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On our next episode, a podcast will work through more of “No One” — now with the perspective of extra days and secondary viewings. Needless to say, there are things that must be discussed.
After the cut you’ll find three questions we’ve asked ourselves, and will be disputing as the show records. Two episodes remain, that’s all! Let’s get into this.
What do you believe?
1. The show’s Meereenese knot is, what it is. What will Daenerys do in Essos before sailing for Westeros? Will the Greyjoys have time to land in Meereen? Given her reunion with Drogon and her burning of the Dothraki Khals, will these events impact how she fights against the slavers? How?
2. Which Jaime is the current, actually real Jaime? Did he lie to Edmure and us all?
3. Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How?
That’s it. Let us know what and why in the comments below! Make sure to listen for your thoughts, theories, and input once this episode is released.
Hold the door!
Hodor
Hodor!!
Deaths in the battle are most likely Rickon 🙁 , Ramsay, and maybe Tormund
So how large of a force do the Knights of the Vale have? If they show up is it enough to turn the tide?
1. Greyjoy fleet shows up and with the help of the dragons sink the slavers ships and dany decides to leave for westeros.
2. Fake Jaime and he lied to Edmure about willing to do everything.
3. Jon,Sansa,melisndre, and Ramsay live. Davos and tormund die.
1 – I am betting the Ironborn help take down the masters and their combined fleets is what will take Dany to Westeros.
2 – So torn about Jamie. I honestly can’t tell which is real. I’m leaning towards the pro-Cercei side being his default mode and his pro-Brienne side being something separate from that that he is unsure of how it fits within himself.
3 – Wun Wun.
$100 says Wun Wun dies (last of the giants poignancy yadayada).
$50 says Ghost dies continuing the direwolf death trend).
$20 says Brienne gets back in time for the battle and Tormund saves her life at some point for that “maybe I should reconsider the funny man with the beard” thing.
RIP Rickon.
Yeah, I can see Rickon and Ramsay (I mean c’mon he should be meeting his maker by now) as the main deaths. I’d say Wun Wun too 🙁
It seems likely that there will be a lot of death happening on Stark side and that there’ll be a Deus ex machina moment.
If IMDB info is correct and that’s a big if, LF won’t be showing up will ep. 10, but that only stresses the situation if he is indeed leading said support army. If not the Knighs of the Vale will be marching in Winterfell regardless with Royce leading.
If the rule of on-screen deaths are the only form of death confirmation then the Blackfish is still alive and could ambush Jamie.
1. Dany is in full Fire & Blood mode, and air power usually trumps sea power.
2. Ser Jawline was bluffing, and counting on his reputation as a man without honor.
3. Jon/Sansa/LF-ex machina will win, but with heavy loses. Ramsay, Karstark, Umber (unless he frontin), Rickon, Tormund (sorry Bri),Wun Wun are all goners. If Davis or Lyanna die, I’m rioting though.
1. I trust the Iron fleet will help Dany beat the Masters without going ‘burn-them-all’ mode. That will help her gain trust on Yara (Asha) and her brother. I’m not sure how Varys would feel about that, though.
2. I was believing Jamie will always be the ‘I love Cersei’ guy, but his farewell to Brienne and Pod later that night was there to tell us he is still trying to be the better man he can be. However, I am not sure he LIED to Edmure. He did what he had to do. End the siege. And now there is still one thing he must do: Keep Sansa (and Arya) safe. And that does not mean only letting Brienne go.
3. Yeah, Wun Wun die (sad face); Not sure about Rickon, though. Assuming the Starks will, somehow, pull this thing off, Ramsay must go too. Also his dogs (which I’m betting will be thrashed by Ghost and – who knows – Nymeria).
My other coin goes to Davos (he is fullfilling his mission – although I’d like to see him fighting some WW later on the show).
1. We won’t know until ep 10. That said I think drogon burns most of the fleet and Yara taking out the rest. Outside chance of Tyrion dragonrider.
2. I don’t understand this question. He’s bluffing exactly like the books of course. He used his reputation as a man without honor to end the seige peacefully. Nice extra twist of his promise to brienne to avoid attacking the castle as additional incentive.
3. I am assuming it’s just Jon and Ramsey ala the wall ep of s4. Hoping to be surprised to see anything else.
Jaime is the Valonqer right? Can’t wait
1. Have to bring the Ironborn in somehow; my guess is they help destroy the slavers fleet.
2. Jamie will now go back (after the Sept massacre in 10) to a completely broken Cersi .
3. Ramsay dies in 10 by his own hounds. Karstark, Littlejohn die. Wun Wun lives. Rickon dies. Davos probably dies. Tormund lives.
1) I think that a combination of the Greyjoy Fleet – led by Yara – and the dragons will defeat the Slaver Fleet and that this may seal some sort of – possibly temporary alliance – between the Ironborn and Daenerys. Her actions in Vaes Dothrak show that she is moving towards fully embracing the words of House Targaryen, and I think this would be emphasized by the burning of at least some of the ships + landing forces through the use of Drogon (and possibly the freed – but not seen since – Viserion and Rhaegal). I also hope that we will see a Tyrion/Theon reunion (particularly given that Theon knows LF brought Sansa to Winterfell and that knowledge may help Tyrion piece together part of the murder of Joffrey). In a way I think the Meereenese Knot is slightly simpler in the show vs the books.
2) Show! Jaime and Book! Jaime seem to be in different places post-Riverrun. The ambiguity of the timing of Cersei’s trial (on the first day of the Feast of the Mother rather than in X number of days) makes me wonder whether or not Jaime will return to King’s Landing before the trial. I think that Brienne’s Jaime and Cersei’s Jaime are, to a certain extent, different people. Brienne’s Jaime is more the Jaime that he idealistically perceived he would become when he said his knight’s vows and joined the Kingsguard, while Cersei’s Jaime is the mythical Kingslayer; a man who will do whatever she asks. He needs to decide whose Jaime he really is. And I think that is
closer to Brienne’s Jaime than Cersei’s. They both see different sides of Jaime – and I think that he wants so much to be Brienne’s Jaime, but Cersei and his continuing obsession with her is holding him back. He needs to find out what she has been up to!!!! And I still don’t think he even knows about her and Lancel – the one thing she confessed to!
3) I think that Sansa’s letter plus LF’s offer of the Vale army has pretty much set up a repeat of the Blackwater and the Battle for the Wall in which an unexpected incoming army (in this case the Vale) will have a definitive impact on the outcome. I see Jon outnumbered and losing – his confidence in his resurrected state already frail – being saved by the arrival of an army led by Yohn Royce. I think Jon will ultimately win, but it will be a closely run thing. As for who will die, I think Rickon is possibly as doomed as the Blackfish perceived Edmure as being. Jaime played the baby trebuchet card because he knew that he would be believed. Ramsay is in the same position, but is more willing – I think anyway – than Jaime to actually carry something like that out. I have been concerned about Davos since pre-season given the prominence of Liam Cunningham (following on from Richard Madden pre-season 3, Jack Gleeson pre-season 4 and Kit Harington pre-season 5……..see where I am going with this?!) and Jon went off on his recruitment drive with 3 advisers in Davos, Edd and Tormund. I don’t think he will end the season with all 3 of them still alive. I am also worried for my man Tormund, as well as both Wun Wun and Ghost given that the CGI budget for season 7 has to be focused on Daenerys’s dragons and the White Walkers. I have said I think that Jon will ultimately prevail – while I think Ramsay will die, I am not sure if it will be on the battlefield or in a post-battle execution in episode 10. I also think we have to lose some known names on Ramsay’s side, and the only two we have are Harald Karstark and Smalljon Umber. So I think one or both of them bites it. I remember after Watchers on the Wall, D&D said that Pyp and Grenn were killed off so that the audience would feel there were consequences for characters they knew. Likely this will be the same.
And on the matter of Owns…………….and my very FIRST one…………….has to go to the departed Blackfish, the only member of the Riverrun Garrison that had the intelligence to figure out they were being played by Jaime Lannister, and who – in spite of his refusal to obey Edmure’s order – clearly had family on his mind when he was able to figure out from reading her letter that Sansa is very much her mother’s daughter.
Why do people think Jaime was bluffing?
That’s the entire character, in my opinion. He tries to live an honorable life but he goes to extreme things for the ones he loves. After all, he is and always will be, a Lannister of Casterly Rock. He has his own morality, and whilst he does good things for good reasons, he just steps over some people in other cases to get what he wants.
Besides, we’ve seen this season’s character theme of returning to their roots almost literally everywhere. I almost can’t think up of a character who hasn’t done the turnabout yet.
Theyre all: ‘Wow, after all that ive been through through the seasons, it’s time I went back to how it was in season 1 again’
So is Jaime, I think.
1. I think Dany will be more ruthless with the slavers and the SotH. She’s come into power over the Dothraki, she has better control over Drogon, she’s fed up with people trying to control her. I think she going to wreck the he’ll out of them and when they try to retreat they’re going to find their escape blocked by the timely arrival of the Greyjoys.
2. I think Jamie’s lying to everyone, especially himself. He’s built so much of his life around himself and Cersei that he’s clinging to the belief that they still matter to one another. I think he’s in for a pretty rude awakening when he returns to what’s left of King’s Landing. (My phone keeps automatically offering the word valonqar as a suggestion every time I talk about Jamie and Cersei. Can’t imagine why.)
3. Ramsey will die. Only Ramsey. Okay, and Smalljon and Karstark. No one else. Jon wins, all the good guys live, Ghost eats Ramsey. That’s it. Rickon is betrothed to Lyanna Mormont. The End. *sticking fingers in ears* *humming* I can’t hear anything else. La la la…..
Alba Stark,
Blackfish is an idiot, no intelligent. If he’d left with brienne immediately he’d be alive and at the head of a host about to liberate winterfell and then fight the war of the millennium. But he cared more about a pile of rocks than his kin.
And of course unlike brienne he did not trust Jaime not to stab them in the back (and TBH I can’t blame him TOO much even if it’s annoying)
I cant guess who will die this episode but I can guess who will surely make it alive out of it.
The only three characters (around Winterfell) I’m quite sure will survive are Jon, Sansa and Ramsay (his likely death will be episode 10 imo).
Then, among all the others, anyone could die : Davos, Tormund, Wun Wun, Ghost, Melisandre, Rickon, Brienne, Pod (if those two make it back in time), Littlefinger, Karstark, Umber… hell even Lord Royce or Robyn could die this episode !
Even Nymeria could bite the dust there in a surprising twist for all I know !
2. Everything you see of Jaime is him. There’s no ‘Good Guy Jaime’ as many fans have expected, nor is there a ‘Bad Guy Jaime’. He is a man who for a long time chose to tell himself that the world is evil and the best he can do is love whom he loves, and enjoy himself. Not even death threatened him, because he didn’t care. He grew up in proud family, who didn’t realise that the world around him wasn’t a fairy tale. But after he killed the Mad King, instead of earning him a place amongst his heroes, such as Barristan, he was mocked and despised. It broke him that the world turned against him, and arrogant lords like Eddard look down on him for what he did. He turned away from the world, created his bubble in which only he and a handful of people existed. He looked at life as a passing adventure, that could end any day and it wouldn’t matter, and passion and love is the meaning of life. But after a year in captivity and a journey of Brienne, he saw what he ignored previously, the point of view of the commons, where survival is a daily struggle, where people in power can take what they want, he saw the corrupt and sickening athmosphere of the royal court, full of rotten people, and he witnessed a drop of goodness in the form of Brienne. His conscience turned against him, and all the repressed inner struggles surfaced, and he started re-evaluating his previous actions, all his selfish acts, all the things he did blinded by his arrogance and fear of acting responsibly, fear of not serving his own interests, which he previously thought was the way to happiness. But by questioning his own worldview, he started on a path of redemption. When he arrived in King’s Landing, maimed, he was stuck between two worlds: the life he knew before he was captured, where the royal people crush those under them, where Cersei and Tywin serve their own interests, where the proud family is above morals, sins, empathy, and the new world he experienced, a more humble, a less rotten, more human world, where happiness is gained through generous acts, where empathy with others isn’t a weakness. He also faced the empty pages in the White Book: he realised he wasted half his life, and he will leave this world unnoticed, only remembered for one misjudged act. Upon arriving at Riverrun, he found himself in a position he already knew: for the second time, he attempted to take Riverrun. But this time, he faced a dilemma of doing what two-handed Jaime would’ve done, which is storming the castle, crushing everyone in his way, because no one matters only the people in the bubble, or sparing the life of innocents and finding a more clever solution. He even risked losing Edmure, his only valuably hostage in his attempt at doing the right thing. And had Edmured set him up, Jaime would’ve stayed at Riverrun for a long time, away from Cersei. The fact that he risked this speaks volumes about his desperation for becoming a better man. Yes, he threatened Edmure, but Jaime was never a nice guy, and he never wanted to be. He doesn’t want to be nice. He wants to find inner peace, he wants to break away from his rotten self. He’s confused, but he wants to find his path, the path he was afraid to take before. He locked himself away from the world, but now he wants to know who he actually is, and he wants to lead a life he can be proud of. This is Jaime.
1.) I think the Greyjoy siblings show up behind the Slavers at the same time as the Slavers are landing and Dany’s “Khaleesisar” rides in. I think that’s how the Greyjoy siblings get their in with Dany and Co. PS- Micah’s Own about Varys was so good. Something crazy could happen out of that for sure in the future!
2.) I think Jaime saying the, “things I do for love” line all but directly tells us exactly where he’s at. When you tell someone you would launch their baby in a catapult at that person’s house, you are directly saying you are a messed up dude even if you’re lying.
3.) Hard to say. I just can’t see Jon and Co. winning being the Martin way of doing things. My scenario prediction is Jon’s Co. are losing but a group of them are able to escape. Littlefinger shows up routs Ramsay and they are obligated to him because they don’t have an army. Pyrrhic victory is all I can see with next episode.
My hope is that one of the larger houses plays turncoat and helps Jon and Co. and they win and rally the North. That’s just too clean a scenario though if I’m being a realist.
1. The show’s Meereenese knot is, what it is. What will Daenerys do in Essos before sailing for Westeros? Will the Greyjoys have time to land in Meereen? Given her reunion with Drogon and her burning of the Dothraki Khals, will these events impact how she fights against the slavers? How?
Dany will use the dragons to defeat the Masters. I think the Grejoys will show up with their ships to battle the Slaver’s fleet. I think she might leave Missandei and Grey Worm in charge of Meereen.
2. Which Jaime is the current, actually real Jaime? Did he lie to Edmure and us all?
I don’t know. I thought he was using the Kingslayer reputation to get Edmure to talk. The Brienne scene made me think that is the real Jaime. I am not sure because of him wanting to get back to Cersei so badly. I keep going back and forth on who Jaime is now.
We have seen him move forward as a person and maybe he is regressing now. The development has him moving forward but being pulled back by Cersei. It happens when he starts to make any progress. Unless, I am completely wrong and he hasn’t changed at all. The real Jaime is the one we saw talking to Edmure.
3. Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How?
SomebodyintheNorthkillRamsay2k16. Seriously, I will take anybody at this point.
Rickon will most likely die too. Jon will win when the Vale Army comes to aid them.
1) Dany and her dragons will take possession of that fleet that just sailed in to attack her.
2) The real Jamie is the guy who took out the mad king (partly) because he said he would “burn them all”. He will arrive back in King’s Landing just in time to realize his sister is a mad queen and he’ll have to take her out, too.
3) Ramsey will die, but as the battle unfolds we will simultaneously get the big Tower of Joy reveal, so it won’t actually be a battle of bastards after all.
1. I believe Dany, and the armies that she has built/dragons will obviously play a part in taking out the slavers. Also, I am assuming that Theon and Yara will take the situation as an opportunity to display their worth to Dany, and assist in taking out the slavers fleet. Still not sure what to expect in the fallout from all of these events, and what the state of Mereen will be once she leaves.
2. I think that Jaime is exactly who he is, and exactly who he will always be at this point. He is the definition of a morally gray character. He has many positive characteristics that us, as audience members (as well as Brienne), have come to learn over time. This is why Jaime cares so much about Brienne. She is someone who see’s past the things that everyone else judges him for. She can see a good man, even though he’s done questionable things (sleeping with his sister, pushing Bran out a window, yada yada). When it comes to people like Edmure, I believe that he only sees Jaime at the same surface level as everyone else. He’s a Lannister, a murderer, and hes a mad man who sleeps with his sister. I believe that Jaime was speaking truthfully when he was talking to Edmure, but he was doing it in a way that made him seem like the menacing/evil guy that Edmure sees on the surface. He was playing into the fact that Edmure sees him as this terrible person, so he said some terrible things in as vile as way as he could knowing that Edmure would believe them. Not saying that Jaime wasn’t being truthful, but I think he was playing up his malice because the situation benefited from it. Basically saying “If everyone is going to see me as this person, then I’m going to be that person in your eyes, and use it to benefit this situation.”
1. The show’s Meereenese knot is, what it is. What will Daenerys do in Essos before sailing for Westeros? Will the Greyjoys have time to land in Meereen? Given her reunion with Drogon and her burning of the Dothraki Khals, will these events impact how she fights against the slavers? How?
The question really should be is Dany going to sail to Westeros this time? This was something she’d been saying she’d do since S1 and we haven’t seen anything come from it. She hasn’t learned anything beyond “Your way isn’t the right way, khaleesi, and here’s all this historical proof as to why,” but her response is “how bout i do anyway” (like from the History of Japan video).
In her defense, we haven’t exactly seen any indication that she suffers the same madness as her family did. Perhaps she is, but it’s too subtle to pick up on for maybe a dramatic twist; however, the TV show is very, very poor in showing subtlety. Everything tends to be straightforward and exactly what it is — unless they’ve run out of material and are bringing back every off-screen death.
Yes, I think the Greyjoys will have time to land in Meereen. However, I believe the show will pick Euron as the one who arrives over Yara and Theon, despite the head start, just so there is a more dramatic “oh shit it’s about to go down” reveal. (See: Littlefinger’s jetpack.)
She’s going to burn those slavers. There is legitimately no voice of reason left in her council, due to the inconsistent writing. Once presented as a brilliant strategist, the paper-thin plot that D&D has to work with with Meereen has royally screwed Tyrion as being anything more than a ruler more impotent than Dany. Barristan is dead on the show and honestly was the only one who could’ve set her completely right.
2. Which Jaime is the current, actually real Jaime? Did he lie to Edmure and us all?
I think that the show is trying to sell us on this new Jaime as being the real Jaime but, because Coster-Waldau’s performance as the new and independent Jaime circa S3 was heart-wrenching perfection, it’s falling completely flat. What growth he received from his time with Brienne has receded even further than where he was in S1. He’s a broken man in a broken relationship, but he’s deluded himself into thinking he’s doing what’s right.
Perhaps it is all a set-up, but because of the terrible Dorne plot and the time he was able to spend with Cersei, it has left Jaime as one of the weakest characters currently in the show.
3. Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How?
Optimistic: The Stark forces will win because Littlefinger will swoop in with the Knights of the Vale.
Pessimistic: Littlefinger will bring the Vale forces to the battle and hand them over to Ramsay. The Stark forces will be wiped out, except for Jon, Sansa, and Davos, and they’ll be sent on the run back to Castle Black or even further South. Littlefinger will jetpack back to the Eyrie before Ramsay can murder him in betrayal.
Anything CGI will die (pray for Ghost and Wun Wun). Dim Dalba will die, Tormund may die. Heartbreaking “oh shit” death will probably be Davos, but he’s such an integral player to the game that I doubt it will happen.
Arkash,
Royce and Robin have to die – Littlefinger cannot allow them to talk to Sansa as they would then know he lied. I would not put it past LF to arrange an ‘accident’ on the battlefield
1. Yara and Theon arrive in Mereen and are puzzled by the sight of burning ships in the harbor. A shadow passes overhead before a horrible shriek announces the arrival of Drogon, who torches the entire fleet. Everybody dies.
2. Neither Jaime is real. It is actually Jaqen H’ghar, come to seek vengeance on the Lannisters for locking him up in Season 2. After a long monologue, he quietly murders the entire Lannister army. Everybody dies.
3. After Sansa reveals that her true parents are Brienne and Tormund, she gives a rousing speech declaring herself “twice over, a bastard”. In an epic battle, both sides attack each other until only Jon and Ramsay remain standing. Jon kills Ramsay, but only after Ramsay has scratched Jon with a sword tipped with poison.
Northop,
This indeed. Also, I like to think he’s that way because he’s a Lannister, and no one can change that. He has always been from the family that has it best, and takes what it cans because it can. Family of Tywin and Cersei. He maybe a good guy in some ways, his destiny is as a Lannister of Casterly Rock.
Battle of the Bastards prediction-
Jon and co put up good fight but are overwhelmed. The way they charge into battle makes me think it involves some kind of emotional moment (think “for Frodo” from LOTR). The way the wildings were being driven back in the teaser makes me 99% certain of near defeat.
Its interesting to note that Jon actually foretold this to Ygritte. He told her Wildings can’t win due to lack of armor and other proper war equipment. Now it’s happening.
I’m 100% Knights of the Vale show up (sorry for another LOTR reference but think Rohirrim charge at Pelennor Fields). Them showing the Sansa letter scene confirms it for me. They save the day and Jon kills Ramsey. Some predicted hes taken prisoner but I say dead at Jon’s hands.
I don’t think anyone turns on the Bolton’s. Umber and Karstark sticking with Ramsey.
Predictions on deaths: Ramsey and Wun Wun. Too bad about Wun Wun dying he was an effective Wight killer. I say Rickon survives. Jon lives. I don’t think they’d go through all that trouble of bringing him back just to kill him off again. He becomes either King in the North
How would Sweet Robin know anything? Kids so credulous it’s unlikely LF told him anything sensitive.
Sunday June 19. 2016 – Happy Father’s Day
1. Bran will finish witnessing the Tower of Joy scene – Jon Snow parents will be discovered and known by Bran Stark – Howard Reed will be seen in Season 6 episode 10.
2. Brienne of Tarth will come across The Hound and BWB during her travels back to Winterfell. I don’t think anyone will die in the encounter.
3. I wish, hope and doubt Jamie will march the Lannister army back to King’s Landing and destroy the High Sparrow and all of his militants. Jamie has the army – He would be a good King. Jamie has already sat on the Iron Throne. Robert Baratheon took the Iron Throne by force and Jamie Lannister should do the same thing.
4. Oh Yeah the Battle the Bastards…. yippee another war scene. oh boy “it’s gonna be so good to see all those people getting killed.”
D&D made season 6 for the American audience viewers.
5. I wish Season 6 had better dialog, better scenes, better direction. Season 6 needs more Varys, Littlefinger and better Tyrion scenes.
I already miss Jorah Mormont.
6. I hope Episode 10 reveals what the High Sparrow told Tommen and then what Tommen told Cersie right after they cut to a different scene leaving the audience guessing what was said. I’d also want to know who and what Olenna Tyell was writing when she was speaking her mind to Cersei.
Finally, a reasonable explanation for the whole Braavos plot.
1. The show’s Meereenese knot is, what it is. What will Daenerys do in Essos before sailing for Westeros? Will the Greyjoys have time to land in Meereen? Given her reunion with Drogon and her burning of the Dothraki Khals, will these events impact how she fights against the slavers? How?
I think Dany has to release Viserion and Rhaegal. She’s released practically everybody else, but she’s kept them under wraps and they represent the Conqueror side of her who’s capable of being brutal enough to win a war. That includes accepting there’ll be innocent casualties along the way. I still don’t think they’ll be enough to win the battle against the Slavers though. Yara and Theon are going to make a timely entrance and sea battles are what the Ironborn live for. They’ll seal the deal for her.
2. Which Jaime is the current, actually real Jaime? Did he lie to Edmure and us all?
I’m not sure Jaime knows himself. He’s sandwiched between his ‘Id’, his baser love and attraction for Cersei where he seeks out what he wants all the time, which we basically saw in his conversation with Edmure; and his ‘Superego’ which Brienne has always seemed to nurture in him, encouraging him to act with honour and mercy. I think he’s somewhere between the two, i.e. he’s someone who acts on the basis of what benefits him and Cersei, but aspires to be the man who’s worthy of Brienne’s respect, and dare I say it, love. He’s definitely not a man in stasis though. Jaime is still on a journey and, even now, I think if you peeled back the layers, he’d be closer to the man Brienne sees. I think coming events are only going to amplify that…
3. Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How?
My gut tells me that Rickon is a goner. He’s the only Stark who’s not necessary for the story to move forward, and I can imagine Ramsay will use him to horrific effect at some point during the battle. I’ll be gutted if Davos dies, but it’s possibility, as is Tormund not making it through to the end. The Bolton armies are bound to target Wun Wun as well. The Starks will win the Battle though. Sansa’s letter to Littlefinger is Chekhov’s gun in this instance, and he’s bound to turn up with the Vale’s armies to save the day at the eleventh hour. Ramsay needs to be taken prisoner however, so I doubt he’ll die in ep. 9.
1) I believe the Unsullied and possibly the Dothraki will defend Mereen by land; the Greyjoy fleet will defend the city by sea (“No one can beat the Ironborn on the sea”); and the dragons will dominate by air, thus destroying the slavers and the Sons of the Harpy. Dany will most likely leave some members of her group to rule Mereen in her place. This could be Greyworm, Messandi, and/or Daarhio. Final score: Dany 1, Slavers 0.
2) Jamie is and always will be blinded by his love of Cersei. From pushing Bran out the window to threatening Edmure, Jamie has always been ruled by his “the things we do for love” mentality. There is a softer side of Jamie. It is not a good versus bad situation, rather it is the man/knight/friend he could have been if he was not bound to his twin. He looks at Breianne and sees the person he could have been, if the Lannister “master plan” did not dictate his every move. I think there is one Jamie. He just knows what he needs to say to get things done to allow him to get back to his sister ASAP, which often comes off as good-side, bad-side.
3) I believe Jon and his crew will be victorious. I feel the Knights of the Vale will ride to his aid, as well as a few of the Northern houses turning on Ramsey (Umbers, Karstartks, etc). Also, don’t count out the Manderlys helping Jon. I expect to see Rickon, Tormond or Daveos (not both), Wun Wun, and Ghost to die. Ramsey will be killed after the battle.
1. Every last master that showed up for that battle is going to burn. She might burn the ones who already died of some other cause just for good measure, too. Dany’s kid gloves are off and these people are worse than the Khals were. All three dragons should be loose by now. Greyjoys should get there in time to see it. It’s interesting that Jorah won’t be there since the Mormonts and Greyjoys are pretty major historical enemies. I’m not sure if Tyrion will care.
2. Jaime was bluffing. He didn’t want that war. He hoped he could break Edmure with threats and he did. He might have actually launched his son but he wasn’t going to stay there for a real siege and take two years to kill every last Tully still living.
3. Starks win. The only question is how but they have to win. Rickon is a goner, and Ramsay and Smalljon are both marked for death, if not during the battle they may be locked up to await execution, but they aren’t going to keep long-term prisoners with the real war looming. Karstark might be able to save his house, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he dies, too. Wun Wun seems likely just from spoilers, but I really hope not, as the show seems to be implying he’s the last living giant and that’d be a damn shame for the race to go extinct (and if those were really the last of the Children at the cave, then that’s two races extinct in the span of a few weeks). Melisandre will walk the battlements and see the flayed men banners taken down. Her visions were basically accurate, just of a different battle than she thought. I’m sure they crown Jon, too, as I don’t think anyone there has any desire to pledge further fealty to Cersei and Tommen if the Boltons aren’t forcing them to. Interesting set up for future seasons to see if Daenerys will accept an independent north, if Lyanna will accept that Jorah is the rightful Lord of Bear Island, and if Jon will give him his sword back, if the northerners and Ironborn can learn to work with each other.
“yippee another war scene”
I’m actually glad we have a war scene. There hasnt been one in a year since the fantastic Hardhome
Then who will sit on the Iron Throne come the end of Season 8? Perish the thought.
1. I think that Dany’s going to want to be done with the slavers once and for all, but take their tasty looking ships. So, somehow, she’s going to use her resources to do that, with hopefully some help from Yara and Theon, who could arrive and prove themselves handy. Maybe Tyrion will redeem himself in the process. They need to use the dragons by air, but not to burn the ships. I’m imagining the Greyjoys arriving, seeing the situation and attacking the navy from the rear while the Dothraki and unsullied hold them from the front. Maybe Dany will then turn the ship slaves against them, too. Slavers are toast this time, because they’ve had all the chances Dany is going to give them. I hope Euron doesn’t arrive first though!
2. Which Jaime is the current, actually real Jaime? Did he lie to Edmure and us all?
Jaime is both. He would like to take the noble path, to re-write his story, but not if it means turning on his family. Only a complete separation from Cercei and Tommen (death or betrayal or both) will free him to choose a better path. I don’t believe he would have catapulted the baby, though. He did after all, agree to free the Tully troops to go with Brienne. It was the Blackfish who sunk that plan.
3. Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How?
Tough one. I don’t think Jon or Sansa will die, as their real story is just beginning. Hopefully Ramsey and Littlefinger. I suppose Rickon is likely and maybe Tormund, Davos or Wun Wun. But it will hurt like hell. I hope not. I hope Ghost isn’t even there, given the luck of the Direwolves lately. Jon will win. I really don’t know how he’s going to do it, there’s always the arrival of the Knights of the Vale if all else fails. Maybe the Umbers will pull a switcheroo. Maybe Jon will outsmart them, but it’s going to be tough. If Littlefinger saves the day, Jon and Sansa will pull off a win by being prepared with a plan for when he tries to betray them.
I wish us luck in the wars to come.
1. This is going to sound crazy and will likely be very untrue, but Tyrion’s speech about what he wants to do “after all of this is over” scared the crap out of me. Thems the words of someone about to be killed. I’m worried that Dany is going to be furious that Tyrion allowed this to happen. This was his chance to prove his ability to her, and he failed. So she’s going to execute him. In my mind, this leads to the other two dragons saving Tyrion at the last moment and it’s glorious and awesome. More likely if it went down like this, it would be the turn to the Dark Side that makes us realize Dany is no longer the hero in this tale (a.k.a. following in her dad’s footsteps). She’ll otherwise have little issue dispatching the slavers, conscripting the Greyjoys, and heading out to Westeros.
2. For me, the real Jaime is the one that was stripped down naked in the hot tub in season 3. And when push comes to shove and he realizes his sister/love of his life is about to do the same thing that he broke an oath to stop, he will ultimately make the right decision. He’s the valonqar we deserve.
3. It feels waaaaaaaay too conventional to just have John and Sansa win with a heroic last-minute save from the Knights of the Vale. That’s probably what will happen though, since this season has been much more fan service-y and conventional in a storytelling sense. But here are the people I think will die:
-Tormund
-Rickon
-Anyone within a 10 foot radius of Wun Wun
-Anyone within a 20 foot radius of Lady Lyanna Mormont
-Jon’s man-bun
-Many Karstarks
-A few Umbers
-One Bolton
-Ghost???????????????? :********(
1. Dany has a lot of weapons at her disposal. Three temperamental dragons will wreck havoc on the slavers. Yara and Theon will sail into the bay and eliminate the slavers’ fleet. She will leave Grey Worm, Missandei and some of the Unsullied behind in Meereen when she sails for Westeros. As for Daario, I’m not sure that he makes the trip with her. He may die in the Battle of Meereen or he may chose to stay behind in Essos. He really has no place with Dany in Westeros.
2. Jaime is a conflicted character; there isn’t a Good Jaime and a Bad Jaime. He sees himself as others see him whether that be Cersei, Ned, Brienne, Edmure, Tyrion, etc. Jaime is deliberate in his choices; he doesn’t act with haste and without an understanding of consequences. And he doesn’t often express remorse.
I always remember Tywin’s admonishment to him in S1: “be the man that you were meant to be.” And that is precisely Jaime’s problem: he isn’t sure who he was “meant” to be. I don’t think that Jaime will make that discovery until he commits the one act that will ultimately destroy him: killing Cersei.
3. “The Wolves Will Come Again” should be the name of Episode 9 because Jon, Sansa & Company will win the battle. Ramsay dies this season (finally)! But so does Rickon along with a ton of Wildlings including poor Wun Wun but NOT Tormund. Davos has to survive, mostly because I said so. Littlefinger arrives with the Vale army so Lord Royce will probably die. I am also hoping that LF meets a nasty end.
3) think Rickon survives. I can’t think of a big character whose arc has ended, so they will certainly die.
2) Jaime would hate doing it but he would totally do it.
1) Dany in full Fire and Blood mode so Slavers/SoH gonna be Drogon toast or Dothraki slaves. Greyjoy fleet will arrive and assist is taking Volantis fleet from masters so there are more ships to “offer” Dany..now whether is Euron or Yara/Theon I dont know..either one has possibilities. I am rooting for Yara/Theon but I can see story going with Dany and Euron pairing up and Yara/Theon ending up on TeamSnow,( maybe with Tyrion in tow)
2)Jamie is..Jamie. I think he did mean EVERY word of what he said to Edmure but he also fully intended to honor his promise to Brienne
3) Rickon is going to die..the show is making it obvious that the North is NOT gonna rally around Sansa and Jon is gonna be the leader..for that to happen Rickon cant be there
Wun Wun will most likely die as we cant let the good guys have dragons AND giant can we? (plus..budget) Ghost MAY survive battle since the dont show him much but not betting on it (also..budget)
Karstark and Umber will be “known” deaths on Ramsay side. I actually do not want Ramsay dying in battle, its too good for him. He will be captured, but his death is slow and painful as possible AFTER the battle.
TeamSnow will win of course, but it will brutal and ugly and there will be a moment when Littlefinger brings the Vale army that we wont know what he is going to do
I think Cersei will light some wildfire but not all of it, My guess it that Cersei will torch the King’s Hand quarters killing Kevan….
Jamie will get there in time to find out that Cersie ordered the pyromancers to torch all of King’s Landing…
Jamie will proabably kill the pyromancers to make sure they don’t torch King Landing and go then after Cersie and finish the Mad Queen.
Who will die in the battle of the bastards?
The entire viewing audience… heads will explode all across the world.
No seriously, I think Rickon is done. Tormond cant die due to the fact that we dont have any other named wildlings and no one to lead them. Davos is safe I think just due partly to his popularity as a character, and partly because we wont have anyone else to give pep talks and be the voice of the people and the voice of reason. I think Jon and Sansa argue over the fate of Ramsay and he gets locked up and possibly tortured, possibly beheaded. Part of me wants to say Mellisandre will die but she does have that vision of walking the battlements of winterfell. Maybe Davos chucks her ass off the parapets to her death after they take the castle. Lets see who else? I think Littlefinger could possibly bite the big one on the order of Sansa. Wun Wun…. I really hope he doesnt die but I cant be sure. Ghost probably wont even make and appearance. Jons already dead to that leaves him out. Will we see the other wildling leader? Idk but if we do hes a goner. Karstark is totally done for, but somehow I feel like hes a snake in the grass and he retreats and cowers in his castle for an episode. Maybe we will see an epic fight between Tormond and Umber, which Umber gets the worst of. If Glover shows up I’m pretty sure hes dead, no matter what side hes on. Sweet Robin and Royce are in the clear for now I think. Yep, that about sums it up…
1. To be honest, I’m kind of done with the Dany storyline right now. I think their best bet is to do what the finally did with the Arya storyline this week. Keep it simple. Win the battle as quickly as possible. Use the Greyjoy ships (hopefully they will show up) along with any of the Slaver’s ships they can capture without burning them via dragon fire. Put Missendri and Grey Worm in charge. And get the hell out of dodge sailing west.
2. I’m really loving Jamie’s arc. I think this is the real him. He’s grown to become a mature and intelligent leader. He knows in war you sometimes have to make threats and take actions that are not so nice. He’s no saint, but he’s not a bad person. He has his father’s practicality but with a touch more empathy. I’m not too crazy that they sacrificed any logic from the Blackfish in that last scene not leaving with Brienne and Pod. But I guess they need to cull characters right about now.
3. This is a hard one. I’d say Wun Wun, Rickon, Ramsey, that 2nd in charge Wildling guy with the blond hair, and Karstark and/or Umber – the latter admittedly because in the fantasy ending in my head Jon and/or Sansa would then have a perfect holding (the Last Hearth) to give to the newly Minted Lord Tormund Giant’sbane and his wife the Lady Brienne as a reward for their great service. Oh and a longshot – Melissandre dies but not until after the battle is won and her vision of herself walking the battlements of Winterfell comes true … and then Davos throws her off said battlements.
House Stackhouse,
Sir JL
Actually, I was hoping a certain Will would be found somehow…still hopeful.
The North Remembers.
Dang. I swear I didn’t read your post before posting mine. But seems like we had some of the same thoughts. Great minds think alike and all that.
Everything will happen as simply and straightforward as one would expect.
1.Dany will take back the city.
Greyjoys and dothraki come to the rescue right at the last minute.
They sail to westeros — but his will happen in ep 10
2. Jamie will feast with the freys and leave for kings landing to get back to his sister.
3. Jon will win back winterfell as the Vale army rides in at the last minute and saves the day. Jon will kill Ramsey .
And now the more complex but certainly not gonna happen versions as the obvious is now the best theory
1. Dany saves the city with the dothraki, and her dragon. She is mad that Tyrion made the deal with the slavers and decides to burn him with her other dragons,,, she tells the dragons to burn Tyrion but the dragons refuse, Tyrion is their friend. Varys trip was to meet with the Greyjoys ,,, the Greyjoys show up and make a pact with dany to retake the 7 kingdoms, they all sail west. Tyrion riding a dragon.
2. Jamie made a deal with the Edmure to allow the Tully men to survive. The freys did not. The freys kill all the Tully prisoners. Jamie, who has honor issues already, is pissed and decides to red wedding the Freys . The lanister army destroys the freys and Bronn gets a better castle and new Frey wife. Jamie heads back to kings landing.
3. Jon sends Mel to the boltons to “parley”, but Ramsey doesn’t parley, not his style.
Mel is one of the people on the burning crosses,
Ramsey brings rickon to the battlefield tries to get Jon to surrender
Makes rickon walk to the middle between armies
Ramsey kills rickon by shooting him with an arrow.
Jon charges to him, the wildlings follow,
Bolton archers rain arrows, Bolton ground troops advance with spears, Calvary behind them.
Wun wun killed and is the hill behind the wildlings
Wildlings are trapped between the ground troops sheild wall and the hill created by the dead wun wun .
All looks lost,,,Davos is killed.
Vale army comes to the rescue led by Jon , but Sansa has to make a deal with little finger , marriage to robin
The boltons are crushed.
Ramsey flees to the castle.
Ep 10.– wall comes down after bran crosses it.
Fight at castle black, Ed is killed,
Winter comes very fast, cold winds and things start to freeze far south.
All of characters realize something has changed.
in winterfell Jon, Sansa littlefinger and Ramsey discuss the Bolton surrender and the threat from the north
Wun wun, becomes a whyte and crashes winterfell gates,,
Sansa kills wun wun with fire. Ramsey then knows he must join with jon to fight the white walkers,,,
But none of that will happen,,, see above…
This is what I want to happen… The Stark army on one side, the other side-Bolton, Karstark, Umber, and WHAAAAT? Manderly. The small Manderly contingent seems like it wont really tip the scales, until my main man Wyman (played by Brian Blessed) blows up the spot with the main force of house Manderly swooping in to rescue the Stark forces while the smaller portion of their forces fuck the boltons up from behind. The North Remembers Speach goes down, Wyman drops the mic, the Bolton forces are slayed, Littlefinger shows up too late and Sansa has him executed while taking over command of the Vale troops…. BOOM goes the dynamite
I think Queen Margaery will be furious that King Tommen took away the Trial by Combat option because that was the best way for Loras Tyrell to gain freedom. I think the final scene of season 6 will be Queen Margaery hanging from a noose. Season 6 has had numerous hangings and I think Queen Margaery will be the final one and when King Tommen finds Queen Margaery hanging … King Tommen commits suicide by jumping out a window.
1. Dany needs 1000 ships; Yara and Theon don’t have that many. The Greyjoys will help capture the slaver fleet and Daenerys will fry all the slavers, scaling up from her Vaes Dothrak adventures and embracing her Targaryen conquerer identity. Then she’ll sail to Westeros, leaving Missandei and maybe Grey Worm in charge of Meereen, and all of us relieved that the two former slaves have escaped Tyrion’s intent to turn them into fellow alcoholics.
2. Jaime is who he’s always been – a pragmatist in a world where honor rather than outcomes define who is considered good and who is considered bad. He’s a guy who gets to the right outcomes through societally-suspect means. Twice we’ve seen him behave ruthlessly with the greater objective of saving lives (killing Aerys, threatening Jr. Tully with death-by-catapult…) I’m hoping that they’re setting him up to apply the same reasoning to Cersei when she threatens Kings Landing with wildfire – maybe this is why the writers have emphasized his devotion to Cersei over the course of this season, while also reminding us, through Bran’s visions, how he’s willing to break all vows to save people.
I hated Jaime through most of the first two seasons and the early books, but I’m oddly attached to him now, so I hope he doesn’t die with Cersei. (I’m pretty convinced that she’s done this season.)
3. I don’t even want to speculate because I’m not willing to contemplate the deaths of all those northern characters I love but for whom I secretly fear (Davos, Tormund, Edd chief among them). Rickon isn’t going to make it out alive. Ramsay will die by episode 10, if the gods are good (please, please be good, gods!), although he may not die in the battle. By the end of the season, Winterfell has to be back in Stark hands, and it seems set up so that the Starks will win with the aid of the Vale army. But I’m sure that there will be gut-wrenching losses, this being GoT.
OT, but thank you for these great opportunities to speculate about directed questions.
Dolorous Methuselah,
heh heh the same thing happened to me on here the other day… but I think its totally likely since we see shireens death pyre. Davos aint havin dat sheeeeit
John,
40,000
Full Prediction For BOTB:
Episode will start with sansa and jon discussing their attack. Sansa will tell him she asked Littlefinger for help and Jon will be mad cause he does not trust LF cause of what he did to sansa, but she will explain she only did it for more men.
Mel will admit to Davos what she did to Shireen and he will go to the burning place to morn her
Jon will lead his army on the first attack were they will be badly outnumbered and Ramsay will easily win, and Wun Wun will die as long with much of Jon’s army
Just as Jon thinks hes lost, LF will show up with the full nights of the Vale which will even out the battle and put it slighly in Jon’s favour.
Jon will order his men not to attack for the moment and ask Mel to go with him to talk to Ramsay.
He will ask Ramsay for a single combat fight between them for winterfell to save thousends of lives. Ramsay will agree and just as he does, will take out his knife and cut jon’s throught
Mel will immideatly go to Jon’s body and say the reserection prayer, this time without all the other rituals (Naked, hair, fire) and much quicker as she now knows she can do it (as we saw Thoros do the sixth time he brought back Beric, he was able to do it very quickly).
Ramsay will see that Jon cannot be killed and that they have magic on their side and so see that he has lost the war
Jon will allow his to live and keep the dreadfort on condition that he surrenders winterfell, frees rickon and knells before his new leige lord.
Ramsay will have one of his men fetch Rickon but as he is knelling to him, Ramsay will stab rickon is the heart (Like Roose did to Robb) and will take some loyal Bolton guards and escape the castle through one of the passeges.
There will be a shot of Mel walking on the battlements of winterfell while the Flayed man Banner is lowered to the ground as she predicted in season 5.
The episode will end with Jon, Sansa, Davos, Tormund and LF looking over Rickons Body in the main hall in winterfell where Jon will decide to hunt down Ramsay and kill him for this. He will ask Davos and Tormund to jon him, a long with some men while Sansa will be left rulling Winterfell
1. The Ironborn will help Dany defeat the slavers and Dany will kill the Masters.
2. Who knows? Sad to see him apparently being completely under Cersei’s thumb again.
I wish he would grow balls, take the Lannister and Tully army and follow Brienne and help Sansa and Co. retake Winterfell.
3. Rickon and WunWun will die. If Brienne and Pod make it up north I fear they may be caught and end up on the burning crosses. If they don’t get caught I think Pod is a goner.
Please, let Davos live.
Northop,
Bravo, well said.
People are just bitter we don’t get Jaime dumping Cersei for adultery. We get something so much more.
Suitably Ironic,
A bloody end worthy of Shakespeare
1. What will Daenerys do in Essos before sailing for Westeros? Will the Greyjoys have time to land in Meereen? Given her reunion with Drogon and her burning of the Dothraki Khals, will these events impact how she fights against the slavers? How?
Yara and Theon will pay the iron price for the Yunkai ships already in Meereen, safely eliminating those who stayed on board without destroying any ships while Dany’s dragons and the incoming Dothraki eliminate the Yunkai soldiers who’ve disembarked. With Yara’s new ships, they magically have the thousand needed to get to Westeros.
BTW, why is the symbol for Yunkai (the Harpy) the same as the symbol for Meereen? That gets so confusing.
2. Which Jaime is the current, actually real Jaime? Did he lie to Edmure and us all?
As NCW says here in GoT’s official “Believable Threats” video:
And so the real Jaime is the one who spoke with Brienne, although the real Jaime did come through in his talk with Edmure when he described his love for Cersei – that part was genuine while the rest was bluff. Jaime’s disillusionment with Cersei will soon come to a startling halt, however, when she torches King’s Landing, but that’s for another episode.
3. Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How?
Please not Tormund! Please not Tormund!!!! Jon and Sansa are safe. I hope that Davos and Baby Bear are, as well. Any of these would be a devastating loss.
Rickon seems like a goner, but I hope that he gets to attack Ramsay first, preferably with Ramsay’s own hounds! Wun Wun might not be long for this world, either. I hope that Ramsay is a casualty.
I hope that Jon wins. I’m not sure how the story can progress without Jon taking back Winterfell. There must always be a Stark at Winterfell.
Everyone thinks LF will come in just like “Stannis! Stannis! Stannis!!!” to save the day, but I think we’ve done that before. It would be so nice to see something else – something new.
Re: 2
Can someone, please, please explain to me, how it would be “honorable” or “good” for Jaime to abandon his son/nephew/King and sister to likely manipulation, imprisonment and/or death in the capital? Because that seems to be literally the only thing people will accept for “redemption”. Not to mention Jaime hasn’t seen Cersei do a single “evil” thing since they reunited.
Like it or not Jaime has duties to his family and the throne. Brienne understands this and so should a viewer.
1. Dany, the Dothraki, and the Unsullied will repel the masters and seize their ships. Combined with the Greyjoy ships, Dany will decide she has a large enough fleet to sail home.
2. Jamie is torn. We saw two very opposite sides to him this episode, but I think his Lannister pride and obsession with Cersei ultimately won over…. for now. His wistful wave goodbye to Brienne gives me hope though that he’ll someday see right and come to his senses.
3. I predict Rickon and maybe Wun Wun will met their ends next week. Jon’s army will likely prevail over the Boltons though if reinforcements arrive in the form of Littlefinger and the Vale.
John,
Considering the pride that the Vale takes in it’s military and that the Knights & Army of the Vale have yet to engage in any battles in a very long war, I’m sure that they’ve been training & drilling men-at-arms & raising up Squires to Knights in preparation over the years of this war. I have to imagine that they’re fully intact, very well trained & very large in number 3-5k knights & 25-30k men-at-arms wouldn’t be out of the question in my mind. But what the hell do I know.
nano,
If it’s true that CreepyFinger won’t be heard from til ep 10, that may bolster that Sansa has upped her GAME and instead of sending the raven to LF, she sent it to BronzeYon.
1. If Dany is smart (or if someone smart like Tyrion advises her) she will realise she needs the slaver’s ships. So she lets then land, and then wipes them out. There is a scene in one of the trailers of the Dothraki charging at something. That will probably show up here.
2. There is no “real” Jamie (“there are no men like me, only me”). Jamie is conflicted. He does not know himself what is true and what is false.
3. The battle has been set up with a scenario where the Vale troops arrive at the last minute. This will probably happen, unless the writers are trolling everyone. Jon and Sansa will, probably, survive. Anyone else, on both sides, could well be doomed. Littlefinger is doomed if Lord Royce ever gets to talk to Sansa.
Jon corners Ramsey at Winterfell. Meera wheels Bran up in the wagon and Bran says they should push him out of the same tower he fell from. Then Uncle Peter rides up with Sweetrobin. Bran and Robin flip a gold dragon and Robin wins. They drag Ramsey’s ass back to the Vale and WHOOOOOOSHHHHH…out the moon door. Then Sansa tattles on Uncle Peter about the last moon door incident, and Petyr does a half gainer into the Vale. Then Jon, Sansa and Bronze Yohn Royce have a threesome in that cool Eyrie room. Oh yeah, Brienne shows up afterwards at Winterfell and flashes Tormund. Tormund then grabs her, throws her over his shoulder, and steals her off to Bear Island, smashing the Night’s King into the turf with a turkey leg on the way.
I will skip #1 and #3, but to address #2, I think we are seeing that Jamie has a fair amount of Tywin in him still.
my ideal out of the box scenario would be LF showing up and judging ramsey is winning saying finish them of the northmen. then jamie shows up with the lanisters AND the tully’s and crushes the vale army and ramsey.
I think it will be wise of Daenerys if she somehow stole the ships and killed the masters. With the slavers and ironborn fleet combined, she’ll finally be able to sail to westeros.
Jaime lied to Edmure and told him the truth. Why is it one or the other? It was a long conversation, pure manipulation on Jaime’s part. What made it so fabulous was that his lies, not caring if anyone in the castle died when Brienne was in there, were mixed with the truth, that he loves Cersei. That’s what made the final threat so powerful.
It’s a great bit for Jaime because he embraces his hated reputation and uses it for a good cause. Ultimately, Jaime did exactly what Brienne asked of him, to end the siege without bloodshed, and the exact opposite of what Cersei wanted, him to crush their enemies.
1. Probably, Dothraki, Second sons and Unsullied army and a DRAGON will be able to crush all slavers. If they only had 62 Mormonts, then it would be much easier, but everything comes so hard for Dany 😀 Maybe after she defeats Masters, she’ll take their ships? and it won’t be 1000 so she needs more and then Yara appears with the exact amount of ships that she’s lacking?
2. Everyone pointed out to Jaime that his word means nothing, because of who he is and what he’s done, and It matters to him. And after talking with Brienne and Edmure, you can see that he really might want to be a better man, but he also knows that as long as he’s ”Lannister”, as long as he loves Cersei, he won’t make it and right now he feels too responsible for his family to think about his personal honor. probably instead of long road of redemption, he might have a big turning point (Cersei doing something really bad).
3. Ramsey’s going down! It’s about time. I really believe that Jon will win. I’m so optimistic about it, that I’m
not paying attention that it’s never ends well and especially with Starks, but still! It would be so cool if Umbers betray Boltons just before the attack, as in Braveheart, when Irish and Scots are marching against each other on the battlefield, but then they stop and hug. Somehow I’m sure Jon and Davos, will survive, even Tormund. Not as sure about baby Rickon. Ramsey does not need him in any way, really, so why keep him alive? and with recent history, I’m so worried about Ghost.
Dolorous Methuselah,
Melissandre dies but not until after the battle is won and her vision of herself walking the battlements of Winterfell comes true … and then Davos throws her off said battlements.
Definitely possible. But I hope she survives. The fight against the WW is going to take all the strengh available. Enemies will have to become allies. Even those that have fought for Ramsay. It would be shortsighted for Davos to kill Mel if she can aid in the real war.
She could possibly aid Bran
Plus, Mel still has a meeting with Arya – I hope Mel’s prophecy is true and that they will meet again. Maybe she can find Gendry in her fires and after the great battle Arya and Gendry can sail west. Yes, I know this does not happen on GoT but this one can hope. 🙂
KevLS,
But is it the steel and cunning of Tywin tempered by a conscience?
1. Just please get out of Mereen. It’s where good characters go to die. Get in the game in Westeros!
2. The only thing I hope Jamie told Emure was true was the part about catapulting his baby into the castle. That was hilarious.
3. Any character who’s name begins with “R”. I hope Jon, Sansa, Davos, and Tormund, and Lady Mormont come out unscathed, but I fear they’re going to take at least one of them from us.
Ginevra,
BTW, why is the symbol for Yunkai (the Harpy) the same as the symbol for Meereen? That gets so confusing.
The Harpy is from Old Ghis of which Meereen, Yunkai and Astapor are bastardized remnants.
I had a thought on why Sansa was lying about the Vale army. Maybe it’s nothing personal against Jon but that she doesn’t agree with Jon’s stance on the wildlings. Maybe she doesn’t see the north ever accepting the wildlings and will use the vale army against them after the battle in attempt to gain further support from northern lords.
1. Protect Tyrion from your mother’s temper dragons, she looked ticked! Otherwise, seriously, what was the point of that one time in like episode 2 where he stopped drinking long enough to chat with you and set you free? That was really expensive and a pain in the ass to film. It has to mean something.
2. I had given up hope, but after that episode Jaime gets one more chance–then I give my heart completely to Tormund.
3. I feel like we’re getting a Vale swoop in and rescue-but I was wrong about Arya so nothing is certain. I’m hoping for Sansa’s reward to be MURDER-but I doubt we’ll get rid of him that easily.
In a shocking twist-maybe he’ll convince Robin to lead his army and in the confusion, Robin dies, swiftly followed by one of LF’s loyal men killing Royce, leaving LF completely in charge-especially if he “marries” Robin’s cousin Sansa. eww
So deaths:
Wun Wun? Awww-but yeah probably.
Rickon-I’m sorry but his Direwolf’s name was Shaggy dog (look it up), he’s had like 5 lines in the entire series, he was gone for 3 years and we haven’t seen him since he was taken hostage. (Maybe he’s just horribly injured…no I’m pretty sure he’s going to die)
A lot of nameless men fighting for the Stark side
Harald Karstark cause he’s a jerk and Smalljon Umber-he seemed cool but if he isn’t tricking Ramsay he’s an idiot and must be killed.
DO NOT say Tormund or Davos. Tormund is a beast and Davos survived an ocean burning with wildfire-clinging to a rock for days. The gods aren’t finished with the Onion Knight yet. Plus, no one else on Jon’s team can have a decent conversation or convince anyone to do anything-we need him to rally Westeros for King Jon against the WW. They both live.
Here is my question though. WHO IS BURNING outside of Winterfell? Didn’t someone mention one or two of them would be people we knew?
Not Osha, Not Stannis, Not Roose, Not Walda, Not Rickon, Not Davos because we saw him and Tormund fight in preview.
Who could it be?
I’m starting to worry about Edd.
P.S. I hate Ramsay.
1. Dany and her crew beat the slavers, but it’s far harder than it has to be because she’s trying to capture their ships rather than destroy them. The Greyjoys show up and tip the scales.
2. It’s the real Jaime. He doesn’t want it to come to that, but he doesn’t make threats he wouldn’t carry out. He explicitly said that earlier and pimp slapped an important ally to make the point. But he has learned some empathy, as we saw with his reaction to Blackfish’s death and Brienne’s escape. There are limits though — there’s no logical reason why he would flip and start fighting for Sansa.
3. The Battle is a close thing. Rickon, Wun Wun, and Karstark die. Ramsay challenges Jon to single combat, which Jon wins in epic style. Hurray, the good guys won.
Then Littlefinger shows up with the Knights of the Vale and demands Jon surrender Winterfell to him (he has previously stated that this is his plan), and Sansa to be his (or Robin’s) bride. Cliffhanger until next season.
1. Battle on land and sea. Dragons loosed on all. Greyjoys show up and capture more ships than are burnt.
2. Jaime is both. He is still a slave to Cersie booty, but would not have tossed Edmure’s baby. In fact, I’m almost convinced that Walder J. Frey might bite it at Lannister hands because he either refuses to grant Jaime’s offer to have Edmure’s wife/baby at Casterly Rock, or maybe even killed them. I don’t think there is enough time for a Frey wedding massacre by Arya, or anyone else. The Brotherhood isn’t large enough. Only the Lannister army (or Sansa/Jon/Vale in Episode 10 maybe?) could.
3. This could be anybody except Sansa and Jon. I don’t think Davos or Tormund gets it, but if they do, it will suck, since there is much more to be done by both. Ghost is not even around, as far as we know. If he dies, I am going to just lose my ever loving mind. Rickon is doomed. Ramsay could either get killed by Jon one on one, or wounded and taken prisoner for Sansa to get her revenge. We’ll see.
At this point, and after last episode, I’m done with theories and speculation really. There don’t appear to be any “twists”, as everything is just racing towards the finish. We learned that last week after over-thinking Arya, thinking Mountain kills bunches of Sparrows, etc.
Dany better let the Iron Born beat the Masters at sea. Pirates know how to take ships and keep them seaworthy. Dragons will just burn them. And she needs to leave a ruling force that will keep Meereen stable, or she did nothing but muck around in people’s lives and make herself no better than the people she wants to beat.
Jaimie is still the one we’ve seen grow. But he’ll never stop loving Cersei (which is different than “in love”). She is his twin and the mother of his children, that last past finally meaning something to him. His daughter embraced him and then died in his arms. He’s fighting for all the family he really has left (I don’t think the kids were ever that close to dear ol’ Unca Kevan). I liked how the show bent his acts at the siege from avoidance of his sister to a display of savviness and maturity, something worth writing in that book of great deeds.
By the old gods and the new, I hope Ramsay dies by direwolf. I fear Rickon is one of the flayed folks burning, but I hope not.
There will probably be a deus ex machina saving moment, but I wonder if it will be what everyone thinks (the Vale)
Confused. How would the Tower of Joy reveal mean that John is not a Bastard? Pretty sure he would be a bastard with a kick ass parentage, but a bastard nonetheless.
Suitably Ironic,
I love your theories. The last one sounds very Hamletish.
So what is Tyrion going to do now?
The slaver’s attack seems to have ruined his “trust me” vision. Dany is likely to be pissed with his 7 year slave compromise. Varys is gone. Most of Westeros wants him dead. The North mostly the same.
Options:
See if Dorne needs a new dwarf sand snake?
Maybe Bravos could use a new Faceless Man who loves wine and kills with bad jokes?
Seems to care about dragons. Maybe a start a dragon grooming business?
Great character, but this season living on the periphery of interest.
1. The show’s Meereenese knot is, what it is. What will Daenerys do in Essos before sailing for Westeros? Will the Greyjoys have time to land in Meereen? Given her reunion with Drogon and her burning of the Dothraki Khals, will these events impact how she fights against the slavers? How?
I do think Yara and Theon will aid in saving Meereen..and they will conspire with Dany to take back Westeros. I think Dany might just say to hell with Essos and the season ends with her planning to set sail for Westeros.
2. Which Jaime is the current, actually real Jaime? Did he lie to Edmure and us all?
I think he’s trying to be honorable as best he can. I also thinks he just wants to be near Cersei, and even Tommen, and not have any more crazy shit go down.
3. Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How?
I think the Vale knights will show up…but I think a northern house betraying Ramsay will be key when things don’t look so good for Jon. Probably one of Davos or Tormund will die because some good guy needs to die and I doubt it’s Jon. Rickon may die and Wun Wun might be in trouble. I doubt Ramsay will die mid-battle…it would have to be more drawn out after the fact with a hanging or maybe Sansa will shiv him.
Thank you! I was hoping there was a reason and that someone here would know.
1. The slaver army will land and start a siege of Mereen, but the Dothraki will rout them. Yara/Theon will show up to trap the fleet in Slaver’s bay with Varys by their side (He never said he was going to Westeros, only getting allies for Danny’s invasion and if he got the Volantis and heard about the siege …). The slaves manning the slave fleet will turn on their masters and pledge to Danny, and Danny will do bad things to the slaver prisoners. Danny will leave most Dothraki behind to obliterate the slaver cities and rule slaver’s bay under the rule of one of the Dothraki warriors and the older lady from the Dothraki temple. The last scene of Season 6 will be Danny and her combined fleet setting sail for Westeros and leaving Mereen behind.
2. Jamie absolutely meant the threat (“never make a threat you are not prepared to follow through on” or something like that form just one episode ago) because he is complicated. He would prefer to be honorable but has higher priorities. Those priorities (Cersei, his kids, House Lannister) always win out over honor if he has to make a choice.
3. I keep having this gut feeling that GOT will not end their 3rd major bottle episode battle the exact same way, but I can’t figure out the narrative going forward if Ramsey defeats John/Sansa. If battle of living v dead is climax of show, then White Walkers need to invade as the ultimate villains. Who would fans root for, Ramsey or Night King?
Two options: Ramsey kicks Stark but and several beloved or known characters die (Ghost, Wun Wun, Rickon maybe Tormund, maybe Davos), but the Vale turns up to save the day. All the deaths make it bittersweet. Then Sansa turns on Littlefinger by ratting him out to Lord Robyn and/or Royce for selling her to Ramsey and we get Littlefinger’s death in Ep 10. OR — Vale rides in and crushes Boltons but then turns on Starks to curry favor with King’s Landing.
Off the wall desire/semi prediction. What if Jamie’s deal with Edmure is more than just what we saw and Jamie (who has no reputation anyway goes all Red Wedding on the Frey’s at the celebration feast at the Twins? The Freys have proven they have neither the reputation, nor the respect, nor the competence to actually rule the entire Riverlands and they woudl conspire against the King at the drop of a hat. Edmure (especially if Jamie took his son back to Kings Landing) would have the Tully name and would stay in line.
2.
A dwarf walks into a bar with a honeycomb and a jackass and the madame turns to the whore and says “dont worry honey, a lannister always spays his pets”
Robin Arryn, Rickon and Ramsay? There’s an R-dude in Meereen, but I don’t think you meant him. And then literally every other character whose name begins with R is already dead. That doesn’t bode well for the Rs. RIP Robert, Robb, Roose, Ros, Rodrik, Rast, Renly, Rakharo, Rattleshirt, Rickard Karstark, and Ray.
I haven’t read all the comments so I apologize if this has be said, but there is no way that Jaime was bluffing Edmure. They go out of their way to show us the Frey’s bluff with Edmure and Jaime says that only fools make threats they can’t follow through with. I do believe he would have chucked that baby if provoked.
1. Danny will use the dragons to destroy the master’s fleet. She’ll be joined by the Greyjoys and sail to Westeros.
2. Fake Jaime, he just wanted to end the siege and get back to Cersei
3. Jon will win the battle probably with Arryn’s army help. Melisandre, Davos, Wun wun, Tormund and Rickon will die.
3. Gets a bit tricky
Basically Tormund, Wun Wun live, as Tormund is the visual medium face of the Wildlings, it was either him or Mance and they chose to off Mance
Truth be told I was surprised they actually had Wun Wun at all, given the CGI costs but the complexities of having actors pretend he’s there. This for mine means he plays a vital role in the end-game in conjunction with Bran, eg he is the new Hodor basically…
Davos I’m worried about. Mel I think lives
I am wondering if Jon dies (again), this way he is given a funeral pyre and bam Shireen burning = Jon resurrection etc
Sansa lives, Rickon dies, they are basically talking about Sansa as lady of Winterfell in the RL as if Rickon is already dead, and with respect to Art he has basically been like original Tommen and Myrcella, eg glorified extras and like Osha his importance before related to being connected to Brans arc and like Osha as soon as he is disconnected…
2. Jaimie basically saw Edmure had same contempt as Ned, so he played on it
Think he will go more decisively in the book direction if we have Cersei burn down the Sept ala the Hands Tower
1. Basically chose BoB over Battle of SB, Dany’s Dragons burning ships at one end and Victarion (I meant Theon and Yara) fleet will start to smash them from behind so Masters seeing they are stuck will surrender. They’ll keep the ships not sunk for transport, kill a whole heap of big bad Masters and Yara/Theon will prove their worth and so more exiles jump on the Dany Bandwagon and Dany has the most potent fleet in the show to go with the Dothraki hordes and Professional Unsullied Army
Ginevra,
And Rorge!
I’ve been trying to figure out who will be on the 5 or 6 burning crosses. If I remember correctly, we’ve received info that there will be characters we have known for awhile, so Rickon and Osha seem likely candidates, maybe Roose. But what would be the point of having already dead characters who are likely in various stages of decomposing nailed to a cross that most will likely not even be able to see from that big of a distance? Perhaps Stannis, but he’s without a head and no word of Ramsay ever collecting his body. Are all of the crosses going to have name characters on them? Maybe Ramsay will somehow take captives off some of the Stark loyalist via kidnapping (call in the 20 good men) before the actual battle starts. Wun Wun is shown in the preview with at least 3 arrows in him so he’s most likely a goner. I think Smalljon and Lord Karstark will both perish during the fighting, but Im not so sure about Ramsay. I think he’ll retreat back to Winterfell once he sees LF’s army swoop in, or perhaps the Manderlys will arrive and help the Starks turn the tide at the eleventh hour? I’m certain we will see Meereen in this episode as well, it’s going to be a 60 minute episode minus the intro and “previously on”, so like a solid 55-56 minutes of show material. It certainly will be better than the last episode, so cheers to that.
My thoughts on No One (sorry but I had to make this):
http://i.imgur.com/Jxnv70D.jpg
Pretty sure Rickon is a goner, but beyond that all bets are off for me. Someone who knows about the Others needs to talk to Dany & convince her to haul ass to the north. I’m betting it will be Sam, perhaps after he crosses paths with Jorah & or Varys.
Greyjoys arrive and masters are attacked from all directions.
Ramsey won’t die, we want it tooooooooo much to get a happy ending (for us) with Ramsey. RIP Rickon, Melisandre and Little Finger, (who arrives, but joins Ramsey as his choice of victor of this battle) and Robin leaving no Arryn’s left and another dead house.
3) I think Rickon, Davos, Tormund, Ramsay and Arnulf are goners.
I think the army showing up unexpectedly will be the Manderlys. They will switch allegiance to the Starks – this will be the turning point. The Knights of the Vale arrive late.
1. What will Daenerys do in Essos before sailing for Westeros? …
She defeats the slavers thanks to the presence of dragons and the surprise appearance of the Greyjoy navy. Dragons can’t actually fight the navy, as they’d just set fire to ships Dany needs. I think people will see the dragons and get demoralized, or slaves on the ships will see the dragons and rebel. Dany will probably use dragon fire and the Dothraki against land forces.
2. Which Jaime is the current, actually real Jaime? Did he lie to Edmure and us all?
I think he was being honest. He knows Cersei is in danger, and will do anything to take Riverrun and return to King’s Landing. He had promised Cat that he would find and return Sansa safely to her. Sending Brienne north is a part of that, as is giving Blackfish the option of giving up Riverrun and going north to help Sansa.
3. Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How?
Jon, Davos, wildlings are outnumbered but attack anyway. Ramsay and his allies surround Jon’s men and start picking them off. Littlefinger and the Vale show up unexpectedly and destroy Ramsay’s army. I think Jon, Davos, Sansa, Littlefinger all survive. Ramsay dies along with Smalljon and probably Rickon.
I’m fond of the idea that one of the crosses could be Osha to provoke the Wildlings. Perhaps Stannis to show that Ramsay has already defeated foes before. Glover is a possibility as well – there was some foreshadowing: “I could be flayed for just talking to you” – and Ramsay knows he doesn’t really need the Glovers when he has the Umbers and the Karstarks. But other than that? Rickon, of course. I see no point in presenting Roose. It was part of Ramsays scheme to pretend Roose was poisened by their enemies. Why flay him? A small possibility could be Fat Walda. Not to provoke the Starks, but to inspire loyalty in the Bolton side: every Northern house has lost kin in the red wedding, so every Northerner should hate the Freys.
1. The Greyjoys capture the master’s ships. She sails for Westeros leaving Grey Worm and the Unsullied behind to rule.
2. Don’t care
3. Rickon, Davos, Wun-Win, an Umber or Karstark Lord. RAmsey letting Rickon live this long was a mistake. His death causes Manderlys to turn. Roose would have never let a male Stark heir leave that room alive. And Littlefinger saves the day (yuck)
1. Daenerys will defeat the Masters with help from the Greyjoys. Their ships and the Greyjoy fleet will carry the Dothraki and their horses to Westeros. She will install Lady Missandei as her representative ruler in Mereen, protected by the Unsullied. The religion of the Lord of Light will spread through the conquered cities. Daenerys will ride Drogon, Daario on Viserys, and Tyrion on Rhaegal to Westeros.
2. I’m sure he was being honest. Edmure is now a Lannister hostage, which is more than fine. The Riverrun captain looked at him with disgust. I don’t think he has much respect now from the Tully forces, more so now that the Blackfish died fighting for his home. That said, I would like to see Jamie watch as Drogon fry Cersie to the bone.
3. Death toll: Rickon, Wun Wun, a Karstark and an Umber, countless wildlings, I hope not Davos (the trailer has him standing by Shireen’s pyre. Cue burnt wooden horse), I hope not Ghost (I’d be pissed). Ramsay, I hope. The Vale saves the day. All 62 Mormonts survive. Jon wins at the cost of Rickon’s life. Melisandre walks along the battlements of Winterfell just as she saw in the flames a few seasons ago.
1. Daeny will probably unleash dragons on them, Dothraki too as we saw in one of the promos. Ironborn will help her too.
2. Jaime is still a puppet for Cersei.
3. Wun Wun. The last of the giants and he’s a big target for them.
Tormund. Willdings will be reduced to a few hundered men so probably means no need for face of the wildlings
Rickon, It wouldn’t be episode 9 without a Stark Death.
Smalljon and Harald Karstark. We need some casualties on the side of the villains.
Later on Ramsay. Not killed by sword but by hounds. There is a reason why Sansa and Littlefinger talked about what he did to her.
Make that a chorus of la la las. After allowing myself full tilt speculation parameters last week, I’m not venturing a peep about Winterfell, except this: they better not kill Jon. I’m scared, because just about everybody they’ve brought back so far has met their end. Except Sandor, thank goodness. I hope they didn’t bring Jon back just to whack him again.
But Essos, the one thing I do know is that Dany is going to be raging mad at Tyrion for even hinting that slavery could continue for any amount of time. She will fix it in no uncertain terms, with fire and water (the water being Yara’s ships.)
Yeah, Manderlys were mentioned. Ok, I take it back, I will make one peep about the battle: I think the Cerwyns will ride in, as well. Sansa specifically mentioned Cerwyns. Don’t know if she knew about Ramsay flaying Cerwyn’s parents to get him to pay taxes, but young Lord Cerwyn will certainly want revenge. Don’t know how many men that entails, but every man counts at this gig, for the morale of the others, if nothing else.
House Stackhouse,
With the way Jaime has been written the past seasons I highly doubt it.
Rickon dies( if the one with Ramsay is real one). Ramsay kept him alive only to lure Jon in to battle.
Davos may die and outlaws along with Hound may join Jon in next season to fight against White walkers.
Tourmound and giant will survive, This is just Jon’s war and they are helping him. Their actual war is with White walkers.
1. She will burn them all with dragonfire. They should change the words of House Targarien to “Burn them all” 🙂 Seriously though, the dragons can actually burn many ships before the ships can land. It seems like the only weapon against dragons that ships have would be archers (those catapults seem to be slow and don’t aim well). Greyjoys helping Dany seems very likely, but it would also be funny if they were too late to join the battle that Dany has just won.
2. Both Jaimies are real. The one that Brienne loves is the newer version, and I think that version will soon replace the old one.
3. The LF’s army will come, no doubt. But a rebellion inside Ramsay’s army is also a possibility (the North remembers + they might actually be too afraid of Ramsay to let him live). Seeing that characters are using their plot armor, nothing can happen with JS. Sansa – not so sure. Rickon though has no chances (he was probably on one of those burning crosses). The Red Woman can die too (she can’t do much without burning people and I don’t see how her current company would allow her to do that, even to Ramsay). The Onion Knight will probably get killed for the sake of drama, and I would be very careful in the coming battle if I were an albino direwolf.
1. The show’s Meereenese knot is, what it is. What will Daenerys do in Essos before sailing for Westeros? Will the Greyjoys have time to land in Meereen? Given her reunion with Drogon and her burning of the Dothraki Khals, will these events impact how she fights against the slavers? How?
She’ll burn and kill slavers and Harpies with her dragons and Dothraki. The Eagles of….er I mean Krakens of Pyke will capture the slaver ships.
2. Which Jaime is the current, actually real Jaime? Did he lie to Edmure and us all?
Who knows at this point what they’re doing with Jaime. They’ll probably have him keep his word to wrap up the Riverlands story. I’ll be surprised if we ever see Edmure again.
3. Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How?
Jon and the Eagles of….er I mean…. Falcons of Arryn will win.
“Jonragorn, look to my coming, at first light, on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East.”
Rickon, Wun Wun, Smalljon and Karstark will die. Jon and Sansa and Lyanna Mormont are 100% safe imo. Unsure about Davos, Mel, and Tormund.
1) She needs the ships, so can’t let the dragons burn them. She might burn a few, but then the Greyjoy sibs will sandwich them and take the ships. The Dothraki will appear and mess up the SotH real bad, foreshadowing they are impossible to control.
2) He’ll continue just how he is; conflicted, swinging a bit one way then another, but Cersei burning KL with the mad chant ‘burn them all’ will finish him off.
3) Jon and co will be being slaughtered – with Rickon, Ghost, Davos and Wun Wun dead when LF will ride in with the Vale Knights. Having won, he’ll produce the proclamation Cersei got Tommen to sign last season making him Warden of the North. He’s Lord of Winterfell, not Jon or Sansa. And he’s got the bigger army so not a thing they can do. He’ll offer to marry Sansa.
I’m actually a little afraid for Jon. That dialogue in the trailer, “I thought he would be the one to lead us through the long night” hasn’t happened yet.
1. I think the show will solve the Meereenese Knot just like the books, with a battle. Dany will destroy the Slavers after freeing the dragons on them, charging the ground forces with the Dothraki and the Greyjoys’ surprise attack of the Fleet. They’re going to add their ships to hers (the ones that don’t burn, that is). Then, Dany will be off to Westeros right away, leaving Missandei and Gray Worm with at least half of the Unsullied behind to rule the Slaver’s Bay. With the head of the snake cut off after the battle, MissanGray should have an easier time than Dany.
2. Jaime obviously lied to Edmure. It was sprinkled with some truth, obviously, but he would never catapult a baby. Not even before his treck with Brienne.
3. I think the battle will go like this:
-Davos finds out about Shireen but ends up dying before acting on it. Perhaps Mel kills him herself, and no one finds out. Mel still needs to meet Arya before this show is done.
-Ramsay will near slaughter Jon’s forces and Littlefinger will save the day- taking him another step up the ladder. Ramsay dies, Wun Wun dies, and perhaps Tormund as well.
-If the rest of this season is anything to go by, Rickon dies as well.
BTW with the last episode named as it is, I think the season might end in a montage of Winter arriving (snows all over Westeros). I expect one of the shots to be Arya arriving at Westeros and another to be Jaime staring at the Sept burning down (doubting Cersei for the first time). Other than that I think Jaime and Arya will miss out on the finale, there’s just too much to cover. The Hound as well, just part of the montage.
Miss Stark,
I think it’s from a cut scene, but it WOULD be hilarious if Jon dies for good
1 – D will not burn the ships because she needs them. Having the Greyjoy’s attack from Sea and her hoard attack from land will pretty much win her the day. All she needs then is for her dragons to destroy the Masters pyramid’s and even perhaps the Great Pyramid itself – mirroring Cersei’s expected burning of Kings Landing.
2. Jamie wasn’t Lying he was just playing Edmure. It was all in the set up with Jamie striking one of those Frey faces last ep. If I threaten I will make good on my threat – played out in front of Edmure. He made his point and in doing so did not have to kill anyone.
3. Who will die in TBOTB? It’s a surprise.
But if Davos dies I’ll be miffed. Jon needs a hand without fingers
John,
Who would be against an adrenaline pumping old fashion battle? A storm has been brewing and it’s time for the downpour. Ramsay and co need to get struck by lightening and I hope it’s in the form of Lightbringer. (well it could happen 🙂
3)
As I wrote on another thread, I think there will be a dramatic, crucial late intervention of turncoats or non-committal party as per Sir William Stanley at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Littlefinger’s Vale troops seem like a good bet but we could also see perhaps a new as yet unseen party take this role ( we may see them introduced earlier as a Chekhov’s Gun).
There is precedence for this in GRRM’s Westeros with “The Late Lord Frey” at The Battle of the Trident.
(3) Ramsay won’t fight Jon because he’s not a true Stark, says he’ll only fight a true Stark, Arya pops out and kills him
I wonder what they would do if halfway through the battle, the dead started rising up and fighting the boltons. That’d be a pretty good twist. The theory is someones gonna turn on ramsay….maybe its his own dead men
1) Is there really any contest here? Dany has a billion man land army, 3 dragons, and a fleet of Ironborn on the way. Where is the drama / tension?
2) Meh who knows, who cares? Jaime’s story line has gone off the rails a bit this season. I was really disappointed in the resolution to the siege of Riverrun.
3) Jon fights Ramsey and Ramsey has him an inch from dying before Super Sansa stabs Ramsey in the back and saves the day. I vomit.
what if those three riders on the hill overlooking the battle is the nk and his sidekicks
Right before Dany lets the Dragons loose on the slavers, she is probably going to say “burn them all”. 😀
Maybe the show could get around the need for casualties by having a couple of bad injuries.
Wun wun is too much fun to kill off before the war against the White Walkers.
Davos is Jon’s hand – it seems to early for him to go.
Tormund is really the character who represents the wildlings. Again it seems too early to cut him.
Best guess: Rickon, Ramsey, Smalljon, Karstark, Royce, the red haired wildling who was at Hardhome, loads of anonymous Stark loyalists.
Mary Sue Stormborn is becoming too expensive for the show. Doesn’t even say a thing.
And Tyrion ship should have sunk on it’s voyage to Volantis. he’s becoming the most boring character, edging closer and closer to Power-puff girls and Mary Sue Stormborn.
Also, Arya surviving THAT was beyond stupid. Utterly confirms that Dumb and Dumber doesn’t have proper info, only some flashpoints from the story. Because there is no way that is going to happen in books.
Hound, Thoros and Beric are awesome. As well as Jaime and Bronn (even better combination then Bronn with Tyrion).
Sansa has become utter biatch, she is edging closer and closer to Cersei every day. She is shitting all over King Stannis, the idiot girl, no wonder Jon can’t take her whining anymore. She is dumb as stump and real asshole.
Yara and Theon are set to die, as they are sailing on Victarion’s Titanic plot.
And Varys is going to Dorne now, lol. Now we only need to turn Gendry into Aegon and that will be a stretch.
This show has become TINFOIL fanfic comedy. At least give Hound some chickens!
LawofFury,
You’re in the wrong place, mate.
Westeros.org would be a lot more helpful for you.
Ser Not Appearing in this Series,
Maybe Glover has a change of heart and arrives late.
Wun Wun is gonna die…
We all know it
The show could also do a Hardhome and introduce us to a couple of characters we find interesting only to kill them off. I was amazed Edd survived Hardhome.
1. Dany and her 3 dragons, along with the Dothraki, will burn/ kill all the slavers and SotH. The Greyjoys will take care of the Volantene ships. And voila, Dany has two fleets of ships to carry her army, just when she has decided that she needs to get going on to Westeros.
2. What Jaime said to Edmure was calculated. He used his “shit for honor” reputation to end the siege without bloodshed, which was what he was banking on. But I don’t think he was entirely lying when he was talking to Edmure. Cersei is and has always been his priority and while he would do everything in his power to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, he wouldn’t balk from it if his plan had failed. Especially given Jaime’s words with the Freys “never make a threat you are not prepared to keep”. Brienne represents Jaime’s better instincts and Cersei his baser instincts. And Jaime has yet to make his final choice as to which way he will ultimately swing.
3. Jon and Co. being hilariously outnumbered, they will be on the verge of defeat till LF and the Vale army comes in at the end to save their asses. A la Tywin at the Blackwater and Stannis at CB.
Jon and Sansa are absolutely safe, Rickon is toast, I fear for Tormund, Davos, Wun Wun and maybe even Edd if he is on one of those burning crosses.
What I am interested in is how this whole Sansa hiding from Jon thing will work out. Will they be able to resolve this complication without either of them looking like morons?
Darjan,
I think its a red herring, we’ve been hearing all year about this but think aboout it, who could it really be? All the characters that are still alive are shown in the preview as being part of the fight, anyone that we thought it would have been has been dead for too long. On top of that whats the point of burning the bodies? Burning the body only serves the purpose of rendering the corpse unidentifiable. So in other words Ramsay could put anyone on the cross and set them on fire and claim it was who ever the hell he wanted it to be. Think Theon and the miller’s boys.
1. The show’s Meereenese knot is, what it is. What will Daenerys do in Essos before sailing for Westeros? Will the Greyjoys have time to land in Meereen? Given her reunion with Drogon and her burning of the Dothraki Khals, will these events impact how she fights against the slavers? How?
I haven’t the faintest idea how they will resolve this. The safe bet is: with fire.
Grey Worm’s plan to fight them at the pyramid actually has a benefit, it leaves the ships intact.
2. Which Jaime is the current, actually real Jaime? Did he lie to Edmure and us all?
Jaime was probably doing two things: he was making use of his reputation to impress a scared and weak man, and he was mixing a lot of truth into his statements. Would Jamie shrink from launching Edmure’s son into River Run? I wouldn’t bet on it, but I think his goal was to get the siege done as quickly and as peacefully as possible. He did that with great success.
3. Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How?
It’s hard not to think Jon/Sansa will win the battle for Winterfell. There are various elements that could come into play: are all of the Bolton’s allies reliable? We’ve had scenes that cast doubt on that. Has Sansa succeeded in getting outside help? We have reason to suspect she will. Will Jon kill Ramsey? That would be an interesting situation given his character development. It’ll be a defining moment either way. I suspect he would not, as the trailer seems to suggest he is reluctant to shed blood. Could we see Sansa commit her first murder? It seems very possible, even if she has Brienne do it on her behalf.
Ser Not Appearing in this Series,
the more I think about it the more I think we are going to see the manderlys turn the tide of battle and the vale army shows up late, just in time to prepare for the real war against the undead
+Wun Wun
1. The show’s Meereenese knot is, what it is. What will Daenerys do in Essos before sailing for Westeros? Will the Greyjoys have time to land in Meereen? Given her reunion with Drogon and her burning of the Dothraki Khals, will these events impact how she fights against the slavers? How?
I don’t think the Greyjoys will make it to Essos in time, but I’m hoping I’m wrong. I believe a surprise for the slavers from the rear would be great. I do think after her burning of the Khals that she will unleash her dragons on those ships. The unsullied will fight by land I do think the slavers will be destroyed. I think she will leave Grey Worm and Missande in charge when she sails for Westeros.
2. Which Jaime is the current, actually real Jaime? Did he lie to Edmure and us all?
I think both sides of Jaime are there, but he will constantly feel the draw of Cersei, whether it’s the pull/connection of being twins added to his incestuous love of her, I don’t know, but I do think Brienne has had an impact on him and he is torn between the two sides of himself. I do think the speech he gave to Edmure was him reaching into himself for the side of him that people expect and “works” for him. He tried to use commonsense and tried to be what Brienne sees in him, but people don’t trust him or his word so he reverted back to what works for him.
3. Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How?
Sadly, I believe we are going to see more than a few of our favorite characters gone. Rickon, I’m sure is a goner. Davos may not make it, Tormund I think may have a target on him. Bittersweet would be Bran discovering who Jon’s mother is and then Jon going down in the battle, but I don’t think this will happen. I believe alot of the Wildlings are going to be goners. Until LF arrives they will be outnumbered. I do think in the end that Ramsey will have to relinquish Winterfell, but I don’t think Jon is going to be the one the end him. I expect something anti-climatic like he is taken prisoner and Jon refuses to kill another person needlessly (his thought not mine). By the end I expect we will see many of our favs ended, although it was be nice if this was not the case.
1. The show’s Meereenese knot is, what it is. What will Daenerys do in Essos before sailing for Westeros? Will the Greyjoys have time to land in Meereen? Given her reunion with Drogon and her burning of the Dothraki Khals, will these events impact how she fights against the slavers? How?
I think she will use the dragons to torch the attacking fleet. Game over. I tend to think it will be that simple.
2. Which Jaime is the current, actually real Jaime? Did he lie to Edmure and us all?
No he didn’t lie, he just traded on his reputation and it paid off. He is very far from the Jaime of yesteryear imo.
3. Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How?
Jon will win in the end but pay a high price. It’s pretty obvious the Vale knights will come to the rescue but I think we will lose Rickon for sure. The show, having brought the character back have done nothing at all with him, so I don’t think he features in the end game and will get killed off by Ramsay.
We could lose Tormund or Davos but I’m hoping not as both have a role to play after the battle.
Ramsay needs to die!!!
https://watchersonthewall.com/game-of-thrones-casting-two-more-northern-noblemen-for-season-6/
Both Northern lords who have been cast get a short scene and speeches. If one is Lord Manderley (Fletcher) then maybe the other is the new Lord of House Karstark. The casting call stated he had been thrust into a position of power before he is ready. If the current Lord Karstark is killed in battle, his other brothers are already dead, a grandson could be the heir and not agree with how the Karstarks allied with the Boltons. Ramsay is a kinslayer and the Karstarks know what he did to Roose, Fat Walda and his baby brother.
Speeches after the battle from varying houses makes more sense at this point and surely they’d only be making speeches if the Starks have retaken Winterfell. Houses then bending the knee to the new King in the North?
the spiders great balls of fire,
Yes, I know it’s a bit here come the US Cavalry over the hill to save us in the nick of time cliche – but I think it has been / will be set up and not look too deus ex.
Secondly the fans have suffered enough! We need a “Hell yeah!” moment…
Thirdly, very seldom is there gain without pain so I do think that – the dish of triumph will be served bittersweet and Rickon is probably toast.
3) Who will die/who will win?
Dying: Ramsay, Smalljon Umber, Harald Karstark, Rickon Stark, Davos Seaworth, Dim Dalba, Wun Wun, John Royce
Off-topic: After last episode I have a question; how was it possible that in Episode 5×10 a faceless man took of a face of the Waif, (after a faceless men with Jaqen’s face poisens himself) when in episode 6×08 the Waif face gets removed for the first time (if the blood is an indication) ? Has anyone an explanation for this?
Trystane,
Jaquen must be an off-shoot of the many faced god, like a manifestation of him in physical form, so he alone would have the special power to cloak himself in anybody’s face that he wants, dead or alive? Fuck if I can figure it out. It’s weird that we never see anyone else in the house besides him, the waif and new recruit Arya.
1. I think Danys not gonna take an shit this time. She’s gonna unleash the other 2 dragons and the Greyjoys will arrive behind the slavers to attack. I can’t see the people of slavers bay living without slavery once Danys left. Don’t really think there’s an happy ending there?
2. I do think show Jamie meant it when he said he loved Cersai but I think the real Jamie was who we saw at the end waving to Brienne. He said what he had to say to get Riverrun knowing Edmure would believe him due to his reputation.
3. I want the “good guys” to beat Ramsay but this seems too easy and expected and that’s not what Game Of Thrones is about right? When do we get what we expect?
1) The Greyjoys will be killed by Drogo arriving at Mereen in ep. 10.
2) Jaime is who he is. He is a clever men with a good hart. But if is heart is on fire for Cersei, he will burn everyone on his way, just like to mad King and just like Cersei will do in ep. 10…. burn them all! And Brandon foresees it (Also about Jaime, remember him pushing Brandon down the tower in ep.1 se.1 – “The things you do for for love”.
3) No Bastards will survive. Sorry guys! We’ve had our red weeding, murdering an unborn child, burning Shireen alive (after burning many good men at Dragonstone). King Renly died of bloodmagic, Jeor Mormont stabbed in his back. Even Jon was killed (although he is the first good guy to survive).
GoT series and books is all about changing characters from being evil to good, good to evil. From strong believe to doubt (melisandre)and from born Fighters to sworn pacifists (Clegane – before they murdered ofcourse his faith and leader, Ray).
So let’s see, Ramsey must die (he w’ll not change for the good), all viewers believe in that. But will he? Yeah hell he will!
But who is there to kill him? And when?
So which character is changed from good to evil, or from sweet to hard in this case? Sansa is…
At this moment the Northern spirit is getting people together. Sansa/Jon, Davos and Melisandre, Wildlings and some small houses, Brienne and Pod. Will Littlefingers with the Vale and the Tully’s (of what is left of them) join the North…? Ofcourse in this plot-line Winterfell will be Stark again. Joining in Brandon and Meera from beyond the Wall with uncle Benjin. And Arya from Braavos. To must strength and good coming in. Too much!
So little Rickon will die, the rest joins together at Winterfell. Armies weakened, but then receiving message and visit of … ofcourse … Lord Varys. The story builds-up and good guys will die up in the end….
At the end, Littlefingers will kill Sansa!
Because the truth will stand in his way of the Iron Throne!
Ygritte,
But the one who poisoned himself also had a face of Arya. Or maybe that was just supposed to be an illusion… It’s all a bit complicated. In general I’m fine whit changes that are being made to the show. I still think that this season was outstanding, but when it comes to the storyline in Braavos I just get the feeling that there is missing something. A little more explanation about the Faceless men wouldn’t hurt. I still hope that an explanation of some sort will be provided later on in the show.
Sadly, nothing about the Faceless Men makes any sense in the show.
Maybe it was never Jaqen who drunk the poison, maybe it was Arya’s eyes that were perceiving it wrong. Would explain how she sees her own face on the dead person. That entire scene was perhaps supposed to depict Arya’s poisoned, failing eyesight.
Trystane,
Magic, there is no deeper meaning or explanation here.
3 Haven’t had a chance to read others’ comments so may be repeating what’s already been said, if so sorry for being dull! Have read reliable sounding spoilers but won’t mention their content here, the forums are the place for that discussion. This is all guess work. If you watch the trailers very closely you can see a lot of revealing stuff, but I probably wouldn’t know what I was looking at if I hadn’t read a lot about it already.
There are clearly huge numbers involved in the fighting so the death toll is presumably going to be very high, although mainly extras. Both sides would logically lose people we know otherwise there’s not so much emotional impact. I think practically anyone involved is at risk apart from Jon and I don’t expect to see Mel resurrecting anyone else, death in this will be final. Unless they turn him into Kenny from South Park who used to be killed in each episode? 😉
Don’t think we’d lose both Tormund and Wun Wun as we don’t really know any other Wildlings well. Lyanna Mormont is unlikely, but as a child actor (and character) if she is killed it would be more implied than graphic. I want Ramsay to lose, but also to see that he has and really have a chance for that to sink in before he dies horribly – both physical and mental suffering.
Finally, the chances of the WWs turning up I’d put at extremely-slim-to-none because the Wall would have been breached for them to do that and I expect that to be a major scene when it eventually comes (14ish episodes remaining seems too soon).
TLDR: Everyone but Jon at high risk of death. Expecting carnage but no WWs. CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!! 😀
Edit: oh yeah and Smalljon isn’t doing anything sneaky, he just hates Wildlings IMO.
I knew I was missing a baddie! That makes an even dozen.
Alien invasion here we come! 😀
Edit: Hang on I’m forgetting my own predictions here: giant killer penguins and flying zombie nazi sharks for the win. I knew they’d fit in somewhere!
My thoughts (unfortunately) are MEH. But I’m intelligent and honest enough to realise it might be me. Ppl online n irl seem far less offended than i. So I’m conducting deep self analysis to figure out if it’s me or the show, and whereabouts in between.
Usually watched the episode 3 times by now but not gonna probably. I’m gutted 🙁 and a grumpy poo. I hate the need to post when I feel like this. So I’ll try not to. It doesn’t help anyway.
Cannot wait for the on season oh my god
That would be awesome! And not the least bit awkward.
I don’t think we should expect anything very “new” really. There are only so many variations on a theme.
A “Combat of the Thirty” would be a bit of a surprise, although preview pics definitely suggest a mass pitched battle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_of_the_Thirty
In the books, all the seven kingdoms are supposed to have roughly (but not exactly) equal armies at the outset of the books. Given the losses the North has suffered, the Vale army would be able to beat the entire combined Northern force, let alone 60% of one fighting the other 40%. Of course, on TV, all bets are off. However, I suspect the Vale’s forces showing up will quickly end the battle, as did Stannis’s forces at the Wall and the Lannister/Tyrell forces at Blackwater.
duckandcover,
I really hope Davos survives. He is just so good at delivering lines and I just love him. Losing him would really dilute the acting talent in the North for the remainder of the show. I’d be alright with, but very sad if Tormund and Wun Wun were to die. I could see both of them going, but if they both die that pretty much writes off the wildlings for the rest of the series. They may or may not be involved in a future battle with the White Walkers, but there probably wouldn’t be any significant screen time to represent them if Tormund dies. Obviously characters will die, Tormund is a supporting character, but my heart will cry for what could have been between him and Brienne.
Trystane,
I feel like we must get some further explanation going forward so I’m not going to completely write off her time there just because the way it ended was inexplainable. I feel like there’s something we’re still missing that will end up being a little twist. Remember they used the hall of faces quite a bit in the promos. It’ even the “face” of the show for HBO OD. Sometimes I’ve had the feeling during this season that the writers are deliberately holding back, leaving some things open ended for the simple fact of professional courtesy towards George so he can get his book out first.
Chad Brick,
That and I think the initial battle between Jon and Ramsay will eat up a lot of CGI budget for the episode, maybe even the season. By the time the Vale arrives, it should be over in 5 minutes. I’m not entirely convinced this episode will be entirely based in the North and the fight centric. Depending on what they do in episode 10 they may not have the budget to do a 30 minute battle in episode 9.
Ginevra,
I was gonna say fewer direwolves = more other types of CGI but of course the GKPs and FZNSs are real so that doesn’t make any difference. Silly me. Land (+ in/under water if ness) and air attack, can’t go wrong! Personally I’m hoping a good 10 mins is just people’s faces when they see Wun Wun for the first time 😀
1. The show runners have already said they couldn’t do 6 seasons of Dany in Essos. The only hope she has of leaving is the Ironborn fleet taking the slavers ships and sailing her mighty army to Kings Landing. It basically solves all problems, eliminating the Masters (and thus the threat to the slave cities), re-creating the fleet needed to transport an army, and getting seasoned sailors capable of piloting a ship full of soldiers across the narrow sea.
It’s kind of a given. If there’s another solution, I don’t see it.
2. Jaime wasn’t bluffing. He was clearly disgusted when he called out the Freys for making a threat that they knew they couldn’t carry out. Unlike them, he knows what he’s doing.
3. I’m sure Rickon dies. Beyond that, I don’t see the point of speculating. Because this is GOT, I am not inclined to believe that this battle goes down the way everyone thinks it will.
Jamie has to prevent Cersei from unleashing wildfire and ‘burning them all’ as she goes all Mad Queen Mother, thereby fulfilling the valonqar prophecy and having a beautiful, horrific symmetry with Jamie’s more widely unknown role in the downfall of the Mad King. Not sure whether Jamie dies in the process…
I’m thinking Ep 10 could see the whole destruction of the wall thing going off in the north and and a massacre at Kings Landing as well.
I fear that both battles (Meereen and Winterfell) will follow the same basic arc
Hopeless
Some Hope
Hope Fails
Salvation
Meereen is already half-way through the arc, and given the poor disposition of Dany’s forces, I have a feeling that the first scene with her will establish that a bunch of infantry and cavalry isn’t that effective against a bombardment, and that her dragon(s?) is not enough and not something she can easily risk. A later scene (or the latter part of a long, single scene) will have the Greyjoys turn the tide.
I do hope the Northern battle can come up with a more original twist, as not ALL good-guys-win battles follow this flow. But most do, and it is pretty hard to avoid. It provides such easy and pseudo-satisfactory drama that few writers dare deviate from it.
1. Dany will hopefully have a release my dragons command and then the masters will be doomed with the Dothraki arriving by land and the Greyjoy fleet blocking their escape!
2. Jamie is doomed to return to KL where he will witness Cirsei’s trial and learn that she has been cheating on him…..He will dump her and haed back to Casterley rock.
3. There will be many deaths. Rickon, Wun Wun, Davos the most high profile but Jon will eventually win…sadly with the help of LF. LF will have the army to then declare Sansa Queen of the North ahead of Jon who will be forced to head back to the wall.
ygritte,
It’s true, the Hall of Faces is indeed used in a LOT of promo! I’ll keep my hopes high for some further explantion; if not this season, then perhaps in the next. I also don’t think we have seen the last of Jaqen just yet!
Trystane,
or maybe have Varys arrive there in episode 10 as their true leader….?.
Stavross,
LF’s arrival at Winterfell would not at all be a deus ex machina, as his arrival has been clearly and unambiguously set up already. If he arrived out of the blue to save the day, that would be a different story. But that’s not the case.
Redxgod,
That would be a cool twist! but I think he said that he went to Westeros…
I agree, it is not deux-ex. It is set up…perhaps too much set up, to the point where there is no doubt it will happen, which removes much of the tension. Additionally, I worry that it will have the same trope “last second” timing that GoT has repeatedly tapped already, both in battles big and small. I’d prefer something a little more off-beat, but I doubt we will get it. The “last second” style provides a lot of easy pseudo-drama, and thus writers love it.
Another cool twist will be for Bran to arrive and swing the battle to the Stark side.
1. I think Dany’s reawkening has made her more vengeful and ruthless than she ever has been before, the way we expected Jon to act post-resurrection. I expect her to unleash Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion on the Meereenese fleet, and to once again give a rousing speech about overcoming the masters, only this time she’ll say something to the effect of, I have once and for all burned the masters away forever, there is nothing here but the ghosts of the old world, come with me to create a new one. Yara, Theon, and Co. arrive. I think that’s the only scene outside of the Bastard Bowl for Episode 9.
2. Season 6 has been all about rebirths, and reawkenings of a sort. I believe last week, we saw it with Jamie and the simple, but chilling line, “The things we do for love.” Jamie Lannister is the epitome of a GRRM character. Jamie is not good, he is not bad, he is not courageous, not noble. Jamie simply acts within each moment for the sake of himself, and Cersei, and I believe little else truly matters to him. I think Brienne snapped him out of his depression and self-pity in Season 3/A Storm of Swords, but the man who does anything for love, is who he is, and always will be. I don’t think Jamie was bluffing at all when he said he would catapult Edmure’s son, and kill every Tully left to get back to Cersei. The bittersweet aspect of the series will be that he has to kill Cersei to save everyone again.
3. Poor Babylord Stark will perish for sure. I don’t think Tormund, or Wun-Wun, will die. Someone (By the will of the old gods hopefully Lord Too-Fat-to-sit-ahorse) will flip to Jon’s side, to turn the odds in Team Jonsa’s favor, and similar to Stannis in Season 4, the Vale Knights will arrive after the battle is decided. Ramsay will be left alive for a proper heart tree beheading to kick off Ep. 10 – “The Winds of Winter.”
1. Dany has to meet up with Yara/Theon and there’s that whole 2 other dragons in the cave thing. There’s also evil uncle Euron to contend with. Thus, unfortunately, I think we are going to be Esos until early next season. So maybe some dragon action and Tyrion-Dany tension in the finale, ending with a triumphant arrival of Yara/Theon.
2. Ugh, show Jamie. So my theory is he didn’t lie- he is an evil narcissist asshole, who deep inside has potential to change (which was the point of the whole running into Brienne thing). If Cersei’s plot leads where it is looking like it will, I think he’ll get back to King’s Landing and be unhappy with the decisions she’s made. Not sure if the show will do anything else in the meantime to facilitate the growth of his character, or (more likely) if they’ve just given up on that. It’s hard to see his next step if a certain undead lady doesn’t show up, so I think he’ll probably just head back to King’s Landing, with maybe some minor detour (white walker sightings? Griff-ish greyscale stuff with Jorah?) along the way.
3. Rickon is donezo. Ramsay is probbly donezo too. Davos might be donezo. Melissandre might be donezo (though I wonder if they are saving her for Arya). Sansa and Jon are for sure not donezo. I THINK Sansa and Jon win, aided by Brienne and Littlefinger. But the white walkers attack or are imminently approaching, which throws everything into chaos. Jon will head off to join Bran next season. Sansa will stick around to take vengeance on the Freys? Hard to say what Sansa will do (I just REALLY hope she doesn’t get captured/manipulated by Littlefinger to return to the Vale, which I could see happening).
Chad Brick,
I go back to last season on LF. He said to Cersei that it might be a good idea to let Stannis and the Boltons pummel each other, and to then invade Winterfell and pick off the victor while he has still licking his wounds. In this context, I think it’s entirely possible that Jon’s coalition barely defeats Ramsay (with or without additional support from a surprising arrival by the Tullys), and that the Knights of the Vale show up after the battle, and try to assert their control. Either via domination (and an alliance with the Lannisters), if LF still thinks they’re on the winning side. Or more likely, by allying with the Starks via a marriage proposal (LF and Sansa), and then turning his attention to King’s Landing, where he intends to ally himself with a victorious Tyrell coup (which may or may not happen, depending on the wildfire situation).
But this really demonstrates that there are a lot of big questions still up in the air. I don’t think this season is going to end as predictably as some think.
All I know is that I would exchange 100 Rickons for one Davos/Wun Wun/Tormund/Edd.
Please, don’t kill them.
To the person who said only Americans like battle scenes (it’s way up there, can’t remember the name). I’m not American and I’m really excited for the next ep., exactly because of that.
If you haven’t realized after 6 seasons, this show is largely about war.
Trystane,
I just think they used the hall because it’s a cool way to showcase all of the show’s characters to remind viewers why they view.
I don’t think it has any special significance to the season.
I have a feeling that sansa may be killed, as well as davos and Tormund. But I do hope there is a twist and someone else comes to the rescue not littlefinger and the nights of the vale
1. She will defeat slavers as they come ashore with combination of Dothraki and dragons. Whats left of slavers will flee and be raided by Yara/Theon ships. I bet we then have time jump and see her leaving city in hands of trusted advisors including Greyworm and Missandei with some of Second Sons/Unsullied/Dothraki staying behind as Meereen military. She heads west with fighting force and our favorite Greyjoys.
2. There is no real/fake Jamie. Jamie is and always has been driven by emotion. He did not lie to Edmure, he loves Cersei and is driven to get back to her. That is priority #1 for him now and he would have done whatever it took to accomplish that. He does have some type of feelings for Brienne and his emotions and feelings about honor and right and wrong are different when he’s around her. But those are not driving forces in his life now.
3. Ramsay, Wun Wun, lots of Boltons, and one of either Tormund or Davos. I will hate that last one, but don’t see an episode/battle/season like this concluding without one gut wrenching death. Starks will win with help from the Vale. Seems too obvious but that is definitely direction things are headed. Big question is what happens with Littlefinger after the battle.
Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How?
1. Don’t care
2. Really don’t care
3. Battle of the bastards.. Rickon smalljon, the Karstarks, ed, Wun-wun die. John eventually wins. The Knightswatch come down in support of Jon and form his guard. But also leave the wall unprotected.
There is a long battle that looks like a Stalemate. The Manderlays switch sides and start attacking the Bolton forces midway through the battle. Forcing Ramsay to fight on two fronts. Ramsay goes after Jon with his guard and isolates him. The Boltons butcher the remaining brothers of the Knights watch and Jon is left standing. As Ramsay and his traitors surround Jon out of no where Drogon appears (he flew away from mereen last episode) and torches the side of the field where Jon is. Ramsay and his men are burned to death while Jon is reborn. Bran leads him on a Vision quest to see his true parents. Jon targaryan is born.
Little finger shows up as the battle ends and pledges the Knights of the Vale for Jon, KITN
1. She will yell at Tyrion, and send all three dragons to burn the ships, as she doesn’t know the Ironborn are coming. Yara/Theon will arrive later, but not have enough ships for Dany’s army. They will tell her about Euron, hoping it will scare her into allying with them, but instead she will decide to wait for him. Tyrion will try to get everyone to drink.
2. Jaime pushed a kid to his death, and crushed the head of a cousin that idolized him, so yeah.. he’d trebuchet someone else’s infant kid. For those who follow the show only, a trebuchet is what the Yunkai use to toss fireballs from ships, instead of a catapult.
3. Lyanna Mormont survives. That’s all I know.
I’ve accepted Rickon is toast but now you’ve all got me worried about Davos! I wonder, if it happens, whether it will be because he tries to protect Lyanna Mormont somehow? (I really don’t see her dying). That would make sense in a tragic kind of way, coming straight after he discovers what really happened to Shireen. He’d feel guilty about not being able to protect one young girl, try to protect another and die … sob.
a girl knows everything,
Sansa won’t die before giving her “reward” to Lord Baelish.
Northop,
Thank you – beautifully put.
As others have said, Littlefinger riding in would not be an example of deus ex machina as it’s been setup beforehand. Something like Dany arriving on Drogon and burning the Bolton army would be deus ex machina.
First time poster here.
The broad consensus seems to be that the Stark/Wildling side will prevail, but take losses to secondary characters (Rickon, Ghost, etc). I disagree and here’s why:
The basis of this is found in 2 aspects of the storytelling . First, the Ragnarok Theory for GoT, which suggests that Jon Snow, Melisandre, Bran, & Dany will all side with the White Walkers based on the clear parallels to Norse mythology. In Norse mythology, Jon Snow’s counterpart will tear down The Wall and lead the WW’s south.
Secondly, how would a Stark victory advance the Wall/WW story arc? It wouldn’t. Stark consolidation of the North with wildlings & the Arryns & the Night’s Watch basically makes for a big, dumb battle where humanity has the upperhand and that isn’t GRRM’s style. Also, the good guys winning the Battle of the Bastards is not GRRM’s style.
So if you accept that Jon Snow is going to lead the WW’s south, there needs to be a pretty dmn good motivation. What better motivation than Ramsay Bolton? The producers have really amped up his cruelty and my feeling was this was necessary to turn Jon Snow from Lord Commander to someone capable of abandoning everything in the name of vengeance. Ramsay will get his, but not for awhile.
So my prediction: The battle ends with possibly small victories for the Stark side, but mostly it is a rout. (Think Red Wedding) Littlefinger will betray the Starks for a 3rd time. I suspect that the Vale will never enter the fight. There’s going to be something utterly abhorrent from Ramsay, say flaying Rickon or mutilating Sansa or Lyanna Mormont, or all of it. Jon Snow may be cut down again, but he and Melisandre will flee north. Tormund survives.
AirPurdue,
Your theory basically make the Bran WW story-line obsolete. Although I can see a LF betrayal in the end where either he captures the North and makes himself the Warden sending Sansa and Jon as a prisonors to KL.
AirPurdue,
Well that’s certainly a different take on things but I’m afraid it doesn’t fit. Men aren’t going to fight for the WW’s, only if they’re dead ones. The threat of the return of the Others has been there since the opening scene of the whole series and I haven’t seen anything which foreshadows why Jon and Co would side with them on a mission to destroy mankind.
As to how a Stark victory would advance the WW story arc, that was explained by Davos or was it Jon (I forget) in a recent episode. The north is fractured and in the hands of a lunatic. It needs to unite to face the threat from the WW and retaking Winterfell under Stark rule would once again reunite the North, which is how it will play out in preparation for the coming of the dead.
Redxgod,
In what way do you think it is obsolete?
1. I haven’t been right about anything in Essos for a while, so I just hope Daeny doesn’t burn all of the Slavers’ fleet.
2. I re-read Jamie’s last chapter in AFfC after I watched No One and… I completely forgot how awful, like show!Ramsay awful, Cersie is in the books. So if I have some empathy for her in the show, Jamie’s actions don’t feel contradictory to me at all.
3. Tormund or Davos, but I really hope not. Then my dream ending to the battle is that the north remembers and turns on Ramsay, and LF arrives conveniently late. The confrontation between Jon Sansa and Petyr would be glorious.
A Stark victory clearly does advance the WW versus humanity storyline, just not the way you want it to. It advances the idea that Jon/Sansa/Davos et al are preparing the north for the WW invasion as best they know how. You said yourself it sets up the battle, you just think its a “big, dumb” idea. As far as a Stark victory not being GRRM’s style, not sure that Arya winning in every possible way in Bravos fits what you call his style either. Yet it still happened on the show.
Victory may not quite be 100% clear cut due to LF involvement. But with Bran’s interactions with WWs and Jon’s battles with them, I see no basis for believing they will be allied and can’t see any storyline based on your accepted premise actually making it onscreen.
I have a question that bothers me since i’ve seen the episode. Maybe someone here can help me out.
How do Brienne or Podrick Even send a raven to Sansa? I thought a raven only returns to the Place it is from. And they didn’t take one with them.
Even if the riverrunmaester has a smart specimen, that can be sent to one of two or three destinations, how would they tell him where to find here?
Halfman,
I don’t expect anyone beyond Jon &Mel to side with the White Walkers and their zombie army. There hasn’t been foreshadowing of Jon switching sides. But keep in mind, the Red Wedding involved very little foreshadowing. I’ve been wrong before. But I did bet on this theory with a co-worker. Loser smokes meat for the office.
I also don’t think we’re going to have a repeat of the Battle at the Wall, substituting one Wildling army for one that magically can’t pass beyond the Wall. I can’t imagine that we’ve had build up for 5 books with the WW’s never getting south. But they haven’t breached the Wall in thousands of years. So something must have changed or added to the situation. What else would it be? Sam accidentally blowing the horn in Oldtown?
First off, ep. 9 is going to be legendary. The production budget is putting almost everything into this one and it will show everyone that it was all worth it. As for my predictions:
1. All 3 dragons will scorch the Slavers’ fleet with Dany giving off a Mad Queen vibe. And yes, I know, everyone is tired of hearing the Mad Queen theory, but I genuinely believe she will become the villain by the end of GoT. While the dragons are doing work, there will be a shot of Dany stone faced, but smirking watching them burn. We still need to see the scene with the Sons of the Harpy from the trailer and I’m assuming it’s going to tie together with her decision to head over to Westeros depending who is in fact the Harpy (Varys or Daario???). Yara and Theon show up towards the end of the fire-fest giving her a reason to flee West. Not quite sure if Dany leaves for Westeros by the end of Season 6. Euron is also a threat to keep in mind.
2. Jamie’s arc was entirely redemptive throughout the course of the last 4 seasons. I believe he has his innate and strong love for Cersei but will end soon after he finds out Cersei’s plan which I believe is to burn down KL along with Tommen. We’re feeling for Jamie, but in that “baby/trebuchet” line we all were a little “Whaaaat?” so it seems a little out of character at this point for him not to be making it up to win the castle. I think Jamie kills Cersei end of Season 6 #ValonqarProphecy”
3. BotB will be absolutely epic. Ghost gets some kills, Wun Wun gets some kills, Davos gets some kills. 100% getting the SmallJon and Umber turning on Ramsay reveal. Jon rides into battle and captures Ramsay who he doesn’t execute until ep. 10. At some point we will see the implications and purpose for Jon dying and coming back. There has to be some sort of reveal with his character (warg/Azor Ahai type deal). Jon/Sansa team will start to lose and face defeat just to be saved by Little Finger. Sansa marries LF, Jon becomes Lord of Winterfell. We lose Davos (MY FAV), Wun Wun, Melisandre. Rickon, Jon, Sansa, Ghost, Tormund all live.
AirPurdue,
Bran was marked by NK and the magical protection of the tree cave was negated. If Brand passes through Wall that might change some aspect of the magic. Who knows? But that has been my prediction/theory for a while.
AirPurdue,
Except I think that GRRM is actually telling a traditional heroic fantasy story and D&D have of course made changes but are still adapting that basic story. He’s grimed it up, buried a lot of it under red herrings, and deconstructed as many of the trappings as he could, but if you look hard enough all the beats are still there. Jon is on a pretty much beat-for-beat hero’s journey, complete with special sword and magical companion, and he will continue to do so until the end.
I’m sure there will continue to be twists along the way, but I fully expect the story to climax with Jon leading humanity, or at least a large chunk of it, into battle against the White Walkers. The wild card is Dany, but she won’t be siding with the WW either; its just a question of whether she sides with Jon or opposes him
Little Finger is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers . . .
LF has planned the Battle of the Bastards for a long time. He told Cersie a long time ago that his plan was to let the Northerners fight each other and then pick apart the weakened winner of the North. I believe that LF wrote the “Pink Letter” (“Come and see” is repeated throughout the Letter and hinted when LF asked Robin to “come and see” the falcon that he brought him.)
LF realizes that Sansa is the key to claiming the North just as Robin is the key to the Vale. LF needs Sansa safe and in his debt. As such, it is almost a foregone conclusion that the Vale army will ride in at the last minute to assure a safe Sansa and a Bolton defeat.
The most interesting part, to me, will be what transpires post-battle with Sansa, LF, and Jon. Having Jon around would only add a wild-card to LF’s control of Sansa. LF likely would not want Jon around unless he was totally confident that Jon could be controlled. The big question is whether Sansa has learned enough to know exactly what LF is up to and out-scheme him. One way Sansa could consolidate power for herself would be to announce that she will marry Robin and somehow have LF disposed of.
I predict that at some moment, post-battle, Sansa will project a double-cross and the viewers will not know whether she’s double-crossing Jon or LF.
Fez,
We will see. I think it’s traditional, but only in the source material. I’d liken it to what the Coen Brother’s did to The Odyssey with O Brother, Where Art Thou?
I think there’s a reason behind the critically ill-received actions of Ramsay that D&D have chosen. That reason is total depravity is a lure for good men to justify doing terrible things. Like I said, the WW need something/someone beyond themselves otherwise they would have wrapped this up long ago. I think a horrifying battle for Jon coupled with the Night’s Watch already assassinating him once will have him turn his back on humanity.
One question came to my mind: is it really Jon who proposes a one on one in the trailer? Can’t recognise his voice.
So, besides giving Daenerys ANOTHER big, powerful army to fight for her without any effort on her part, what would be the reason Yara/Theon would fight for her and give her their ships and their men? What makes her so special that everybody has to kneel before her and swear loyalty to her? She’s not a good leader, she’s not particularly bright, she’s not a military strategist or a brave warrior.
Charlotte,
Because she’s better than Euron.
Charlotte,
My guess is that they hope she will help them to beat Euron so Yara can claim the II.
AirPurdue,
Oh I’ve no doubt the WWs will breach the wall but don’t expect any of the characters we know to side with them. It ain’t happening 🙂
King in the North,
I wondered about that as well. The “only one of us” definitely sounds like Jon but the “thousands of men don’t need to die” doesn’t, although obviously it could be him. I can’t think of anyone the first bit sounds like, but plenty it doesn’t – doesn’t sound like a (show) Northern accent to me. It might not even be from the same conversation, certainly wouldn’t be the first time a trailer has been edited in a deliberately misleading way ?
John,
The Knights of the Vale have 9,000
John,
The knights of the Vale are 9,000 strong! Way more than enough to turn the tide, I’d say!
1) It’s my hope that Dany uses the dragons to burn the fleet in a show of her power and of what dragons can do. It would convince the Greyjoy fleet of her power.
2) the real Jaime is all of those things ultimately I think he will end up killing Cersie in an attempt to stop the burning of Kings Landing.
3) I think it’s possible that Jon may die and be resurrected in front of those in the North. Kind of a mirror to what happened to Dany in Vaes Dothrak. He has mentioned more than a few times that he doesn’t want to be brought back and there’s a lot of red priests and Lord of light references in recent episodes. Melisandre and Davos may have to prove to those in the North that Jon is more than just a bastard and unquestionable leader to follow in the great war to come. I also see Sansa dying killing the baby that’s growing inside her to get back at Ramsey. I don’t see her being of much use in the great war to come.
Don’t forget Maisie and Sophie playing 2 Truths and a Lie before the season started. If we are to believe that they were being honest with their comments, then we can really start to narrow things down at this point:
Maisie:
– Arya goes to Westeros, back over the sea.
– Arya is in the trailer more times than people have realized, because they don’t realize it’s her.
– Arya doesn’t cross any more names off her list.
Sophie:
– Ramsay dies.
– Lady Stoneheart returns.
– Arya checks three people off her list.
Just sayin’.
Boston Snow,
If I were you, I wouldn’t believe them. Really dodgy taking any of that on board considering their position and their contracts.
Boston Snow,
Total guess obviously but I reckon Maisie T, T, L and Sophie T, L, T. Although Arya crossing people off her list doesn’t definitely mean that she kills them, it could just be she discovers they are dead and therefore no longer on it by default? The two things about Arya’s list contradict each other so presumably one has to be wrong and the other correct? 🙂
Isn’t today advance picture day? I need my fix please! 😀
1) HBO keeps everything very simple minded, no odd twists here. Dany uses the dragons to fight the slave ships and any foot soldiers will be dealt with by the Dothraki horde. Yara will show up and help capture the slaver ships after the dragons burn a few. This is how she gets the 1000 ships and the last scene her army will be sailing off to Westeros. Just kept the story here very simple so even someone with an IQ of 25 can follow. Yet, watch the number of people that will complain Dany story is awful and boring.
2) Again, kept it simple here. Jamie changing his redemption is to complex. Gooooo Incest Sex. Yes, yes, incest sex, incest sex, incest sex, incest sex is fantastically great and easy to understand.
3) Rickon is toast and perhaps Melisandre. Her story arc is just to complex for show watchers can understand! Yes, burn her to pay for burning Shireen!!!!!
4) Arya using a face or faces, shows up at the celebration by Walder Frey and kills him
Boston Snow,
Weirdly, the last time Arya said her list, to The Waif, there were only three names on it: Cersei, The Mountain, Walder. It suddenly seemed very short but maybe a missed something in that scene …
1. The Iron Born (Euron or Yara/Theon) will likely block any retreat by the Master’s fleet. Tyrion, I imagine, will be instrumental with “advising” Dany to not burn the fleet and force the Master’s into relinquishing their ships. Also Tyrion is a good candidate to treat with the Iron Born to establish an alliance.
2. Jaime is mercurial. I am not convinced that his arc is going to bring him back to KL at least not immediately. Much of the RL story is about Jamie almost exclusively. The “don’t make threats your not willing to carry out” caveat will certainly be revisited. Perhaps the Frey’s, besmirch Jamie’s already sullied honor by putting the Tulley’s to the sword. In his already conflicted state and an army at his ready, this could spell out the demise of House Frey. Jamie Lannister sends his regards personally and Bronn get’s his castle. If he does make it back to KL, the damage will already be done only further repelling him from his sorted past and into a redemption arc against the WW. Cersie maybe a goner but Jamie still can play a large role, especially with Tyrion’s impending return.
3. The BofB will not have the same story archetype as the previous major battles. The writers are baiting us into thinking that this will be an against all odds situation. There will be casualties (likely Rickon, Ramsey and a few lesser characters), but Jon’s forces will triumph ultimately. I don’t necessarily think it will be a Helm’s Deepesque rescue from the Vale either. I can see Ramsey’s forces being totally surrounded early on and forcing him into a crazed last stand situation. Mel, Davos and Tormund IMO are red herring casualties because the series has a reputation for preying on the viewers sensibilities for shock value. Most of this season’s significant causalities will be in King’s Landing.
I have not read ADWD yet and am exclusively following the show as to not confuse what will be two very different works. I don’t know if Cersie will burn KL (conclusions from foreshadowing) and can only speculate what will happen in the RL. I think Jon/Sansa’s and ostensibly Little Finger’s victory is all but assured.
HOLD THE DOOR
3. Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How?
I’m expecting see a LOT of blood in this battle. so i think many friendly faces will go sadly.., and PLEASE, just PLEASE, kill Ramsey already! And make him suffer a little first..
Northop,
That was very succinctly said and well thought out!
First, I think that she will burn all the masters and their ships. Surprisingly the Greyjoys brothers will show up and offer her their fleet and, after being bitchy, she’ll accept it!
The Jaime we are seeing is actually the Jaime from season 1. Such a pity because it would have been great to see the Jaime from the books. However, I’m not totally sure that he’ll go back to King’s Landing.
Tough question. Sooo many people are going to die during the next episode. Rickon for sure, sadly I think also Tormund will die 🙁 Lots of wildlings of course. Ramsay is likely to get caught, and maybe die or on episode 10.
Obviously House Stark will “win”… thanks to the help of Littlefinger and the Knights of the Vale. Personally I find it a bittersweet victory… we have to remember that Littlefinger will want something in return… maybe Winterfell?
1. The show’s Meereenese knot: I swear the only way to undo this knot is to cut it to bits or burn it. So Dany has to “burn them all.” Burn the slavers, burn their ships, burn the whole city and whoever’s left can ride with Dany and the Iron Islanders. I suppose she will unleash the Dothraki to fuck up whatever slavers make it to land.
2. Which Jaime is the current, actually real Jaime? It’s so hard to say b/c the book story line is so different. I think D&D screwed Jaime’s redemption arc by having fall back in love with Cersei. I do think Jaime was lying about slaughtering all of the Tullys (b/c of the vow to Cat), but I do believe he just wants to be with Cersei. But what I don’t get is why Jaime doesn’t know that she was put on trial for [insert Tyrion’s voice] “fucking Lancel.” He’s supposed to be angered and hurt by this and pull away from Cersei instead of long to be close to her.
3. Who will die in the Battle of the Bastards? Who will win? How? I can only assume Jon lives and Ramsay dies. I mean why have this whole season long arc just to have the good guys lose. Obviously the Vale men will arrive right on time, like Gandalf and the Rohirrim at the end of Two Towers. Rickon may die or already be dead. Davos or Melissandre will probably die – either he dies in battle or he kills her b/c of Shereen. Please God spare Wun Wun and Tormond (and if the Knights of the Vale show, please please God don’t kill Bronze Yohn).
jeff rassuchine,
You are so right about the [non book-reading] viewers being spoon-fed b/c they can’t follow complex story lines. That’s most of my frustration with the show. “Tits and Dragons,” Swearengen was right when he said that.
Oh, and she has dragons. If people in the middle ages were suddenly introduced to a leader with an Air Force, many would choose to side with the Air Force.
The Jaime we saw in Ep 8 is the real Jaime – all of it. The threats to Edmure are just medieval reality and Edmure knows it. It’s not personal; it’s business.
The part about rushing back to Cersei is not credible because tough guys don’t show vulnerability to other tough guys and being dependant on a woman makes one vulnerable. Puzzling writing here.
Heaving a baby over the castle wall? Exaggeration. Jaime himself doesn’t know if he means that.
So are we talking redemption here? Not until other things not known to us yet happen to Jaime to counteract his birthright and upbringing.
Why? To cleanse Westeros of bad humans and repopulate it with indigenous beings? Please explain.
The Hound appears to be heading North. Once he arrives, Sansa will have learned enough about LF to have him tossed from the WF battlements.
Slow down there. If I want a complex story I read a book. Someone who has not read ASOFAI yet (waiting for the series to end) I do not appreciate this remark.
I consider this show entertainment. Something to watch before my busy work week starts again.
Watching the show seems to cause you a lot of agony and you have a need to lash out at the non-book viewers because it is our fault that D&D dumbs it down for us.
So here it comes. STOP watching the show. You sound pityful complaining about a show based on fiction that dares not to cater to book readers who are a small part of the millions of people watching each week. Get a life, it’s a big, real world out there.
1. I think there will be a parallel between Jon’s and Dany’s arcs involving the ‘surprise’ arrival of aid in their two battles. And I think the two of them will prevail over their enemies, after which Jon may end up with a huge army to command if all of the northern (and possibly other) armies combine. He should give a speech that convinces even the non-believers that the White Walkers do exist and pose an immediate threat. I hate that there are idiots in Westeros who don’t think the White Walker danger exists. True to life though, eh? In Dany’s case she will probably leave Meereen for Westeros once the battle is over, on ships provided by the Greyjoys.
2. I’m a bit biased because I hate, despise and loathe Jaime Lannister (primarily because he pushed Bran out the window but for a number of other reasons too) so I believe he showed Edmure his true side. I believe that the feelings he has for Brienne and the effect she has on him are confusing to him as were the emotions that caused him to kill the Mad King in order to save the people from being burned by wildfire. Now, this is what really interests me: if Cersei were to do the same thing that Aerys tried to do, will that change Jaime’s opinion of her, make him cease to love her and perhaps embrace that kinder part of himself? Naaaahhhhh…I don’t think so. LOL.
3. Jon & Company will win the Battle. Unfortunately I have read spoilers about it so it’s almost impossible for me to make predictions without some bias. If I hadn’t read the spoilers I would have to say that I would have thought Jon would win anyway, that several more armies will come to his rescue just like Tywin did at Blackwater for the Lannisters, that Ramsay will be fittingly killed by Ghost and that somehow Rickon will be saved. I am most interested in the peripheral characters as well…Mel and Davos…Wun Wun and Edd back at the Wall…Littlefinger…the other Northern lords…how will it all pan out for these people? I’m dying for Sunday to get here already.
Marlana,
Well, Jaime already heaved a child out of a tower window and Bran could have died, so I don’t think he’d think twice about killing another kid. I agree that the face he showed to Edmure was the real Jaime.
jeff rassuchine,
I agree with you on everything except #3. But wouldn’t it be awesome if Arya showed up at the Twins wearing the face of her mother?
1) Dany will defeat the Masters with help from the Greyjoys, Yara will become enamored of her and swear lifelong allegiance to the Queen.
2) Jaime will leave Riverrun and take his army North after he hears the trial date is pushed back. He will fulfill his oath to bring Sansa home.
3) Tormund will die because there are too many photos of him in the previews of the battle. Ramsey will escape when it is obvious they are being defeated.
If Cersei burns Kings Landing, Jaime will blame himself. As if had he been there, he could’ve stopped the carnage. We see all these glimmers of goodness but last season into this season, it’s been all about what his sister wants and needs and desires. Jaime is a shell without her. She has always been the alpha and when trying to assert his own strengths, her pull is just too much for him to resist. He isn’t without positive merits but he is powerless without her. Even her destroying everyone and everything around her, won’t change that. If it did, it would be the most fantastical character 360 this show has done. Not to take away his feelings for Brienne, I know he cares, but like you said, the inner conflict just strengthens his resolve that Cersei is the end all, be all.
Annie,
I agree with you. Thought about writing something out myself, but your thoughts are the most consistent with mine. Don’t think we will be done with Ramsay either. I am hoping that the Blackfish escaped. Not buying on him being dead without there being a body. Think we’ll be needing Blackfish and Davos to battle the Night’s King.
Boston Snow,
The interesting one for me is
Stavross,
Can we really call it an Ex Machina though, since Sansa called him to the rescue, and we can assume he never went far. He was still gathering around Moat Caillin.
But yeah, anyway that’s probably what’s gonna happen. LF is gonna show up in the end with his knights of the Vale to turn the tide.
3/ Ghost was looking for Nymeria and her band of wolves since the beginning of this season, the wolves arrive as deus ex machina in the middle of the battle and the house Stark wines.
newbietothegame,
Exactly this!
Everyone is free to have their opinions, but it ends when you start insulting people and looking down upon them for having a different opinion then you.
Well said.
Who in the north would possibly care about Cercei/Tommen’s decree that he’s warden? They’d be more like to slaughter LF where he stands if he pulls that crap, army or no army.
I will never understand even UnSullied with this view. Surely even UnSullied non-book readers have heard about Jon’s parentage. He will be alive at the end people! He is literally The Song of Ice and Fire.
Will Arya have the ability to use faces without being near the House of Black & White? I guess not, but I’d like it. Will she meet up with Nymeria? Doubtful at this point, but maybe.
I want to see Tyrion riding a dragon so badly.
Not sure where Sam’s story is headed….
I want to see Cercei try and kill the High Sparrow (with the ‘rumour’ wildfire or whatever) but she kills Tommen accidentally too. No doubt some variation of this will happen. Has to happen before her trial.
Maybe Mel will choose to sacrifice herself on a pyre. Now THAT would be cool. A redemptive arc. Maybe not this season, but next, in order to try and ensure victory over the Night King.
Why do people keep saying the dragons will destroy the slaver ships? Of course they won’t – Dany needs them to get herself and her Dothraki across the sea!
I hate the way we didn’t have Dany have to work for it or figure out how to make Drogon listen and obey. Being able to ride him and have him come when called makes no sense because he was gone so long. Where did the change occur that he started to listen to his Mama? Silliness.
The House of B&W has turned out to be a Dorne level of disappointment in the TV show. They would never, in the books, do an assassination of someone who didn’t deserve it. The show has reduced them to killing for money, dishonourable Romulans. It’s sad. They are an honourable thing in the book, only killing those who deserve it and providing a merciful suicide for those who wish to die. And the way Arya suddenly becomes smart enough to get the Waif in the darkness in the end is pathetic. The Waif would have taken her out with no weapon in that blackened room, even if Arya had a dozen swords. The whole thing was just so mishandled I want to cry. Anyway, moving on…
Interested to see what Margery does. SOMETHING I hope.
For book readers only********** I am so glad young Griff hasn’t turned up. May he never turn up on the TV show. But I guess he could serve as the third dragon. And maybe he’ll end up ruling after Dany goes off with Dario back to Mereen, and Jon goes on a permanent vacation. I have no doubt it will be someone unexpected on the Iron Throne. And it has to be the same person in the books and on the TV show….
Dawgfan,
Jon would not be a bastard if they had married, in the books the Targaryens were known to take multiple wives, King Aegon married both of his sisters, and if Rheagar’s intent was to have a baby that could ascend to the throne someday, he would have married Lyanna.
Chris C,
Stannis defeated the Greyjoy fleet during Balon’s Rebellion
Yes, let’s go with this… (humming in solidarity)