Game of Thrones season 6 filming news: Dean-Charles Chapman back on set, 2 more actors cast, and new pics from Spain!

The steady trickle of Game of Thrones casting news continues this week, with two more names to add to the roster!

FaressAccording to the website of the Narrow Road agency, actress Souad Faress has been cast in the sixth season of Game of Thrones. Her role is not known at this time.

Faress is best known these days for her long-running work on Radio4’s The Archers, playing Usha Gupta Franks. She’s appeared in many British productions, including I, Claudius, Casualty, The Sarah-Jane Adventures, Silent Witness, and Hunted.

The agency says that she will begin filming her role in October.


EyreOur other piece of casting news: according to his Spotlight CV, English actor Eddie Eyre will be playing the role of Ser Alfred Hunrith.

His CV notes that he’s “currently filming” for the show, and this week on Twitter, he’s been discussing his preparation with Game of Thrones assistant stunt coordinator Paul Shapcott. As for Eyre’s role on the show, that’s something of a puzzle since no character by that name exists in the novels (so far). Whoever Alfred Hunrith is, he’s going to be doing some fighting.


In sightings news:

Dean-Charles Chapman is back in Belfast and filming season 6.

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Tommen’s fashion game is TIGHT #GOTS6

A photo posted by Dean Charles Chapman (@deancchapman) on


And thanks to Diaridigirona, we have a few more photos from the set in Girona today. More props! Well, more fish anyway. It’s certainly looking more Braavosi, isn’t it?

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Visit Diaridegirona to see the rest of their new Game of Thrones gallery today.

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

219 Comments

  1. Heaudor

    Hunrith is not a house we know from the show or the books, is it? Maybe he will have something to do with the LF/Vale-storyline?

  2. Sam the Slayer,

    I couldn’t find any Hunriths mentioned. Barely any Alfreds, actually. I suppose he could be one of the military types needed this year. Or a character who the casting call for never reached us.

  3. If Hunrith isn’t a house that’s in one of the upcoming books, why do they make up stuff like this? If the character is completely made up for the show that’s fine and all, but couldn’t they at least make him part of an established house? I mean there’s like a thousand houses throughout all of Westeros that haven’t even been mentioned on the show.

  4. Sean C.,

    Could be! Right age, right general look. And October filming could get her in Spain filming- Almeria, with the buildings we’re seeing being built are for October.

  5. Faress seems like the Red Priestess character from the casting calls to me.

    This Hunrith character… Sounds vaguely Vale-ish? We know we’re getting Lord Royce back, so maybe. Or maybe a Brotherhood knight? Weren’t there signs that that plot is currently filming?

  6. Afeastfordances,

    I feel like the red priestess would’ve been cast by now though. They’ve just posted this announcement on the agency this week, like it’s brand new news.

  7. Afeastfordances:
    Faress seems like the Red Priestess character from the casting calls to me.

    This Hunrith character… Sounds vaguely Vale-ish? We know we’re getting Lord Royce back, so maybe. Or maybe a Brotherhood knight? Weren’t there signs that that plot is currently filming?

    The red priestess casting call was for a somewhat younger person.

  8. Is “Alfred Hunrith” his real role or could it be a pseudonym? You know, like when they called Ramsay “The Boy” in Season 3.

  9. Maceless Fan:
    If Hunrith isn’t a house that’s in one of the upcoming books, why do they make up stuff like this? If the character is completely made up for the show that’s fine and all, but couldn’t they at least make him part of an established house? I mean there’s like a thousand houses throughout all of Westeros that haven’t even been name checked on the show.

    This is my problem with the invented characters as well. There are SO many houses to use that are already established, why not use those?

  10. Tywin of the Hill:
    Is “Alfred Hunrith” his real role or could it be a pseudonym? You know, like when they called Ramsay “The Boy” in Season 3.

    It’s what I’m wondering too.
    Maybe he’s Rhaegar or Arthur Dayne?

  11. New characters make me nervous, I really dont want to see any replacements or amalgamations of the important flashback cast were getting…a pseudonym is a good possibility, or possibly he is just not important enough to the plot for it to matter that he is new and from an unheard of house

  12. Valyrian Steel,

    Exactly! It genuinely comes across as D&D doing it out of spite, because there’s absolutely no reason why any original character that’s a Lord or knight can’t be a part of an established house from the books.

  13. Hunrith = code name for Arthur Dayne
    working with the stunt coordinator = prepping for Tower of Joy flashback fight with a young Ned

  14. Tywin of the Hill:
    Is “Alfred Hunrith” his real role or could it be a pseudonym? You know, like when they called Ramsay “The Boy” in Season 3.

    If that’s true, then it’s totally fine. Otherwise it’s really unnecessary.

  15. winnie,

    Not only have the changes to the plot pretty much removed the need for that character, I don’t see what the point of hiding his casting would be. Fans of the books know who that is; show-only viewers wouldn’t take anything from it. Ramsay was hidden because his identity was meant to be a mystery in the narrative.

  16. Faress looks an awful lot like Michelle Fairley. A non-speaking role with a little bit of makeup… just sayin

  17. Could Souad Faress be playing the mummur troupe leader? I can’t remember the target age range for that role in the casting call.

  18. Maceless Fan:
    Valyrian Steel,

    Exactly! It genuinely comes across as D&D doing it out of spite, because there’s absolutely no reason why any original character that’s a Lord or knight can’t be a part of an established house from the books.

    I’m sorry, I think that’s a little bit of nonsense. Them inventing a name is in no way spiteful, unless you project that onto it, which you just did. I don’t care one way or another. But an argument for inventing a house: GRRM will be writing at least 2 more books (or die [not] trying). While D&D have an outline of events til the end with some level of detail, with GRRM’s infamous attention to detail, there’s no telling how important and in what way some random house (not the publisher) will become. If D&D picks a random house it could theoretically create minor issues later. They would also have to be sure that their depiction of the character is consistent with whatever obscure backstory might crop up for his house at some point.

  19. Ser Arthur Dan:
    New characters make me nervous, I really dont want to see any replacements or amalgamations of the important flashback cast were getting…a pseudonym is a good possibility, or possibly he is just not important enough to the plot for it to matter that he is new and from an unheard of house

    Even if his character isn’t super important to the plot, when you have hundreds of actual houses that haven’t even been mentioned on the show, it’s times like these when you should be putting them to use. There’s absolutely no shortage of names from the books that they could’ve given this guy, and this is what they do. I’m sorry if it comes across as nitpicking, but it really irks me lol.

  20. RobOSevens:
    Hunrith = code name for Arthur Dayne
    working with the stunt coordinator = prepping for Tower of Joy flashback fight with a young Ned

    ALFRED HUNRITH
    ARTHUR D NE
    L F I H

  21. Now, now … let’s not all panic like back when they were filming season 2 and they announced the casting of a new Lannister. Everyone cried foul and bitched and moaned about D&D making up unnecessary characters, and he just turned out to be a messenger, and then a random cousin for Jaime to butcher.

  22. Chilli,

    The casting call for who seems to be Arthur specifies that the filming will begin on 28th September. ‘Ser Alfred Hunrith’ is filming right now.

  23. Matt:
    Faress looks an awful lot like Michelle Fairley. A non-speaking role with a little bit of makeup… just sayin
    That was the first thought in my head when I saw the picture….just sayin ????

  24. Interestingly, Eddie Eyre has never done TV or film before. He doesn’t even have an IMDB page yet. I was poking around on the Internet, and his age was listed as 25 for a play he was doing in 2013. He does list the following on his Spotlight CV:

    “Archery*, Gymnastics, Horse-riding*, Kick Boxing, Martial Arts*, Rowing, Rugby, Scuba Diving, Stage Combat*, Sword Fighting*”

    The asterisk supposedly means “highly-skilled.” He’s also stated to be a medieval swordfighting teacher and choreographer on his bio, for whatever that’s worth.

    For those wondering whether he’s Arthur Dayne and wondering whether “Alfred Hunrith” is a fake name to throw people off, I think he’s too young. The casting call was looking for someone in their 30s or 40s, and this guy is maybe 27 and could easily pass for much younger. Also, as Redstar says, the Arthur Dayne character isn’t supposed to film for another month or so.

  25. Sue the Fury,

    Ah, ok. Dosh Khaleen is my best guess then. I know they were filming Dothraki stuff really early on, but the Dosh Khaleen may show up separately and would film entirely in tents.

  26. I kind of like the idea of D&D changing names during filming for the purpose of hiding a character’s true and more awesome name until later release.

  27. M,

    Is there any reason for them to terribly care about Arthur Dayne’s age though? They gave the story about him knighting Jaime to Barristan, so there’s really nothing stopping them from rewriting him from a storied knight with a long career into a young prodigy, cut down before his time.

  28. Off-Topic Otto: I’m sorry, I think that’s a little bit of nonsense. Them inventing a name is in no way spiteful, unless you project that onto it, which you just did. I don’t care one way or another. But an argument for inventing a house: GRRM will be writing at least 2 more books (or die [not] trying). While D&D have an outline of events til the end with some level of detail, with GRRM’s infamous attention to detail, there’s no telling how important and in what way some random house (not the publisher) will become. If D&D picks a random house it could theoretically create minor issues later. They would also have to be sure that their depiction of the character is consistent with whatever obscure backstory might crop up for his house at some point.

    That argument doesn’t really make much sense. As I said before, there are soooo many houses that haven’t been on the show and probably never will. Regardless of whatever minor details GRRM has planned for the last two books, there’s no reason that D&D can’t name this character (or any other original character) from something resembling an established Westerosi house. At this point GRRM is on his path and D&D are on theirs. And as you said, you don’t care either way and that’s why you’re defending the decision. It’s totally fine that you don’t care about stuff like this, but some of us do.

  29. M:
    For those wondering whether he’s Arthur Dayne and wondering whether “Alfred Hunrith” is a fake name to throw people off, I think he’s too young. The casting call was looking for someone in their 30s or 40s, and this guy is maybe 27 and could easily pass for much younger. Also, as Redstar says, the Arthur Dayne character isn’t supposed to film for another month or so.

    From his twitter: He’s learning fight choreography right now, so he’s not filming yet.
    But he could indeed be too young.

  30. Matt,

    +1 it’s funny bc I thought it was rather obvious so I scrolled thru the comments and your the only one to mention it! I figured a lot more ppl would’ve said that as well

  31. Maceless Fan,

    A knight does not have to be from a noble house EX: Bronn, Duncan the tall….etc.
    None have family names. And remenber, knights can choose a family name, when their knighted, EX: Duckfield

    I agree with Sean C, on the actress, A dosh khaleen seems very likely.

  32. JCDavis,

    Actually no, there really is no reason. Anyway you swing it, there’s an insane amount of book characters and houses and not enough time to fit half of them into the show. And because of that, there’s especially no reason to make up a house, regardless of geographical location, when there’s already so many not even being touched.

  33. I will say that I’m guessing that whatever this guy is doing will primarily involve fighting, given what we know of his skill set, his lack of experience in TV, and the fact that he’s boning up on his fight choreography. That could be any number of things, though:

    1. Winterfell: Vale soldier fighting Bolton men, or vice-versa.
    2. Reach: Tarly soldier fighting Euron’s crew, or vice-versa.
    3. Wall: NW member fighting wildlings, WW, what have you.
    4. Riverlands: Member of that outlaw band versus, I dunno, Brienne, the Freys, whatever.
    5. KL: Someone’s champion during trial by combat, maybe?

    Probably missed a few, but even in that list there are many possibilities. All I would say for now is that he’ll be doing a big fight scene and very little else, much like Ser Vardis in Season 1. That doesn’t mean he’ll be Arthur Dayne; I’m guessing there will be a lot of battle scenes in Season 6, so there will be multiple characters who won’t be doing anything except fighting.

    The thing that throws me off a little is that he got a last name (Hunrith), and a weird one at that. It’s not strange for the show to make up characters who essentially act as composites or who serve plot function with no apparent relation to book characters and who have names that aren’t linked to any book characters (Olyvar, Olly, Ros, etc.). However, they don’t usually get a last name. Even for Season 6, we’re getting similar characters (Lachlan, etc.) who also lack a last name. So why does this character get a last name when they usually don’t? Seems strange.

  34. If I really wanted to encourage the tinfoil, I’d point out that “Arthur” is contained within the name “Alfred Hunrith,” the letters I mean.

    Matt,

    Take a look at other photos of her. She really doesn’t look like Michelle Fairley much at all.

  35. Not sure where Eddie’s at, but apparently he’s met DeanCC recently according to his twitter.
    Maybe certain fights require practice training sessions in Belfast first before moving out to shoot?

    I hope Ser Hunrith is with the City Watch of Oldtown #IAmTheStorm

  36. Mi bets are on Alfred Hunrith = Harrold Harding

    I must admit I always pictured Arthur Dayne as black haired… And it’s a bit young to the casting call (but they can change anytime anyway, so…)

  37. Lion of Night,

    “In her early 40’s, she’s an elegant actress with a traveling theatre company. Fun, charismatic, rum-drinking actress in the troupe.”

    She doesn’t seem very fun nor charismatic.

  38. Mihnea,

    I know about knights being able to choose family names and all, I guess it really depends on if this guy is like Rolly and chose a surname because he had none, or if this is a completely original noble house. If it’s the former or as others have suggested, a fake pseudonym than it’s fine. If it’s the latter then why not give him an actual name from the books?

  39. M,

    Yeah, he sounds like one of those characters whose name will never actually be mentioned on the show (maybe his first name, but probably not the last), like the pirate played by AAA, Yezzan, Loboda, Karsi, etc. It could even be a placeholder name they’re using for the moment.

    Hell, even if it DOES turn out to be his actual name in the show, it’ll piss Linda off, so that’s a plus.

  40. Eyre = Rhaegar? He certainly resembles Dany and Viserys, especially the eyes. Re: fight choreography — maybe we’ll get a flashback of him battling Robert.

  41. I also doubt these characters will be a major part of season 6. About 3 episodes.(even this is much, i think 2 is more likely)

    They are definetly apearing in another, major characters story.
    Thinking, either the Vale army for Eddie, or Reach army with Tarly.
    For Faress, I highly suspect she is one, or even THE, Dosh Khaleen (I say it would be likely to have only 1, Dosh Khaleen).

    And the complaints, of name changing, is, in my opinion, pointless and preaty petty.

  42. Aryamad:
    I kind of like the idea of D&D changing names during filming for the purpose of hiding a character’s true and more awesome name until later release.

    That is a possibility. Right now we are scratching our head about this character. They want to be as secretive as possible in case it is a character related to an important part of the story.

  43. “Hunrith” is also a weird name choice. I even googled “Hunrith” to see if it was a last name I wasn’t familiar with, and I had very little luck (beyond stumbling across some Merlin fanfic).

    Alfred Hunrith does contain “Arthur,” but the leftover letters don’t form any kind of revealing anagram.

  44. M,

    That’s what gets me as well. The fact that they even bothered to give this guy a last name means that it should be somewhat significant. Unless the whole thing is a ruse lol.

  45. Maceless Fan,

    I don’t think this characters is as big as you think he is.
    I would think about 2-3 episodes is the max will see of them.

    So why give him a book-character name? when will probally never even hear it. Just, some shout-out to the books? I think this is pointless.

  46. Interesting!

    Like many I would guess Faress is part of the dosh khaleen…
    Eddie Eyre is a mystery though. Feels like he may be one of the military types from the casting leak. Maybe he’ll be part of the Riverlands story line… If D&D wanted to go away from canon he could be one of the other KG at the TOJ with Arthur Dayne… Doubt it though.

    Not LSH.
    Not Arthur Dayne.

  47. Darquemode,

    I was thinking a soldier in the Vale army, or Tarly’s (if he has one).
    I’m leaning more to the Vale, as we know LF is heading north.

  48. Maceless Fan,

    I can understand someone wondering why a new name would be made up when there are so many existing names, that is, if this is actually the character’s name. What I’ve never understood are the claims D&D would do something like create a new name out of spite. With all the considerations they have each season, do people really think they sit around and make certain decisions out of spite? Do you really think they take time to indulge in such pettiness? I just find it absurd. Oh, I know there are some, most of whom congregate on westeros, who like to throw out all sorts of accusations like that, but it’s always seemed so nonsensical, at least to me.

  49. Mihnea,

    That’s totally fine if he’s a really minor character but to me, it’s even more of a reason to take the opportunity to give a shout out to a house that we actually know. In the grand scheme of things, none of this name shit means anything and I totally understand that. But (in some instances) would it really hurt to give a minor character a name that we’ve heard of? I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with that.

  50. Apparently, Eddie Eyre is also an expert in medieval horseback riding.

    It doesn’t appear that he’s just a glorified stuntman, though. He’s a graduate of the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA), and he’s done theatre (Yakov in The Seagull, Henry Crawford in Mansfield Park, etc.). So he might be called upon do some actual acting, his lack of TV experience aside.

  51. Souad Faress would make an excellent member of the Dosh Khaleen. I’ve forgotten the filming schedule in October, but if she is some Dothraki-heavy location, that would confirm it.
    Eddie Eyre seems interesting. Obviously a role that requires serious fight choreography training. Also blond and blue-eyed, very Valyrian/Dayne-ish looking. He mentioned trying out his costume and sword and said it’s gonna be awesome (on Twitter). Hopefully either Arthur Dayne or Rhaegar Targ. He could easily be Daenerys’ older brother on looks alone.

    Nymeria Warrior Queen: With all the considerations they have each season, do people really think they sit around and make certain decisions out of spite?

    This. It’s just too precious and self-important to think that D&D’s goals are to spite a few complaining book fans. 😀

  52. This Alfred character will likely never be named in the show. Once again, it’s much to do about nothing. Even if he is, I think it’s ridiculous to complain about it. Hunrith,Hogg,Staunton,Byrch,Farring…who gives a shit?

  53. Matt: Faress looks an awful lot like Michelle Fairley. A non-speaking role with a little bit of makeup… just sayin

    Hate to say it, but that was my initial thought when I saw her pic too.

  54. Maceless Fan,

    Because giving a shout-out, to what only 15% of the fandom will understand, is pointless. And something they never done before, so I don’t see why they would start now.

  55. Maceless Fan:
    Valyrian Steel,

    Exactly! It genuinely comes across as D&D doing it out of spite, because there’s absolutely no reason why any original character that’s a Lord or knight can’t be a part of an established house from the books.

    Professional writers don’t create things out of spite. And there are a couple of reasons why that character name was created and not taken from the books. It could be pseudonym for another character that casting wanted to keep under wraps. Or that character name was created because D&D no longer have the books to work with and didn’t want to compromise another established House name. It’s just immature to project your own petty ideas onto D&D.

  56. Nymeria Warrior Queen,

    When I say spite, I mean doing things like that in an effort to establish the show as apart from the books, not being petty necessarily. And while I don’t see anything wrong with that, I feel like whenever they have an opportunity (no matter how small) to name drop an actual house from the books then they should.

  57. Mihnea,

    Actually, I thought the moment when the cat ran across the bottom of the screen during the voice-over while Arya was walking through the streets of Braavos was a nod to Cat of the Canals. I loved it. I remember, however, a few people calling it some kind of “fuck you” to book readers. *facepalm*

    Ah well, I guess that’s just the mind-set of some people.

  58. Mihnea,

    It’s not pointless and I’m pretty sure that that number is larger than 15%. I feel like whenever some of the book readers have some gripe about a decision that’s being made then we’re made out to be jerks or something. Granted, a lot of book readers can be pretty snobbish but for myself, I try to not be. And I’m not talking about name dropping houses for no reason, rather using some names of actual houses when the opportunity is there to do so.

  59. I’m not the first to point this out, but it seems like we have a lot less information than we usually do, beyond a few tidbits over very minor roles. We have no idea who’s playing the big roles: the Northern lords, the legendary fighter, the pirate, or the stern martinet type, or even what their names are, although we have a pretty good idea in some cases (Randyll Tarly, e.g.). Most of the casting news, including Ian McShane, relates to “unnamed roles.” It really drives home how spoiled we were in previous seasons to learn so much so early.

    What’s bugging me about Alfred Hunrith is the last name. There aren’t any other characters named Alfred running around. Why give him a last name if he’s some random third-string character or just there for a one-and-done fight scene? Even Locke–TV Vargo Hoat–didn’t get a last name.

  60. Nymeria Warrior Queen,

    I forgot!!
    See this happens, they give a nice shout to the books, but they proceed too turn this into D&D insulting the books.
    Thats why I think they should stop doing these, and just focus on the main story.

  61. Mihnea:
    Maceless Fan,

    Why, Whats the point? Do we need house Vaith? or Penrose? or Wyl?
    What would they add to the story?

    What does house Hunrith (if that’s a real name and not some pseudonym) add to the story?

  62. Maceless Fan,

    The number of book fans who would know that these were houses in Westeros: Boggs,Cave,Hogg,Byrch,Chyttering, and Langward would be a lot lower than 15%. If this character(which he probably isn’t anything more than a one-off, glorified stunt man) was named Alfred Hogg, things would be cool, but the name Hunrith crosses the line. Got it.

  63. M,

    I can think off many reasons, for 1 a simple expositon name.

    For example, Tarly speaks with Sam: ”see? thats ser Alfred Hunrith, a real men, unlike you coward.” This just came too me now. If i really try, i can come with 100 reason’s.

    I truly think you make out more of this, then there actoully is.

  64. Sue the Fury,

    Or may be a new character from TWOW.Take that Book readers if thats true! 😀 Thats why they named the character because no one would be aware of him if he is in TWOW nad beyond!

  65. Mihnea,

    Exactly. The name has zero importance, and neither does the character. D&D,Cogman, or Hill aren’t going to stop and go check a wiki to look up some obscure minor house to write a name for a one-off character.

  66. Tyrion Pimpslap,

    I agree, only the most die-hard readers (most book readers struggle with, characters names, let alone family names) would make out those refferances, if they would bother too put them.

  67. Tyrion Pimpslap,

    If you actually think that the number of book readers who would know that those were Westerosi names are less than 15% then you’re seriously mistaken. And you can be as snarky as you wanna be, but some of us are gonna be more or less into certain aspects then you are. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with differing opinions, especially when they’re voiced respectfully.

  68. Ser Arthur Dan,

    Just remember how good a role/performance Locke was and breathe easy…more often than not, they get it right, it’s just more noticeable those times when they don’t. Though come to think of it, to play devil’s advocate, I hated how they got rid of Locke. They could have kept him around for another couple seasons and made him one of the mutineers.

  69. Whoever he’s playing its someone significant. Why would they go to the bother of picking a skilled swordsman/horserider for some random Vale soldier? My bet is that he’s playing Arthur Dayne, Rhaegar or perhaps even a younger Ned. He looks a bit too pretty for the latter but there is a resemblance to the even younger guy who’s playing Ned. Nobody knows what age AD is/was/should be before we start on the age thing- they’ve already had to compensate for the skilled swordsman role, maybe this is the guy they’ve cast.

  70. Mihnea,

    Obviously things like the names of established houses don’t mean squat to you and that’s fine. But some of us feel differently. And there are actually times when the lack of established houses does effect the story. A perfect example was the lack of established and notable Northern houses at the Red Wedding. That scene was well done in the show but it will always be better in the books because it wasn’t just about Robb and Cat. We followed Dacey Mormont and Smalljon Umber and Wyman Manderly’s sons for quite a while at that point and it made their deaths all the more horrible, compared to the deaths of nameless Northmen #37, #38, #39, etc. And that even affects the story currently. In the show, Roose’s control over the North seems to be going down without a hitch but in the books, he’s on thin ice. He surrounded by established Northern houses whose families he helped massacre and the only thing that’s stopping them from destroying House Bolton are the Northern hostages being kept at the Twins. And because all of those names are notably absent from the show, the story makes less sense. This is why so many people joked that the sum of Northern vengeance on the show so far has been one little (but brave) old woman.

  71. Maceless Fan: there’s absolutely no reason why any original character that’s a Lord or knight can’t be a part of an established house from the books.

    Lots of knights come from no-name houses. There is a very good chance that we’ll get some tertiary characters from houses we have not seen named before in Winter, just as we did in all five books up to this point.

    Maceless Fan: It’s not pointless and I’m pretty sure that that number is larger than 15%.

    It probably is a lot smaller. I doubt that 15% of the book readers care about such small details, and book readers are a minority of the viewers in any show/film series adapted from books. And, again, it is entirely probable that this is a name we will run into in Winter. We get completely new names (including family names) every book.

  72. Tyrion Pimpslap: The number of book fans who would know that these were houses in Westeros: Boggs,Cave,Hogg,Byrch,Chyttering, and Langward would be a lot lower than 15%.

    heh, about 15% might know one or two! (I honestly do not remember any of them, but I don’t doubt that they are in the books. I also do not doubt that we’ll get some completely new names in Winter.)

  73. M:
    Interestingly, Eddie Eyre has never done TV or film before. He doesn’t even have an IMDB page yet. I was poking around on the Internet, and his age was listed as 25 for a play he was doing in 2013. He does list the following on his Spotlight CV:

    “Archery*, Gymnastics, Horse-riding*, Kick Boxing, Martial Arts*, Rowing, Rugby, Scuba Diving, Stage Combat*, Sword Fighting*”

    Noooo they’ve recast Gendry! 😉

    EDIT: I like to think he can do them all at the same time, that would certainly be worth a surname 😉

  74. misselle: And there are a couple of reasons why that character name was created and not taken from the books.

    Another possibility is that the book character name is something that sounds too much like another name (even if it looks different in print). A completely different possibility is that we will first get this name in Winter.

  75. Maceless Fan,

    I can guarantee you that the total number of bookreaders that could accurately name all of the minor, or even mid-level lordly and knightly houses is less than 15%. For one, the whole internet fandom(those that frequent westeros.org,towerofthehand,WOTW, etc.) represents a small percentage of total readers. And a small percentage of these die hards would know the names of these houses. In fact, I would bet that you don’t know them all without rushing to check some wiki.

  76. Wait, are we still talking about possible off-naming of a character? I assumed that was over.

  77. After some thought Eddie Eyre reminds me of how I pictured Justin Massey quite a bit, but not sure why he would need to be on the series at this point.

  78. Maceless Fan,

    Okay. I think you have taken enough and defended enough here. I am no moderator, but some things people just have to agree to disagree without feeling it is personal. Just for the record, I took exception to the word “spite” being used originally by yourself.

    spite
    noun
    1. a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone.

    I just don’t think that D & D are about making decisions based on “hurting or offending” folks.

    I did have another thought on the “why”, if they were to introduce a new house (named house in the book) to the show, wouldn’t that just leave another hanging question if they were gone in two or three episodes? Like….why did they bring House Whatever into the show if they were just going to kill them off?

    Can’t please everyone, that is a fact.

  79. Maceless Fan: That scene was well done in the show but it will always be better in the books because it wasn’t just about Robb and Cat.

    True, it was not about Robb and Catelyn: it was entirely about Catelyn. Storylines are about single characters at a time, and that entire story line was about Catelyn’s juggling of love-hate relationships. (Remember, Robb never is even a PoV character in the books, much less being an actual protagonist.) The Red Wedding comes about less because of Robb marrying someone else, and more because Catelyn’s freeing of Jaime cost Robb the Karstarks. Basically, GRRM was having Catelyn parallel Ned: both died because they had a “thou shall always do X” and a “thou shall never do Y” conundrum where X=Y. Catelyn felt that she had to support her daughters and her son, but she got stuck in a situation where supporting her daughters meant betraying her son. It was another case of GRRM putting characters in a moral conundrum in which they had to betray one value to uphold another and ultimately dying because of it. (Of course, one could argue that neither Ned nor Catelyn could have lived with him/herself had they made different choices: so, basically they were hosed.)

  80. Seriously… Are we actually arguing over the % of book fans who may or may not know the exact names of every house? Enough, already! Who cares?

  81. Eddie Eyre apparently played Achilles in the play ‘Women of Troy’. On his twitter page there’s a foto of him in armor: he looks like a long lost Lannister sibling.

    I’ve got a feeling his character is connected to the Tower of Joy, be it Rhaegar, Dayne, or another knight.

    …Or he could just be Cheese boy 2.0

  82. Maceless Fan: This is why so many people joked that the sum of Northern vengeance on the show so far has been one little (but brave) old woman.

    I chuckled a little when I read that. When you put it that way, it stings. There’s no way we’ll see any substantive detail regarding the houses involved in the northern rebellion, but it would be nice if S6 focused a bit more on the covert anti-Bolton, anti-Frey movement afoot in the north.

  83. Tyrion Pimpslap,

    It indirectly does. We knew those characters by name, they had actual identities. Their deaths at the RW continue to play a major role in the story. This is all really a moot point until we learn more about Hunrith’s character but I really don’t see why they couldn’t just give the guy a name that we already know, especially since they even bothered to give him a surname in the first place. I see no harm in it and I’m hardly freaking out about it.

  84. misselle: Professional writers don’t create things out of spite.And there are a couple of reasons why that character name was created and not taken from the books.It could be pseudonym for another character that casting wanted to keep under wraps. Or that character name was created because D&D no longer have the books to work with and didn’t want to compromise another established House name. It’s just immature to project your own petty ideas onto D&D.

    Yes, they do, especially when it comes from the land of Hollywood. Ego is a status symbol there… I know.
    Look at what the TV writers and producers did to True Blood. We all know that the books were tongue-and-cheeky enough, they were written that way, but they eliminated characters, made up characters and changed storylines and the ratings and reviews were foul at the end. Not saying that GOT will go the way of the Sookie show, but that potential is there, and possibly rising. Just to be clear, I do not want it to. I love watching a visual play of the story I have been reading for more than 10 years now.
    When producers go ahead and make changes they want to make to an established “world” that borders on… I am not going to say it because contrary to what you may be thinking of me right now, I am NOT a book elitist. I can understand small changes and even melding two characters to fit the TV time slot. D&D are quickly moving away from “tinkering” and just overreaching their creative rights. I am giving it a little more time and a lot more faith on my part that D&D do actually stay true to the main purpose of this entire show.
    It’s funny that right before season 5, D&D stated they were going to have to move past any published books because they ran out of material. If that is true then why was S5 mostly about ADWD and now S6 is mostly about the main plotlines in AFFC? All they did was flip the two books around. I dunno? Maybe it is to give JS time off-screen for most of the season leaving just a funeral or flashback from Bran then to have him return triumphant in S7???

    Before anyone asks for proof, google it or look here :”By the end of the first season, True Blood had a score of 64, indicating generally favorable reviews, on Metacritic, an aggregator of critical responses. The second season received a more favorable score of 74 on Metacritic. The third season’s rating on Metacritic has risen to 79, while the fourth season has a rating of 74. The fifth season has a rating of 73. The sixth season has a rating of 56, and the seventh received a rating of 54.”

  85. I think Alfred Hunrith is a pseudonym like in some of the other casting reports. If he’s playing Arthur Dayne or Rhaegar or someone else important, they’d probably wanna keep that quiet since it’s a bit of a spoiler.

  86. Maceless Fan,

    Quick, without checking a wiki, name a character from House Boggs…Seriously, Wimsey is correct, George will likely create a half dozen new house names in WOW and more in ADOS. And just like with Ser Alfred, they will all have little to no effect on the story. This isn’t the equivalent of not having featured characters named Mormont and Manderly at the RW. This is a Loboda type character who will likely have one or two lines.

  87. Avon Restal,

    I followed the Spotlight CV link for Mr. Eyre Sue posted and looked through the pictures of him. Perhaps it is just wishful thinking, but between the fact he looks a bit older than his listed age in some of the pictures, his overall look, and especially his eyes, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s Dayne, or, as some have already suggested, maybe, possibly, a small chance even Rhaegar. Of course, he could just as easily be some random fighter. I really am having fun with the not knowing.

  88. I think dude’s Dayne. Not only a professed “highly skilled” medieval sword fighter, but he teaches and choreographs… They made a point the person has to be good. If this guy is young enough to fit the part then at that age someone who teaches is probably as good as it gets. Then again, there is that second-to-last photo…

  89. JCDavis,

    I totally agree with you and I corrected myself earlier regarding use of the word spite. For the record, I don’t hate D&D and I myself have defended a lot of their decisions when talking about the show with people. If they plan on killing this guy off fairly quickly then you’re right, an argument can be made as to why they’d introduce house x if they planned on just killing them off almost immediately. I just feel that anytime there’s an opportunity to introduce a house that we know (even in some small way) then they should. Like the scene when Robb and co. come across a bunch of dead Northermen and Cat notices Lord Mallister. The guy was a corpse and they could’ve named him anything but they named him Mallister which was awesome. Or last season when Ramsey recounts flaying Lord Cerwyn alive in front of his son. We didn’t even meet those people and they could’ve been named anything but they chose an actual Northern House, which was pretty cool. Idk, some of us are just more into that sort of thing than others, I guess.

  90. Tyrion Pimpslap:
    Maceless Fan,

    Quick, without checking a wiki, name a character from House Boggs…Seriously, Wimsey is correct, George will likely create a half dozen new house names in WOW and more in ADOS. And just like with Ser Alfred, they will all have little to no effect on the story. This isn’t the equivalent of not having featured characters named Mormont and Manderly at the RW. This is a Loboda type character who will likely have one or two lines.

    I admit that I cannot remember the first name, but this house was part of the events during the battle at the Trident. They were (I think) a “background” house, but that name stuck out to me. I am only mentioning this because if HBO, or D&D, are actually doing a prequel that will have a heavy focus on this events and the others leading up to Robert’s Rebellion, then this may be something they would have to consider for continuity and accuracy..

  91. Nymeria Warrior Queen:
    Avon Restal,

    I followed the Spotlight CV link for Mr. Eyre Sue posted and looked through the pictures of him.Perhaps it is just wishful thinking, but between the fact he looks a bit older than his listed age in some of the pictures, his overall look, and especially his eyes, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s Dayne, or, as some have already suggested, maybe, possibly, a small chance even Rhaegar.Of course, he could just as easily be some random fighter.I really am having fun with the not knowing.

    We need to have a ‘Like’ button in here. I totally agree with you…seriously, Sue, can we have one? And a ‘Dislike’, while you at it? Just kidding, LOL!!

  92. I can’t figure out how Maceless Fan ever survived season 2 when Talisa replaced Jayne Westerling. That had to have been an overwhelmingly traumatic experience…

  93. Nymeria Warrior Queen:
    Avon Restal,

    I followed the Spotlight CV link for Mr. Eyre Sue posted and looked through the pictures of him.Perhaps it is just wishful thinking, but between the fact he looks a bit older than his listed age in some of the pictures, his overall look, and especially his eyes, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s Dayne, or, as some have already suggested, maybe, possibly, a small chance even Rhaegar.Of course, he could just as easily be some random fighter.I really am having fun with the not knowing.

    Yeah I saw his Twitter photos and to be fair, he looks much older and rugged than the photo shown here. (That makes him around 18). So now I can easily see him playing Ned, Rhaegar or AD.

  94. I’ve had a post in moderation for 40 mins (time is showing as 2.38pm). I assume because it’s a reply to another post, although I’ve previously only had something do this when it contained a number of links. It has a couple of smilies and lame jokes so unless they’ve been banned looks like a technical glitch. Is it just me or are other people getting this too?

    P.S. Hi Queenie *waves* 😀

  95. Wimsey: True, it was not about Robb and Catelyn: it was entirely about Catelyn.

    The argument that you are responding to is about how the Red Wedding in the books had more impact because the supporting cast was wider and better-established.

  96. Paul: Who cares?

    Apparently the people that are discussing it. What gives you the right to tell people what they can or can not discuss?

  97. Tyrion Pimpslap,

    Yeah, and I have a similar issue with the naming of those characters, too. It doesn’t matter how small the part is, one of the coolest things about this series is the attention paid to the little details. Like I just wrote above, when Robb and his troops come across Qyburn and the dead Northermen in season 3, Cat comments on seeing Lord Mallister. The man was a fucking corpse and they could’ve given him any name but they chose Mallister. Or last season, when Ramsey talks about flaying Lord Cerwyn for refusing to pay his taxes. We don’t even meet the man so they really could’ve named him anything, but they gave him the name of an actual Northern Lord. Personally, I like little nods like that because it acknowledges GRRM vast and rich world of characters while taking nothing away from the adapted story.

  98. Simeon:
    I can’t figure out how Maceless Fan ever survived season 2 when Talisa replaced Jayne Westerling.That had to have been an overwhelmingly traumatic experience…

    It wasn’t traumatic for me at all, just kind of annoying. That annoyed me waaaay more than this but I’ll survive just fine haha.

  99. Judibatt: f that is true then why was S5 mostly about ADWD and now S6 is mostly about the main plotlines in AFFC?

    There is next to zero evidence for that. Just look at it by character (in order of importance to the series), and what the source of their storlines and accompanying plots will be in S6:
    Jon: Winter (wasn’t in AFFC anyway)*

    Daenyrs: Winter (wasn’t in AFFC anyway)

    Tyrion: Winter (wasn’t in AFFC anyway)

    Arya: Dragons + Winter (already did Mercy from Winter, so it’s a balance)

    Bran: Winter (wasn’t in AFFC anyway)

    Sansa: Winter (was barely in AFFC anyway). Now, we do have Northern Lords: but we don’t know which character’s storyline to whom they will be attached. I am betting that it will be Sansa + Theon. If so, then the plot will be taken from Winter (probably centered on what Theon does).

    Jaime: We have no clue what Jaime will be doing, it almost certainly will not be leading an occupational army in the Riverlands. My guess is that he’s been given a Winter plotline, although it will not match what he does in the book.

    Theon: Winter (wasn’t in AFFC anyway)

    Cersei: Winter.

    Sam: Oldtown will be Winter stuff, as he just gets to Oldtown at the end of Crows.

    Brienne: See Jaime.

    Davos: Was not in AFFC, so although we don’t know what he’ll be doing in S6, it obviously will not be a Crows plotline.

    *: Thursday is a “Jon is alive” day for me.

  100. Haha, if someone created some sort of a timed per question survey (to mitigate cheating), I’d glance at the results to see what % on a site like this can differentiate a fake obscure house from a “real” obscure one or ‘which of the following castles/holdfasts are not found in Westeros’, etc.

    I would definitely be on the cannot-tell-the-difference side.

  101. Sean C.: The argument that you are responding to is about how the Red Wedding in the books had more impact because the supporting cast was wider and better-established.

    Not entirely correct: the argument was predicated on the statement that the RW was about lots of people and thus the RW had bigger impact because it was about a lot of people.

    However, it was about one person, and the impact from from seeing how her earlier decisions had ultimately contributed greatly to her annihilation. If there was impact added by other characters, then the vast majority of it came from seeing Robb die. The impact added by the tertiary characters was tiny: it was less pennies on the pound the pennies on the Krugerrand.

    (And, in truth, I doubt that most readers could name who died other than Catelyn and Robb if you asked them about it afterwards. Tertiary characters tend to slide out of peoples’ minds pretty quickly; however, they do have to get names in books because books cannot use a “Greek Chorus.”)

  102. Faress reminds me of one of the Mormont ladies. If they are doing the Northern plot this year we might get to see Maege Mormont and the other She Bears. If not then she has the appearnce of the dothraki crones.

  103. I did not read all the comments. But I just wanted to say that if this is a new character that is not in the books and he had given a last name of an established house book readers would have been speculating if the character ends up doing something in the books and end up disappointed when the book is released (I am certain Winds is not released before season 6 in done) or people could even been mad that the show could be spoiling something. It is difficult to win for the show runners. But I assume the character is pretty minor one.

  104. Nymeria Warrior Queen,

    Thank you, Nymeria, for stating what so many of us readers are thinking. Some fans do tend to get a bit carried away at times. I guess it’s a testament to how great these books and this show is.

    Personally, I think the young man cast in the role of “Hunrith” is just a made up name for the public. If the show came right and said “Sir Arthur Dayne” or “Young Griff”, it would spoil the suprise. Given the actor’s background with swordplay, I am leaning toward him being a younger Dayne for the TOJ scenes. Alternatively, as someone mentioned earlier, he does have something of a Targaryen look, so possibly Young Griff or even Rhaegar, either option of which the show would definately want to keep under wraps. I’m excited!
    Also, the actress could be the fun, wine drinking Mummer, or a Member of the Dosh Khaleen.
    BTW, Thanks Sue The Fury, for this amazing website, I check it several times a day, and you never disappoint!

  105. I was wondering, you guys think will have, a bunch of Dosh Khaleen or 1?
    I am personally thinking we’ll have 3, at most.

  106. Lamprey Pie: I would definitely be on the cannot-tell-the-difference side.

    I find that I often do not catch the names I remember because they pronounce them differently than I pronounce them in my head. (Like a lot of people, I often skip the middle letters of names, anyway.) And, of course, whereas your brain adjusts for background noise when hearing words you recognize, it does not do as well with novel words: so I frequently do not catch what they are calling new faces, anyway!

  107. Maceless Fan,

    George requested that they name her Talisa. D&D intended to name her Jeyne Westerling, but because her plot would be different in the show, George didn’t want them to use her book name. This could also be a reason they don’t use House names from the books for small roles in the show.

  108. Caroline R: Alternatively, as someone mentioned earlier, he does have something of a Targaryen look, so possibly Young Griff or even Rhaegar,

    heh, is it possible that this will prove to be a pseudonym that Rhaegar uses for things involving Lyanna?

    *takes off tinfoil hat*

  109. Lulu’s Mum,

    Hi, Lulu’s Mum!!! *waving* 🙂

    Maceless Fan,

    Talisa drove me nuts. In the end, I understood why they did it, so she could be killed at the RW without leaving any loose ends, but still, she drove me nuts. Yes, a lot of that had to do with the fact I just didn’t buy their love-story. While Oona Chaplin is certainly an attractive young woman, and from what I understand is not a bad actress (I’ve seen others say she’s done good work in other projects), I just didn’t like her in the role. I found the scenes between Talisa and Robb quite stilted. One of the only times I’ve literally rolled my eyes at the show was that “Attack, attack” scene she had in the tent with Robb.

  110. Wimsey,

    I’m not alone then? I thought it was just my impatience to get past the irrelevant details and onto the meat of the plot. Good to know, thanks

  111. Because it is a pathetic argument. And really Does. Not. Matter.

    hexonx: Apparently the people that are discussing it.What gives you the right to tell people what they can or can not discuss?

  112. I agree that the material is getting slim. No argument from me despite how it may sound.
    At the end of S5, Arya finally went blind and they skipped over most of her training and changed the scene with the insurance guy down on the docks. They cut so much of her development out just to give her Merryn Fookin’ Trant in the final scene. Her slow storyline this season was noticed by many.

    Sansa’s story was majorly cut. It skipped the whole rising/organization of the Vale.
    Tyrion’s story was majorly cut (some may say for good reasons 😉 ) but why?
    Varys they totally messed with which leaves an open plot hole for next season.
    True we caught up to Dany’s story, sadly, without Quaithe appearing 🙁
    Theon’s POV in ADWD gave massive amounts of clues to northern alignments and glimpses of what is to come. Some of Theon’s best stuff so far. Winterfall felt like a dirty background this past season.
    Jamie, well, there has been lots of talk on this site saying it appears (not confirmed) that Jamie will be picking up his Riverlands arc this coming season. Speaking of Riverlands, are we now gong back to the Hound and his spiritual rebirth?
    I could go on and on but basically the producers say they ran out of story to tell yet we are very, quite possibly going back to many of those stories this season. And to tell the truth, if the stories I mentioned and maybe a few more were not truncated to heavily, then there would not have ever been an issue of running out of story to tell.

    I just don’t understand the unnecessary changes when the info is all there.

    *: Thursday is a “Jon is alive” day for me. 🙂 We can agree on this one for sure.

  113. Tyrion Pimpslap:
    Maceless Fan,

    George requested that they name her Talisa. D&D intended to name her Jeyne Westerling, but because her plot would be different in the show, George didn’t want them to use her book name. This could also be a reason they don’t use House names from the books for small roles in the show.

    That is good to know. I had not heard that. Thanks for sharing.

  114. Making the 8:
    Wimsey,

    I’m not alone then? I thought it was just my impatience to get past the irrelevant details and onto the meat of the plot. Good to know, thanks

    Making the 8,

    That’s like skipping to the last page in a book (no pun intended) or dessert before dinner (even though that sounds delicious).

  115. Nymeria Warrior Queen,

    Heh, I liked her, but i can easly see why some people don’t. I tought they did a good job, made the RW even more tragic. Robb seeing her stabbed, when he knew she’s pregnant made me cry.

    On a funny side note: I knew they’ll kill her. She named her child after Sean Bean…..Did she never saw a Sean Bean movie?

  116. Judibatt,

    I prefer to think the pacing can sometimes parallel an action movie in the middle of a great chase when a couple of beautiful high performance sports cars go flying past a quaint little coffee shop and the director decides to stop filming the chase and instead focus on a couple plain monotone patrons of the cafe and what they are sipping and nibbling on

  117. Tyrion Pimpslap:
    Maceless Fan,

    George requested that they name her Talisa. D&D intended to name her Jeyne Westerling, but because her plot would be different in the show, George didn’t want them to use her book name.

    It wasn’t because the plots were different. It was because they had show!Jeyne coming from Essos and GRRM pointed out that “Jeyne Westerling” was not an Essos-style name. So he came up with Talisa Maegyr instead.

  118. Wimsey: I find that I often do not catch the names I remember because they pronounce them differently than I pronounce them in my head.(Like a lot of people, I often skip the middle letters of names, anyway.)And, of course, whereas your brain adjusts for background noise when hearing words you recognize, it does not do as well with novel words: so I frequently do not catch what they are calling new faces, anyway!

    I have this same problem… and it happens in real life, too. Whenever I am introduced to someone and told their name, I will immediately forget it. I *always* have to ask again later. And this isn’t an age thing — it’s been this way for as long as I can remember!

  119. Nymeria Warrior Queen,
    Caroline R,

    Exactly. With all that D&D have to do each season, the suggestion that they might do something out of “spite” is just silly. We may not always agree with their choices but I doubt that “spite” has ever been a motivator.

    As far as our friend, Eddie Eyre…his CV states that his playing age is 21-30 but, IMO, he looks too youthful – and not world-weary enough – to play a 30-year-old character. I don’t see him as Ser Arthur Dayne.

    My guess is that “Ser Alfred Hunrith” is not the charcter’s actual name; it doesn’t really roll off the tongue. Either that or maybe he will just be called “Ser Alfred.”

    His CV includes one interesting skill: “Fire Breathing”

  120. He might not actually be Arthur Dayne’s actor, but the rather the stuntman they originally called for in the second casting sheet WotW reported on. Someone else might still act the part, like that updated casting call suggested in the article about Castillo de Zafra and the ToJ.

  121. I personally can’t wait for season 6.

    It will be the first season that both book readers and TV viewers alike will be seeing things happen to characters live, each Sunday night.

    I mean besides a few storylines (mostly Greyjoy stuff) we will all be on even grounds trying to guess what’s going to happen next. That’s so exciting!

    You know, I wouldn’t be surprised at all, if HBO, D&D and GRRM have all already planned to release season 6 episode 1 and GRRM book 6 at the same time.

    Wouldn’t that be freaking badass!?! Some date in April next year, season 6 premier and book 6 release date on the same day!?!

    That would be some clever marketing!

  122. I agree that he could be Arthur or even Rhaegar if Alfred Hunrith’s a code name. He looks the part and has some impressive skills.

  123. Mihnea,

    I didn’t have a problem with how they used her at the RW, not at all. In fact, by beginning with her being stabbed in her pregnant belly, I’m sure the Unsullied were thinking that was Walder Frey’s revenge, but then it turned out it was only the beginning of his revenge.

    Caroline R: I guess it’s a testament to how great these books and this show is.

    I agree! I also think the passionate debate is another thing which makes this site so great. 🙂

    mariamb: Exactly. With all that D&D have to do each season, the suggestion that they might do something out of “spite” is just silly. We may not always agree with their choices but I doubt that “spite” has ever been a motivator.

    From his subsequent posts, it seems like Maceless Fan just chose the wrong word (not trying to speak for you, Maceless Fan). I know there have been times I’ve made posts where what I intended and what I ended up communicating were not the same thing.

  124. Nymeria Warrior Queen,

    You’re totally right. I have a habit of sometimes choosing the wrong words, and it often gets me in trouble haha. But I try to emphasise that while I’m really not a book purist, I’m a huge fan of the books and that’s going to affect a lot of my opinions when it comes to the show. I like to be able to come to a site like this, and offer my two cents on these little things like using established house names and whatnot. Some people don’t give a shit about that kind of stuff but some of us do. And as long as we’re not being unnecessarily hostile towards each other, then little debates like this can be pretty cool.

  125. Chilli,

    Maybe they really renamed Ser Arthur Dayne completely. Who knows… It will still be Arthur to me. Alfred was Great, but Arthur is goddamn King Arthur #JustSaying

    Also,

    Just tried my costume and sword on for my next project… it’s gonna be awesome!

    Looks like costume and sword are awesome. I’m going to be a bit of a gambler on this and put my cookies on that name change! Ser Alfred Hunrith, #SwordOfTheMorning

    But maybe he’s the other Dayne. The one Of the Night.

  126. Maceless Fan,

    The universe Martin created and D&D have brought to the screen is so rich and varied, there are many different things different people can find important…or not. I agree, this sort of debate can be great (hell, you got me thinking about a bunch of houses I did not recall, and while I don’t personally find all the houses important, I don’t find them to be of no importance, either, if that makes sense).

  127. Nymeria Warrior Queen,

    That makes perfect sense. We’re all different people so I minds will naturally gravitate towards different aspects of the same thing. Though I can promise you that I’m gonna laugh my ass off if it turns out that this character’s name is nothing but a pseudonym after all hahaha.

  128. I just noticed that one of Eddie Eyre’s new Twitter followers is Charles-Dean Chapman. Could they have scenes together? How does that affect who Eyre might play or his role in the plot?

  129. At first glance, I though Eddie Eyre, with long silvery-blonde hair, would make a strong and handsome Rhaegar…but after a few more glances, he started looking more like Thor. :/

  130. Matt,

    – doubt she’s playing Stoneheart. The whole dramatic power of the LSH reveal in the TV show (IF it ever happens) would be the viewers witnessing a corrupted version of a character they knew, back from the dead.

    Switching actresses misses that point spectaculary, even underneath prosthetics. The human eye can still pick out of a familiar face from underneath a tonne of latex (Sofia or Merle reveals as walkers in The Walking Dead? Switch actor/actress just because you’re dealing with an undead incarnation and those moments would’ve failed.)

    If D&D bother to include her and miss what forms the whoel crux of the power of that moment, then they really have lost their touch.

    Ultimately, it would still be pretty straightforward to get Stoneheart right:

    A.) Ensure you get Fairley.
    B) Ensure you get a top drawer prosthetics makeup artist
    C.) Ensure both are well lit, so as not to look cheap.

    Switching actresses or going all cgi are the two defcon 4 options, imo, to mess things up and practically guarantee the character underwhelms.

  131. DLT718,

    If they are scenes together he would be in King’s Landing then I guess.
    Maybe a new Kingsguard or Gold Cloaks captain?

  132. winnie,

    I thought so to!

    But who knows. Someone suggested it could be a pseudonym for Arthur Dayne or Rhaegar…

    If he is an outstanding swordsman, then we know… Otherwise will be in the dark for a while…

  133. Judibatt: They cut so much of her development out just to give her Merryn Fookin’ Trant in the final scene.

    They didn’t really reduce Arya’s development at all. Remember, she has only three chapters in Crows and then three more in Dragons. She spends only one chapter blind.

    At any rate, I think that the show did a very good job of communicating Arya’s part of the story. Basically, Arya has to walk the tightrope of graduating to Faceless Person on one hand while not losing Arya Stark on the other hand. Her “kill the girl, become the woman” arc is one of making sure that she kills the girl without killing the person.

    Also, the killing of Trant basically doubles for her Mercy chapter. So, at this point she’s done everything we’ve seen except be blind: and my suspicion is that this is because

    Arya’s blindness is what greatly advances her Warging power

    but that will not be relevant until this season. As it is bad TV to develop things in Season 5 that have no payoff in Season 5, this would be a wise move (if it is what they are doing).

    Judibatt: Sansa’s story was majorly cut. It skipped the whole rising/organization of the Vale.

    Um, so did the book! That has not happened yet, and is just starting to happen in Sansa’s one Winter chapter. Remember, Sansa has just three desultory chapters in which there is essentially next to zero advancement of her character. (Stephen Jay Gould could not have envisioned stasis as strict as what GRRM imposes on Sansa over 4 novels!)

    Judibatt: Tyrion’s story was majorly cut (some may say for good reasons ) but why?

    The story wasn’t cut: a lot of plot was. And the answer to “why” is in the first half of the sentence! Really, what they did was cut to the chase. (And, obviously, Tyrion is not going to be doing his Crows stuff given that he had no Crows stuff.)

    Judibatt: Varys they totally messed with which leaves an open plot hole for next season.

    What plot hole does it leave? Besides, Varys is not a main character: he does not contribute to the story himself.

    Judibatt: Jamie, well, there has been lots of talk on this site saying it appears (not confirmed) that Jamie will be picking up his Riverlands arc this coming season.

    That is conjecture without any evidence so far. I would think it more probable that he’s going to be doing something very different using a plotline from Winter of which we know little or nothing. If he is in the Riverlands, then it probably will be Winter material. However, the Riverlands really is a dead horse that does not need much kicking: the one still twitching horse is that some Stark or another has to finish off the Freys. However, that is not something that would be appropriate for Jaime to do. (Personally, I was expecting Jaime to go Little Brother this year: however, now that they’ve added an 8th season, I doubt it will happen.)

    Judibatt: I just don’t understand the unnecessary changes when the info is all there.

    Why is the change “unnecessary” when it did a much better job of communicating the “Kill the boy (girl) and let the man (woman) be born” story than following the book material could have done?

  134. Dean-Charles Chapman following Eddie Eyre might suggest that they have scenes together. With Ser Meryn gone, there are no named KG members, which might prove inconvenient if a KG is required for plot purposes.

    As for the fight scene Eyre is training for, barring a riot or some sort of showdown between the Faith Militant and the KG, I’m expecting Alfred Hunrith will get enlisted into a trial by combat as someone’s champion.

  135. Wimsey,

    Because that’s the image that I have of him in my mind. He’s hanging around at the TOJ in defense of a dead king, a dead friend/crown prince and a royal house in ruin. It’s my opinion and I stated it as such. We can agree to disagree.

  136. Looks like he’ll be a part of the King’s Landing arc. Filming in Spain, both he and DCC following each other on twitter…

  137. Chilli,

    I was thinking along the same lines. That this name could be a cover for a more important role so not to spoil anything.

  138. Valyrian Steel,

    Must say I’m with you guys. No harm in giving a nod to other houses from the books if they use characters that are background in them.

    I’m thinking Eddie will be a part of the ToJ scene. Possibly one o the KG possibly one of Ned’s guys. If he’s going to be Arthur Dayne this would make the casting of Sean Bead as a young Ned Stark even less palatable as he looks very young.

    Can’t see Souad as being much other than Dothraki unless they’re going to throw more made up characters into the Mereen mix (please no).

  139. mariamb: Because that’s the image that I have of him in my mind. …. We can agree to disagree.

    Well, given that “mental images” vary so much from one reader to the next, it’s really nothing about which we can either agree or disagree anymore than we can agree or disagree about whether a particular desert tastes good!

    For myself, I have no images of him at all. However, my mental images of characters tends to be very, very vague unless an author describes him/her in great detail. It’s almost like side images where you don’t see the face, just the hair, as hair is one of the few (if not only) features that can be described succinctly yet exactly.

  140. The first thing that popped into my mind upon seeing Eyer was Rheagar and the casting name is a cover. Could be AD but like others said, I kind of always pictured him to be older and dark haired and mustashed. Not that that’s impossible, the makeup and wig departments can work wonders, or he could be the stunt double. Or maybe he’s just a new character from TWOW or made up for the show. Only time will tell.

  141. I want to do the following awkward question about Tommen and Margaery

    The new actor playing Tommen has two scenes of “bed” and he will turn 18 in September. Suppose that there may be another scene of them, there is always a third, a little more risque? 😛

  142. indie_1985,
    As the character he is playing is supposed to be under 18, his scenes are governed by the same laws that apply to child actors in the UK (where most of the indoor stuff is filmed). As far as I know the law in the USA is very similar. So unless about 5 years or so are supposed to have passed in the programme since his wedding, any sexual scenes will still be very modest compared to those with only adult actors/characters. The law applies equally to the actor and the part they are playing.

  143. phantomstrife:
    https://twitter.com/EddieEyre/status/637010080983089152

    ‘followed by filming and fighting in Spain’…

    ‘A legendary swordsman’ casting call says he’ll be shooting in Northern Ireland.

    Good catch! But I think this strengthens the possibility that he’s possibly involved in the ToJ scenes in some way as there was talk (perhaps here IIRC) that this great swordsman would have some scenes in Spain and intense (internal) fight scenes shot in Belfast. Perhaps he and DCC met on set and became friends, they don’t necessarily have to be working on a scene together – many of the cast hang out with each other.

  144. Anagram solver says: Alfred Hunrith = Fruithandler
    (with an H left over)

    I’m going to take the long odds and guess he’s Rhaegar.

  145. If they’re introducing the Dayne family then maybe he’s Gerold. He is of the night. Right age, fighting prowess, good looking.

  146. Lulu’s Mum,

    That’s not entirely true. There have been many cases (US and Britain) of actors who as an adult, have played minor characters who had their sex scenes.
    Series Rome.
    Notes on a Scandal.
    my diary fat mad
    The Reader
    The Smell of Us
    Kids
    The Door in the Floor
    Queer as Folk
    etc

  147. indie_1985,
    I haven’t seen most of the programmes you mention but there have certainly been plenty of sex scenes with young characters. The law in the UK now is aimed primarily at anyone involved in child sexual exploitation or abuse but covers all images and it’s rather complicated with a big ‘grey’ area.

    Context is very important, as is what’s shown. Implying things is vastly preferable to showing them. It is implied that Ramsay has sex with Sansa but we don’t SEE it which is a crucial distinction. We assume Tommen and Marg are both naked but again don’t see it. (And yes, the scenes between Dany and Drago in S1 are definitely breaking the law as she is supposed to be 17. Anyone who has a copy of them is technically in possession of indecent images of a child.)

    There is a noticeable difference in how graphic scenes with younger characters are so D&D presumably take this seriously. It’s not that you can’t show sex at all, but how you do it that is crucial. Sorry to go on but it can’t be explained quickly and this is the most concise I could be 🙂

  148. Why are we all so excited all the time?

    We seek out, consume and speculate about any and every piece of GoT news that comes out, pretty much everyday.

    I can’t remember being so interested and excited about anything ever for this long.

    I mean I’m a huge football fan and I’m always checking in on that stuff so I guess we are all diehard GoT fans with the same interest and intensity as a diehard sports fan.

    Has any series ever reached the size, scope and intensity of this GoT fanbase before?

    Why is it so fun to get casting news and be like “He is gonna be Arthur Dayne!!!” IDK why but it really is.

    I hope this shit never ends! We need a prequel and a spinoff!

    Let the good times roll!!!

  149. I think the people who place Soud Faress as Dosh Khaleen or some other part of the Dothraki are probably right.

    But I kinda wish she was playing:

    Ghost of High Heart

    Not sure of her height. But maybe they could use some Hobbit like perspective tricks to make her seem smaller.

    I’d kind of like seeing her going around demanding kisses from studs in exchange for information. And settling for songs. 🙂 Only thing is one of the people that her interaction with was somewhat notable is not in Westeros at the time.

  150. One thing I wonder, if they are going to do Tower of Joy would it make sense for them to only do that vision from that time period as a once off like the Cersei scene in S5 or does it make sense to a bit more? Maybe quick visions – not enough to spoil a prequel – of Robert and Rhaegar coming together on the Trident, the Mad King etc. I think the show has done so much mentioning of Rhaegar and Lyanna, they need to be depicted now.
    I thought that Irish actor who was cast a few weeks back with the large eyes and the beard was a possible Rhaegar but this guy looks more so.

  151. Dean-Charles Chapman on set?

    Martyn Lannister resurrection confirmed!

    Get…..HYYYYYYYYYYYYPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  152. Full of Turnips:
    Anagram solver says: Alfred Hunrith = Fruithandler
    (with an H left over)

    Fruithandler confirmed!

    The extra “H” is for HYPE!!!

    #itsbeenaslowoffseason

  153. Lulu’s Mum,

    I understand you perfectly. But I have understood that an actor of 18,19,20 years … playing a character 16 years, yes you can shoot certain scenes. See, I do not say it very explicit.
    And thank you for setting an example of Dany and Drago. I hope to see something similar with tommen and Margaery 🙂

  154. Nymeria Warrior Queen: Talisa drove me nuts. In the end, I understood why they did it, so she could be killed at the RW without leaving any loose ends, but still, she drove me nuts. Yes, a lot of that had to do with the fact I just didn’t buy their love-story. While Oona Chaplin is certainly an attractive young woman, and from what I understand is not a bad actress (I’ve seen others say she’s done good work in other projects), I just didn’t like her in the role. I found the scenes between Talisa and Robb quite stilted. One of the only times I’ve literally rolled my eyes at the show was that “Attack, attack” scene she had in the tent with Robb.

    That character drove me batty and I was still totally Unsullied when I saw GoT series 2. I thought the Robb-Talisa love story was so wet that if it was a tap (faucet) it would be dripping. Oona Chaplin was good in “Dates” as an e-escort girl a couple of years ago but that was a miniseries with the emphasis on the “mini” so I doubt if it has ever crossed the broad Atlantic. I think she may look better in modern clothes than faux-medieval ones. She was in another show (can’t think of the name) where she played a nurse in World War I and her nurse’s uniform (as someone else pointed out) was not that different to her Talisa costume. I’m not against a love story – I didn’t have a problem with Trystane and Myrcella having genuine feelings for each other

    (and I seem to recall book Trystane and Myrcella were fond of each other in a friendly way at least – they were of course much younger in the book than their TV counterparts). I don’t REALLY think this is a spoiler but as this aspect of the tale was changed from the page to the screen I’m being safe rather than sorry.

    Getting back on point I’m not a great “Archers” fan but from when I last listened to it in nineteen hundred and frozen to death or whenever it was the actress in question had reasonable acting chops. It’s true the lad cast is a bit on the young side for Arthur Dayne but he could probably be aged up with make-up, though I don’t know if that is who he is playing. He could be Rhaegar – being a good horseman could be in keeping if any flashback showed him riding. Also, while it has been fun to speculate who might play Rhaegar and Lyanna (if we see them in flashback) I’ve always thought thought it more likely that relative unknowns would be cast than rising stars.

  155. Didn’t they sent out a second casting call for the Arthur Dayne character that dropped the sword skills requirement, implying that they had decided to cast someone spefically to do the fight scene and someone else to potentially be the “face” of Arthur Dayne?

    Because this guy fits “Non-speaking Arthur Dayne fight stand-in” pretty much to a T. Just saying.

  156. Delta1212:
    Didn’t they sent out a second casting call for the Arthur Dayne character that dropped the sword skills requirement, implying that they had decided to cast someone spefically to do the fight scene and someone else to potentially be the “face” of Arthur Dayne?

    Because this guy fits “Non-speaking Arthur Dayne fight stand-in” pretty much to a T. Just saying.

    I’ve been scrolling down this thread all day waiting for someone to mention this. Finally!

    It was my first thought when reading about his background. He’s an excellent swordfighter, horse rider and so on. They can just put a wig (if necessary) and some make up on him and he’ll play the stunt dude. Then they’ll use a pseudonym for Arthur Dayne since he’s not the one actually playing the role.

    Or he’s just playing the role of Dayne in the end.

    As some people suggest, that he’s a new kingsguard, a Vale soldier or a man of the north in some battle is not very likely to me. First of all, why give him a name? Second, have they used such a skilled medieval fighter in any other battle scene?

    Side note to all you people that are upset about the name (if that will really be his show-name) – wouldn’t it be f-ed up if they used a real house name that in the end will confuse things even more in the books? Sure, if it’s a real house with a real character that will in fact have an impact to the story in Winter, then I’ll agree with you. But until we know, why bother complaining??

  157. This is the first GoT “off-season” that I’ve actually followed. For the most part. it’s been pretty enjoyable, sometimes hilarious, other times annoying. Yet I’m so glad the site is here, that there are so many avid fans still posting, and lots of new fans joining in. It has made the 2 months since the last episode much easier to take. Some of you are wondering why we are clinging to and shaking every bit of content possible out of every bit of news. Cling on, I say. The months will fly by.

    Faress looks to me somewhat like Mirri Maz Duur, the witch that Dany eventually burned at the stake for the mis-magic treatment of Drogo. I know Mirri wasn’t a Dothraki, but Faress has the look of someone from that area of Essos. So I think she’s one of the Dothraki, possibly one of the Dosh Kahleen (if that’s what the correct term for Khal widows is.) Have no clue as to the young man, but if he is to be Arthur Dayne, so much the better.

  158. Thronetender,

    I totally agree. Makes the GoT withdrawal symptoms not as severe. I love coming here and reading the comments and of course any piece of news about next season.

  159. What does everybody think is going on with Tommen? (since Dean Charles Chapman was also mentioned in this thread.) Has he starved himself to death or gone mad from lack of … hmm… marital relations, which he will probably never have again, even when Marge gets out. OOhh is SHE going to be mad at the world. I was surprised that Grandma Olenna didn’t march herself into his bedroom and tell him exactly what to do.

  160. Thronetender:
    What does everybody think is going on with Tommen? (since Dean Charles Chapman was also mentioned in this thread.)Has he starved himself to death or gone mad from lack of… hmm… marital relations, which he will probably never have again, even when Marge gets out. OOhh is SHEgoing to be mad at the world.I was surprised that Grandma Olenna didn’t march herself into his bedroom and tell him exactly what to do.

    I hope someone else is checking up on him besides Qyburn. Margary will be pissed because he is a weak king. As for Olenna, is she showing up again in Season 6? Is she going back to Highgarden to get reinforcements? I hope we see her again soon.

  161. Piyush Sharma:
    Don’t those fish rot?

    Ooh. I think most of them are plastic, especially the hilarious-looking crayfish, but the dried squid look 100% real.

    Dried squid won’t really go off. They’re fine for months and if you eat one, you’ll be chewing each bite for about ten minutes before you can swallow it. They stink, though! Must be a very smelly set to work on.

  162. Arthur:
    Why are we all so excited all the time?

    We seek out, consume and speculate about any and every piece of GoT news that comes out, pretty much everyday.

    I can’t remember being so interested and excited about anything ever for this long.

    Has any series ever reached the size, scope and intensity of this GoT fanbase before?

    Had this conversation with a good friend of mine the other day. We both agreed that the X-Files had a similar cultural status when we were teenagers. We didn’t know one another at the time, but in our separate bits of the country, we would tape episodes, huddle round with friends to watch them, hate on certain characters, and champion others. We would also speculate about how some conspiracies would work out, and try to figure out if some minor characters, like the Alien Bounty Hunter, would appear in the next few episodes. Even so, the X-Files didn’t have the same size and scope as Thrones – not everyone wants to watch a show about aliens, and I wonder if the internet has helped with the massive Thrones fanbase. It also seems to be accepted for young women to watch Thrones, where I was told by one girl that being an X-phile was not OK for me because “it’s for boys” *eyeroll*

  163. Anyone else think it’s a big possibility that they give lady stone hearts storyline too Jon Snow somewhat since he easy betrayed and probably murder at the end of season 5 and that witch chick getting back to the wall right around then?

  164. Jay,

    Ooh, that is kinda interesting to think about. Don’t know if it could happen, but gets the mind rolling.

    I had a thought today (watch out for the smoke!) and this is for the TV story as is: [spolier] Since D&D cut the Quentyn Martell storyline, and the other two dragons (R&V) are still trapped in a vault, and Tyrion who is now running Mereen (and is obsessed with dragons) finds out there are still two dragons near him… what if Tyrion is the one who releases Rhaegal and Viserion and subsequently gets burnt? That would put Dany through the flames, Jon through the flames and now Tyrion through the flames as each being a dragon rider. I do still have a strong feeling Tyrion may be a dragon rider for a few reasons. The three of them have had many, many life parallels along the way and this would be one more.[/spoiler]

  165. Judibatt,

    I’ve been thinking exactly that all along too.

    Spoiler… I don’t know how to do the code thing.

    I’ve got Jon with Rhaegal (if Rhaegar is his dad, it kinda makes poetic sence) and Tyrion on Viserion (if Tyrion’s her other brother and just because Viserion’s gold and Lanisters color is gold …. You get my point). A girl can dream.

  166. West of Moon,

    Yeah!!! I’m not the only crazy one out there 🙂
    I put Jon with Viserion because of the white dragon/ white dire wolf thing. I know Viserion is a cream-white with gold, but close enough. Maybe the gold is a reflection that he really IS from royalty.

    I put Tyrion with Rhaegel because Tyrion has one green eye and Dany with Drogon because 1) Duh, and 2) the Targ banner is red and black.

  167. Judibatt,

    Hadn’t thought of it that way before, could be. But yeah, Dany’s obvious since she’s got a seemingly closer relationship with Drogon compared to the other two.

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