Episode 509 “The Dance of Dragons” brings a slight rise in initial Game of Thrones viewership

Flying high
Flying high

The numbers for Sunday are in, and after the record increase last week, viewership of the initial airing is again highest since the premiere of the season: 7.14 million, just a tad over the previous 7 million. People have been busy catching up in the past weeks, as the data (partial and not-so-interesting, I know) shows.

Hear Marko Roar: Another uptick next week, and I will be quite happy. These might be the strongest three concluding episodes of a Game of Thrones season, and that may reflect in the numbers as well – but don’t let’s get ahead of ourselves, and wait to see what happens next. You can expect a nice little graph soon after the end of the season (sigh, already?).

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149 Comments

  1. I am not sure if we can reach Season premier numbers for the finale, but I will be happy with anything above Episode 9 rating.

    Heck, I will just be happy with an awesome finale, regardless of numbers

  2. Well considering that stupid Tony Awards shit and basketball was on,i say these are pretty good numbers . In fact i would have even been glad if the viewership stayed the same .

  3. ace: Heck, I will just be happy with an awesome finale

    This. I just want a high quality show! If a lot of other people want to watch it, too, that’s cool. Can’t believe we’re already at the finale. Seems like just yesterday we were debating about the leaks and whether or not Sansa would really go to Winterfell, etc. These seasons just go by too fast!

  4. Not bad at all, considering the stiff competition. I think we’ll see around 7.3-7.5 million for the finale. I can’t believe the season is almost over…

  5. Boojam,

    Once new piracy numbers are revealed, we will run them, as always. The latest record of 3.5 million is from the middle of May. So …

  6. Who would watch the Tony Awards instead of GOT?

    I love this show, and even though I don’t care about the numbers, its nice to see that!
    Side note – I have not read the books, but if something happens next week that I have been predicting, GOT may not be appointment television anymore for me.
    Well I say that now but who knows.
    ugh

  7. That’s pretty impressive considering the NBA Finals had historically high viewership that same night.

  8. I think once Piracy numbers are released, it’ll equal or exceed the totals we’ve seen already, no reason to think it would decline, especially after the high-calibre of the last 2 episodes.

    Anywho, nice to see an increase again, echoing what people have referenced already (Tonys, NBA), the figures are very promising.

  9. Colty:
    Deesensfan,

    What are you predicting?

    Luka Nieto:
    Deesensfan,

    What is your speculation? What are you dreading will happen?

    I think Olly is gonna wack Jon from behind.
    Just like Olly wacked Yigrette (without her seeing him)
    There is a reason this snake has been eyeing Jon all season. And to think I liked this kid. Ugh.
    I cant deal with that possibility. It sucks. I thought that R+L=J theory of mine (and many others) was significant. It wouldn’t surprise me if it was inserted by GRRM to make me think it was significant and that JS was significant.

    I really hope I am wrong. But nothing else would break the internet.

  10. Salvatore Leone:
    Well considering that stupid Tony Awards shit and basketball was on,i say these are pretty good numbers . In fact i would have even been glad if the viewership stayed the same .

    This may just be me, but people who watch the Tony’s, don’t usually tune in for GoT. May be wrong, but I think there’s quite a significant difference of taste issue there. NBA does have an effect, but it has been the case for each season.

    Simeon: This.I just want a high quality show!If a lot of other people want to watch it, too, that’s cool. Can’t believe we’re already at the finale. Seems like just yesterday we were debating about the leaks and whether or not Sansa would really go to Winterfell, etc. These seasons just go by too fast!

    Seems like just yesterday that I read Drogon swooping into Daznak’s Pit and I saw it yesterday (local time). All the time during production, I thought man, they need to make this pit look bigger then that.. And they did! xD

    Davos’ Luck:
    Not bad at all, considering the stiff competition. I think we’ll see around 7.3-7.5 million for the finale. I can’t believe the season is almost over

    Insanity.. The previous casting round had characters like Euron and Tarly, so I could at least imagine what they would be doing, same with Sam and Oldtown.. But I honestly have no clue what this new 5ft 18-22yo presumably Child of the Forest is going to be doing and why the heck she’ll have many shooting days. We know that fights usually take up many days of shooting (Hardhome/Daznak). Are we going to see a fight between the Children and White Walkers? And when are going to get the confirmation that Christopher Walken (Marwyn) and Rutger Hauer (R. Tarly) have been cast?!? My body is getting ready for the post-season!

    Sidenote, this season has been overshadowed by leaks and grandstanders. I think when looking back I’ll be able to enjoy this season even more. But the actual viewing experience had been tarnished.

  11. I hope they end the finale in some fashion that doesn’t leave the viewers totally depressed. You know, a little hope and perhaps a shade on the happier side would be nice after so much dark this season… Even if they end with something predictable there could be a way to do it so people don’t want to jump out a window…

  12. Maybe I can repost with a spoiler cover. How do I do that

    Edit: Someone covered it for me. Thanks!!!! LOL

    Remember, I haven’t read the books. so please no spoilers lol.

  13. Hope in the finale?I believe the finale will be darker than the rest of the episodes combined.A blood bath.Plus they will adapt the only AFFC and ADWD chapter that brought some tears into my eyes.

  14. acisking,

    Kinda hard to compare pay cable numbers to a broadcast show, much less a double overtime finals show with the biggest player in the world. I’m curious if HBO will ever release streaming numbers for GO and NOW. That’s how I watch it, anyway.

  15. Ser Oromis Locke,

    The off-season, even when it’s too damn long, it’s very fun too, with all the speculations, shooting news, casting news (Euron! Randyll! Yay!) and predictions. And this year will be even more interesting, now that we’re going in off-books territory. Huge TWoW spoilers are coming!

  16. Deesensfan: I really hope I am wrong. But nothing else would break the internet.

    Thanks, mate! Well, now you can just wait and see what happens… Just a few days more.

  17. Ravyn,

    Yes,I knew.I’m still not sure which one.Will the two be related or it’s something else?There are several options.Anyway,I’ve never before been so excited about ep 10,this one will be full of major events.More than in previous seasons.

  18. What is even more impressive is that more people are watching it outside of these numbers.

  19. dfgdf,

    I’m not sure what you mean by that, but I’m referring to the average per episode, which was 6.85 million for season four and is currently 6.74 million for season five.

  20. Just wondering… When it comes to rating, were there one week this season that fans haven’t been making some sort of excuses… The leak, the NBA, the Memorial Day, global warming, pollution etc. I mean, we all expected that at some point the show reaches its natural peak and given the overall quality of this season, with only one episode without some major screw-up, the numbers are better than anyone should have hoped for.

  21. Sergei Walankov:
    dfgdf,

    I’m not sure what you mean by that, but I’m referring to the average per episode, which was 6.85 million for season four and is currently 6.74 million for season five.

    And that small difference can be accounted for solely by the Memorial Day episode. In other words, the first-day viewership is essentially unchanged from its peak.

  22. Risto,

    The numbers are (for now) almost like S4 and that is great success, considering source material.

    And without Memorial Day S5 is the strongest yet in terms of numbers.

  23. Is the soundtrack being discussed on any thread today? I can’t find it. I’m curious if anyone has any new thoughts about it now that we can hear the full track and some are very different from their previews. I’m especially interested in “The Wars to Come” – epic mashup of Winterfell/Stannis themes!

  24. Ser Gerold Dayne:
    Ravyn,
    Yes,I knew.I’m still not sure which one.Will the two be related or it’s something else?There are several options.Anyway,I’ve never before been so excited about ep 10,this one will be full of major events.More than in previous seasons.

    Agreed. I’m still left amazed at how little Ep9 managed to accomplish. This time last year, Sansa already had her story-arc finished for example. This year, it’s clear that every arc is still very much in motion, Dany had her climax, but Tyrion needs to get the round-up closure following that climax, but Cersei, Jon, Sansa, Stannis, Arya. Heck, even Dorne apparently has a satisfying ending yet to come according to Jessica Henwick. Do we have any idea how long Ep10 is going to be, because I can’t see them doing this in 60 minutes.

    – CampDany gets a conclusion confronting Jorah, “you betrayed her”. 6 minutes?
    – Arya is going to become Jailbait of the Canals and kill Trant. 10 minutes.
    – Cersei is going to confess, shaved, and walk: pretty much at least 13 minutes.
    – Stannis will attack Winterfell apparently. 13 minutes.
    – Brienne will confront somebody, likely Stannis: 5 minutes minimum.
    – Sansa and Theon will try to escape Winterfell, 5 minutes minimum.
    – Dorne according to Jessica Henwick will have something major: 5 minutes minimum.
    – Dany meets “strangers”: I’m assuming the shortest bit of the episode: 4 minutes.
    – Sending off Sam and Gilly: 4 minutes?
    – Jon, letters and Olly: 6 minutes.
    – Varys, Kevan and Pycelle: 4 minutes?

    That’s 76 minutes of screentime. Am I being too generous here? These are all events that we know that should happen, along with events that we’re pretty much sure off will happen. This is pretty much leaving Loras and Margaery’s fate in the air. We know that Finn threw his script through the room when he was done reading it, was the inquisition his last scene of the season? Was that it? In any case, there’s A LOT unresolved going into 5×10 that will either make it one of the best episodes of the series, or extremely rushed.

  25. JTargs,

    Found the full soundtrack on Youtube. TheGringoMedia has uploaded all the tracks. I’m scared to listen to all of them, it kinda ruins the moment.

  26. It absolutely baffles me that anyone would think Tony Award watchers wouldn’t be the type of people to watch a well-acted high-fantasy costume drama.

  27. Sergei Walankov:
    dfgdf,

    I’m not sure what you mean by that, but I’m referring to the average per episode, which was 6.85 million for season four and is currently 6.74 million for season five.

    I mean if we include the other online services and especially HBO Now.

  28. Simeon: And that small difference can be accounted for solely by the Memorial Day episode.In other words, the first-day viewership is essentially unchanged from its peak.

    I ran the two against each other dropping the highest and lowest rating for each season. That gives a result of

    S4: 6.87
    S5: 6.76

    If the finale gets a 7.66 or higher, the first day average will be above S4 by that metric. If it gets a 7.84 or above, it will beat it on just a straight average.

  29. Shaz: I think once Piracy numbers are released, it’ll equal or exceed the totals we’ve seen already, no reason to think it would decline, especially after the high-calibre of the last 2 episodes.

    Valar uploadis, valar seedaris.
    All men must upload, all men must seed.
    Men serve the many-torrented God.

  30. Deesensfan,

    just remember this always

    A women in the white was saved by A Huge Black dragon

    likewise if anything should happen to the man in the black there will be a Huge White Wolf

  31. Deesensfan,

    I would be really annoyed if it was Olly alone who did it. I don’t think it will be, though. They went through the trouble to cast Bowen Marsh after excluding him for four seasons after all, and one can’t help but notice more and more of the other members of the Watch giving Jon the stink eye in the last few episodes. It will be mutiny as it was in the books, and Olly will probably just be one of the people in on it.

    Anyway, I’m glad it got another rise in ratings. All of the doomsayers can eat crow.

  32. Ser Gerold Dayne:
    Ser Oromis Locke,

    After Ep 9 ended I had the exact same reaction as you.But Dorne going big in 10?Is there an interview or something?I must have missed it.

    There was an interview linked in an earlier post — apparently there is still some big master plan yet to reveal in Dorne…

  33. One of Roose Bolton’s leeches,

    To clarify – I have the soundtrack, I meant that I couldn’t find a discussion of it on here. I agree! I guess it’ll be used for

    Stannis attacking Winterfell (would also work great for FTW/Resurrection but I don’t see that happening)

    , but Sansa must be involved in a major way since she’s the only Stark there and their theme is clearly played at the beginning.

    The Dance of Dragons & Blood of the Dragon are definitely the standouts for me! So beautiful. I bet if we had heard all of “Forgive Me” before this week, people would’ve known Stannis would burn Shireen. Also, sounds like “Atonement” was not the track used in Epi 1 after all – definitely walk of shame music. I’m hoping “Throne for the Game” will be used as credit music, but it’s probably just an extra.

  34. Robb Snow,

    Is this a spoiler? Lol.
    I hope its NO ONE!!!!
    Im not sure who Bowen Marsh is?

    dragonbringer:
    Deesensfan,

    just remember this always

    A women in the white was saved by A Huge Black dragon

    likewise if anything should happen to the man in the black there will be a Huge White Wolf

    I hope you are right… but Greywind couldn’t save Robb.

  35. My summary for Episode 10, 58 minutes.

    Dany meets Strangers (3)
    Tyrion, Daario and Jorah in the Throne Room discussing about the future of Meereen (2:30)
    Cersei and Kevan (2)
    Arya kills Trant (4:30)
    Sansa and Theon plan to escape (2:30)
    Arya get punished (1:30)
    Brienne and Podrick (1)
    Stannis/Melisandre/Baratheon Soldiers (3)
    Sansa & Theon escape Winterfell/Brienne & Podrick/Stannis/Melisandre/Boltons ????? (8)
    Pink Letter + Jon says goodbye to Sam (5)
    Margaery (1:30)
    Cersei and The High Sparrow (2)
    Walk of Shame + Robert Strong’s reveal (4:30)
    Bronn dies in Dorne followed by a montage of Cersei’s children dying (Myrcella in Dorne and Varys killing spree at King’s Landing including Tommen, Olenna, Kevan and Pycelle. (10)
    For The Watch + Winter has arrived in King’s Landing. (4)
    Epilogue : Lady Stoneheart reveal (3) or a Yara scene during the episode. (3)
  36. Deesensfan:
    Robb Snow,

    Im not sure who Bowen Marsh is?

    He is Jon’s steward in the books,much like Olly is in the show.He was supposed to be in 3 episodes this season,but we’ve already seen him in like 5 episodes.
  37. Geralt of Rivia,

    Im not sure I should read this comment….
    I do not want to know what happens in the books or what may happen next week

    I was just simply predicting based on what has happened so far in the season.

  38. Did we know that episode 10 will be 61 minutes long? I just found out at HBO.com.

    Enough for 7 or even 8 storylines? I don’t think so, but I though the same with 4×10 and they managed to finish all storylines (except Sansa’s and Theon’s) without the episode feeling too rushed.

  39. Deesensfan,

    Don’t read any comments that contain spoilers.Big things are coming in the finale.Just rely on what you know so far.

  40. Deesensfan,

    If don’t want to know anything,no.

    I’m looking forward to this moment.Much like with Dany’s big moment in the last episode.Cersei’s moment too.This finale could be the very best.

  41. Ser Gerold Dayne,

    thank you,
    if you read one of initial comments, I have predictions for next episode that some people were interested in hearing! I am afraid that some of the responses I got have spoilers, so I don’t think I should read them all.

    High Sparrow:
    Did we know that episode 10 will be 61 minutes long? I just found out at HBO.com.

    Wasn’t Hardhomme 60 minutes??

    Geralt of Rivia:
    Deesensfan,

    I adjusted my comment.You can.

    I’m looking forward to this moment.Much like with Dany’s big moment in the last episode.Cersei’s moment too.This finale could be the very best.

    Thanks! Okay so Bowen Marsh is a Book character. Understood.
    I am NOT looking forward to episode 10.

  42. Ozy,

    I largely think your summary is gonna proof to be quite accurate, however

    1. I don’t think anyone will die in Dorne (how, why?) but instead Doran will reveal his true plans to the Sand Snakes.
    2. LS…don’t hope for it, man.
    3. Yara has been confirmed to appear by her agency.
    4. If Kevan hadn’t been in this season, I might’ve considered your Varys killing spree more likely, but now it just seems ridiculous. Sure, Kevan and Pycelle will die, but isn’t two enough? As for the Maggy the Frog thing, I would consider the downfall part of it more important this season than the eventuel death of her children.
  43. I’m thinking the Battle of Winterfell will be one of those “footage not found” moments. Either we cut directly to the aftermath, a la Battle of the Green Fork in Season 1, or we cut off as it begins and resume in Season 6 showing a brief glimpse of the battle and the aftermath, a la Battle of the Fist of the First Men.

    I’m also thinking that there haven’t been that many major character deaths this season: Hizdahr, Shireen, Barristan, Mance, Aemon…? It’s kind of thin as far as this show goes. We also know that Bran is coming back and will need screentime. We also know from the Season 6 casting news that some new storylines are being opened up, which means that the money and screentime for them will have to come from somewhere. Now, there can be characters written out without getting killed off–the Dornish characters could be shuffled offscreen–but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a big cull in the Season 5 finale, especially since so many storylines seem to be coming to a head.

  44. Ozy:
    My summary for Episode 10, 58 minutes.

    You forgot that in a very recent interview

    the actor interpreting Davos said that Davos finds out what happened to Shereen in this episode
  45. are these viewer numbers just for people with a HBO cable subscription? or do those numbers also include people who use HBO Now or HBO Go? As an HBO Nower, I am curious.

  46. Jacobes,

    Im pretty sure they are just for HBO subscribers through cable.

    High Sparrow:
    Did we know that episode 10 will be 61 minutes long? I just found out at HBO.com.

    Enough for 7 or even 8 storylines? I don’t think so, but I though the same with 4×10 and they managed to finish all storylines (except Sansa’s and Theon’s) without the episode feeling too rushed.

    Wasn’t Hardhomme 60 minutes?
    61 minutes doesn’t seem like enough.

  47. Is the first scene of the prevuew if episode 10 the same landscape of the Hound/Brienne Battle?

  48. 30 Million viewers were watching Network TV during Game of Thrones. It doesn’t get much stiffer of competition then that for a Sunday.

  49. This is pure speculation…

    The only way the Dorne storyline makes sense this season is if Tommen dies…

    I have no clue if he will die, it just seems like the logical step. Why go through all of that trouble to set up the Dorne story line if those two in love kids aren’t important….

  50. Risto,

    The overall quality of the season was better than any before it.

    You’re either a book reader who’s pissed about the changes or a non-reader that thinks the season was too slow (not knowing the books are much, much slower). Prove me wrong.

  51. mau,

    O I would like that.

    Sand snakes sent on assassination mission. I hope Ser Pounce can save Tommen
  52. Mark,

    They said that last year as well. Then again… Last year’s really was a crazy finale. Even if it didn’t meet the ridiculous expectations all the interviews set up.

  53. jentario,

    I think this year will be really packed,while last year did indeed have some big moments,some of them didn’t have the impact as intended because of various reasons,but this time i think all of them will hit their mark . Besides Meereen which is just going to be a resolution from last week,all of the storylines(hopefully Dorne too) will have a big bang climatic ending .

  54. Bizzair:
    I made a Game of Thrones season 5 PARODY rap. Check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nCYbJqXfD0

    Hey….that was awesome. Great effort and it looks like you were crazy spent after. I thought you really did a good job of incorporating all the images from the past seasons and this and bringing your image into them. Parts made me laugh. Well done!!

  55. jentario,

    I agree, The Children is one of the best episode that they’ve ever done. A lot of people are criticizing it for no valuable reasons.

  56. My predictions, so long as we are playing as relates to Dorne/KL

    1) Cersei and the Sparrow, where he reveals that Olyvar has recanted, saying Cersei pressured him all along, and Margaery and Loras are free pending a formality of a trial. Cersei loses it, utterly defeated.
    2) Cersei talks to Kevan and Qyburn and she makes the “I must do it for my little King” comment.
    3) Myrcella/Trystane get a quickie hitching in Dorne, with Jaime giving her away.
    4) Doran and Ellaria have a conversation and he makes the “viper/grass” speech.
    5) Cersei does the Walk of Shame, and finishes at the Red Keep. Kevan covers her up and she sobs into his arms.
    6) The next scene, he tells her that Myrcella is married and they are coming. Cersei is too defeated to protest. Kevan says he will remain Hand. Cersei reads Jaime’s letter and throws it in the fire and we start to see she is getting her spark back.
    7) Myrcella, Trystane, Bronn and Jaime make their arrival back in KL. Tommen greets them, saying Margaery is too “ill” to be there. We see that Tyene has stowed away on the ship.
    8) Kevan is working at his desk, looking incredibly like Tywin for a moment when he hears a sound. Varys is back and kills Kevan, giving the “It’s not fair” speech.
    9) Tommen, alone in his bedroom, since Margaery won’t go near him, is suddenly startled by a sound and feels a sharp prick on the back of his neck.
    10) He looks up to see Tyene. “Am I not the most beautiful woman in the world…” and she starts to undo her dress. Tommen starts to sweat and breathe heavily.
    11) Rains of Castermere plays

  57. Ozy,

    Indeed, I would say the opposite. Had the critics got their wishes (Tysha being mentioned, lumbering wights, corpses somehow being lit up with mere torches), the show would have gotten a much worse general reception. As it stands, it’s basically tied with Blackwater for the 8th highest ranked episode on IMDB.

    This season is the new IMDB standard for the show, too. The median rating will be at least 8.6. The basic trend is an increase of about 0.1 per season: i.e., one more person in 10 giving it a full point higher than the prior year.

    Now, people will say: “those numbers are random”: but yet they predict the increased ratings of the show just as they predict the increased ratings and ticket sales of other TV & movie series.

  58. Simeon: And that small difference can be accounted for solely by the Memorial Day episode. In other words, the first-day viewership is essentially unchanged from its peak.

    Which is quite amazing given that they opened up viewership to sources that do not have to turn up in the ratings at all. Viewership almost necessarily has gone up this year, which is quite remarkable.

  59. Mark,

    You can tell Nutter is an old school pro at this. He says nothing more than he has to lest he gaffe and say something stupid (i.e., Alex Graves on The Cersei/Jamie row).

  60. Nodor:
    Master plan in Dorne…

    Agreed. Obviously, Dorne isn’t going to end with “and they lived happily ever after”.

    Putting the true Targaryen heir on the small council, betrothed to the soon-to-be queen? Yeah, that’s a plan…and worthy of E10.
  61. dragonbringer: A women in the white was saved by A Huge Black dragon

    likewise if anything should happen to the man in the black there will be a Huge White Wolf

    Hahaha…… never thought of the color contrasts! Now it makes sense why she mostly wears white or very pale colors.

    The Bastard:
    30 Million viewers were watching Network TV during Game of Thrones.It doesn’t get much stiffer of competition then that for a Sunday.

    Yes, I am totally impressed that GoT actually managed to rise over the last episode considering the humongous NBA finals.

  62. Chad Brick:

    Putting the true Targaryen heir on the small council, betrothed to the soon-to-be queen? Yeah, that’s a plan…and worthy of E10.
    Targaryen? You think that is still in play? I think Jaime uncovers Doran’s real intent for a Martell coup d’etat (kingmaker?) while still in Dorne and chaos erupts. I can’t fathom that they are back in KL for this next episode.
  63. Remember that bit about there being a mysterious character in the Dorne filming that no reporter was allowed to photograph or mention, as it was such a big spoiler? Are we getting that in 5×10?

    Also, four fairly significant characters died or “died” in 4×10: Tywin, Shae, the Hound, and Jojen. For the Season 5 finale to raise the stakes, I would expect even more:

    Jon Snow, Kevan, Pycelle, Ser Meryn for sure…plus someone in Dorne, someone in the Winterfell storyline, one of Myrcella and Tommen…?
  64. This season, man. As an Unsullied viewer, I thought Dorne and Braavos was going to be the most exciting this season. L.O.L.

    The Sand Snakes? I thought they were this “great team of warriors”. I thought they’d use the cute one to seduce someone, they’d use the one with the whip to capture someone and use the most fierce one to interrogate the shit out of some Lannisters. I thought Oberyn’s vengeance was to be had this season. Clearly not. I’d have been happy if they cut Dorne altogether and gave it to more of Arya. Arya’s story only started to get interesting in episode 8. Too late.

    E8 > E9 > E7 > E6 > E5 > E4 > E2 > E3 > E1

    I feel like pausing the trailer for the screentime Brienne of Tarth deserves.

    ANYWAY, on a positive note, I have thought the season has massively improved since Jorah and Tyrion sailed through Valyria. That’s when the season started for me. Not before. I trust Episode 10 will be great, too.

  65. Busmans:
    Insanity..

    I said I could be wrong. In my -apparently faulty eyes- people who watch he Tony’s are people that are interested in musicals. Stuff like Billy Elliot, War Horse, Cats, those type of shows. Shows that have a certain degree of uppity class. Those people, at least the ones I know, are actually quite demeaning of television trash like GoT. If you know people that are different to that, then that’s fine. The ones I know, are quite pretentious and like to keep reminding their surroundings that they don’t watch television at all.

    Ser Gerold Dayne:
    Ser Oromis Locke,
    After Ep 9 ended I had the exact same reaction as you.But Dorne going big in 10?Is there an interview or something?I must have missed it.

    Recollecting from my mind, but Jessica Henwick (Nymeria Sand), said something along the lines that Ep10 was going to be big and is going to change the stage for the show for the coming seasons, and that the Sandsnakes are going to be a part of that.

    That sounds like something off-book. King Tommen assassination, or just Doran telling us off these plans?

    M:
    I’m thinking the Battle of Winterfell will be one of those “footage not found” moments. Either we cut directly to the aftermath, a la Battle of the Green Fork in Season 1, or we cut off as it begins and resume in Season 6 showing a brief glimpse of the battle and the aftermath, a la Battle of the Fist of the First Men.

    I’m also thinking that there haven’t been that many major character deaths this season: Hizdahr, Shireen, Barristan, Mance, Aemon…? It’s kind of thin as far as this show goes. We also know that Bran is coming back and will need screentime. We also know from the Season 6 casting news that some new storylines are being opened up, which means that the money and screentime for them will have to come from somewhere. Now, there can be characters written out without getting killed off–the Dornish characters could be shuffled offscreen–but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a big cull in the Season 5 finale, especially since so many storylines seem to be coming to a head.

    Fun fact,

    those characters aren’t even dead in the books! xD

    As for the Battle of Winterfell being ‘GreenForked’.. That was a money issue back in the day. This would probably be more of a time-management issue, for which I’d be pissed because 5×09 was ridiculously short in my eyes (53 minutes?).

    Chad Brick: Agreed. Obviously, Dorne isn’t going to end with “and they lived happily ever after”.

    I’ve tried to read back to what happens after Doran has his talk with Balon Swann. You’ve essentially have:

    The Viper/Grass-speech and the plot for the Sandsnakes being laid out. However, Doran was pretty clear in 5×09 that Trystane would be seated on the Small Council, not Nymeria Sand. And the whole part of Obara can’t be used either because there’s no Darkstar to chase as Myrcella is unharmed. That basically leaves Tyene to infiltrate the board of the High Sparrow – were it that she’s not a Septa in the show. Why would Jessica Henwick (Nym) be so excited when her book counterpart is pretty obviously cut from the show going forward. So what ending have they fabricated to make at least the actress of Nymeria excited?? I’m not buying any storyline that says that they’ll assassinate Tommen in 5×10. That’s too fast, Jaime took episodes to get to Dorne, they can’t suddenly just arive at KL like that. Call me intrigued. I’m also excited for Yara’s return. I miss Gemma, I love her Yara, can’t wait for the Kingsmoot.
  66. mau:
    M,

    It was Jaime.

    There was a set picture of Jaime from the 5×09 scene floating around last year, though. If there were strict instructions not to photograph him, why did the photograph make it out?

    As for this season, the funny thing is that so many of the Unsullied have been complaining about how poky and dull Tyrion and Arya’s arcs are, even with the massive condensing the writers did. They have no idea, LOL.

    I wonder what Tyrion’s “You betrayed her” line from the promo is all about. The obvious one is Jorah, since he’s probably pissed at Tyrion for convincing Dany to banish him again, and Tyrion’s defence could be “Well, you betrayed her, she’s still mad about it, what did you expect?” Could be something else, though.

  67. Pau,

    Thanks Pau.
    Don’t worry I am pretty good at catching a spoiler before I read the whole thing.
    Although, I am pretty sure my predictions will be right 🙁
    Were have you been???? Pretty quiet the last few weeks.
    OT: Did you enjoy the Barca treble?

  68. HA – I love that on every thread of every site, this and others, the viewers are pleading, daring to hope, for something positive, SOMEthing that will make life in Westeros, and by extension, our lives, seem a little less bleak.

    Showing multiple events that are so devastating, disgusting, or thoroughly depraved is not a sign of sophistication, nor a sign of the only way life is. Granted, horrible things do happen in life, GoThrones, and our own lives. But life for us, the Game of Thrones community, couldn’t possibly be all bad. Otherwise, we would not be able to have the leisure, the electronics, nor indeed, the concentration, to be able to create, watch or discuss this entertainment phenomenon.

    I was gently mocked, even chided years ago, when I made postings similar to the ones I’m seeing now, pleading for something to be shown other than bleakness. Now, I have company. Good. It’s a good sign that we’ve not become totally jaded.

    Carry on.

  69. Hodor’s Bastard,

    Ehhh…I don’t think that Jaime is uncovering anything. Here’s a guess:

    Doran reveals that he has been working with people in KL to unseat the Lannisters and restore the Targaryens to the throne. Maybe Varys gets a name-drop. The plan is to marry Myrcella to Trystane either in Dorne or KL. Once that’s done, poor Tommen is eliminated by either Varys or a SS (at this point, they are interchangeable to me). Myrcella is crowned…until Dany gets herself out of Meereen and into Westeros. Once Dany arrives, Myrcella is killed and Trystane is married to Dany. This sadly fulfills Cersei’s prophecy. It also maintains the Martell-Targaryen support. Obviously, this would happen over an extended period of time. The finale may just give us Doran’s plan with the rest happening next season.

    Assuming that Jaime isn’t uncovering Doran’s plan, I’m not sure what was accomplished with his story line this season.

  70. People have been busy catching up in the past weeks, as the data (partial and not-so-interesting, I know) shows.

    So, we can take this one of two ways:

    1) GoT is no longer “event” TV and that means that B&W Suck!!!

    2) GoT is popular among people with so-called “lives”: who, as we all know, only watch TV for shock and naked women, and that means that B&W Suck!!!!

    😀

  71. Hodor’s Bastard,

    Yeah, I gotta agree. This whole

    Trystane must be taking Aegon’s plot role idea

    was a sort of classic negative evidence argument. IF that role is going to be on TV, then it will be by the book character: but like all such characters in this series, not until the season corresponding to the book where the character becomes important.

    I had thought that Trystane might take on Arianne’s and Quentyn’s storylines: but instead they have left Trystane as just an incidental character and not done the Martell sibling’s joint storyline.

  72. Wimsey,

    Wimsey, what? I haven’t read every one of your postings, but I don’t remember you as being an apologist or a doom caller for the show. Were you replying to the other poster, or is that how you’ve come to feel about B & W?

  73. Deesensfan:
    Pau,

    Thanks Pau.
    Don’t worry I am pretty good at catching a spoiler before I read the whole thing.
    Although, I am pretty sure my predictions will be right
    Were have you been???? Pretty quiet the last few weeks.
    OT: Did you enjoy the Barca treble?

    HA! I did indeed!! I even managed to watch the Barça-Bayern Champions semi-finals, the last 3 league games and the Cup final live!! It’s amazing but this last month the whole city has been even more uplifting than usual, like everyone had this perpetual grin on their faces XD

    I ‘ve actually been preparing my trip to Glastonbury, wich is this huge music festival in the UK…we managed to get some late hospitality tickets and now I have to try and make a plan to navigate it because it’s HUGE. More than 100 stages, 2000 artists…crazy!! Been listening to lots of bands to try and decide what to see 😉

  74. Salvatore Leone,

    Well considering that stupid Tony Awards shit and basketball was on

    I tivoed that to watch later that eve; but just so you know other people do like theatre and sports, even if they do enjoy a good fantasy story. Just sayin

    e, but people who watch the Tony’s, don’t usually tune in for GoT. May be wrong, but I think there’s quite a significant difference of taste issue there.

    I think you need to get out more. Really, lots of people have other interests besides GOT. A lot more then you might imagine….

    Actually I wonder if the numbers are going down this week; I think this may have put more people off the show. Then again, they said that about Sansa, and didn’t seem to make an effect, so….

  75. In addition to my “happiness” post, I’d like to add that if they showed some retribution for all the ghastly goings-on that have happened against the Starks, I would count that as a positive event. I guess I just really want to see the Boltons and Freys undone. (or stabbed, hung, …)

  76. Thronetender,

    heheh, the sarcasm meter should have been looking like a Geiger counter at Chernobyl……

    B&W have had a few misses, but I don’t complain too much. One, it’s damn good TV. Two, I would have missed a LOT more had I been doing the adaptation!

  77. Ser Oromis Locke,

    In my -apparently faulty eyes- people who watch he Tony’s are people that are interested in musicals. Stuff like Billy Elliot, War Horse, Cats, those type of shows. Shows that have a certain degree of uppity class. Those people, at least the ones I know, are actually quite demeaning of television trash like GoT. If you know people that are different to that, then that’s fine. The ones I know, are quite pretentious and like to keep reminding their surroundings that they don’t watch television at all.

    Pity. You do need to get out more. Just saying (I will give you that Broadway is really expensive, and the people who attend those shows have money, or get money. But I can tell you that people who loved Wicked also love GOT. Really.)

  78. Wimsey:
    Thronetender,

    heheh, the sarcasm meter should have been looking like a Geiger counter at Chernobyl……

    Oh, whew. LOL, sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s sarcasm when it’s written, rather than spoken, as many other posters on here have discovered.

    I would have been sad to lose your well-balanced thoughts to the doom-sayers.

  79. BTW my apologize for the above posts. I sounded very defensive and didn’t mean to be. I just really hate it when people pigeon hole other people and think the world would be a much better place if they didn’t. Now if you will excuse me I have a bookgroup to run to

  80. ash:
    Ser Oromis Locke,

    Pity.You do need to get out more. Just saying(I will give you that Broadway is really expensive, and the people who attend those shows have money, or get money.But I can tell you that people who loved Wicked also love GOT. Really.)

    I really have no idea but isn’t the Tony’s for all kind of plays, not only musicals? I love Shakespeare and I love GoT. I mean, for me what would be strange is someone who loves Shakespeare and doesn’t like GoT. Same with the Opera…all that drama! 😉

  81. dragonbringer

    “A women in the white was saved by A Huge Black dragon

    likewise if anything should happen to the man in the black there will be a Huge White Wolf”

    Nice 🙂

  82. M

    Daario? Maybe Tyrion suspects him of the Harpy role. I think Daario has to get pushed out at some stage if Dany decides to head home.
  83. Does anyone else not think they will show

    Jon Snow coming back from his death scene this episode, since him filming for this upcoming season would spoil any ‘dead or not dead’ cliffhanger anyways?
  84. ash:
    Ser Oromis Locke,

    Pity.You do need to get out more. Just saying(I will give you that Broadway is really expensive, and the people who attend those shows have money, or get money.But I can tell you that people who loved Wicked also love GOT. Really.)

    I don’t really know what to say here.. All I’m saying is, that a fair big chunk of the viewing audience of the Tony Awards, of at least the people I know, dismiss the entire idea of television. I know there are people that like both. I’m not saying that there aren’t. All I was saying was in general terms. Historically, in the faculty of humanities (media and culture in particular), there’s been a debate on high culture and low culture. Between film and television, the divide between theatre and television even more so. In recent years, this divide between film and television has begun to crumble in our eyes, but for many people of an older age, that enjoy theatre, that divide still very much exists. It’s of that group that I’m talking about, if you want to deny that that group exists.. than that’s fine.

    And please don’t try to pin me for saying people of an older age. I know theatre is for all ages, and everybody can go to the theatre to see a show that they would like, but as you said, one needs money to buy the tickets.

    My mother likes theatre, but goes about once a year, because it’s still relatively costly.

    Pau: I really have no idea but isn’t the Tony’s for all kind of plays, not only musicals? I love Shakespeare and I love GoT. I mean, for me what would be strange is someone who loves Shakespeare and doesn’t like GoT. Same with the Opera…all that drama!

    But it’s “televized drama“. Television doesn’t have the same type of high culture appeal that the opera has in the eyes of the older generation, certain social classes. That’s what I’m getting at, and a large chunk of the audience that enjoy the Tony’s have that mindset. Not all.. But a large chunk.

    Heck, I read an entire bundle of tragedies just for one bookreview in high school. I’m pretty sure that the teacher I had won’t watch GoT though, but would watch the Tony’s or similar events.

  85. Deesensfan: I really hope I am wrong. But nothing else would break the internet.

    Yeah I would have been groaning massively at this notion but after seeing the themes revolving around children in the past few episodes it would make sense

    Eg Children are thematically representative of both the future and innocence. Eg with Karsi and child Wights it is the issue that with Otherism there is no future, with Stannis, Mel and Shireen they tap into the issue that with R’hlorrism there is no futre, back to Karsi’s children being behind Jon at the Gate this is symbolic of only Jon being interested in saving/preserving the future.

    Similar to Shireen clutching the Stag being symbolic that House Baratheon has no future, Olly being the one to shoot Jon will be thematically relevant in illustrating the NW has no future and is set to crumble

    Shireen also represents the destruction of innocence, we saw that with Sansa to a degree but the whole “too old” and “I’ll tell you when I’m done” etc Meryn Trant thing had a point in that he was out to destroy the innocence of that serving girl.

    This actually makes me a bit worried for Arya, things might not quite go smoothly….

  86. Deesensfan:
    Robb Snow,

    Is this a spoiler? Lol.
    I hope its NO ONE!!!!
    Im not sure who Bowen Marsh is?

    I hope you are right… but Greywind couldn’t save Robb.

    Robb was not The Last Hero. Most likely Jon is or he is The Prince Who Was Promised or Azor Ahai or The Song of Ice and Fire. Robb was just a kid who made some permanently bad choices when he was temporarily upset.

  87. honeyimhome: Robb was not The Last Hero. Most likely Jon is or he is The Prince Who Was Promised or Azor Ahai or The Song of Ice and Fire. Robb was just a kid who made some permanently bad choices when he was temporarily upset.

    Man, you would have gotten crucified by the “Robbettes” 15 years ago! 😀

    However, although Jon might be what you say, he is not

    an experienced warg. Given what we learn in the books, only experienced wargs can jump at will into different bodies: and if they are trapped in a different body after their body dies, then they basically dissipate into the consciousness of the creature they are possessing.

    Unlike Bran, Jon is not an experienced Warg. The prologue chapter to Dragons set up nicely what Bran is doing, but it probably disqualified the “Jon’s going to hide out in Ghost for a while” scenario. That written, Jon might have an extended Ghost dream while recovering from Olly.

  88. Random guess here but something missing from casting calls from a year ago and other news made me think of an extra scene for Episode 10:

    Varamyr:

    I think that we’ll get a scene, maybe a cold open, with an as yet unmet wildling warg (Varamyr) and some wights (I heard that Karsi is supposedly in ep 10) and him getting killed and warging into something to give us an insight into how it ends for Jon after for the watch with him warging ghost! Will be kind of awesome.

  89. ctid,

    No, but it would be important in the context of the basic plotline they are following. Moreover, keep in mind that any alteration would be to not do this on TV if it is in the book: on screen, a character is denoted by a face, not a name and certainly not by the face of someone from a different species!

    However, I also think that the part of the book that some readers feel sets this up actually might do the opposite. It was a setup for a main character: but one who know understands photosynthesis really well.

  90. Wimsey,

    Book speculation-wise what you are postulating is an interesting take on it. I’ll read into that one.

    However if the show were to show it I’m guessing it would be in the context of JS.

  91. Ser Oromis Locke,

    Historically, in the faculty of humanities (media and culture in particular), there’s been a debate on high culture and low culture. Between film and television, the divide between theatre and television even more so. In recent years, this divide between film and television has begun to crumble in our eyes, but for many people of an older age, that enjoy theatre, that divide still very much exists. It’s of that group that I’m talking about, if you want to deny that that group exists.. than that’s fine.

    Oh I totally agree; I am on a book forum where even now we have discussions of the literary canon that get rather heated. Yes there is a divide between lovers of the medium, but I find that its not black and white – most of us have shades of grey when it comes to that subject (I don’t watch a lot of tv but know good shows when I see them!) And yes I know about the age thing – and I have some empathy for those folk, because as I get older I feel the divide between my life before the internet, versus those born afterwards. I didn’t mean to question your experience. Just meant to remind you and others that we don’t really know each other, and that others will often surprise you

    I read an entire bundle of tragedies just for one bookreview in high school. I’m pretty sure that the teacher I had won’t watch GoT though, but would watch the Tony’s or similar events.

    I have to smile at this.. Ive been a teacher for over 30 years. I am still in contact with former students and they are often surprised, and sometimes shocked, by the things that their dear teacher knows about and loves 🙂

    Didn’t mean to go off topic here. Except to say as someone who loves drama and well written stories, I can say I appreciate GOT as much as any play I’ve ever seen. Good night.

  92. ctid:
    Random guess here but something missing from casting calls from a year ago and other news made me think of an extra scene for Episode 10:

    Yeah, people need to remember that when Jon stabbed Orell in season 3 I think it was he saw him warg into his eagle and then attack him

  93. Ser Oromis Locke: I don’t really know what to say here.. All I’m saying is, that a fair big chunk of the viewing audience of the Tony Awards, of at least the people I know, dismiss the entire idea of television. I know there are people that like both. I’m not saying that there aren’t. All I was saying was in general terms. Historically, in the faculty of humanities (media and culture in particular), there’s been a debate on high culture and low culture. Between film and television, the divide between theatre and television even more so. In recent years, this divide between film and television has begun to crumble in our eyes, but for many people of an older age, that enjoy theatre, that divide still very much exists. It’s of that group that I’m talking about, if you want to deny that that group exists.. than that’s fine.

    And please don’t try to pin me for saying people of an older age. I know theatre is for all ages, and everybody can go to the theatre to see a show that they would like, but as you said, one needs money to buy the tickets.

    My mother likes theatre, but goes about once a year, because it’s still relatively costly.

    But it’s “televized drama“. Television doesn’t have the same type of high culture appeal that the opera has in the eyes of the older generation, certain social classes. That’s what I’m getting at, and a large chunk of the audience that enjoy the Tony’s have that mindset. Not all.. But a large chunk.

    Heck, I read an entire bundle of tragedies just for one bookreview in high school. I’m pretty sure that the teacher I had won’t watch GoT though, but would watch the Tony’s or similar events.

    So going to the theater in the States it’s expensive? How much would cost a play of a well stablished theater company?

    I know here in europe is relatively inexpensive, and in Barcelona top plays would cost you between 20-30€, wich is nothing really. Opera at the Liceu though would be between 100-200€ for a decent seat

  94. Nodor,

    I figure that there’s a reason why

    the actor for Trystane seems as if he could pass as Kit Harrington’s brother
  95. Pau,

    Wow so lucky!!!
    Good for you. My goal is to watch a Madrid league game (and then eventually a Madrid CL game). My sister and I are currently planning our trip to spain for this summer. Trying to plan it in a way to catch a Madrid home game at the beginning og the liga season.
    That festival sounds so fun! whats the festival called?

  96. o going to the theater in the States it’s expensive? How much would cost a play of a well stablished theater company?

    Well depends on where you live. Certainly its more in big cities; A production on Broadway is at least $100, and those aren’t always the best seats (tho if you do your homework, you can get tickets for less, but still even $50 seems high sometimes) Productions where I am are around $25-40. Certainly much higher than it is for other forms of entertainment (like movies), but probably in the same ballpark figure for rock concerts…

  97. ash: Well depends on where you live. Certainly its more in big cities; A production on Broadway is at least $100, and those aren’t always the best seats (tho if you do your homework, you can get tickets for less, but still even $50 seems high sometimes)Productions where I am are around $25-40.Certainly much higher than it is for other forms of entertainment (like movies), but probably in the same ballpark figure for rock concerts…

    100$ is a bit expensive, but 25-40$ for what they offer (a live show), and what you get in return is in my opinion much cheaper than going to the movies 😉

  98. Deesensfan:
    Pau,

    Wow so lucky!!!
    Good for you. My goal is to watch a Madrid league game (and then eventually a Madrid CL game). My sister and I are currently planning our trip to spain for this summer. Trying to plan it in a way to catch a Madrid home game at the beginning og the liga season.
    That festival sounds so fun! whats the festival called?

    Glastonbury!!

    And Madrid?? nooooooooo everyone knows they are the Lannisters of football and Barça are the Starks 😛

    You guys should come to Barcelona instead…we have the beach!! Plus I can show you around 😉

  99. Pau,

    We are coming to Barcelona — Not for a game though!
    Really!?!? meeting a fellow GOT fan in spain. So cool!

    AND sorry, I Beg to differ. Barca is definitely the Lannister of Football!

  100. mariamb:

    Doran reveals that he has been working with people in KL to unseat the Lannisters and restore the Targaryens to the throne.

    Whoa…I missed your response earlier…

    Do you remember a few months back when Luka, Jared, you, myself and a few others were speculating that Doran’s Fire&Blood speech would make a great montage of certain activities happening in KL? Your description above is very close to that and would be an awesome montage of activity as Doran’s words flow into our ears….setting up S6.

    ….then all hell breaks loose and Hotah kills Bronn, an SS injures Mycella and Jaime somehow escapes…hopefully with better choreography than in the water gardens!

    How will they fit in all this critical stuff with all the other action in 60 minutes?? Crazy!

  101. Pau: I love to meet people and show them my beautiful city!!

    I was at Parc Guell earlier this year and I didn’t see you next to Gaudi’s gorgeous lizard. Where were you? 🙂

    [A couple years ago (pre-S3?), I mentioned that I would meet you there so we could plan the secession! But alas, I never created a facebook account so I couldn’t reach you. Maybe someday, meu amic!]

  102. Hodor’s Bastard: I was at Parc Guell earlier this year and I didn’t see you next to Gaudi’s gorgeous lizard. Where were you?

    [A couple years ago (pre-S3?), I mentioned that I would meet you there so we could plan the secession! But alas, I never created a facebook account so I couldn’t reach you. Maybe someday, meu amic!]

    I remember!! Wtf man, you should have told me and I would have given you my email or whatever!!

    Here you go, for the next time: [email protected] 😉

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