Spanish updates, photo shoot and some surprising Almería sightings!

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We have more cast sightings from the Almería region of Spain today, including some rather unexpected arrivals…

Keisha-Castle Hughes shared this image on her Instagram page, not surprising to see her in the area after her Dornish cohorts were spotted there earlier this week.

It looks like Michiel Huisman is sticking around in Spain for the time being, after he posted this photo:

We also have this great image of Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey and Natalie Dormer in costume, sadly not an upcoming Three-Queens-Hang-Out-Together Season Six plot-twist, but an Alacazaba photo shoot shared by Juego de Tronos on Twitter:

This next one is potentially spoilery so read ahead at  your own peril!

 

 

 

 

 

Surprisingly, we’ve also had sightings of Conleth Hill and Diana Rigg in the area as reported by La Voz de Almería, who report Spanish filming will finish on Friday 23rd October.

149227_92792_Diana-Rigg-y-Conleth-Hill-ayer-con-Pilar-y-Vanina-_G (1)

Conleth also appeared in a fan’s Instagram upload:

Are Varys and Olenna headed to Dorne in Season Six? Is Almería standing in for another location?  Or are the two actors simply there for a holiday?  Of course they may also have been part of the photo shoot, but feel free to speculate away folks!

Thanks to Watchers H.Stark and Matt for the Varys sightings!

148 Comments

  1. Lena all in black. I know it’s a publicity shoot, but I’m taking it as decent confirmation that Myrcella is truly dead – no Bron provided antidote.

  2. Hmm, Varys and Olenna having a secret meeting? Maybe discussing how to dispose of Kevan and Pycelle?
    I doubt Varys would play the Dany card. Why would Highgarden support her; Olenna’s granddaughter is the Queen; as far as we know?
    This is intriguing. What are those two up to?

  3. hmm Cersei is mourning clothes but Margaery not = Myrcella mourning IMO

    Quite something to have an “unofficial” picture of the Queen fest in full garb etc

  4. Cersei is in black, mourning Myrcella? Losing a daughter after the walk of shame is not going to help her sanity this season.
    Margaery looks to be in an ill fitting gown in a dull color, evidence of religious conversion, faked or real?

  5. I’m not exactly sure where Olenna fits into this, but I don’t think this is King’s Landing. I find it very hard to believe that Varys would go back to King’s Landing to kill Kevan and Pycelle in this version of the story. In fact, it makes the MOST sense to me that Varys is actually headed to Dorne to parley with Doran. He must have learned, through his “little birds” that due to Mycella’s death (and possibly Trystane’s at the hand of Cersei or Jaime as revenge), there is no longer an alliance with the Lannisters/Iron Throne, and is seizing an opportunity – Dany’s entry point into Westeros will likely be Dorne, which is probably why D&D felt they had to shoehorn it in.

  6. I see season 6 Cersei will be rocking the Hayley Mills in Parent Trap haircut.

    Now I’m picturing her and Jaime singing Let’s Get Together.

    Yikes.

  7. weirwoodtreehugger,

    “Yeah yeah yeah!” 🙂

    How close are these pics to the manor house/castle speculated to be used for Horn Hill? No knowledge of Spanish geography. Otherwise, Olenna must be in Dorne trying to woo Doran to her cause–yet ANOTHER groom for Margaery??

  8. Newbietothegame,

    Yes..the only reason i could think of Tyrells supporting Dany at this point is if they believe that they could marry off Loras to Dany thereby installing a new dynasty on the IT since if Dany has children, they will be named Tyrells rather than Targaryens. Having said that, I don’t see the Tyrells doing that with Margery still married to Tommen. It would be a different case if Tommen dies sometime near the middle or end of the story.

  9. I’m guessing they are all there for a photo shoot.

    I don’t think Cersei’s mourning clothes mean anything, nor Margery’s rags; I think they are just dressed how we last left them. Otherwise wouldn’t we be seeing Dany

    in Dothraki garb?
  10. I don’t think for a second Olenna is going to show up in Dorne. Why would she? If the Lannisters are overthrown, her granddaughter would no longer be Queen.

    We know areas around Almeria are being used for both Dorne (where I thought Varys would turn up at the end of last season) and Meereen (where we last saw him), so Coneleth Hill makes sense. As far as Dame Rigg goes, I’m going to guess, as others already have, they’re either shooting some exteriors for KL there, or she’s just having a little visit.

  11. Hey, nice to see the two Sarah Connor’s together along with the chick and her 1/2 shaven hunger games head!?

  12. surprised theres been no trystane sightings yet..was positive they were going to give him the quentyn plot this season

  13. Maria,

    I don’t think it’s a fake. Those promo shoots aren’t done to throw us off the track and the general TV audience doesn’t know a thing about Margaery’s conversion. So I don’t see a good reason for Natalie Dormer not to wear one of the finer dresses other than that’s all she’s going to wear this season.

    Re: Varys:
    It would be weird for him to risk going back to KL, when all he has to accomplish there could be easily done by somebody else. He could still deliver the exact same speech, only to Doran (or anyone else, really) instead.

    I pretty sure Diana Rigg isn’t there on vacation. So either she’s also doing some promo shoots or she’s filming there (or both). She doesn’t have to have scenes with Conleth Hill just because they’re filming there at the same time, it could be just a short KL scene for her to wrap up her arc this season.

    IF they share a scene, I assume it would be because the alliance with the Lannisters is about to end anyway (or already has due to Tommen’s death), so Olenna needs a new strategy. A Dany-Loras marriage agreement seems like a sensible option in this case assuming he gets out of his trial alive, especially if the Dornish candidate, Tristane, were to bite it and therefore unavailable: Dorne seems to be on Dany’s side regardless and an alliance with the Tyrells would be a huge deal for her. The Tyrells could possibly get a deal out of it that lets them take the throne after Dany’s death if she wasn’t to have children.

  14. Sansarya,

    Cersei wasn’t wearing mourning when we last saw her. Ruling over a people doesn’t mean becoming one of them. Dany doesn’t turn Meereenese to become queen over the city.

  15. Bareeq,

    Dany’s children would still be of House Targaryen, as she’s the last (known/confirmed) Targaryen, the head of her house, and Queen Regnant. Like how Elizabeth II’s descendants are still Windsors, and Maria Teresa’s descendants still refer to themselves as Habsburgs.

  16. lord-mozes:
    Because they always have!!!!!!!! U read don’t you?

    From a pure historical perspective (bookwise), I’d agree…but in an adapted tale without Aegon and the Golden Company in the picture, I wouldn’t be so sure. It could simplify things for the show, for sure, but even in ADwD the Targ-Tyrell-Martell front wasn’t terribly strong (even without considering the ironborn chaos at the Reach). Lots of opportunity for drama and creative house re-alignments! I wouldn’t trust Varys with QoT (without knowing the Dornish factor).

  17. lord-mozes:
    Newbietothegame,

    Because they always have!!!!!!!! U read don’t you?

    Hmm, my post was in the form of questions, that some were kind enough to respond to. I am not sure what you are referring too with your snark remark. Yes, I read, but not the books.
    Soooo….bite me.

  18. Bareeq:
    Newbietothegame,

    Yes..the only reason i could think of Tyrells supporting Dany at this point is if they believe that they could marry off Loras to Dany thereby installing a new dynasty on the IT since if Dany has children, they will be named Tyrells rather than Targaryens. Having said that, I don’t see the Tyrells doing that with Margery still married to Tommen. It would be a different case if Tommen dies sometime near the middle or end of the story.

    Why would Dany’s children need to be named Tyrell? She could always opt for a matrilineal marriage or some equivalent.
    I have a feeling Tommen won’t make it out of this season alive, he might die

    in that fight at the sept.

    Nymeria Warrior Queen:
    I don’t think for a second Olenna is going to show up in Dorne.Why would she?If the Lannisters are overthrown, her granddaughter would no longer be Queen.

    Unless Loras marrys Dany. She could negotiate the deal with Varys per raven mail and then travel to Dorne.

    Of course that would likely take some time: First Tommen needs to die (which won’t happen until the second half of the season), then the ravens have to travel back and forth a couple of times and Varys also needs to make it to Dorne. Unless of course, Tommen’s departure doesn’t come by surprise. I wouldn’t put it past Olenna or Varys to speed things up a little bit…

  19. Tyrion somewhat foreshadowed the Tyrells possibly throwing their lot in with Dany in Season 5 during his tableside chat with her in Ep 8.

    “That leaves the Tyrells. Not impossible… but not enough.”

    However, it won’t happen until after Tommen dies and the Tyrells’ relationship with the Lannisters has completely fallen apart (both of which I expect to happen by the end of the season). Dany might also have to do something to gain the Tyrells’ trust, perhaps something like

    aid against the Ironborn invasion of the Reach, which might also gain her the favor of the other major houses there such as the Hightowers, Tarlys, etc.

    Regardless, I don’t expect anything to get moving on that front until Dany is actually in Westeros which probably won’t be a thing until at least the Season 6 finale.

  20. I bet that photoshoot is for an Entertainment Weekly cover. Any guesses as to the schlocky tagline that’ll go with it?

    “It’s Good To Be The Queens”
    “The Queens Take Over Game of Thrones”

  21. I feel that Olenna and Varys will both head to Dorne, seeking (and reaffirming in Varys’ case) alliances. The Tyrell heir, Loras, is still in grave danger at KL, and any so-called “alliance” between the Tyrells and Lannisters through marriage is totally fictional by now. Plus, Olenna went up against the HS and lost. Yes, she will send in soldiers and Jaime will free Marge, but what happens after Jaime leaves KL? The Tyrells may once again be without much power at KL. Best to ally with Dorne.
    From Varys’ conversation with Tyrion in Illyrio’s palace, I got the impression that Varys may have been in cahoots with Doran for a very long time. So natural for him to pay a quick visit to Dorne and catch up with Doran.

    Sword of the Morning,
    “Three Queens play the Game of Thrones.”

  22. I donth think that dany is part of the three queens that LF mentions …it will be sansa or arianne along with Margery and cersei

  23. I think we all know to well by now to dismiss any notions of “holidays”. They’re there for work… My guess is that Almeria is used for something else as well.

  24. Sou,

    Someone who was cut, thank god.

    Anyway I belive Dragonbringer is wrong. The three quenns is something LF said, not some prophecy, so I personally go with Dany, Cersei and Maergery.

    That’s why I don’t belive Sansa is one of these as she isn’t queen, yet. (not even going to disscuss Arianne, she isn’t a queen and besides she was cut, to me that is proof enough that she isn’t who LF meant.)

  25. KL exterior shots is my guess.

    Only Ollena makes me belive that, because I myself would not be suprized to see Varys in Dorne.

    But still until we have more info, I will go with KL exterior shots, this of course if they are there filming, a visit is just as likely too me.

  26. Sou,

    Ah yes right this is show

    She is the daughter of Doran Martell that didn’t make it to the show …in case you really don’t know

    LF never said anything about war of three queens either

    El-Bobby,

    That’s his plan right. to reveal sansa as heir to north at the wedding with harry ..and arianne will be YG’s queen …

    So there you have it anyone posiblity we will have the three queens …and dany still in vaes dothrak and slavers bay in the next book

  27. Mihnea,

    Well I agree its not a prophecy but something LF said in the books …and he never said anything like that in the show which means there won’t be the war of three queens as in with dany cersei and Margery ..but once Marc is defeated by cersei am sure dany will face her ..and cersei will burn KL

  28. dragonbringer:
    Sou,

    Ah yes right this is show…
    She is the daughter of Doran Martell that didn’t make it to the show …in case you really don’t know

    LF never said anything about war of three queens either

    El-Bobby,

    and arianne will be YG’s queen …

    I’m sorry but here I completly disagree, We have absolutly nothing to hint at this, nothing. Only peoples speculations. Doran said absolutly nothing to hint at this, neither did Arrianne tought of, even in the TWOW chapters, that could sugest this.

    Also there many, many arguments against this.

    Why would he marry her? Dorne would support him, because of Elia, if they will support him at all, this also is speculation, nothing more. A marriage is simply throwing away the possibility of another alliance.
  29. Mihnea,

    Well I agree its not a prophecy but something LF said in the books …and he never said anything like that in the show which means there won’t be the war of three queens as in with dany cersei and Margery ..but once Margery is defeated by cersei am sure dany will face her

    Cersei will be happy thag she won and when she tries to enjou it she hears that dany is at blackwater bay coming towards KL ..and cersei will burn KL when she thinks she is going to lose the one thing she holds dear I.e,power …

  30. dragonbringer,

    LF could always mention this in the upcoming season if it is important.
    Even if he doesn’t, I agree there will be such a fight in the books. Hell I even admit I may be wrong about Sansa, at least we have a little bit of proof that she could be queen

    But on Arianne I stand my ground, especcially when there is no proof, no hints, no nothing to suggest that, at all.

    Hell her entire story is her fearing she will never rule Dorne, that is what I belive she will end at, princess of Dorne. Of course if she survives the ramaining 2 books.
  31. Mihnea,

    I know that’s why I said anything out of this two will happen …

    I don’t think arianne will marry YG or jon con …but she desires to be queen and she is in westeros …so she comes as a candidate …nothing more …
    Only thing iam sure and hope is all three of them dead by halfway through winds of winter

  32. Mihnea,

    Well he can say that in the show coming season but I doubt it …

    Iam not high on arianne either ..it’s just she is more of an candidate than dany who is not even going to be in the continent till the end of next book

  33. SIR Varys – indeed! It would be Ser under Westerosi rules. Anyhow, Varys is no Ser (or Sir). Instead, he’s referred to as Lord Varys, when a title’s mentioned. And he is, of course, my lord, when addressed in conversation by minions.

    SIR Varys! I don’t know! Whatever title will he, or anyone else, have next?

    From time to time, who doesn’t like modelling the latest style of tin-foil hat?

    About Varys and Olenna….. Notice how they’re smiling in the shot above? Unlikely as it may be, and as there is usually a wedding to surprise…. It’ll be theirs. It’s bound to make previous weddings look like Disney cartoons, as well. Lannisters? Totally wiped out! Littlefinger? Ain’t no fingers left after his time in The Black Cells AND High Sparrow’s bed and breakfast. What’s left of Boltons & Freys? All baked in a huge pie. And that leaves….. Those renegades at The Wall. What can be done to them?

    Do you know what? I don’t reckon much to that hat. Maybe it’s faulty. Anyhow, it’s got to go. I see now! It’d been trimmed with eggs in a basket. Rather unseasonal, don’t you think, Jean-Paul? Oh, Viv-West had…. No wonder. Bin it! That’s the best thing for hats like that.

  34. dragonbringer,

    Well she does go to meet

    a king

    so I can see why some people would think that.

    But I can’t see her marrying him. I can’t see Doran agreeing to marry his duaghter to

    his ”nephew”

    . Also I never got the impresion Arianne desires to be queen, it’s Dorne she always wanted.

    even when Doran tells her of his plan to marry Viserys, she is more suprized then happy/glad.
  35. dragonbringer,

    Well we have reached one of those points where it’s better to just agree we disagree.

    We will se who is right when the book comes out,..hopefully. 🙂

  36. I think they’re just there for a photoshoot guys.

    There’s no way Varys would show himself in KL as he would be killed on sight as we all know, so no walking arm in arm through the streets of KL.

    Both the QoT and Varys at Dorne just doesn’t make sense at all for me either.

    The only other option I can think of is that he does reappear discreetly and takes out Ollena in the palace gardens/Godswood but I also doubt that and refuse to entertain the thought that my fave character will get bumped off (delusional I know) 🙂

  37. Maegery isn’t wearing rags at all- that’s the gown she wore when she was arrested by the HS. It’s just a photoshoot with their most recognised look from S5 I’m guessing.. Although with Cersei’s shorn hair

    Sansarya:
    I’m guessing they are all there for a photo shoot.

    I don’t think Cersei’s mourning clothes mean anything, nor Margery’s rags; I think they are just dressed how we last left them. Otherwise wouldn’t we be seeing Dany

  38. Mihnea,

    Let us hope it comes soon indeed ..

    Knowing the story lines for next season.
    It seems the show is still giving another season not to completely spoil the TWoW a chance that I hope grrm will never get after this season

  39. Apollo,

    But why would Entertainment Weekly (or whoever is doing the photoshoot) care about photographing Varys and Olenna? I don’t mean to offend the actors that play them, but don’t EW or other magazines only photograph the more major and popular characters? Would they really fly out Conleth and Diana to Spain just for a photoshoot? And all the exterior Kings landing shots seem to have already been filmed in a different part of Spain.

  40. El-Bobby,

    Seeing as they have multiple locations where they film in Spain, I wouldn’t be suprized at all if more then 1 would stand for KL.

    A streat in this location, a building in the other one, they have a lot more freedom now, that they are not limited to Dubrovnik.

  41. dragonbringer,

    Well even if he gets WOW out, ADOS will still be spoiled, wich are quite bigger spoilers in my opinion, because the major endings will be spoiled.

    Of course I don’t mind this at all, hell I don’t even know if I will read WOW until the show is done.

  42. El-Bobby:
    Apollo,

    But why would Entertainment Weekly (or whoever is doing the photoshoot) care about photographing Varys and Olenna? I don’t mean to offend the actors that play them, but don’t EW or other magazines only photograph the more major and popular characters? Would they really fly out Conleth and Diana to Spain just for a photoshoot? And all the exterior Kings landing shots seem to have already been filmed in a different part of Spain.

    Heyyyyyy- don’t knock the QoT! 😉

    I honestly don’t know- who’s to say that all the cast won’t get called for a shoot or haven’t already? Or maybe as someone has said, Diana and Conleth are good buddies and are just there on a break (which I also don’t buy).

    I’m sure Sue will get to the bottom of it soon enough.

  43. Newbietothegame,

    Varys has to go to King’s Landing to kill Kevan and Pycelle. In the books Varys wants another Targaryn, Giff, to be King, not Dany. Olenna and Mace are probably there with the Tyrell army for the trail.

  44. Baddogonline,

    At this point it would feel forced to have Varys teleport between continents and infiltrate KL just to kill Pycelle and Kevan, when he could hire someone to do exactly same thing without endangering himself. Without Aegon there is no need to give a speech either. He can praise Dany instead, sure, but he already did that last season to Tyrion.

    For the show it would be better if Mr. Chaos is the ladder do it. He is in KL and it would fit with his well established ideology. I definitely hope the writers will learn from their mistakes to insert fairly accurate to the books content into wastly different show context like they did with Tyrion/Tywin showdown or Obara´s monologue.

  45. GaiusB,

    Whats wrong with Tyrion/Tywin? If you mean Tysha, then I won’t disscuss that, I’m glad she was cut and consider this an improvement not ”mistake”.

    Obaras speach is just plain bad, should have been cut entirely, she is basically just saying exposition to Ellaria/Doran for the viewer/reader, not the character because they already know that.

    Also this are not ”mistakes” just things you didn’t like, I didn’t like Obaras speach too, but I never liked it in the book either.
    What you or I consider ”mistake” other people can easly like it.

  46. Mihnea,

    Think with Tyrion/Tywin is:

    “Why did you sentence me to death?”
    “Well gee, I wanted you sent to the Wall where you would still be alive and I could juggle the life/death desires of your siblings with my own desire to not have the Lannister name dragged through the mud by being associated with Regicide…
    …But you chose trial by combat which means a fight to death so you gave me no choice…Oh I see you shot Shae the Whore”
    “Don’t call her that…” etc etc

    I’m not quite a big sook book purist type, I appreciate they have to explore themes differently in a visual medium than a literary medium given the fundamentally different nature of the two, this requires certain differences which the Elio and Linda’s seem to struggle with,

    Yes technically it is odd that Jon Snow would have had to get off on the wrong side of the Wall at Eastwatch and then marches to the front gate of Castle Black to have a stare-off with Thorne etc but I can appreciate the reason for this being that the shot of Karsi’s alive children behind Jon Snow is thematically very important alongside Shireen burning (Fire) and the child Wights (Ice)

    All I ask is the show remains intelligent and explores deep themes rather than being a stupid run-of-the-mill pop show, and that in storytelling it remains consistent

    In terms of Tyrion/Tywin, the cousin Orson Beetle conversation between Trion/Jaimie could have easily been replaced with a Tysha conversation, or better yet a flashback scene giving visual cue and visual investment to Tysha which is crucially important in a TV medium.

    That way we have a much better reason for Tyrion going up to Tywins chambers than the bizarre one they clutched at to Shoehorn Tyrion into position

  47. Ghost’s Lunch,

    I’m sorry but I completly disagree. I’n my opinion cutting Tysha was one of the best choices they made. Having pointles exposition to try to make the audiance care for a character they never saw, and probaly never would, is just bad.
    Focusing on Shae was much better in my opinion, everyone knew her, it made it much more dramatic to me.

    And I don’t see how this makes the show less ”inteligent” or a ”run-of-the-mill pop show”, I have seen no show watcher wonder why Tyrion went to Tywin’s chambers, this was all book-readers who tought Tysha was a vital plot-point, wich was proven not to be.
    They have made Tyrions reasons preaty clear, no show-watcher was wondering why did he go there. He went there for answers, to comfront his father. Shae was just the breaking point.

    So you can say, you did not like that change, it is perfectly fine. But to say that was a ”mistake” or made the show less ”inteligent” is plain wrong.

  48. GaiusB:
    Baddogonline,

    At this point it would feel forced to have Varys teleport between continents and infiltrate KL just to kill Pycelle and Kevan, when he could hire someone to do exactly same thing without endangering himself.

    For the show it would be better if Mr. Chaos is the ladder do it. He is in KL and it would fit with his well established ideology. I definitely hope the writers will learn from their mistakes to insert fairly accurate to the books content into wastly different show context like they did with Tyrion/Tywin showdown or Obara´s monologue.

    Unless it happens fairly early is S6, then I’m not sure LF will be around to do this (although he would be the most obvious choice).

    My theory is that Cersei may take this role- either directly or by ordering Robert Strong, Qyburn (or even both of them) to clear the high council- makes sense as she can then rule exclusively or appoint more trusted members to the high council (although can’t think who she could possibly trust).

  49. Apollo,

    I don’t think LF will do it. He is going north with the Vale, and I expect that

    Kevan/Pycelle to get killed around mid/late season.

    If it happens at all, they could easly go another route for such minor characters.

    But I really like your idea of Cersei doing it. 🙂

  50. Mihnea,

    I picked those two scenes because they can be objectively judged as mistakes because of lack of internal logic/failure to acomplish the point of the scene, it have nothing to do how they were liked or disliked. Let me explain:

    Tyrion/Tywin:
    Problem is not Tysha´s omission, but the writers failed to adjust the scene and dialogue to the new circumstances. They kept the dialogue which was absurd. Tyrion in both versions murdered his father for calling Tysha/Shae whore. Make sense for book Tyrion to be in the murderous rage after that, since Tysha was the person she really loved him and Tyrion was manipulated to gang rape her. Shae however was really a whore, treacherous one, and Tyrion just murdered her. Make no sense to be so upset about Tywin calling her whore.

    Obara:
    Show:
    Ellaria: Are you with me?
    Nameless daughter, Nym: Yes!
    Obara: First let me introduce myself to the audience, you all know my backstory, but viewers dont.
    – i dont think more needs to be told why that scene sucked, i only say it sucked twice more, because it served as introduction of SS and it was the worst introduction of any character in the show history

    Book. That whole scene serve to introduce conflict between SS and Doran, the conflict that is completely missing when Ellaria ask SS if they are with her ( that make show scene rather emty and pointless). It dont just clumsily tell readers Obara´s backstory. She did not really tell her backstory to Doran, that was not the point of the scene. She explained her grieving process. “Start the war, that how i greive, let me grieve my father.” It really fully introduce the character as basically emotional cripple with serious daddy issues and it shows some of Oberyn´s flaws.
    The show missed to do that, because of whitewashing of Oberyn they did not tell her full backstory. As result now many viewers think his daughters are disgrace to him and Obara is the worst without even really understand what her character is about. I dont think that was what the writers intended, so its fully justificable to call it a mistake regardless how you like it or not.

  51. Ghost_in_Winterfell,

    It was “proven” that she wasn’t important for that part of the story in the context of the show when the only people who had a problem with Tyrion’s motivations were some book readers, while show watchers perfectly understood why he did what he did.

    GaiusB,

    Obara gave a expositionary speech in both mediums; in both, she is making the point that she will always choose the way of his father, the bellicose way. It’s clumsy in both mediums, because in both she’s telling her interlocutor(s) her life story in detail, when he/they know it perfectly well. However, it’s equally clumsy in both mediums; in both the boom and the TV show Obara has a point to make, she’s not just telling her life story for its own sake. That you are unable to see that says more about you than about the show.

  52. El-Bobby,

    what`s wrong with Dame Dianna and Conleth get photoshoot?
    Considering Variety photoshoot during season 3 or 4, Conleth was there with all the Lannisters actor including Jack. They even invited Kristian Nairn and Gwendoline who are not regular cast member at the time. (which is arguably lower than Dame Dianna who was special guest starring at those time)

    So, this time is not surprising.
    Though, if they come in Spain for shoot. It will be great stuff next season. Perhaps they will bring LF to the ground.

  53. GaiusB,
    Luka Nieto,

    In fact, if anything, Obara has more of a point to make in the show: Ellaria specifically asks Obara if she will choose her way (war), and Obara replies by retelling her “origin story”, which suitably ends with little Obara arming herself; it’s her way of saying she will always choose war. As she says. “I made my choice long ago”, a statement she reinforces by using her spear, which looks exactly as Oberyn’s did, to kill the merchant. Thematically, there’s a wholly coherent point being made here, which is reinforced visually and in dialogue. In the book, meanwhile, the expositionary monologue is comparatively unprovoked; Doran simply says he wished he could comfort her, and after stating she hasn’t come to him for comfort she immediately goes into the monologue. She has the same point to make in the books and the show: she doesn’t want Doran’s comfort, but for him to let her “use her spear” —that is, let her go to war. In the show, she doesn’t choose Doran’s peace; she chooses war. It’s the same thing and, if I had to choose, I’d say the show was a little more elegant about it… though it’s pretty clumsy in both mediums, sadly.

  54. GaiusB,

    I’m sorry, but I can’t take anything you say seriously when you say they ”withewashed” Oberyn. Sorry just can’t.

    And disagree, you didn’t like it, that is all this is about. You didn’t like it so you call it a ”mistake”.
    So you completly deny/don’t take in consideration that other people liked this, and that only your point is valid/true, thus you call this a ”mistake”.

    Too say you didn’t like it is fine and I fully expected some people not to like it. But saying it was a ”mistake” is simply not true.

  55. Ghost_in_Winterfell,

    Yes she was dropped, thus she is not a vital plot-point. To me at least

    Sorry but I’m not entering a Tysha debate, it is off-topic and nothing good will come out of it.

    Too me the story was improved because they changed that, I am glad she was removed, I’m sorry other people where sad/dissapointed, but to me this was one of the best decisions they ever made.

  56. Just because they’re in the same place doesn’t mean they’re on the same side. Here’s my theory:

    Olenna realizes she needs a fresh army to bail out Margery in KL. Northerners are a no-go, Littlefinger is too unpredictable, so Dorne is the natural choice. So she goes down there to kiss Doran’s ass.

    Varys realizes Dany needs a fresh army in Westeros that isn’t a bunch of Dothraki and Unsullied from a different continent that are just going to terrify everybody and make her look like a foreign invader rather than the rightful Queen coming home. Dorne is the natural choice, so he goes down there to kiss Doran’s ass.

    Then it gets real awkward in the waiting room.

  57. Ghost’s Lunch,

    Among everything else, Tysha could not be a conversation. She had to be a character on the show with tangible interactions with Tyrion to the point where if you saw the actress again somewhere else, then you would have the: “where have we seen her before?” conversation with whomever you were watching the show.

    This is a difference between media. In the book, it was fine to recount it verbally as everything in a book is recounted verbally. Books cannot show, they can only tell. TV and film can recount thing verbally only when accompanied by or in reference to something shown. Otherwise the audience asks: about whom are they speaking? Remember, characters are faces, not names, on TV and film, and thus an unshown character is usually an unknown character.

    And, as others note: nobody had any lroblem understanding why Tyrion killed Tywin.

  58. Like Luka said, the only people who have problems with Tysha are a part of the book-readers, a part because not all have the same opinions.
    I have not seen one person wonder why Tyrion whent to Tywin, it was only the book-readers who expected Tysha who where dissapointed, and I’m sorry for that.

    But again, saying you did not like the change is completly valid and fine, but saying it was a ”mistake” or makes the show ”less inteligent” is simply not true.

    EDIT: Wimsey said above exactly what I think, better then I ever could.

  59. Mihnea: I’m sorry, but I can’t take anything you say seriously when you say they ”withewashed” Oberyn. Sorry just can’t.

    When a character’s darker edges are smoothed (Tyrion, Cersei and Oberyn, for example), they’re whitewashed and that’s a horrible change. When a character’s darker edges are emphasized (Stannis and Jaime, for example), they’re ruining the character and making them a bad guy and that’s horrible too. The moral of the story? Any change you make to a character is horrible, whether they are made into better or worse people.

  60. H.Stark,

    Nice! Can’t wait to see them again. 🙂

    Luka Nieto,

    I can understand Tyrion, even tough I do not share the belief, and Stannis too, alltough again I don’t share that belief.
    But saying that about Oberyn, is just too ridiculous too me.

  61. Mihnea,

    Oberyn in the books is more violent (especially towards women) and less of a romantic hero, that much is true. There is a deliberate change in his characterization there, with certain changes, such as Oberyn not slapping Obara’s mother in the show’s version of Obara’s origin story.

    However, I don’t think those are bad changes.

    H.Stark,

    Hopefully the Sand Snakes will get more characterization this season, even if they don’t have much screentime —which is perfectly understandable, now that no main character is in Dorne; I wonder how we’ll get to see Dorne first this year, how the show wil lead into it. Or maybe they think last season’s storyline was enough of a lead-in and now Dorne will have its own story, however small. Anyway, as I was saying: Obara got on the characterization train early, with her monologue, just as in the books; Tyene had to wait until her prison scenes; and Nymeria’s still waiting, basically. So I’m hoping they’ll do a bit more with the Sand Snakes this season, in particular with Nym.

  62. Luka Nieto,

    I hardly consider Oberyn not slapping 1 women as ”whitewashing”

    And if I’m an idiot and can’t see/recognize this, then frankly I like this ”whitewashing”
    Oberyn in the books never left a huge impresion too me, more like:”yeah that guy was cool”
    But Pedro made him into one of my favourite characters in the story.

  63. Mihnea: But Pedro made him into one of my favourite characters in the story.

    Well, that much we can agree on, at least 🙂

    Pedro Pascal was awesome as Oberyn; he elevated the role to new heights.

  64. Luka Nieto,

    You can pseudo-intelectually argue about it as long you want, but a simple truth remain. After the episode 4 of season 5, there was plenty of complaints about blatant out of the place exposition of Obara´s monoloque. There were not such complaints about Obara´s confronation with Doran in the book, when AFFC was published. So obviously the level of clumsiness between those two scenes is not nearly same. I guess you could always argue that level of clumsiness is same, but only your exponential mind can see that….

  65. Maria
    The dress looks a fairly dull colour but seems to have a pattern on it rather than being completely plain and I wonder if something sleeveless would count as modest religious wear? Apart from that no idea; personally I don’t trust Margery at all although I can’t put my finger on why.

    I can absolutely see her faking conversion and did briefly wonder if she might betray her brother to save herself when we first heard the idea.

    Aryamad
    LOVE your picture, especially (I assume) Cersei’s super grumpy face 😀

    King in the North Carolina
    Nice punning 🙂

    Mmm feeling very chatty today, anyone else like to hear my opinions on random stuff? 😉

  66. GaiusB:
    Luka Nieto,

    There were not such complaints about Obara confronation with Doran in the book, when AFFC was published.

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA,…sorry, couldn’t hold myself.
    This are pure lies. Just read some reviews and go to other sites then Westeros.org and you will see just how much people disliked that scene aswell.

    I have friends/people I knew when AFFC was realesed that stopped reading the books then, and still haven’t got back into them, and I asure you that scene, with all of Dorne is among their reasons.

    Also running out of arguments so you start insulting Luka eh?

  67. Dutch Maester,

    So they will use the overall structure after all.

    When filming locations are announced, people always try to guess what it will be based on the structure as seen from afar, which makes no sense, since what they do is choose specific locations; they rarely pan out to show the whole thing. For example, when Peñíscola was announced, everyone guessed Casterly Rock, because of its shape, but that never made any sense to me. And, of course, it was all Meereen. When I saw the Alcazaba, I thought it could well be Meereen or Sunspear… but I said Sunspear mostly because of the way the castle looks from outside, which is a pretty bad bet. However, if they are filming aerial shots, now that makes me 90% sure it will be Sunspear!

    GaiusB,

    No need to get so confrontational. Please don’t use insults. The same goes for Mihnea; please, let’s all calm down. As for your claims, GaiusB, I’m sorry, but AFFC was broadly criticized when it came out, and the Sand Snakes weren’t exactly popular among most book readers —and that’s being charitable.

    I liked them, though. I liked the Sand Snakes well enough, and I loved their introduction in “The Captain of the Guards”, which was adapted into two scenes in the show, in “The House of Black and White” (with Ellaria taking the place of Obara), and “The Sons of the Harpy” (when the show introduces the Sand Snakes). Basically, I really like how they are introduced… but then they do nothing at all, and we get that Arianne sidestory that goes nowhere, and only then we get a promise of better things to come with Doran’s revelations and sending the Sand Snakes away to interesting places —that is, to be around main characters. The problem with the Dornish storyline, both in the books and the show, is the middle part, the actual conflict, which is basically pointless and is only there to delay what’s to come.

  68. Dutch Maester,

    They found the perfect Sunspear, didn’t they? I truly can’t imagine a better location. The only CGI needed will be to populate the surroundings of the castle (only if the aerial shot goes that far away), and to make the castle look like it’s in proper working order.

  69. Luka Nieto,

    Yeah can’t wait to see Sunspear.

    Interesting tought: will they change the intro animation of Dorne, if they no longer film in the Water Gardens?

  70. Mihnea,

    Well, there was the Mesa Roldán Tower filming, in which Dany seemingly reunited with the Meereenese council, though that didn’t look like the city of Meereen proper (maybe somewhere in the outskirts?); and now the Alcazaba, which will finish filming today, if I’m not mistaken. After that, there’s nothing else in Spain. However, I never believed they would film such a battle in a foreign location. Way too costly. They can film in any old Northern Irish quarry, like they did when Dany arrived to Meereen —that wasn’t Croatia or Spain. That was a Northern Irish quarry. Also, Meereen is a bit more green than most of other places we’ve seen in Essos, so that works out well.

    I’m not saying there’s going to be a Battle of Fire. In fact, there’s no evidence pointing to it, except perhaps the need for an explosive climax and the return of the Yunkai’i. But we can’t rule it out just because filming in Spain is done.

    Mihnea,

    Yeah. It hopefully says “Sunspear” now. I understood why the text said “Dorne”; “Water Gardens” would’ve looked a bit weird, considering the map only points to big places, yet introducing “Sunspear” into the map when we weren’t actually going to be in Sunspear would’ve been counterintuitive. However, this year, if we’re going to Sunspear, there’s no excuse.

  71. Luka Nieto,

    Agreed, I understood why they didn’t show Sunspear, we didn’t saw it this season, so it would have been pointless, but now I trully hope they change it, and create a nice animation. The WG one was fine, but nothing spectacular.

    Ha! Didn’t know they filmed that in NI. Yeah you are right then, the battle could still be in. But I think we will hear something before hand if it is, it just seams improbable that something of that magnitude could remain hidden.

  72. GaiusB,

    Heh, maybe that part of Dorne was not panned when AFFC came out. However, given how heavily the Dornish plotline was criticized in general, it is sort of like pointing out parts of the USS Arizona that did not get destroyed when the ship exploded.

    (And, yes: Dorne sucked more than the Iron Islands! 😀 )

    EDIT: I guess that that part was panned, too! My memory is largely of everything to do with Arriane getting hammered, but that might be because I was wielding one of those hammers as mightily as Dain!

  73. Mihnea: But I think we will hear something before hand if it is, it just seams improbable that something of that magnitude could remain hidden.

    I don’t know about that. Presumably the Battle of the Bastards (Snowbowl, the Battle of the Six Armies) will be even greater than the Battle of Fire, yet we didn’t hear about it well after they had started filming at Saintfield. We knew they were filming there, we knew they had been filming for a while in fact, but we didn’t have any context for many days after they had started shooting.

  74. Wimsey:

    (And, yes: Dorne sucked more than the Iron Islands! )

    This brings up so many memories.
    I would argue this, just for nostalgias sake.. 🙂

  75. Luka Nieto,

    My bet is that the Battle of the Bastards will be the big show piece of Winter. And that is simply because it probably will have 2 or 3 PoV characters, including Jon. The Battle of Ice will be understated: given the Pink Letter, it seems implausible that any PoV characters were there at the end, so we will get just the onset and perhaps a fleeing fleeting view of the finale. (Right now I am betting on 20 or so good men drowning most of Stannis’ army in a lake!)

    Of course, that is if we ever get to read it. Jews used to say “Next year, in Jerusulem.” We should say: “Next year, when reading Winter.”

    😀

  76. Luka Nieto,

    We knew they were preparing something big in Saintfield and we got our answer not long after. There has been no whispering about any other battle and they’re done with the Spanish setting today. Not enough time spent there to film a battle, even on a smaller scale than TBoSA.

  77. Luka Nieto: When a character’s darker edges are smoothed (Tyrion, Cersei and Oberyn, for example), they’re whitewashed and that’s a horrible change. When a character’s darker edges are emphasized (Stannis and Jaime, for example), they’re ruining the character and making them a bad guy and that’s horrible too. The moral of the story? Any change you make to a character is horrible, whether they are made into better or worse people.

    🙂 Oh, I love the smell of snark in the morning!

    You should add Hotah to that list. They made him much darker on the show, but less violent (Bronn got lucky!).

    ——

    Regarding “Dorne” in the opening credits, if they move to Sunspear in S6, then I would assume they killed two birds with one stone last season by simply calling it “Dorne”. No rework this season (to save a few bucks?). Although, I do expect “Oldtown” and/or “Highgarden” to make an appearance this season, so maybe “Sunspear” it is then! 🙂

  78. Hodor’s Bastard: They made him much darker on the show

    I’m ashamed to admit I laughed out loud 😀

    Mihnea,

    I’d say there’s no way we’re getting Horn Hill on the map, but who knows. We got Moat Cailin, yet not Volantis. It’s a bit tricky to predict.

  79. Wimsey: And, yes: Dorne sucked more than the Iron Islands!

    A few months ago, didn’t you mention that the iron islands sucked more than Dorne? Change of heart? Perhaps a certain dusky woman and red priest changed your mind?

    #AFFCrocks!

  80. Luka Nieto: A Feast for Crocks?

    Hey, don’t knock ’em. Those are comfortable shoes!

    (I’m looking forward to how the show is revisiting/extrapolating some AFfC content this year!)

  81. Luka Nieto: Come on, the book wasn’t that bad.

    Oh, I enjoyed the book very much. I just have to give Wimsey a hard time about it whenever I get the chance. I think the connection between the AFfC prologue and the last Sam chapter is stunning and quite eerie. Oldtown/Citadel holds so much promise for historical reveals. Go Sam! Watch out for Pate!

  82. Mihnea,

    Guessing potential map fixtures for the upcoming season is one of my favorite silly, but fun things to speculate about every year. I don’t think we’ll see too many new locations this year, but there could be a few (plus some old locations that will return).

    Permanent Locations: King’s Landing, Winterfell, The Wall (They’ve appeared in every single episode of the series to date, regardless of whether or not the episode has any scenes there. No reason to expect that will change).

    Semi-Permanent Locations:: Braavos, Meereen (These will appear in most episodes, but may have to be swapped out for a few weeks if there’s going to be any variation at all this year).

    Likely Returning Locations (after being absent for a season or more): Pyke, Riverrun, Vaes Dothrak

    Potential Returning Locations: Dorne (I think that it will stay “Dorne”, not morph into Sunspear, if it appears at all).

    Likely New Locations: Oldtown (I’m guessing this will stand in for the rest of the Reach and replace Dorne for most of the season. The Hightower is exactly the kind of iconic location that would be cool to see and easy to animate).

    Possible, but Unlikely Locations:: Moat Cailin, Horn Hill, Highgarden, Last Hearth, Volantis, etc. (While these would be fun, I’m guessing that they’re either too small or will appear too briefly to appear on the map. Then again, I wouldn’t have predicted Moat Cailin would get its own animation and appear in two seasons, so you never know).

    That’s a lot of potential combinations, especially since there are never more than six locations shown for any given episode and, in general, the show likes to keep the map as steady as possible to reduce the number of new transitions they have to create.

  83. Hodor’s Bastard,

    I think Wimsey is way too hard on AFFC, but I can’t blame him —he had to wait in real time for that book, and then for the next one to come out. AFFC works great as a prologue for things to come. And some of that was followed through with ADWD, while one must assume it will mostly pay off in TWOW —the Citadel, Lady Stoneheart, and of course the greatest examples of AFFC’s central problem: Dorne and the Iron Islands, which had a great introduction… with absolutely no payoff within the book. The only exception is, of course, Doran’s revelations… but they’re only exciting because of what they promise for the future. Anyway, I enjoy AFFC, especially mixing it in with ADWD (the Boiled Leather), and I think it has quite a few of the better written passages in the whole series… but it was just a prologue. A book-length prologue with lots of filler that could’ve been left out. With a harsher editor, A Feast for Crows could’ve been mixed in with a heavily edited down version of A Dance with Dragons to create… A Dance with Dragons! Whaddayaknow…

  84. Lulus Mum,

    I’m curious. Did Sue ever confirm or deny the possible sighting/information/spoiler you mentioned in an earlier post that you had heard? If she confirmed it and asked you not to reveal it, you now must have a better idea how she feels!

  85. Luka Nieto,

    Yeah, Boiled Leather is my guideline these days as well. I’m surprised GRRM hasn’t acknowledged it (or produced a e-book/kindle version of a combined AFfC/ADwD). It seems like TWoW will cause further updates to that list.

    Speaking of TWoW….ssshhhhh!…but there is buzz in NYC about a delivery being made very soon (in the next few weeks). There are articles out there about translators being hired for December. 🙂

  86. Hodor’s Bastard: Speaking of TWoW….ssshhhhh!…but there is buzz in NYC about a delivery being made very soon (in the next few weeks). There are articles out there about translators being hired for December.

    We can only hope. Personally, I kinda want to watch season six before TWOW is released… or before I read —or I’m spoiled about— TWOW, anyway. I’m not sure why; I just think it will be cool to watch a season of Game of Thrones mostly as an Unsullied. Of course, in theory, the book could be released before April and I simply would have to abstain from reading it… but, let’s be realistic —I would also have to abstain myself from the online conversation. Avoiding spoilers is such a bother. Is that a petty and egotistical reason for not wanting TWOW to be released before season six? Well… Yup. Yes it is.

  87. Luka Nieto,

    Same here, if it does come out this year, alltough until I see some concrete evidance I still doubt that, I hope it’s after season 6!
    ”ADWD 2006” never forget!

    Not going to read it anyway, not before couple of months pass and I’ve read reviews, I ignored those on AFFC, not going to fool myself twice!
    But like you said it will be bothersome to have too avoid forums as not to be spoiled..

  88. Luka Nieto: We can only hope. Personally, I kinda want to watch season six before TWOW is released… or before I read —or I’m spoiled about— TWOW, anyway. I’m not sure why; I just think it will be cool to watch a season of Game of Thrones mostly as an Unsullied. Of course, in theory, the book could be released before April and I simply would have to abstain from reading it… but, let’s be realistic —I would also have to abstain myself from the online conversation. Avoiding spoilers is such a bother. Is that a petty and egotistical reason for not wanting TWOW to be released before season six? Well… Yup. Yes it is.

    You know, being Unsullied is not that bad. You are not as hung up on characters that may have been omitted from the books.
    Coming to this site I got a lot more “educated”. I did not know Euron was missing from the story until the news was posted that someone got cast, for example.

  89. Luka Nieto,

    If Winter comes out in winter 2016, I will be happier than Penny’s pig in Drogon’s doo doo. There is a reason why I’m hording vacation hours this year. But I understand the Unsullied opportunity that will present itself. Furious Sue will be quite busy shaming us into using that spoiler button with every post!

  90. Jared: keep the map as steady as possible to reduce the number of new transitions

    Since Bran is more-or-less stationary, do you think that they will give any indication on the map as to where Bran is located (northern Haunted Forest? Frostfangs?)…or would the wall suffice like it did for Hardhome? Maybe there will be some indication of where his visions may take him?

    (In addition to Oldtown & Highgarden, I am secretly hoping for Last Hearth!)

  91. The problem of AFC is it comes after Storm, that was awesome and a long time before it was published… I didn’t remind such bash with GOT because it introduces us the series (but it was the first book, so…).

    I’m happy they changed finally Margaery’s dress, even it’s only to fool the Faith. Excepting the wedding dress and the post-coitus dress, all of her dresses were exactly the same (very elaborated pattered roses, but blue like Dany and only different in how many skin is showed in hips/back. Her lady’s in waiting too).

    If Olenna’s coming to Dorne, I want her without her hat on a fluffly green dress, like Myrcella’s pinky dress. Please XD

  92. Hodor’s Bastard,

    That would definitely be cool to see! However, I think that, after five seasons, we can safely assume that The Wall is as far north as the opening credits map is ever going to extend. There just aren’t enough significant structures beyond the Wall to justify animating that section of the map any further (Craster’s Keep and Hardhome were too small, Bran’s weirwood tree would basically be a recreation of the weirwood that rises out of Winterfell, and the Lands of Always Winter are a pipe dream).

    Oldtown is the only new location that I feel pretty confident will be added to the rotation (they’ve added at least one each year). Last Hearth would definitely be a nice addition, however! I wouldn’t bet on it, but we did see the Dreadfort (and Moat Cailin, for that matter) in addition to Winterfell and The Wall in Season 4. As such, adding another Northern stronghold isn’t outside the realm of possibility, especially if the show spends longer than an episode or two there.

  93. Hodor’s Bastard: A few months ago, didn’t you mention that the iron islands sucked more than Dorne? Change of heart?

    No, no! (Unless I did a typo!) I was firmly in the “Dorne sucked more!” camp. I have made the caveat that occasionally I would have to state that the Iron Islands did suck a lot, but that it did not suck as much as Dorne. There is bad (e.g., Riverlands), there is worse (e.g., Iron Islands) and there is worst (e.g., Dorne).

    I might have written something about how Dorne-sans-Arriane did suck less than the Iron Islands or something like that.

  94. keltia:
    Lulus Mum,
    I’m curious.Did Sue ever confirm or deny the possible sighting/information/spoiler you mentioned in an earlier post that you had heard?If she confirmed it and asked you not to reveal it, you now must have a better idea how she feels!

    When I heard my first reaction was squeeee – want to tell people, because it’s highly likely very reliable info, but immediately realised I couldn’t in case it got anyone into trouble, hence being so deliberately vague. Told my cats but they were quite unimpressed, as cats usually are with the human race in general! Sue assured me it’s ok to send potentially sensitive stuff via the contact us button and I did, leaving it in her capable hands. I guess that qualifies as a mini-Sue experience, a tiny taster of what it’s like to be in the know. I’ll be watching ep 9 very closely for certain little details 😀

  95. Luka Nieto: he had to wait in real time for that book

    “Real time”?!?!? Did the rest of you get to skip the early aughts?!?! (Come to think of it, there were a few years where the planet seemed kind of empty: I didn’t put it together….)

  96. Mihnea,

    You mention that even if TWOW were published, you would wait until after season 6 has aired, plus a couple months until you read the reviews. Are you saying you would actually let critics’ reviews of TWOW affect whether or not you read the book? I call Shenanigans.

    I cannot imagine anything some critic could possibly write that would stop me from reading the book for myself.

  97. Matty C,

    Of course. That is exactly what I will do. I will read multiple reviews.
    From places that I trust. And critics reviews, not ”fan” reviews. Hell I will read the ones that are most spoilery too se if what I considered to be dissapointing writing has changed.

    I made a mistake with AFFC, where I ignored the numerous negative reviews, telling myself ”no way could it be that bad” and I proceeded to waste good money, on a book I read in 9 months. I stopped reading it the first weak and haven’t picked it up for 7-8 months.
    That is how dissapointed and how much I disliked that book.

    And while ADWD didn’t made me want to throw the book away and pretend it doesn’t exist, it was still a huge dissapointment. I bought it only because I tought there was no way that Martin could make me dislike Jon/Dany/Tyrion, I was so, so wrong.

    Hell even if the reviews are somewhat positive I’m still doubting I will read it until the show is done.
    So to me the answer is easy, the books dissapointed me immensly. The show never.
    Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

    Or like a wise man said once: Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice…can’t fool me again! 🙂

  98. Hodor’s Bastard: If Winter comes out in winter 2016, I will be happier than Penny’s pig in Drogon’s doo doo.

    That doesn’t sound happy. That doesn’t sound happy at all!

    (Of course, it does smell like bacon…..)

  99. Wimsey,

    Yeah…it may be an outdated metaphor for pigs, written hastily for the sake of alliteration. In any case, I’ll be happier than Mihnea will be. 🙂

  100. Wimsey: That doesn’t sound happy.That doesn’t sound happy at all!

    (Of course, it does smell like bacon…..)

    I laughed so hard I scared the dog. That was sooo funny.

  101. Wimsey,

    I read the first book a short while before the show premiered. I only read the rest after season two or three, I think, mostly because I’d been too spoiled already. I haven’t had to wait for an ASOIAF book at all. Except TWOW, I guess, but as I said I’m not anxious to read it anymore —I’d rather watch the show version first, and be mostly surprised by it, for a change. Of course, there will be quite a few things that I’ll know, either because they are taken from AFFC and ADWD or because of filming spoilers, but compared to previous seasons Season 6 will be mostly Unsullied territory! That’s quite exciting for me.

  102. I’m really hoping the book comes out first! No way I’d ever want a TV show or movie to dictate to me how to visualize a scene, setting or character before I have a chance to exercise my own imagination with it. The filmed version is just somebody else’s interpretation, and that’s nice to see, but it’s not “authentic” the way the original is.
    (Those of you who disagree, I already know who you are and why you do, so you can spare your typing fingers and not repeat your position yet again.)

    Back on topic, I would love to see both Olenna and Varys converging on Dorne simultaneously. What an unstoppable brain trust, if they and Doran could all get on the same page somehow!

    But it seems unlikely, since Olenna’s priorities don’t seem to align with the other two. Unless Tommen dies this season, her main aim is still going to be getting a grandchild on the IT. In fact, even if Tommen does die, Margaery could conceivably (pause for groan at pun) already be pregnant. So at present it’s not in her interests for all the Lannisters to be pushed out of power or for Tommen’s illegitimacy to be incontrovertibly established.

    Priority #2 and #3 for Olenna, I would guess, would be getting the charges against Loras dropped, then getting Littlefinger neutralized before he spills the beans on their little poisoning plot. He’s too much of a loose cannon, and his knowledge gives him too much power over her.

    The suggestions of attempted matchmaking between Loras and Dany, should Tommen or Margaery die, make some sense – especially if part of the deal with the High Sparrow is that Loras has to marry right away to prove that he has repented and been “cured” of his sinful ways. But I’m still trying to figure out what part Dorne might play in Olenna’s scheme. I’m not seeing the strategic advantage of a Margaery/Trystane pairing, beyond making the best of the family’s losses if everything falls apart in KL. Olenna’s a pragmatic sort, but I don’t see her settling for leftovers if there’s any other hope left of loftier prizes.

    Still, I’m sure that the screenwriters can come up with some halfway plausible reason to send her there if that’s where they want her. It might be worth a weak plot twist just to see those three master schemers put their heads together – if not all at once, then, as someone observed above, for that awkward waiting room scene. Maybe they can all agree that Lord Baelish needs poisoning rather badly?

  103. Firannion: (Those of you who disagree, I already know who you are and why you do, so you can spare your typing fingers and not repeat your position yet again.)

    By that logic, you should “spare your typing fingers” too, as we all know your opinion as well… but that’s silly; of course you shouldn’t. Come on, let’s be civil here. I understand your position perfectly well. Your explanation was more than well reasoned, too; I share it in the case of most other adaptations. In this case, however, it’s just that the show has become the main source of the story for me, and I think it will be a nice experiment to experience the show’s version first, for a change. We can all agree to disagree and that’s it. No passive agressiveness necessary; no need to preemptively warn anyone to shut up.

    I like your reasoning of Olenna’s allegiances, by the way. It’s not easy to see why she would ally her family with Dany, unless literally everything goes horribly wrong for them this coming season.

  104. Firannion: I’m really hoping the book comes out first! No way I’d ever want a TV show or movie to dictate to me how to visualize a scene, setting or character before I have a chance to exercise my own imagination with it. The filmed version is just somebody else’s interpretation, and that’s nice to see, but it’s not “authentic” the way the original

    I can’t think of any other instance where I wouldn’t want to read the book before I saw an adaptation, but this is an exception. The idea of not really knowing what is going to happen is so intriguing, while I may break down and read the book, anyway (if it is released before season 6), I’m going to try not to.

  105. Firannion:
    I’m really hoping the book comes out first!No way I’d ever want a TV show or movie to dictate to me how to visualize a scene, setting or character before I have a chance to exercise my own imagination with it.The filmed version is just somebody else’s interpretation, and that’s nice to see, but it’s not “authentic” the way the original is.
    (Those of you who disagree, I already know who you are and why you do, so you can spare your typing fingers and not repeat your position yet again.)

    I’m with you. My anticipation for season 6 is off the charts, but nothing compared to my excitement for “Winds”. I’m dreaming multiple nights a week about that book!

  106. Newbietothegame: I laughed so hard I scared the dog. That was sooo funny.

    I aim to keep people smiling! 😀

    Hodor’s Bastard: Yeah…it may be an outdated metaphor for pigs, written hastily for the sake of alliteration.

    I’m just thinking that there are two ways to get a pig into Drogon’s feces: one of which makes the pig happy and Drogon indifferent, and another one that made Drogon happy a few hours ago and the pig an ex-porcine.

  107. Firannion: especially if part of the deal with the High Sparrow is that Loras has to marry right away to prove that he has repented and been “cured” of his sinful ways.

    Yikes! I’m sure that will go over well. Maybe this is an opportunity for enlightenment and tolerance for the High Sparrow and the Faith of the Fickle Seven? 🙂 Is Westeros ready for “Don’t ask, don’t tell?” Seriously, I expect some major pushback from House Tyrell during this next season. Plus, Cersei will be desperately working both sides, with a high probability of chaotic, spoilery results, trial or not.

  108. Wimsey: two ways to get a pig into Drogon’s feces

    Penny prefers the first option.

    Speaking of fecal matters, R&V’s quarters are getting mighty ripe. Tyrion’s first order of business should be assigning a few lucky locals to clean up their abode before the foreign dignitaries arrive.

  109. Luka Nieto: no need to preemptively warn anyone to shut up.

    Just anticipating having my throat jumped down as usual and not relishing the prospect. But I thank you for your civilly worded response. Yes, we can agree to disagree.

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