe she’s Melisandre!
Don’t understand why some people think she’s a potential romance for Jon. The actress is 19 years old. If they were going to hire an actress this late in the game to be a romantic interest, then they would get someone who ISN’T a teenager.
El-Bobbie,
If they wed him to someone, I feel like it should be an established character ( no real good choices here). At this point, I don’t think I can get emotionally invested in new characters/romances. If they were going to go this route, they had an awesome opportunity with Karsi. I really liked her, and it was still early enough in the series to develop it into something profound. However, with the end so near I don’t want to spend time getting to know and care about a new character. I want to see the characters I already know and care about to find closure.
El-Bobbie,
Not necessarily.
We’re talking about a medieval society here. Youth and fertility are desired qualities in a bride.
Not to mention that marriages are generally made between who’s available and according to how it benefits the two parties (and their families) rather than according to who’s most appropriate age-wise.
I think it’d be perfectly reasonable for the producers to cast a 19-year-old as a romantic interest for Jon Snow. Especially bearing in mind that Jon Snow is not meant to be as old as Kit Harington is.
All that being said, I don’t think this character will be a romantic interest for Jon. There simply isn’t time to establish a new relationship with everything else going on.
However, I do think they could use her presence to bring up the prospect of political marriage (mimicking Ned and Cat’s marriage before the rebellion) and/or perhaps provoke some feelings of insecurity or jealousy in Sansa to help foment any potential divided loyalties she has between Jon and Littlefinger.
Mawk,
If the theory that Tormund had a lover from Bear island is for real, there might have been offspring.
talvikorppi,
Every thing you write about Jaime and Brienne is true 100 percent. It’s true love but of a different kind. It’s asexual. That scene they had in the bathtub – they staged it as pieta, and although it may foreshadow that Jaime will indeed die in Brienne’s arms, it also hints that their love is more like between a mother and a child (or a teacher and a failing student, if you prefer it), but not like between a man and a woman. And IMO, it would indeed be vulgar to degrade something like that to simple f***ing.
But of cause, you may have different opinion and preferences, and the showruners will probably kill Brienne before she sorts out her feelings and that will be even more tragic than Hodor holding the door.
El-Bobbie,
Not really, cause Jon is only supposed to be like 21 right now. A 19 year old is perfectly feasible for a romance or marriage with him.
I get so frustrated when I see Jaime, after all of his growth, continue back into this dysfunctional thing he has with Cersei. That is what worries me about his future, since I feel this diseased attachment and loyalty he feels towards her, if he continues on this path, will result in his eventual downfall. As the actor who plays Jaime stated in an interview, Brienne is the best of him, and Cersei is the worst. As GRRM tries to show us in his books again and again, its the relationships that grow over time that last the longest, not this insane “love since birth, it’s our destiny” garbage. He gives us the beautiful example of Cat and Ned. When Cat was younger she was infatuated with Brandon Stark, who was physically more handsome, well built, etc. But as she grew older, she grew to understand how true, unconditional love goes beyond how tall someone is, or the initial excitement and rush of a infatuation. I hope this happens for Jaime, but since it is Game of Thrones, I am not really holding out for it. If your choices help determine your fate (Rob Stark is a perfect example of this) then I really worry for Jaime.
Praj,
Lyanna has black hair (we have already seen her on the show)
Crackpot guess, Arya in disguise? Maybe in the North to kill Littlefinger?
Inga,
Actually, there is one suitor she was everything but cold towards…*cough, cough*
You know, like…crying, ans saying she wanted him by her side?
*cough, cough*
Pretty Crow,
I am glad to find people who thought the same. Frankly, I find this marriage obsession quite annoying.
Okay, so she’s from a Northern family, this much we can be pretty well assured of..I’m 99% sure that any living heirs of Lord Umber are now homeless. The only way I could see them be still in residence at Last Hearth is if Jon decides that the fact Lord Umber gave up his brother to Ramsay is a forgivable offense, IF it means keeping the North united for the battle against the WW. So, could be she IS an Umber or even a Karstark. Jon isn’t a fool, he knows now that he has to unite the houses if any of them stand a chance against the impending invasion. As to WHO she is for certain I don’t have a guess, but I’m pretty sure she will now be the head of a Northern house and will face off with Jon during an attempt to unite the North.
My two cents worth…lol. Probably totally off base here.
Sophie still blonde and not filming yet!! I wonder when she will start… wonder if Maisie has started!
Ramsay’s 20th Good Man,
I don’t think the female actress is going to be a love interest for Kit, but I do think that these two characters represent House Karstark and House Umber; and I think they will be definitely be the stimulus for conflict between Jon and Sansa. At Castle Black last season, I remember Sansa comparing the Karstarks somewhat more favorably to the Umbers, who she was all like, yeah they can all gfts. But we all know Jon will probably want to be merciful somehow. I can also see LF trying to play a lot of angles here, trying to sabotage any arrangements Jon made (maybe with the Maester’s help?) so he could tell Sansa, “I told you so” if things fell apart.
I agree with Sansa that there is a big difference in what these two houses did to betray House Stark, but even with the Umbers, I’m thinking that if the adults (or adult men) are at least wiped out, that it would be good for Jon to give the Umber kid/s a chance. I’m envisioning something like the novel Pillars of the Earth
Question: Why do people keep thinking there will be a conflict between Sansa and Jon? Has there been some kind of report about it?
I can’t see Sansa in anyway whatsoever going against Jon, I can see her being involved a lot more now in regards to the politics of the North – but she will not be siding with anyone. She knows not to trust LF, no matter what he whispers into her ear. Also, I can’t see LF betraying Jon or the North either, he wants the Iron Throne. He would need the North for that – destabilizing them now wouldn’t help his cause. Plus he wants Sansa – if anything I could see him attempting to broker a marriage between him and Sansa.
I would love for Tyrion to show up in the North and say “Hello wife! Its been a while.”
Dee Stark,
Sophie has been filming. She was in Belfast the week before the Emmys and the week after. She’s just wearing a wig this year.
Mawk,
Literally everybody and their dog associated with the show has been talking up the potential of Jon/Sansa conflict since the Season 6 finale.
Prior reading the comments, I thought she was related to Art Parkinson. Knowing they share the same name, it makes me wonder still.
I am really curious who she will be playing as and which house she’s from if she’s from the north. My need for Season 7 intensifies.
Because she has all she needs, maybe that’s why. If she dis and s barrne, then she can name someone her heir. You don’t need marriage to ally yourelf with someone against white walkers, Everbody needs to fight them if thy wnat to live. Literally, there is no reason for her to pursue mariage raher than conviniet way to put them together.
She can take North if she wants, because three fir breathing dragons gies you power. Much like Aegon with Torrhen Stark.
Show set up what exactly from the beginning? Romance? Am I missing something here because where did you get this idea from? Parallels in their stories means romance? I would be careful with you and your idea of it’s going to happen unless you read the script. But if you want GOT ruined by it be my guest.
Sean C.,
Yeah and I still don’t get why, you would think she’s learned enough through all the crap she’s been through to either play the game on her own or with family. Family hasn’t betrayed her yet, but seems like everyone else has. Don’t know why LF whispers would work now when he handed her over to Ramsay.
Except that red hair isn’t really northern in Westeros. That’s Benioff and Weiss shitting on canon once again.
that I did not know! thanks
One assumes because the writers are trying to switch gears back into some version of the book endgame for these characters, and the books will not have a plot where Littlefinger hands Sansa over to a sadistic rapist.
If anyone is interested in seeing her act, her episode of Holby City is on YouTube. Her scenes are from
14:41 to 15:35
20:37 to 21:46
27:40 to 28:38
34:32 to 35:50
50:39 to 51:42
http:// https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVCEbCBUN00
Game of Bad Adaptations,
I know you’re just trolling, but Wildings are of the same descent as Northerners and Jon observed that Wildlings had every hair color. And Ygritte in particular.
Also, LF is skilled at picking away at people’s insecurities and Sansa and Jon have not always been close. More whispers about how Jon is her half-brother and that Ned and Catelyn’s true-born child should be in charge at Winterfell approaching……
I have no idea who she is but people shouldn’t get too caught up on hair color if she is a Karstark based on book hair color. Robb had red hair in the books and he had dark hair on the show…so they don’t follow everything in the books.
Mawk,
I can’t speak for everyone, but I think there will be conflict between Jon and Sansa because Petyr Baelish wants for there to be.
I am not one of those sorts who delights in this possibility though, more despairs in it. I hope Sansa is smart enough to turn the tables on him, but I am keeping my hopes modest, because while I feel that LF is a repulsive POS, I think that he is also a BAMF manipulator of interpersonal relationships.
Summer,
Saw a fan pic of Sansa in Paris today and she still has blonde hair! I wonder if LF killed her because he promised Cersie Sansa’s head.???
Sean C.,
We’ll have to wait and see how Harry the Heir behaves…
mandzipop,
I don’t think it’s a throwaway either that she is a redhead. If we give the redhead thing a look, maybe she has come to court to seek Jon’s hand, someone speerheading this, as anyone would do for their daughter or alike, to marry a young unmarried king… What if this alienates Sansa, just the prospect of Jon marrying…. and propels her to make some bad choices. I could be totally off base. But the intrigue of who marries the King… is typical Game of Thrones. ANd she looks older than 16. BUT….
Otherwise, her being married to Tormund makes sense. Or her being one his daughters, and aligning houses. Allies. Bring Free Folk into the fold.
Jongreen,
I think too her resemblance could be used to make Sansa feel put out… if, and only if, she’s not Alys Karstark remix, she could be a potential coupling for Jon. And it be just enough for Sansa to start the LF game, realizing someone has to marry Jon, putting Sansa on back-burner and a wife would be QUeen. THe fact that she looks like Sansa is just salt in the wound.
Or… not.
Jon’s not concerned with the Iron Throne. No in anyway shape or form. He wasn’t concerned with King of the North either. Jon gets put in situations bc ppl need him. He’s a bastard, and was made King over Sansa, a full-northern. So, however it goes down and the North starts to feel the threat. And they will. It’s imposible they wouldn’t. Hear of 3 dragons scorching and taking over KL. Scary. You’d have to assume from afar they’re coming for you at some point. Even tho the odds are that Dany’s army would survive the ride north in cold, it’s still scary. I don’t know how it will play, but if there is ever a situation where they know who Jon is, someone will push to have him claim. Even if they were not married, his claim is higher than Dany’s. Either way, he wouldn’t win and he knows it, which is why he’ll agree to marry her. One way or another, whether he knows who he is or not.
Terrence,
I’m sold she is Alys Karstark, or a version of. They even sort of look alike. Jon might imprison him, similar how remix was in the book. She rides to the Wall. But sho, she might ride to Winterfell.
http://imgur.com/a/SCOqa
A Dornish Tyrell,
I concur with your suspicion 😉
Ramsay was prone to intentional cruelty; Harry the Arse seems inclined towards mindless cruelty. Book Sansa may not be much luckier than her TV show counterpart…
Based on what, exactly? He’s a jockish womanizer, a pretty standard type among nobles. Nothing we’ve seen suggests any differently; if he was “mindlessly cruel”, he would have a reputation for it.
Nicola,
She really resembles Lyanna Mormont. And Lyanna Mormont hasn’t been spotted yet, has her?
Sean C.,
I agree wholeheartedly with you when you say Harry seems like a pretty standard noble type; however, to me (and it is of course highly subjective), the “standard noble type” is permeated by a form of cruelty which takes the form of an inbuilt callous disregard for the feelings and experiences of those they consider beneath them. Since it is the norm for his social class, such behaviour would not alarm any of his peers or give birth to any dire reputation.
Furthermore, if and when Harry marries Sansa, he will legally own her. By Westerosi standards, there is no such thing as marital rape since wives belong to their husbands and have no right not to consent. Ignoring one’s wife’s protestation or silent dissent is lawful from Last Hearth to Sunspear. Would Harrold “Standard Type” Hardyng dismiss his gods-given right for Sansa’s sake ? Maybe, maybe not. We know way too little to make a truly educated guess.
All we are aware of is that he is a womaniser which, in and by itself, is neither here nor there : Casanova was a remarkable womaniser and he respected all his partners. Harry, conversely, seems to view his conquests as entirely disposable; things he can have fun with and throw away when they are no longer satisfactory (fat as a cow…) Would that callousness extend to any hypothetical wife of his ? I would not put all my money on it but it might not be completely far-fetched.
On a more general note, the Young Falcon may physically resemble a young Jon Arryn but, in my eternally subjective opinion, he is awfully reminiscent of a young Robert Baratheon (handsome, dashing, charismatic, “warrior-like”, womanising) and I do not think Robert was ever a particularly good guy.
Lyanna Stark was certain he would continue to cheat on her once they were married, irrespective of both her feelings on the matter and his own professions of everlasting, exclusive love. As for his treatment of Cersei, well… A Feast for Crows gave us a raw glimpse into the reality of their marriage and that was not pretty.
Do I believe Harry would rape Sansa in the way Ramsay did her show counterpart ? Hell to the no ! Bolton was a sadist who extracted his pleasure from other people’s degradation and helplessness while Harrold appears to have zero inclination towards any such thing.
Do I think the Falcon could get drunk, force himself on Sansa and not even understand why she may be hurt by the experience because “she’s my wife, that’s ok, right ?” ? Yes, I do reckon he has the potential.
It is all obviously my wild speculation about a character we have barely met so… It is to be taken with a full swimming pool of salt. 😉
ACME,
All any of us has is speculation, of course, so one can hold either position in good faith. My original objection, though, was to ask what the point of this would be? Because before Season 6 finished, the main argument people made for why the show’s plot had some commonality with the books in this regard was that this was going to be the thing that turned Sansa against Littlefinger. Except, of course, that it didn’t turn Sansa against Littlefinger. She was mad at him for one episode, and even in that episode she still listened to what he said and did nothing that inconvenienced him, before the plot railroaded her back into his camp. And now, by all indicators, he’s going to be playing her like a fiddle next season for much of it. Which is why people were wondering, why is Sansa still listening to him after all that? My answer is, because there isn’t any equivalent to this in the books, and the show is circling back to the book endgame which requires the two of them to be sympatico up to a certain point.
Sean C.,
You do make an excellent point. To me, the absolute clincher is in the question you mentioned : why is Sansa still listening Baelish after all that ?
What is the “all that” he did ?
For better and, above all, for worse, Littlefinger did not force Sansa to marry Ramsay. Nor did he keep any information about Ramsay secret from her (I seem to recall the writers confirmed he genuinely did not know about Bolton’s sadism… But I may very well be wrong about that one). He did not trick her or lie to her… About that ! He lies about pretty much everything else under the sun 😉
He offered her a plan : “you want Winterfell, the Boltons have it. To gain access to Winterfell, you must get yourself a Bolton. Wed and bed Ramsay to get him to do your bidding; when the time comes, Stannis will show up, destroy the Boltons and leave you in charge.”
Now, one might (very, very easily) say that it was hardly the plan of the century. Seven hells, it was not even the plan of the last five minutes ! Yet to be fair, in my entirely subjective opinion, it was not that much worse than Book Littlefinger’s “turn serial womaniser Harry into a lovesick puppy while all the knights of the Vale fall over themselves to pledge to betray the Crown by fighting the Boltons to get you your home back just for the lolz” plan but that’s just me… ^^
Irrespective of what I may think of each of those schemes’ respective chances of success, Book Sansa and her show counterpart agreed to them. Freely.
Show Sansa can, should and does resent Littlefinger for not using due diligence in his investigation, or lack thereof, of Ramsay. But that’s about it, to be honest. At worst, in her “enemy or idiot” dichotomy, he is the latter. She cannot blame him for Bolton’s horrific treatment of her (that’s on Ramsay and no one else) nor can she hold him responsible for her decision to go with his plan for I doubt she believes he would have put a crossbow to her head had she refused.
So, there is a wedge between them but it is thin. They are not enemies, far from it, but I would not exactly call them sympatico either : she still listens to him when he hits a bullseye but no smooches under the tree ! It’s a start ! 😉
That would only be a difference if she had been sexually interested in him beforehand, which she wasn’t.
As far as what he did, in Season 6 the show abandoned any claim that Sansa had chosen to do anything in Season 5, and instead Sansa framed it has him having “gave” her to her enemies (though the “people who murdered my family” thing was already true, which just highlights how dumb that whole plot was in the first place).
You’re absolutely right, she wasn’t. But, like Book Sansa, she would let the kisses happen and not withdraw immediately. The fact that she stopped it this time is not entirely insignificant, I believe.
In relation to her having had any say in the decision to marry Ramsay, you’re completely correct to state that she oh so conveniently forgot to acknowledge this “detail” when she met Baelish in Mole’s Town. However, I do not know whether the show, or even Sansa herself, fully embraces this revisionist version of events. Can they really, in all fairness ? We, the viewers, were there; we saw and heard all of it. And so did Sansa. There is no way to retcon that, in any convincing manner.
I believe it made sense emotionally for her to put the blame on Littlefinger then and there : he was the plan’s architect and, since she did not have the real culprit at her disposal at this particular moment, she unloaded onto the next best thing. She was deeply hurt and angry and she wanted Petyr “let’s meet up in the ruins of a brothel so I can tell you how happy I am to see you unharmed” Baelish to squirm.
As for the plan’s overall stupidity, there is no denying it. It was pretty daft. On most, if not all, levels. Way too many unknowns and parasitic variables. But then again, on the face of it, the books’ equivalent (the “Harry / Eyrie / Winterfell” trinity) does not seem that much smarter to me, I have to confess. Of course, George RR Martin can decide to make it all work out splendidly if he so wishes but it might be a tough sell.
You just do what they did, have Sansa assert it (in a scene where we’re clearly meant to see her as telling hard truths) and then not have Littlefinger or anything else in the narrative challenge this assertion.
Note also that whenever people talk about Sansa’s rape now in media, etc., almost invariably they talk about her being “forced” to marry Ramsay, which isn’t how the show originally presented it.
I don’t think the book plan is going to get all that far along (all kinds of wildcards set up to come into play), but it’s infinitely smarter than the show’s plan, for the simple reason that it involves manipulating an ordinary dude to lead a region that has lots of Stark sympathizers, as opposed to Sansa marrying into the family that killed her brother and father because something something revenge!!!
I think that this girl will be part of Bran’s vision, you know, Young Catelyn Tully and the boy in the other photos is Young Littlefinger?? just sayin’. 😀
Justin,
Agreed. That definitely looks like a young Catelyn and Littlefinger.
Sean C.,
Couldn’t say about filming with this person or that person. But the flashback to look for is Littlefinger telling the Tully’s that Lyanna was abducted (true) by Rhaegar (not true, the abduction was done by the Mad King, at Littlefinger’s tipoff).