There are many Game of Thrones questions that have sprung to mind during the mind-numbingly long off-season wait: Will either Jon Aegon or Daenerys ultimately become king/queen? Will Cersei find a way to defeat everyone we care about and claim an ultimately short-lived rule before succumbing to the White Walkers? Will Theon successfully rescue Yara and escape (relatively) unscathed? Will the handsomest and cleverest of all, Ser Jorah Mormont the Andal of Bear Island claim his rightful place at Queen Daenerys’ side, and serve her for many years to come? The answer to all these and more are yet-to-be determined, but we’re here to pose another equally important, albeit less-pondered question: What the hell happened to Edmure Tully? In an interview with Digital Spy, Tobias Menzies offers his thoughts.
Ever since you tortured your friends by filming their reactions to the harrowing events of Edmure’s (red) wedding, he’s been locked away in the Frey dungeons. Since then, he’s only popped up once for a few brief silent scenes, followed by a pulse-pounding heart-to-heart with Jaime, all in the final few episodes of season 6. Ever since abandoning ship on the S.S. Abandoned Characters in season 6, it appears that he has once again swum back to the boat from whence he came. And so we wonder if he will resurface in season 8 to conclude his story arc once and for all. Funny – so does he:
“The honest answer is, I have no idea. He’s obviously somewhere in a prison, he’s still around alive somewhere. They’re pretty stingy with their information and I’ve not heard anything from them.”
Good to know that Menzies is seemingly as in-the-dark as we all are. I wonder if he’s doomed to rot in the Frey dungeon, given that Arya has all but eviscerated House Frey from Westeros. The problem, Menzies notes, is that with so many ongoing plots, GoT might move on from poor Edmure:
“I feel like they have so many stories to tie up, whether that’s a story they’ll want to go back to, I don’t know.”
Menzies has long been one of my favorite character actors working on TV, and no I’m not just saying that because he is on GoT. He has portrayed two characters on Outlander, displaying his incredible duality, and even popped up on a Black Mirror episode (as seemingly all British actors are contractually obligated to do). And one of my all-time favorite shows, HBO’s ROME, a show that in many ways paved the way for GoT both in budget and in period setting, featured Tobias Menzies in the pivotal role of Marcus Brutus. Never you mind that Brutus (spoilers) betrays Caesar, who was played by Ciarán Hinds, our very own Mance Rayder; both Menzies and Hinds will be appearing together again on AMC’s The Terror. While I watch this, I will sit and wonder if Edmure Tully will have the chance to grace our screens one last time in Game of Thrones. Join me, won’t you?
He gave similar answer before start of S6 shooting.
mau,
I’d believe that he’s lying, of course, but if he isn’t and he hasn’t heard anything yet, he probably won’t. Filming is more than halfway done. I’d imagine he’d get more than a few months notice! So yeah, let’s hope that he’s bullshitting us.
Luka Nieto,
My point is that he is lying, just like he did before S6.
Luka Nieto,
Tobias said that he was given little notice for his season 6 return, so I’m not so sure he would be given a few months notice for season 8, but you could be right as his statement is somewhat vague.
This is what he said to EW about his return to season 6:
Did the producers tell you that your character would return someday?
No, and I’m not sure they knew themselves. I think they’ve sort of found their way and chose what bits of the book they are doing. They just got in contact a little bit before we shot to see whether I was available, whether they could fit me in. It was a question of fitting in amongst my other commitments. But I’m a big fan of the show and was keen to make it work if I could.
Either way I hope he comes back though. It would be nice to get some closure on his character.
I don’t know why I haven’t thought about it before… or why I just did now, but I wonder how Tobias would have been as Baelish. After seeing how he played (Captain) Randall on Outlander I think he could have done the creepy, backstabbing, villainous, scheming Littlefinger pretty well. I’m certain I would have wanted him ‘gone’ just as badly as Aidan’s version.
This topic is a bit coincidental because just the other day Tobias came up in conversation about the new show The Terror that he’s in. (The person I was talking to watches GoT and Outlander) She said “the guy that plays Randall is in The Terror.” When I reminded her that he is also Edmure she could not remember that. I had to actually pull up pictures of Tobias as Edmure to jog her memory.
As for Edmure, I personally don’t think it’s overly necessary to include him in as the story closes out. It would be nice for there to be some clarification on what happens with him, even if it’s just a line of dialogue. Perhaps it should have been included in Jaime’s comments last season regarding what happened to the Frey men…
———–
(btw, Ciaran Hinds is in this new show too which is suppose to premiere tonight…? I’m seeing the first episode was aired as a ‘sneak’ after TWD last night? I didn’t catch that since I’ve quit watching TWD). Oh!! The show is based off the novel of the same name by Dan Simmons!? I always claim that Simmons is one of my favorite authors but I haven’t read that. He’s a fave of mine because of the Hyperion Cantos and Ilium/Olympus.
Mr Derp,
“A little bit before we shot” is vague, but it was probably more than a few months. Obviously scripts were already written with Edmure included by then, so they must have asked him at some point around then.
mau,
I know. I’m saying that, if he wasn’t lying, it’d mean he wouldn’t be back, probably.
Do we know for a fact that Edmure was left rotting indefinitely in the dungeons at the Twins? Depends on how well he cooperated, in Jaime’s estimation, when being offered a deal to come to Casterly Rock as a hostage. Jaime could have taken him in custody from Walder Frey before he left.
If sent to Casterly Rock, such a valuable bargaining chip would then have become a bit of a bump in the plan to let the Unsullied “take” that stronghold while the Lannister army was busy sacking Highgarden. Jaime would not have wanted Edmure to fall into Dany’s hands. Perhaps some Lannister vassal is minding him in the interim?
Another interesting question is where Edmure’s bride and his heir ended up. With the Frey women liberated from their menfolk, thanks to a certain wee she-wolf, Roslin might have taken some matters into her own hands by now. If Bronn survives to the end of the story and is to be given the “two castles” that he has jokingly demanded, as some have speculated, he and Jaime might find some surprises awaiting them at the Twins.
An intriguing knot to unravel, to be sure!
I really like game of thrones, but in terms of the writing and directing you can really see the deficiency of GOT when you look at the stunningly excellent character portray by Menzies and Hinds in Rome vs the mediocre characterization in GOT by those same actors.
It is obviously not the actors since they did 10x better in Rome
You and me both. I hope we will see Edmure again, even if it is just for one scene.
Mr Derp,
Thanks for the quote! If I remember correctly…it’s interesting that the actor for a similar minor character like Edmure did not get a heads-up or better D&D did not know if they would use the character again, but a Joe Dempsie was told that his character would be back (but not when and how). I’ll try to find the quote.
Anyhow. I would appreciate a Tobias Menzies comeback. I mean, come on. They “killed” Lady Stoneheart, they killed the Blackfish. Don’t leave the last Tully(s) high and dry. 😉
DN,
My perspective is that both Edmure and Mance are fairly minor characters in both ASoIaF and GoT so there really was no need to do more with them than they did. I believe they both did fine jobs and performed the purpose they wanted of them. I wouldn’t necessarily consider it bad writing, directing or mediocre characterization. I’ll leave that to people that are generally pretty quick to hash on D&D for that. 😉
Although I don’t think Edmure Tully is vital to the conclusion of the story, it would be a frustrating loose end if they didn’t explain his fate. Especially since Arya was right there, at the Twins, at the end of Season 6 / start of Season 7 and could/should have freed him.
With Walder Frey and all his sons dead, there’d surely be nothing stopping Roslyn freeing Edmure, especially since their son is perhaps the only living male heir to House Frey.
The North, The Vale and The Riverlands are potentially bound by blood. That’d feel like a pretty significant factor to overlook if the conclusion involves any political wranglings and alliances.
Tobias is so damn good in Outlander, he had me and the wife squirming.
At least we know what happened to his characters in Outlander, but funnily enough, none of it was ever mentioned when Jaime and Claire got back together, so I think Tobias Menzies is just cursed to play characters who are quickly forgotten about by the writing staff regardless of which show it is.
Yeah. And he’s the uncle of Sansa, Arya and Bran so they should be interested in his whereabouts too.
(Mind you, Bran probably knows!)
I feel like Edmure’s story is basically over tbh.
Yea, we know hes in some Lannister prison somewhere,
and while it would be nice to have a greater resolution, would it really have a purpose beyond checking off a tick box?
Maybe they can throw in a scene where Jaime releases him.
Edmure is a curious case at least (so far) he did not get a Bums-Rush like Osha … The Blackfish ….. and some other characters!
Seemed …. Salladhor Saan would show up again , maybe, … what about Daario Naharis? that left hanging too?
Does Bernadette,(Sara Dylan) Cersei’s ‘handmaiden’ get some proper conclusion?
What about Jeyne Poole!?! Gone a long long long time now and we never ever found out who portrayed her!
Boojam,
I’m more emotionally invested into what happened with Ser Pounce 🙂
In all seriousness though, I would also like to know what happened to, or at least know more about, the Quaithe character.
I’m still a bit upset that Ser Pounce at least got a cameo while Septa/Lady/skinny-dipping Lemore was cut entirely!! Sure, “Griff” and “Young Griff” were cut so her inclusion wouldn’t have fit, but still… 🙂
Here’s hoping there’s at least a line of dialogue in the final season to wrap up this loose end.
Mr Derp,
There’s so much mystery to Quaithe. My guess is that she’ll be coming back to the books at some point, if they’re ever finished. Or at least the GRRM had a bigger plan with her when he started writing her in. I’d say fat chance for the show to reference her again, though.
Jaehaerys,
I agree with you, but she had so much knowledge of Jorah and Dany’s situation during season 2. It just seems strange that she would disappear and never return to explain how she knew all that. I guess I’ll just assume that she’s another Red Priestess like Mel and Kinvara who can see visions in the flames.
When Jorah asked who she was, she replied she was “no one”, which I found interesting, but you’re probably right that she won’t return.
Also I had no idea Tobias was in Black Mirror! Just looked up his IMDB and I guess he was in the “Waldo Moment” episode. If I remember correctly, that episode wasn’t well-perceived by a majority of viewers, but I liked it. Then again, I find it hard to not like most episodes of Black Mirror.
Mr Derp,
Oh yeah, she knows so much; probably even more than she lets on. I can’t particularly remember everything she was saying in S2, but I know that she is even more involved with the story in the books.
There are a bunch of good theories on Quaithe being a shadowbinder from Asshai (like Melisandre). And that she’s helping Dany fulfill her destiny in a way with regards to the Long Night.
I’d need to watch the episode again, but I thought Edmure was last seen leaving to go be with his Frey-wife?
I thought Walder’s line about Edmure was confusing in E10S6. It looked like the Lannisters had Edmure at Riverrun and he seemed their ‘house’ prisoner there, as if the screenplay had lost track of him.If at the twins thought in S7 we would have seen him released by Arya … we seemed to have had a false alarm about Tobias Menzies , he was in Belfast but for something else.
Lorie,
Boojam,
The last mention of him was from Walder to Jaime. “Edmure is back in the cell… Can’t go killing my son by law… wouldn’t be right. Give the family a bad name.”
Clob,
“He really was a c*nt wasn’t he.”
“I saw you rotting in your cell. You looked so beautiful.”
Walder told Jaime that Edmure was “back in his cell”. That implied to me he was at the Twins, having been returned to where he was before the siege at Riverrun.
I would like to see even a throwaway line of dialogue about him in season eight to wrap up the story. Arya doesn’t seem to freed him, so I suppose we’re to assume that he is still imprisoned courtesy of the Lannister Army in the Riverlands to keep the peace.
After they went to the trouble of bringing Edmure back in season six (btw, that Edmure/Jaime scene was beautifully written, shot and acted) it would be a shame not to find out what happened to him.
Indeed. Walder isn’t mentioned often with the likes of Joffrey and Ramsay, but he really was an awful man as well.
Clob,
… to add to after missing to get it in under the edit timer…
One does get the feeling that House Frey, Edmure, the people of The Twins and Riverrun are essentially done on the show. Arya’s little “party” to start S7 was apparently the conclusion for them. Jaime quickly mentions the loss of House Frey when telling Cersei they lack allies and that’s it. That is the exchange where they could have mentioned Edmure but didn’t. At this point I think it may be more likely that we only get a line about Edmure if anything. More than that may depend on if any of the characters go through The Twins again in S8 (and we see that).
Mr Derp,
Kinvara is #1 on my wish list. Besides, how can they leave unresolved the Mystery of the Voice Who Spoke to De-Junked Varys?
#2: the Volantis street red priestess played by Rila Fukushima, who locked eyes with Tyrion.
Since Quaithe’s out-of-body ability to communicate with Dany in the books is consistent with what Westerosi mages were once supposed to be able to do using glass candles, and given that Archmaester Marwyn is allegedly the only mage in centuries who has been able to make glass candles work, the most likely scenario is that Quaithe is in cahoots with Marwyn somehow.
But since the show merged several Maesters at the Citadel into the character played by Jim Broadbent and deleted Marwyn’s fascinatingly mysterious agenda (alas), they probably decided that any further development of Quaithe was expendable. Yet another reason to keep looking forward to the next book, despite knowing the overall shape of the saga’s ending from the TV show. (And you can spare me the snark about the last book probably never getting written.)
I’ll bet the next book will never….oh wait…
Alba Stark,
“I would like to see even a throwaway line of dialogue about him in season eight to wrap up the story.”
———————-
“We sent him away to Remedial Archery School with Robyn Arryn.”
Ten Bears,
My favorite random Red Priestess was the one played by Melanie Liburd in the streets of Meereen just before Tyrion’s “most famous dwarf in the world” line (S6E8). 😛
You win the Internet for today! Thanks for the laugh. Poor Edmure really is a bit of a schlemiel, isn’t he?
Ten Bears,
Funny stuff 🙂
I do feel bad for Edmure, though. He had to make some pretty tough shots in front of so many people, and right after his father passed away! I probably would have missed my shots as well. And then to get shown up by your old-ass uncle… tough break, Edmure.
Firannion,
Totally forgot all about the glass candles in Oldtown, or Maester Marwyn, for that matter. I’m currently on my second read-through (only on AFFC right now, and it is taking me forever because it is just so tough to get through, IMO). But I will keep in mind these Quaithe comparisons once I get to ADWD (I think that’s the book with most of the Citadel POVs).
Even after watching the show first, I missed so much little stuff reading the books the first time. Not only all of the confusing visions from multiple characters, but with all of the backstory/history, it is almost impossible to keep everything straight. I found myself understanding the plot fine, but the small things that George throws in to foreshadow and tie in different things that seem so different is crazy. And this is from someone who has also read all of A World of Ice and Fire.
Firannion,
“schlemiel” I had to google it to find out the meaning 😉
One from ‘the other side of the pond’ such as me really gets a good education on American/Jewish slang on this website – LOL 😀
Yiddish is full of handy expressions! The usual quick explanation for “schlemiel” is that a schlemiel is the guy who drops it/knocks it over, while a schlimazel is the guy it lands on.
An interesting detail in the costume design was that Quaithe’s leather mask was made up of lots of little interconnected elongated hexagons, similar to the shape that appears in Mel’s glamoured necklace. Consequently, many alert viewers began to speculate that the hexagon motif was meant to be typical of Assha’i culture.
Firannion,
Not just her mask but her entire outfit
https://rhaegarys.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/rhlllor1.jpg?w=1140
I thought we would have seen Kinvara once in season 7 but Ania Bukstein was not around. The left a lot in the air between Kinvara and Varys.
Expecting some kind of big scene in Volantis with Melisandre and Kinvara and more … very interested in that.
Perhaps the red comet ends up to actually be the space ship of R’hllor who is not god but an alien. The Red Priests and Priestesses being his crew and Quaithe’s mask is her pilot mask.
Ha!! 🙂
I gave up on seeing Quaithe again after season 5, along with all of the other favorite book plots/characters they teased in the first 4 seasons but ditched. Would always welcome a return though, but not holding my breath!
Speaking of books and George and never-ever-to-happen things, does his most recent post mean anything? 4-5-3-4? 4/5/34? Just 16 more years to go!!!!!!
https://grrm.livejournal.com/565373.html
Ginevra,
Wow do you think it’s about announcing spin off. I would prefer book date
It could be spinoff news. The mystery makes it seem like something awesome.
I have taken a good amount of time away from my other obligations in order to compose a heartfelt, albeit short, poem in regards to our dear Edmure. *ahem*
Edmure…
Your aim was bad
Your in-laws sucked
If you can’t get out
You’re truly f*cked
I really hope to see him back, I love Tobias and I had kinda hoped that Roslyn would have sprung the cell for him by now. Come back!!!
My thought is that HBO and D&D
have said that they don’t want a book out with spoilers before S8 launches.
They control the money and money talks.
Whether GRRM has (or will) actually finished the book is another question!
Ginevra,
I’d guess it’s the number of sentences he wrote per week over the last month; 4 the first week, 5 the next…
Sign me up for the reboot where Tobias Menzies plays Littlefinger.
I’ve just finished my S3 re-watch and honestly if we never saw Edmure again from that point on I wouldn’t be hugely worried. That isn’t a slight on the actor but he’s simply a minor character and not one with charm or warmth in fact slightly dim witted.
I don’t foresee his return in S8 (especially given the actors comments) unless Jamie stops in Riverrun or the twins on his way North but at this point that would feel like an unnecessary distraction.
That really isn’t true HBO and presumably D&D pushed George hard to release Winds before S6 aired. Besides we are well past that segment of the story now and deep into ADOS content so I seriously doubt there are any big spoilers in Winds that the show has not covered (sure some of the details will be different).
I have a feeling we’ll see Edmure again. I think when Jaime rides towards Winterfell he’ll stop in the Riverlands to see if he can assemble a small army and Edmure will be there. His wife will have freed him. I say that because I think Edmure was introduced to us for a purpose, and I believe it is more than just being a pawn of Walder Frey or Jaime Lannister. I know. Edmure is a screw up. but I still hold out hope that he has another purpose, and maybe as the last surviving Tully, Caitlyn’s brother, he’ll be among those who ride to Winterfell to help Jon deal with the Army of the Dead. He’ll be out there with Beric, Tormund, and the rest and probably be an early casualty.
Congrats for The Crown! He’ll play Prince Philip! The second GoT-Actor on The Crown, great!
So the Littlefinger-Reboot has to wait.
And now he is Prince Phillip :-). Have to say I was so disappointed when Paul Bettany dropped out of The Crown but Tobias Menzies is an exciting choice. He has really been in a group of amazing series.