Game of Thrones celebrates the end of production for season 8 with a wrap party

picofeveryone

Guys, the end really is near. Game of Thrones held their wrap party for the final season last night, with most cast members in attendance. On the bright side, though, this means we’re one significant milestone closer to season 8.

According to photos of cast members arriving to the party in Belfast, attendees included Kit Harington, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Ben Crompton, John Bradley, Iain Glen, Joe Dempsie, Pilou Asbæk, Jacob Anderson, Hannah Murray, Sophie Turner, Kerry Ingram, Alfie Allen, Nathalie Emmanuel, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

kerryingram

Emilia Clarke was also in attendance and, in an interview, said that she and her castmates planned to celebrate the end of production “with Mr. Alcohol.”

Twitter offers us an enticing glimpse of the festivities. Like drummers in leather kilts playing by the red carpet.

And Kit Harington getting to serve as (an uncannily Jesus-looking) DJ

And the official DJ playing the Game of Thrones theme while an inebriated audience sings along (because of course).

And David Benioff and D.B Weiss showering the cast and crew with love in a speech.

“We hope you loved making this show as much as we did and we hope you loved making it with each other as much as we enjoyed it making it with all [of you],” Weiss says in the video.

Lastly, Nathalie Emmanuel posted a heartfelt message on Instagram.

126 Comments

  1. That modified Targ-Stark sigil is ink worthy. (From purple dwagon’s twitter pics) But it looked like the dragon only had two heads….

  2. What a ride it’s been
    Tearing up a little.

    I’m in no hurry to watch this. I hope they perfect it and make it as good as it can be.

  3. sob! yes bittersweet – Im excited that this means we are closer to watching the season, but horribly sad that it means the end of the show. Dammit all. sniff

    Oh and Hodor

  4. Congrats to the cast and crew what a ride its been. Thanks for all of the years of entertainment. Can’t wait to see the final season!

    Who is next to Emilia in the first pic?

  5. Canal Cat,

    I loved seeing that missing beard!! I don’t know how quickly that beard grows but this is a good sign that Sandor makes it to the end. Hopefully. *fingers crossed*

  6. Looks like Kit Harington, Liam Cunningham and Rory McCann have more scenes to be filmed.

  7. Sad as fuck.

    Is there a great rewatch planned before Season 8 ?

    I’d guess we’re looking at an April 2019 premiere, so that leaves about 9 months for 67 episodes. Should be easily doable.

  8. Kerry is the freakin cutest – that outfit!
    Only Pilou could make the jacket and shorts work. 😊
    Somehow I’m more happy than sad.

  9. Very grateful to have been of this entire monster of a series. I can’t think of a more iconic show that’s been released during this century. The amount of meticulous craft that goes into the production every year never ceases to amaze me. The end of an era is surely near.

    This wrap party was everything it should have been. They went out in glorious style and I hope they had their fill of booze and fun to celebrate a wonderful 8 years.

  10. On the bright side, though, this means we’re one significant milestone closer to season 8.

    Sorry Petra, I can’t see a bright side. It’s one more milestone to the end😭🔥🐈👑

  11. firstone,

    According to The Red Priestess (via WiC), Kit is rumored to be finishing up on Wednesday and Maisie on Friday of this coming week.

  12. Photos from the wrap party show a combined ‘Stark – Targaryen Sigil’ … wonder if that implies something – surprising they’d post them all over the place to be photographed.

  13. Kels:
    Canal Cat,

    I loved seeing that missing beard!! I don’t know how quickly that beard grows but this is a good sign that Sandor makes it to the end. Hopefully. *fingers crossed*

    They could have filmed the first scene of e1s8 last, so it doesn’t mean a whole lot.

  14. kathy:
    Photos from the wrap party show a combined ‘Stark – Targaryen Sigil’ … wonder if that implies something – surprising they’d post them all over the place to be photographed.

    It could be the new Sigil for

    The Prince or Princess that was Promised
  15. As another commenter at this site noted, this is the perfect time to be a fan. We can re-watch the entire seven seasons as many times as we want before the final season arrives, book readers can re-read, and many of my favorite characters are still alive. I expect their dying to start early and often once the final episode appears on my screen.

    I can’t possibly thank everyone involved enough, from Martin on down, for all of the great fun this has been. A truly great story is one where the reader cannot miss a single word and still understand it completely. Looking back, there have been no superfluous words, no supernumerary characters, no dead ends, not a stone unturned in the narrative. The production values required to turn Northern Ireland, Malta, Dubrovnik, and Spain into the World of Westeros set a new standard for television.

    Thanks for all of the fun times, everyone, and may this show go out at the very top of your game.

  16. Damn it, Nathalie’s sunrise tribute made me tear up. Not for the first time on this extended farewell tour, and far from the last time, I’m sure!

    I hope that all of the cast and crew who attended the wrap party had the time of their lives. They deserve it, each and every one of them.

  17. I don’t want it to end! Despite the many complaints that have been made about the show, it’s still one of the best adaptations of a novel ever made. Thanks to Dan and Dave and the entire cast for bringing the world of GRRM to my attention. For that, I’ll forever be grateful!

  18. Crazy that we’ve now had three big parties to conclude season 8 that said though my mind is now firmly on a teaser trailer (assuming what was released the other day was not a teaser).

    Also how much post production do they really need, I think they usually have 3 months so if we double it we are looking at February as a realistic premiere date.

  19. Nick20,

    I’ve been re-watching an episode every 5 days. I calculated that I’ll get to the season 7 finale as we hit April. Today my phone calendar says I get to watch season 2 episode 5!! Reading about the final wrap party makes it all real that it’s happening.

  20. Jared,

    1. What does it mean that this show made me care more for an inanimate object (Needle) than human characters on most other TV shows?

    2. Why does it delight me to imagine how 5-10 years from now, two co-stars’ offspring will ask their parents….

    Q: “Mommy, how did you and Daddy meet?”
    A: “He held a sword to my neck and was about to cut my head off.”

    Q: “What did you say to him?”
    A: “Strike hard and true, Jon Snow, or I’ll come back and haunt you.”
    Dad: “And I thank my lucky stars that now she can, every night.”

    Q: “Daddy, what did you do to Mommy in the cave?”
    A: “We’ll talk about that when you’re older. Time for bed.”

  21. I’m so sad, even if a wrap party means that season 8 is drawing near. I hope they all had a great time and were able to forget that this is the end.

  22. Tron79,

    S2e5? Then you get to watch the classic scene with the late great Roy Dotrice as Pyromancer Wisdom Hallyne! After all this time, spoiler coding seems unnecessary, but I’ll cover the dialogue with it anyway.

    S2e5: Tyrion, Bronn & Pyromancer Hallyne of the Alchemists Guild discuss manufacture and use of wildfire to defend the city

    Tyrion: “I remember reading an old sailors’ proverb, ‘Piss on wildfire and your cock burns off.'”
    Wisdom Hallyne: “Oh, I have not conducted this experiment. It could well be true. The substance burns so hot, it melts wood, stone, even steel, and, of course…flesh! The substance burns so hot, it melts flesh like tallow. After the dragons died, wildfire was the key to the Targaryen power.”
    Tyrion: “My companion takes issue.”
    Bronn: “If I could tell you how many crazy old men I’ve seen pushing carts around army camps making grand claims about jars full of pig sh*t. – No offense meant.”
    Hallyne: “Our order does not deal in pig sh*t! The substance is fire given form. And we have been perfecting it since the days of Maegor.”
    Tyrion: “To do what?”
    Hallyne: “The jars are put in catapults and flung at the enemy.”
    Tyrion: “How much do you have?”
    (Hallyne leads them into long storage room with shelves stocked with jars of wildfire.)
    Bronn: “If you could get real soldiers to man the catapults, then maybe you’d hit your target one time in ten, but all the real soldiers are in the Riverlands with your father.”
    Hallyne. “My lord, this man is insulting!”
    Bronn: “I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a battle, old man, but things can get a bit messy. Because when we’re flinging things at Stannis, he’s flinging them right back at us. Men die, men sh*t themselves, men run, which means pots falling, which means fire inside the walls, which means the poor c*nts trying to defend the city end up burning it down.”
    Tyrion: “My friend remains unconvinced.”
    Hallyne: “He would not dare insult my order whilst Aerys Targaryen lived.”
    Bronn: “Well, he’s not living anymore. And all his pots of wildfire didn’t help him, did they? Men win wars, not magic tricks.”
    Hallyne: “We have been working tirelessly, day and night, ever since your royal sister commanded us to do so. Our present count stands at 7,811. Enough to burn Stannis Baratheon’s fleet and armies both.”
    Bronn. “This is a sh*t idea.”
    Tyrion: “I’m afraid I have to concur with my advisor, Wisdom Hallyne. The contents of this room could lay King’s Landing low. You won’t be making wildfire for my sister any longer. You’ll be making it for me.”

  23. Kels:
    Canal Cat,

    I loved seeing that missing beard!! I don’t know how quickly that beard grows but this is a good sign that Sandor makes it to the end. Hopefully. *fingers crossed*

    Same here! 🙂 I heard he was filming in the epic scenes near the end, so it was nice to see him and the missing beard, too!

  24. Canal Cat: Same here! 🙂 I heard he was filming in the epic scenes near the end, so it was nice to see him and the missing beard, too!

    Well, he’s still got to pull the flaming sword from the fire.

    #SandorAhai
    #Lightbringer

  25. Enharmony1625:
    firstone,

    “…Kit is rumored to be finishing up on Wednesday and Maisie on Friday of this coming week.”

    While I understand scenes aren’t always filmed in chronological order, this keeps alive my fanfic hope that the very last scene of S8 is the coronation of Queen Arya “Do NOT call me ‘Your Grace'” Stark.

  26. Ten Bears: my fanfic hope that the very last scene of S8 is the coronation of Queen Arya “Do NOT call me ‘Your Grace’” Stark.

    Personally I would find an ending with ASNAWQ pretty cool, in certain scenarios. That would be a bittersød ending and rather ironic for “no, that’s not me,” being in a position she never wanted to be in and one we wouldn’t expect her to be in. I’d still accept and enjoy it IF my other favorites somehow live, which doesn’t seem possible if Arya is queen… :/

  27. Is that Jon Arya hug I see in the background of the video where Dan Weiss is giving speech??? Somebody confirm ….

  28. Clob,

    Jon doesn’t want to be a king. Beric already foretold that Jon’s destiny is to be a “soldier” who protects others. Dany may be compelled to abdicate if her claim to entitlement collapses, or if her trigger-happy Dracarysing causes dissension. (She’s neither the “last Targaryen” nor the “rightful heir” to the IT, as she proclaimed in S7e3.) Sansa’s fate is to be the Lady of Winterfell.

    (I’ve got a list of 28 reasons why Arya should be the monarch. For some reason it keeps getting lost in “That Page Not Found” purgatory.)

  29. Canal Cat,

    Sandor, in S7e6, said: “Every Lord I’ve ever met has been a c*nt. Can’t see why the Lord of Light should be any different.”

    Wouldn’t it be delicious irony if he turns out to be the Lord’s Chosen?

  30. Ten Bears,

    Yep, scenarios like that make it fine. Although, I don’t know that Jon not wanting to be king would be any stronger than Arya not wanting to be queen.

  31. I’m seeing those pictures and reports of Jamie Dornan attending the party. I wonder if he went just because he’s from the area. Maybe he was ‘home’ and ran into some of the cast that are friends and was invited…?

  32. Ten Bears,

    Yes!! I watched it already this morning! Great dialogue. We will miss him.

    I also really enjoy Arya’s arc with Tywin during these early episodes… I have to wait 10 more days for Season 2 episode 7 with Ary’a “Dark Sister” speech. She knows alot for a stone mason’s daughter.

  33. Tron79:
    Ten Bears,

    Yes!!I watched it already this morning!Great dialogue. We will miss him.

    I also really enjoy Arya’s arc with Tywin during these early episodes… I have to wait 10 more days for Season 2 episode 7 with Ary’a “Dark Sister” speech. She knows alot for a stone mason’s daughter.

    ____________
    Ah yes! Arya & Tywin were great scenes. And unless I’m wrong, it is the only time we ever saw Tywin laugh.

  34. Clob:
    “I’m seeing those pictures and reports of Jamie Dornan attending the party.I wonder if he went just because he’s from the area.Maybe he was ‘home’ and ran into some of the cast that are friends and was invited…?”

    Or maybe he’ll be starring in the spin-off, “Fifty Shades of Greyjoy.”

    (I’ll see myself out.)

  35. Ten Bears: Or maybe he’ll be starring in the spin-off, “Fifty Shades of Greyjoy.”

    (I’ll see myself out.)

    I’d watch it as long as Dakota Johnson isn’t in it. She’s so awful!!

  36. Ten Bears: While I understand scenes aren’t always filmed in chronological order, this keeps alive my fanfic hope that the very last scene of S8 is the coronation of Queen Arya “Do NOT call me ‘Your Grace’” Stark.

    To me, I’m thinking, “what, is she in like every scene next season?” Admission: I’m okay with that. 🙂

    Ten Bears:
    Ah yes! Arya & Tywin were great scenes. And unless I’m wrong, it is the only time we ever saw Tywin laugh.

    And he praises her cleverness no less than three times! Coming from Tywin, that’s saying something.

    T: “This one’s a girl, you idiot. Dressed as a boy. Why?”
    A: “Safest way to travel my lord.”
    T: “Smart. Which is more than I can say for this lot.”

    T: “What killed him?”
    A: “… Loyalty.”
    T: “You’re a sharp little thing, aren’t you.”

    A: “She taught me how to speak proper. … Properly!”
    T: “You’re too smart for your own good. Has anyone told you that?”
    A: “Yes.”

  37. Ten Bears: ____________
    Ah yes! Arya & Tywin were great scenes. And unless I’m wrong, it is the only time we ever saw Tywin laugh.

    He kind of laughed/scoffed when Kevan Lannister told him that Robb Stark was calling his banners together in season 1, but I’m just being nitpicky with that one. It really is hard to think of a moment when Tywin laughed or even genuinely smiled.

  38. Enharmony1625,

    Then there was the scene in S2e6 when Tywin berated (Amory Lorch?) for sending the troop deployment message to the wrong recipient, and snarked that maybe his cupbearer (Arya) should devise their next battle plan:

    Tywin: “Can you read?”
    Lorch: “My lord?”
    Tywin: “Can you read! This letter detailing our infantry movements was meant for Lord Damon of House Marbrand. It was sent to Lord Marlyn of House Dormand.”
    Lorch: “My apologies, my lord. I must have…”
    Tywin: “Girl, fetch me the History of the Greater and the Lesser Houses. It’s the one on this…”
    (Arya pulls out the book by reading the title on its spine)
    Tywin: “My cupbearer can read better than you. To whom does House Dormand owe allegiance?”
    Lorch: “My lord, I…”
    Tywin: “To the Starks of Winterfell! Who have 20,000 men and my son! I judged you might be good for something more than brutalizing peasants. I see I overestimated you. If you ever put my son’s life at risk again, I’ll…Leave us.
    Put the book away, girl. Maybe you should devise our next battle plan while you’re at it.”

  39. Enharmony1625,

    “To me, I’m thinking, “what, is she in like every scene next season?” Admission: I’m okay with that. 🙂”
    ________________
    I didn’t want to be the one to say it. However, it does seem that way, doesn’t it? We know she’s been training for physical/action scenes. And if she’s not done filming yet while many of the other principal characters’ actors have already finished….

    After Arya’s story became an afterthought in the second half of S7, it’s only right that she gets lots of quality, high thread-count™️scenes in S8. Seriously though, for me at least, Arya has always been the “lens” through which the entire show has been viewed. It started that way. It should end that way. (Yeah, I know, ice and fire, Jon and Dany, blah blah blah.)

    ™️ Thronetender 2017

  40. Ten Bears:
    Enharmony1625,

    “To me, I’m thinking, “what, is she in like every scene next season?” Admission: I’m okay with that. 🙂”
    ________________I didn’t want to be the one to say it. However, it does seem that way, doesn’t it? We know she’s been training for physical/action scenes. And if she’s not done filming yet while many of the other principal characters’ actors have already finished….

    After Arya’s story became an afterthought in the second half of S7, it’s only right that she gets lots of quality, high thread-count™️scenes in S8. Seriously though, for me at least, Arya has always been the “lens” through which the entire show has been viewed. It started that way. It should end that way. (Yeah, I know, ice and fire, Jon and Dany, blah blah blah.)

    I am chuffed that Maisie and Kit seem to be the workingest actors this season. D&D said Kit would, so Maisie is the surprise. And while Arya is not the only lens, but she definitely was the lens for the book/show’s most important scenes, Ned’s death and the Red Wedding. Less noted but also critical is that her wanderings in Seasons 2-4 reveal the life of the smallfolk. Common people usually suffer most in war, and she saw it–from burning fields, naive farmers, rape, torture, starvation, the plight of the common soldier, and so much murder. Without that viewpoint, their tribulations are almost abstract and as moving as a raw statistic. She is the Everyman figure. Plus her empathy (owing to Ned no doubt) brought viewers close to individuals among the masses, the people for whom Dany wants to break the wheel. She’s so much more than the magical, superpowered ninja assassin. She is us.

  41. It’s about time we start posting any and all thoughts, opinions, hopes and predictions of Arya Stark…

    Arya deserves at least a little bit of attention:/

  42. I am serious when I say if they give Maisie the material with Arya in the final season she will win the best supporting actress Emmy. She should have been nominated prior to S6 even with limited material and they kind of ‘handcuffed’ her in S7… If they’re wise for the final push, considering how massive of a fan favorite the character is, they’d give her some really good stuff. I have complete faith in Maisie if they do!!

  43. firstone,

    But we should. The trajectory and purpose of Arya’s story are still big question marks. S6 was the Jon & Sansa Show. S7 was Sansa vs. LF and Jon & Dany. It appeared to me they deliberately left Arya “out of the loop” so they could save her story for S8. I can’t believe that Arya’s role was just to become proficient at face-peeling and executions.

  44. Enharmony1625,

    Left unfinished: Tywin never found out his clever young servant was the daughter of Ned Stark. Catelyn never found out she was hating on her nephew in law for no reason. Alliser Thorne never knew the boy he ridiculed, called Lord Snow, and helped murder was literally the heir to the crown and the family he was so loyal to. Ygritte didn’t live to see Jon freeing her people to go beyond the wall. Aemon isn’t around to meet Danearys or realize he’s related to Jon. All I can thinnk of for now

  45. The screenplay writers can not veer away from grrm’s work too much or for one, they wont be able to justify the money spent on securing rights from him. And two, make a nonsense of the title “a game of thrones” If they start employing arbitrary artistic licence, where does it stop? They may as well start making ‘littlest mermaid’ type shows and giving them names like ‘hannibal lectre’s lost love child’. It’s a nonsense that would be inflicted on us by the stupid. Furthermore to the issue, I do not think that grrm agonizes over maisie williams career whilst constructing his plot. I don’t think that arya’s (or anybody else’s) career path matters to the story creator. I think that he is just flat out trying to devise a plot with as much plausible intrigue as he possibly can.

  46. ygritte:
    Enharmony1625,

    Left unfinished: Tywin never found out his clever young servant was the daughter of Ned Stark. Catelyn never found out she was hating on her nephew in law for no reason. Alliser Thorne never knew the boy he ridiculed, called Lord Snow, and helped murder was literally the heir to the crown and the family he was so loyal to. Ygritte didn’t live to see Jon freeing her people to go beyond the wall. Aemon isn’t around to meet Danearys or realize he’s related to Jon. All I can thinnk of for now

    When I tune in and read posts like this, they are like a breath of fresh air. Full of, Tywin, Ned Stark, Catelyn, Alliser Thorne, Lord Snow, Ygritte, Aemon, Danearys or Jon. On the other hand, posts about Kit Harington, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Ben Crompton, John Bradley, Iain Glen, Joe Dempsie, Pilou Asbæk, Jacob Anderson, Hannah Murray, Sophie Turner, Kerry Ingram, Alfie Allen, Nathalie Emmanuel, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. are about as sterile as a bucket of cold water being dumped on you in the back seats of the cinema.

  47. Ten Bears,

    I hope you’re right about saving Arya’s big story for Season 8. I worry a bit though with as fast paced as Season 8 has to be they will need to spend most of the time with other characters to move the story. I predict Arya will definitely kill her share of White Walkers with her Valyrian steel dagger. I’ve read here that she received battle training and she spent many nights shooting the night battle scenes. My dream would be that somehow she wields Dark Sister and ends up riding a dragon into battle. Then the story she told Tywin back in season 2 (after Tywin said, “I don’t like Mutton”) was foreshadowing. She also very well could be the one to finish off Cersei with her dagger either as herself, LF, or Jaime.

  48. ygritte,

    I would have loved to see the look on Thorne’s face if he found out Jon is heir to the throne. That would have been priceless. Robb learning this truth would have been interesting too. There’s a very good chance that Catelyn/LSH will find out about Jon in the books though.

    Another one I can think of is Viserys finding out that it was, in fact, his sister who was the true dragon.

  49. Tron79,

    I’m hoping that we find out that Arya’s dagger was forged from Dark Sister next season, and that Arya goes on to name the dagger after the sword. I think there is a good possibility of this happening given the foreshadowing of the dagger reveal in the book Sam was reading.

  50. Enharmony1625,

    Wow, that would be something. I always thought the dagger was named Catspaw, but I recently saw that it was actually unnamed, and Catspaw was just the assassin’s name. If Sam discovers it was made from Dark Sister that would be something.

  51. Tron79,
    Technically the assassin didn’t have a name. Catspaw is a term for what he was, but without a name that’s how he was referred. Since the dagger hasn’t had a known name either people just refer to it as the catspaw’s dagger. 🙂 Maybe Arya should just give it a name… like Little Sister or something…

  52. Enharmony1625,

    ———
    My favorite “what if he/she really knew” is Maester Aemon, in S1e9, telling Jon how the gods were “cruel” when they tested his vows, after learning his family had been killed, “even the little children!” of Rhaegar. (Portions of dialogue highlighted in bold below. Forgive me for reproducing most of the lengthy exchange: It was a memorable scene.)

    If Aemon knew the truth, he’d realize the gods were benevolent and wise: He was exactly where he’d want to be to mentor Rhaegar’s surviving son; prevent him from being condemned and executed as a traitor by Thorne & company (after Jon’s return from Wildlingville); cast the deciding vote to make Jon Lord Commander (and thereby, also save Jon from the miserable existence under a LC Thorne, as described by Davos and Stannis); and in general, serve as Jon’s trusted confidante, advisor, and surrogate grandfather.

    Of course, Aemon’s later comment to Sam (in S5?) referring to Daenerys, bemoaning that he was an old man stuck at the Wall and couldn’t help her: “A Targaryen alone in the world is a terrible thing”, as Jon happened to walk by the doorway, would take on even more resonance if Aemon Targaryen knew that neither he nor Jon Snow aka Aegon Targaryen were alone at all.

    Finally, Aemon said he felt frustrated and powerless when he learned his family had been slaughtered. “What could l do when the ravens brought the news from the South – the ruin of my House, the death of my family? I was helpless, blind, frail.” Even if he had been young and vigorous, impulsively leaving Castle Black to head south [to do what, exactly?] like Jon tried to do, would’ve been a suicide mission. What would that have accomplished? Surely, in a moment of clarity Aemon would’ve told himself that such rashness would only result in: “One less Targaryen* in the world.”

    *[Voice of future King Stannis: “Fewer.”
    Maester Aemon (looking around): “What?”
    Voice of future King Stannis: “Nothing.”]

    All in all, if the gods hadn’t been what Aemon perceived as “cruel”, or if he’d been younger when they chose to “test [his] vows”, Aemon might not have been at Castle Black when Rhaegar’s surviving son arrived, and wouldn’t have been there to guide and protect the last of “the little children.”

    If Maester Aemon knew the whole truth, he would’ve profusely thanked the old gods and the new for their foresight, and would’ve realized that choosing to abide by his NW vows was a blessing, not a sacrifice; and that the 16 or so intervening years he toiled at CB from the slaughter of the Targaryens in KL until Jon/Aegon’s arrival at CB were well worth it. Aemon would surely have been grateful that he made the choice he did and “live[d] with it for the rest of [his] days.”

    I’m sure there are other Aemon, Jon & Sam scenes that would be perceived differently with foreknowledge. These are all that come to mind right now.

    ———————————
    (Excerpt: Maester Aemon & Jon Snow S1e9)

    Aemon: “Tell me, did you ever wonder why the men of the Night’s Watch take no wives and father no children?”
    Jon: “No.”
    Aemon: “So they will not love. Love is the death of duty. lf the day should ever come when your lord father was forced to choose between honor on the one hand and those he loves on the other, what would he do?”
    Jon: “He would do whatever was right. No matter what.”
    Aemon: “Then Lord Stark is one man in 10,000. Most of us are not so strong. What is honor compared to a woman’s love? And what is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms?Or a brother’s smile?”
    Jon: “Sam told you.”
    Aemon: “We’re all human. Oh, we all do our duty when there’s no cost to it. Honor comes easy then. Yet sooner or later in every man’s life there comes a day when it is not easy. A day when he must choose.”
    Jon: “And this is my day? ls that what you’re saying?”
    Aemon: “Oh, it hurts, boy. Oh, yes. l know.”
    Jon: “You do not know! No one knows! l may be a bastard, but he is my father and Robb is my brother.”
    Aemon. “The gods were cruel when they saw fit to test my vows. They waited till l was old. What could l do when the ravens brought the news from the South – the ruin of my House, the death of my family? l was helpless blind, frail. But when l heard they had killed my brother’s son and his poor son and the children! Even the little children!”
    Jon: “Who are you?”
    Aemon: “My father was Maekar, the first of his name. My brother Aegon reigned after him when l had refused the throne. And he was followed by his son Aerys whom they called the Mad King.”
    Jon: “You’re Aemon Targaryen.”
    Aemon: “l’m a maester of the Citadel, bound in service to Castle Black and the Night’s Watch. l will not tell you to stay or go. You must make that choice yourself and live with it for the rest of your days. As l have.”
    _________________

  53. ygritte,

    Tywin never found out his clever young servant was the daughter of Ned Stark

    I think he knew, or at least have an inkling that he had seen her somewhere.

  54. ash,

    I don’t think he knew, but it is an interesting debate.

    I’m actually more confused on whether or not Littlefinger knew. If LF recognized her, it would seem odd that he said nothing about it to anyone, especially since Cersei tasked him with finding her. Based on that, I don’t think LF recognized Arya, but, then again, he told Sansa early in season 3 that he saw her, so perhaps he DID recognize her and just decided to keep the secret to himself for a future scheme.

  55. Agreed. I think in these 2 quotes.

    Enharmony1625: T: “What killed him?”
    A: “… Loyalty.”
    T: “You’re a sharp little thing, aren’t you.”

    A: “She taught me how to speak proper. … Properly!”
    T: “You’re too smart for your own good. Has anyone told you that?”
    A: “Yes.”

    That he is telling her that she is on his radar, and that he just about has her number plate.

  56. Ahh… James Cosmo earned/received Member of the Order of the British Empire. So, so deserving!! 😀

  57. Clob:
    Ahh… James Cosmo earned/received Member of the Order of the British Empire.So, so deserving!!

    He was in Big Brother?

  58. Damn, now that filming is basically over, I would assume the articles on WOTW will dry up a bit for the next half a year or so. The Long Night has truly begun.

  59. Mr Derp,

    LF definitely did not know Tywin’s cupbearer was Arya. Cersei had expressly instructed LF to find her. And even if LF didn’t want to score points with Cersei, he would’ve kept that valuable bargaining chip for himself.

    Finally. he disclosed way too much information (eg about undermining the Starks) while the “cupbearer” was within earshot.

  60. Mr Derp:
    Damn, now that filming is basically over, I would assume the articles on WOTW will dry up a bit for the next half a year or so.The Long Night has truly begun.

    Nah. Now is the time to break out the heavy duty tinfoil and see if anyone comes close to figuring out the ending, including the rumored third “twist.”

  61. Ten Bears: heavy duty tinfoil …. third “twist.”

    Cersei is pregnant with Frankengregor’s baby… A hideous creation that gestates abnormally quickly, is born, eats his parents and grows to immense size within days. He is the prince that was promised, but the prophesies and legends were wrong, he’s not a savior but a curse upon the land. The First Men knew the truth centuries earlier and the real reason why they built the Wall 700 feet high. The ptwp would be the embodiment of all of the souls of the giants that would manifest itself when the last of the them is killed. Unfortunately they were gravely mistaken about the location of his birth when they built the Wall…. 😛

  62. Mr Derp:
    ash,

    I don’t think he knew, but it is an interesting debate.

    I’m actually more confused on whether or not Littlefinger knew.If LF recognized her, it would seem odd that he said nothing about it to anyone, especially since Cersei tasked him with finding her.Based on that, I don’t think LF recognized Arya, but, then again, he told Sansa early in season 3 that he saw her, so perhaps he DID recognize her and just decided to keep the secret to himself for a future scheme.

    I agree. LF is a habitual and accomplished liar. At Renly’s camp Catelyn had believed his lie that Arya was still prisoner in Kings Landing. Sansa believed his Arya lie too. BTW, his next scene after Catelyn was Harrenhal. Surely, if LF had recognized Arya he would not have passed up the financial and social advantage of giving up such a vital prisoner to the most powerful man in the 7K. Moreover, he hated Cersei’s “power is power” demo before he left KL. So if he had turned in Arya to Tywin, Cersei would have felt Tywin’s wrath for keeping Arya Stark’s escape secret!!! In Winterfell, he saw Arya’s death stare and how well she handled his Dagger. If he had recognised her before, he could have neutralised her threat by telling her that she was free only because he hadn’t turned her in to Tywin. He didn’t. So I don’t think he knew who that familiar-looking cup bearer was.

    Enharmony1625:
    Tron79,

    I’m hoping that we find out that Arya’s dagger was forged from Dark Sister next season, and that Arya goes on to name the dagger after the sword. I think there is a good possibility of this happening given the foreshadowing of the dagger reveal in the book Sam was reading.

    I agree 100%. She is the warrior Dark Sister of Aegon Targaryen, so it’s appropriate she wield a VS weapon of that name, if not the original DS itself. BTW, I’ve seen some videos and essays about the dagger that mention John Bradley was told to linger on that page for the camera!!!

  63. That all sounds like good fun but Cersei would rather inject hot cheese into her eye balls and feed them to rats than let anyone other than a lannister touch her. Her brain is as feverishly infected with the aryan ideal as hitler was. So, no one but Jaime or Lancel or someone close to her that can produce the genes that she needs is a chance. Joffrey would be a better chance than the mountain. I am quickly arriving at the conclusion that the Andals need to go, I wouldn’t be surprised if the children of the forest agree with me. If cersei runs out of Lannisters to breed with then she will be booking the royal barge for a midnight flit to jorah mormonts castle with a bottle of bubbly in hand.

  64. Ten Bears:
    Mr Derp,

    LF definitely did not know Tywin’s cupbearer was Arya. Cersei had expressly instructed LF to find her. And even if LF didn’t want to score points with Cersei, he would’ve kept that valuable bargaining chip for himself.

    Finally. he disclosed way too much information (eg about undermining the Starks) while the “cupbearer” was within earshot.

    For what it’s worth, the actor who played LF himself said he thought LF knew it was Arya, but of course, he didn’t write it, so we’ll never know

  65. One thing that I do feel certain about is that syrio forele is not dead. I don’t believe for a second that meryn trant bested him. And that his main message to arya ‘There is only one god and his name is Death, and there is only one thing we say to Death: “Not today”. is the maxim that fast forwards him to season 8.

  66. the unburdened:
    One thing that I do feel certain about is that syrio forele is not dead. I don’t believe for a second that meryn trant bested him. And that his main message to arya ‘There is only one god and his name is Death, and there is only one thing we say to Death: “Not today”. is the maxim that fast forwards him to season 8.

    He’s gotta be dead. If not, it would ultimately make Arya’s killing of Merynt Trant less justified. Besides, what’s the purpose of bringing him back now?

  67. Mr Derp: He’s gotta be dead.If not, it would ultimately make Arya’s killing of Merynt Trant less justified.Besides, what’s the purpose of bringing him back now?

    I thought about this as well, because we didn’t see Syrio die.
    As far as I remember, everyone, who was given a name and a part to develop the story or one of the main characters and was to die, we saw dying or dead.
    The last we saw of Syrio was his back, while he was ready to counter MerynF*Trant’s attack.
    tinfoil:
    Syrio was from Braavos – what if he was educated in the House of Black and White???
    And was a Faceless Man?
    May he was Jaqen himself? Or Jaqen was Syrio?
    Or both were some-one else to educate and protect no-one?

  68. Mr Derp,

    Not only that. but it would cheapen Syrio’s heroic sacrifice if he somehow escaped MFT. Syrio stood his ground and gave his life so his pupil could live.

    It would also dilute one of the most emotionally evocative moments of the whole series, i.e.:

    Arya: “Come with me. Run!”
    Syrio: “The First Sword of Braavos does not run.”

  69. Mr Derp: He’s gotta be dead.If not, it would ultimately make Arya’s killing of Merynt Trant less justified…..

    ——–
    And one other thing: Syrio’s gotta be dead or else it would undermine Sandor’s “real world” lesson to Arya, reinforced with a smack across her face:

    “Your friend’s dead and Meryn Trant’s not. Because Trant had armor and a big f*cking sword.”

  70. Ten Bears:
    Mr Derp,

    Not only that. but it would cheapen Syrio’s heroic sacrifice if he somehow escaped MFT. Syrio stood his ground and gave his life so his pupil could live.

    It would also dilute one of the most emotionally evocative moments of the whole series, i.e.:

    Arya: “Come with me. Run!”
    Syrio: “The First Sword of Braavos does not run.”

    I have a few theories that have floated in one ear and out the other at times, but of one thing I am certain – no way was Jaqen in the black cells against his will.

  71. Mr Derp: For what it’s worth, the actor who played LF himself said he thought LF knew it was Arya, but of course, he didn’t write it, so we’ll never know

    Respectfully, it’s worth squat. Aidan G was talking out of his ass. He was just guessing, not thinking. There are fifty reasons why LF could not have recognized Arya, and zero reasons that he did.

  72. Pigeon: I have a few theories that have floated in one ear and out the other at times, but of one thing I am certain – no way was Jaqen in the black cells against his will.

    That’s always intrigued me as well. A skilled Faceless Man should’ve avoided being captured and imprisoned in the black cells, or easily escaped, e.g., by taking on the face of a jailer.

    Two related questions: How and why would Jaqen wind up in the barred prisoner transport wagon with Rorge and that other misfit? How and why would he find himself needing Arya’s help (by bringing him the axe) to free himself when the wagon caught fire?

    At first, I thought it was weird that Jaqen knew her name when they parted ways and he said “Farewell, Arya Stark.” Then I realized she kind of gave away her identity when she implored Jaqen to kill Tywin (in S2e8):

    Arya: “He’s [Tywin’s] taking his army to attack my brother. I need him dead right now!”
    Jaqen: “This a man cannot do.”
    Arya: “You promised you’d help me.”
    Jaqen: “Help was not promised, lovely girl. Only death.”

    Why do you suppose Jaqen was in the black cells to begin with?

    I think it’s been suggested that Jaqen’s mission all along was to recruit Arya to the FM, and he was “testing” her. But unless he had a way to anticipate the barred wagon would catch fire and he had a way to free himself, that would mean he would’ve been burned alive if she didn’t come back to rescue him during the Gold Cloaks/Lannisters’ assault.

    Kind of risky. And despite his nonchalance about dispensing deaths owed to “the Red God”, he was pretty upset when Arya gave him his own name and he begged her to un-name him. (Which precipitated one of my favorite Arya lines: “I’m not joking. A man can go kill himself.”)

    He did seem to take a “liking” to her – genuine or not. He did follow her and Gendry and Hot Pie after their escape from Harrenhal and offer her the coin to Braavos.

    I don’t know. It could all be a minor loose thread that will never be tied up.

  73. Ten Bears: ——–And one other thing:Syrio’s gotta be dead or else it would undermine Sandor’s “real world” lesson to Arya, reinforced with a smack across her face:

    “Your friend’s dead and Meryn Trant’s not. Because Trant had armor and a big f*ckingsword.”

    I always thought that Syrio would have picked up one of the real swords from the men he knocked to the ground. I never understood why he kept using his wooden sword after there were plenty of other swords to take. That being said, I don’t think they would bring Syrio back at this point. It doesn’t make sense for the story and not enough time to deal with it. Clegane had a point. But Syrio was pretty awesome knocking out all those men in armor with his wooden sword and water dance karate chops.

  74. I remain certain that Syrio did not die. And coming back does not need to serve any purpose except giving the author one more twist to the story. However, it could be that in series 8, Arya at some point goes off the tracks, maybe gets immersed in her killing spree, and syrio needs to return like a ghost from her past who brings her back to solid ground once more. There doesn’t need to be any reason, but, this serves for one as good as any. And the Jaquen theory, why not? when he appeared at the front door as that black guy and told her to ‘be off’ was not that a test that could have ended badly if it was all just a bluff? Maybe tests can end in death in Jaquen’s religion. And after all, isn’t Syrio’s statement ‘is only one thing we say to Death: “Not today”.’ referring to that same god?

  75. Ten Bears: Respectfully, it’s worth squat. Aidan G was talking out of his ass. He was just guessing, not thinking. There are fifty reasons why LF could not have recognized Arya, and zero reasons that he did.

    I don’t really think LF recognized Arya either, but to say there are zero reasons why could’ve is wrong.

    He told Sansa in season 3 that he saw her alive and well. Why would he tell her that if he didn’t see her? I suppose he could’ve been talking out of his ass, but was he? You could assume he was just as much as you could assume he wasn’t since we don’t know.

    If LF recognized Arya and then immediately gave her up to Tywin as expected then he would’ve received a reward I’m sure, but his endgame was always to sit on the Iron Throne with Sansa by his side, right? What if Sansa ever found out that LF was responsible for Arya’s capture? Certainly such an action would jeopardize his long term goals. It’s easy to see LF forgoing a short term reward in favor of keeping his ultimate goal intact.

  76. Tron79,

    Yes. Syrio sure was awesome. That he chose to stay and fight with a broken wooden practice sword against a heavily armored opponent with a big f*cking sword, in order to buy time for Arya to make her getaway, adds to his awesomeness.

    Sure, Syrio could have tried to pick up one of the doofus’s swords. That stil wouldn’t have made up for his lack of armor. Also. I’m not so sure how proficient he’d be with a broadsword. As he told Arya [something like]: “Remember child, this is not the knight’s dance we are learning – hacking and hammering; this is the Braavos dance: it is swift – and sudden.”

    Still. he did take down all of those jabonis with his wooden practice sword. And he stood his ground instead of attempting to flee with Arya. It was a hero’s ending, that shouldn’t be tarnished with speculation like “well. maybe he’s not dead.”

    There’s one more thing… Let me see if I can find the passage….

  77. All you have to do is think!
    There will only be 6 episodes.
    We know that there will be several big action battle scenes.
    Jon, Danny, Arya stories to be told.

    There is absolutely no way they are going to spend time resurrecting a fairly minor character (Syrio) or doing intricate and convoluted storylines.

  78. Ten Bears: That’s always intrigued me as well. A skilled Faceless Man should’ve avoided being captured and imprisoned in the black cells, or easily escaped, e.g., by taking on the face of a jailer.

    Yes, which is why I tend to believe that he was there because he wanted to be for some purpose. This was my original thought as to the Syrio theory – Trant perhaps could not kill him at the time, for whatever reason that we did not have view of…instead he was thrown in the black cells for holding or who knows what purpose. Instead, he pulls a few tricks up his sleeve, takes another’s face, and becomes Jaqen. This requires him to be a Faceless Man, which is where my doubt comes in, but there are links to Braavos and, well…train of thought stops there.

    Ten Bears:

    Two related questions: How and why would Jaqen wind up in the barred prisoner transport wagon with Rorge and that other misfit?

    Easy – he allowed and/or manipulated a situation to be put there. Not just that it was a way out of the black cells, but something more than that. What would have happened had he made it to the Wall? Or did he never intend that…

    Ten Bears:

    How and why would he find himself needing Arya’s help (by bringing him the axe) tofree himself when the wagon caught fire?

    He could have been testing her. He may have read her or watched her for some time, and knew that she would do it. Or, it’s possible that Faceless Man or no, he done fucked up and did find himself in a bit of a pickle.

    Ten Bears:

    Kind of risky. And despite his nonchalance about dispensing deaths owed to “the Red God”, he was pretty upset when Arya gave him his own name and he begged her to un-name him. (Which precipitated one of my favorite Arya lines: “I’m not joking. A man can go kill himself.”)

    Yes, it was risky. I see Jaqen as an extremely dangerous man, but I think Arya found that Achilles’ heel with him. His face darkened visibly at that moment (and I mean, has Tom Wlaschiha ever been sexier? Dammmnnn….huh? Oh, yes, back to the point) – SHE held power over him. For real.

    At the same time, I wonder if this was really the defining moment of his decision to recruit her, in his mind. She WON that moment. She outsmarted him. He did what she asked, and I think that not only did he have to, but he realized just how clever she truly was, and that sealed it.

    Ten Bears:

    He did seem to take a “liking” to her – genuine or not. He did follow her and Gendry and Hot Pie after their escape from Harrenhal and offer her the coin to Braavos.

    I don’t know. It could all be a minor loose thread that will never be tied up.

    He certainly was impressed by her, I believe she exceeded his expectations. I’m sure the FM recruit all the time for acolytes, however this was something quite involved and woven into the story in no small degree.

    I am still fruatrated at how they changed Arya’s time in Braavos – it held much more purpose and meaning in the novel, certainly outlined her real number of skills and training that would have been an asset on film. So much was through what went on in her head though, that I see the difficulty it would have caused.

    They did, however, absolutely NAIL the Needle scene, I HEARD the narrative words in my head, Maisie has the true gift of speaking with a look and without words, much like Iain Glen. It was one of only 3 times I have teared up during the show. I do not tear up easily.

    Many people see Jaqen as a protector or guardian of sorts to Arya, even a friend. I would like to think that, however while I don’t see that he would want to do her actual harm, I believe the FM are far more malevolent than people think. Sounds obvious with the whole contract killer aspect I suppose, but it goes much deeper. They do grant mercy (Mercy) however, for example the little girl at the fountain. Augh.

    I do hope it is a loose thread that IS tied up, or at least explained further. They have spent a lot of time on it, after all.

  79. cos alpha:
    tinfoil:
    Syrio was from Braavos – what if he was educated in the House of Black and White???
    And was a Faceless Man?
    May he was Jaqen himself? Or Jaqen was Syrio?
    Or both were some-one else to educate and protect no-one?

    Maisie Williams had the same theory herself, but D&D knocked it down and told her bluntly that Syrio was dead. So I have to go with that he’s dead and he chose his fate. All men must die, and he chose to stand his ground as “Ten Bears” said and hold them off long enough for Arya to escape. I see it similar to Blackfish deciding to stand his ground and dying off screen, and I don’t think Blackfish will return either. Arya did hear a scream in the hall. To me, D&D thought showing Arya’s reaction was more important than showing Syrio receiving the final blow. Although I will say that the Syrio shadow spotted behind the Waif (in a still shot) was interesting tinfoil.
    Here’s the WotW article:
    https://watchersonthewall.com/maisie-williams-gives-definite-answer-on-syrio-forels-fate/

  80. Ten Bears,

    I agree about his honorable choice. For Arya, she had four great teachers: Clegane taught her “the way things are”, Syrio taught her technical skills and the idea that the only God is death…Jaqen taught her how to be a lethal assassin and how to take many many punches and get back up! (which is the only way I could believe she survived the Waif), and her Dad Ned taught her honor, which to Clegane isn’t a strength, but it stopped her from just killing anyone when she was at the house of B&W, and it is one of the main reasons I can root for her

  81. Enharmony1625,

    I remember the book readers here looking forward to seeing LS at one point and I was on board because of how great it would be if Catelyn were to find out the truth and atone for her behaviour towards Jon by being the one to give him the kiss of life after his death. Wait, am I remembering that wrong? DID LS have that ability? For some reason I had in mind that could happen.

  82. I wonder; Did this exchange

    Assuming Syrio had the abilities of the Faceless Men, this could’ve been so. However, when she brought her theory to Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss, they told her simply:

    No, he is dead.

    take place before, or after weiss and benioff met with grrm to discuss his storyboard?

  83. ygritte,

    Catelyn was given the kiss of life by Beric Dondarrion in the books, thus raising her as Lady Stoneheart. There is no indication that she has that ability, so I’m pretty certain that Mel will be responsible for resurrecting Jon in the books just as she did in the show. Instead, there is a popular theory that LSH will play some part in crowning Jon King in the North.

  84. all the “Syrio=Jaqen=/FM test/prepare Arya”-theories have one weak point if i remember it right: it was Ned who booked Arya’s dancing teacher. and i don’t give him any “it’s time to prepare my younger daughter for her historic role to come”-intentions. (also see: Jon Snow wants to know about his mom.)
    This would leave Ned’s booking being accidental, which would make Arya’s development like being thrown at the storyline from somewhere in the bushes.

    for me, Syrio and Jaqen have said goodbye to the story. and they are not needed anymore, as all of their qualities are concentrated in their disciple ASNAW(Q).

    my bit of SNAWQ oil so far.
    ( tired of “tinfoil”, i prefer leaving that to people who are scared of clouds 😉 )

  85. Besides, what’s the purpose of bringing him back now?

    Well, one idea says,

    Arya at some point goes off the tracks, maybe gets immersed in her killing spree, and syrio needs to return like a ghost from her past who brings her back to solid ground once more.

    Syrio’s face would also be another great face with an “Oh, sh*t!” expression on it when he sees what his former pupil has become, just as Jon may have one when he sees what she can now do with Needle.

    And, Syrio’s return wouldn’t diminish his heroism in covering her escape, nor the importance of the Hound’s lesson to Arya. As also noted above, a single, unarmored man’s taking out of several trained, armed and armored men in close quarters with a wooden sword is already a near-legendary feat. Area’s memory of Syrio would have immense force whether he lived to tell the tale or not.

  86. I do agree that Syrio is most likely dead in the books and show.

    But if we do indeed see a return of the faceless men in S8 as has been hinted at, then it’s entirely possible we may see a montage of faces, similar to the finale of season 5… including Jaqen, the Waif and (possibly- and on the assumption he MAY be a FM) Syrio- more as an Easter egg/ WTF moment.

    There are still a number of loose ends that we don’t yet know of the faceless men (and possibly, Syrio):

    1. Why was Braavos’ first swordsman conveniently in KL so that he could be hired by Ned so quickly?

    2. Who put Ned in touch with Syrio?

    3. What was Jaqen doing in the black cells- or who put him there (who had access to the cells)?

    4. Where did Jaqen v2 go at the end of S2?

    5. Where is he now?

    My theory is there’s a way of connecting dots to some of these questions: Someone who has friends in the free cites and who has very mysterious and yet unexplained history/motivations..Varys.

    Recall also that in the books the GOHHs vision of a faceless man being involved in Balon Greyjoys death. So I’m also wondering if show Euron is somehow wrapped up in the Faceless men storyline in some way.

  87. cos alpha:
    What does SNAWQ mean?

    You can thank talvikorppi for coining the term “Arya Super Ninja Assassin Warrior Princess”, abbreviated to ASNAWP. More recently, wishful thinking Arya fangirl and fanboys have begun using the term “Arya Super Ninja Assassin Warrior Queen”, i.e., ASNAWQ.

    Admittedly, talvikorppi was saying she didn’t want S8 to devolve into “Arya Super Ninja Assassin Warrior Princess Fantasies.” Unapologetic Arya partisans like yours truly who would love that to happen picked up on the name and ran with it. 👸🏻

  88. Ten Bears,

    Pigeon:

    Easy – he allowed and/or manipulated a situation to be put there. Not just that it was a way out of the black cells, but something more than that. What would have happened had he made it to the Wall? Or did he never intend that…

    He could have been testing her. He may have read her or watched her for some time, and knew that she would do it. Or, it’s possible that Faceless Man or no, he done fucked up and did find himself in a bit of a pickle.

    At the same time, I wonder if this was really the defining moment of his decision to recruit her, in his mind. She WON that moment. She outsmarted him. He did what she asked, and I think that not only did he have to, but he realized just how clever she truly was, and that sealed it.

    Ten Bears and Pigeon, what a fascinating exchange. Sadly, we’ll probably never have the definitive answer on the show, but perhaps in the books. In any case, he almost surely was in KL for a reason. My theory is that “a very wealthy man” (probably Littlefinger) wanted Ned dead. and hired a FM to kill him. But Ned was arrested and supposed to go with Yoren, so Jaqen got himself arrested to go with Yoren. When Joffrey did the honours of killing Ned he stole the death from the MFGod. Lo and behold, mini-Ned is going with Yoren too! So he was watching her, even admiring her…perhaps as a target. Then she saved his life. Surely, that doesn’t normally happen to FM, so he owed her. And in Harrenhal she outwitted him. Plus she knew a bit of swordplay and was good at pretending. You are so right: she did win the moment. And probably earned a scholarship to the HoB&W and a personalised course of instruction from JH. It certainly seemed tailored to her personal history, strengths, weaknesses, and goals.

  89. Pigeon,

    They did, however, absolutely NAIL the Needle scene, I HEARD the narrative words in my head, Maisie has the true gift of speaking with a look and without words, much like Iain Glen. It was one of only 3 times I have teared up during the show…”
    —————–
    Though I haven’t read the books yet, I have read the “Needle was Jon Snow’s smile” passage, and yes, Maisie Williams brilliantly and wordlessly translated that internal monologue to the screen.

  90. Stark RAven’ Rad,

    If you asked a hundred random fans, I’d bet they’d come up with hundreds of lingering questions for which we’ll never get definitive answers on the show. Which I guess is okay. It’s impossible to satisfy everyone, and different segments of the fandom are more invested in certain characters and story lines than others.

    Maybe sometimes it’s better to leave a thread hanging than yank it off abruptly. I’m looking at you, Uncle Benjen.

  91. Uncle Benjen is an interesting one. I am left wondering can he actually become a white walker at all? He has intimated that he is already dead. Is he suggesting that he is already actually dead (in which case the NK might struggle to turn him if something else is already keeping him animated), or, is he merely suggesting that his affliction is a death sentence (to which one could argue, ‘so is the night watch’) and, this would mean that we can expect to see him in season 8 with blue eyes.

  92. Pigeon,

    Stark RAven’ Rad,

    ———
    Yes, Arya WON that moment. She outsmarted Jaqen all right. To put it all in context, I’m going to reproduce the dialogue from that scene in S2e8, “The Prince of Winterfell”, which I’ve renamed “A Man Can Go Kill Himself”;

    Arya: “Where were you?”
    Jaqen: “A man has patrol duty.”
    Arya: “Tywin Lannister was right here, and now he’s gone.”
    Jaqen: “A girl owes one more name. The Red God demands it. Give a man a name.”
    Arya: “How long after I give you the name does it take you to kill someone?”
    Jaqen: “A minute, an hour, a month. Death is certain, the time is not.”
    Arya: “He’s taking his army to attack my brother. I need him dead right now!”
    Jaqen: “This a man cannot do.”
    Arya: “You promised you’d help me.”
    Jaqen: “Help was not promised, lovely girl. Only death. There must be others. Give a name, any name.”
    Arya: “And you’ll kill them? Anybody?”
    Jaqen: “By the Seven New Gods and the Old Gods beyond counting, I swear it.”
    Arya: “All right. Jaqen H’ghar.”
    Jaqen: “A girl gives a man his own name?”
    Arya: “That’s right.”
    Jaqen: “Gods are not mocked. This is no joking thing.”
    Arya: “I’m not joking. A man can go kill himself.”
    Jaqen: “Un-name me.”
    Arya: “No.”
    Jaqen: “Please?”
    Arya: “I’ll un-name you…”
    Jaqen: “Thank you.”
    Arya: “…If you help me and my friends escape.”
    Jaqen: “This would require more than one life. This is not part of our bargain.”
    Arya: “Fine. Jaqen H’ghar.”
    Jaqen: “A girl lacks honor.”
    (Arya does her patented shrug)
    Jaqen: “If I do this thing, a girl must obey.”
    Arya: “A girl will obey.”
    Jaqen: “A girl and her friends will walk through the gate at midnight.”

  93. You guys have been having a pretty interesting conversation about Jaqen’s/ The FM’s true motives for him being in KL, and more importantly the black cells.

    Let me just add something that should be thrown in the conversation:

    While this doesn’t explain how Jaqen got captured and thrown into the black cells, it is important to note that in the books, after Jaqen parts ways with Arya, we next see him (in book 3?) at the Citadel. It is my understanding that this was his importance for being in Westeros as opposed to Braavos, because he has to figure out something that is locked away in the Citadel. He has this conversation with an acolyte (Pate?) and persuades him to steal a key for him, a key that can be used to unlock every door in the Citadel.

    There are many theories on what exactly he needs in the Citadel, some linked with the Citadel’s conspiracy theory (of them really being behind the extinction of dragons, and being the reason they haven’t returned in centuries). He definitely needs something in the Citadel, and it seems to me that this is the reason he is in Westeros to begin with.

    Again, it doesn’t explain how he got captured, and I’d assume it is pretty tough for a FM to get captured in the first place, so I don’t really have any clues on that. Maybe he did have multiple “missions” while he was in Westeros. But just thought I’d point out what he did afterwards, because I do think it is key to his motivations in the books, and I believe that would be the only way we ever figure out his motivations at all. I don’t think the show will ever explain this, as I consider it one of those loose ends that GRRM had a plan for, but it wasn’t important enough (and possibly to confusing) for the show, but D&D still needed the Jaqen character for Arya’s development, so they needed to throw him in the black cells to be in the same position as the books.

  94. There is only one way that jaqen would be found in those cells or any cells. And that is, he intentionally got caught because it served his purpose of getting into the cells the easiest way. Of course when he wants out he will organize that himself, and no guard will be able to do anything about it. But to get in in the first place, the easiest way is to let them take you there.
    Why he would want to be in the cells, anyone could speculate. But, he does not go there unless he wants to.
    Anyone who kills a dozen people to let arya and friends out at midnight, doesn’t need to be released by a jailer.

Comments are closed.