Inside Game of Thrones Season 6: The Best Seat in the House

jaqen

It’s not a trailer, but HBO did come through today with a fresh offering to tease season 6 of Game of Thrones for fans: a look inside the making of the show. In the newest “Inside Game of Thrones” video, we get “The Best Seat in the House,” with the show’s camera operators discussing and demonstrating what it takes to create the complex and stunning world of Game of Thrones. We get several exciting glimpses at the new season! We’ll tuck the video and our screencaps below the cut for spoiler reasons. Enjoy!

A sampling of images from the video- open screencaps in a new tab to enlarge.

Fans who have been tracking spoilers will be aware of the meaning of the gathering of soldiers seen several times.

battle2

battlebolton

Two young boys sparring with wooden swords in a courtyard- most likely the boys mentioned in the original season 6 casting call.boys2

boysswords

Daario and Jorah, on their hunt for their khaleesi.

Daario Jorah

Daario

Daenerys, in the wild

Daenerys

The Dothraki, who have a large presence in season 6

Dothraki

Dothraki1

Director Jack Bender checks out a dead body in the House of Black and White, the one also depicted with Jaqen (Tom Wlaschiha) at the top of the post.

Jack Bender

We see Meera Reed here, the returning Ellie Kendrick.

Meera

Melisandre glowers. One of her trademarks.

Melisandre

Her with Davos

Mel Davos

Jaime, being handsome on a ship again:

Jaime

Bolton crosses on a smoky field:

Crosses

Sons of the Harpy:

harpies

Harpy

Random photos:

fire

thing in the field

Peter Dinklage on the set:

Tyrion

There are more new images in the video so see for yourself!

 

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

308 Comments

  1. Aryamad:
    Laura,

    Iā€™m going to have to wait until I get home to watch but man that last pic of Mel has her looking intense.

    And a little disheveled too? She must have been working hard at something, eh? šŸ˜›

  2. Around 0:45, there are Umbers, Karstarks and Boltons sitting on horses and if you look off in the distance, one of those dratted crosses is on fire.

  3. WinterPhil:
    Is that a young Ned and Brandon Stark sparring in the Winterfell courtyard?

    Definitely possible and in the second pic of them, there is a larger boy watching them – maybe Hodor? Maybe the white haired man in the back left is 3ER? Probably just a crewman but these are some fun glimpses of S6. Thanks for our 1/4 portion today, GoT! (Rey/SW reference in case you’re not a huge nerd)

  4. Not a trailer but at last something new in the video category!!!!
    Amazing to see how difficult it can be for the camera crew as it’s not really something that you think about when watching such an amazing show!
    Can’t wait for season 6 now….
    Roll on April 24!

  5. Thanks for sharing this. At long last we get a couple of new glimpses at actual footage, even if it’s recorded through a secondary camera aimed at a production screen.

    **Things of note:**

    * 0:25 Unsullied (Grey Worm) preparing for battle? Or maybe someone else?
    * 0:44 Not sure if Battle of the Bastards or Dothraki
    * 0:53 The process of removing the faces from in the House of Black and White
    * 1:11 Dothraki warriors reacting to the burning hut in Vaes Dothrak that was filmed
    * 1:34 Sons of the Harpy being dicks as usual
    * 1:43 Saintfield (Battle of the Bastards filming location)
    * 2:06 Davos and Melisandre at Castle Black. Melisandre doesn’t look too happy. Perhaps a certain confession she is making to the Onion Knight?
    * 2:20 Jorah and Daario in what appears to be Vaes Dothrak. They seem to be on their guard, and rightfully so.
    * 2:41 Battle of the Bastards
    * 3:00 Flashback to Winterfell, notice the two children sparring with swords in the background (young Ned and Lyanna?)
    * 3:04 Battle of the Bastards or Dothraki?
    * 3:14 Probably Dothraki
    * 3:21 Sons of the Harpy still beeing dicks, note how neither this nor the previous shot of them appears to be in Meereen, but rather in some outside location
    * 3:38 Meera outside the cave, probably hunting?
    * 4:01 Normal Dothraki life at Vaes Dothrak
    * 4:26 More of the Winterfell flashback and the two Stark kids sparring
    * 4:29 Dothraki running around?
    * 4:31 More of Jaqen cutting off a guy’s face
    * 4:38 Dany is being escorted by the Dothraki. Poor girl doesn’t even get a horse of her own.

    That’s about it. Let me know if I missed something or got something wrong.

  6. That was a real teaser! The most exciting of all the footages was Meera’s shot in the open air which most probably means that she will come again face to face with the Others. Now I am really curious! And Mel doing grimaces is a killer!

  7. Name *:
    Around 0:45, there are Umbers, Karstarks and Boltons sitting on horses and if you look off in the distance, one of those dratted crosses is on fire.

    Wow, you’ve got the eyes of an eagle! I do see the burning cross now. Hmmm.

  8. Notice that there are NO

    swords on Jorah’s or Daario’s hips or in their hands. No steel allowed to be carried in Vaes Dothrak

    Also 3rd Sons of the harpy picture (with the fire) isn’t sons of the harpy as you can see Jorah right in the middle of the shot leaning against the wall

  9. I wasn’t saying it was Sons of the Harpy. It’s just a random photo. Same with the photo after that.

  10. Yay!

    also NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO more Daario. does that character/actor even have fans ?!

  11. Sue the Fury,

    No problem :), when I had first loaded the page the “random photos:” title hadn’t been there for me yet.

  12. That big kid in WF courtyard has to be Hodor, watching the young brothers Stark sparring.

    And what is Meera doing?!!!

    STOKED

  13. Did anyone else think “Oh damn, it’s Euron Greyjoy!” during the foreign language film portion of the Oscars last night? lol

  14. Dragonmcmx: * 3:00 Flashback to Winterfell, notice the two children sparring with swords in the background (young Ned and Lyanna?)

    You know what? You might be on to something here. The older boy in the background carries himself like the older brother. The later shot shows the younger child just a bit more clearly and that very well could be a girl. Finally, tomboy Lyanna fits the book description.

  15. Also, at 0:47, just right of the camera, you can see what looks like a wildling prisoner. And a few seconds before that, you can see someone with some rope in their hands leading something that looks to be pretty low down.

    I have a bad feeling we’re going to get a

    BBQ’d Tormund

    .

    If you’re ever going to tell me that I’m wrong, now would be the time, Sue! šŸ˜‰

  16. Sister Kisser: That big kid in WF courtyard has to be Hodor,

    The older boy has a sword and is dressed like a Stark. I don’t imagine that would be Hodor. I think it’s Brandon Stark.

  17. Great video! Not a trailer but we do get some little snippets through out. And great to hear from camera crew!

  18. The shot of Meera is pretty strong evidence for the “leave the cave” theory. I took a skeptical stance on that at first, but this is more persuasive since it’s not just Bran (Bran outside could mean any number of things, depending on how they chose to depict his visions).

  19. umuckurlife,

    On second look, you might be right. He as the Stark gear on. I saw a kid towering over the two others, and he has a full beard… looked like Hodor at first. Wishful thinking I guess. I am still hoping we get a young Hodor, I am curious to learn about his origins in WF.
    You may be right about young Lyanna in there as well šŸ™‚

  20. Chinoiserie:
    Did anyone see what banners the Westeros army had? Bolton soldiers? Other Northern lords?

    In the first soldiers picture, there are Stark banners in the background. In the second one, I think they’re Boltons.

  21. I bet that first random pic is Vaes Dothraki burning. And definitely Jorah and Daario are in Vaes Dothraki.

  22. This was amazing and very entertaining to watch, definitely worth enough to hold off until something else comes, interesting. I wonder what they will release in march.

  23. Awesome, thank you!

    There’s a thrill to seeing the direwolf banners in Winterfell again, and hoping that what is past comes to be again.

  24. Name *: In the first soldiers picture, there are Stark banners in the background. In the second one, I think theyā€™re Boltons.

    I think they are Boltons too. I think you can see the red cross on their breasts.

  25. Sister Kisser,

    Just to give credit where it’s due, Dragonmcmx called Ned vs. Lyanna first. That got me looking at the shot again and I’ll be damned if it isn’t spot on. Brandon looking on, acting all lordly, clinched it for me.

    Dragonmcmx: * 3:00 Flashback to Winterfell, notice the two children sparring with swords in the background (young Ned and Lyanna?)

  26. Sister Kisser:
    Pigeon,

    Just reminded me of a shitty movie from back in the day.

    Faceoff.Ya knowā€¦Faceā€¦. OFF.

    All these years……therapy sessions, nightmares, and I had finally repressed that movie, put it behind me. Damn yoooouuuuuuuuuuu!!!!! *kermit flail*

  27. Name *:
    Also, at 0:47, just right of the camera, you can see what looks like a wildling prisoner. And a few seconds before that, you can see someone with some rope in their hands leading something that looks to be pretty low down.

    I have a bad feeling weā€™re going to get a

    .

    If youā€™re ever going to tell me that Iā€™m wrong, now would be the time, Sue!

    I think that’s wrong. The guy on the right in brown, https://www.dropbox.com/s/jnscfi8n2r39ylq/PrisonerMarchingToFlayedManBurning.jpg?dl=0, could be a prisoner but there is no sign he’s restrained. The guy on the right in dark grey does look restrained, but it looks more like a steel cable than rope dragging behind him. I think he’s a techie, grip, hand – whatchamacallit.

  28. Pounce:
    That was an exciting peek of the new season, the trailer will probably destroy the internet

    It’s going to break the internet.

  29. Ginevra,

    Thanks for the pics! You could be right; either way, wildlings in the Bolton army are not a good sign. These shots have gotten me so excited for The Battle of the Bastards. Gah.

  30. At last, something tangible!

    I’ve got nothing to add that others haven’t said, except for the fact that I’m surprised to see the Sons of the Harpy fighting outside of Meereen (well, at least that’s how that area just outside the walls has been portrayed before). Also, there’s the confirmation of the Umbers fighting for the Boltons in the battle, even if they somehow betray them during it… though I doubt it.

  31. Ashara D,

    Isn’t that just a rumor for now ?
    Well who am I kidding, probably is Lyanna since we’re getting the Tower of Joy Flashback.
    Who be a great way to introduce her to the show.

  32. Sean C.:
    The shot of Meera is pretty strong evidence for the ā€œleave the caveā€ theory.I took a skeptical stance on that at first, but this is more persuasive since itā€™s not just Bran (Bran outside could mean any number of things, depending on how they chose to depict his visions).

    I feel like Meera is going to be sent, by Bran, to find Rickon and bring him to Jon or Sansa. They have to give her something to do and it’s just not very likely that Davos is going to be given this job.

    Picture this: There’s that one pic of Melisandre on horseback, leaving The Wall, where we sort of see Sansa’s long coat to Mellie’s right. Pan out and you also see Rickon and Jon on horseback, with Shaggydog, Ghost, fierce she-warriors Osha and Meera at their sides, marching to take their ancestral home back from those a-hole Boltons? Half of the Stark children finally reunited. OMG, it gives me chills.

    (I know it’s quite a stretch and a fan wank but could you even imagine????)

  33. Oh and to add to my dream scene, Nymeria and her pack have made their way to the wall and this is how Arya sees all her surviving siblings and decides to say Bye Felicia to Jaqen and the HBOW and head back to Westeros to fight with/for her family. The last thing she does while warging Nymeria is to join Sansa so that her sister finally has a wolf by her side as well.

  34. Young Lyanna at last I hope!

    I’m quite sure the first unknown picture is Vaes Dothrak on fire! (Talk about deja vu to see that in the opening credits once more).

  35. OMG..Look at the pic where Melisandre leaves Winterfell on the left is someone on the horse that has a sword with something white on top.Could be Jon and his sword?It has something white like the direwolf head that LongClaw has :)(at first i belived is snow but is not)

  36. Sister Kisser:
    Pigeon,

    Just reminded me of a shitty movie from back in the day.

    Faceoff.Ya knowā€¦Faceā€¦. OFF.

    That movie is one of my favorite guilty pleasures! Silly as hell? Yup. Dumb and unrealistic? Sure. But it wears it’s absurdity like a suit of armor. It’s cool to at least see Jon Woo rip off his own stylistic conceits instead of seeing some other hacks do it to him. And the performances are so much FUN! I actually count it among my five favorite performances for each of the leads.

  37. Greenjones,

    I’m here as always, but I think it isn’t really my time yet. I have sometimes done gifs for that kind of footage, but to be honest, there isn’t much need to do so. There’re never any fast cuts, let alone the 5 to 2 frame shots we get in the trailers that often, so you can see everything just fine. When the trailer is here I will gif it down to every frame of new footage, you can be sure of it. šŸ™‚

  38. What a bunch of amazing people that have assembled to create this show.

    This is why I really hope HBO keeps this machine in tact and working, even when GoT is over.

    HBO and D&D have the greatest TV ran, epic producing production unit(s) ever assembled and they need to stay that way when GoT is over to crank out the next HBO epic.

    I don’t care what it is, a Dune series, a Shogun series, perhaps some kind of futuristic Blade Runner type series. Point is, they have this perfectly oiled machine that HBO needs to keep employed and in tact so we can keep watching these beautifully crafted epics.

    I honestly think they would be fools to uproot the crew and staff they put in place that brings us GoTs.

    The tricky part for HBO is to bring us a successful epic that justifies the huge budget needed with critical acclaim, ratings, and profitability. GoT is the rare animal that brings HBO all these things so they don’t mind throwing money at it.

    My bet would be a spinoff for sure, Robert’s Rebellion or something to that affect.

    But please HBO keep these people employed and working together and keep feeding them projects so we can keep reaping the rewards of their labors…

  39. Wayne Gleeson:
    I couldnā€™t stop thinking how much that guy needs to fix his eyebrow!

    Add another to the collection of world-class extravagant eyebrows belonging to people associated with GoT.

  40. Is that Rodrik Cassel (at 3.00-02) coaching the Stark boys in Winterfell?! I mean… whoever it is, those sideburns are just magnificent!

  41. Enjoyable! Other than the obvious stuff…

    GDK,
    The scene with Dany… it’s only women behind her, and yes Jorah and Darrio are unarmed. So one plus one equals… Vaes Dothrak!

    There’s a scene with Wildlings jumping into or off of something… hmmm…

    That BIG scene seems to have STARK banners, and Jon front and centre

    One of the scenes with fire and building has Jorah leaning against the wall

    Some of those headless horses have Dornish Arabian type tassles…

    And I’m going to keep looking….

  42. Sean C.: The shot of Meera is pretty strong evidence for the ā€œleave the caveā€ theory.

    Yup, that seems to be the closest thing to a spoiler here. I’m hoping they figure out a scheme to get her and Hodor back south of the Wall safely, perhaps to bring older-Howland into the story. Meera could be our vector into Greywater Watch, and perhaps even the Isle of Faces!

  43. umuckurlife:
    Sister Kisser,

    Just to give credit where itā€™s due, Dragonmcmx called Ned vs. Lyanna first.That got me looking at the shot again and Iā€™ll be damned if it isnā€™t spot on.Brandon looking on, acting all lordly, clinched it for me.

    Aren’t you all forgetting Benjin? Or is this because his hair is darker than the boy in the pic?

  44. This made me thinking what my favourite shot in GOT is. I think it’s the one where Sansa is doing the Girl with a Pearl Earring.

  45. Sister Kisser:
    Pigeon,

    Just reminded me of a shitty movie from back in the day.

    Faceoff.Ya knowā€¦Faceā€¦. OFF.

    She reminded me of a GOOD movie from back in the day: the Jim Broadbent wacko plastic surgeon character in Terry Gilliam’s ‘Brazil.’

  46. Looked to me like the Sons of the Harpy were killing the masters – perhaps some sort of counter-insurgency plot from Tyrion or Varys?

  47. Demonmonkey: Arenā€™t you all forgetting Benjin?

    I’ll never forget Benjen and neither will The Watch :). I just think that Lyanna’s story is far more integral than Benjen’s. I’m guessing that the flashbacks will show much of

    Lyanna’s story, culminating in Jon’s birth.
  48. I believe the Meera scene is the same as the pic we got of Bran from the EW shoot.

    Good shots! But nothing to spoiler’ish.. I can’t make out the sigils for the Bolton/Umber/Karstark-Alliance, while I do believe some are seeing those.. -.-

  49. They showed here so many scenes, that it could be even enough for a one minute trailer … Maybe the only reason that stops them from publishing a trailer now is that all the material is actually still not ready (computer graphics and so on), not to torture the fans

  50. Selina:
    What is that thing next to Meera? A cage?

    It does look like a cage. Maybe for trapping small animals?

    Laura:
    The last thing she does while warging Nymeria is to join Sansa so that her sister finally has a wolf by her side as well.

    You had me with your fanwank until that last bit. No. Nymeria belongs to Arya. Sansa is just shit out of luck in that regard.

    ladywolfsbane,

    I don’t see

    Jon front and center in the shot of the Northern army. You sure it’s him?

    I forget, did filming spoilers mention that

    Lyanna would be sparring with her brothers? That smaller child in the WF courtyard, I keep staring but I’m seeing a young boy not a young girl. As much I’d love to see tomboy Lyanna swinging a sword, I don’t think that’s her. *shrugs*
  51. LadyM,

    Yeah I was just gonna mention that. We speculated way back that maybe this was a small sept (due to the seven sides) that was perhaps being dismantled, but it looks as though this structure was actually filmed like that- now I’m stumped!

  52. BunBunStark,

    I just looked at that clip another couple times and now am looking at it paused, full screen, on the shot where Ned presses the attack. The younger kid, at that moment, could be mistaken for either Season 1’s Bran or Arya. There’s no way to tell if the child is male or female, really. I’m just thinking that they have to make each scene count. We know they filmed the ToJ, which is the culmination of

    Lyanna’s story and the beginning of Jon’s.

    I feel like the theme to the flashbacks will be about

    Jon’s parentage.

    That’s where I’m at on it.

    Hooray for speculation!

  53. BunBunStark: Selina:
    What is that thing next to Meera? A cage?

    It does look like a cage. Maybe for trapping small animals?

    Possibly a trap, but I think Meera also carried a backpack woven from twigs – could be that as well. In any case she has been in that spot long enough for some snow to accumulate on it.

  54. Are they going to show us how they remove the faces? The guy lying down looks like his face/forehead is marked for removal.

  55. Joffrey’s Cunt: Which picture is that?

    Yeah, at what timing are people spotting Jon or a stand-in? I can’t even make out the banners that people are identifying as this house sigil or that.

  56. Firannion,

    in the tracking shot at the beginning you see Bolton sigils on the horse blankets and one that looks like an Umber sigil with crossed broken chains on a red blanket @.46sec.

  57. Anyone else think that its kind of strange that the Umbers and Karstarks are using Bolton armor? Was hoping for some new designs.

  58. Okay, am I crazy or are those Dothraki riding horses in the snow? The shot in 3:12, in which all we can see are the horses galloping on the snow. I mean… of course it doesn’t make any frigging sense, so they just can’t be Dothraki. But that’s definitely snow. And those clothes and saddles and everything else don’t look like Northerner stuff… at all. They look… well, Dothraki, or maybe wildling I guess? They’ve gotta be wildlings…

  59. You know what I see a lot of? Fuzzy unidentifiable blobs. How the heck do you guys pick these things out? šŸ˜®

  60. Luka Nieto:
    Okay, am I crazy or are those Dothraki riding horses in the snow? The shot in 3:12, in which all we can see are the horses galloping on the snow. I meanā€¦ of course it doesnā€™t make any frigging sense, so they just canā€™t be Dothraki. But thatā€™s definitely snow. And those clothes and saddles and everything else donā€™t look like Northerner stuffā€¦ at all. They lookā€¦ well, Dothraki, or maybe wildling I guess? Theyā€™ve gotta be wildlingsā€¦

    I’m pretty sure that’s sand; it looks all dusty.

  61. Could removing a face be the special effects “gag” they talked about a while back?

    That tall, blonde person in the background watching the Stark kids sparring might be the young Hodor.

  62. Now that I’ve slowed down the video, I finally see the house sigils on the horse blankets. I can definitely make out the Bolton and Karstark sigils but I’m not seeing the Umber broken chains on the red blankets. But I’ll trust those saying that it is the Umbers.

    That makes me worry about

    Rickon’s safety. And Osha’s. I don’t understand how the Umbers can be protecting Rickon but also fighting for the Boltons. I really hope those speculating about the Umbers turning at some point in the battle are correct.

    And another thing that worries me is

    is seeing the Boltons and their allies on horseback while the Starks and their allies are on foot. Doesn’t seem like an even match. I don’t want repeat of Stannis’s battle against Ramsay.
  63. Name *,

    mau,

    I’ve looked it again and again and it still looks like snow. Not real snow, but the fake snow they use so often. But… those REALLY look like Dothraki riders, so I’m gonna guess my eyes are deluding me and those are just Dothraki riders on sand.

  64. BunBunStark:
    And another thing that worries me is

    is seeing the Boltons and their allies on horseback while the Starks and their allies are on foot. Doesnā€™t seem like an even match. I donā€™t want repeat of Stannisā€™s battle against Ramsay.
    Do you remember the leaked photo of the back of the Stark army from a couple of months ago? There were some horses in there. Also, from this video, the shot at around 3:05 is the Stark army and there are some horses there as well. Even if the Starks don’t have as many horses as the Boltons, they still have some. And they have a giant. šŸ˜‰
  65. teunteulai:
    They showed here so many scenes, that it could be even enough for a one minute trailer ā€¦ Maybe the only reason that stops them from publishing a trailer now is that all the material is actually still not ready (computer graphics and so on), not to torture the fans

    We are 8 weeks from the premiere. I think they should have enough in place for a trailer. Last year the first trailer, which was on January 30th and 72 days from the premiere had a shot of a Dragon. We’re 55 days from the premiere now.

  66. BunBunStark,
    Gotta be really quick as it’s past bed time here, but

    at 0.45-0.48 secs the third mounted guy from the front, in the line of riders closest to the camera, has a red blanket with crossed chains, although he seems to be holding a Bolton banner. It’s difficult to tell because it’s blowing about but it looks to me to be black with white and red in the middle (flayed man).

    For anyone who hasn’t spotted it yet the mounted guy at the front has the Karstark er…what is that, a sun? on his blanket. There are also Bolton shields (resting on the ground) visible through horse legs and at least one rider definitely has a Bolton blankie.

  67. Jack Bauer 24,

    but don’t they work on the show even when the first episode appears ? fixing little things and making some adjustments. I suppose they are working their asses off getting things ready, taking their sweet time, i’m sure a trailer will appear at some point, maybe not. I won’t mind if we keep getting videos like this one.

  68. Matthew The Dragon knight:
    Jack Bauer 24,

    but donā€™t they work on the show even when the first episode appears ? fixing little things and making some adjustments. I suppose they are working their asses off getting things ready, taking their sweet time, iā€™m sure a trailer will appear at some point, maybe not. I wonā€™t mind if we keep getting videos like this one.

    Yeah they work on the episode until it airs, but there should definitely be enough CGI in place. They just continuously tweak and fine tune it.

  69. Name *,

    Okay, now I do see a few horses. And now that you mention it, I do remember there being a couple of horses in that leaked picture. Still not enough, IMO. But like you said,

    the Northern army will have a giant. As long as they give him a tree to swing, he should even the odds a bit.

    Also, at 3:04 just as the camera starts to pan away from the

    Northern army, does the older man standing in the front look like Davos to anyone else? Something about the way he’s standing reminds me of him.

    Or it could just be some random old guy.

  70. Damn, those cameras are gorgeous. I admire those adventurous ones who can tame those beasts out in the wild!

    Oh, and the scenes being filmed seemed cool too. For some reason, Meera’s story and fate really intrigues me.

  71. Luka Nieto,

    Yeah, I think you’re right. I paused the video at 0:46 at spent far too long studying the sigil on that blanket, hoping that I could convince myself it was something else. But it matches the color scheme for the Umbers, and once I saw the video in high-definition, the crossed chains are readily apparent (As for the other sigil visible in the shot, it’s clearly the white sunburst of the Karstarks, but their loyalty to the Boltons seemed far more likely).

    With that mindset, I took another look at the shot of Ramsay from the Yearender video. I do think that the man following him bears a decent resemblance to Dean S. Jagger, so it could potentially be Smalljon Umber. Maybe it’s just confirmation bias, but that was the last straw for me.

    Alas, I held out for as long as I could, but I’ve finally hit the acceptance phase when it comes to the idea that the Umbers will be marching with the Boltons during the Battle of the Bastards. I’ll hold on to the hope that we may still see them turn their cloaks against the Boltons during the battle, but that hope is dwindling.

  72. in the two flashback winterfell shots (3:01,4:29) – I am going way out on a limb:
    the guy watching (I think we see the back of his head in the bottom right of the second shot) is Fergus Leathem and the taller kid fighting is Sebastian Croft. Assuming the rumors are right, Robert is watching Ned kick his younger siblings ass. I have a hard time believing they dressed Lyanna as a boy but maybe, in which case the smaller fighter is her… other wise it’s Benjen. Assuming the rumours are wrong (and a few other crazy ideas) I would say the tall one with curly hair watching is Brandon Stark, the tall fighting kid is Robert and the shortest one is Ned.

  73. I just reread the casting call posted on this web site, and I am leaning toward my second guess, that the shortest one is ned.

    A large boy, with an actor who is 10-12 but playing 7 or 8. Heā€™s described as ā€œa clever boyā€ who seems too large for his age. Heā€™s big and tall but not fat. ā€œCharacterful squat featuresā€ are a plus for this part. itā€™s specified that this is a one-time appearance.

    12 year old boy, with brown hair and blue eyes. He needs to use a Northern accent. He has scenes where he has to spar with a wooden sword.
    The length of the role isnā€™t specified.

    7 year old boy with dark brown hair, a narrow face and green eyes. He also has a Northern accent. He also spars with the wooden sword, so itā€™s safe to assume itā€™s the same scene. This role is similarly open-ended, the description only stating that the character is being ā€˜introduced.ā€™

  74. Dragonmcmx:

    * 2:20 Jorah and Daario in what appears to be Vaes Dothrak. They seem to be on their guard, and rightfully so.

    And they are unarmed. Only reason for them to be unarmed is that they themselves escaped or they are following the Dothraki law.

  75. Am I the only one to notice the ball on a stick in the shot with the kids. Obviously, it’s not a stand in for a giant, so what could it be? I’m thinking it’s marking the spot where Bran and the 3ER will be watching the scene unfold.

    Also, the marker for the scene with the Dothraki shows 604. Does that help us in anyway?

  76. Luka Nieto:
    Name *,

    mau,

    Iā€™ve looked it again and again and it still looks like snow. Not real snow, but the fake snow they use so often. Butā€¦ those REALLY look like Dothraki riders, so Iā€™m gonna guess my eyes are deluding me and those are just Dothraki riders on sand.

    Definitely Dothraki because the fringed and geometric patterned blankets are only used by Dothraki, that I can tell. But I agree that it is just as likely white sand or white pebbles as it is snow – very white sand, yes, but not like Meera’s snow. The horses are kicking up the particles or pebbles as they run.

    Dothraki horses: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5av6yr8d0nnqj23/DorthrakiHorses.jpg?dl=0

    Meera’s snow: https://www.dropbox.com/s/py447p7q30uhxcy/MeeraSnow.jpg?dl=0

  77. tkk:
    https://youtu.be/mmCYmgwPyAI?t=184(3:04) Look at the screen on the left, that horse is going fast (kinda looks like Jon Snowā€™s horse? Allthough there are many other black horses I know )

    https://youtu.be/mmCYmgwPyAI?t=239 (4:00) You see the clapperboard 604 and they still seem to be at the Vaes Dothrak?

    Good catch, or maybe they’re on their way from Vaes Dothrak? Either way, I’m not expecting development from Dany until 6×04.. I’m betting she’ll be done with Meereen in 6×10 though.

  78. Luka Nieto:
    Iā€™ve looked it again and again and it still looks like snow. Not real snow, but the fake snow they use so often. Butā€¦ those REALLY look like Dothraki riders, so Iā€™m gonna guess my eyes are deluding me and those are just Dothraki riders on sand.

    Definitely Dothraki because the fringed and geometric patterned blankets are only used by Dothraki, that I can tell. But I agree that it is just as likely white sand or white pebbles as it is snow – very white sand, yes, but not like Meera’s snow. The horses are kicking up the particles or pebbles as they run.

    Dothraki horses

    Meera’s snow

  79. tkk:
    https://youtu.be/mmCYmgwPyAI?t=184(3:04) Look at the screen on the left, that horse is going fast (kinda looks like Jon Snowā€™s horse? Allthough there are many other black horses I know )

    Huh, I was so focused on the assembled army that I completely failed to noticed the running black horse on the monitor. Interesting. I don’t want to get my hopes up but

    it could be Jon riding ahead of the army, perhaps to meet with someone before the battle begins.
  80. Vegodread,

    do you mean the thing held up by the dude behind the light diffuser screen in the 4:26 shot? I think that’s another mike, maybe something to do with linking with shot of the same scene at 3:01..

  81. Vegodread:
    Am I the only one to notice the ball on a stick in the shot with the kids. Obviously, itā€™s not a stand in for a giant, so what could it be? Iā€™m thinking itā€™s marking the spot where Bran and the3ER will be watching the scene unfold.

    Also, the marker for the scene with the Dothraki shows 604. Does that help us in anyway?

    Nice catch and I think you’re right about it being the spot where Bran and the 3ER are standing.

  82. BunBunStark,

    You guys are geniuses – talk about misdirection. I am about 75% sure that that is indeed Jon’s horse.

    This is so much fun, it’s like playing the board game Clue.

  83. jim,

    I’d go with Brandon, Ned and Benjen, although I think that Fergus Leathem is a perfect young Robert. Baby Hodor in the background watching.

    and I think that’s just another mic to pick up dialogue. Looks similar to other mic shots. We’re just seeing the pointy end in this one.

  84. Ginevra,

    What I saw is 3:05-3:06ish. Meh, it was someone with dark wavy hair, and a darker longer Stark-type coat than everyone else but now that I compare – is it the turquoise sleeved samurai outfit form the leak? Shoot maybe not. I’m certain about the Stark banners though. So Starkish people with Starkish banners… and a Starkish horse?

    I think Meera is leaning not over Hodor but over a SLED. Did Hodor die in the traces? Is Hodor wierwood paste, and is Summer towing Bran?

  85. Selina,
    She is definitely talking to somebody, probably Bran. The trees and snow don’t match the pic of Bran on a horse. Maybe this is why he needs a horse to get to Winterfell where the trees & snow matched the pic of him on horseback.

  86. Rygritte,

    BunBunStark,

    Honestly by now I don’t think Rickon would actually be with the Umbers. Everyone takes that for granted because of that season 3 line. But original casting call for Lord Umber said he would appear only in two episodes. One of them has to be the battle one. I don’t see Rickon only appearing in one episode before the battle. I also don’t see how Rickon could be with Umbers and appear in more episodes than Lord Umber. Another clue is that now it seems that that casting call for a housemaid is for young Old Nun so she won’t be involved in Rickon’s story line. So who would be taking care of Rickon by Umbers? Lord Umber? Rickon is too little for that. And I don’t think Lord Umber would allow Osha to raise Rickon because he’d like to raise RIckon like a lord. Unless he straight up locks him in a dungeon. But in that case he’d have delivered him to Boltons long time ago.

  87. Rygritte: Maybe there are 2 Umber armies.

    That’s possible since

    that’s what happens in the books. But, so far, I haven’t seen any evidence of any Umber soldiers or their banners within the Northern army. Just with the Boltons. I have a sinking feeling that, in the show, the Umbers will be all in with the Boltons.

    Which annoys me since, in season 1, GreatJon Umber clearly loved the Starks and was Robb’s fiercest ally.

  88. The poll on the Inside GoT video lacks the option “All of the above!” I can’t vote in it.

  89. Dear god, the production set looks big as usual!
    This might be another epic season, as it doesn’t seem to have been below the hype yet!

  90. Luka Nieto:
    Name *,

    mau,

    Iā€™ve looked it again and again and it still looks like snow. Not real snow, but the fake snow they use so often. Butā€¦ those REALLY look like Dothraki riders, so Iā€™m gonna guess my eyes are deluding me and those are just Dothraki riders on sand.

    lol… that’s sand/dust. You really have some problems, no offense.

  91. alins tat: lolā€¦ thatā€™s sand/dust. You really have some problems, no offense.

    Offense very much taken. Apparently “I have some problems, lol” because I mistook that white sand for snow. Oh well.

  92. Luka Nieto,

    Iam guessing that’s dothraki arriving at the gates of meereen when the sons of harpy and yunkish forces or attacking ….
    Like when we see the harpies killing in the video …

    Similar to blackwater with Tyrell and tywin force arriving and stannis arriving at the wall ..

  93. Just noticed there wasn’t a single shot of King’s Landing in the video (Jaime on a ship doesn’t count). No Greyjoys, Sansa/Theon, Sam or Dorne either.

  94. BunBunStark: Thatā€™s possible since

    Which annoys me since, in season 1, GreatJon Umber clearly loved the Starks and was Robbā€™s fiercest ally.

    Do remember that in the books the reason why the Umbers are split up between armies is (if I remember correctly) because the Freys hold some of them (i.a. the Greatjon) as hostages. This situation could work in the show as well.

  95. So happy Meera is back! I hope they will give her a bit more room now that her brother’s gone.

  96. tkk,

    I never Knew there supposed to be a Jon Snow’s horse …
    Did I miss something …
    I knew dany had silver
    Sandor had his stranger
    Jamie had his honor..

  97. Geralt of Rivia,

    Yeah, that was what was reported on this site, I think.

    The flashbacks would feature Ned and the two younger siblings. I think the older kid is Sebastian Croft, who plays young Ned and the younger one is Benjen
  98. dragonbringer:
    Luka Nieto,

    Iam guessing thatā€™s dothraki arriving at the gates of meereen when the sons of harpy and yunkish forces or attacking ā€¦.
    Like whenwe see the harpies killing in the video ā€¦

    Similar to blackwater with Tyrell and tywin force arriving and stannis arriving at the wall ..

    Agreed. The place looks very similar.

  99. I don’t know if anyone’s noticed this, but the Winterfell flashback is directed by Miguel Sapochnik. This means it’ll be episode 9 or 10. Which means Bran’s likely still in the cave by then, right?

  100. Rygritte,

    I don’t think it’s Bran she’s talking to for several reasons. He can’t walk for one, he’d be even more of a burden now that there’s a group of wights presumably still outside and (most importantly) he has a destiny to fulfill in the weirwood cave once BR hands over to him. The shot of him on horseback is also no indication that he’s left that cave as it’s clearly not winter in that shot; it’s likely just a greenseer vision/ dream.

    I think it’s much more likely to be Hodor (as someone has said earlier) and they’re either headed back south or they may simply be foraging for food, hence the cage trap. He’s certainly fallen whether through exhaustion, cold or attack. And looks as though she’s heard or seen something.

  101. jentario,

    I noticed that too, although there are a few shots that show (presumably) the Red Keep/Throne room in the background of the interview and even more interestingly, at 2:33 the camera is filming in what appears to be the Red Keep with flames reflecting off the walls….

  102. Simon:
    Luka Nieto,

    It’s the same stony ground on which the Harpies are killing folks. Bit of a spoiler there.

    The ground definitely looks to be the same consistency but a very different color. I guess they could’ve put a yellow filter on the Sons of the Harpy shots, but I’m surprised it would have made that much of a difference.

  103. Oh maaaan , that looks like a really awesome job , I like that the people at HBO release stuff like this showing all the work that goes on behind the scenes to create our favorite show , also some quick glimpses at S6 stuff , now where is that S6 trailer….

  104. Dutch Maester,

    Sorry but you do realize that’s not winterfell anymore, right? It’s clearly the battle sequence, you can see wildlings jumping around

  105. Lisa0527,

    in the two flashback winterfell shots (3:01,4:29) ā€“ Like I said above I think the guy watching (I think we see the back of his head in the bottom right of the second shot) is Fergus Leathem and the taller kid fighting is Sebastian Croft. I think the smallest kid could be Michael Nevin but maybe you’re right. One of the two kids fighting has to be ned, my gut says its the smaller, he looks so much like Bran did in season 1. I actually thought it was season 1 footage when I first saw it.

  106. Apollo,
    Blimey, good spot on the potential flame reflection. You and the others on here with a good eye for small details should be doing CSI: Westeros/Essos šŸ™‚ Is the 720 version on Youtube the highest res one available? If anyone can find a better picture I can attack it with photoshop which has mega zoom potential, but is only really effective with a very high quality original.

  107. Selina,

    Where would they get a horse from though? If that’s genuinely Bran outside the cave in realtime then it’s south of the wall. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

  108. For me it’s clear that Bran, Meera and Hodor (?) are leaving the cave. It makes no sense for him to stay Season 6 whole in the cave. The question is: where is he going? To the south (Winterfell) or to the Land of Always Winter, since GRRM said that we will see further north at some point and Bran is the closest POV to there.

  109. Selina,

    On the same page where it says he finds a horse, makes his way back to Winterfell even though wights and WW are all over the place and he becomes King of the North.
    You have your dream, I have mine.

  110. Meanwhile, the HBO schedule goes up to April 12th. Twelve more days and it’ll show Episode 1.

  111. Newbietothegame:
    Selina,

    On the same page where it says he finds a horse, makes his way back to Winterfell even though wights and WW are all over the place and he becomes King of the North.
    You have your dream, I have mine.

    wights and WW all over the place? How so? I mean they are not. Anyway you are right, I really can’t see bran leaving the cave like ever. Selina really didn’t get his part of story if she thinks that bran will come back to westeros.

  112. Bran leaving the cave?? LOL
    He spent 4 seasons trying to get there, and he will leave in season 6?
    Come on. Pay attention.

    If he does leave, it will be after the white walkers are defeated.

  113. Selina:
    Newbietothegame,

    Heā€™s going somewhere. Iā€™m not saying that is to Winterfell, but he is not staying in the cave forever because it is absurd.

    The only absurd thing is your post. Bran isn’t leaving the cave. Not only that he won’t be leaving the cave in season 6, but he will never leave it. It makes no sense plot wise.

  114. half man: he will never leave it. It makes no sense plot wise.

    Weirnet central should be a target for the WWs as well, if they are considering any strategic invasion. I wouldn’t say the cave is the safest place for humans, regardless of its entrance security barrier. We don’t really know what are the CotF and WW historical intentions yet. Plus, I bet there is a back door…somewhere in that underground network.

  115. Deesensfan,

    Pay attention. A main character won’t spend two books in one place. In addition, Bran is Luke Skywalker, so he will leave the place where he is to try save his family.

  116. Mag,

    I think he will leave and return someday, although I think he might well exercise his powers in any Weirwood in the North.

  117. I love coming to this site … sometimes the arguments get a little out of hand, but for me it’s a nice reminder that I am not the only person who is completely obsessed with this show!!

    And …. April is only one month away!!

  118. ser star,

    The thought that I and a friend had another day.

    The ā€œBran becoming a treeā€ theory is a massive misunderstanding which is recurrant among the fandom.

    The Three-eyed Raven/Bloodraven/Brynden Rivers is over one hundred and twenty-five years old and came to the cave of the Children of the Forest during his seventies. Bran is very young and is not dying. Crippled, yes, but not dying. It should be noted that Bran, as a greenseer, does not always need to be in physical contact with a weirwood tree to have greensight visions. His last scene in the book A Dance With Dragons had him experience his cryptic visions right *after* his formal lessons had ended for the day and was sent away to sleep.
    Jojen Reed, who also has greensight, despite not being a full-on greenseer nor a warg, had his visions without touching weirwoods.
    And if the dream visions were supposed to be so effective, then the Three-eyed Raven could have just instructed Bran this way, instead of compelling a disabled boy to trek thousands of miles to meet him.
    And at no point in the book does it imply that Bran has to replace Brynden Rivers as the ā€œLast Greenseerā€. A greenseer is simply someone with a rare ability. Itā€™s not an office one assumes. Also, the book depicts a scene where Bran warged/skinchanged into Hodor to explore the caves, and finds a chamber with a bunch of CotF bound in weirwood ā€œthronesā€ like Bloodraven. He initially believed them to be dead, until a couple of them opened their eyes and gazed after him in Hodorā€™s body. So not even Bran and Bloodraven are the last greenseers.
  119. ghost of winterfell,

    Luka reminded my that this will be younger siblings thanks to Sue, because I thought like others before that it might be Robert. As I think about it even from logical point of view Benjen makes a bit more sense. His fate is still up in the air, he might know about Jon, maybe he holds importance to endgame and so on. Brandon was never established and it would serve what? Unless he is Jon’s father, nothing really. Robert would make sense to show his affection for Lyanna but then it would be better to cast Rhaegar too and show Lyanna and him.
  120. Selina,

    No need to try and convince the know it all’s. It’s not that they are adamant on their positions – it’s how dismissive they are to everyone else’s. I too believe Bran will not stay in the cave. It makes no sense.

  121. Tell that to Sansa, Dany, Jon, Theon…

    Selina:
    Deesensfan,

    Pay attention. A main character wonā€™t spend two books in one place. In addition, Bran is Luke Skywalker, so he will leave the place where he is to try save his family.

  122. In the scene with Jaime and the boat, it kind of looks like Trystane and Bronn are walking towards Jaime, though Trystane must have been working on his beard game. I’ll have to look at Trystane’s character again.

  123. Simon:
    Sister Kisser,

    or Rodrik Cassel ā€“ Those Sideburns are unmistakable.

    Ahhhh, this could be it too. Stocky dude with the crazy chops/tail, pre-crazy grey chops/tail, of course. And of course it would be him training the boys (and girl?)

  124. half man: The only absurd thing is your post. Bran isnā€™t leaving the cave. Not only that he wonā€™t be leaving the cave in season 6, but he will never leave it. It makes no sense plot wise.

    Out usernames are very similar. For a moment I thought I had posted something and not been aware of it lol.

    I’m afraid I don’t see it your way at all.

  125. Bran will leave the cave early and often…as part of his greensight. He has no need to be physically elsewhere. He’s not going to take up lordship of Winterfell; Rickon will. If he feels he needs to, Bran will find a way to communicate with the outside world. He got both

    Ned’s (from the past) and Theon’s attention through the weirwood tree. Sure, they didn’t know what they were hearing yet, but that’s the moment Reek remembered his name.

    There could be other push/pull factors that occur this season or beyond, that cause Bran to leave. As the story stands right now, however, why would he leave when:
    A. He’s in a place that has increased his powers immensely. I think that location is paramount for his fight against the long night.
    B. He’s crippled, he really can’t do any good by leaving.
    C. He’ll be vulnerable again. He is protected in the cave and can warg into anything (or anyone, potentially) and be of use from a safe location.

  126. Selina,

    Nobody called you an idiot
    relax

    I myself don’t think he will leave, and if he does, I said it would be after the WW are defeated
    The tree told him he will fly, and I think he will warg into a dragon or something from his cave

    you said he would leave in season 6. it took him four season to get there, he aint leaving anytime soon.

    And also, just like you think he will leave, some people don’t. you are trying to convince people who disagree with you, youre doing just like others are doing to you.
    Differences of opinion are fine

  127. Deesensfan,

    He is leaving the cave in Season 6. This is why they cut Bran from Season 5. Because would be so boring to see he spending all the season in one place.

  128. umuckurlife,

    A. I think he became so powerful that it will not need a specific place to exercise his powers.

    B. Bran is broken, not dead. Doran is in a wheelchair and he is a good leader.

    C. I do not think the cave is so safe. I believe that any time the WW try to invade and kill Bloodraven.

    While I think Bran may well go to the Lands of Always Winter, I think he needs to return one day to Winterfell. Bran is Winterfell, broken, but not dead. He spent many chapters training to become a good ruler in the North. He is the Stark who best understands Winterfelll.

  129. Luka Nieto,

    I don’t see how Umbers can fight for Boltons. We know Rickon went there back in Season 3. We also know they didn’t hand him over to the Boltons in the meantime. So unless there’s some implausible retooling going on behind the scenes, I just can’t see it.

  130. Deesensfan,

    Physically leaving. The visions will be an important part, but Bran needs to leave the cave. The place is not secure. His friends will not stay with him forever, but they will never leave him there. Bran is there to learn, but once this is done, he will come out somewhere else to practice everything he has learned.

  131. Why would Bran leave the cave? He has a big screen WeirnetTV in there and a life time supply of fermented tree sap.

    Seriously though, I have a Stark Anti-Filter. I immediately find all discussion of the Starks ridiculously boring.

    I’m just thrilled that Jaime’s sexy jacket made it back from Dorne in tact. That jacket deserves an award for greatest achievement in individual character costuming.

    I also hope Trystane’s pink robe of plunging neckline survives because I laughed so damn hard at that.

    I love these videos because there are so many tiny little things we can use for speculation only to find out we were totally wrong when the season starts.

  132. Ser Low-Res:
    Meanwhile, the HBO schedule goes up to April 12th. Twelve more days and itā€™ll show Episode 1.

    Episode 1 will actually appear this Sunday on HBO Schedule. If you’re on a computer and use the search bar on the website, it already shows the finale for Vinyl in the schedule results, which airs on April 17th. So a week later would be the S6 premiere for Game of Thrones. Chances are though it will only have a placeholder runtime and rating instead of an episode title.

  133. HotPinkLipstick,

    Because he can be more useful outside. Bran is of crucial importance both politically and in magic. He is the rightfull King in the North, an important region in the battle against WW. And he has the powers that will be important in this war. Moreover, Bran do not want to be there. He’s young, not old as The three-eyed raven. He can influence events outside the cave, but I think he would be more useful if present in the events. In addition, the cave can become a dangerous place as well.

  134. Please explain how the place is not secure? We’ve seen in the books and the show that it IS secure. Very secure in fact. If the WWs could breach the place don’t you think they’d have done it already? You have every right to your opinion of course and as I said well soon find out either way, but your logic is flawed IMO. And I don’t claim to be a “know it all”, far from it.

    Selina:
    Deesensfan,

    Physically leaving. The visions will be an important part, but Bran needs to leave the cave. The place is not secure. His friends will not stay with him forever, but they will never leave him there. Bran is there to learn, but once this is done, he will come out somewhere else to practice everything he has learned.

  135. Selina,

    I’m playing devil’s advocate here, but in what way can Bran be any more useful outside the cave than in it? Is he a particularly good fighter or leader? Will he have special magic powers that are vital to fighting the White Walkers that we’ve yet to see?

    He might be the first heir to Winterfell but they also have Rickon, Sansa, Arya and Jon to play that role if necessary. If he can communicate with the rest of the Starks and offer them knowledge and assistance without leaving the cave, then why would he leave it?

    And do you think the Three-Eyed Raven wasn’t young once too? Just because Bran’s young doesn’t necessarily mean that that’s not where he’s meant to be.

    I’m not saying that he won’t leave the cave, but I don’t think he necessarily needs to ride right back into the middle of the Westeros fray to be influential.

  136. Selina,

    We can certainly disagree on this. Regardless of how it plays out, I’ll be happy just to see Bran’s story start back up!

    I also don’t think Doran is all that great a leader. His patience has lost him

    his daughter’s betrothment to Viserys (due to a molten crown) and subsequently his own son, Quentyn, since he pursued (and failed to win) Dany’s hand then tried to commandeer a Dragon. Arianne’s actions have basically started the war that he didn’t want because Doran didn’t trust her enough to explain the family’s posture.
  137. Ramsay’s 20th Good Man,

    Bran symbolizes Winterfell. In addition to Jon (whose role in story is another), Bran Stark is the more prepared to defend the North. He brings together two things that will be important in the war: he was trained to be a politician and diplomat at the time was Lord of Winterfell and he has the power necessary to fighting the White Walkers. Not Sansa, Arya or Rickon have these characteristics.

    Bryden Rivers had lived a life before going to the cave. He is there to prolong his life. Bran has an important mission before staying permanently in the cave (if he comes to stay somedat). He will not spend two books only communicating through trees.

  138. Selina,

    Sorry. I wasn’t clear. I don’t care if Bran leaves the cave, stays in the cave, becomes the cave or caves in. I have absolutely no feelings on the issue. I was making a joke that it was a “man cave” with tv and beer. That’s it.

    I think the story can be done in cave or out of cave. It doesn’t matter to me in the slightest.

  139. umuckurlife,

    Doran may not be the best leader, but what I meant is that a cripple can be an influential political leader. Bran is smart, he received training for this, he understands magic like no other leader in Westeros.

  140. Selina,

    I don’t know. Bran also failed to be an effective leader. He sent virtually his entire defense to Moat Cailin, then Theon and his dozen or so men came in and took it, leading, eventually, to the razing of Winterfell and the rule of the Boltons. Bran doesn’t deserve WF. Rickon on the other hand, can be groomed for command by representatives of the smaller northern lords.

  141. Selina,

    I don’t know if we are watching the same show or not, but I think they showed us in S4E10 that that place IS secure. LOL

    We shall see if he will physically leave his cave. I doubt it though šŸ˜‰

  142. Selina,

    Bran has shown zero signs of being a king. That is not his path at all

    I do not understand your logic whatsoever.

    But your opinions is yours to have!

  143. I think that it is quite possible that Bran and co. will go somewhere, because several extra children of the forest were cast. There is no purpose of to have them, if there is no action planed and I don’t see much potential for action in the cave.

  144. Inga,

    Honestly its a grey area.

    What is he going to do? Where is he going to go? I doubt he is going to go back to Winterfell and fight the boltons lol. That’s obviously not his path. He had two chances to reunite with Jon and he didn’t.
    So if he leaves the cave physically, where and what is he going to go/do?

  145. Newbietothegame:
    Selina,

    On the same page where it says he finds a horse, makes his way back to Winterfell even though wights and WW are all over the place and he becomes King of the North.

    That must be a really long page.

  146. Deesensfan: but I think they showed us in S4E10 that that place IS secure. LOL

    Really? To paraphrase what a wise woman once said to me, if you think anywhere in this world or Westeros is completely safe, you are thinking like a future victim. There are no completely safe places in real or fictional universes.

  147. Ginevra: That must be a really long page.

    Yeah, not too proud of that. But I now remember who Selina is. On another thread she said she does not care about any other characters, just Bran.
    So if it her wish, hope is for him to leave the tree cave, I will leave it be.

  148. Selina:
    Deesensfan,

    Pay attention. A main character wonā€™t spend two books in one place. In addition, Bran is Luke Skywalker, so he will leave the place where he is to try save his family.

    If Gendry can spend seven seasons rowing, Bran can spend two or three in a cave.

    Luke Skywalker is Luke Skywalker. Bran is Bran. The closest possible comparison to Bran we have is Bloodraven, whom I believe trained in the cave, left the cave for a massive battle, and then returned to the cave. How else would Bloodraven have established his reputation as A Thousand Eyes and One had he not first trained to be a Jedi Crow and then left the cave to mix with others who spread tales of his omniscience? But then he came back, and it looks like he spent a hundred years in the cave after that. So my best guess for what Bran will do is exactly what Bloodraven has already done: train, leave for the war (like the queen), and then return.

    Nothing in his story arc thus far – and we are pretty far along – has been preparing him to be a leader or to learn political savvy. Nothing has been pushing him toward taking back Winterfell. Everything has been pushing him toward this sight, this network, the CotF, Bloodraven, and the Battle with the Others. That is where his destiny lies.

    Is it possible that he’ll be King of the North in the end? Yes, but it isn’t all that likely given the direction he’s been heading for years: away from Winterfell.

  149. Hodors Bastard,

    I consider the cave “magically” safe, so as long as the magic is intact, the cave is secure. Kind of like The Wall.

    They could be getting around the monotony of many scenes within the cave by showing Bran and BR “physically” appearing at Bran’s vision locales. That’s how I see it, anyway. If Bran actually does physically leave the cave, it will be an interesting twist that I hadn’t considered. I’m happy with either.

  150. Newbietothegame,

    It’s all good. I know everyone got your point, and I thought what you’d said was clearly speculation before the page number was requested. I just thought, wow, that’s one hell of a page: a Jared-length page. (And Jared, if you are reading this, I hope you don’t mind my teasing about your loquaciousness. I’ve noted how brief you’ve been of late, and it is truly impressive.)

  151. Newbietothegame:
    Apollo,

    Selina,

    Bran went there, was guided there, to take Blood Ravens place. He is not going leave the tree cave, only through visions.

    We’ve seen a picture of Bran and BR standing together, presumably in a vision. In the EW horse picture, Bran is on a horse and appears to be leaning forward, bearing all of his weight on his forearms. So looks like he’s still paraplegic in that pic to me. And more importantly, why would he be on a horse in a vision? Now with the Meera pic outside of the cave I’m even more convinced that they leave the cave. The big question is why? My money is on them escaping the cave, or being rescued from the cave, rather than being on a mission for the CofTF. Although that remains a strong possibility as well.

  152. The pic of Bran on horseback is not a vision. He clearly looks different in the vision pic, standing in nice clothes. On horseback, he is slumped over & dressed for travel. Seeing Jon’s stabbing & whatever else plus Sansa & Rickon will inspire him to leave the cave & warn them of the WW avalanche coming. If he talks to them through trees & dreams, they will dismiss them. That’s why he has to tell them in person. The reason he went to the cave was because he thought he would be able to walk again & now he knows that ain’t happenin’.

  153. King of Winter: Episode 1 will actually appear this Sunday on HBO Schedule. If youā€™re on a computer and use the search bar on the website, it already shows the finale for Vinyl in the schedule results, which airs on April 17th. So a week later would be the S6 premiere for Game of Thrones. Chances are though it will only have a placeholder runtime and rating instead of an episode title.

    I search Vinyl in the search bar and do not see the finale.

  154. HotPinkLipstick:
    Why would Bran leave the cave? He has a big screen WeirnetTV in there and a life time supply of fermented tree sap.

    Is there any evidence he can share his knowledge with others unless he leaves the cave? Theon heard him through the tree – a bit – but I think real communication may not be possible in the cave. Bran’s intel will be key to winning the war, but I don’t know if he can get that intel in the right hands without leaving.

  155. Also we know that

    The CotF will be involved in action scenes. Just one of them was effective in taking out the wights that attacked Bran & co, so the CotF will protect Bran & co. when they leave the cave.
  156. Ramsay’s 20th Good Man:
    Selina,

    Iā€™m playing devilā€™s advocate here, but in what way can Bran be any more useful outside the cave than in it? Is he a particularly good fighter or leader? Will he have special magic powers that are vital to fighting the White Walkers that weā€™ve yet to see?

    Bran is the motherfucking CIA/KGB/MI5 of Westeros. He will be able to know everything that is going down everywhere: past, present, and possibly future. But he’s useless unless he can convey that intelligence to others. Yes, if he can communicate effectively without leaving, then I don’t see the need, either. But the question is, can he communicate so effectively from the cave that others will listen and do?

  157. Jack Bauer 24: I search Vinyl in the search bar and do not see the finale.

    It says Vinyl 10: Ailbi Sun, April 17 9:00PM if you scroll down in the schedule results.

    Newbietothegame:

    Well dang, how soon will actually know the name of the episodes?

    I think we’ll definitely know the names of the first three episodes sometime this month.

  158. Newbietothegame: Yeah, not too proud of that. But I now remember who Selina is. On another thread she said she does not care about any other characters,just Bran.
    So if it her wish, hope is for him to leave the tree cave, I will leave it be.

    For me, that’s better than (I believe it is) Anon who thinks all highborns (including Ed Stark, Tyrion Lannister, and pretty much every major character in the show) are evil because they are treated differently from commoners.

  159. Rygritte:
    The pic of Bran on horseback is not a vision. He clearly looks different in the vision pic, standing in nice clothes. On horseback, he is slumped over & dressed for travel. Seeing Jonā€™s stabbing & whatever else plus Sansa & Rickon will inspire him to leave the cave & warn them of the WW avalanche coming. If he talks to them through trees & dreams, they will dismiss them. Thatā€™s why he has to tell them in person. The reason he went to the cave was because he thought he would be able to walk again & now he knows that ainā€™t happeninā€™.

    Yep, yep, yep. I’m a believer.

  160. Selina,

    Like I say, I’m playing devil’s advocate since it doesn’t really matter to me if Bran leaves the cave or not, and I think he will since it’d make for pretty boring TV if he never did and he never faced any further peril.

    However, I doubt that they’ll send him back to defend the North and act as some sort of cross between Aragorn (the true King) and Gandalf. If Bran is destined to return to the North, fight the White Walkers, take his place at Winterfell and generally act as saviour of Westeros then it renders Jon, Sansa and Rickon’s stories kinda moot, not to mention his own quest beyond the Wall, which is why I don’t think it’ll play out that way.

    And you say he has the necessary power to fight the White Walkers, but you still haven’t explained what that is. Jon’s got Valyrian steel, Daenerys has got fire-breathing dragons. They’ve already got what they need to defeat the White Walkers. What they need is somebody to join the dots, which is what Bran can aid in even if it’s only through visions.

    And perhaps Bran will help rebuild the Wall or something similar once the dust settles using the magic he has learnt, thus becoming the modern day Bran the Builder.

    I think he probably will leave the cave, but probably not to return to Winterfell and the North and engage first-hand in the battle for Westeros.

  161. Ginevra,

    Would they have to be standing in front of a Weirwood tree to hear him?
    Would he take the form of a crow and visit them in their dreams?

    However they do it, it will be interesting!

  162. Ginevra: How else would Bloodraven have established his reputation as A Thousand Eyes and One had he not first trained to be a Jedi Crow and then left the cave to mix with others who spread tales of his omniscience?

    Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but: Bloodraven (Brynden Rivers) established that reputation by being a well known spymaster (1000 eyes), losing an eye in battle (and 1). Only after we, the readers, see what he can do in ADWD, do we realize that the weirwoods represent the thousand eyes. Likely nobody else knew of this. At one point, Brynden went ranging beyond the wall and was never heard from again. He never left and went to any battle, so far as anyone knows.

    Did they mention, “A thousand eyes and one” in the show? I feel like they did. When we saw him in S4E10, I was disappointed in the fact that he has 2 eyes. It ruins the saying.

  163. King of Winter: It says Vinyl 10: AilbiSun, April 17 9:00PM if you scroll down in the schedule results.

    I think weā€™ll definitely know the names of the first three episodes sometime this month.

    Thanks. Do you think we’ll get the trailer or episode titles first?

  164. Jack Bauer 24,
    Ser Low-Res,
    Last year we got the Wheel trailer within the same week as the first three episode titles so it could go either way. I think instead of A Day in the life, we’ll get a few more of these Inside Game of Thrones videos, which I think works better in terms of how they combine what happens behind and on camera.

  165. Rygritte:
    Also we know that….

    Sullied by Knight,

    You have much more confidence in BR and CotF’s ultimate agenda than I do. The CotF aren’t children, nor are they human…but they are the ones who “begrudgingly” enabled the fabled treaty that ended the Long Night…or so it is understood. However, old stories told by Old Nans tend to get distorted as they are passed down from generation to generation…

  166. Apollo: I donā€™t think itā€™s Bran sheā€™s talking to for several reasons. He canā€™t walk for one,

    He just fell off Hodor’s back and is lying on the ground.

    The shot of him on horseback is also no indication that heā€™s left that cave as itā€™s clearly not winter in that shot

    It’s snowing & he’s wearing furs.

    I think itā€™s much more likely to be Hodor … they may simply be foraging for food, hence the cage trap.

    The cage trap is Hodor.

  167. Those are some long shots

    Rygritte: He just fell off Hodorā€™s back and is lying on the ground.

    Itā€™s snowing & heā€™s wearing furs.

    The cage trap is Hodor.

  168. Mr Fixit:
    Luka Nieto,

    I donā€™t see how Umbers can fight for Boltons. We know Rickon went there back in Season 3. We also know they didnā€™t hand him over to the Boltons in the meantime. So unless thereā€™s some implausible retooling going on behind the scenes, I just canā€™t see it.

    They could play the Boltons while waiting to reveal Rickon, maybe replacing the Manderlys.

  169. Apollo:
    Those are some long shots

    Agreed, unless they shrink him down he is wayyy to tall for Hodor to still carry him around.

  170. umuckurlife: Someone correct me if Iā€™m wrong, but: Bloodraven (Brynden Rivers) established that reputation by being a well known spymaster (1000 eyes), losing an eye in battle (and 1). Only after we, the readers, see what he can do in ADWD, do we realize that the weirwoods represent the thousand eyes.Likely nobody else knew of this. At one point, Brynden went ranging beyond the wall and was never heard from again. He never left and went to any battle, so far as anyone knows.

    No one at the time knew how BR had a thousand eyes everywhere, seeing everything happening all the time, but I’m sure that everyone knew that he had a thousand eyes, hence the name. No doubt they suspected little birds and a vast spy network. And there were birds and a network of a different kind.

    Did they mention, ā€œA thousand eyes and oneā€ in the show? I feel like they did. When we saw him in S4E10, I was disappointed in the fact that he has 2 eyes. It ruins the saying.

    I was disappointed by his two eyes, too, but the show did reference “a thousand eyes and one.”

    Bran: You’re the three-eyed raven?

    BR: I’ve been many things. Now I am what you see.

    Meera: My brother, he led us to you and now he–

    BR: He knew what would happen. From the moment he left, he knew and he went anyway.

    Meera: How do you know?

    BR: I’ve been watching you. All of you. All of your lives. With a thousand eyes and one. Now you’ve come to me at last, Brandon Stark. Though the hour is late.

    Bran: I didn’t want anyone to die for me.

    BR: He died so you could find what you have lost.

    Bran: You’re going to help me walk again?

    BR: You will never walk again. But you will fly.

  171. Simon,

    I hope you’re right ā€¦ and I do still think there’s a chance it could happen, despite my pessimism earlier. The new casting post that Sue just put up at least confirms that the man following Ramsay in the Yearender is Harald Karstark (played by Paul Rattray), and not the Smalljon as I feared.

    One concern I have about Umbersā€™ potential double-cross of the Boltons is that the Smalljon is the only named character (that we know of, at least) in the Umber ranks, and according to the initial casting call for the character, heā€™s only set to appear in two episodes. One of those appearances is almost certain to be the battle in Episode 9. Thatā€™s fine if he is just going to be a general in someoneā€™s army (either the Boltons or the Starks), but doesnā€™t leave much time to set up and enact any kind of major shift for the character. If the Smalljon turns on the Boltons abruptly in the heat of battle without the show sufficiently foreshadowing that his loyalties are in flux, it might come across as convenient and unearned for some in the audience. I hope that’s not the case.

    (Of course, plans may have changed ā€“ itā€™s entirely possible that the Smalljon will appear in more than two episodes. But thatā€™s the information we have at the moment).

    For those who are interested in discussing the Umbersā€™ potential loyalties in Season 6, I think Iā€™m going to set up a post in the forums. This particular topic is one of the questions about Season 6 for which Iā€™m most keen to get an answer.

  172. Ginevra,

    Oh, I donā€™t mind it at all. šŸ™‚ If anything, such good-natured teasing helps keep me in check … the post immediately above this one notwithstanding. Believe it or not, Iā€™m much more inclined to celebrate the virtues of brevity in real life. However, when it comes to online discussions about Game of Thrones, my inclination to ramble on at length is a habit Iā€™ve had since the show started ā€“ six years and two websites ago. There are worse habits to have, but nevertheless, itā€™s a habit Iā€™m trying to break. Keep on keeping me honest!

  173. Ginevra: No doubt they suspected little birds and a vast spy network. And there were birds and a network of a different kind

    Yes…during his time as Hand, BR seemed to know what was going on in a very timely manner,

    thwarting Blackfyre Rebellions and Whitewalls chaos (D&E: Mystery Knight). He mastered the art of the proactive network very well. Plus, he and his great bastard sister/lover, Shiera (who is MIA), dabbled in the dark arts…so when he was sent to Castle Black by King Egg, he came with a loaded hand, imho. I’d like to know more about that “ranging” mission, in which all of his fellow rangers disappeared except BR.

    I think he and the CotF had/have an arrangement that I hope is further explored.

  174. Hodors Bastard,

    Was all this Bloodraven background in The Princess and the Queen? Or did I really miss it in ASoIaF? I’ll be so embarrassed if I missed it all in the regular series. I am going to start my reread of the series soon, though. (Or rather, Alexa is going to read the series to me when my Amazon Echo finally comes.) I’ve only read them once. I read TPatQ, too, but my eyes glazed over and I fell asleep a few times. I’m sure I didn’t take anything away from that tale beyond the fact that I need to give George’s historical stories a wide berth.

  175. A thought came to me:
    We may get the trailer on or before April 9 ( Outlander’s season 2 premier), well as good a guess as any.

  176. Jared,

    “Brevity is the soul of wit.” And yet I adore GRRM, so there’s much to be said for depth and complexity, as well.

    (That’s one of my favorite quotes, and no one ever gets it when I spout it. The usage of “wit” seems foreign to them, even my friend with a master’s in English, but to me this is what I think of when I think of “wit.”)

  177. grailking:
    We may get the trailer on or before April 9 ( Outlanderā€™s season 2 premier), well as good a guess as any.

    I’m 95% confident that we will get the trailer on or before April 24th.

  178. Ginevra: Was all this Bloodraven background in The Princess and the Queen?

    (Putting in spoilers to protect the innocent…)

    Although TP&tQ and The Rogue Prince were all about those wacky Targs and their fierce egos, that was way before BR. And…yes…they were somewhat bland maester-written histories that made one wish that the Targs would stop procreating with each other. But I did find Mushroom’s anecdotes quite fun! šŸ™‚

    In D&E’s 3rd adventure (The Mystery Knight), they come face-to-face with BR, who happens to show up at a key moment. Egg and others have much to say about the Great Bastard, who seems to intimidate everyone he nears. I believe it was Dunk who actually pondered the “Thousand eyes, and one” phrase first. Maybe the related song will make an appearance this season as well??!!

  179. Hodors Bastard,

    Ah, I did really love those. I should go in for a reread there, as well. I may not have known BR’s significance at the time, but I do now. Thanks.

  180. Jared,

    Perhaps this shift will be embodied by a large northern man and his speech (who we all hope is a proxy for if not the real Wyman Manderly) If this speech refers to the lords of the north bidding there time until family hostages were released by the Frey’s they will get away with it. The question is who will be present for this speech, and if the Umber’s are in split two camps how will they communicate with each other. I assume this speech will be made to the Bolton’s or at least at WF resulting in a certain lord being flayed and burned.

  181. Rygritte,

    Could be. If I remember rightly didn’t one part of the Umber Clan refuse to bend the knee while the other part, fearful for the kin, accept the Bolton’s a Warden in The North.
    If the hostages are released I assume the Bolton Umber’s will just turn clack in the middle of the battle. I assume if the Bolton soldiers were able to do so at the red wedding without any one spoiling this can also be done at the battle of the bastard. They may of course have planed this from the start but we will not know until after the battle of the bastards – snow vs snow.

  182. Ginevra: BRā€™s significance

    Even though I am somewhat discouraged (since S4E10) by both eyes being intact, I just love that Max Von Sydow is playing BR (“The past is already written/The ink is dry” is my new ringtone). Bran and BR greenseeing through relevant history together should provide great moments in S6.

    However, I am actually equally fascinated by the historical black hole from when Egg allows BR to take the black (and accompanied to the NW by Aemon and escorted by Dunk!), to his rise to Lord Commander, which he holds for over a decade, then his mysterious ranging disappearance (Hello…Benjen!). And then there is his supposed dark magic sister/lover, Shiera, being MIA! (Quaithe, anyone?) I need more, dammit!
  183. Hodors Bastard,

    I like where this thread went. Great discussion about BR from both you and Ginevra. I also need to go back and re-read the D&E series. Though the details will be fewer, I just got the Hedge Knight and Sworn Sword graphic novels, so I’ve got to whip through those. Anyone have idea if The Mystery Knight is being adapted into a graphic novel? The latest news I can find on it is from 2013 on GRRM’s Not a Blog stating that Jet City was adapting it and Random House was publishing it.

  184. grailking:
    A thought came to me:
    We may get the trailer on or before April 9 ( Outlanderā€™s season 2 premier), well as good a guess as any.

    Next month? It premeires next month. Trailer this month or it would be a huge fail. A complete debacle.

  185. Ginevra,

    I think it is a picture grading issue. Either they haven’t colour balanced to make the shots look the same or probably more likely because they aren’t that concerned with colour temperature continuity because its not key to the story they are telling. Again the colour differences may have been caused by shooting at a different time of day with different exposure levels or be a difference between two different cameras white balanced differently. Remember we are not seeing footage from the cameras being used in the show but those recording extra’s and electronic press kit footage.

    Sorry for the late reply. I’m in Australia am often sleeping while everyone else is on line.

  186. Totally frivolous, given the other heavy analysis in the comments, but I thought it was so cute when the camera guy was letting Daario sit there; he looked like he was having so much fun, as well he might!

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