White Walkers and Riverrun rumors out of Northern Ireland

Riverrun header
Riverrun set in Corbet, Northern Ireland. Photo: WotW reader submission

It’s a lazy Saturday here, and time for a quick Game of Thrones filming update!

This month, shooting has been focused on Northern Ireland, with rumors flying all the time about what we can expect to see in season 6. Recent reports point toward filming revving back up in Corbet and out at Magheramorne Quarry.

Spoilers beyond this point:

According to local sources, Game of Thrones is resuming filming at the Riverrun set in Corbet this coming week. It’s rumored that the show is planning a scene that requires possibly as many as a thousand people to be on hand for filming.

There have been multiple reports of filming in Corbet this fall, with fan photos showing the aftermath of some fighting involving trebuchets. It’s commonly believed that these scenes will depict the Siege of Riverrun that occurs in A Feast for Crows. If this new report is correct, will the filming for next week involve more fighting?

WotW reader Stephen took a photo of the Riverrun/Corbet set yesterday, Friday afternoon, showing its current state. If the show was done with it, they certainly would have removed things, but the set looks nearly ready for filming. Only the red tents are not up yet.

The full-sized photo:
Riverrun


Other potential news from the country this week:

IrishThrones has passed along some details involving White Walkers. We’re not able to confirm it at this point, so consider this an interesting rumor plus speculation.

Magheramorne Quarry, in addition to being used for the Wall and Castle Black, has also stood in for snowy Hardhome areas. We’ve seen new sets being constructed in the open areas of the quarry lots over the last month. If this rumor has basis to it, there’s no way to tell if any White Walker filming at Magheramorne was being done at the Wall part of the quarry or one of the other sets. It makes sense that Game of Thrones would want to show more of the White Walkers this year, whether it’s in their home territory, their continued advancing south with the undead masses…or nearing the Wall.

What do you think, readers?

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

166 Comments

  1. Thousand people? They can’t be needing that many crew. If we assume they’re looking for a thousand extras, that’s crazy! Creating CGI crowds are much sensible these days to get that many people especially in costumes.

  2. I wonder if the LS-truther crazies are sweating right now. Deep into Riverrun filming and still no sightings.

    Exciting news on the White Walker front.

  3. The only way for the white walkers to enter Westeros is through the wall right? In other words the wall has to come down. I wonder how…..

  4. cosca,

    I’m not really moved one way or the other about LSH’s chances of making an appearance (I’d like her to, I like her character, and I’ve lived on the knife-edge of not knowing how the whole thing with J&B will play out since ADWD was published, so I’d love it for the TV watchers to experience the same, if only for a year). But, if she is in the show for this season, she’s only going to be appearing in probably a single scene, and that’ll likely be “indoors” and so use a set… so it’s not likely the actress would be seen by outsiders.

    Like I say, I have no idea if she is going to show up or not, but no sightings being reported wouldn’t be unusual if she has filmed.

  5. With respect to the reports of WW filming in the quarry, I, like I expect most people, assumed that them getting through the Wall would involve it literally falling. In that case, surely Castle Black would be utterly crushed under the ice, so why would they be filming on the set itself?

  6. Wow, they’re taking a long time with the Riverrun set, aren’t they? I have no concept of filming times, but this seems like a big deal.

    As for my two cents, FWIW,

    I would love to see the Wall come down in Ep. 10, but I’d have to agree that it seems a little early for that. However, GRRM has always stated that this will be the real fight, and perhaps a large chunk of TWoW and ADoS – seasons 6 & 7?? – will be devoted to the devastation the Others/White Walkers are sure to bring.

    As for Jon and Snowbowl, GRRM has always said that he’s interested in the intricacies of how people rule as opposed to simply the outcome, so I feel like it would be in line with that thinking to have Jon take part in a terrible war with the North (either with them or against them) while the real threat that no one thinks is real is coming for them. Convincing people of this threat is Jon’s thing. Azor Ahai, and all that. Yes, he’s a deserter. Yes he’s got Wildlings. Yes, he’s a bastard. Everything is stacked against him, true to form, but this is what his story is about, and has been since the beginning, I believe. He has been our eyes on the real threat, while everyone else fights a petty-by-comparison war for a throne that may or may not matter in the end.

    And I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes peachy with this Stark reunion looming, but I have been paying attention, and so I wouldn’t be surprised if something goes terribly, terribly wrong. Wight Wun Wun, Stark v. Stark, and dead Starks and/or direwolves are all possibilities, imo. 🙁

  7. Sean C.,

    Not all of the Wall needs to fall for the WW to get through: if even a single kilometer stretch fell, the Castle Black would be fine but nothing would be stopping the WW from marching south.

    This would be the time to do it, I think. There really need to be two phases to this: one where the people of Westeros actually are made to take this threat seriously (nobody believes that the White Walkers actually exist, after all), and then some second phase where the collective evolution of Jon, Daeny, Tyrion, Arya and Bran gives us that “eureka” moment (or moments) when their pasts point to the “damed if I do or don’t” choices.

  8. Still call it:

    Euron blows Joramun’s horn with using some book what he took from Oldtown. The Wall falls and the Night’s King marches with his army. And season ends.

    It just a fan fiction but it was leaked two months ago and a lot of things came true already from this:

    [deleting the link- please do not post this spam.]

  9. Ser Florian,

    Well, if LSH was going to return, then it would have been this year. However, that assumes that LSH would be relevant to the Winter story: but we do not know if she is ever going to relevant. It is entirely possible that B&W looked at her Winter role and decided that it simply was not needed.

  10. Was I the first to read ‘White Walkers at Riverrun’? That would be awesome, and hey, who knows. If Littlefinger can teleport, so can the Night’s King.

    I really need to stop reading these spoiler reports before someone finds out what’s going to happen at Riverrun that they need the massive set and a thousand extras.

  11. Phil Necro,

    Are you the guy that keeps trolling trying to get people to believe his discredited “spoilers,” or is that somebody else? (Honest question.)

  12. Bodog,

    The last time he was mentioned Roose tells Walder Frey that he escaped the red wedding and Frey is dismissive. So presumably he’s hiding out in the Riverlands somewhere.

  13. Kristofer Hivju in Belfast. Yes. Since there is Aiden Gillen too and that big scene is supposed to be filmed. Let him survive. Tormund Giantsbane must survive.

    Can’t wait for Riverlands. Dammit, it’s going to be epic and White Walkers stuff is always exciting. I would bet on their attack on the Wall and then the whole thing will go down as their next big moment in season 6. Martin created this whole massive structure so naturally he will destroy it later on.

  14. Phil Necro,

    Wow. I’d heard a lot about that script but this is the first time I read it. Thanks! It sounds extremely “big” in that the story lines are really extravagant and costly. And some of this has already been proven false by Sue but even if only half of it is right, it seems as if we’re in for a huge season.

  15. Ser Pounce,

    Actually there are several errors in that “summary”, so it’s been disproved several times over already. Oh, and the reason some of it is accurate is because they posted this AFTER a few months of us posting legit spoilers. It’s just stuff copied from us and other sites like Los Siete Reinos.

    Don’t post it here. I’m tired of trolls creating clickbait lies for their website and them spamming them here.

  16. Wimsey:
    Not all of the Wall needs to fall for the WW to get through: if even a single kilometer stretch fell, the Castle Black would be fine but nothing would be stopping the WW from marching south.

    Sure, but I would think that runs afoul of dramatic presentation. Knocking down a small piece of the magic Wall isn’t nearly as impressive or foreboding as knocking down the whole thing.

  17. Btw Liam and Bryan Cogman were there at the concert too. Tormund/Davos scene and battle of the beards is on. 😀 I’d like to think that they’re hanging around so they will share some great scenes together. It’s not unreasonable to think they would. I mean Wildlings will be with Jon as we can assume and Davos currently short of a insipiring leader. Nobody seems to take a picture of Carice or notice her.

  18. Sean C.: Sure, but I would think that runs afoul of dramatic presentation. Knocking down a small piece of the magic Wall isn’t nearly as impressive or foreboding as knocking down the whole thing.

    Sure it is. Remember, they can only show so much at once: so if all or most of what they show us collapses, then they could show what will like even several kilometers of Wall falling. However, they cannot show the whole thing: a shot wide enough to capture the whole Wall would basically be a satellite shot in which the Wall is not even visible.

    Off-Topic Otto: And part of the point of that is to obliterate the NW.

    There are many ways in which big chunks of the NW can be killed. It does not need to be “obliterated.” Quite frankly, it is already such a tiny force as to be unimportant: what is keeping the Walkers out is that there is a big Wall in the way, and you need some sort of door to pass through a wall. (However, once you add a door, the Wall can still be there. I know this for fact, as I have several functioning walls in my house that have doors or cutouts allowing you to go from one side to….. wait for it… the other side!)

  19. Wimsey,

    They could do a montage. Just show it falling down at the Shadow Tower, Castle Black and Eastwatch.

  20. Wimsey: Sure it is.Remember, they can only show so much at once: so if all or most of what they show us collapses, then they could show what will like even several kilometers of Wall falling.However, they cannot show the whole thing: a shot wide enough to capture the whole Wall would basically be a satellite shot in which the Wall is not even visible.

    There are some pretty elementary visual storytelling devices they can use to convey that the whole Wall is falling.

  21. Sean C.,

    And the next episode’s (season’s) title sequence would reflect it too. (Doors existing in the world is not proof that the entire Wall won’t fall!)

  22. Off-Topic Otto,

    Beyond which, that’s switching the topic from “is it more dramatic if the whole Wall falls?” to “how do they convey that the whole Wall has fallen?”

    Quite apart from being a better visual, the stakes are much higher if the entire 300-mile frontier is exposed than if the White Walkers have made their way through a small and theoretically defensible hole.

  23. Geralt of Rivia,

    I agree, Carice has been very quiet this time. Not that many reports of her comings and goings. Very strange. Unless there weren’t as many as last year.
    And there is some snow at RR which can be a safe indication that winter is coming…

  24. One of Roose Bolton’s 20 good leeches: They could do a montage. Just show it falling down at the Shadow Tower, Castle Black and Eastwatch.

    Those rarely are too effective. At any rate, the whole Wall does not have to come down: all the WW need is a big enough hole in it to march an army through. The “breach in the gate” often is much more effectively dramatic than the whole building coming down.

    Sean C.: Quite apart from being a better visual, the stakes are much higher if the entire 300-mile frontier is exposed than if the White Walkers have made their way through a small and theoretically defensible hole.

    Breached walls are very difficult to defend. Moreover, who is talking about a “small” hole? Put a 1 km hole in the Wall and you are talking the equivalent of 11 US football fields: that’s not a defensible hole, that’s basically an open field of battle. Put in, say, a 10 km hole: and now we are talking a big enough hole that the people in the middle would have hard times seeing the remains of the Wall on either side of them. Yet the vast majority of the Wall would remain standing. However, even with a 1 km section down, WW & wights are streaming into Westeros unchecked.

    This obviously is but one of many paths that GRRM and B&W might take. However, although it might disappoint you if the entire Wall does not come down, it does not need to do so to be dramatically very effective and for it to make perfect sense plotwise. The key part is going to be how any of it comes down. It probably should stem from the misdeeds of some of the secondary or tertiary characters, and it probably should reflect something that one of the protagonists (particularly Jon, but not necessarily him) tried to prevent. Alternatively, the seed for it might be planted in something Jon himself does himself to escape (or in a last ditch attempt to save the Wall from the WW), or in magics that Melisandre uses to save Jon’s life.

    The options might not be limitless, but there are lots and lots and lots of them.

  25. Sean C.,

    I could easily see them doing something along the lines of what was done with the lighting of the beacons in Return of the King.

    I don’t think the horn will bring it down, in part because I believe the horn Sam has which was found at the base of the Fist is

    the horn of Joramun. Lately, I’ve been thinking maybe the prophecy about “The cold breath of winter will freeze the seas, and the dead shall rise in the North” could be what makes the wall fall. All the seas don’t have to freeze, just enough for the WW’s to pass beyond the Wall over the frozen water. Maybe, once they cross where the Wall would be if it extended out into the water, it will break the magic, and that’s what will make the Wall fall.

    One of Roose Bolton’s 20 good leeches:
    Wimsey,

    They could do a montage. Just show it falling down at the Shadow Tower, Castle Black and Eastwatch.

    Exactly. They could show other points along the Wall, too, but that’s the idea I was getting at when I mentioned the lighting of the beacons.

  26. dothrakian raven,

    Maybe nobody noticed her, but there is always an option of Mel being dead in the premiere or in first few episodes in general. Let’s not forget that Davos might learn what she did to Shireen and Wildlins won’t be too happy with her, because she burned their King. On the other hand there is some foreshadowing for her future like notoriously known scene with Arya or her vision about battlements of Winterfell.

  27. Wimsey,

    Regardless, seeing the White Walkers taking their first steps into the south will be an epic scene.
    Anyway, do you guys think that the Night’s King is the main antagonist and the show equivalent of the Great Other? I feel like there is still something else hidden away in the Land of Always Winter. Melisandre has mentioned a god of darkness in the show, and I don’t think she was referring to the Night’s King. I just hope we haven’t seen all of the horror that the White Walkers have in store.

  28. Wimsey,

    I always wonder how the Wall will come down in a way that makes it easy to cross. The rubble from a 700 foot Wall crumbling would be absolutely massive. A jagged, splintered ice field, of ice boulders and unstable surfaces, probably 100 feet tall at least. Seems easier if they could just find a way to get through the tunnel. And remember, you only need one Walker through the Wall to raise a wight army.

  29. One of Roose Bolton’s 20 good leeches: Anyway, do you guys think that the Night’s King is the main antagonist and the show equivalent of the Great Other?

    I do not. I think that what it is going to come down to is Jon, Daeny, etc., working out what actually ended the old war against the White Walkers. That is, what did Azor Ahai really do? What agreements were reached? What changed that brought the WW back?

    And, of course, the other factor is R’hllor. What is it, and why is it exhorting humans on to rally against the White Walkers? If R’hllor is up to any “good,” then I am a tuatara. (And I’m not a tuatara.) Somehow, I expect GRRM (and B&W) to link this up in some “both choices suck” scenario for the main characters. There probably are only about a gazillion ways in which he might do that, so your guess is as good as mine: and probably both are pretty bad! 😀

    Lisa0527: The rubble from a 700 foot Wall crumbling would be absolutely massive. A jagged, splintered ice field, of ice boulders and unstable surfaces, probably 100 feet tall at least.

    My bet is that it will be shattered much more than that, and possibly blow out into Westeros a bit. Now, there might be wights scrabbling over large icy boulders and stuff like that: but as they are not trying to get a cavalry through, it probably will not look like an issue.

    To be honest, though, I would not expect the show to have anywhere near enough ice to account for the Wall, and I doubt that GRRM will consider it when he describes what happens.

    Lisa0527: Seems easier if they could just find a way to get through the tunnel. And remember, you only need one Walker through the Wall to raise a wight army.

    Tunneling through frozen earth would be really, really hard. And if the NK’s magic could do that, well, he would do that. Basically, it’s the same thing as “why don’t they on boat.” The fact that they don’t tells us that they cannot.

    However, you are right on one huge point: if just one WW gets through, then this might set up how the rest get through. I have to admit, I had not thought of that. I think that I would be surprised to see it, but I certainly cannot come up with any good reasons to state that it won’t happen. So, yeah, this would be a possibility.

  30. Wimsey:To be honest, though, I would not expect the show to have anywhere near enough ice to account for the Wall, and I doubt that GRRM will consider it when he describes what happens.

    Tunneling through frozen earth would be really, really hard.And if the NK’s magic could do that, well, he would do that.Basically, it’s the same thing as “why don’t they on boat.”The fact that they don’t tells us that they cannot.

    However, you are right on one huge point: if just one WW gets through, then this might set up how the rest get through.I have to admit, I had not thought of that.I think that I would be surprised to see it, but I certainly cannot come up with any good reasons to state that it won’t happen.So, yeah, this would be a possibility.

    Sorry I wasn’t clear. I just meant it’d be easier to use the existing tunnel through the Wall.

  31. Sue the Fury,

    Thank you. I can’t believe that some people still believe that so-called leak was real. If you take the time to check the timeline of S6 rumours, you can see that everything it ‘got right’ was already rumoured and/or discussed beforehand. And the rest of it, well, honestly it’s quite stupid in parts…..

  32. Just one small correction Sue, you typed “rent rents” rather than “red tents” I mean, I got it so it isn’t a big deal. As always your tireless efforts are appreciated! <3

    Oh, and if there are 1,000 people would that officially be the largest amount of people ever on screen in a television show? Because that seems pretty likely.

  33. If the wall falls completely, what effect will it have on having earthquake’s etc? And till how far does it reach?

  34. There is no way the wall fall in season 6. Forget it.

    What the ww would do for 2 season (7-8) in westeros? They are not slow to be all season seven Marching . I think the wall will fall in the middle of season 7. 1 season and half is great to ww in westeros.

  35. Aguero,

    What else it could be? It’s not like they put the on ice for the whole season and they got to do something big and logical step is to make it through the Wall. They triple their numbers and are ready to attack.

    I think two seasons of them in Westeros much like Dany is an ideal scenario. North, Riverlands ,Vale will be occupied with them and will be slowly pushed further back and Dany will start to make her campaign in the south.

  36. For me the wall crumbling down is a bit problematic, I have thought it stands more than just as a colossal ice shard. The real things are the spells and magic bound to it?

    I still think Sam has the Horn of Winter and the story entwines when he arrives from Oldtown. And somehow he has to bring it down.

  37. Just because I was speculating how the WW’s can get to the other side of the Wall, doesn’t mean I think that will happen in season 6. I still think the season will end with them at the Wall, but not on the other side of it, however that eventually happens. If the season doesn’t end that way, I still think it’s likely the last we’ll see of the WW’s in season 6 will be with them at the Wall.

  38. I think there are plenty of ways for them to show the Wall falling and they will be incredibly dramatic and amazing. I’m not sure if it will completely fall in S6 or if we will just get a crack. Something though.

  39. If they’re doing 8 seasons now then I think it’s a bit early for the WW to have a major play. Perhaps an end of season cliffhanger where they peg up at the wall setting up their invasion in season 7?

  40. TheTouchOfFrost,

    That makes sense if the series is leading up to the ultimate showdown between the evil Others and humanity (backed up by their followers of R’Hllor and CofTF allies) with humanity vanquishing the Others and striding forward into a new dawn. I have no idea where GRRM is going with TWOW and ADOS, but I’d guess it’s not going there. So 8 seasons may be just right. Fingers crossed for 9.

  41. dothrakian raven:
    Aguero,

    Well it took them 5 seasons to come from the Lands of Always Frozen to Hardhome…

    Well, not actually. They were in the season 1 prologue opener and they were at Craster’s to collect his baby boys.They were at the Fist but that is much farther away than the ranging area and Craster’s.

  42. Vepsauttaja:
    For me the wall crumbling down is a bit problematic, I have thought it stands more than just as a colossal ice shard. The real things are the spells and magic bound to it?

    I still think Sam has the Horn of Winter and the story entwines when he arrives from Oldtown. And somehow he has to bring it down.

    I agree with you about the magic and colossalness. I do question the idea that it’s possible for Sam to get to drop Gilly off with his mean father, travel to Oldtowne, learn anything or enough to be dangerous and then travel all the way back to the wall in one season. I would be surprised if he made it back before episode 9 of season 7.

    Now that I think about it, did Sam take the horn with him to Oldtown?

  43. You guys are also forgetting that grrm has said that one thing dh doesn’t like about the ending of lord of the rings is that it doesn’t flesh out properly the aftermath and receding of magic from the world enough. If they plan to show what happens after the “big war”, then they could use a portion of season 8 to do so. The wall falling at the end of season 6 isn’t off the table IMHO.

  44. Great to hear of a lot of Riverrun activity

    Great also to hear about extensive use of WW’s, IMO that will be the season finale where they descend onto the Wall

    Exciting times ahead

    Great to hear they have the clout and cash to put so many sieges etc together

  45. I always thought both dany coming to westeros and wall falling will be same moment …

    And thought either one of them will make it to season finale of season 6 ..

    So given that dany is not going to land at the end of season 6 and what Emilia said about final season …wall coming down at the end of season 6 makes sense ..they need to start moving south …

  46. I see most everyone expecting the Wall to fall as a result of Sam/Euron blowing the horn…

    Isn’t that, I dk, WAY too coincidental with the Night’s King’s march toward the Wall? Shouldn’t he have his own plan for this not to seem like ridiculously good fortune?

    I tend to think that the WW will never breach the Wall, and the final battle will be for it, with dragons and manned castles, etc.

    If they do get into the Seven Kingdoms, I can’t see a plausible victory scenario for Dany and Co. unless the Night’s King is the equivalent of the droid battle ship from the Phantom Menace (cop out), or he’s convinced to return through some other means.

  47. If wall comes down it will be because of actions of Jon Mel and nightwatch …something they do unknowingly will result in the fall of wall..

    Like LC abandoning NW or killing the members of NW or complete abandoning of NW ..or a mutineers killing the LC at the castle black ..

    Or there is no more nightswatch
    Or all the power of magic in the wall all sucked away or swapped for bringing Jon back …

    Or allowing wildlings to the other side of the wall…

    Or NK will have found a way to bring them down …

    But whatever happens it will be because of the result of people in and around at Wall …not by some one who is on the other side of world ..

  48. I’m shocked. How many battles will have this season? Snowbowl, Meereen, some battle with ships, some fight at KL, this siege, the dothraki camp… All of them with a lot of extras and CGI. How much money have this year?

  49. Aguero,
    I find it interesting that you’re looking at the matter from the position of an executive – you want 8 seasons, so the story must adjust, and the Wall cannot fall *yet*.

    I have exactly the opposite reaction. As far as I’m concerned, a lot of S6 will be dealing with, essentially, either settling prior hanging issues (e.g. Dany with Dothraki, Arya with Waif, Jaime with Cersei, the North with the Boltons), revealing the past (Bran’s visions), or maneouvring the players into new positions (Jaime in Riverrun, Sam in Oldtown, Kingsmoot). And a lot of it will be dealing with things we already know from the books, too (Jaime with Cersei, Jaime in Riverrun, Jaime meeting Brienne again, Sam in Oldtown, Kingsmoot, Arya and the troupe, the visions). Yet, as a viewer, I want the plot to move forward, to recover novelty and momentum, to move into the endgame already. The Wall crashing already would be to me, just like Hardhome in S5, a signal of this realignment. So, even if this means that instead of full 8 seasons, we get 7.5, my position is, Why wait?

  50. What’s that white powder next to the red tent?

    SlayerNina:
    some battle with ships,

    This is the first time I’ve heard about a battle with ships. When was it reported?

  51. When the people will stop believing the non-sense LSH rumors? Her presence in the show is as likely as Cortney Penrose.

  52. Tywin of the Hill,

    I don’t know exactly if there will be a battle, but there’s an army of ships with CGI, Euron Greyjoy and the possibly sack of Horn Hill (or at least, Euron arriving somewhere. And it’s Euron).

  53. SlayerNina:
    Tywin of the Hill,

    I don’t know exactly if there will be a battle, but there’s an army of ships with CGI, Euron Greyjoy and the possibly sack of Horn Hill (or at least, Euron arriving somewhere. And it’s Euron).

    Lol,

    more likely Oldtown

    Am hoping we have the Wall go down at the end of S6 and then WW invasion and Dany counter-invasion in S7

    battle won’t be for the Wall, Westeros will be trashed and even if WW defeated it will not be the same as S1 or aGoT

  54. Judibatt: I agree with you about the magic and colossalness. I do question the idea that it’s possible for Sam to get to drop Gilly off with his mean father, travel to Oldtowne, learn anything or enough to be dangerous and then travel all the way back to the wall in one season. I would be surprised if he made it back before episode 9 of season 7.

    Now that I think about it, did Sam take the horn with him to Oldtown?

    Hmm I think you’re right about Sam coming back, that was just hopeful gut feeling. But who says the wall must come down anytime soon? But yay! Oldtown and glasscandles!

    And yep, Sam had to give almost all his belongings to pay for the ship to Oldtown, but he kept the horn. The old broken warhorn just keeps poppin up at times to be random at my taste. And also in my eyes the fact it’s small, broken, plain bronze thing just shows powerful things need not be golden or diamond etched.

  55. Aguero:
    There is no way the wall fall in season 6. Forget it.

    What the ww would do for 2 season (7-8) in westeros?They are not slow to be all season seven Marching . I think the wall will fall in the middle of season 7. 1 season and half is great to ww in westeros.

    i thought that finally someone gets it… but then you proceed and state that the wall will fall in the middle of season 7.

    NO, people, the wall cannot fall sooner than middle of the season 8. They are the ultimate villain and plot of the show, there won’t be anything after them. And the battle cannot last more than 3 episodes either.

    The most likely outcome of the series is:

    In episode 10 of season 7 the winter will finally come, starting to snow in king landing and everywhere in westeros. Then in the first episode of season 8 we will see a westeros in full winter full of snow. Then probably somewhere at the end of episode 4 we’ll see the wall coming down and the white walkers starting to pass it. Then somewhere at the and of episode 5 the king landing and the people will find out that the white walkers have invaded westeros. Then episode 6 will be them killing some people and provoke chaos in their march towards the south and the south and other lords are preparing for the battle. Then at the end of episode 6 we will finally see the westeros army facing off the dead army, so the battle is about to begin and then the episode ends. Then episode 7,8 and 9 are all battle/battles. Episode 10 is the ending and the conclusion of the series. I think the last episode will be at least 1 hour and half long.

  56. Judibatt,

    Yes but we didn’t see an organised army only one ambush and a WW who collected infants. The only time we saw a kind of army was when Sam met them somewhere very, very faraway from the Wall. In any case I do not think that WW are mindless zombies. They have an intelligence and a will to do things as NK’s final scene showed us. So they are moving around according to a plan. That was more than obvious from the very beginning.

  57. Lisa0527,

    I’m thinking the followers of R’hllor made fade away a bit when Mel dies ( I think she will this season) plus I have serious doubts any significant force of them will be in Westeros when it kicks off. I think it’ll be Jon and the North (what’s left of the NW/Northern Houses/Wildings) going against them with BRan playing a role somehow. The more I think about the less I think Dany and her dragons are going to get involved. Would just be too cheesy. Bran and an Ice Dragon mind? It’ll be humanity vs. WW in some manner. Hope it’s not too cliche.

    SlayerNina,

    Must say that bit worries me a bit. I thought there were a lot of needless actions scenes last year. Would prefer if they spent the time on character progression and the verbal jousting of previous seasons.

  58. Sue, since a lot of people believe in that fake script, maybe it would be a good idea to debunk it with details in a full WOTW post.

  59. I do find it using how many insist the wall will fall at the time they dictate for this reason or that, when they really do not know.

    What do you know of Winter my sweet summer (children)?

    “Thousands of years ago, there came a night that lasted a generation. Kings froze to death in their castles, same as the shepherds in their huts; and women smothered their babies rather than see them starve, and wept, and felt the tears freeze on their cheeks… In that darkness the White Walkers came for the first time. They swept through cities and kingdoms, riding their dead horses, hunting with their packs of pale spiders big as hounds.”

    Obviously we’re not getting a generation long winter or (I hope not) ice spiders but the WW need to do some serious conquering of Westeros before they are actually defeated. So the Wall falling as the S6 cliffhanger makes sense. And it falling really is a season cliffhanger event. Also-Surely they can’t build this up for 6/7 seasons for them to be stopped at the gates?

    It’s GRRM who’s writing this- winter is surely gonna be an unimaginable apocalypse.

  60. TheTouchOfFrost,

    Me too. The good point of this show is the interactions between characters, not the battles. And yet I have the feeling “I saw that on X” when it comes to battles :/

  61. Gravemaster:
    Sue, since a lot of people believe in that fake script, maybe it would be a good idea to debunk it with details in a full WOTW post.

    Hey Sue!

    Seconding this great idea. And forever after, when someone brings up this fanfic bs “leak”, you could just drive-by drop the link to the debunking article rather than detailing why it should be discounted every time someone brings it up. Better yet, drop a link to the article in the FAQ while you’re at it, then any of us could easily redirect for you.

  62. I think Sue has said she can’t debunk it without revealing stuff that is not okay to reveal.

    And why put together a full post just to appease a few people who won’t listen to reason?

    I don’t know. Sue can do that if she wants, but I don’t think it’s this site’s responsibility or duty to effectively debunk every piece of crap spoiler that floats around the toilet bowl.

    She’s said it’s crap. Anyone who reads it should know it’s crap. Why give credence to crap with a post?

  63. HotPinkLipstick,

    I get the feeling gravemaster and Dire Dire Moon are upset about something else here, probably with Sue for some reason. I detect serious passive aggression. Possibly from the same site those two.

  64. cosca,

    Yeah…a “lot of people” who believe it seem like two trolls who keep changing their names and IPs. Why feed the trolls?

    Anyway. I totally think the Wall at minimum starts to crack this season, if not begin to fall. I think the final “battle” is probably going to be at the Neck, or more poetically, the Twins. So much of all the crap that has happened in Westeros was caused by the Jaime/Cersei relationship and what they did to keep it a secret, and what Cersei did to keep power.

    While I’m fairly certain Jaime

    is totally done with Cersei since her left her to die and ran off with Brienne

    I do think there will be some call back to the major events dealing with the Lannister twins and dealing with the horrific events that happened at the Twins (Red Wedding.)

    I think the Wall coming down is what will finally get the attention of the people below the Neck, who are still squabbling over politics.

  65. Chris,

    You may be on to something here. Your post made me think that perhaps the whole story and GRRM’s “bittersweet” ending is that Winter decends, everything falls, and the WWs prey upon men unhindered. But in season 8, there is a boy who escaped from Westeros to Essos as a young child with his bookish father and scrappy mother and traveled the continent looking for magic to defeat the WWs. He encounters an old Westerosi dwarf along the way, and learns to be a true leader and dreams of some day returning to take back his homeland. The End. The book will be titled “A DREAM of Spring,” after all, right? 🙂

  66. Sorry, but that’s not a good idea. That would bring that fake leak even more attention.

    And I think it should be obvious at this point how fake it is- go through the thing and see how much is missing that we’ve already posted about. I’ve already discussed this and I’m frankly sick of it. The Northern and Ironborn sections are especially flawed. This is someone’s fanfic, plus book info, combined with previously posted spoilers.

  67. Funny question… Why do we all seem to assume in this thread that the White Walkers WANT to invade Westeros, and bring down the Wall?

    What if they helped build the wall, and the Wildlings are in violation the truce, and they’re the poor oppressed magical people that want to bring Winter
    to maintain the wall and keep the Wildlings from bringing it down?

    What if Dany and the dragons are just going to be the Fire that’s needed to form a new wall with the help of the White Walkers…

    I’m just bored…. but it’s GRRM we’re talking about here…

  68. cosca,

    I’m only a little bit upset that so many people believe the fake script and bring it up every single time, when sonething on it happens to be correct. That’s why I suggested Sue to end that bs once and for all.

  69. Gravemaster,

    Who cares? Let them embarrass themselves by ignoring the already disproved stuff, and then when season 6 rolls around and all the other stuff is shown to be wrong, they’ll be the ones who have to suck it up.

  70. Does anybody else think that maybe the wall will come down because of either Melisandre’s magic (resurrection of Jon possibly) on behalf of a god that has no place in the North, or because of her execution (kind of a sacrifice, you could say) for such practices on behalf of R’hollor? I am not running with this or any other scenario, but it would be interesting to see a screen shot of a slight crack in the wall after she performs some red god magic, or if she is executed for that, to see the cracking after her execution. I think the wall was bound by spells by the CotF, and to have two ‘gods’ at odds with each other unbeknownst to the people, because the purpose of the magic has been lost over time would be kind of a cool twist

  71. I am more excited about season 6 coming out than Winds of Winter being published…we have an actual time line for the show at least lol

  72. Sean C.,

    I think she has only been looking into her fires (in the show)…there was no other magic that was performed (as opposed to what we know happened in the books). Shireen was sacrificed out in the battlefield somewhere….

  73. Sean C.,

    True, true….like I said, I am not running with any scenarios because, really, who knows?! But its a thought that I had…and who knows what will be unleashed IF she were to resurrect someone who (according to R+L=J theory) has ice and fire running through his veins, and is possibly the Prince that was promised or some other form of prophecy

  74. HotPinkLipstick: Anyway. I totally think the Wall at minimum starts to crack this season, if not begin to fall. I think the final “battle” is probably going to be at the Neck, or more poetically, the Twins

    If you look at a map of Westeros, you see that the area just below Graywater Watch (Howland Reed) and just north of the Twins is the narrowest point on the continent. I was envisioning the WW cutting a swath south toward that area and human survivors retreating to there. They start to gather all the dragonglass and Valyrian steel they can find, then plan “the biggest fire the South has ever seen” across that whole stretch. I would love to see hysterical crowds overtaking the bridges at the Twins and beating some Freys to a pulp.

    Far fetched maybe, but I think the Wall will fall way sooner than season 8. They need time to show the reactions of all the players to the reality of the situation, and hopefully the cooperation developing between those who were once rivals to defeat a common enemy. And, of course, Littlefinger figuring out how he can make money for himself out of all the mayhem.

  75. Apollo,

    Sorry, buddy but it doesn’t make any sense. I can assure you that the white walkers won’t invade the westeros sooner than episode 4 of season 8.

  76. Thronetender,

    You know, I do like the idea of the fires. However, I think at some point, Westeros needs to realize they can’t kill their own because it just creates more work for them (having to burn the bodies) or creates an army of wights.

  77. HotPinkLipstick: However, I think at some point, Westeros needs to realize they can’t kill their own

    Yes, I agree with you, that at some point humanity should realize that, both in the story and in current times. But, do you think the Freys, perpetrators of the Red Wedding, are going to come to that realization without some serious nudging from thousands of frightened people? I think the migration would be a perfect way for GRRM to do a study of how and what finally changes peoples’ minds about how the rest of humanity is treated in times of great mutual need. It certainly plays into the “survivor” mindset of current times.

    Also, I think it would be a great way to get Jon and Dany to meet. She’s busy flying dragons over Kings Landing and he’s leading survivors south and an urgent call comes for Dragon Fire up north. Aw heck, they will need at least a season to portray all that. I say the Wall at least cracks in season 6.

  78. Thronetender,

    I didn’t mean the Freys, and really, aren’t the Freys kind of just soldiers, doing the bidding of Walder? We can discuss their ability to choose, but no, I don’t think all Freys are younger versions of Walder, willing to kill any person at any time.

    I mean the other way around. That people won’t be slaughtering Freys because who wants to fight an army of Frey wights? There are too many damn Freys as it is.

    Yeah, it’s cracking, at least I think.

    My big theory is that

    the reason the giant tries to break into Winterfell is that all the recently dead in the Battle of the Bastards have risen and become wights.
  79. HotPinkLipstick: I didn’t mean the Freys, and really, aren’t the Freys kind of just soldiers, doing the bidding of Walder? We can discuss their ability to choose, but no, I don’t think all Freys are younger versions of Walder, willing to kill any person at any time.

    I think Black Walder is as bad a guy as Old Walder. He seemed to relish cutting Cat’s throat. Maybe some of the youngest ones might not be the dastardly villains the old man is, but the middle-aged ones seem to be as willing to do damage as he is. At least in the show. The men at least. I don’t know if the women are that bad. Walda seems pleasant and decent enough. And the other girls seem so down-trodden, I don’t know if they’d be allowed to have an independent thought, one way or another.

  80. Nymeria Warrior Queen,

    If the WWs only appearence this season will be them showing up at the end of the season and doing nothing else after Hardhome that will be lame as shit and i will call out D&D on that . I usually agree with all their decision but that will be stupid . That’s what i always hated in the books and i’m hoping they don’t make the same mistake as Martin did like portraying them as a huge threat and then forget them for like 3 books .

  81. But if is something i dont understand is why Los siete reinos and Sue dont tell us all what they know. We already know they have a lot of spoilers. Why they dont tell us?? Its too much? But who has to tell if is too much is us. This is a site for spoilers why don tell us what you know? See who wants.

    I love the work of this site. Is the best in the world, but i think if is a site of GOT and we already have news with spoilers, why hide other spoilers? None of us has the privilege to have people inside the show to tell us everything, and theres lot of people who wants to know this spoilers. We are fans as much who has the privilege to have informations. I.think we have the right to choose if we want to see or not a big spoiler of Got in a site of news with spoilers.

    Its not a critic, its a alert that this is a spoiler site, so put the spoiler you know to people decide if want or not read. Just saying.

    Ps: yes. I love this site.

  82. Ragnar,

    I’m not sure how you took what I said as me thinking all we’ll see of the WW’s in season 6 is them at the Wall at or toward the end of season 6. I’d be shocked if that’s all we saw of them in season 6, especially, as you said, after the events at Hardhome.

    For some reason, in fact, I recall some mention of us seeing them again in the area we saw the NK changing Crater’s baby in a previous season. Quite honestly, however, I’m not sure if that was someone’s speculation, something based on a location report, or just a figment of my imagination…hahaha.

  83. Aguero,

    Because some of Sue’s sources give her info that might identify them! If she wants to keep the sources, then she can’t reveal EVERYTHING she knows! How many times does she have to say this? Just use your own head and it is easy to see that that bogus leak is FAKE! I’ve had it with you people dissing Sue for not giving us everything. We’re lucky to have ANYTHING!

    Begone, trolls!!

    And let me be the first to say that I am thankful this Thanksgiving holiday for Sue and all the folks at WotW for giving us an unprecedentedly (is that a word?) informative and entertaining summer and fall. Thanks, all!

  84. At this point I’m just waiting for the first trailer to pop up around January XD
    Good news like always, especially that white walker news if true.
    I didn’t think they would make the siege of riverrun such a huge event on the show, I’m pretty pumped up. I wonder what are the odds of more spoilers showing up before filming ends ?

  85. IMHO it dould be incredibly cool if the White Walker avalanche hits the wall and the wall just shakes and stands because … magic.

  86. Ashara D:
    Aguero,

    And let me be the first to say that I am thankful this Thanksgiving holiday for Sue and all the folks at WotW for giving us an unprecedentedly (is that a word?) informative and entertaining summer and fall. Thanks, all!

    So true, I was so bummed after S5 ended. Then I found this site…no longer bummed. I feel with all the spoilers we get that the time flies. Only 5 more months. Now I am not sure what will happen once filming stops. So I enjoy every little bit of spoilers we can get and love the, sometimes heated, discussions.

  87. wwqqs:
    Apollo,

    Sorry, buddy but it doesn’t make any sense. I can assure you that the white walkers won’t invade the westeros sooner than episode 4 of season 8.

    Ah..hold on… My Troll alert is a-buzzin

  88. I’m with you on the wall coming down way before S8, per my previous post.

    And I like the idea of mass migration to escape an enemy growing in strength. So many examples of this both historic and current (tragically).

    Thronetender: If you look at a map of Westeros, you see that the area just below Graywater Watch (Howland Reed) and just north of the Twins is the narrowest point on the continent. I was envisioning the WW cutting a swath south toward that area and human survivors retreating to there. They start to gather all the dragonglass and Valyrian steel they can find, then plan “the biggest fire the South has ever seen” across that whole stretch.I would love to see hysterical crowds overtaking the bridges at the Twins and beating some Freys to a pulp.

    Far fetched maybe, but I think the Wall will fall way sooner than season 8. They need time to show the reactions of all the players to the reality of the situation, and hopefully the cooperation developing between those who were once rivals to defeat a common enemy. And, of course, Littlefinger figuring out how he can make money for himself out of all the mayhem.

  89. Ginger of House Snap: I think the wall was bound by spells by the CotF, and to have two ‘gods’ at odds with each other unbeknownst to the people, because the purpose of the magic has been lost over time would be kind of a cool twist

    I have also wondered about any precarious balance between the red god and the old gods and how their human proxies may affect the natural balance of things in Westeros. I believe there is a long-lost comprehension or misunderstood purpose behind the building of the wall. Obviously, due to the physics/gravitational issues behind the wall’s 700ft stability, I believe the mystical CotF provide the magical “glue” to keep the wall intact.

    Now, as you imply, something must happen to that magical force that holds up the wall (supposedly integrated during its construction after the FirstMen, Giants, CotF, Others, and AA ended the Long Night via treaty or battle). Forget about horns and other deus ex machina scenarios…since the CotF and the weirnet are supposedly central to this issue, I think the compromise must take place at BR’s cave under the weirwood heart tree, if that is indeed “magic central.” If the CotF/BR/Bran there are compromised by a small WW force while the vast WW wight armies amass at the wall, that could be the key.

    As others have argued in the past, what do the WW want? Does that age-old treaty that established the wall matter anymore? What is the relationship between the rise of the WWs and the rebirth/revitalization of magic and dragons in the world? S6 and TWoW should provide insight into those matters.

    Go Bran and Sam! Reclaim the knowledge! Can’t wait until TWoW. 🙂

  90. Chris: the ending of lord of the rings is that it doesn’t flesh out properly the aftermath and receding of magic from the world enough. If they plan to show what happens after the “big war”, then they could use a portion of season 8 to do so. The wall falling at the end of season 6 isn’t off the table IMHO.

    Ashara D: Your post made me think that perhaps the whole story and GRRM’s “bittersweet” ending is that Winter decends, everything falls, and the WWs prey upon men unhindered. But in season 8, there is a boy who escaped from Westeros to Essos as a young child with his bookish father and scrappy mother and traveled the continent looking for magic to defeat the WWs. He encounters an old Westerosi dwarf along the way, and learns to be a true leader and dreams of some day returning to take back his homeland. The End. The book will be titled “A DREAM of Spring,” after all, right?

    The two of you have shown some great reasons why the Wall will be breached well before season 8. The guy who said it wouldn’t be crossed until the last few episodes of 8 didn’t think all of this through, imho. I don’t think GRRM would miss the chance to show how all of the seemingly unrelated events and crises come together in the story, and how an individual’s dreams of glory and wealth might either change to help the cause or hinder it unto disaster. This will take more than a few episodes.

    I want to see what the “holier than everyone else” High Sparrow does in the face of wretched refugees with harrowing stories showing up near Kings Landing. Will he still think “who f**cked who” is as important an issue as rescue for those people?

    Ashara, I love your story idea. It paves the way for a whole new generation of heroes to rise up – possibly including Sansa’s children, or a grown Rickon. Which means a new series featuring Starks, carrying on the Dream, and hope for all of us die-hard Game of Thrones fans who don’t want this to end.

    Ragnar: If the WWs only appearence this season will be them showing up at the end of the season and doing nothing else after Hardhome that will be lame as shit

    Agreed. Another reason why I think they make a big appearance in this season close to if not at the Wall.

  91. Apollo: And I like the idea of mass migration to escape an enemy growing in strength. So many examples of this both historic and current (tragically).

    Yes, the Wildlings’ plight is not without historical parallels. As I am in the camp that is expecting the Westerosi to reject the notion that the Wildlings are doing anything other than invading, I now am also expecting B&W and GRRM to get hit with accusations of exploiting current events and (in the eyes of some) expressing anti-American views, as many will view the Wildlings in a sympathetic manner whereas the Westerosi Lords who will not accept that there is a greater threat underlying the “invasion” will look foolish, heartless and ignorant when, really, they are just heartless and ignorant!

  92. Thronetender: I want to see what the “holier than everyone else” High Sparrow does in the face of wretched refugees with harrowing stories showing up near Kings Landing. Will he still think “who f**cked who” is as important an issue as rescue for those people?

    That is a really good question. Assuming that he survives (which is by no means guaranteed), then there are multiple realistic routes they could go. There is no indication in the books or the show that the Church of the 7 includes the Azor Ahai legend. The Maesters, who are of Andal origin too, seem to dismiss the White Walkers as an extinct or mythical people. So, one very realistic way to go is that this is just the ravings of the Heathern Northerners (and Wildlings): the “true” gods would have warned us about this. Therefore, it’s just an attempt by the godless northerners to cause problems. (Think of this as akin to how many religous people treat Climate Change.)

    Another possibility is that he will recognize this as being some sign of evil, and rally people to do something about it. However, the HS would also claim that the Red God is equally as evil and certainly in league with the WW. Thus, he would undermine any attempt to form alliances.

    There no doubt are other pathways he might take. However, I am betting that the Church of the 7 will be part of what hinders any effective response to the WW invasion.

  93. L7R confirmed through their sources what Irish Thrones said.

    White Walker army that moves like an avalanche!!!

  94. Gravemaster,
    Edith: White Walker army that moves like an avalanche!!!

    I would expect that. Sapochnik introduced the avalanche/blitzkrieg effect for the wight attack (borrowed from WWZ) in the Hardhome episode. I would expect them to continue that paradigm as they approach the wall and beyond.

    I’m also expecting some decent “knock knock” jokes as the WW army approaches the CB northern gates.

  95. Ashara D:
    Aguero,

    Because some of Sue’s sources give her info that might identify them! If she wants to keep the sources, then she can’t reveal EVERYTHING she knows! How many times does she have to say this? Just use your own head and it is easy to see that that bogus leak is FAKE! I’ve had it with you people dissing Sue for not giving us everything. We’re lucky to have ANYTHING!

    Begone, trolls!!

    And let me be the first to say that I am thankful this Thanksgiving holiday for Sue and all the folks at WotW for giving us an unprecedentedly (is that a word?) informative and entertaining summer and fall. Thanks, all!

    herehere! yay in agreement! thnx sue & all the staff & AWESOME commenters for your genorosity(sp?)!! i dont get to post often,but i couldnt imagine not reading this site the last few months especially while we wait to know the ending to thisunique, fantastical, & unpresidented saga by grrm & the internet, social media, & tv:)

  96. SlayerNina,

    Indeed. For every Hardhome there was a a Sandsnakes or the drawn out Brienne chase. It’s a shame they didn’t have the budget earlier in the show’s life as the Battle of the Whispering Woods or The Battle of the Green Fork would have been natural parts where actions scenes were needed ( would have loved to have seen Jaime’s last ditch attempt to get to Robb, would also have been good for the viewer to see how able he was with a sword so the prominence of his loss of his hand was more evident). Now, I worry that they’re just putting some action sequences in for the sake of it.

  97. Lisa0527,

    Sorry, the Wall won’t be coming down in S6. The WW are the ultimate threat to Westeros, like Thanos in the Avengers. Once they move it will be apocalyptic. You save that shit for the last season. S8 is when the WW invade, mark my words.

  98. Mark S,

    So they will just wait Beyond the Wall for the next two seasons? They need to do something and while expaining their purpose or mystery about the previous war against them would be nice. They got to do something big and logical step is make an attempt on the Wall.

    While we’re talking about them. Can we expect them to talk with one another or talk at all. I’m really intrigued by their hierarchy, language, history well everything about them in general.

  99. Sean C.: There are some pretty elementary visual storytelling devices they can use to convey that the whole Wall is falling.

    I wouldn’t mind them doing the sort of domino-style collapse sequence that’s popular in CGI recently – just as long as they don’t have somebody surfing the falling chunks like Legolas.

  100. Mark S:
    Lisa0527,

    Sorry, the Wall won’t be coming down in S6. The WW are the ultimate threat to Westeros, like Thanos in the Avengers. Once they move it will be apocalyptic. You save that shit for the last season. S8 is when the WW invade, mark my words.

    I guess I’m just not into the idea that the series is about one big battle between good and ultimate evil. So I don’t necessarily believe that the climax of the series will be a single epic battle against the WW. I don’t think this early on it would be much of an actual battle. Humans aren’t ready to fight the Others and they’ll be crushed. Season 7 and 8 will likely be humanity getting their act together and figuring out how to fight the Others in a unified way. With these characters you know it’s going to take a looooong time to switch them from completely self interested to working with others to save Westeros. Easily take 1 1/2 seasons. Then at least 1/2 season of aftermath. So I’m not thinking it’s too early for a first encounter with the Others at all.

  101. Mark S: Sorry, the Wall won’t be coming down in S6. The WW are the ultimate threat to Westeros, like Thanos in the Avengers. Once they move it will be apocalyptic. You save that shit for the last season. S8 is when the WW invade, mark my words.

    That is not enough time for the type of stories that GRRM likes to tell. It is not going to be the case where the Wall comes down and then everyone immediately rallies to defend Westeros from what is coming through. Almost nobody in Westeros believes that there is anything dangerous beyond the Wall save for Wildlings and perhaps exotic animals like dire wolves and polar bears.

    A big part of the character evolution before the finale should be the main characters coming to grips with what is happening and then trying to figure out how to get an appropriate response to it. And that itself is going to be a season’s worth of drama.

    Hodors Bastard: I’m also expecting some decent “knock knock” jokes as the WW army approaches the CB northern gates.

    Like “who’s there? Silence. Silence Who? No, just silence, as nobody is saying anything. And now you are dead. Well, mostly.”

  102. I think the Wall will fall, then we will have the Long Night, which lasted a generation before. This isn’t going to be a fight that is over with just one battle. The Long Night will probably start E10 of the season before the final season and then last until E8 of the final season.

  103. Geralt of Rivia: Can we expect them to talk with one another or talk at all. I’m really intrigued by their hierarchy, language, history well everything about them in general.

    Yeah….how do they communicate? I’m intrigued as well. I’ve always assumed that a WW needs to be in the general vicinity to control a wight (or a gaggle of wights) but how do they communicate and plan with each other? Once Bran/BR/Sam figures that out, maybe they can be hacked!

  104. Wimsey:

    There no doubt are other pathways he might take.However, I am betting that the Church of the 7 will be part of what hinders any effective response to the WW invasion.

    I can’t help but view the Seven as an ironic twist on Christianity in this story (polytheistic) and the Walkers as a fantastical representation of the Norse invasion. So yes, I do believe the Seven will hinder themselves!

    I truly can’t wait for this avalanche of White Walkerness! #WhiteWalkalypse

  105. Hodors Bastard: Yeah….how do they communicate? I’m intrigued as well. I’ve always assumed that a WW needs to be in the general vicinity to control a wight (or a gaggle of wights) but how do they communicate and plan with each other? Once Bran/BR/Sam figures that out, maybe they can be hacked!

    A murder of wights? 😉

  106. HotPinkLipstick,

    HotPinkLipstick:
    cosca,

    I think the Wall coming down is what will finally get the attention of the people below the Neck, who are still squabbling over politics.

    Like people above the neck gave any more attention than those who are in south ..

    Where were the lords of north fighting the WW or rescuing the Wall from wildlings …

    It took a southern king to rescue them…

    Hell even those who are at the wall who know the threat to be true didnt pay attention to them otherwise they wouldnt kill their LC. .

    So no the north is as bad as south in not giving attention to the threat …and fighting over politics.

  107. you snow nothing: I can’t help but view the Seven as an ironic twist on Christianity in this story (polytheistic)

    I don’t think that it’s supposed to be an ironic twist. GRRM had Catholic parents, so he grew up with the concept of a Trinity god. (Other Christians hold to this, too.) I think that it has been mentioned once one the show and a handful of times in the books: the Church of the 7 worships one god who has 7 aspects. So, an Andal appealing to (say) the Mother is like a Christian appealing to the Holy Spirit or Jesus instead of Yaweh, even though all three are supposed to be the same.

    The definite problem I can see arising is that the High Sparrow is clearly one of those “my religion is right and everything else is a false religion” types, and the Red Priests also are like that. Both might agree that the White Walkers are an enemy: but I can see both refusing to accept that the other can be an ally.

  108. you snow nothing: A murder of wights?

    It fits…but the crows may have usage rights. We definitely need an addition to the vernacular if indeed wights and WWs travel/swarm together. Perhaps an “avalanche” or “rumble” is appropriate? I wonder if the Valyrians have a word for it?

  109. Hodors Bastard: I would expect that. Sapochnik introduced the avalanche/blitzkrieg effect for the wight attack (borrowed from WWZ) in the Hardhome episode. I would expect them to continue that paradigm as they approach the wall and beyond.

    That’s one of the things I wonder about in terms of how the war is depicted once the WW get through the Wall. The wights in the source material are more traditional ominous, slow zombies; the show’s new-style fast zombies really should overrun everything much more quickly (and certainly be much harder to fight).

  110. Sean C.: The wights in the source material are more traditional ominous, slow zombies; the show’s new-style fast zombies really should overrun everything much more quickly (and certainly be much harder to fight).

    I found the difference between the wights at the Fist of the First Men (last scene of S2) and Hardhome to be shocking. The WWs have definitely discovered how to allow a wight’s reanimated body to increase its adrenaline secretion and use. Sam wouldn’t have had a chance against the physiologically-advanced S5 wights…..it doesn’t bode well for Westerosians, unless the telepathic bond between WW and wight is compromised, imho.

  111. Sean C.,

    Eh, I don’t know. Maybe the show is trading WW-danger for wight-danger?

    The book reader knows to appreciate WW-danger. We hear about the Others so often we can’t help it. Even without wights, you know the Others mean trouble- mostly because of the cold they bring/follow, but still.

    For the show-only audience, wights/zombies are understandable with no intro. Just leave the WW as main baddies for heroes to fight. The show can skip much of the grim starvation/freezing, and move right on to catastrophe.

    This fits pretty well with Hardhome. There are like 5 WWs, and one fights the Magnar/Jon. The bazillion wights do all the faceless slaughter.

  112. W C-R,

    Well, we read people refer to the Others as a curse: but we have not “seen” them in two books (which is now 15 years). Even the wights were fairly limited in presence in the last two books. That might change if Jon goes to Hardhome after he wakes up: and, of course, the Others almost certainly will get through the Wall in Winter.

  113. Wimsey: Yes, the Wildlings’ plight is not without historical parallels. As I am in the camp that is expecting the Westerosi to reject the notion that the Wildlings are doing anything other than invading

    It won’t be only Wildings migrating. If the wall is breached and the WW army comes through, it will be the Northerners, as well, making tracks out of town. Wildings and citizens will be thrown together in common plight. The only way the South will even begin to believe what is happening (until the WW are in their own backyards) is if thousands of Northerners come through their towns with the stories of the dead turning into blue-eyed zombies. I agree, we’ve already been shown that no-one will readily believe a bunch of Wildings, but they’d better believe the citizens.

  114. Thronetender: I agree, we’ve already been shown that no-one will readily believe a bunch of Wildings, but they’d better believe the citizens.

    And how will people differentiate between the two in the absence of any sort of records or papers? Not to mention that there’ve been a couple of pretty devastating wars recently, and people are already starved out for food and security… I think the approach will be more ‘kill them all and let the Seven sort them out.’

  115. Totally unrelated, but has anyone noticed what appears to be intentional bombing of GoT ratings over on IMDb, primarily by US users and, if’m reading this right, female voters!? Is this some SJW meet book purist thing?

  116. Thronetender,

    I do not think that the southerners would believe the Northerners, even. After all, didn’t the north just invade the south based on a lie about Joffery’s parentage? Now they have another lie, when all the Northerners really are doing is fleeing a nasty winter.

    One had only to look at the real world to see how well “comfortable” people can deny unpleasnt possibilities. Why would the Westerosi be the different?

  117. Mark S:
    Lisa0527,

    Sorry, the Wall won’t be coming down in S6. The WW are the ultimate threat to Westeros, like Thanos in the Avengers. Once they move it will be apocalyptic. You save that shit for the last season. S8 is when the WW invade, mark my words.

    No need for apologies- we’re all wrong sometimes 😉

    I see others including me have already given perfectly logical justifications for why the Wall will fall/ be breached before so I won’t repeat those. All I will say is the greatest clue is in the name of the next book- which S6 will dive right into. This will surely be about the horrors of winter and the utter devastation that will ultimately bring. The rest of the horrors we’ve seen/read; war of the 5 kings, sacking of slavers bay etc. will pale in comparison to what is to come.

    Also- we have confirmation of a WW army. That implies a battle-presumably involving cast. If the WW are north of the Wall, exactly who are they fighting? Nobody is there: The Wildlings are either wights or are in Westeros and the NW have no further need to range north. It’s clear they when we see them, it’ll be breaching the Wall. This season.

  118. Yaga: I think the approach will be more ‘kill them all and let the Seven sort them out.’

    Wimsey: One had only to look at the real world to see how well “comfortable” people can deny unpleasnt possibilities. Why would the Westerosi be the different?

    Sadly, I think you both are probably right. It will be necessary to show the disdain and disbelief of the Southerners, mixed in with their preoccupation with the current political events, mixed with how they also disregard the rumors of possible attacks from a blonde from Essos.

    Which is why I say again to those who believe the WW will only show up in the latter part of season 8, that I am in the camp that says otherwise. To do the story right and still come to some sort of acceptable ending, bittersweet or otherwise, WW will be showing up past the Wall a lot earlier, maybe even by the end of season 6.

  119. Apollo: Ah..hold on… My Troll alert is a-buzzin

    For good reason. After reading this whole thread, I am convinced that there are at least two if not three new users of someone who was either banned or given a thumping and are coming back under a new user name, but other than doing better on capitalization and the use of netspeak, same spots on the same leopard troll.

    Regarding those who want to see Sue rebut the fake script….one thing to say to you!!!

    In Sue we trust. Let it go.

  120. I would think the migration of the WW and O and NK would take a bit of time and would be valuable to show the viewers to keep them remembering the big picture. I also happen to agree with those who think that a part of this group will arrive at or close to the wall at the end of this coming season, but that it will be season 7 when we see the penetration to the other side. Maybe even the end of season 7.

    It does seem that much has to align between now that then. It has become pretty obvious that the ultimate showdown for the fight of Westeros/Essos is going to be defeating this WW/O/NK army with all that the whole rest of this make believe world has to throw at it. So indeed, much of the end game is going to have to be in season 8. That leaves (with all we know that is going to happen in season 6 – which is quite a lot) season 7 as being the pivotal “set up” season.

    That seems more like a possibility to me.

  121. Hodors Bastard: Sam wouldn’t have had a chance against the physiologically-advanced S5 wights…..it doesn’t bode well for Westerosians, unless the telepathic bond between WW and wight is compromised, imho.

    You mean via the telepathic interference from a new, improved Bloodraven trainee and some newly inspired Children of the Forest? Now that’s an interesting notion.

  122. Wimsey,

    ita. I don’t think southerners will figure things out until they have personal experience of wights and their zombies. I think until then, they’ll see the northern refugees as the problem, rather than as symptom of a problem (talking about real world parallels, lol).

    by the time they figure things out, it might be too late to prepare an effective defense.

    …enter Dany and dragons. Of course.

  123. JCDavis,
    Ehh. The way I see it, the final confrontation will be somewhere in the South (book spoilers suggest the Trident, and there is that island with a godswood and also, obviously, King’s Landing itself, as alternative locations). So, I would like it if S7 had the WWs overrunning the North, with just maybe Winterfell and Jon’s merry band remaining active behind the enemy lines. Things have to be desperate there for a time!

  124. Yaga,

    I agree…..probably further South for the end game, that would make sense. But the fighting would have to start way North of there I should think. I see a grim prospect for much of Westeros as we know it.

  125. So… What about this? If EW wasn’t reporting on it, I’d say it’s a fan-made poster. Not because it’s bad —it’s just not in the usual style. So I guess the promotion for season six is beginning at last!

  126. Vepsauttaja,

    Yeah, the Game of Thrones official twitter account too.

    Hopefully this is just the beginning. Nice to see the season will still premiere on April, by the way. That’ll shut down get the silly speculation.

  127. Luka Nieto,

    That is awesome. I’m (pleasantly) surprised they are revealing the spoiler this early. I think it makes sense – a lot of people already know, and those that don’t will get super hyped by this teaser. April is next month right?

  128. Luka Nieto,

    It’s interesting to see how much hype that lone picture can gather. Also amongst my own friends, because as a reader I have learnt to be quiet as a mouse. April can’t come soon enough.

    But the marketing solution is really, really strange in my view.

  129. JCDavis,
    Hmm, I think we may have very different ideas about what fighting the WW will entail. The way I see it, the WW clearly aren’t the type of enemy where an army can help. All that can stop them is Valyrian steel (current count in the North: 1?) and obsidian (so a sortie to the abandoned Dragonstone may be in the order for Jon). Maybe Winterfell has some sort of a Rivendell Last Friendly House In The North magic thing going. Besides that, I think that Hardhome amply demonstrated that humanity is fucked.

    So, the way I imagine things pre-Dany and pre-whatever Sam will come up with is more of a guerrilla resistance, not a regular army, for Jon. Basically, Jon is Leia, Dany is Luke. He has the command of the Rebellion. She has the magic doodad that will turn the tides. ? (hope they don’t kiss)

  130. Vepsauttaja,

    So far 28min 12k likes on twitter and who knows how it’s going on facebook. On twitter Jon Snow is trending worldwide. They’re hyping this up.

  131. dragonreborn,

    In reference to 1000 extras, that isn’t hard to believe. My wife does wardrobe for a period piece in Louisiana with a much smaller budget. For a few episodes they have had 250-300 extras. 1,000 really isn’t that unlikely, especially wit GOT’s budget.

  132. Thronetender: You mean via the telepathic interference from a new, improved Bloodraven trainee and some newly inspired Children of the Forest?

    Yes, indeed. Using the available wired (weirnet) and wireless (warging/greenseeing) capabilities, heart tree central will hopefully provide critical support and intel! But I fear that their underground complex is a target as well! Beware, the wall is weeping!

  133. Yaga: So, the way I imagine things pre-Dany and pre-whatever Sam will come up with is more of a guerrilla resistance, not a regular army, for Jon.

    If Sam is in Oldtown (as it appears he will be), then there is not much that he can do. Sam can tell people that the stories from the North are true until he is blue in the face, but until he or other people are blue in the eyes, nobody in Oldtown or the Reach or Kings Landing is going to believe him.

    Besides, with Cersei’s trying to get revenge on the Tyrells, the church, the Martells and anything else that ever has crossed her, Euron’s sorties and news of Daeny’s westward trek across Essos, the Lords of southern Westeros will have several much more important problems than a Wildling invasion that is getting hyped as the return of Elvis or Bigfoot or whatever other snarks and gremlins silly people report.

  134. Bodog,

    Well, it’s incredibly likely that Brynden is at Riverrun. He was present at the Red Wedding, which differs from the book, but he did escape according to Roose Bolton. If the Siege of Riverrun is indeed occurring in this season, then Brynden is in fact the temporary lord of Riverrun whilst Edmure is held hostage by the Freys. He’ll most assuredly be leading the defense and any sort of conflict that is to arise between the Lannisters/Freys and the Tullys will definitely involve Blackfish in some way.

  135. Wimsey,

    Oh, I’m not talking about telling people stories when I talk about Sam. If there’s a nuke hidden in Oldtown, plot demands that he (or Euron) find it. *That’s what I’m talking about. *

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