We’ve been going back and forth about the remaining episode titles of Game of Thrones season 6, but HBO is playing this one like Littlefinger, keeping all their cards close. Today, the network has finally released some information about an upcoming episode…one of them, anyway.
As reported by European networks and the online HBO schedule, they have confirmed that episode 8 of this season will be titled “No One.”
Along with the title, HBO has revealed the episode description, which does contain a spoiler:
Episode #58 (season 6, episode 8): “No One”
Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 12 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
While Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) weighs his options, Cersei (Lena Headey) answers a request. Tyrion’s (Peter Dinklage) plans bear fruit. Arya (Maisie Williams) faces a new test.
Written by David Benioff & D. B. Weiss; directed by Mark Mylod.
Clearly Arya isn’t dropping dead immediately, despite her seeming to be stabbed in the gut in episode 7, and the episode title is centered around her. As for the rest- is Cersei’s answer to choose violence?
Though there isn’t a lot of new info, I’m glad we have the official synopsis so we can weed out the false ones out there.
hodor!
Crazy that they have just confirmed this, less than five days before the ep. airs. I don’t have cable anymore, but don’t most people’s digital menus go two weeks out, and therefore shouldn’t ep. 9 be on there already, or very shortly?
Ah finally!Also I knew those leaked synopses were fake and I’m so glad.
Okay so the other one was a fake? I don’t remember what it said
There won’t be the North plot in this episode.
Matty C,
yes, ep 9 is on my menu but it is simply listed as ep 9 – no title or synopsis for it
OT:
7.80 mill for Broken Man
http://www.spoilertv.com/2016/06/final-adjusted-tv-ratings-for-friday_6.html
Maisie said at the beginning of the season that people were going to hate her story this year and that she’s not even in it that much. I’ve actually enjoyed her story (a lot more than last year), and it seems like she’s been in every episode. Was this more M trolling? I hope there is a kicker of a twist for her, one that involves Lady Crane, because her just recovering and having one last fight with the Waif seems too trite.
Dee,
Great numbers.
mau,
🙁
Cool! Way back over 7.
Last night my HBO preview said “The Battle of Bastards” for Episode 9.
Interestingly enough, it did not list the Episode 8 title when I saw the 9 title.
This is the start of long episodes, so there might be more in it than we think. I hope for a short scene with Bran and Benjen and Meera. I think the north will be episode 9 for the battle.
mau,
The episode quite long. I think we may get a scene maybe.
But I agree, EP9 will be the big one for the North.
mau,
That’s insane if that’s true.
Can’t say they will have done a great job building up the battle.
Has Arya been in every episode so far this season?
Mihnea,
I don’t think so. The North wasn’t in the preview or synopsis.
Dee,
YES!!!
Markus Stark,
It is interesting that Ramsay won’t appear before E9.
mau,
That is true.
mau,
HBO normally releases teaser images of the upcoming episode on wednesday so we should get some more glimpses tomorrow.
The in-fewer-episodes quote came from a disreputable British tabloid and has since been stricken from their article. I hope that there is something great to explain what happened last episode.
mau,
It is.
We had so much ramsay for like 25 episodes and then crickets
Ravyn,
Yeah but this is Dan and Dave we’re talking about. I’m just looking forward for more Robert Strong face smashing, and more foreshadowing for LS eventually in the finale. I kinda hope she appears or I’m out $50.Complex conspiracies and faceless man switchers though, they aren’t exactly things D&D excel at.
Hounded,
Yeah, will have a clearer picture then.
Connor,
I’m getting the sense we may not see Bran until the finale, for ToJ reveal and presumably passing through the Wall.
About time. Doesn’t really give us anything interesting which makes you wonder why they held it back for so long.
Still I’m looking forward to it.
“The Battle of Bastards” kind of sucks as a title. Just too specific to the subject and sounds like a fan made it up.
mau,
Thank the gods. The less I see him, the better.
mau,
I think his character is the one who’s in the place he needs to be for the next phase of the story. I was kinda hoping to see more of Rickon before the climax, but, otherwise, it seems like he doesn’t have that much left to do.
Dee,
It’s looking like ~7.8 is around the norm for season 6 with four of the seven being that level or above. Sitting at a 7.53 average so far, well above last season’s 6.88 🙂
mau,
It is, and a bit disappointing to me personally.
Plus Rickon hasn’t had anything to do. I thought he might finally be an actual character this year, but nope.
If he dies, it won’t have the impact it should in my opinion. He’s the youngest of the Stark children. His death should be one of the most tragic. But since he’s had about 5 lines in the history of the series, we haven’t gotten to know him, and thus nothing that happens to him will really matter.
Adam,
“Blackwater”. “The Watchers On The Wall”. “The Mountain and The Viper”.
Connor,
Not in 6.04, but otherwise yes.
Clob,
Great news. I was just wondering how bigger the numbers are from last year.
I really can’t wait to see what Arya is up to.
Her scene last week was the only scene that was a head scratcher. She has GOT to be up to something why would she be so stupid!
Ravyn,
Rickon’s interview made it sound like he did have several significant scenes, and he hasn’t even had a single line, yet. I hope that we get much more before …
“Cersei (Lena Headey) answers a request”
lmao
Whoever writes these needs to get a raise.
I think/hope Arya will be helped by Lady Crane.
Sad that there might be no North this episode. They’ve really botched the whole storyline for me.
Looking forward to Brienne and the Blackfish.
Ravyn,
Yeah, but “Blackwater” wasn’t called “The Battle of the Neglected Sons”. “Watchers on the Wall” wasn’t called “Night’s Watch V Wildlings”. “The Mountain and the Viper” is cool because it uses the badass nicknames of these two warriors. They didn’t call it “Oberyn’s attempt at revenge”.
Ginevra,
Me too.
What did the leaked summary say? I can’t find it now. All I remember is
.
Adam,
I agree.
Flayed Potatoes,
I agree, the story has been botched for me too. Well, perhaps “botched” is too harsh a word, and the best is undoubtedly yet to come, but let’s just say I’m ten times less excited for BastardBowl than I thought I would be.
Hell I was more hyped last year when I thought we might get a full on battle between Stannis and the Boltons.
Ravyn,
Of those, “Watchers On the Wall” is just a reference to the Night’s Watch, not specific to the battle. “The Mountain and the Viper” was kind of analogous to “The Wolf and the Lion” or “The Lion and the Rose”, so I didn’t mind that. I’ll grant you “Blackwater”, although I didn’t dislike that either.
Maybe my problem with it isn’t the specificity. It just sounds stupid. Not on the same level as something like “Snow Bowl” but still silly.
Really curious to see if we’ll get some Jonsa/Branjenra/Ramckon/Daaenio this week. C:
…I’m going overboard. I know. I’m sorry.
I will be shocked if we don’t get either Ramsey or John/Davos at least for 5 min just showing preparations for the battle.
Glad those ones floating around turned out to be fake. Really didn’t want Dany to interrupt BastardBowl..
And the ep.9 title is not “Jon Snow vs. Ramsay Bolton’ sot what’s the problem?
Ravyn,
I was thinking Maisie had at least A scene in all but “Oathbreaker” (IMDB credits her in all). Whichever, most of her scenes have been really short though, something like four minutes total through the first four episodes. Even her longer scenes since are pretty short compared to other characters. I’m really hoping an episode seemingly titled for Arya’s storyline will feature a lot of her. They need to start utilizing Maisie’s talents more… the kind of stuff that had her standing toe-to-toe with the likes of Charles Dance.
Adam,
Agree. The only thing good about it is the alliteration (Battle – Bastards). And it put too much importance to Jon and Ramsay, where this is Sansa’s battle too. Ramsay is not even a bastard anymore. In my opinion, “Battle of Bastards’ is only slightly better a title than ‘Bastardbowl’.
Simply “Winterfell” would be stronger as a title.
I CHOOSE VIOLENCE
Can’t wait to see Cersei wreck shit and prove why the mother of madness and wine is better than everyone else 🙂
I don’t believe that. They still need to see Wyman Manderly. Or at least WE do. Do you think that will be saved for ep. 9?
Flayed Potatoes,
Do not dismay. I bet we get a scene or two up north. They have a little more setup to do before the showdown. I am inclined to think that the Vale troops will show up just in the nick of time and that will be the next we hear of them, LF, or Sansa’s letter, which is kindof lame. But I bet we will have at least one scene up north with our favorite crew this week, and maybe even another inside Winterfell with Ramsay and Rickon
He may have a name but he’ll always be a BASTARD!! 😉
mau,
So when will the scene where Davos comes upon Shireen’s stag happen? They are already at the location. Will they remain there in Ep 9? Would they not have moved towards Winterfell?
Laura,
EP9 is my guess with him.
Laura,
Yes! This. Forgot about Manderlys
Balon01,
It’s “The Battle of the Bastards”. If you read my comment, you’ll understand what I don’t like about it.
It’s only my opinion. Mine and many other people. If you like it, good. I’m glad. Not everyone has to like it.
It’s just a title anyway, it’s not a big deal. I wish it had been more badass. This one just doesn’t appeal to me. That’s all.
How long?
I’m thinking we do get something at least from Jon/Sansa/Davos/et al. Maybe just 2-3 minutes. But I am reminded of 4×08’s “tonight we drink” sequence between Jon and Sam and Grenn and Pyp and Edd. It has become one of my favorite moments in the series; it’s such a beautiful last piece for all five brothers together before two meet their heroic ends in the full-blown battle that was 4×09.
I think in Season 6’s case it might be more fitting to develop plot a bit more for #TeamJonsa prior to 6×09, but then, 6×09’s a whopping 60 minutes, isn’t it? Pardon the over-the-top math analysis, but:
That’s a good bit longer than 2×09 (55) and 4×09 (50), and while 5×08 was 60, only half of it was the big battle. Basically what I’m getting at here is that 6×09 can be a brilliant hour of television and an incredible battle piece whilst handling plot setup for its first 15 or so minutes and none shall scoff in the final telling. There’s still time to set things up to a tee; I’d still like a bit more in this coming ep, to be sure, but then, this is the plotline where my heart’s always been set. <3
Sister Kisser,
I don’t know if I want to see Ramsay torture porn lol.
It’s a long episode, so maybe they can spare two minutes with Team Stark. Maybe.
I think we’ll get a lot of Tyrion though. He’s been absent for two episodes.
Adam,
Honestly, I couldn’t give one shit about the episode titles. If it weren’t for sites like this and the back of my DVDs, I wouldn’t even know what the titles were and it wouldn’t affect my enjoyment of the show 1%.
I almost guarantee the North will be in this episode…
And also… is the northern storyline “botched” because it is not the end-all be-all focus of the season…
its been perfectly fine..
Sister Kisser,
We also haven’t seen the scene where LF encounters someone in the snow. That might be before the battle, too.
I am positive we’ll see something of the North. Curiously, I expect Sam as well.
HelloThere,
I have seen folks claim the North is completely botched this year. I respect their opinions, but I can scarcely fathom it, myself. The North has always been my jam, and especially from Season 4 forward it’s been *the* pinnacle of the Thrones experience. Season 6 is no exception; in fact, it has felt stronger than ever.
Sou,
I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Sam was done for the season tbh…
aabe,
This, 1000%.
As you say, it’s marginally better than “Bastardbowl”.
Knight of the Walkers,
Maybe because of the alive-dead Arya cliffhanger?
Markus Stark,
I wouldn’t mind “The Bastards of Winterfell” myself. 🙂
I got info that Manderly will appear after the battle in E10.
HelloThere,
Yes that’s what i’m hoping for, the episode is quite long.
I’m not sure why everyone automatically assumes that a storyline wouldn’t be there if it’s not in the extremely trite episode description.
Im not crazy about the title…
but its not bad… Its just as on the nose a description as
The Red Wedding
The War of Five Kings
Battle of Blackwater…
What makes The Battle of Bastards so much worse of a name… cuz GRRM didn’t make it up?
Ravyn,
That will be in e10.
HelloThere,
That’s not the reason. Perhaps you should ask people why they hold a certain view instead of making assumptions.
“It’s been perfectly fine” is your opinion. If it’s been perfect for you, great. I mean that genuinely.
But let’s stop acting like our personal opinions are facts.
Many people have found the way they handled Jon in particular to be less than stellar.
quotes from Maisie before the season –
‘this is about a process that she’s going through and its ultimately going to be the best weapon. And when that day comes, when she uses all of this, everyone’s gonna be like, “Wow, that’s so cool!” Which is great, but it wouldn’t have been as cool if you hadn’t seen her go through that process’.
‘Arya, who we’ve always loved, is getting pulled apart. But she will ultimately use it to her advantage, just as she always does. She takes every negative and uses it as a positive, and that happens in a big way this year’
I think what happened in the last episode was all part of her big plan (otherwise its terrible writing and makes Arya look awful). In episode 6 we saw her get needle and hide in darkness, obviously prepared for the Waif. In this episode, she is walking around Braavos in daylight without needle, pays for cabins on a ship with bags and bags of gold/silver and then stands on a bridge with her guard down. That just does not make sense unless its part of her plan. There is definitely something else going on and I cant wait to see what happens
Markus Stark,
Well, I do think we will get 2 whole Jon focused episodes (9 and 10)
I still believe Kit when he said this is Jon’s biggest season yet.
Though I do agree with the sentiment that Sansa has been more heavily focused on in the recent episodes.
Sou,
ep 8 is 59 min so 55 after intro and end credits, ep 9 is 60 so 56 and ep 10 is 69 so 65
I keep thinking of that point in the “worst person” conversation between Olenna and Cersei when Olenna tells her, “… rest of your family have abandoned you. The people despise you. You’re surrounded by enemies. Thousands of them. Are you going to kill them all by yourself?“ Everything she said was almost like a wake up call for Cersei. There’s only one person she truly cares about and cares about her left in KL, Tommen, and he’s not on “her side” anymore.
HelloThere,
The character development has been all over the place so far imo and we’re missing some crucial conversations between Jon & Sansa and Jon & Mel (especially about Jon’s resurrection and his state of mind, as well as Sansa’s experience with LF and Ramsay). Instead we got them talking about soup and Old Nan’s pies. I also would have preferred seeing some more Northern politics pre-battle (but maybe I’ll be surprised). And as of last episode, I think we need Davos and Sansa to have a chat, since she’s so mistrustful of him.
Clob,
And the last three are going to be bigger, I predict 🙂
HelloThere,
Yup, after Bran it was my favourite.
I actually liked what they did with Jon. I was expecting him to be decisive, resolute, determined to fight….etc.
I love how he came back, a bit less, a bit more scared, a bit less determined.
And I kinda liked that Mel kept a low profile and isn’t bothering Jon. She did that with Stannis, trying to push him in the right direction, look how that ended.
First time posting here guys.
What is really worrying me is how they will handle the season finale.
I mean, EP.9 will be completely dedicated to the North storylines, so less time for Dany and Tyrion’s stories…Do you really believe that Dany’s POV will end with the ships sailing for Westeros? How do you deal with her journey back and the battle of Meereen?
And what about Cersei? Will there be a trial? Or Wildfire havoc? There simply isn’t time to show us these events, and that is frustrating! And we’re three episodes away from the finale!
Ravyn,
I think that will be episode 10 for some reason. I think we get Davos standing by what looks like Shireen’s pyre this week. Have a feeling some of Stannis sellswords who abandoned before the battle are still out there in the general area……which will lead to him finding out what actually happened……..
I think it’s funny that people jump to conclusions when they don’t see a certain area in the synopsis or preview pictures. This episode is what…. 59 minutes long?
We have for sure: Arya, Kings Landing, Riverrun, Meeren.
Presumably we don’t have: Greyjoys, Dorne, or Sam.
I find it hard to believe, the episode before a huge battle, they wouldn’t show Jon and Co. Or Ramsay. 100% we get both of them.
They showed KL before Blackwater, and the Wall/Moles Town before Watchers on the Wall. I dont think we’re just gonna start EP 9 and both sides are gonna be on the battlefield. They need build up in this episode, and in EP 9.
Markus Stark,
just think of that scene where he tells bran he doesn’t want to leave him. heck watch it, and his death will make you cry
awww so cute <3 poor rickon
Will we not see Bran again until the season finale? And will we see JonSanVos or Ramsay in 608? With all the storylines mentioned in the synopsis plus The Hound, they might not have a ton of time for the North.
Ravyn,
Yeah, I don’t really care either. Just nitpicking.
Markus Stark,
What is the general consensus about where Bran will end up? In reading the books, I always assumed he would stay in the cave and take the 3ER’s place. Will he eventually return to Winterfell and stay there? Not sure how that would go over if he ends up living for 1,000 years or more as the new 3ER.
I’m hoping against hope the title for episode 9 is different. Battle of Bastards sounds like a PVP game.
I think I prefer The Bastard(s) of Winterfell or something.
What other levels can we come up with for the title “Battle of the Bastards?” The internal (sometimes SICK) psychology of bastards in that world? And remember, every dwarf is a bastard in his father’s eyes…
Don’t laugh at it; my grandfather, may he rest, always said: “once a bastard, always a bastard”. He was born out of wedlock too, and although his mother married his dad like 4 years later, everyone in the village referred to him as the Bastard, right up to the day he moved out and came to the city. His own siblings called him bastard. That was before WWII, and I imagine things in the Middle Ages might have been even less politically correct for illegitimate children.
A Man Grown,
I think we will definitely see Bran. He needs to get somewhere during the season finale at the latest to conclude his story arc for the season.
Flayed Potatoes,
Nah, if this one proved right, the others will be too.
HelloThere,
Most logically he only appears in episode 9 and saves the day.
HelloThere,
I really hope you’re right about 9 and 10.
I kind of get the feeling the main reason he was on set more than anyone is because filming the battle took a month. And Dinklage has had far less time than usual.
Hopefully Jon’s story will be juicy by the end of the season.
Ryan,
Good points but they did show The Hound in the preview so we know he’s in too.
The leaked summary was always dubious, given the lack of source or the rumored and untrustworthy IMDb poster who’d lied before, but I do love to speculate. This official summary doesn’t directly contradict the leaked summary, but they are saying different things in each and every storyline.
And compare that to the official description:
r-hard,
Yup, I don’t expect LF until EP9, the scene in the woods/godswood is in EP10 surely.
I don’t think LF will answer or give any sign that he’ll help. That’s why Sansa won’t tell Jon.
She’ll be just as suprised as him, when he finally comes.
Anything in this description that negates the original leaked one? If not, I’m inclined to believe that the wait for this description was because they needed to make a new one so as not to spoil the last two episode descriptions.
Or not. Who knows. It was just an oddly long wait for this one.
As for ep 9 being called Battle of the Bastards, I wasn’t into it until it was described to me as being something that would be written in a history book. When someone in their world talks about it in the future, it would be called the Battle of the Bastards. Like Robert’s Rebellion. The War of the Five King’s. The Battle of Blackwater. None of those are exactly thought provoking titles, but it’s easy to relate them to what they refer to. Technically Stannis’s assault is the Battle for Winterfell, so this one can’t be called that. I’ve come to like Battle of the Bastards through this idea.
Ravyn,
90% of the 7.80 million who watched the Broken man had no idea what it was called. Same with every epi hahaha
Mihnea,
Let me dream, ok!!! lol
Flayed Potatoes,
Wouldn’t be surprised if we got most of those conversations before the season is over…..
Ginevra,
So, is that one fake……?
aabe,
This is highly knit picky IMO. What does it even matter what they call the episodes? I mean really? Maybe one day when I’m going back to rewatch I can tell exactly which one is the battle. Other than that. It could have no name and it wouldn’t matter. I guess it really is just a symptom of the show that people scrutinize every single thing about it. I watch a review on a YouTube channel earlier and one dude, had not one compliment or something he like within what he did like. It was all negative stuff. Like oh I didn’t like how the blackfish showed no emotion for Edmure, and when the other guy pointed out, hey its almost like a game of poker with the enemy….. He continued. Some criticism is highly worthy. But sometimes its just feel like people are reaching for anything just to be.
Flayed Potatoes,
Fully agree with this.
Flayed Potatoes,
It only leads to disapointment and then anger..
Release your dreams and hopes and you shall reach enlightment.
Laura,
Manderlys will burn on the crosses. Ramsay finds out their trick.
Beer Island,
This.
I wonder if the siege of Riverrunn will actually be shown, or will be handled mostly off screen (Like Yunkai and Meereen were)
I bet its mostly off screen
Sou,
I was meaning the alternate definition of course. That being that he’s an awful, despicable person.
I would think so, given they had all this time for Brother Ray. And although I enjoyed those scenes a lot, thanks to Ian McShane, we must admit they were not of a great importance for the show.
Will,
Me too! I was disappointed when I read the fake synopsis for episode 9. I want it to be solely focused on the north. Dany shouldn’t be in the episode.
I think we will see the north.
Honestly on Sunday it was like 9:48 and we had yet to see Arya – and I knew the episode was 51 minutes. And we still got a full Arya scene including a stabbing and it ended with the Hound.
So anything can happen in just 2-3 mins.
Arya won’t die, because this faceless men storyline needs to have repercussions for future episodes. With Arya dead, it hasn’t any and the faceless men storyline is for nothing.
HelloThere,
Judging from the preview I think you may be wrong.
Brienne and others inside RR clearly draw their swords.
Mihnea,
I was kidding 😛
My guess is that this is Arya’s final test.
There seemed to be some social justice to the assassinations. The the actress job came up, which does not jive. Waif kills anything, probably without thinking about it too much – therefore has not graduated.
Arya could not kill the good person. This pits her against the waif, who is stronger. If Arya survives and does not use her name as a way of seeking help, then she is truly no one.
Flayed Potatoes,
Me too. 🙂
Watchers on the Wall and Blackwater were shorter episodes
Since ep 9 is 60 minutes, I bet we get < 10 minutes dedicated to a few scenes in other storylines… Hopefully @ the beginning, so the battle isn't interrupted.
Dee,
Very true, the best Rickon scene for sure. Really good acting.
I shall watch it before episode 9, in case the worst should come to pass.
A Man Grown,
I definitely get the sense Bran will not return until the finale. Which would be a huge bummer for me.
How can people say there is no build up to the battle. When Sansa and Jon and Davos are going around acquiring soldiers, what is that? Is not like they have a army in place already. Yes they could show Ramsey side more. But with all the stuff they need to get through until the seasons end I totally understand why. And the Bolton’s have their armies in place already. There are a lot of climatic situations happening at the same time in all the regions and all these factions need adequate screen time before they get resolved then to end up in the same area.
Sou,
I think so too. The scenes with Ray were cute, but there better be some major pay off to justify them (because I feel like that screentime could have gone somewhere else).
HelloThere,
Yup, 10-15 minutes in other places first, then the battle.
I don’t know about Team Stark, but I don’t expect to see Ramsay. He has already killed off every supporting character he could meaningfully interact with, or else their episode count is too low. Unless it’s just a scene of him torturing Rickon, which we can hopefully do without.
How could this possibly indicate she’s No One? She retrieved Needle, the symbol of her connection to her Stark side, and she’s now styled to look like Ned and trying to book passage home.
HelloThere,
Lol, can’t reply; I do not do spoilers. And if your answer includes one, then… I couldn’t possibly say anything about it.
Still, I do think we’ll see them arriving to Maesters’ Hogwarts (I cannot remember the name of the place). But I agree we’ll not see much more.
Why some people still assume certain things based on an extremely short episode summary is beyond me. They cannot mention every arc in a 3 sentence long description. Locations/arcs have been absent from it but included in the episode so many times already. Same goes for the previews. They never give us glimpses of every location that’s gonna be in the ep.
Is he even cast?
Flayed Potatoes,
Aside from Jon’s reaction to his resurrection, which maybe he just doesn’t want to talk about, none of those things strike me as remotely necessary. Personally, I loved Jon and Sansa’s reminiscing because that’s something you could actually see two long-separated siblings talk about. It makes them seem more real.
Really, the only conversation/confrontation that needs inclusion is Davos and Mel.
Well based on the casting calls for season 6, there are still at least 2 northern lords that haven’t been introduced, one which sounded like Manderly and one which sounded like Lord Cerwyn. Also, the role of Lord Cerwyn, according to the casting call, wouldn’t be filming for long. They’ll be plenty of time to introduce them in episode 9 since it’s quite long
Dee,
so far this season only characters/storylines that have been in the preview or synopsis have appear in the episode.
I actually think The North will be absent and then have a lot of screentime in episode 9 for the battle. Jon has his army and doesn’t have anything else left to do before the battle so it actually makes sense for them to miss this episode. He will likely go into battle with his small army and then LF will show up at the end with the knights of the vale.
Markus Stark,
Yes, we love to torture ourselves, don’t we? hahaha!
Fienix,
I really don’t know. Bran’s endgame is one of the hardest to figure out. I can’t imagine he’d be Lord of Winterfell once all is said and done. I’m 99% certain the series will end with Sansa as Queen in the North, or at least, as Lady of Winterfell.
Perhaps Bran will ultimately die. I always thought Arya and Bran would be much more likely to die than Sansa or Jon.
mau,
That really doesn’t match up with his casting info at all.
Davos Seaworth,
Exactly my feelings. I don’t think a Mel/Jon scene was neccesery as of yet. I do think they’ll get one towards the end, but it will be more about the WW, the war to come, rather then his resurection.
Jon clearly doesn’t think he is a god and Mel has clearly stopped trying to push things her way, she believes Jon is the prince that was promised, if he is, the Lord of Light will make sure he does the right thing, no need for her to intervene.
There will be a Davos/Mel scene. No doubt about this.
Davos Seaworth,
Davos vs. Mel is definitely happening once she’s finished taking Ghost out for a walk.
One of Roose Bolton’s 20 good leeches,
Nitpicky.
Love these Maisie quotes! Thank you. Here is the source, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/arts/television/hbo-game-of-thrones-arya-interview.html?_r=0, in case others are interested.
Flayed Potatoes,
To be completely honest, the meeting waits for Davos rather then Mel.
I think he’ll find where Shireen burned, perhaps even the stag, and then confront her.
Markus Stark,
If Sansa will be in your opinion QITN/Lady of Winterfell, what is your endgame for Jon?
I can’t see Bran as Lord of Winterfell either.
serum,
wow
Episode 8 title “No One” was up last night when I checked on HBO’s program schedule, but I did not see a synopsis or titles for episodes 9 and 10. Battle of the Bastards does sound pretty weak IMO, not that I could come up with anything better. It’s a good thing it’s only title of the episode and it really doesn’t mean shit overall, the episode will likely be a lot of fun with a foreseeable “twist” coming at the end.
Amen. The Northern storyline is following pretty much beat for beat what I expected, except for Jon and Sansa being reunited so early. I honestly have no clue what the detractors were expecting.
Flayed Potatoes,
Still with the NW or dying in the end.
Or as the start of the season sugested, he will simply go around places…. The adventures of Jon Snow, coming 2020!
Dee,
All I remember is the one for episode 10 that gave all
hope brienne meets a friend turned foe
Better titles for Ep. 9 than “Battle of the Bastards”:
Bastards
Snow
For Winterfell
Winterfell
Lady Stark
Darkrobin,
Wait, I’m confused.
So that synopsis was fake?
Sword of the Morning,
For you….. I don’t really like any of those.
aabe,
All I remember is how hyped people were. Maybe someone was writing fanfic and the fans bought it?
I love “The Battle of the Bastards.” Too often, bastards are overlooked, cast aside, discounted. They are the downtrodden, the unwanted, the disreputable immediately upon birth. Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things. And now, two bastards who weren’t even born from kings, as far as the story knows, have risen high enough to have one of the last great battles before the Great War named just for them. How awesome is that? Bring on the bastards!
Ginevra,
Well said!!
Ginevra,
Maybe Gendry will show up. He accidentally rowed his way north.
Not fake per se, just not official. The one that said “Arya is not alone.”
These last three episodes are long for GOT, so I think we’re going to get more.
Obviously Jaime/Brienne/Blackfish siege is going to be in there
Cersei and the Mountain will smash heads–will this be the big episode she goes crazy in? I hope so.
What kind of fruit Tyrion? Will the dragons help him? Will the red priestess convert everyone? Or will the slavers answer his deal with violence? All 3? And will he also find Theon and Yara waiting to meet with him about their ships?
Like I said last night–Arya’s story from Sunday wasn’t what it seemed. Too many clues that it was staged and planned. I expect something amazing from her on Sunday, and the Waif getting an F on her report card.
What we could also see:
The North definitely. Davos is camped where Shireen died, so that is going to happen-along with Mel chat. I’d love Jon to have more dialogue-something. He needs to have some sort of realization pre-battle-because right now he’s not looking okay.
Ramsay and Rickon? I’m really good with him not showing up until 9-but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him for a minute or two in the episode before the big battle.
The Hound doing good works with his axe at the BWB-and possibly learning something interesting.
*hope* Jorah? Someone has to heal him-maybe in Oldtown so he meets Sam and the Slayer can have a warrior in his party (haha)-but a part of me is hoping Jorah the Andal will get good advice from our masked knower of all things, Quaithe. Something for him to bring back to Dany along with his magically healed-possibly charred and exceptionally strong arm 😉
Arya put her face on the actress playing Sansa that conspired to kill Lady Crane. She got stabbed not Arya. Waif now has a false sense that Arya is out of the picture and bam, she gets stabbed in the gut next episode. Arya leaves the Waif’s face for Jaqen before she ;eaves and heads back to Westeros to F some S up!
Critique it all you want, I just came up with this so I have no idea if there are holes in my theory.
Mihnea,
I don’t think he’s going back to serve with the people that killed him. He seems done with serving the NW.
On a more fun note, “Jon Snow: Essosi Sellsword” seems like a cheesy spinoff I’d watch.
Dee,
Haha we most certainly do !
I believe Sue is saying that the one I covered in spoiler coding is fake. I’m saying it was the one that was leaked and dubious.
I’m still holding onto a thread of a hope that he’s in Braavos and is the one that finds and helps Arya. I’m sure we’d have heard whispers during filming but I don’t care… still hoping. 🙂
Ginevra,
My title has “bastards” in it too 😛
Jon and Ramsay have come far though. Gendry should join them and form a triumvirate.
Ha ha, that is also true!
Unless you’re Jaime Lannister and the screenwriters feel generous.
What I wrote was just to show that in somehow backwards societies, or in the past, being legitimized would not “cure” a person of the social stigma of being a natural child. So I think that for Ramsay, he may be recognized by his father but he would still be a Snow in everyone’s mind (even if noone dared to say so). That was his reason of throwing his baby legitimate brother to the dogs. Well, that and the fact that he’s a psycho and would probably do the same with an illegitimate brother or a random baby.
Its kind of a flimsy argument
But technically Arya had no idea the Waif even saw her @ the play… so she might’ve been caught off guard..
Tho she didn’t have needle on her @ all right?
Who knows.. I wonder if this was one of those scenes that played out differently in the writers head than what was actually filmed on screen…
Haha, when last episode had a cold open with a blacksmith beating on an anvil, I said “Oh shit Gendry is back!”
Nope wrong, as always
Making the 8,
So during that time Arya is sitting around perfectly fine without a face? I don’t think it works that way. 😛
Ginevra,
Thank you. As you say, the leaked summary is not in complete contradiction with the official one, except for
Riverlands (Hound vs Brotherhood, Jaime-Brienne-Blackfish showdown) and Kings Landing will take up considerable amount of time. There is going to be a fight sequence involving Arya and Waif (from the trailer). The writers tend to give a lot of time for Tyrion even if nothing happens in his part of the story, and this time it looks like something will happen in Meereen. That makes five important storylines and leaves very less time to catch up with JonSaVos, Ironborn, and Sam&Gilly.
Flayed Potatoes,
Jon’s endgame is quite hard to be certain of, because it depends on so many things. Is he the legitimate child of Rhaegar and does he therefore have a claim on the Iron Throne ? Is he Azor Ahai ? What will happen with the White Walkers ? How will they be defeated ? Will there even be an Iron Throne by the end of the story ? And how will Dany fit into all of this ?
To me those are just a few of the many question marks that make it hard to determine Jon’s endgame, but as of right now, I’d say the two most likely are either to die permanently after having played a huge role in defeating the WW, or he ends up on the Iron Throne. Which I wouldn’t like but there has been significant foreshadowing that this may happen if he is the legitimate son of Rhaegar.
Clob,
Well apparently no one heard anything on Benjen coming back. So maybe he is!
Beer Island,
Like oh I didn’t like how the blackfish showed no emotion for Edmure, and when the other guy pointed out, hey its almost like a game of poker with the enemy
I just thought he was being realistic. Trust the Freys to keep their word? Especially as Edmure is the former Lord of Riverrun, and is married and [in the books, his wife is pregnent [/spoiler] so the Freys hold on the Riverlands is never safe while Edmure is alive [that’s one of the reasons Jamie offers that he can go to Casterly Rock and live out his days under his protection as a part of the negotiations in the books [/spoiler]
Frankly, a lot of reviewers just talk loud and have some shtick that attracts youtube attention.
Beyond that, many people impose 21st century values on what is a fantasy, somewhat medieval, society.
Clob,
My ears pricked up x 1000 when Olenna said that 🙂
Oh, and Lena’s entire face was twitching w/ pure rage @ the end of that scene…
You know, I felt as if this was a tribute to the actor; as if Cogman thought “OMG, Ian fucking McShane will be in this, let’s triple his lines”.
But maybe there was a point in that, as you say. We’ll see. Otherwise, I was just happy to see Ian fucking McShane.
HelloThere,
I thought Arya was strolling like that in the open because she didn’t think the Waif would try and attack her in public. She probably thought it would be safer than just staying hidden in an alleyway and get attacked with nobody to interfere.
Guys, if anyone answers to that, could you please please use spoiler codes?
Adam,
Maybe because GRRM didn’t write thie title. The others were obviously big chapters in the books. I like the title, myself. But, with Sansa trying to make a name for herself, perhaps it should be called something else. No clues here lol
Sword of the Morning,
Yikes, maybe for you, but that’s the point. Those to me seem really weak – titles are subjective
I think Ramsay will be in this episode. He has to have a scene with Rickon. Art made it sound like they had a couple scenes together. I think it would be pretty strange to have Ramsay skip 4 straight episodes and then just show up for the battle. It’ll be 5 episodes by then for Rickon since he wasn’t in 604 with Rickon and Osha.
Markus Stark,
Yea, I definitely prefer the idea of Jon completing some time of “mission” in the end game, and then returning to the dead…
Its hard for me to believe that people like him who have been brought back to life with magic can ever truly belong
Mwahaha. Y duz eht e van matt her how u spehl nitt pic he?
Where he meets up with Dario=Euron=Benjen and they go on a buddy road trip?
Hey! Me too! I was not the only one!!!!
Very good point. She may not have expected such a thing that quickly. Or maybe she figured Jaqen would find her rather than send a faceless assassin immediately. She was more like, “I’m not doing this. I’m getting my things (needle) and getting out of here as soon as I can.”
Sou,
If that was the case, they should have given Max von Sydow more to do as well. He’s Max von Fucking Sydow!! lol
I would say almost with certainty that both the North and Ramsay/Rickon have scenes. Regardless of how long episode 9 is, I still think that in a long episode 8 there’s room for both.
Whether Rickon lives or dies, it seems odd to bring back Art for a 20 second scene with Ramsay before the battle. I think they should at least have a scene or two, and I don’t think we’ll go no Ramsay right up to the battle.
Plus, I think we’ll get some Jon/Sansa repercussions for the Vale stuff, because I really think she’ll (hopefully) tell him.
Btw, if episode 9 is Battle of the Bastards then it stands to reason that episode 10 is Winds of Winter. I absolutely love that. Aside from being a great title (book and show), it’s paying homage to GRRM work, and it’s a title that tells us what we all know – that the real battle is coming.
I don’t think the Wall falls down btw, not this season – I just think 13 episodes of a WW invasion is just a lot. We want the drama of it, but I think that long and the WWs become camp or mundane, there’s not the same sense of urgency. It becomes like The Walking Dead, and this isn’t that show. Still, I think we’ll have the sense at the end of the season that we’ve reached the top of the rollercoaster and it’s all starting to accumulate.
Btw I think GOT might be the only show I’ve ever watched where I actually KNOW the titles of the episodes and think about them in advance?
HelloThere,
Yeah, I agree.
But he was discussed a lot in the show lately; even used as a bait for Jon. On the other hand, poor Gendry… not that I would mind him coming back. After all, almost everyone has this season. Too bad Oberyn Martell couldn’t return too and give some decency to the Dorne plot.
Have you not seen the classic ’90s movie Face Off with Travolta and Cage? All you need is a wet napkin covering your soft tissue when the face has been removed…
Kidding aside, if Arya does possess the technique to remove faces and wear them she could easily swap and have the actresses’ face. This would give her a way to leave Bravos with the troupe. Again I think she will take hers back after the target we assume is Arya collapses and dies.
This even sounds crazy to me but one of these days my bullshit guess will be right
And none of those were episode titles.
For the Red Wedding, the title was “The Rains of Castamere”
The War of Five Kings spanned multiple episodes / seasons.
For the Battle of Blackwater, the title was simply “Blackwater”
Either “Winterfell” or “The Wolf and the Flayed Man” or even “Battle of Ice” would’ve been better titles for me, but ultimately episode titles are meaningless. As long as the battle is entertaining, and the episode is good, I’ll be satisfied.
If the title for episode 09 is
or whatever, I don’t mind it, don’t really care much for titles, but I don’t know why, but I don’t feel like this is Jon’s battle. Hardhome was more his battle than this.
Ohhh!! My thread of a hope may be strengthening!! Thanks! 🙂
Ha ha, that is right. But he’s like 90, so maybe nature would not allow it…
No, of course I am jesting, but just by reading every interview/tweet etc of Cogman you get to see that he is a real fan!
Beer Island,
I do have to laugh tho – we’ve spent two days debating every thing else in the sun for post upon post I think honestly we’ve just run out of things to fight about! 🙂
Nice joke m8
And she just let Arya put her face on her?
Clob,
Mihnea,
I’m not saying it is inaccurate. Just that if it’s not the official HBO synposis, it is a fake official HBO synposis. And then that leads you to question the individual items. I guess we will know more after Sunday night as to the accuracy of the leaked ones. But they are so vague as is might be difficult to discern even after the episode. Takes control could be variously interpreted. Is concerned could be variously interpreted. I’m sure Tyrion is concerned based on the trailer as it appeared that something (dragons?) were creating an issue in Meereen. It could be the two he released or Dany could have just landed (think more the former than the latter).
Dee,
See, I think there’s kind of a little irony in it. They’re both bastards (OR ARE THEY!), but neither in the way that people think. Ramsay was legitimized, and Jon isn’t Ned’s bastard. But both of them have that edge, in different ways, of being shunned as bastards, now both claiming Winterfell.
Also, I know I’ve said this to you before, but I still really really really believe Kit when he says this is a big season for Jon. I think (hope) we get some developments in episode 8 that really push him, but I also think by the time you see the battle with Jon out there doing the fighting and leading the army (small as it might be), you’ll FEEL like it’s his battle.
It’s also like how battles are named in memory – sometimes they take on a myth or name that doesn’t have to do with the reality of how the battle is fought.
I think “The Bastards of Winterfell” works pretty well, even though technically Ramsay hasn’t been a bastard for a while.
We’ll know in about 7 days either way! I don’t get hung up on titles, though, except when f*cking Cenk kept saying in the WTF review that ep 8 is called “Battle of the Bastards”, over and over and over, which incorrect in several ways. That was annoying AF, but I’m sure he’ll get roasted for it.
Why is Varys doing the rich-person walk now?
I saw many posts on the internet about people comparing Tyrion’s walk with hands tied behind with Bran’s in Winterfell and Arya’s in Braavos, calling it ‘walking like a rich person’. Personally, I think only Tyrion and Bran walked like a rich person, as if they owned the ground they walked upon. Arya was watching her surroundings, not relaxed at all (despite having a lot of silver with her) until she was enjoying the view of the Titan and getting stabbed. Varys seems to do the same as Arya in this photo. Minor details, but I really loved the was Bran walked on Winterfell – he was the prince of Winterfell after all.
ghost of winterfell,
Add Gendry and you get the GoT version of Three Men in a Boat.
Jack Bauer 24,
Plus it would mean Arya risked everything because she didn’t want to kill Crane, and yet now she offers her up as bait.
Would also mean Arya is hanging around without a face.
And she asked Crane to book passage for her across the Narrow Sea so that the viewers would think it was Arya.
And she taught Crane the magic of the face ritual, or somehow forced it on her.
Doesn’t seem too likely haha.
I didn’t mean to pick on you, of course, Scalloped Potatoes. I just felt like everyone was dissing on a title I loved. Someone needed to defend those bastards.
Yes, the actress didn’t have much to say about it since she was dead, Arya respects the woman playing Lady Crane not the dumb young actress trying to have her killed over jealousy. She was a means to an end.
Lyanna_Targaryen,
Wasn’t he saying it was called the “Battle for Riverrun” ?
He is the last male heir of Ned Stark a line that streches thousands of years. He is a very important character. If he dies that line die with him. Sansa nor arya would be able to pass it .
Flayed Potatoes,
Max von Sydow can still reappear – perks of being a time-traveler
Sou,
He was well enough to fly to Spain for the ToJ filming 😛
HelloThere,
Cersei also said “I’ll never leave my son.” I keep thinking that Cersei will even more directly bring the prophesy into being with Tommen. She almost killed him during the Battle of the Blackwater (out of motherly love I know).
If she does burn the keep/city, will Tommen die before or as a result of?
Stark Loyalist,
Of course they could.
Yes, they would. This is a common misconception, despite that we’ve seen ruling ladies who passed the name on. Lyanna Mormont is called Mormont despite that it was her mother’s name, for one.
Stark Loyalist,
I didn’t say he wasn’t important to the plot, I was saying that emotionally it won’t pack much of a punch compared to other Stark deaths.
Jon, sansa and Co. will be on next episode for sure. Sansa’s line from the trailer “it’s all I think about. What was taken from me” wasn’t said yet, her clips that goes with this line also hasn’t happened yet and by the sound/looks of it, it happens before the battle.
Regarding the lack of ramsay (and rickon), I personally am thankful for this. Yes, Rickon was never the most relevant stark children and was missing for 3 years. But he’s still a stark and he’s just a child. The last we saw him in s3 he cried and begged to go with bran because “he was his brother and had to protect him”. Do we really want to see this poor child getting repeatedly tortured by ramsay? Though I want to know where he and osha were and what they were up to before getting captured, at this point i’m counting my blessings for every episode rickon isn’t in it.
Nadia,
yeah that’s true… something may happen thatll push us to believe that it is his battle. feelings and all.
Edit: On paper it is his battle, I know this as the letter was sent to him from Ramsay. But, I mean feelings wise.
Re Arya:
I just noticed that in episode 6 Arya had four scars on her face from her fights with the Waif. One on her chin, one near her eyebrow and two on her forehead. Though I could not tell if she had them in the scenes at the dock, she still had them when she fought the waif.
If someone made a mask of her face, it was one made after she fought the Waif in earlier episodes during her training.
Now we know ‘No One’ is the title for ep8, it pretty much says we’ll see Arya finish off The Waif (hopefully with Needle) and head back to Westeros to continue eliminating those named on her Death List – Hopefully not The Hound though !
I’m curious to see if those other two dragons which Tyrion released have escaped from the Catacombs? I presume Dany riding Drogon along with her Dothraki army are heading back to Meereen. Should be plenty action when she returns there 😮
Making the 8,
How did Arya replicate her own face? (She’s used a face once, but doesn’t know how to make them, let alone use her own). Why would the actress where it? Did Arya secretly put it on her? Why is the actress wearing those close? Why is the actress buying passage on a ship to Westeros? Where did she get all that money? If the answer to those questions is she’s working WITH Arya, why? Arya pointed her out to everyone as a murderer who hired the Faceless Men.
Maybe there’s some weird face-switchery going on. Maybe everyone’s reading into a bit too much and Arya got cocky and then screwed up big time. Hard to say until we see episode 8, but so far every theory (Arya was actually Jaqen, Arya was actually the Waif, the Waif was actually Jaqen/Arya, etc.) has more holes in the story than just the simple truth that the Waif stabbed Arya.
Ryan,
This
aabe,
The leaked descriptions always had the smallest of chances of being right, and that chance got much smaller today, for sure. I’m simply saying there could be scenarios where the two were not mutually exclusive, as small as that chance may be. Events in one storyline can be both good and bad. We sometimes get storylines that surprise us.
Darkrobin,
I would imagine Tommen’s death would be the catalyst for her to destroy everything…
I can’t imagine she’d ever willingly kill Tommen (unless its a mercy killing like in 2×09)
Dee,
Yeah, I don’t love Jon’s arc thus far but I do take heart. Kit never said season 5 was huge for Jon – even with Hardhome and being stabbed lol – nor did he say Hardhome was a huge episode for him specifically (I think).
But who knows, maybe they’re all lying liar-pants, but I’m hoping not!!
aabe,
He did have a line in the Season 6 teaser that we haven’t heard yet, but perhaps it was cut. It was something like “We watch, we listen, and we remember”.
Most likely a deleted/extended scene will feature it.
I don’t think it would make sense for him to contact Bran from the past. Why wouldn’t he have told Bran whatever he needed to tell him when they were together ?
Besides it isn’t really time travel, it’s more like the ability to see the past and interact with it by forging a mental connection to someone in the past, through warging.
It’s not physical travel.
I asked this in another thread but no-one commented. I don’t mind you all ignoring my amazingly interesting and well thought out questions (that is a joke btw!) but as we are talking ep8 I’ll ask it again: warning! spoilers for the series trailers and the ep8 preview trailer
O/T(ish): I’m really not good on the geography in the show. Are Brienne and the Hound anywhere near each other at the moment? Could their paths possibly cross again, say if the Riverrun stuff is sorted out and she (presumably) sets off back Northwards?
Stark Loyalist,
The stark line has continued through females before.They will surivie see case in point lyanna mormont
Markus Stark,
Yes yes, whatever it was it was so goddamn wrong! And it was making me INSANE. And I don’t like it when I get that riled about the name of an episode of TV. Love Cenk’s enthusiasm, don’t love that he’s so beyond wrong like 80% of the time. I might be a sadist for watching, but I like the other guys too.
Flayed Potatoes,
I think everyone except Sam, Dorne, the Greyjoys and possibly Dany (unless she lands in Meereen this episode, which is why the chandelier shakes) will make it to this episode. It’s a long one, a very long one.
Most of the episode will go to Riverrun, Braavos and King’s Landing since those arcs will reach an early climax. Second place (in terms of screentime) will be Meereen and the North for final pre-battle setup. Aside from that I expect scattered catch-up scenes from Bran and Ramsay and possibly other storylines.
Lulus Mum,
I’d say there’s a good chance Lancel might meet his end. If there’s a big fight he’s either going to have to abandon his comrades while the Mountain tears them apart or die with them.
The Hound still appears to be around the Vale (I could be wrong, but it looks like that area, where Arya left him). It’s not exactly a day’s ride from the Vale to the Riverlands (where Brienne is going) but compared to most places in Westeros they’re close. The BWB is supposed to be mostly around the Riverlands, and the Hound seems to be hunting them now, so that’ll bring him and Brienne closer together. I think a certain cold hearted Lady may bring them together by episode 10 🙂
Lulus Mum,
When I think of Lancel coming at the Mountain with that double spiked “cudgel” weapon, I think of my 6 year old smacking his college football player uncle with a pool noodle.
Nadia,
yeah, very curious!!!!!!!
My preference for Ep. 9 title:
“The North Dismembers”
Hm… now I have to check if he was really there…
Oh, ok, I surrender!
Lulus Mum,
Geography has always been the last priority in the show. If the plot needs it to happen, it’ll happen. And Brienne and the Hound should be relatively close, judging by the fact that he tackled with the Brotherhood (they occupy the Riverlands, and Riverrun is the capital of of the Riverlands).
So it’s certainly possible. That is, if the story demands it.
Sean C.,
Who’s her father, anyway?
Hmm, is the extent of Sam’s story to steal Heartsbane? I mean it’s a huge deal, absolutely!!! But perhaps if the Wall isn’t coming down there isn’t as much urgency to his getting to the Citadel to find out how to beat the WWs, ie it doesn’t yet feel like a race against time because there’s still so much else going on.
How do we know this for sure?
Lyanna_Targaryen,
I love Cenk, but he is so wrong most of the time when it comes to GOT, lol.
Lyanna_Targaryen,
Hahah I feel the same. Though honestly even John and Matt who have read the books say lots of things that are incorrect, but its fun nonetheless. I really get a kick out of Ben calling everyone by a different name : “Mayor of Baltimore”, “Eric Bana Jr.”, “Richard from Downton Abbey”, etc…
I’m afraid I don’t have a strong opinion on Lancel. There isn’t enough to go on, I fear.
Lem Lemoncloak and the other two hooligans were part of the Brotherhood without Banners who are famous for their work in the Riverlands, which is of course where Riverrun is. So close, yes. I absolutely adored the nod to Brienne in the last episode!
Btw if Bran is headed south to the Wall do we think Jon goes back to the Wall this season?
What about this. Tin foil hat on.
Perhaps this is the final test all Faceless Men must face (pun intended) in order to truly become Faceless Men.
Tin foil or not, this device would be something I might use in a story.
Why are you assuming that line was before the battle? And in any event, 609 won’t just start with the battle, so it occurring prior doesn’t inherently dictate it’s in 608.
It’s easy to feel ignored on here. Some people know each other well and engage naturally and there are so many posts to read through its easy to get passed over but I don’t think it’s personal.
As far as the Hound goes, I suppose it depends where he is likely to head.
Lancelot seems to be in the face off against the Frankenmountain so I think he’s toast. After all Cersei will want him silenced.
Sean C.,
True, but I think it would be odd to get no North – there do feel like there are a few things left hanging that don’t need to ALL be in one episode. I don’t think they’d leave the North and Ramsay out of the episode before what is in theory on of the biggest battles the show has done
Markus Stark,
I actually find Ben to be the most correct with his analysis of the scenes, even if he forgets everyone’s names, lol
Ravyn,
IIRC she actually said Arya’s season 6 story is a return to form, back to the Arya we all know and love.
Making the 8,
Arya would have to actually have her face cut off in order for it to be “put on” someone else.
Although, in the books, I do believe that the graduation ceremony (can’t think of a another way to call it) of a Faceless Man, does involve them actually getting their faces cut off so indeed they do become “no one” and then can wear the faces of others.
But the TV show did not go this route, so that was Arya getting stabbed in the gut, not someone with her face, her face never got cut off.
Arya got something up her sleeve, or Jaqen is going to help her because I think we all agree he does have affection towards her.
Or perhaps, unbeknownst to her, this was actually a test on the Waif, that she failed. Because he told her to not let Arya suffer and stabbing her in the gut was malicious. Maybe Arya passed the test because faceless man are only suppose to kill the deserving and the Waif just takes pleasure in killing.
IDK man, I am glad we will find out this Sunday. This might be Arya’s season 6 finale.
Sou,
My father had a similar experience in the early to mid 1930s. Does that make us Snows? 🙂
Mihnea,
Do you think Brienne and Pod in the boat in the trailer are them with the BF escaping Riverrun via river? I couldn’t tell from the trailer but it looked like she was in the castle somewhere meeting with someone and it could have been the BF (in addition to the meeting on the bridge). Maybe there’s a secret way to escape?
Also, the episode 10 description Brienne meets friend turned foe. Would Jaimie follow her? Or would he get word from KL about the aftermath of whatever Cersei does next episode and go to KL? If he follows, could they fight again as they did on the bridge?
Just wanted to get your opinion.
Looper,
The rate people are dying off this series it’s easier to try and guess who’ll still be alive 😀 I suppose it would give Kevan, HS and others reason to hate Cersei even more, if she allows her ‘pet’ to kill/very seriously injure her cousin. They could certainly refuse her trail by combat if he kills some Sparrows in advance of it. I did giggle at the fact Lancel’s now wearing sandals, indoors no less, and looked really “What am I doing here?” grumpy last week as a possible sign his keenness for the pious life is wavering.
Had a random thought because of the similar looking landscape that if the Hound and Brienne (or Pod) are thrown together for some reason he could find out that Sansa is back in the North and get involved in Team Stark again. Maybe sent on a mission to try and find Arya? It would give him some kind of purpose again and maybe some peace/closure/sense of achievement etc. I just like a nice ending, me. Yes I know I haven’t been paying attention. La LA LAAAAAA Ramsay, can’t hear you! 😉
Lyanna_Targaryen,
I guess he could try biting the Mountain’s ankles or maybe tickling, or confusing him with philosophical questions? He’s too strong to try and bring down that way so gotta think outside the box and go for any weaknesses 😉
Hope they bothered to give Jon a character moment or two before the battle so that he isn’t reduced to a mindless war machine entirely. At least one scene with Mel, him expressing his thoughts about his comeback/purpose in life/identity and the battle, whatever.
aabe,
You make an interesting point. Maybe that title is a total mislead. Ramsey isn’t a bastard anymore so maybe Jon won’t be either. Jon was legitimized by Rob and the letter was signed, sealed, and witnessed by Rob’s lords. Who probably all died at the red wedding but there is one guy left from that group who might have that letter. Or at least the knowledge of that letter. The blackfish. The next episode
Lulus Mum,
On the geography, I agree, they make it fit the story. I would say that where Arya left the Hound is weeks from RR, given it took the Hound and her weeks to get there. But Ray could have taken him back closer to RR. But given the mountains where the Hound is, it cannot be too close.
True, I agree that the simpler answer is probably closer to the truth. But as we just sit around to wait and see this Sunday, we speculate and come up with theories on top of guesses. I stated that I don’t think I’m right and the idea just came to me but I don’t think Arya replicated her face I think they switched faces and not because the actress is working with Arya.
Let’s say Arya uses her knowledge of potions and knowledge of the actors getting drunk after each show to knock out the actress who hired the FM to kill Lady Crane. Arya respects Lady Crane but not the younger jealous actress right? She called her out in front of everyone for being a backstabbing bitch. So after Arya slips some herbal shit into the actress’ drink, Arya switches faces with her and uses her as bait to lure out the Waif. Arya knows she did not follow the rules of the FM which is why she retrieved Needle, booked passage out of town, and did not return to HoBaW. Arya is on the run and using what she has learned up to this point to stay alive. Arya is in fact Arya in the scene where she is buying passage to Westeros but not when she gets stabbed.
As I write this it all sounds like crap to me though. Maybe to cloak and daggers but essentially that is what it is with the FM assassins. Or like many have said, maybe Arya was just caught slipping and didn’t realize that suspicious old lady was going to shank her.
Either way, there are better theories/ideas of what’s really going on by folks who are far more informed than I on this thread.
Well, I am well in the South, so it would probably make me a Sand…
That’s it, I now have to learn how to use a spear. Or a whip.
TYRION!!! How I’ve missed ya! TWO episodes were just too much for me. Thank the Red God he’s back this episode.
I quite like the title: Battle of the Bastards! I wonder if, in a sense, both “bastards” will lose and the battle saved by Sansa and her allies.
Ooh other people replied while I was answering the first two:
Jentario
It was just the similar looking landscape that made me think of it. Sometimes I imagine places in the show are really close together and they turn out to be hundreds of miles apart, although of course you are right with the plot bit. Someone wise once said A journey takes as long as the plot requires it to and that applies to distance as well.
Halfman
Aww thank you 😀 but no need to worry about me, I really was joking, I know quite a few people on here to chat to and often bore them with my random stupid thoughts! People like…..
Ginevra
Hi sweetie *jazz hands waving*. I’m thinking everyone will die so if anyone is still alive for S7 it’ll be a bonus 😉 Does Lem have mates called Mel Meloncoat and Bill Billberryblouse? ?
Throne-To-The-Wolves
Love it, although obviously only if it applies to certain people!
lewdvig,
Nothing about the Faceless Men screams justice, but their origins
A little late to the party, but regarding the title for Ep 9. I wouldn’t mind “The Battle of Bastards,” but something about it just doesn’t sit well.
As some have proposed, “The Bastard(s) of Winterfell” would have more ring to it. This would refer to both Ramsay (even if he’s technically no longer a bastard) and the Bastard of Winterfell, Jon Snow.
Or “The Snows of Winterfell,” which again plays on their status as bastards and also the weather conditions in the north. Though this one may not be the best choice if Ep 10 really is titled “The Winds of Winter.”
Or even “The Flayed Man and the Wolf,” which would be in line with prior titles (“The Wolf and the Lion,” “The Lion and the Rose,” “The Mountain and the Viper”).
One big fear I have right now is Ramsey marching on Castle Black. If he still thinks Sansa is there with Jon he may do that. Unless the Glovers or others tell him Sansa is out recruiting houses to retake Winterfell.
I have this fear that Benjen will be taking Bran back to CB right around the time Ramsey is there. I have no reason to believe this will happen, I’m just paranoid.
I’m also looking forward to a reunion of Bran, Sansa, Jon & Arya at some point. probably in Season 7? although there is the remote possibility it could happen at the very end of season 6.
Jumbo,
She might say smething like she saw him in the flames and now it’s time to fulfill his destiny – and her walking the battlements of winterfell – more like moral support and less like manipulation what she did to stannis
Ginevra,
I wonder if part of Loras’s atonement could be part of the trial by combat? If that actually occurs, I’m getting doubtful that it willl as it would seem the HS may try to pull something before that and that’s when all hell breaks loose (based on what JP said in that interview)
Medic Mike,
Sorry when did Robb do this? Lol
Arthur,
Good points.
It will probably be something much simpler and coherent than what I threw out there.
Darkrobin,
I do hope in the show Blackfish escapes Riverrun and they don’t kill him off prematurely! I know they need to consolidate but save Clive Russell!
Darkrobin,
I read your last line as the Mountain, as in his brother, is where the Hound is and got really confused. I know my grasp of the layout of Westeros is a bit shaky but I didn’t think it was that bad! 😉
They’ve given Sandor more charactet moments after his comeback in one episode than they have given Jon in 4.
HelloThere,
Haha very true.
Dee,
Lol, in the books Robb names Jon his heir. I don’t THINK it’s a spoiler as the show never did it – there’s no heir to Robb here, and with Bran and Rickon alive on the show and the books (but Robb didn’t know) it wouldn’t necessarily hold? I don’t know but I think it’s why people are conflating it with the show and suggesting that Jon will eventually get the backing of the Northern lords and end up KITN, if that’s where the books are going.
Or maybe it’s my fanfiction 😉
Amen to this. They are bringing back characters to kill them off which is essentially tying up loose ends, fine. But some must avoid this treatment otherwise its too predictable. Save Clive! I have at least 5 characters right off the top of my head that seem to have run their course but I like having the BF back.
Jumbo,
This. You’re absolutely correct.
Making the 8,
I know it’s annoying to hop on this train, but so much depends on how important LSH is to the actual plot, right? If in the books we think Sansa will eventually run into her, or Blackfish runs into her, or the RIverlands is important, can all that be skipped on the show? And maybe they can skip LSH, but does that mean that Blackfish has no purpose, or does he serve a greater storyline?
Save Clive!
Jumbo,
Sadly, you’re right.
Markus Stark,
Wut?
Nadia,
oh okay, but it was stated as though it was going to happen in the show
which its not
lol
He does now! As I’m sure you know, Bill Billberryblouse is second cousins once removed to Bilbo Baggypants.
But are they also going to have Davos confronting Mel in 609?
Seems like at least one of those scenes should come before 609.
Jumbo,
He got plenty of character moments in episode 3…
But this is a consistent thing that has been happening with Jon ever since the very beginning of the series.
It doesn’t make me upset, but I do remember Jon being my absolute #1 favorite character in the books, which he isn’t even close to in the show…
Ok I read this spoiler here and have been thinking about it but please skip if you don’t want to be spoiled!
mau,
Yes….
In addition, (though less positive) told the shot from trailer where Littlefinger glances behind at something circling when someone comes into view, is Winterfell godswood. CGI stick used for the rear glance shot. Told CGI stick used for Ghost who encircles LF, and the face to face is with Jon. LF will make a big claim of knowledge he is in possession of to Jon. Wish to reiterate less positive this is accurate. VFX source did no work with this supposed scene. Second hand info.
Dee,
Haha it’s not. Well, I mean some part of it could materialize right? Jon COULD become King in the North – they’ve made a big deal of bringing up Robb multiple times. I thought it was really telling that in that scene with Lyanna Mormont they referenced the letter and had her say that line again – “Bear Island knows king but the King in the North, whose name is Stark” – and in some ways a lot of this season is Jon subtly laying claim to being a Stark.
It could be the show’s way of getting to the book endpoint – ie the North just backs Jon – without a convoluted “the will got saved and then taken away and then it reemerges etc etc.”
I know a lot of people think Sansa will be Queen in the North, but as much as I think her arc has taken precedence over Jon THUS FAR, I don’t actually see any evidence that the North will declare for her or that they have any deep loyalty to HER. Both times she’s met Northern lords she’s been smacked down. Lyanna Mormont leads Bear Island because there’s not another choice, but Jon as the military commander just seems the more natural choice for them to rally behind.
It may be that he is such a fan favourite that we cannot get enough of him. I mean, honestly, the Hound got nothing compared to Jon, but it still feels it was the other way around because we want more!
Generally speaking, I think the whole season 5 and the cliffhanger in particular really created the impression that this show is about Jon, when it isn’t, or rather it isn’t ONLY about Jon. After all, the title is Game of Thrones, not The Curious Case of Jon Snow. So now it all came back into perspective and we all feel kind of cheated. Still, there still are 3 episodes, so maybe I am just writing all this for nothing!
That’s book material. There was no letter on the show.
lpR7,
If all of this is true, I like it. Makes sense knowing what we know to date. Thanks for sharing it.
They’re marching around the North with thousands of Wildlings, now joined by <500 Northern soldiers. I doubt the Umbers missed that.
Sou,
Season 5 in many ways were the seasons of Jon and Cersei, and both have taken somewhat of a backseat in recent episodes so the show can return to other storylines that they haven’t got to yet…
Nadia,
I fully understand, but as it stands right now, they wont back an unlegitimized bastard, regardless if he was the leader of army or whatever. I don’t see it. (I love Jon, but it goes against all the bastard stuff since season 1). I predicted the QitN before the season started, and I am seeing it more and more…
You just made my day 🙂
Dee,
ALSO I just think they’ve made such a big deal of Jon not being a real Stark, of being a bastard, of not being able to give Stannis the North over and over again. For this to be a huge season for Jon, as Kit says, it has to be something different than that. It can’t just him be fighting a battle and then watching Sansa become Queen in the North because he’s not a true Stark.
All I want in my life is for Lyanna Mormont to say that line about Jon 😉 I know it’s fanfiction and it will never happen, but a girl can hope.
Dany at her lowest has always had her name and then her dragons. Jon, even now with an army going to war against a despicable human, is being told over and over that he’s a bastard and therefore their war isn’t legitimate. You can tell that it’s getting to him, so again there has to be some payoff there. Right? 😉 🙁
Sou,
Ya. His death, it was overhyped, will he come back? is jon snow dead? Broken records
all of us expected more, I think.
Dee,
I think it’s more likely they’ll back Jon if he wins the battle as a strong leader to lead them forward than Sansa – it’s the way of the North. I still really think Sansa’s story has more to tell in the Vale and Riverlands, but more than that, we’ve seen no evidence that the North is particularly inclined to support Sansa herself.
But also, I really don’t think SANSA has the goal of being Queen in the North?
Dee,
Somewhere at the end of season 3 right after Cat frees Jaime. They never show the actual letter happening but Robb talks to his mother about it on the show. She objects and he reasons that everyone but Sansa is likely dead. And she is now a Lannister and he doesn’t want them having a claim on the North
Nadia,
There has to be. But I cant see how they get around the whole “bastards have no claim to anything”
But maybe Kit meant the
to be a JON episode – so Jon himself may not find this out just yet, but we will see it.
Dee,
oh boy wait and see.
Medic Mike,
I do not remember this at all.
Medic Mike,
No, none of that ever happened. It’s one of the most common things from the books people “remember” having happened on the show.
Dee,
Or maybe the WWs change things? I have no idea. Will they care if Jon is trueborn son or not if they believe that WWs are coming and he’s fought them and beat Ramsay? Vale or no Vale, if the North is meant to remember anything, you’d think they’d remember the Long Night.
I mean, the one reference we get to WWs, Lyanna Mormont believes him. Now, maybe no one else believes it, maybe it never comes up, but after Robb I think the North will value strength, not just the name.
The letter isn’t shown on the show but the conversation he has with Cat is. Right after she let’s Jaime go and she’s cut out of the meetings.
Jumbo,
You know something I don’t? hahaha
Nadia,
Sansa going back to the Vale? Eff that. I am not down for that. hahaha
She doesn’t want to be the Lady of Winterfell right now, but she will have to after rickon dies. And she said in episode 5, that Winterfell is THEIRS, and Arya’s and Brans and Rickons. She wont leave.
HelloThere,
precisely
Sean C.,
Okay so the convo didn’t even happen right? Lol
Im pretty good at remembering things usually
Just because some stuff isnt mentioned in the summary doesnt mean that it wont be in the episode. I just find it kind of stupid if there would be nothiing of the NOrth in episode 8 and then they are jumping right into the battle the episode afterwards.
Maybe for you. How can one giant that says “Hodor” all the time have an impact? Mind u he was not in it last season and brand storyline has been short.
When I think of Rickon I picture him as a Stark when he stayed at Winterfell and said everyone is gone. When he hid with brother and came out only to find their home destroyed.
If we feel bad for characters that were introduced and killed in one episode or characters that lasted 4 episodes the audience will have an impact to Rickon if/when he dies.
PS Why do people want to see Ramsay? We know where he’s at and we know who he is. Let that time focus on other characters.
Dee,
what’s a QitN???
Even when they dispose of Ramsay and retake Winterfell, things are not going to be safe and settled there. Once Cersei gets wind of the Starks being back in Winterfell (particularly Sansa, who the Crown sees as a wanted criminal), she will send out an army to deal with them.
Nadia,
You make a good argument
I am not sold on it, but maybe you are right, after all, all that would be left of the North (if Jon and co are to prevail) are those who chose to fight for Jon and Co , so maybe you are right.
Sou,
Queen in the North lol
No, it isn’t.
Dee,
To be fair, they’re not rushing to back Lady Lannister-Bolton either. Davos convinced Lyanna Mormont to give them her 62 men because of the respect her uncle had for Jon and the fact that they both see the bigger picture, which is the war with the WW. Both Jon and Sansa have strikes against them.
Dee,
Lol I hate the “MMHMMM we’ll see! ;)”
I think in the North, I don’t want to be spoiled. I believe Jon and Sansa will obviously win, and that’s kind of enough for me. I have hopes how it will go, and I hope that it won’t drive a wedge between them (I really just want to know that she tells him about the Vale) but beyond that, I’m excited to see.
Maybe not on the Vale? I don’t know. I posted earlier, but I wonder if Bran makes it to the Wall, will Jon go back to the Wall? I think Jon’s story is obviously in the North, but I don’t know if that means he bases himself in Winterfell or he goes to the Wall. If he goes to the Wall, Sansa stays in Winterfell. But because D&D traumatize me, I don’t see Jon and Sansa just staying together in WF or for the rest of the story, I think their paths diverge, if not their goals.
But really, I see no evidence that the North is going to back Sansa to lead them. She’s been smacked down by two lords AND Davos in terms of understanding the Northern lords and people. She’ll earn their respect back, but I haven’t seen anyone feel compelled to declare her their leader.
Even the Mormonts, Lyanna was swayed because Jon fought the WWs.
When thinking back on what Jon told Ygritte I think it’s interesting that Jon is currently planning to go into battle with essentially a small Wildling army. He told her they can’t win, don’t know how to fight together, etc. (Did he six times?) “Six times they’ve tried, six times they’ve been defeated.” Now he’s in a situation that HE’S the one that has to take on a more prepared and better fortified force with a band of rag-tags.
Jumbo,
I hope so! I want Jaime to go north so badly.
Jumbo,
Um, with what army? If Cersei tries to destroy King’s Landing this season and Riverrun is under siege, who is going North to fight the Starks?
I think the Lannisters as a ruling force are done, but Cersei and Jaime still have roles to play.
Lindamon,
Now that would be cool
The only way it would make sense for the Manderly/”Fletcher” character to show up in Episode 10 is:
(a) if the battle doesn’t conclude in Episode 9;
(b) the source for the casting call had inaccurate information; or
(c) the storyline for the character changed after casting.
If we recall, the casting source said the role called for “a stirring speech during which he unexpectedly shifts political allegiances”.
It doesn’t make sense for Manderly to ‘unexpectedly’ shift political allegiances to Jon/the Starks if the Starks already won the battle.
Provided that she will have dealt with the Faith by then, because right now she cannot even get out of her chambers.
And it will have to be an army NOT led by her brother, because I don’t think he would march against Sansa.
I had much the same theory pondering events in my bath this morning and am happy to see that’s it’s not so “tinfoil” that others can come to the same conclusion. My thought was that Bianca is pissed that the Faceless Men didn’t honour her contract re Lady Crane and that she has now been sacked from her “Sansa” role. She goes back to the HoBW to complain, gets given some bags of gold and Arya’s face as a disguise to get her out of Braavos. This explains “Arya’s” sudden wealth, her new clothes and her apparent carelessness hanging around the streets of Braavos, and also her sudden return to health for her parkour in the scene revealed in the season trailer.
Or not, of course!
Dee,
Oh! No way I would have guessed it… I was there thinking “what word starts with a Q?”. Well, Queen, obviously!
Nadia,
The Lannister/Frey army currently in Riverrun (if or when they wrap up the siege). Or the remaining Lannister forces from the Westerlands. Jaime said in the episode he expects to command all the Lannister armies soon, so it’s clear they didn’t bring all their men to deal with the Blackfish.
Nadia,
Yeah, I understand
In regards to where they go, I don’t think Jon is going back the wall. Winterfell will be the main hub to fight the wightwalkers. HELLOOOOOOOO WINTER IS COMING? its only fitting.
The wall will fall at the end of the season, or the middle of the next 7 episode season, and going to the wall is a death trap.
Unless the idea is that as soon as the wall falls, the “great war” happens immediately, and therefore the wall wont fall till season 8, until all the humans are united to fight them. or something
Its quite hard to tell at this point LOL.
Sou,
sorry!! lol
ive seen others use it hahaha
Nadia,
What ?
Must….slow….down…time….
Not….enough…..episodes …left!
Cersei has little power to do anything even now. The only possibility is Jaime taking the Lannister army and doing what she wants. He said they have 8,000 men. With what’s going on now and possibly going to happen in KL I don’t think the crown would have enough support and strength to do anything if the whole of the north is once again reunited. Rickon being a prisoner is the reason they’re moving quickly, but the ultimate goal is getting rid of Ramsay and bringing the north together to fight the WW horde. If they’ve taken Winterfell that means the Boltons are done and defeated.
Damn…it
Matty C,
My TV schedule (with Verizon Fios as provider) lists episode 9 title as “battle of the bastards”!!!!!
I agree.
Ravyn,
I thought she had hinted in an interview that Arya isn’t on screen as much as we think she is. I’ll have to go back and search for that interview. She loves playing with the fans.
My guess is that after Winterfell is retaken Jon will head back to The Wall with a proper army, Bran will be at CB or heading south to Winterfell. And we will be left with a promise of another Stark reunion this time sprinkled with an immensely hypetastic potential thanks to the specific vision Bran will have in E10.
Jumbo,
I hope not. That would mean the Wall falls on Jon’s head and he dies instantly or something.
Adam,
I don’t think it’s as bad as people are making it out to be. “Hardhome,” “The Red Woman,” “The Lion and the Rose,” “The Mountain and the Viper,” and “Blackwater” are all very specific titles, and some of them are among the most renowned episodes of the series.
The series has long emphasized the marginalization of bastards and their plight in a noble world. Yet here we are in S6, and one of the most important battles the realm has scene in some time is being led by two of these bastards. I think it’s worth calling out in the title, personally. Two men fighting for what *technically* should have never been theirs in the first place.
Nadia,
I agree Nadia. I can see roles for him beyond the siege. You never know who will die next but I can hope that he will escape with Brienne and Pod.
Dee,
Not me. My heart will break into a million pieces if poor Rickon is tortured or killed by Ramsay. Don’t think I’ll be able to watch it.
Matty C,
I checked both TV Guide and digital menus yesterday and they were all missing a synopsis. HBO is so weird.
She said that she may be in the trailers MORE than we think she is.
I LOVE Peter, and I LOVE Tyrion, but his scenes this season (besides letting loose Viserion and Rhaegal) have been so, so, so boring. Meereen itself has been such a snooze fest. I hope it gets better.
Sean C.,
And I would assume, maybe incorrectly, that where Jon, Davos, and Sansa are (which is where Stannis was) is between WF and CB. Otherwise, that ride Mel made makes even less sense. Deepwood Motte is on the west side as is WF. LH is on the East Side. I would think that Ramsay would then have to go around in some sense where the Stark army is to go to or from CB.
aabe,
The episode is more about the battle than the location of the battle. “Blackwater” would have never been called “King’s Landing.” I think the battle is much more about the characters and their motivations, rather than the physical place of Winterfell.
I’ve come around to the title. I can’t say I don’t understand your perspective though. It lacks some rhetorical gusto. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing though, and it’s surely a very purposeful decision.
Just because a story arc is not mentioned in the synopsis doesn’t mean it won’t be included. There’s almost certainly at least one North scene we’re likely to see this weekend…
Clob,
You are absolutely correct. And that was with 100,000 men. Of course, the NW had the Wall. And if Stannis had not shown up, it is very possible that sooner or later the tunnel would have been breeched. Or enough climbers got over the wall. So like the Gaul hordes in the Gaius Marius era, they could overwhelm poorly generaled Roman forces but not well generaled ones. But with less men, no, that would seem ill advised.
sirensong,
I agree with you.
Nadia,
actually what i read:
spoiler****
*
*
*
*
*
*
ramsay and jon have a face off and he agrees to free rickon. When he does this sansa tell jon “he’s already gone.” and ramsay shoots him with arrows killing him. This is what really begins the fighting.
*
*
*
*
*
Cersei will be busy saving her own ass by then. lol
Clob,
Also, Cersei’s children are doomed – either this season or next season Tommen dies (gold will be their shrouds). And Cersei at some point is going to try and destroy KL’s. Once Tommen is dead, under what authority can the Lannisters attack the North?
sirensong,
It’s the problem with Mereen. I think the show – rightfully – sent two of its most intriguing characters to Dany to try and cover some of the book snoozefest of her time in Mereen. Having Tyrion with her gave Dany some really fantastic scenes. But it’s the problem with the location that even really interesting characters can only do so much with a plot that is limited.
lpR7,
It seees to fit what I read. I heard ep. 10 is the big Jon episode, not only Jon is in it but a lot of stuff happens with him. Since TOJ is in finale.
Kamali,
If that really is all that Manderly and Cerwyn are for, then Sansa really is contributing nothing to the whole retake-Winterfell campaign. Sigh.
iz,
Ahhhh PLEASE cover your blatant spoilers, it’s hard to scroll past things that are clearly typed out
I really don’t want to know about the exact workings of the battle or what happens – it’s still fun for me to speculate because I love the North.
Nadia,
You could send Bronn, Tormund and Wun Wun and Meereen would still feel pointless.
Because we know it’s not important. Dany will leave the city eventually, hopefully soon, so everything that happens there feels like filler..
Rewatching the NO ONE preview and the season trailer, I can’t really make out if the person doing parkour in Braavos is really Arya, we can only see the back and and a millisecond long shot of face. While it appears like her, I wonder why they decide to spoil this chase and also in the synopsis, if they ended the episode on a cliffhanger. Usually they are much more cagey than this.
Ginevra,
Oh of course. House Baggypants and the Tragic Tripping Incident 🙁
Mihnea,
We’re not disagreeing are we?
But yes, the show sent interesting characters there, fast forwarded through it, but it still feels like a total drag. Maybe people care about Missandei and Greyworm but I do not at all (eep sorry).
I question why they aren’t cutting it though – seems the burning of ships is PROLONGING Dany’s Mereen adventure, because she could just come back with Dothraki and leave, but I guess the Dany/Ironborn connection IS important and the siege of Mereen matters? I don’t know, I don’t really care about the siege, but it’s seemingly happening.
But what about
Nadia,
Yes, who would be king given what we know on the show? If the HS survived I could see a theocracy. But I doubt he does. Could Margaery become with child? Would she survive the coming whirlwind? If not, the Baratheon line as far as we know would be extinguished ( I realize that neither Tommen nor any child of Tommen is blood Baratheon). The Iron Throne would be there for the taking. Chaos. Ashes.
Yes Dany and likely Jon are Targaryens. But their line was overthroned. It would have to be reestablished by a great council or by force.
With all of this discussion about upcoming episodes, particularly the battle in S6E9, any further speculation as to…
Nadia,
We agree that Meereen is a aweful location that needs to burn in dragon fire.(it won’t though)
I think they kept the fleet just in case they wouldn’t do the Ironborn story.
jinx47,
I couldn’t be more happy that we don’t have those ridiculous pies. I really disliked that entire silly idea.
Nadia,
I didn’t read it I saw spoilers and scrolled immediately – why can’t people cover them lol
Lulus Mum,
Lancel is most likely going to die. He is the lead Sparrow there … I believe the High Sparrow sent him on purpose, so that Kevan will be devastated by the lost of his son and return to Casterly Rock.
I don’t expect a new meeting between Brienne and Sandor. I suppose she will try to reach Sansa as soon as posible. But Sandor should meet someone else … maybe Arya.
I still hope Arya will appear in episode 10 to kill Walder Frey.
jinx47,
Mihnea,
Lol amen.
That’s odd reasoning right? I mean, they write the season together, why would they burn the fleet and hedge on sending the Ironborn? You’d think that has to be planned out in advance.
Just feels like they COULD make the shortcut and they didn’t. Now Yara and Theon are in Volantis with a fleet, and Dany is headed back to Mereen, so obviously stuff goes down.
For me, it enforces that the Wall doesn’t fall and Dany invades NEXT season. And at least initially, it’ll be Jon/the North vs. Dany/Ironborn/Dorne taking the South.
Mihnea,
Yes, and we have come to a point where there is really no need for fillers!
Mihnea,
That 5 year gap had to be bridged somehow, didn’t it? 🙂
We learned she hates slavery.
I think Daario said it best Dany was born to conquer and not rule especially after the send unburning. Meereen proved she needs the wise counsel of others in order to rule appropriately. Fire and blood conquers more easily than it rules.
Geralt of Rivia,
Darkrobin,
I completely agree.
We have Meereen, Sansa doing nothing in the Vale, lots of pointless things in Braavos…etc. Because of the 5-year plan.
Halfman,
How would that be believable? That would be a complete jumping the shark moment for me. No one else in Westeros knows this but LF somehow does?
Nadia,
The fleet was first mentioned in S4. That’s when they added it, I believe in case they wouldn’t do the Ironborn plot.
Now the decided to do it, so that fleet burned
They couldn’t send Dany to Westeros in S4-5, mostly because the other stories wouldn’t be ready.
Sou,
That’s why I firmly believe she will leave for Westeros this season.
Personally, I also avoid long posts even if there are no spoiler tags. I mean if someone has written more than 5-6 lines I feel he/she is bound to have written something that I probably wouldn’t like to find out about!
There must be a reason, Arya, Hound, and BwB all are being featured heavily these past few episodes. While using Arya’s over dragged and complicated storyline to give the ending that also satisfy a lot of people wishing to see some more controversial characters.
Nadia,
This seems to me to be a “we needed to get them in a similar place on the show as in the books.” In the books there was no fleet. What remained of the Meereenese fleet went over to the Yunkai. So she had no ships. On the show, the Yunkai were defeated and when they agitated again, Daario and his second sons set them right. So there was no simmering external conflict. So Meereen kept its ships. Well they needed a reason for the Ironborn to provide the ships. So the ships had to be burnt.
Yes, on the show there certainly was less reason to stay. The city was not surrounded by enemies. They had a fleet. But 8,000 or so unsullied were not going to reconquer Westeros so, like the books in all likelihood, they needed the Dothraki. So she needed to wait so that the Harpies could attack, she could ride off on Drogon, and become khal of all the khlasars. Now they will have the Yunkai and company attack. She will defeat them. And they will leave with the Ironborn fleet. Whether Euron throws a wrench in Yara’s plans, that remains to be seen.
Mihnea,
Yes, you are right. They were hedging their bets.
Darkrobin,
I think, it’s more like ”let’s keep it just in case”.
Remember they first added the fleet in S4 so they wrote/thought this out around when S3 was airing…. I doubt they knew they’ll send Theon/Yara then..etc.
But this does fit with them liking to bring known characters togheter. So when they planned Theon’s story I think they liked the idea of him and Yara going there and meet Dany…. So of course that fleet had to go.
Mihnea,
That snippet from the season trailer would certainly appear to indicate that (Davos staring at a pile of ashes).
Nadia,
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bOHvRaNrNSY
It would be believable for Ned to have sought Jon Arryn’s counsel about what to do with Lyanna’s baby. And LF has a knack of finding out people’s secrets. So it wouldn’t be jumping the shark imo.
If they’re going to reveal R+L=J there must be a plan to make it make a difference or what’s the point if no one can substantiate it?
It’s only Brienne, Pod and the blackfish in that shot, with another of her and Pod on a boat looking back. I’m guessing they slip out (as he does in the books).
Darkrobin,
They already forshadowed this, and the trailer shot, in my opinion, confirms he’ll find the truth.
How will it go down? No clue.
Jumbo,
The Northmen are more worried about Boltons than the Lannisters. If Boltons are destroyed, there is not much to worry about from (the South). No southron army has taken or even entered the North without help from the Northerners. And winter is coming. Lannister-Tyrell alliance may have 15000 men, but that does not mean they can conquer the North. The terrain and the weather is against them, all the Northerners have to do is to defend.
If Tywin Lannister was alive, then things would be different, but no one thinks much of Cersei’s political savvy except for Cersei herself.
ETA: I sometimes wonder what will happen if Sansa sends a raven to Cersei telling that it was Littlefinger and the Tyrells who murdered Joffrey, using Sansa as a pawn.
I am intrigued by this scene as I am sure he won’t be able to do much about Mel due to her upcoming important role in success of Stark efforts.
jinx47,
There will be some sort of conflict. But no idea how it will end! Very excited about this!
Sou,
Same
Here unless I am familiar with the author
Nadia,
Yes and no. I think, though I could be wrong, that in asking Mace to lead the Tyrell army against the HS, they said the Tyrell’s had the second largest army in Westeros, implying the Lannisters still have the largest.
There are 8,000 with Jamie and there are other armies as he told Bronn that he Jamie would soon be the head of all the Lannister armies. There are likely forces in the West towards Lannisport. Surely the largest army is Westeros is more than 8,000. I recall, don’t remember whether books or show, that Renly had up to 100,000 marching to KL. That would have been the Reach (the Tyrells are said to have 50,000), most of the Stormlands, etc. Presumably the Lannisters had two armies of 20,000 plus and could re-raise them if they had the coin and officers to do so.
That’s still power. Whether Jaime will be in a position to use it, that’s more problematic.
The Knights of the Vale just did.
Apollo,
I agree. At some point I wonder if they run into the BwB and/or the Hound. Maybe episode 10?
Mag,
Mmm interesting idea about HS sending him to die. I don’t get the impression he would sacrifice one of his followers on purpose, but perhaps he believes that whatever happens is the will of the Gods anyway, so if a confrontation takes place, deadly or otherwise, it was meant to be. And maybe they have the concept of glorious martyrdom as well? (I must confess I tune out when HS is doing his religious speeches, I’m only interested in the bits that are important to the plot, not the exact detail of what he believes.)
As for the Freys, we’ve all been waiting what seems like a lifetime for their comeuppance and it looks like it won’t be too long now 😀
So I see there’s a ton of speculation about where all the Starks will end up. Here’s where I think they’ll all be by the end of the show:
Sansa – I think there’s a strong possibility she’ll end up using Littlefinger to get her hands on The Vale. She’ll marry Robin and then off them both. Hopefully with a trip though the Moon Door. Maybe she’ll even kill Robin herself and have Littlefinger blamed for it? Lord Royce would no doubt back her up. Having a Stark there would also be hugely important for their hold over the North, strategically, because of the size of The Vale’s army.
Jon – I can’t see him not being ‘Warden of the North’ once his lineage is legitimised. His pact with the Wildlings and his knowledge of fighting the White Walkers have to make him the prime candidate. He’s much more ‘of the North’ than Sansa is anyway.
Arya – I think she’s destined to die (not yet), BUT I’m a big fan of the theory where she wargs into Nymeria. I know the super pack hasn’t been mentioned on the show, but all of her training to ‘lose herself’ seems to be building her up for that. It also feels like something they’d do after nearly all the direwolves appear to be gone. The pack will probably fight against the White Walkers alongside the dragons (fire and ice)
Bran – My gut feeling is that he’s destined to be absorbed into the root system under the weirwood tree in Winterfell. After The War for the Dawn, he’ll reaffirm the vow to always keep a Stark in Winterfell by doing this.
Rickon – He’s a gonner! And probably by the end of the season. Who knows? Maybe he’ll become wight Rickon if the White Walkers turn up at Winterfell post-Bastardbowl?
Dani,
Lineage legitimized? When?
Also Sansa would not kill someone for no reason. She’s not a killer
She will have LF killed , MAYbe. But not robin..
Sou,
Some of us are just really bad at doing short posts! 😉 I always try to explain my thinking in mine and don’t go for the x happens and that’s the end of it approach. I’m like well, it could be x, y, or z, or maybe none of those. I am always careful to cover spoilers though, so my posts may be tedious and waaaaay too wordy, but at least you won’t see info you’re trying to avoid 😀
There are only four confirmed storylines for episode 608:
-King’s Landing
-Riverlands
-Braavos
-Meereen.
Every other episode has had at least about 6 different storylines, so it’s safe to say that (being a long episode), there will be more storylines indeed.
Options:
-North (very likely)
-Dany (I don’t think she will miss three episodes this season)
-Theon/Yara
-Bran
-Sam
Out of topic:
As the UEFA European Men-Football Cup is coming to start this week the iselandic actor of the Mountain has a message for Christiano Ronaldo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWSyD3BKToE
jdtargstark,
This!
I am fine with Rickon not being shown. But do know for sure a Stark will die by the end of S6, based on leaked summary by the Reddit user, all of which has been coming true with each aired episode. So if not Rickon, then who?
I think that there will be scenes in the North in Episode 8. The main reason I’m inclined to believe that is that the show went out of its way to establish in Episode 7 that the army was camping in exactly the same spot that Stannis’s army camped in last year. That gives Davos the perfect opportunity to stumble across the remnants of Shireen’s funeral pyre (which we know will happen from the trailers), find the charred remnants of the stag he gave her, and confront Melisandre about what happened to her.
Now granted, I suppose that scene could happen in Episode 9 as well, or even Episode 10. But I would find it odd for the show take great care to establish that the Northerners were using Stannis’s old campsite, only for them to leave without Davos learning the truth. That would mean that after the battle, Davos would need to leave Winterfell, travel back to Stannis’s campsite on his own, find the pyre, come back to Winterfell, and confront Melisandre. That’s possible, of course, but it seems unnecessary when he could learn the same thing right now.
I’m not entirely sure why they would hold off and punt that reveal to the finale, unless they don’t want to deal with Davos’s emotional fallout on the eve of battle. Having Davos confront Melisandre about Shireen’s fate before the battle could potentially incite further discord in the ranks of the Northern command. That would be good drama, although Jon, Sansa, and Davos have plenty of issues to deal with already, as we saw in the last episode.
Now that I think about it, the nature of Davos’s reaction to Shireen’s sacrifice may determine when the confrontation happens. If Davos learns the truth before the battle, I could see him reacting in one of two ways. He could be enraged, and confront Melisandre immediately (he’s not given to destructive impulses, but as we saw in “Valar Dohaeris” when Melisandre taunted him about his son, he has his breaking point). Or, if his practical nature takes hold, he could bury his rage and grief until after the battle, lest he incite further trouble for his allies. After the Starks win, he could confront Melisandre in a less politically charged situation.
If Davos waits until after the battle to confront Melisandre – or if he doesn’t learn the truth until then – I could see the scene being quieter one. I’m having a hard time envisioning a scenario in which the Starks have reclaimed Winterfell, everyone is (relatively) happy, and Davos chooses that moment to angrily burst into the room and demand answers from the Red Woman. That’s not to say it couldn’t happen, just that it would be somewhat tonally dissonant.
Overall, I’m starting to suspect that as angry and heartbroken as Davos will be to learn the truth, he won’t react violently. To say that Davos would “forgive” Melisandre for sacrificing the young Princess is a big stretch, but I could see him deciding not to retaliate against the Red Woman because she’s aided their cause, he doesn’t want any more bloodshed, and because killing her won’t bring Shireen back.
Hashmist,
Cover your damn spoilers dude
Regardless of what happens with Davos, I will be very surprised if we don’t get any Northern scenes in Episode 8. If there’s no sign of any of those characters when the promotional photos are released later this week, then I’ll be more inclined to believe it. But I’m not going to assume that they’re entirely absent from a 59 minute episode just because they weren’t mentioned in a three-line synopsis or featured in a 40 second promo. The first time I watched the episode promo, I missed the brief shot of the Hound swinging the axe. If not for that one-second tease, we would have no indication that he’s going to be in this episode either.
If we get any Northern scenes in Episode 8, they’re unlikely to be action-packed, since the action will be in Episode 9. In that light, it makes sense that they would be left out of the preview in favor of the brewing war at Riverrun and shots of the Mountain preparing to tear the head of a Faith Militant member clean off. Perhaps the North will ride the bench in Episode 8, but as of now, I’m unconvinced.
Yes meereen is boring ..so they made better with sending tyrion there to make it better
What abouy tyrion story who is doing pig ridings in AdWd ..
All this speak of character development and screentime makes me laugh ..
In the books dany effectively brings peace and so she keeps meereen united when they face yunkai amd volontis ..
But now its tyrion who brought the peace …its only because of him that she still has a city to rule ( this comment was made on a discussion by a show watcher)..this comment is irritating when we know what really happens with meereen…
everything he has done in season 6 is dany’s story from ADWD ..
She feeds the city and poor and affected under siege .
She comes to the conclusion on herself that SotH are ghiscari legion and not one person..
She actually planted olive trees ( takes 7 years )and established trade with Lzhareen and initiated more farming outside the city..
She seeked the help of green grace a priest of meereen to heal and help her people ..
She knows she needs the city on her back and decides to marry hizdar for the people
She does all this things when tyrion is busy riding pigs and being a slave ..
So those who say she is terrible ruler and fit to rule tell me how tyrion is better when he is doing the same thing ..
But of course none of this matter because we know dany is terrible ruler and its her destiny to be conqueror not a ruler and we hate her and it’s boring story line..
Season 4 meereen got 29 mins and season 5 got more than that thanks to tyrion and daznak pit ..but everything from,dany’s humanizing moments and self doubts all but taken or given to tyrion..
And talk about sidelining or overshadowed by other characters ..everyone from jorah to hizdar is more humanised and made look good while made dany look bad and terrible instead of other way around
No, the idea here might be that Arya offered to teach the young actress how to change faces, and the actress’s first test run was to buy Arya passage on a ship using Arya’s face. I have no idea how this would work or how Arya would know how to do it, but the whole face-swapping thing seems a bit ill-defined (as magic usually does) so who knows if it is possible or not.
While this idea popped into my head the first night, I think it is a longshot. More likely, that was either Jaqen who got stabbed (most likely, as he owes Arya his life) or it was Arya, but with some sort of pig’s blood deception going on. If not those two, however, the Sansa actress is next in line. Syrio is fourth, because that could theoretically be awesome (no idea how that would work, but sometimes writers can be clever…)
That being said, the idea that the stabbed person was the actress does have one nice merit in that tricking the Waif into murdering the person who called in a hit for bad reasons would have a satisfying level of justice attached to it.
Can people please stop posting about the Reddit leaks?!
dragonbringer,
My point before I got carried away was they made tyrion story better than what he had in ADWD not the story of meereen or deny
dragonbringer,
Your love and loyalty to Dany as a character is remarkable 😉
Btw I don’t really disagree – it might be sacrilege, but I don’t love Tyrion the way others do. I get that he’s GRRM’s favorite, but I’m not as obsessed with his character as everyone (especially D&D) is.
Having said that, for the majority of people, Dany’s book storyline is horrendous, and the only way the show has been able to make it interesting is to eliminate basically all of it and have her and her dragons burn shit or make aggressive speeches.
‘Arya faces a new test’
I see what you did there HBO
dragonbringer,
My point before I got carried away was they made tyrion story better than what he had in ADWD not the story of meereen or dany.
And I pray to god that scene from preview is not a scene him interacting with dragons like dany did with drogon in 502
Miss Stark,
Or just covering them. I think there’s no harm if people discuss and cover them. Or people can speculate on what they believe will happen. But what the heck people just posting out in the open “X happens,” things not revealed in the previews, it’s not cool.
Miss Stark,
This
But Jaime clearly wants to go back to KL to be with Cersei… He says as much in the teaser. And given the fact that Brienne escapes on a boat with Pod (and likely the Blackfish), and the shot we have of the Freys celebrating, it’s almost certain the siege is lifted peacefully son there’s nothing else for Jaime to do but go back to KL.
Yep. Just like the “FrankenMountain is called Ser Robert Strong” thingy. Never happened on the show, yet people were continually insisting the name was said.
It’s called the Mandela Effect. A common example of that in the real world is the Berenstain Bears. Many people are absolutely convinced it’s spelled Berenstein (with an “e,” not an “a”).
In any case, Rob never made a will on the show. It’s a book-only thing.
Sansa will kill LF. Probably in E10, but if not, eventually. Sooner or later she will learn that he betrayed her father. In fact, some axe-wielding madman is wandering around, carrying that information with him right now! When she does learn of the betrayal, the axe falls.
Chad Brick,
Can’t wait for that
Did not read the covered portion but agree with the rest
What army?
The one that’s currently busy helping the Freys retake Riverrun?
Or the one that will likely be going back to Highgarden with Olenna Tyrell?
Oh, the one who’s trying to deal with the Faith Militant and the High Sparrow?
Yeah the Lannisters ain’t doing crap about the North any time soon.
Nadia,
Which is hated even more by the watchers here and made her looks more mad entitled and brat..
It doesn’t matter how bad a story line is or how boring a storyline is but the characterisation and development of that said character must remain same ..
Take brienne or sansa who have got completely taken out of their AFFC story line which worked better for both of them..and sansa and brienne remain the same characters from AFFC ..
Thank you about your words but its only double standards I can’t stand ..how much people are worried and complain that they have made Jon a war machine only to do fight scenes with no character development and no screentime enough for him to develop but the same people will hate dany when in show they are making dany just giving speeches and recite titles ( people say but mostly an hate towards dany but not how she is written like in the case of other characters)
Nadia,
Which is hated even more by the watchers here and made her looks more mad entitled and brat..
It doesn’t matter how bad a story line is or how boring a storyline is but the characterisation and development of that said character must remain same ..
Take brienne or sansa who have got completely taken out of their AFFC story line which worked better for both of them..and sansa and brienne remain the same characters from AFFC ..
Thank you about your words but its only double standards I can’t stand ..how much people are worried and complain that they have made Jon a war machine only to do fight scenes with no character development and no screentime enough for him to develop but the same people will hate dany when in show they are making dany just giving speeches and recite titles ( people say but mostly an hate towards dany but not how she is written like in the case of other characters)
Why can’t people see or understand one if they do for another …
Darkrobin,
Yes let’s not forget he’s part Frey now. And they have had him since the Red Wedding. I loved BF for the entire scene in RR
Apollo,
This is GoT. Why should he get what he wants? lol
Tbh there might not be much of KL to get back to if Cersei has her way.
I think the person LF sees in the trailer is Sandor. I don’t see him heading to King’s Landing right now, but I can certainly imaging him heading somewhere where he’s heard a Stark girl has shown up.
Cleganebowl might happen, but not as a trial-by-combat this season.
Halfman,
Josh L,
Lol how will they get past the neck, and then Moat Cailin? Haha Cercei can wish. And btw Cercei doesn’t have the men to match the north after the Starks regain control. The tyrells will and have left her for dead and the Sparrow controls Tommen
Halfman,
That is what I thought too. I am not sure it will happen, but I could see Littlefinger toying with Jon over his mysterious parentage. He won’t confirm anything, just suggest it, planting seeds of doubt in Jon about his mother, or Ned. It is still no doubt, a sore topic for Jon, given that Ned died before he could tell him who his mother was. He has probably given up on ever finding out. But if Littlefinger teases him with some ‘inside gossip’ or knowledge, he will likely grasp for it.
Chad Brick,
How would the hound hear that? From who??
Quite possibly, though if it’s TBWOB, then that eliminates the possibility of a LSH appearance and Brienne hanging, as the BF would attest to Briennes loyalty. They’ll all be in the same area as the Hound though, so I’m guessing they’re gonna interact in some way.
Nadia,
Yes this. I’m always mindful to use spoiler tags. I have no problem with spoilers but completely respect some people who don’t wish to be spoiled.
Huh seems I have problems in commenting sorry guys for multiple posting
Mods please delete the duplicate comment
Anyways like I was saying no matter how boring or bad the storyline was ..the key was what happened there with dany ..
She was faced with all the routes blocked including sea routes which does not help her to make any type of trade with outside the city …
Every land and trees for trade had been burned down by masters
The city is under siege and attacked by yiunkai
And the city is attacked inside by SoTH ..
She has thousands of poor and plague affected people to take care of ..
And she slowly but effectively overcomes one by one with one compromise after another but the slave masters just keep demanding her to compromise and plan on secret attack with volantis ..
And what makes her a terrible ruler is that she has always listened to the council and worked for her people and compromised for the betterment of them and putting herself in the front for her people and understands the situation and surrounding more than others give credit for .
Totally agree. Besides – there is no time for all of this fluff when there’s an army of goddamn white walkers at the door! ?
Josh L,
Why not just: “Bastards.”
Violencersei,
The Mountain can handle Cristiano Ronaldo, but he can’t handle Dániel Böde from Hungary!!!
Chad Brick,
I think no chance in episode 10.
I keep saying this, but Sansa doesn’t know LF is responsible for Ned’s death. She’s angry with him about Ramsay. But if he comes to her aid with a massive army, supports Jon and Sansa (IF), and expresses remorse again, would she really turn around and kill him?
I don’t think so at all. I think LF is going to be Sansa’s advisor, maybe even Jon’s. He’s not going anywhere for a while.
I do like the theory that Varys backs Dany and LF backs Jon – and I think there’s a lot of weight to the idea that at least very initially, Jon vs. Dany is where this is going. Dany is headed South, likely to Dorne with the Ironborn. But Jon and Sansa will have the North and the Vale and MAYBE the Riverlands? Will the North kneel to another Targ with dragons, Dothraki and Unsullied or will they think she’s the devil lol? I venture the latter.
The Wall isn’t coming down yet, and I don’t think Dany arrives in Westeros yet, so there’s some weight to the idea that LF is going to want to play kingmaker with Jon.
Sansa Stark hasn’t exactly kept a low profile, what with her trampling all over the North trying to recruit an army.
The Manderlys.
dragonbringer,
I don’t think you understand the meaning of “entitled.” That describes her brother Viserys, who felt that things should proceed according to his whims simply because he was “the Dragon.” And that sense of entitlement got him killed in the first season. Dany, on the other hand, no matter how you feel about her personality, does not act entitled. Rather, she systematically and strategically earns her positions of power with every action she commits, both diplomatic and aggressive. Each step of the way she earns a bit more respect and power. First, by burning with Drogo and surviving (this hatching her dragons). Then by taking the wealth of a two-faced man of Qarth and buying a ship. Then by acquiring the Unsullied, freeing them, and securing their loyalty. Then by leading a slave revolt in Meereen. Then by destroying the Khal in a fiery maelstrom, and emerging unscathed, she convinces the entire Dothraki horde to follow her. And with her command of Drogon, she convinces them to join her in taking the Seven Kingdom back. She earned every ascension in power.
I don’t mind if people don’t enjoy Clarke’s acting, or get bored with the goings on in Essos. But dismissing Dany as “entitled” borders on being factually untrue.
ArgonathofBraavos,
See, that to me seems really lame. Some of these other titles that are being suggested make me groan, which suggests that naming episodes is a totally thankless task. Sometimes you stumble on something brilliant that is universally loved (I guess). Most of the time, it’s totally subjective. I think Battle of the Bastards sounds very cool and the other ones being floated here don’t really measure up.
Plus I think Winds of Winter as episode 10 is so so cool
The Boltons think that Littlefinger is still allied with them. They don’t know that Littlefinger sold them down the river to Cersei.
That’s the only reason I have for why the Vale army is massing at Moat Caitlin. I do wish the show would at least include a line or two of dialogue explaining how the Vale army can get past the impenetrable Neck / Moat.
Exactly this! I’d figured she’d learn from
Brienne (via Jaime) that LF was dispatched by Cersei to kill her and overthrow the Boltons, but the Hound revealing his part in Neds demise could also be a possibility.
With KL burning, the south joining Dany/fighting the Iron islanders, and the Riverlands ruled by the Freys, there is no more plot armour for show LF other than to rule the North and Vale. And I can’t see any of the Northern houses allowing that, or Yohn Royce for that matter. Those that are convinced he’ll survive and that Sansa will be forever indebted to him overlook the fact that we only have 13 eps left and that there’s a bloody book prophecy that spells out his death- in precisely the location they’ll both likely be in ep10.
Nadia,
Oh, I like Battle of the Bastards too. I just find the title “Bastards” to be darkly comic. In a meta sense as well, as audiences are often thinking “bastards” every time the GoT showrunners punch us in the gut.
Sandor was present in the throne room when Ned was arrested and LF held a knife to his throat. So that information is first hand.
Apollo,
I been saying she will off him since like 3 episodes ago. Even if you look at the season trailer where Sansa says “all I think about is what’s been taken from me”. You see Ramsey, then Walder Frey and then LF in the snow scene looks like the godswood in WF. I feel there is clearly some type of foreshadowing.
ArgonathofBraavos,
You see I never use that line I understand what it means ..
I was just simply stating one of the most overused complaints against dany that she acts as an entitled and thinks everything must be hers and handed to her ..
Which is blantantly false and she doesn’t think she is entitled to everything at all..
But like you said it was viserys this arguement was only made strong after season 2,where they somehow made her act like viserys instead of acting like opposite of viserys in ACOK ..
And it has been impacted the book character also.
And I don’t have a problem with emilia or dany …if you have ready posts you will know I love both of them..
Making the 8,
If Arya does return to Westeros wearing a face not her own, the only way she could prove ID is being friends with Nymeria.
Of course, A and N have a big job to do at the Twins.
Apollo,
Sansa will be a killer…..Her father was a killer, her brother was a killer, her sons will be killers someday, the world is built by killers!
HAD to do it!
Apollo,
No I was asking how would the hound know where Sansa is and why would he go there
Hate has kept him alive – if anything he will deal with the brotherhood and hen seek out the mountain to kill him
I’m sorry, but you’re pissing in the wind. People try to keep shit locked up here, which is great of them, but it’s so far beyond feasible that at some point you should just accept what this is. If you really truly are vehemently averse to spoilers, short of changing random people’s predictable behavior, you might not go to a fan site for a show that’s active. It cannot truly be controlled, as much as anybody would like it to be.
Beer Island,
I never try to make these connections from the trailer. Most people were convinced the line “do you like playing games little man” was aimed at/spoken by Tyrion simply because he appeared in the next shot. But it certainly has been clear for some time that he’s a goner. For me, it was the fact that there’s only 13 more eps left.
He’s not a core character so has to go- what else can he contribute to the plot now that the cards are stacked against him and that his main protagonists are onto him?
Off-Topic Otto,
Plenty of people here discuss spoilers and speculate in an interesting fashion, but they just cover them. Posting them out in the open and posting “deal with it” just makes you kind of an ass, it’s not the inevitable way of things.
If he runs into the BF and Brienne in the RL (someone else postulated this, not saying it happens) or TBWOB could have heard word of her return to WF, it’s fairly common knowledge the further north you go.
There was one British tabloid that printed that, yes, but a Brit told me not to trust anything that paper said, even from interviews.
Dee,
Yeah, I think the show with these Riverlands scenes made it very clear that this is a center of activity. I don’t think the Hound is going to run off to Sansa in the North, not sure why anyone would think that.
All the forces converging in the Riverlands – Jaime, Brienne, Blackfish, Freys, Lannisters, BwB, Sandor – there’s story there still to be told, and I think Sandor ties into that. Actually, I’ve always thought the Stark girl he’ll meet first is Arya!
I know a lot of people want LF dead. I don’t think that’s the way of the show, personally, but if it happens then it’s going to happen at a much later date. Sansa’s not just going to find out in 3 episodes that LF helped have Ned killed. I think the thing she’s currently angry with him about – Ramsay – gets mitigated by him showing up with the Vale. Indeed, part of playing the game is not being ruled by emotions. She won’t just turn around and stab him, that’s my bet.
All the people who know are involved in an entirely different location and an entirely different plot.
Perhaps she’ll find out at some point and maybe then she’ll kill him, but I really think in the meantime LF is going to be an advisor of sorts. The North won’t bow to LF, but he could be the man “behind the throne” in some ways. I want LF to get it, but mostly, I look forward to Team Stark being Jon, Sansa, Tormund, Davos, Mel, and LF. Like, what lol.
Don’t tell anyone else, LM, but you are
I like the cape Tyrion is wearing in the photo. Channeling his inner Lando Calrissian – I approve.
🙂
Ryan,
According to IMDB, Jon and Sansa are both in the episode.
We don’t have solid evidence yet, but I’m hoping that Mel’s moping has been brought on by an overwhelming sense of guilt. She genuinely thought she was making the world a better place, for the greater good, and she got thousands needlessly slaughtered. I’m hopeful that this knowledge will do great things to humble the Red Woman. And forgiving a truly penitent and humble person is much easier to do.
Peppe,
The IMDb is fan-updated. It means nothing at this point.
Now, it’s entirely possible the North is in this next episode. But the IMDb is no evidence.
Dee,
Perhaps she’ll wait until Littlefinger kills him and then make her move? LF’s plan has always seemed to be to marry Sansa to Robin and then off him so he can move in on her himself. Except this time she won’t lie to the Lords of the Vale about his antics. Seems like they were setting something up with Royce a few eps ago.
Ever wonder if D&D are trolling the fans back with the title?
if they are (which I doubt), it’s worked a treat. The fuss kicking off here alone over something as trivial as an episode title is simply bizarre.
Miss Stark,
Tell ’em, Nadia! Hopefully the mods will rain down fire on the offenders and correct those who think it’s acceptable and even expected to break the rules about leaked information from future episodes. The best way to get mods to react quickly is to submit something to the “Contact Us” area at the top of each WotW page.
They need competent battle commanders to fight the WWs. General Tarly will also be needed to command against the WWs.
As Sue the Fury has repeatedly stated, citing IMDB as a source for future spoilers is meaningless. IMDB is the Wikipedia of show spoilers.
I rest my case.
While it is indeed possible these are not of importance, I believe that the sheer amount of time and number of scenes in this episode that were gifted to Sandor and Ray’s interactions were a hint at much more to come.
Perhaps Sandor’s “Redemption” is truly a pivotal moment for the entire story line, not just his own character? I would like to think that it represented a symbolic turning point for the entire people and small-folk of Westeros, who have been in a state of constant abuse and pseudo-death since the beginning of the War of the 5 Kings. Sandor’s rebirth was akin to the people reawakening from a catharsis, and a re-birth of their desire to simply Live again, and also live with a purpose, or a purpose worth standing up and fighting to regain.
The telling contrast for me between Ray and Sandor in this episode, was that its not only important to want to just live again, but you must also be willing to stand up and fight for that life; to protect it.
Plus, there’s also some axe chucking that needs to happen, whether it will involve Cleganebowl remains to be seen, but we can hope. 🙂
Apollo,
I’ve read many explanation but at the end of the day the plot needed it and it happened. I think show!Moat Cailin differs from book!Moat Cailin.
In the books, the only ways around are the ones known to the crannogmen. The causeway from the south is so long and narrow that no army can form up. 200 archers can hold it even with it falling down.
In the show, Brienne who does not even know the area easily finds a way around for Pod and her. There are all the maybes: maybe Ramsay the military genius of the north did not think to continue to keep men there, maybe he still thought LF was a friend (after what he did to Sansa), maybe LF wormed his way in with a few men and opened the gates at night (doesn’t sound much like LF), maybe the army came by boat and was let out north of the Moat, maybe LF and HR are in league, and so on. At the end of the day, geography will never get in the way of the story.
Apollo,
you mean like someone did with the anvil/blacksmith opening ….
Apollo,
We have 3 episodes this season, 7 next season I’ve read, and then only three the final season? Or did you mean 13 after this season?
Ravyn,
She definitely trolling with us! If Arya doesn’t have much screentime, Dany just has a pea sized!
Markus Stark,
I think Sansa will die pretty soon! There are no use of her after they taken Winterfell, Bran and Arya will die a in the battle for the Dawn.
Is the stag that Davos gave to Shireen not made of a flammable material that would have turned to ash? Or did she drop it when they grabbed her? I like the theory that Davos finds it, I just can’t remember if we were believably set up for that or not.
Personally I don’t think him finding that out would be lethal for Mel. I don’t think she’s long for this world, but especially given her resurrection with Jon and Davos’ tempermant, I can’t see him getting violent. It would cause a huge strife between Davos and Mel of course, but I suspect her end will come in a different way.
I hope Jaquen saves Arya. After all she did save his life. He owes her more than 3 kills.
I think Lancel bites it soon as well as Tommen and it just might be Jaime and Cersei both that “burns them all”.
Maybe Tyrion takes one of the dragons for a spin. Remember the saddle he designed for Bran?
Davos finds out about Shireen, grabs Mel by the throat and oops off comes the necklace.
Ginevra,
In case this is a spoiler, I’m using the shortcode (correctly, I hope!):
Whew! Thank goodness Arya is fine! She’s fine, right? Right? It looks like the episode will focus on 4 locations: RR, KL, Meereen, and Braavos. Bulk of it might be on RR (20 minutes?). But, I still expect to see brief scenes in the North (Team Stark and WF/Ramsay) preparing for the battle in episode 9. Plus, hoping to see Bran/Meera/Uncle Benjen again. Fingers crossed.
It’s looking like Bran’s endgame is to be the 3ER for hundreds of years. 🙂
LyannaBanna,
Ooops! Can’t seem to use links within the shortcode… On second thought, it’s not a spoiler because it’s not about the books.
The cast known so far for Episode 8 is listed by the wiki:
http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/No_One” rel=”nofollow
Now, this is what Wimsey would call Team Strange Bedfellows. What(!), indeed. 🙂
It certainly does seem to happen with Jon quite often. In season 2 Jon’s story was really shorted. I think it was in order to develop Robb. The war of the 5 kings is very important and Jon did not have such a big story at that time so it was understandable.
In season 4 Jon’s arc was once again heavily delayed until the Battle of the Wall, I guess that was because of the climax in King Landing with Tyrion, Tywin, Cersei and Oberyn having big parts to play at that stage. The climax of the Lannisters in Kings Landing was important at that stage, so it is understandable.
Right now it also feels as if they are again delaying Jon’s arc. But what for? They made a big climax out of Jon’s death at the end of season 5, and now he is being pushed aside. I guess they are doing it for Kings Landing , but Kings Landing has lost most of its potency with the loss of Tyrion, Tywin, Varys and Joffrey. It just does not feel so important anymore.
We need to see more of what the character’s in the North are actually thinking and their motivations. While in Kings Landing they are repeating the same scenes and over explaining matters. For example it was a cool scene between Cersei and Lady Olenna last week, but it was not necessary. They only established that the two hate each other, and we have known that for ages.
I think they are focusing too much on Kings Landing, when at this stage of the story the North is much more important.
It has to be remembered that Robert’s claim on the throne was established through having the closest Targaryen lineage to the previous ruler.
So that basically means that after Aerys, Rhaella, Rhaegar, Rhaenys, Aegon, Viserys and Daenarys have been killed, Robert would have been the next in line of succession. But of course Daenarys was never actually killed (despite Roberts attempts).
So in other words as Robert’s claim to the throne was from his Targaryen bloodline, then they will have to go back and look for the Targaryen bloodline from the Baratheon line, the closest is Rhaelle Targaryen, Roberts grandmother. Rhaelle Targaryen is the great aunt of Dany. Her brother was Jaehaerys II, and his son was Aerys.
So even if they work back through the Baratheon lineage, Dany is going to be the rightful ruler.
This is the really frustrating part of having the Vale ride up to save the Starks. Last year they showed how much of struggle it was for Stannis. From historical experience greater armies that much bigger and better equipped often failed in places such as Russia and Finland, when they had to fight against the natives.
On top of that Moat Cailin is suppose to be impassable. It will be grating if the Vale forces quickly arrives at Winterfell, fresh and ready for fighting.
I have been thinking for a while that things might go into this direction. If Dany invades Westeros all of Littlefinger’s plans will be for naught. Dany has Tyrion and Varys as advisors there is no way that they would trust Littlefinger.
That being said there is no way that Littlefinger would easily guess Jon’s parentage. If there is someone from within the universe who should be able to figure it out, it is Varys or Benjen (if he didn’t already know), and perhaps some people from Dorne.
That being said I could also very easily see Littlefinger ending up dead somewhere next season, he has lied and played to many different parties against each other, it will catch up with him at some point.
Before the season started Isaac Hempstead Wright did an interview where he something about his character becoming a Kingmaking. Perhaps he is just referring to the ToJ of visions. But perhaps after making it to the Wall, he and Meera will travel to Winterfell to meet up with Jon. Maybe this could happen in episode 10? I am not sure it seems more like a season 7 plot perhaps, but he did mention becoming a Kingmaker.
I thought you were being clever. The known cast for “No One” is no one. I just paste links right in without doing anything special most of the time. Here is link I think you meant: http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/No_One
Thank you. I wouldn’t consider this much of a spoiler since it just includes those confirmed in the preview and synopsis.
eejazz, I think Davos will find her knuckle bones clutching it. The snow may have put the fire out gradually.
I like how this article points out the perhaps not so coincidental phrasing of “Arya faces a new test.” Punny, pun, pun!
Are y’all gonna freak when Jon is killed in bastardbowl and Davos brings him back again?
Eugene Simon tweeted an interview in which he comments on how long Lancel will be in the show if you want to know:
http://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/eugene-simon-my-game-of-thrones-character-is-so-intense-i-d-like-to-try-a-comedy-next-a3265696.html
Allthegoodnamesaregone, What is he gonna do? Set Sansa on fire?
Boudica,
You know, I’ve been wondering about that “Kingmaker” comment. Could he be referring to something in line with the Night King, not necessarily king of the 7 Kingdoms?
Ha! Very punny! 😀
“Arya will have one more face-off with Jaqen H’ghar and with the House of Black and White, where she has faced her most violent and exhausting tests in her quest to become No One.” So many faces, so little time. 🙂
If Lady Arya gets back on the boat next episode, I expect an epic reunion come episode 10 (considering they seem to travel at warp speed).
It might not be an ending shot, but wouldn’t it be sweet to see two familiar faces lock eyes in the Riverlands?
http://imgur.com/9TXNzag
Dee,
Maybe the Blackfish will give Brienne a message for Sansa to recover Riverrun for the Tullys with the help of her cousin Robyn of the Vale…. Nevertheless, Littlefinger will insist they should go South. Maybe The Vale will do it by themselves next season…. Still, I hope Arya manages to kill Walder Frey this season while he sleeps.
Nadia,
I think Jon is rushing to the battle because of that and Sansa could tell him the awful truth. Maybe she doesn’t want to loose both. I have to watch it to judge.
Rygritte,
I like how he appears to have a sword through his neck. ?
Is it bad that I took a screenshot of Rory’s name back in the main credits? ❤
I am judging you.
I also don’t blame you. 🙂
I like a lot of characters, some I love to hate, but Sandor…Sandor will forever be in the top spot for me.
Pigeon,
lol Frankenlancel.
Ginevra,
Thanks for your response, and for cleaning up my link!
Since the cast excludes both Jon and Sansa, it looks like there will be no action in The North. Plenty in the Riverlands–maybe a Hound/Brienne reunion. At KL too: Lancel and The Mountain plus Qyburn… Isn’t he in charge of the wildfire?
I’m most looking forward to solving the Arya mystery!
Jumbo,
Ha!
I laughed really hard at your titles.
I don’t like the tittle A Song Of Ice and Fire. There’s better tittles like
Fire
Ice
For Elements
Songs
Ginevra,
Not sure anyone could be forgiven for what she did no matter how penitent or humble. That being said, the fact that she was able to bring back Jon would count for a lot. Davos is pragmatic, and would see that she is worth more being there than not. I just can’t see him forgiving her
Hmmm: does cramming a kidney back into place qualify as “a new test”?
Except that the Vale troops are supposed to be very experienced in fighting in wintry and rough conditions owing to so many of them living in a mountainous region. LF emphasizes this to Cersei when we learn the “rest of the plan.” (OK, not the rest of it: but two steps more than Sansa or Royce ever heard.)
You are correct that history has been unkind to armies that invaded near-arctic countries near winter. In some cases, weather alone destroyed them. But in other cases, the ability of the “natives” to deal with the conditions was important. In this case, we would have one group that are told can deal with the circumstances fighting another that can deal with the circumstances. As all would be on an open battle field, there would be no obvious disadvantages.
Again, we do have to keep the story in mind. There has to be some reservation by the main character or characters involved in a big decision. Sansa winning allies with her charm or getting another Vale Lord to take over provides no sense of “well, she had to bite the bullet on that one.” (Hmm, I mixed metaphors temporally, I think.) All of the other characters are learning that you need to bend and/or take risks to win allies; Sansa just learned that Northerners are not going to flock to Stark banners the way that she imagined, and now she’s got to bend and/or take risks.
It is a shot in the dark. Sansa has no way to know that LF has been angling to get the Vale Army north all along. And in retrospect, part of her is kicking herself for not taking this “easy” choice all along: but, on the other hand, the irrational but very understandable hatred that she’ll have for LF made that a very hard choice.
Or, put another way: this ain’t Tolkien…..
Jumbo,
Yeah, they don’t need to send an assassin; that pun may have killed me.
Interesting to hear
Hard to believe they won’t have the North at all, unless they do Davos/Mel showdown early E9 (c’mon they’re at the very same campsite), I guess it is possible…
If that’s the case, it’s probably because we are Lannister centric this episode, eg focusing on the RL and KL, eg siege of RR and Cersei’s trial and then it will switch and it will be North heavy in E9 and then focuses on both in E10
Agree, really hope it isn’t called “battle of the bastards”
Should just call it “the North” with all it entails etc, plus it’s creative as Wildlings are included and they have different views as to what the “North” is
Love the understated nature of the synopsis, made to sound mundane but there is something usually epic that actually occurs
Eg “Jaimie weighs his options”, lol, doubt we are getting any Trebuchets mentioned but do expect from the preview to hear talk of mass slaughter
“Cersei answers a request”, lol SRS unleashed is a big understatement
“Tyrions plans bear fruit”, lol it looked the live the roof was about to cave in on him going by that Chandalier shot
“Arya faces a new test”, lol at the face pun
Random thoughts:
1) Troops arriving late and/or changing to the winning side is commonplace in the books…and history. Think of Robert’s Rebellion when Tywin waited on the sidelines and only committed after Robert won the Trident. Or the “LATE Lord Frey”. The fact that show Manderly may turn up after the big battle and declare himself for the Starks is plausible and will be accepted. But how prosaic compared to the GNC and some of the Manderly speeches and wiles. Frey pies work for me.
2) Nobody but nobody has mentioned the Season 2/3 scene where Melisandre meets Arya and sees Death in her and says they will meet again. Since that was a show addition, it’s likely the show will fulfill it.
3) In the comments section to the Unsullied Recap I outlined my interpretation of Arya’s stabbing–basically that she set the whole thing up and is ACTING the part using mummer props either loaned to her or taken by her. She did this to lull Waif into a false sense of securitt so that when Waif inevitably returns to finish off Arya she won’t be prepared to face the surprisingly fit and ready Arya. Whether it’s that or Jaquen or some wily bit of chicanery, I think Arya will live to fight another day. I hope she plays a major role in the domestic wars and THE war against the White Walkers. I’ve always wanted LS to appear, but if she doesn’t, Arya is the ideal candidate to lead the guerilla band BWB, especially in conjunction with Nymeria’s pack.
4) Which brings up my long-standing resentment that D&D have allowed no Stark female magic. Both LS and book-Arya experienced magic: LS in her resurrection and Arya in her wolf-dreams and warging. Those are amazing evidence of Arya’s innate Stark-ness. Frankly, I think both would be fairly easy and cheap to film. This missed opportunity evidences some of the prosaic choices D&D have made with a magical set of books.
) I don’t think LF “helped” get Ned killed; he killed him…by suggesting to Joffrey that he assert himself and dispose of the key Lannister enemy.
“Arya will have one more face-off with Jaqen H’ghar and with the House of Black and White, where she has faced her most violent and exhausting tests in her quest to become No One.” So many faces, so little time. ?
Quote Reply
Dani,
For the end of this season, I hope Bran arrives to Winterfell in episode 10 and we could have a bigger Stark family reunion. I also wanted Arya to arrive in episode 10 but it looks less likely. I don’t want Sansa to leave Winterfell. I suppose she would like to recover her mother’s home but Jon would insist to prepare for the White Walkers attack. How big is the Vale’s army????? Can they recover it from the Freys by themselves???
They should strength their castles and gather supplies for several years.
Josh L,
I know, but the fact is that every time I’ve checked IMDB before watching an episode, the informations were correct, especially cast infos.
If most of the leaks are correct, I assume that also leaked cast info are correct, don’t you think?
Btw, we’ll see on sunday night! 🙂
A Lannister always pays his debts…..
Stark Raven’ Rad,
Nobody but nobody has mentioned the Season 2/3 scene where Melisandre meets Arya and sees Death in her and says they will meet again. Since that was a show addition, it’s likely the show will fulfill it.
Absolutely, I believe they will meet again. Interestingly, I believe the association of Arya with death is a take on the book scene with Arya and the Ghost of High Heart. I hope that Jon and Arya will meet again but am not as certain with that.
Sansa is going to go into labor (yes, birth a baby… probably a boy) during the “Snow Bowl”
I am a labor and delivery nurse….. I know things….
I’m anticipating continued storyline for Jon and Sansa, Davos, etc. I do suspect a reckoning between Davos and Melisandre, but I don’t think it will be more than a forgiveness and begrudging nod to a symbiotic need for one another in support of their new vassal, Jon. Davos above all, respects what ‘the red woman,’ is capable of, and he knows they need her likely for the BoB and with the inevitable coming of the Knight King.
I suspect that Jon and Sansa still have one more visit to make before the BoB….to Greywater Watch and a visit with the Reed’s…..likely we get some of our R+L=J fix there, but I will not be satisfied until I see the finished flashback in the TOJ….and if D&D deny us that, I’ll never forgive them! But regardless, Jon and/or Sansa has been in every episode and the principle storyline of the season…I don’t see them not present in episode 8…in fact I’d suspect the typical 2-3 scenes.
There has to be the Hound, Arya, Cersei….Mereen, and Littlefinger….those are required this episode 8 right? Bran? Sam?
I hope Arya makes it in time for the BoB, but don’t see it….I think the idea she and Jon won’t meet again though is madness…madness I say! That’s one of the few real loving relationships we all want that is still possible barring Lady Stoneheart returning. Jon and Arya, with Jon and Bran….those both will happen. I could see the finale ending with a shot of Arya walking through the remnants of the BoB battlefield, and then spying Winterfell with newly raised Stark banners flying high….a smile and fade to black until season 7 regarding her.
I don’t see Jacquen helping Arya in any way….he’s the one who warned her, and then pronounced the sentence on her head. The waif is simply a tool, and maybe even an alter ego of Jacquen himself. Jacquen knows Arya broke her vow….he will see her demise if he finds her anywhere near Braavos. The only way I see them having a happy reunion, is late in the story if somehow she and he reunite in the north.
The knights of the Vale will ride in 3/4 of the way through the losing battle and turn the tide for the Starks.
http://www.theverge.com/entertainment/2016/6/7/11876322/game-of-thrones-jon-snow-resurrection-nights-watch-basic-questions
Asking the right questions that point out how botched Jon’s arc has been.
If it happened to Dany, they’d make a huge thing out of it, she’d not only earn another title but people would be falling to their knees everytime she walked past them. With Jon, it’s like nothing happened.
There are reportedly only 13 eps left after this season.
The Blackfish is my favorite character by far, so I can already sense that he’s about to get totally screwed over by D&D. If they kill BF off, then what was the damn point besides tying up loose ends? At least the Hound is back…
Also, so are the Knights of the Vale supposed to be some elite fighting force? Because they always seem to be referred to as such compared to the other armies.
It’s doubly jarring because of how they handled the Jon issue off-season. They made a huge deal out of it for the viewers before the season, but not the characters in the show. It was nothing but a cheap cliffhanger to create buzz for 10 months, his death proved to be a cheap plot point that had no consequences apart from him leaving the NW, which could as well have happened without the death plot device as no one in the North gives a shit Lord Commander left the Night’s Watch.
Regarding the Manderlys:
If we assume that the Vale comes to the rescue, maybe the Manderlys meet up with them. White Harbor is pretty close to Moat Cailin, where the Vale knights are stationed.
Nadia,
I agree with what you say about the Hound. In the show he has been more closely associated with Arya than Sansa. Also the way their scenes were juxtaposed in the last episode makes me think that the Hound is destined to cross paths with Arya
. Maybe in the future he will run into Sansa too and tell her the truth about Ned, but that won’t happen this season.
I also don’t think LF will die this season.
So are the Knights of the Vale supposed to be an elite fighting force better than all the other armies? They always make it sound like that
Jumbo,
I agree it hasn’t seemed to play out in a natural way. I’m glad Jon is still a normal human being and not some demigod with a light saber and I understand why he is a bit laid back and unsure but I feel it’s unnatural to sweep the event under the rug as much as they have. I mean, even if they are purposely keeping it a non topic because they are going to focus more in depth at a later point and want the impact then it still doesn’t ring true that we didn’t see any sort of reaction from Sansa and no conversation with Mel by now. I mean, if he is confused, and we know he was at first, wouldn’t he question her further? Davos told him the red woman brought him back but he only asks Davos “Why?” and doesn’t go to the source? We all thought the point was made with Beric in order to make resurrecting of the dead more plausible but maybe it was trying to say that it’s not a unique thing therefor since we saw that LoL had no special purpose for Beric it is conceivable that Jon was brought back, for narrative purpose solely as a way out of the NW and become a player in the game. It makes more sense if that is the case and becomes understandable why they wouldn’t write that dialogue in is because it’s not going anywhere.
There really are some eagle eyed fans online. I would never have spotted this in a million years. It concerns someone who is seen in the background of Ayra’s scenes, so it’s going behind spoilers.
In the audience watching the play.
http://i.imgur.com/92PdqPW.jpg
Bumps into and possibly following Ayra as she staggers bleeding along the street
http://s6.postimg.org/pzb6c1byp/maninblue2.jpg
On the balcony in the preview clip for next episode.
http://i.imgur.com/IBtYyv0.jpg
Edit: Why aren’t the spoiler tags working? 🙁
Oh phew, sorted!
Sam,
Yes, it refers to the NK.
I would agree
Jumbo,
The majority of the characters in the show, apart from Melisandre, Davos, Tormund and Sansa (three of whom were present at the resurrection) don’t even know he died in the first place.
I also don’t agree with your “cheap buzz” comment. They spent the better part of three episodes on Jon’s resurrection: Start and end of episode 1, end of episode 2, start and end of episode 3 and even start of episode 4.
And no, he wouldn’t have left the Night’s Watch if he hadn’t died.
Nadia,
Your love and loyalty to Dany as a character is remarkable
You say this to one poster yet just the other day weren’t you one who responded negatively to the comments some of us made that showed some devotion to a different character?
My apologies if that was not you. But if it was, could you please help explain why there’s a double standard on this board at times? Thanks 🙂
Jared,
I’m starting to wonder if it even matters that we see Davos reacting to Shireen’s death. Seems so long ago and what could come of it anyways?
Ginevra,
Aww thank you. I love you too ? *blushing but secretly thrilled* 😀
If that is so, then it’s really baffling that no one is questioning Jon why he left the NW. Nobody knew about his death and resurrection! And yet, nobody thought of beheading him the instant he showed himself at the houses he visited. This is one of the reasons that miraculous event needed to be known/discussed/whispered about, etc.
ygritte,
Yes, it would seem so because his story is more tied in with the NK. I just don’t know how that would happen though. 🙂 Another possibility is that he’s the kingmaker of a past king, not a future king, i.e., King Robert, if we go along with the very thick tinfoil saying that Bran caused the Mad King to be mad. 🙂
Halfman,
Wow yeah, talk about a good eye for detail!
Hopefully all will become clear this week 🙂
Sam,
Word spreads….Sansa knew when she got there. We are to assume that gossip and second hand information travels in Westeros just the same as anywhere else. At this point, safe to assume even Ser Robert Strong knows….it’s old news.
ghost of winterfell,
Maybe for like one episode…Jon and Dany will realize their related soon and unite, also with Yara and Theon.
Halfman,
Can’t edit my own comment but meant to add: could well be the overuse of an extra thing, but blue isn’t really a Braavosi colour which is why he stands out. Most of the locals are wearing similarly toned red, orange, yellow, brown and black clothes. So anything bright blue or purple, say, would be a lot more noticeable. The regional variations in clothing styles in the show are fairly distinct – they must be because I certainly wouldn’t have registered them otherwise, not being particularly interested in costumes in general.
Oh I hooted out loud when I saw that and then laughed my ass off immediately after, when I realised that it wasn’t Gendry! I’d actually forgotten about the hound for a moment 🙂
Off-Topic Otto,
Sorry disagree.
In a post that’s open to everyone, one has the right to complain when spoilers aren’t covered.
That’s a very big assumption that the writers are asking the audience to make though. (“Hey, the audience will assume anyway that the NW brothers and the wildlings have spread the news about Jon’s death and rez to the outside world. So, no need to talk about it.”) The 20+ NW brothers are cooped up in CB while the wildlings, well, who would talk to them and believe them outside of their kind? The possibility of these people going out and spreading the “gossip/news” is very slim. And why would people instantly believe this “second-hand information” without proof?
Corbyn Stark,
Despite my position on Sansa having every right to a piece of the pie I do agree with this point. They’ve not focused much on Jon’s post resurrection state of mind as much as they should have. Even a twenty second solitary shot of him struggling to maintain his state of mind/ composure (or even beng able to hold his sword with the correct hand) would’ve been all that’s required.
But I’m guessing that they’re just letting him take a proverbial side step to Sansa as his “huge season” elements are yet to come, with the battle, parentage revelation and potential crowning.
I agree though it is a little lacking for the viewers.
Hear, hear!
I wouldn’t be so sure. If Jon had received the PL from Ramsay, while he was alive and still LC, saying that he had his brother Rickon captive, and threatening him, the NW and the Wildlings with dire consequences unless he handed over his sister so that Ramsay can continue to abuse her, he would still have come to the same conclusion, imo. He would have marched on WF.
Plus, the show had not had much time to dwell on the personal consequences of the resurrection for Jon. Except for one line saying he is tired of fighting.
So yeah, his death and resurrection so far seems quite inconsequential, imo. Maybe this will change in the future. I am hoping it does.
Lulus Mum,
Yes I agree. Seems likely to be nothing but the costume as you say is a colour which stands out. We will see soon enough I guess but I’m not placing much store in it being relevant. Love how people spot this stuff lol.
^ This. 🙂
ygritte,
I think the majority of viewers would like to see this discussion.
My sister, who is a die hard like me, but stays off the net, still wants to see this conversation between Mel and Davos, but she feels like it is not going to happen anymore. She hasn’t seen the trailer, so she didn’t see that clipped of what looked like Davos at the Pyre.
Apollo,
Hmmm
Potential crowning? Where? Why??
Also – the parentage reveal we MAY see but Jon wont know about it. Not this season at least.
I remember Carice (Melly) saying in an interview that this was her favorite season of Melisandre. She had big roles in episode 1&2, and then crickets. (understandably, she has been brought back to earth). But I wonder what else she is referring to.
And what of the conversation? “After you left, conditions got worse. We were trapped in the snow and dying. We prayed for a miracle, none came. So we prayed harder, the hardest way we could. It saved us from the snow, but not Ramsay…I don’t understand….” *pretty pouty-face cry*
What’s Davos going to say? You’ll shoulda died together in the cold?
Sam,
That did make me laugh!! It’s true though.
Complete speculation obviously but I don’t think Arya is really injured and dying. It is a set-up in my opinion. She knew that the Waif was going to go after her. She also knew the Waif was a better fighter. Arya probably used a bag of blood (perhaps taken from the mummers) and was waiting for The Waif on a bridge for a reason (easy way to escape while pretending to be seriously injured). I think she will deliberately leave a blood trail for The Waif to follow, probably leading to the place where she hid Needle and where she can take The Waif by surprise. Obviously one could argue that The Waif would have suspected a set-up or that Arya couldn’t have known that she would go for the belly. It also doesn’t explain why she would need to jump parkour-style as we saw in the trailer if her plan is to kill The Waif quietly in the next episode. Although I think Arya will kill The Waif eventually, I also hope we get some resolution with Jaqen. Will the Faceless Men go after Arya or was it all a test for her and The Waif, leading Arya to complete her training or to be relieved of her duties at the House of Black and White?
Chad Brick,
I don’t know what hes going to say or do – it doesn’t even matter at this point.
But people want to see him ASK about it again, because it would be out of character if he didn’t, considering the relationship he had with her.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he did ask again, but there are only two basic answers and he knows it:
1: We lost the battle, and Shireen was killed by the Bolton army
2: All hope was lost, we sacrificed Shireen, but it didn’t work
Why would it matter much which is true? I suppose you could squeeze a moment of drama out of it, but it wouldn’t seem in-character for Davos to do anything drastic if the answer was the latter.
Chad Brick,
Hmm , maybe he would have done something drastic if she told him in S5E10, emotions take over and what not (like his reaction to her comments on his son)
But at this point, I don’t expect his reaction to be drastic, but I do think that in order to provide closure on this topic, he must inquire about it again somehow, or else it would be out of character.
My point is that the viewers (the few I have spoken with) are wondering why he hasn’t pushed more to find out what happened to Shireen, and its bothering some of them.
You’re welcome, LyannaBanna. There are only 14 listed in the cast thus far, and we never had a cast that small on GoT since there are 300 to 350 named cast members in the show. Granted, we would never see all in one episode, but we typically see several dozen. The previous very short episode lists 42 cast members. These 14 in “No One” are only those who’ve been confirmed by the preview and synopsis thus far. They’ll likely grow today when the pictures come out, and they’ll grow Sunday when the episode comes out. Gameofthrones.wikia.com is a fan-run site, not officially affiliated with HBO, and so they know no more than we do, typically.
Qyburn could be in the episode for wildfire. I am definitely hoping for a Brienne-Hound reunion, but I suspect the Hound has some ass to kick first. I hope that we get an explanation for why the BwB seems to have reversed their mission. But, like you, the thing I most want to see is an explanation of Arya – and general badassery from her!
Peter Dinklage looks so fine! I can’t take it! *fans self*
Sam,
That’s an interesting angle Bran being essentially responsible for the Baratheon/Lannister rule being put into place. Watch, all the bad events that we’ve watched happen is essentially poor Bran’s fault. I could imagine if that is the case it’d be very hard to live with the fact you caused half your family’s demise, even if inadvertently. I would see Bran as willing to make a big sacrifice in some way at that point.
Who was it that says something to him about needing to be in the right place at the right time waiting for the NK? What do you think the meeting is set up for…some kind of fight, a pact, magic? Is he the chosen one because he will become powerful enough to “warg” the NK?
Dee,
Ohh Dee you just inadvertently added some fuel to a theory and I’d love if it is true!
(I cannot tell you what it is possibly spoiler-y)
ygritte,
His Uncle Benjen told him the NK would find his way to the wall one way or another and when he did, Bran would be ready. I’m expecting Bran to reach the Wall by season’s end or beginning of next season. I have no idea how Bran would fight the walkers but he’d probably be instrumental in getting people ready to fight them (possibly through Jon). In any case, I’m looking forward to another Stark reunion next season! 🙂
I think of forgiveness as a spectrum rather than a do-or-do-not decision. Bringing Jon back from the dead helps, but how would Davos trust the same Mel, who murdered tiny Shireen and recklessly slaughtered an army, to be by Jon’s side even if she was the one who saved him? I don’t think he could trust Old Mel, and since trust is part of forgiveness, this new side of Mel will be critical in moving him down the spectrum of forgiveness. He won’t reach 100% forgiveness, I agree, but her new attitude, outlook, and behavior will help.
Sam,
ANd that is puzzling to me honestly. I mean, these guys are professional writers and have been running the show for 5 years now. How in the world do they all of a sudden leave out basic stuff like that yet add total filler such as what you mentioned?? Are they just done with it at this point?
Something is rotten in the state of Arya’s entrails.
Episode 9 title confirmed! Saw it on my HBO listing on my TV it is
Battle of the Bastards……
Not sure if anyone else noticed this yet. So unless Time Warner Cable is playing with us that is the title of episode 9.
You know nothing, Brienne of my Heart. #sorry #notwhatshemeantbystillfeelinghiminsideher
ygritte,
Hmmmmmmmm
I am so curious!
I have changed my name is that allowed? lol
I am not sure how Mel’s actions got thousands slaughtered. Killing Renly saved a massive number of lives the next day. Heading north prevented the Wildlings from overrunning the North and slaughtering everyone. Sacrificing Shireen also saved lives, both of the sellswords and a large number of Bolton men. I suppose you mean Stannis’s men, but Stannis was all-in, win-or-die, his men were doomed from the beginning. Mel didn’t change that, but she didn’t cause it either.
If Mel didn’t exist, there still would have been a war, and it likely would have been just as bloody as the one we got.
Except for those who left before battle, Stannis’s entire army and encampment were slaughtered. Davos may assume that the queen and princess were simply not spared in the slaughter. Mel seems too torn up to talk about it. So until he suspects otherwise, as he might do if he came upon a sacrificial pyre, he wouldn’t push her.
But the Hall of Faces consists of people who are dead, right? Arya isn’t dead….that’s a great theory, though!
Dee,
Well there are a lot of rumours/theories subscribing to Jon being crowned KITN or indeed Westeros (in future), although I’m not so sure… Hence why I said “potential” crowning.
ygritte,
I’m intrigued now.
I love your new name! Of course it’s allowed. 🙂 I’ll probably change my name also to Sam Targaryen once R+L=youknowho is revealed. 🙂
There is a quality in GoT that resurrection/reanimation is available just for the asking. Few ask south of the wall. North of the wall many receive reanimation up to the brain stem only.
The other GoT quality of cyclic repetition (Jaime throwing down his armor in the throne room is an example of exact repetition, other repeats are more general) gives the sense of reinitializing a game at various beginning points to play again.
That was SO the best line in the episode, and delivered with such aplomb!
Apollo,
Hmm interesting.
I had a massive convo in this thread about this. Hes a bastard, and don’t see how people in the North will change their ways, but whoever is left in the North should Jon win are the ones who wanted to fight for him/with him to begin with. SO it is time for new blood in the north. Bastard blood! haha
D&D are trolling the creative fans who have been suggesting titles and episode contents.
Dee Stark,
Well it’s fine by me, I like it! Am surprised it got through cause even if I just misspell my name typing too fast the post gets sucked into a awaiting moderation mode, like forever 🙂
Miss Stark,
Don’t read unless you want to be potentially spoiled
I don’t see it happening, but not to say it won’t. He just doesn’t seem like someone who would WANT it at all. Also, knowing GRRM, I somehow think Jon will be one of the last men standing, but may not make it to the end.
ygritte,
Mine got stuck in moderation – but not for long!!!!
I like your thinking but he would be better equipped in battle if his ungrateful son hadn’t stolen off with his valyrian sword
Well it’s a well subscribed to theory/rumour that he’ll either be crowned KITN and/or Westeros by proxy (at least in the future), in this season for the former and likely later on for the latter. But it’s not a theory I actually subscribe to, hence why I said “potential”. So that takes care of the where/why.
And in the case of Jons parentage- we don’t know that he won’t find out this season or if he will. Nobody here does. But Isaac has hinted in regards to Brans role as kingmaker so it’s entirely possible he (and we) MAY find out in S6.
In any case, Jon himself doesn’t necessarily need to know of his origins directly for it to contribute to his huge season as long as the audience do. Besides which, all the other elements I described (resurrection, leading an army, winning the battle, reclaiming WF, reunited family, new path in life etc etc etc) are all, ya know, pretty huge in combination.
Elizabeth,
he didn’t wanna be LC either
I don’t see it either.
Dee Stark,
Elizabeth,
If Jon realizes that being KitN puts him in the best position to command the forces he requires to resist the WWs, he will take it, imo, even if he may not like it.
Right now, he seems to be in a kind of funk, he does not truly seem to care about anything. But I guess actually fighting that battle pulls him out of whatever he is going through.
This particular fan title, “Battle of the Bastards,” came from filming leaks where extras took part in what the GoT crew were calling the “Battle of the Bastards.”
ghost of winterfell,
That’s why I can’t wait for the battle to come already! I also believe that’s what’s going to get him out of the mental state he’s in right now.
Apollo,
no worries! 🙂
it is acting up for me too
Chad Brick,
That would probably be a good start…
I agree with you all about the lack of follow through on the resurrection. I was expecting that next episode to focus on how word spread through the NW and how everyone reacted, esp the muntineers. And then yeah, Id have liked to have seen some conversation with Jon and Mel, and then see Jon later protect Mel from possibly being chocked at the hands of Davos. Just weird they let it lay there.
BTW Has there been a new post this moning? My laptop has been wonky lately – just surprised that I woke up and didn’t see one yet.
I knew something’s off!!!
mau,
This season is good but to sit here and feel like they have set up this battle is absurd. I don’t feel any tension with the upcoming battle. I felt tension with the Wall and Blackwater. But this has been kind of disappointing. Jon and Sansa are pretty crappy recruiters. Jon doesn’t want to do this all. Ever since he has agreed he has been apprehensive. Maybe Jon will find it in the beginning of this battle, but they have done a terrible job setting up this battle for the north. Suppose to be the biggest battle the producers have done and I don’t feel excited for it. Then to have nothing with Ramsay for 3 episodes prior to the battle would mean they basically aren’t able to write for Ramsay unless he is doing something cruel, god forbid we see him planning for this fight. Still a good season but there are parts where you can tell that DD clearly don’t have a book to choose from.
ash,
Actually, the site has been wonky. I’ve been trying to reply to some comments here but they wouldn’t go through.
ash,
theres the tweets one
Elizabeth,
He didn’t want the command of CB either but once elected accepted it as his duty. If successful, once he’s chased off Ramsay Bolton and has the allegiance of the northern houses I don’t think he would just desert and leave their home Winterfell with no warden. But then there’s LF. Coming in to save the day, to fight for the Starks. What if he talks his way out of the Ramsay mess, convinces Jon he was just trying to protect Sansa, then seeing a way she could take back their home through marriage, and Jon unknowingly sees him as an ally? I can see him coming off smelling fine after some smooth talk. Sure Sansa knows what he did with Aunt Lyssa but his defense is that he was saving Sansa from certain death by moon door. What else do they have on LF? I might be forgetting some things…
Sam,
Your post went through….about eight times. So it was treated as spam automatically by the system and swept into Spam. There are different timestamps on the posts- I’d say that if a post goes into moderation, be patient and don’t try to repost that same exact thing. I can release it from spam.
Sue the Fury,
Ooops, so sorry for the trouble! My browser I think is acting up. I wasn’t sure if it went through.
Ravyn,
Yeah and the actor who played Rickon said you have to pay attention to the details in Rickon’s storyline. Umm, I haven’t seen him or the Umber dude sense, what details?
Sam,
Yeah, I think something will happen in that battle that will pull him out of it. Atleast, I hope there is a process, whereby he starts feeling as insecure as he has been so far and something snaps him out of his slump.
ghost of winterfell,
He needs to release his inner direwolf soon! And perhaps his inner dragon? 🙂
Kirby,
I think we get Jon, we haven’t seen Davos look at the area where Shireen is burned. I don’t think we will get anything in Winterfell with Umbers and Boltons. But I believe we get Jon. My only evidence is IMDB. I know everyone goes to town on everyone when they say they saw it on IMDB. Well IMDB told us about Benjen returned. I got shit for that but it was right.
Stargaryen,
Interesting. Which interview was this from? I’d like to see Rickon again but then I also don’t want to because that might just show Ramsay torturing him. No!
Stargaryen,
I think part of the disappointment is because we thought that the “North Remembers” would be a big thing this season and it ended up being just a 5 minute recruitment drive, at which both Jon and Sansa sucked. And it turned out that the North remembered all the wrong things, lol. I agree, I am disappointed by this storyline too, and yet, in a weird way it has been my favorite storyline so far, along with Bran’s. I can’t explain it!
Sam,
The inner dragon will probably come out only in the next season 🙂
Also, I will go ahead and say it. Paul Kaye – aka Thoros of Myr is apparently back this for episode 8 according to IMDB. Now that easily could be because he is in Previously on Game of Thrones section.
Sam,
I don’t remember back from the beginning of the season. Have to look the actors name up and see what he has done. Maybe entertainment Weekly the way that publication has had the inside track on GoT interviews.
aabe,
Maybe it isn’t Sansa’s battle she only thinks it is. The Wildlings aren’t hers. The Mormonts aren’t hers. Maybe the Maizon’s and Hornwoods are, so she has what 150 men. It is called the Battle of the Bastards because Sansa’s end game does not matter. the bastards are who are important.
[broken record] IMDb is fan-updated. The information is not added by the actor or HBO. Fans added that info after reading casting info for the season and seeing episode previews. [/broken record]
Fans updated IMDb after his return was leaked on other sites. It’s like using wikipedia for a research paper. You can use wikipedia to get a quick bit of info, but the real source of the information has to be somewhere else.
We use caution because IMDb also told us at one time that Holly Marie Combs was going to be playing Catelyn and, that
HelloThere,
Ha you think there will actually be a siege! That is cute!
Beer Island,
Beer, I agree with you, but I am just not as hyped or feel the tension of it as of yet. Jon’s resurrection has been completely underwhelming. Why is that not talked about more?!
Sansa and Jon are doing a crap job acquiring soldiers and they only went to two places. There are so many reasons to fight the Boltons, why the hell can’t they express that. Then all of sudden Ramsay goes dark for 3 episodes? What the writers can’t write this guy lines unless he is killing someone or doing something cruel to someone? Yes, they should be showing more about Umber and Rickon and what Ramsay plans. Not to mention it clearly appears like Jon is going on a suicide mission. he has not desire for this fight since he changed, which is fine.
I am excited for it, love any battle scene. But the way DD were talking about how big the battle was to film, you would think the build up would be better. One more episode to go until then and a lot can happen in one episode.
Nadia,
Speaking of “ships”, Dany and Ironborn…
Has anyone been shipping Dany and Yara?
Laura,
I think we’ll see the Manderlys show up for the Starks since theyre such a big part of the Winterfell trajectory in books. And Sansa does say ravens were sent to them, asking for help.
Dee,
I think this is totally Jon’s battle. Sansa has no drive to stop White Walkers. her goals are not to get Winterfell back so they have a protected area vs the Walkers. her goals are to get her home back, kill Ramsay and then anyone else who did her wrong. This battle is for Northern supremacy so the North can be united to fight the walkers. Sansa’s reasons are pure but not for the big picture. This is totally Jon’s fight!
Lyanna_Targaryen,
Battle for the North is a better character. So many families in the battle and whoever wins in the end has the North.
Dee Stark,
Elizabeth,
Yeah I can’t really see Jon taking the crown given his status (and in essence if he is R/L legitimate son in some way then he’s not even in line for KITN).
Bran is really next in line so I guess it all depends what happens there.
But I really do hope Sansa is crowned, even if she is a scene stealing, attention hogging, lying, scheming wench who secretly resents her half brother and is seemingly in love with Littlefinger!
Actually – now that I’ve listed these, they’re kinda pre-requisites for a Westeros ruler!!! 🙂
Comcast has a different synopsis for the Episode “No One” (Even though its essentially the same thing…)
Brienne confronts Jaime during the siege at Riverrun; Cersei delivers a defiant response; Tyrion’s plan starts to come together; Arya is presented with a new challenge.
Nadia,
I believe the person was referring to season 6. Kit has said that Season 6 is big for Jon.
Sean C.,
IMDB was right about BenJen being in his episode. IMDB is not a fan site. The site still attempts to provide updated information the exact same way Wikipedia can. IMDB is not discredited, you simply can’t use it as a credible source to some people. Doesn’t mean it is wrong.
Dee,
I hope more! Carice/Mel is one of my favorite characters in the show, by quite a bit, against some popular opinion. She has very clear, albeit misguided at times, motivation, and she’s always compelling to watch on screen.
I thought Mel may be out of the picture soon, but with the setup in Mereen, I would love for her to be around when the Dany supporters come to Westeros. Regardless, she’s “there for a reason,” according to Kinvara, so I expect more to come.
ghost of winterfell,
Hee, really. Tho actually, I didn’t blame them at all. Esp since they don’t see the danger of Ramsey. As far as the recruitment drive – neither of them ever had to do it before so they were going with their guts and background. So I could understand why that didn’t work out – they were inexperienced, and their recruitees had a good argument for saying no.
Stargaryen,
I so agree with this. I can only hope that the one episode is this one. We shall see.
Sue, re iMDb – I used to use that site for movie info. Its become so bad, haven’t used it in years. Wouldn’t trust it for anything,really. Surprised people stilldo.
HelloThere,
I hope so! As long as he doesn’t take her agency.
ghost of winterfell,
Did they remember the wrong things? Yes and No.
Their fathers, brothers, sons, bannermen had gone in the thousands with Robb to rescue Ned. Then Ned is executed. And it’s turned into Robb being King in the North. And unlike what Kings are supposed to do for the benefit of the realm, Robb followed his heart (so 21st century) instead of his duty (at least in the books he had the excuse of being young and tricked into marriage). He beheaded Karstark. If he had married the Frey girl, would the Freys have defected? Would Roose have been open to Tywin? Don’t know.
Yes, there is somewhat selective memory in that Roose was responsible with the Freys for the deaths of the Northmen at the Twins. What they don’t know is how he put others, including the Glovers, in a position to be slaughtered, at Duskendale. He left others on the wrong side of Rudy Ford for the Mountain to slaughter.
Duskendale, on the narrow sea? Why would they go to Duskendale? A third of my foot, lost for Duskendale?
The show has shown a more anti-Stark position of the North than the books. IMO, to make it bleaker and more necessary for the Vale to be involved. In the books, the Boltons are more reviled for flaying and other behaviors. Most of the Lords are at WF in the books due to Roose’s position and army than hatred of the Starks.
If there is to be a battle against all the wights and WWs, the noted military commanders would be needed to strategize and dress the battle. That need could be a step in the direction of unifying Westeros before any dragons arrive.
As to who gets Valyrian weapons, a general can command from the rear and not need to personally swing the sword.
For the creation of Valyrian steel, I still think Gendry will be forging Valyrian weapons from iron and obsidian at Winterfell. We’ve already been teased about smiths. That would be if the number of episodes left in the story allows for the complexity of organizing large scale DDay size war fighting.
Yes. Whoever is left after the carnage will fill the management void. Heritage will not count so much. And there is still by right of conquer.
Crew members are also creative and fans. The title decisions flowed up instead down for the rest of this season.
The show has covered so much material, you think they have just intentionally neglected Ramsay? Frankly I think they bit off more than they could chew and are desperately trying to cram it all into 10 55 minute episodes, and its just not possible to cover every major character and their arc in that time. They are really glossing over the details in favor of the broad strokes. They have no other choice.
GoT has amassed large performing forces and generated huge momentum. If they continued story telling at the rate established before season 6, the saga would take several more years, to the enjoyment of fans and profit of HBO.
Instead we get this race to the finish, cutting short a lot of the story. On one hand, I’m glad to finally get some reveals which have been held back longer than strictly necessary. On the other hand, we lose many explanations and interactions which could have been covered if the show continued at its previous pace.
Marlana,
I agree. Unless they are worried they cant hold onto the talent they have for 4 more years, which given their stardom and the gravitas they have all achieved, then I get not extending it out. Victims of their own success maybe. I personally would like to see more development if it takes longer. I guess at the end of the season we can evaluate it as a whole, but it does feel rushed.
Ser Broccoli McBroccoliface,
You are so right. They should have showed us Sansa’s Vale chapters – they were the best part of A Feast for Crows! Nothing else really happened in that book or in the one following. Instead, they have Sansa marry Ramsay. Yes, he is a powerful, handsome young noble currently in control of the north, but Sansa should have just stayed up in the Eyrie, convincing Robert to eat his porridge. D&D always make Sansa do stupid things.
Laura,
Episode 10 After the Battle; declaring the King in the North
Yes. I would like to see them take the time it takes to tell the full story they chose to tell originally when they first condensed the saga to ten episode seasons. Once we viewers accepted the limited scope, we still wanted to know all the story.
Also, I think structuring it so that reveals were retarded and retarded backed them into plot problems, just as it has for GRRM.
Now they are rushing just to be done with the burden, plucking out of the void characters they need for the end conflict. The show will answer questions building up for years, and provide some closure, but the soap opera level haste in the show increases longing for the details that only the novels provide.
Dee,
“Do you like games little man?”
This is still to happen from the promo.
mariamb,
Melisandre I think and possibly Edd.
I’m loving that theory! Because to me, it’s clear that things aren’t as they seem with Arya in that scene. Something’s up. And there are some key parallel’s between The Waif and the Sansa actress. Both wanted to commit murder out of personal envy and insecurities, which is a no-no for The Waif, so it would make sense that Ja’quen would set the double trap.
Only part that makes me doubt it is, how would the actress be able to escape The Waif the way she did, head butting her, barrel rolling over the bridge and swimming under water to safety? I guess we all have our survival instincts and adrenaline, though.
Sword of the Morning,
Greg du Pille,