SPOILERS for last night’s Game of Thrones
In Game of Thrones Ep. 5.7, “The Gift,” it started to get REAL. Many book readers have been complaining about how fast some storylines are moving, and the derivations from the books for certain other storylines, but I’m really happy about the progress. It was high time that we saw certain characters meet up and certain other characters finally get that smug look wiped off their faces. Sh-t is also getting real because after five seasons of hearing “Winter is Coming,” winter is finally upon us. It’s starting to get COLD. And the winter will last for years, if not decades. Think, like, Ice Age kind of winter. So here are some highlights, in no particular order.
Sansa’s marriage sucks & Theon is still the worst. What I enjoyed is that Sansa still has some fight left, even though she was being locked up in her bedroom and only interacting with Ramsey and Theon. Her life is definitely the worst and she’s looking for a way out. So she asked Theon to help her and light a candle in the high tower, per Brienne’s instructions. Except Theon just went to Ramsey and told him everything and that old woman (“the North remembers”) got flayed. Now I think Sansa is just going to kill Theon at some point. I also liked that Sansa got some jabs in there to Ramsey, pointing out that a “trueborn” Bolton heir is in a better position than Ramsey’s sketchy “now you’re my heir, I promise” speech from Roose Bolton. What else? Now Sansa knows that Jon Snow is Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch.
Sam got his V-card punched. I thought it was going to be a more Jon Snow-intensive episode, but we only got a little bit of Jon Snow at the beginning, as he left with the ginger dude. No one at the Night’s Watch is happy that Jon Snow has left. Then the story became about Sam. Sam said goodbye to his mentor and friend, Maester Aemon Targaryen. It’s sort of refreshing to see a beloved character die of old age, right? In his last moments, Aemon remembered his brother, The Mad King, when they were children. Then as soon as they burned Aemon, some Night’s Watch brothers tried to assault Gilly and Sam tried to defend her (and got his ass kicked) but Jon’s direwolf Ghost had to come in and have the final word. Then Gilly took Sam to his room and cleaned him up and then she banged him. I enjoy the fact that now that Winter is upon us, some of the Night’s Watch rules are sort of forgotten. That whole vow of chastity? Whatever, man.
Hey, bro, let’s kill your daughter. Stannis – the one true king – is having a tough time now that winter is coming. Horses are dying, men are dying (or leaving? I think I missed some dialogue there). So Stannis’s Red Witch, Melisandre, is all “You know what would help us beat the Boltons? We could kill your daughter!” Thank God Stannis has one line he won’t cross – he won’t kill his daughter for her blood, to win a war or whatever.
Tyrion is a survivor. When it looked like Jorah and Tyrion would be separated in the gladiator clearance sale, Tyrion fought to stay connected to Jorah. Literally, he fought! That was a cool scene. And seriously, when is the Greyscale going to start affecting Jorah?
Dany still wants to bang Daario. Even though she’s engaged to WhatsHisGuts (I’m not looking up his name, I hate that guy), Dany still wants Daario on the side. But Daario is all, “Hey, why don’t you marry me instead?” Honestly, Dany’s whole scheme to ingratiate herself in Meereen by marrying Dude-face is poorly thought out. She might as well marry a dude who is a legendary fighter, who loves her and who is good in bed. Why not? She’s the Queen. Get yours, Dany.
Tyrion is The Gift. He really IS the gift. Both Iain Glen and Peter Dinklage were on point in those scenes. Jorah slaughters a bunch of fights because he knew he had to get in front of Dany. And Dany is still pissed at him – she was about to order her guards to grab him, possibly kill him when he told his “Khaleesi” that he brought her a gift. Then Tyrion steps out… “I am The Gift.” I got chills!!!!! To see those two characters – Dany and Tyrion – in the same place… WHOA.
This is everything. Dany’s costume was totally based on Solange’s weddding gown.
Who wore it better? Solange Knowles or Daenerys Targaryen? #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/QMks0lQ5fT
— Stephanie Freedle (@Steph_Freedle) May 25, 2015
The High Sparrow and the Queen of Thorns. Last week, I said that I could watch a whole hour of Arya washing dead people. This week, I could have watched a whole hour of Dame Diana Rigg (the Queen of Thorns) and Jonathan Pryce (the High Sparrow) talk about their knees and hips. Those two actors were AMAZING in that scene.
Queen Margaery is a mess. Seriously, how awful was Margaery’s jail cell that she looked like that? And I liked that Margaery is all “I know who did this to me, bitch” to Cersei. Cersei looked SO pleased with herself, because Cersei is absolutely the dumbest political figure playing the “game of thrones.” She’s incapable of planning three steps ahead.
Cersei finally gets the smug wiped off her face. The High Sparrow was all, “Oh, by the way, you know how you banged your cousin and got him to kill your husband? FAIL, bitch.” I’m so glad they moved this storyline along – it was a great payoff for all of us waiting for Cersei’s terrible decisions to come back to bite her in the ass.
The GoT hair & wig team had a great episode. Did you notice how many women were supposed to have “wild” hair? Sansa had no f—ks to give about making herself pretty, Dany had her sex wig on while she was banging Daario and they really made Queen Margaery look like she was a matted mess.
Update: I totally forgot to mention Dorne. My bad. I barely cared about what happened in Dorne. I feel like the writers just love Bronn so they were just looking for something for him to do that involved boobs.
Photos courtesy of HBO/Game of Thrones.
Run, Princess Shireen, run! Hodor! HODOR!!!
I cheered for you when I saw Ghost, Lilac. Also, was that Jon warning into Ghost in that scene, or what?! HODOR!
*warging durrr
I doubt it. As far as I know he’s not aware of his ability to warg…at least in the books.
He’s not, but he has the dreams so a) Sam’s in serious trouble with no friends around, and b) Ghost just pops in out of nowhere?
Sam’s not the only one in trouble. Jon leaving is an invitation for Alliser to mutiny. I predict when Jon arrives back at Castle Black, the gates will be barred to him and his wildlings.
I’m still scared for Ghost…
I’m really not enjoying this season. I should have waited and binge watched it. I miss Robb Stark and Khal Drogo. The hot is gone.
A moment of silence for Robb Stark, the king in my pants, and Khal Drogo, both of whom are sorely missed.
I just spit coffee on my screen — Robb Stark, the king in my pants. I will be laughing about this all day, Thank you, Bea. Thank you.
Also, I didn’t think Jorah slaughtered any men in the fighting pit because he knew it would upset Khaleeeeessssssii.
Exactly. He didn’t slaughter anyone. I think she was more impressed because he incapacitated everyone without killing or maiming them. I hope she realizes now that the fighting pits need to be closed. That was horrible.
YESSSS! This. Does anyone else think that Richard Madden should have been Jon Snow and Kit Harrington should have been Robb Stark?
Add me to the list for whom Season 5 is unenjoyable. Instead of relationships and real intrigue we get the “C-Team” committing gratuitous rapes and torture. Yes, I understand that playing the GoT is a tough, gory business. But the repetitive brutality is just that, repetitive and I think it’s damaging the show. I never liked the character of Theon Greyjoy from Ep 1 Season 1 — but I can’t stand to see him emotionally, physically and mentally tortured week after week, season after season. And that goes double for Sansa. This is NOT entertainment.
Add to that that GoT has killed off some of its most compelling characters (e.g. Robb Start, Khal Drogo, Tywin Lannister) while others have simply vanished -fate unknown (e.g. Gendry) and that makes it less interesting for me.
Right now the most interesting pairing is Ser Jorah & Tyrion.
I’m very afraid for Ghost.
On a positive note: Sam got laid.
Have you seen the new Cinderella movie? Robb Stark, HOT DAMN!!
Co-Starring Robb Stark’s crotch, as paolanqar pointed out to me.
Yes and Yes!
I’m not liking this season either – it’s just as dull and slow moving as last season’s. There is what, 3 episodes left? And it seems like most of the action/interesting stuff is going to happen in these last 4 episodes.
FINALLY though, FINALLY… Someone from Westeros has finally laid eyes on Daenarys. It’s just crazy to me that 5 seasons in, that happens, winter is finally coming, we haven’t seen the white walkers in several seasons already I think…. Like holy fudge, this show started off so amazingly, not it’s just zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. And I say this as an actual fan lol. I think I woke up on the wrong side of the bed or something this morning.
Once Khal Drogo and Robb Stark left, the hot and charisma went with them, I so agree with that statement. Richard Madden is hot and he was to die for in Cinderella.
This season has not been their best and last night’s episode was meh.
I miss Rob Stark, too.
After a banging good season last time, this one is definitely a snore, but much better than the boring books.
If Tyrion has been delivered to Dany then it looks lile they really are cutting out the sequence with the Golden Company.
This episode moved at warp speed.
I asked QQ this last night, but it’s still bugging me. The scene with LF and Olenna, did anyone else think the “young boy” he was talking about wasn’t Lancel? Like maybe he was referring to Olyvar, or LF got him to recant? Lancel just seems too obvious IMO.
@mimif
I think the “young boy” he might have is Gendry. He may use Gendry’s resemblance to Robert as a means to prove that Tommen is the incestuous product of Cersei and Jaime.
I’ll admit that’s rather shaky logic but they really need to move on with or resolve their hanging plotlines. There are so many! Where is Gendry? Why has Melisandre’s leech not killed Balon Greyjoy yet? Yara surely has a plan to save Theon after her two Braveheart speeches in 3×10 and 4×06? How are the Northern noble lords (who served under the Starks) reacting to the Boltons, who were partly responsible for the deaths of many Northerners at the Red Wedding? How are the Riverlands people reacting to the godless Freys as their new rulers? Are Talisa’s family in Volantis going to do anything about her murder at the Red Wedding? What are the Brotherhood without Banners doing? Where’s Edmure Tully? Where’s Brynden ‘Blackfish’ Tully?
As slow as Martin’s writing is (and I’m glad the show is speeding up certain plotlines), he does at least address or hint at continuation or resolution for his many plotlines. As of right now, the show seems to want us to forget many of them. Hopefully, they’ll prove me wrong as the series progresses.
Yeah I briefly thought about Gendry too, but since he’s been so absent I wonder how they would introduce him again without show watchers being like, who the hell is that?
Theon is unsavable, I feel like I need to get this tattooed on my forehead. Yara already risked her life to save him, there’s nothing left to save. I said this down thread, but the Balon bit is killing me! Is dude dead, or what? As for the other loose threads, something something about willful suspension of disbelief. I’m surprised they cram as much as they do into 10 hours a season…
@mimif
I agree that, psychologically speaking, there is no way of saving Theon. But that scene where Yara ran away from Ramsay’s dogs just fell completely flat for me. She makes two inspirational speeches about saving Theon and then she gives up after spending 5 minutes with him. I get that she sees he’s a shadow of a man but the ironborn are proud people and Yara is loyal. They have to have another trick up their sleeve.
I do think Gendry will come back at some point, especially as they made him a series regular in Season 3. Last year, when Season 4, was airing, a poster on A Forum of Ice and Fire said he bumped into Joe Dempsie in London and he revealed some info to him about Gendry’s arc post Season 3. This could be complete BS but it’s something to keep in mind anyway.
http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/107188-show-book-spoilers-met-joe-dempsie-gendry-last-night/
BOOK SPOILERS
I do think we’ll see the Iron Islands and Oldtown plot play out next season. I’m also holding out hope for Lady Stoneheart, Arianne, the Griffs plot (presuming it’s not all one big red herring) and Quentyn (although I care less about this character) next year. I know, I know…it’s unlikely. But the book purist in me wants it!
END SPOILERS
I feel for you book purists, it must be torture. I’m almost glad I’ve forgotten the last two books, because it’s like a whole new world watching the show for me. 😉 That said, I don’t believe we will see Lady Stoneheart (sorry) at this point. There’s too many other sub-plots to wrap up, as we discussed.
We need to focus on what’s at hand (lol). Any thoughts on SHIREEN? I feel like it’s going to go terribly pear shaped, and I’ll leave it at that because ***SPOILERS***!
@mimif
I’m not a complete book purist. I’m quite happy to separate the books from the show and I’ve generally been quite happy with a good deal of changes – the faster convergence of characters, Arya/Tywin, Brienne/The Hound etc. Overall, I think Game of Thrones is a pretty good adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire. But there are two purist things I want:
1) All the POV characters in the book to appear in the show even if it’s in a much reduced role. I’m even okay with another character taking their place and serving the same function as that POV character (á la Talisa for Jeyne) but I do want to see our eyes into the world of the book appear in the show in some form or another.
2) I hate when they wipe characters that exist in the book from the TV show continuity. Like Jaehaerys II doesn’t exist in the TV show. And Davos has only one son as opposed to seven. I don’t expect or want these characters to appear in the show. I understand the need to combine or omit small characters. But I would like some exposition that the character exists and is just a note in history or doing something in the world completely unrelated to the plot of the show.
Of course, there are some scenes in the show that I thought were poorly handled but those two points just niggle at me. Not enough for me to hate the show or even affect my enjoyment. But when I think of these plots, it does mildly irritate me. I’m fully aware it’s irrational. 😛 Did I mention I was a GOT/ASOIAF nerd? In case that wasn’t clear.
As for Shireen, they better not kill her off! The young actress is great and killing her off would feel like cheap shock value. Much like it did for Barristan. I like Melisandre and I want to see them play other parts of her persona, apart from being a seductive fanatic.
I got nothing on the whole boy thing.
Sean, as for your questions: I think that’s going to be the point. The Frey’s and the Boltons have no actual support in the lands that they’re supposedly in charge of, and that’s going to be an issue. If you remember, the only reason why anyone gave Walder Frey any respect was because he happened to control the Crossing, and that was it. PLUS, breaking guestright the way he did is going to come back to haunt him. Both the Freys and the Boltons don’t have support outside of the precariously toppling Lannisters. The primary issue is having someone to unite both the Riverlands and the North.
Theon is lost. The question is going to be how he goes out.
@mimif totally agree. I think the young boy is Olyvar – I may be way off here but for some reason I’m convinced Oly used to work at Littlefinger’s brothel? I imagine LF will either kill Oly (nobody to testify) or blackmail him into recanting his statement. I agree they focus too much on him to not have him return. Either way I think (hope) Loras & Margery will be freed, they will lose their claim to the throne though and return home.
Side note – how are the faith militant not punishing Oly? He had gay sex too why is he willing to testify here? Cersei bribe him? What bribe is worth his life (I assume)?
So excited for Cersei/Tommen downfall.
@Davy, yes Oly used to work at LF’s brothel (he hooked up with Pedro!), so makes sense to me he’s actually in LF’s pocket and not Cersei’s. He’s recant would tie up Loras & Marg’s return home, as you mentioned.
Listen, Mel needs king’s blood and I’m pretty sure she’s gonna get it, whether it’s via Shireen or Stannis. I think the biggest twist is who she happens to…uh, reanimate when the time comes, and I’ll leave it at that.
Littlefinger said his gift to Olenna was a “handsome young man” same as his gift to Cersei.
These were of course, Olyvar and Lancel. Olyvar got the two Tyrell siblings banged up and Lancel confessed the deed to the High Sparrow which also caused Cersei to be incarcerated.
@Hazel, yeah exactly what I was thinking. I guess I just assumed that Lancel had already confessed everything, and even that the HS was playing Cersei. But this whole thing just reeks of Little Finger from top to, erm, bottom.
Sean, you make so many good points…the show has so many plotlines to address that won’t be addressed. They make a scene of Talisa sending a letter home but I am sure she will no longer be mentioned on the show. I am surprised in season 3, Walder Frey did not mention killing her just Robb and Catelyn.
The show already has walked back mentioning Balon as one of the leech curses by having melisandre only mention Robb and Joffrey last night.
If the show followed up with Talisa’s family, even if it was a scene of Tyrion regretfully informing them that their daughter is dead and them throwing their support behind Dany, I would give them kudos. If we found out what the Blackfish, Edmure ( who I imagine is imprisoned at the Twins) and Gendry are up to, that would be great too. And meeting some prominent Northern Lords would be annice touch, the show has neglected them and did poor follow up on the aftermath of the Red Wedding.
The young actress who plays Shireen is a million times a better actress than Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams. She is terrific.
IIRC, Jaime sent Edmure to Casterly Rock pending the birth of his Frey offspring. But that might have been book not HBO. The Blackfish basically swam away. Plus the missing Lannister uncle who went to Valeria (Gerion?), Benjen beyond the Wall, and the Greyjoys. So many missing uncles.
@sizedoesmatter, all of that was in the book. Sadly, Jaime is stuck with the stupid Dorne plotline on the show. Jaime would have been better serviced with his book plot line. The last the Blackfish was seen he was taking a leak at the Red Wedding so either he escaped the carnage somehow or died off screen. Walder Frey mentioned in his letter to Tywin getting two wolf pelts for Rosalin (Robb and Catelyn) and capturing her a fish (Edmure). The show has not come out and said it, but I am assuming he is a prisoner in the Twins. On the show Talisa’s death was not referenced in the letter to Kings Landing nor has she been mentioned since.
I doubt we’ll get follow up to Edmure any time soon since Tobias Menzies is killing it in a dual role on Outlander.
In the books Gendry is with the Brotherhood Without Banners. In the show along with Edmure and Blackfish, Gendry and the BwB have been dropped and whereabouts unknown. I think the Greyjoys in the show have been dropped.
This ep was so good!!! I like that it’s finally picking up after so many build-up episodes.
I really enjoyed it. So many cutaways to Olly, me thinks there’s going to be a major (cough) incident with him. Also, how many times did we hear “Promise me” in this episode? Lastly, RIP Aemon! I loved that he dropped the Egg. 😀
Was the Egg “I dreamed I was old”?
And if yes and you tell me this is some kind of Bob Newhart thing I’m gonna cry. Lol
But seriously was this like a nod to greensight and him seeing the future in his dreams?
This is the really quick version, maybe Bridget can chime in because if I don’t go for a run right now, I’m not gonna:
Egg is Aegon, Aemon’s brother. “Egg, I dreamed I was old” is a classic line from the book and a nice touch that they put it in the show. 😀
Ohhhh. You meant Egg literally! I thought you meant like an Easter egg story device. Duh. Don’t I have egg all over my face. Ha!
Enjoy your run!
Look at you running!
“Egg” is Aegon. It was his nickname. Not as fleshed out in GoT, but more so in The Hedge Knight (the adventures of Dunk & Egg)
I was soooo happy to see the Tyrion / Dany scene. I just can’t help but wonder if they’re going to follow the same storyline in the books (with the festival thing and the dragons…I won’t say more for obvious reasons).
What I really did NOT like – and still can’t bring myself to care about – are the Sand Snakes and Dorne in general. How is it that a part of the books that I love is just so boring on the show? Why was it necessary for Tyene to seduce Bronn, exactly? Because it had been 4.2 minutes without boobs on-screen? I have nothing against nudity or sex scenes in general, but this is really ridiculous now. Sigh.
Agree. I was rolling my eyes at the boob scene. Couldn’t they have just done it with her dressed?!
This is how little I cared about Dorne: I totally forgot to even mention those scenes. I like Bronn and everything, but I just didn’t care. Also, Jamie is like the least persuasive person in the world.
TOTALLY agree with Sand Snakes scene. What was the purpose of that again – to hear Bronn tell her that she was hot? Make it The Arya Hour and be done with it already.
I was like wuuuuuut, why does she have to get naked? is it a requirement for the venom to work? it did not make sense at all.
It never ceases to amaze me how naked actors will get for a brief role on this show.
I think the reason was to get Bronn’s blood to pump faster to make the poison work quicker.
It was quite clever in my opinion. She probably wanted to save Bronn’s life because the Sand Sankes’ goal is to kill a Lannister, aka Jamie or Myrcella.
yes paola, I also thought she just wanted for the poison to start working faster. but if she was supposed to be the master of seduction then she should be able to accomplish it without being nude. that’s just lazy
I thought for sure Bronn was a goner, and I was surprisingly sad, especially after hearing his lovely voice. Why give him the antidote tho? Just to show that not all deaths are imminent?
The sand snakes might have realized they need Bronn on their side against Prince Doran if things get really bad??
True. But he’s loyal to no one, which makes me fear for Myrcella a bit.
I also think That whole naked Dorne Sister is because of the same effing point i made last week that these girls are SUPPOSED to be markedly different like PHYSICALLY and like Have different strengths Like Only Obara is supposed to be a fighter, and big and .. ugly?? another sister is into Poison and another one is all into sexual seduction or whatevs
But is he the gift that keeps on giving?
Ugh. Sansa, girl….it’s bad to say it but I’m glad reek betrayed her. You just can’t trust anybody there. I wonder what she picked up there while walking with Ramsey.
Cersei..wow, that was some cat who got a canary smile until she understood that shit just got real.
why is Ghost not with Jon? And how the hell Sam got his dragon glass sword back? I thought he ran hell for leather outta there when he stabbed the white walker. Hm, guess not.
Grams Tyrell and sparrow was a good scene. I wonder how it feels for those rich aristos when you cant bribe somebody no matter what.
on another note. I enjoyed the coldplay musical thingy but why oh why did they have to throw in kardashians in the same sentence as targs and starks and the lot of them.
I’m kind of glad Reek did too as I was worried the scene last week was going to be some sort of wake up for him and turn into using abuse of a female character to give a male one an epiphany.
I’m really hoping Sansa figures out how to play them and gets to the tower herself. Yes it will still be Brianne “rescuing” her of sorts but it will be something she did on her own, not with the help of a man.
I hope whatever she picked up there it’s sharp enough to flay and slice and dice the repulsive Ramsey and feed him to his dogs and then Roose adopts Sansa as his daughter and wardess of the north and Sansa flays him too and keeps Reek as her slave forever because come on..
I would watch that.
Sansa picked up something that looked like a knife.
I’m worried that Ghost isn’t with Jon but it was nice to finally see Ghost after a long absence.
Sam found a whole bag of dragon glass. He left the one he used to kill the White Walker but he still had the bag and he gave the whole bag to Jon.
Diana Rigg and Jonathan Pryce were everything.
Ramsey is keeping Sansa locked up so she can’t get to the tower.
I cannot handle the death of another Direwolf
(yes I am that person who cares more about the dogs dying in movies and tv)
I thought I saw Ghost a few episodes ago but he just looked like an overfed dog there gnawing on something.
ok, I must have missed the bag of dragon glass. I just hope Jon doesn’t have to put dragon glass in his uncle Benjen to stop him.
Sansa gotta pick the lock. ugh, still so pissed with reek. but they rally built the anticipation and till the last moment you just didn’t know which way the scene would unfold.
booboobird: I think it’s a given that Benjen is a wight. (I’m tired and can’t remember the difference between the Others and the fallen/walking dead).
Wights are reanimated corpses, the Others/White Walkers are the scary dudes that reanimate them. I don’t want Benjen to be a wight! I feel like he has to be something more important than that.
@Lindy, I’m not worried for Ghost without Jon, I’m worried for Jon without Ghost.
To me, it looked like Sansa picked up a corkscrew.
Can’t wait for her to use whatever it is.
Yeah, it looked like a corkscrew on a cask to me. But why would a cask be up there? Also, they are obviously rebuilding WF (lots of new wood work in the background), so it could have been a (shank) tool.
I think it was an auger, a tool you use to open a hole in a cask so you can tap it.
@Size, there you are! Yeah, I like augers. Augers you can stick with the pointy end. 😉
Whatever she picked up, it was something she can use as a weapon. Small enough to conceal, too, which is good.
She also learned that Jon Snow is Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. I don’t know how she would get a raven to him (and also he is not at the Wall right now, stupid Jon), but that seemed like important info for her to know.
Yasssss! just as I was complaining about Cersei last week not getting what she deserved, the show delivers and puts her in her place. It was so satisfying! more than I thought it would be. Kaiser, you totally took the words out of my head, she totally got that smug smile wiped right off. I wish Margeary would not engage with Cersei, just let her go on and on and not even look at her because that b*tch totally got off on her misery but I guess she had to throw that ball of food; at least she could have thrown it at her head. Oh well.
I just new nothing would happen with the Sansa situation. She’s just so dense! when she had the chance she should have ran but oh no, she had to wait to be married and now she is really stucked.
Now Tiryon, THAT’S what I call a survivor. He’s the real deal and I love he finally is in front of Dany. I can’t wait to see what’s gonna happen with that. Also, I reaaaaaaaaally don’t think Daario loves Dany or anything of the sort. I don’t know why but I don’t trust that dude and Dany is making such horrible decisions I would not be surprised to find out he is the true lider of the sons of the harpy.
I don’t trust Daario at all and after last night’s episode, I’m totally starting to believe the D=E theories.
Sansa is making progress. Seriously, what is she supposed to do? Where is she going to run to? She’s surrounded by enemies with no (previously known) family, and a bounty on her head. At least now she knows Jon is alive and Lord Commander, and that Theon is a hopeless pos. Loved when she was schooling Ramsey about being a bastard, girl has some backbone in her and it’s going to pay off.
Yeah, I loved when she was like “yeah, you’re still a bastard with no claim” I guess I just really don’t like the character. I want her to stop crying and to take matters into her own hands and stop being a pawn. I guess I just need to be patient.
What are the D=E theories??? do tell mimif because here is where I find out about these things. I just love the GoT comments of CB.
***POTENTIAL SPOILERS***
Daario = Euron Greyjoy ! (Google it, if you dare) It’s kind of far fetched, but either the show writers are messing with us, or Daario is not who we think he is.
Sansa has always been an annoying character, I’ll give you that (both in the books and in the show). Did you read Lainey’s recap today? It’s pretty good, I like what the writer had to say about Sansa’s character arc.
Report back to me after you read about D=E. 😀
Well, well, well, the evidence is cerntainly compeling especially the looks of the actor they chose to play him seem to be exactly as Euron is described in the book. I certainly think he can’t be all that altruistic in “advicing” Dany. That whole, let’s kill oll the wise men and advicers, just gave me a bad feeling and since the Greyjoys are so shady that can be the source of my discomfort. That whole Warlock prophecy sounds interesting too, I didn’t know about it, but it might fit. I’ll be watching closely, very closely for clues.
I have a problem with this sort of theories. How would they introduce and explain him as euron when euron has never been mentioned in the series and i dont even know much about greyjoys apart from whatever they have showed. Do the tv people expect me to read the books as well just to know what’s going on in the background or the show should be easily understandable without reading
@booboo, In theory (sorry I had to), the show watchers are supposed to be able to follow the plot without any additional/prior knowledge of the story. But you know who the Greyjoys are, and from what we’ve seen/been told so far, they aren’t exactly a trustworthy lot. Therefore, by association, I don’t think it would be that hard to introduce a new character/plot twist.
@Diana, right? There are too many coincidences there. “Marry me”, 93 ships, only filming him from one side (one eye) last night. I dunno, maybe I’m crazy but at least I don’t think he’s Benjen Stark (bahaha) as others have surmised.
Mimif, peolple thought he was Benjen Stark? Benjen was cool and he didn’t give out the shady vibe. I believe Benjen is a white walker.
That was something worrying about last night’s episode, him getting all hell bent on marrying Dany and insisting she’s a queen she can do whatever she likes, why wouldn’t she be able to be free, it was all really pushy. Besides, his advice got Sir Barristan killed so I have my eye on him.
Okay, I’m starting to feel a little exhausted at trying to figure out who everyone *really* is (yes, I realize how many of these I have suggested, mea culpa!). Personally, I think Daario is just Daario.
mimif, well if we theorize, then it’s possible from whatever I was diagonally reading online. but purely based on the description that he is dark and bearded which again messes things up because original Daario was smooth faced and straight light haired. ehhh, too much to take for my exhausted brain. I usually avoid reading too much online since the books were ahead and I didn’t want to be spoiled.
before they showed Mance I thought that would turn out to be Benjen. when that didn’t happen, next guess was the biggest and baddest white walker to ever have walked would be Benjen.
what of Sam? does he have some secret up his sleeve that he himself is not even aware of because yesterday’s scene with Gilly’s attempted rape was some crazy stuff. it’s almost like he summoned Ghost or something.
and flaying with a rusty corkscrew would be something even I would watch with eyes wide open. darn it.
yes Diana, I totally agree on both things.
From the moment they mentioned harpy boys I’ve suspected Daario.
Come back, Bridget! What have your delightful children done with you, we need you here. 😉
@booboo, I totally think Jon warged into Ghost in that scene. Look Sam, Jon’s not here to help you now (previously Alistar telling Sam you’re losing all your friends), then Sam gets beat bloody and THEN he just stands up and goes ham? Ghost disappears, and Sam passes out after “I killed a Thenn”…yeah, that was Jon for sure, even if he didn’t know it.
ETA: Sorry for being so inarticulate, in a major rush (to prove all my points lol).
@Bridget, I don’t think is posible for him to just be Daario; dude is way too much of a mistery and his behaviour just shows he’s hiding something. I don’t know if he is Euron but there’s more to him than meets the eye. I can smell ulterior motives from miles away.
@booboobird, everything to do with the harpy boys is so murky I find everything suspicious.
My tinfoil hat just isn’t fitting right today.
Obviously, Daario will double cross Dany. I just don’t think he’s another lost character in disguise.
Agree, Bridget. I think Daario = Daario, but HBO can give him some of Euron or Victarion’s storyline from the books.
@mimif, I would say that Sansa could hide in the tunnels under Winterfell, as Bran and Rickon did but Ramsey would probably set the dogs out. And somebody has to eventually notice that swords are missing from the statues down there because Osha and the boys stole them. I thought she would say something about that when she was down there with Little finger because she was looking at the various statues and seemed to notice something amiss.
I haven’t read the books but this season is so boring. I feel like this is just a setup for either the last episode or next season. Although I do wonder how that’s going to work since this season is the end of the books. I enjoyed Cersei. She was so smug, thinking she won. Only to have her plan bite her in the ass.
Theon, you d*ckless POS. I hope Sansa murders everyone with that rusty metal thing.
Yeah, what the hell Theon!? I was kind of hoping he would redeem himself. Now I hate him as much as the rest of the Boltons.
I don’t hate Theon. He has Stockholm syndrome. He’s also terrified of Ramsey.
I hate Theon, he was a shit before Ramsey tortured him, but Alfie Allen is doing an absolutely amazing job playing him.
Remember how Theon got into this mess in the first place? By taking Winterfell for himself and allowing Reek into his life, fully knowing who he was (remember Maege Mormont).
Remember the 2 burnt beyond recognition children hanging in Winterfell, that were supposed to be the 2 youngest Stark boys, used to scare the Winterfell-folk into submission by fear to his “rule”? Theon/Reek can suck it.
That scene between Olenna and Littlefinger was great too. Such 2 strong characters battling it out. But I do hope that Littlefinger gets what he deserves too. Between him, Ramsey and Cersai, it’s difficult to choose which one to loathe the most.
But I love love love love love Tyrion!!!!! #justsaying
And I love this forum 🙂
Varys is on his way back, LF is so screwed. And I say that as a major LF fan.
Really? I have come to rely on Littlefinger to be a master player of the Game of Thrones. I somehow like his character because he always seems to get away with it by being three steps ahead of everyone else.
What does Varys know that will finally catch up with LF – Joffrey?
True!!!! I forgot that Varys can kick some a$$ 😃
I’ve gone Full Baelish (side eyes Lilacflowers). He’s pretty much behind everything in Westeros, and Varys is pretty much behind everything else. Those two are like the yin/yang master manipulators of GoT and I can’t wait to see them face to face again. At this point, LF is protector of the Vale, Lord of Harrenhal, sights on the North, I mean the dude has risen to great heights at the expense of so many. Varys will not be pleased.
I hate Littlefinger but he truly is one of the smartest men on the game. But don’t forget about Varys – he has seen this coming since season 2. Remember when he talked to Olenna about marrying Sansa to Loras?
That’s what I love so much about this show, you can watch random past episodes and see all the connections to what’s currently happening.
How can anyone hate Little Finger? He lives to surf!
Littlefinger is hot. That tight smooth wrinkle-less coat of his. It’s asking for some rumpling.
his and Varys’ interactions are always worth to watch. Can’t wait
Ok I’m officially starting a Petyr Baelish fan club. We will be The Grand a Order of the Litlefingers – or LFers for short.
@mimif why is LF screwed if Varys returns? V wants a Targ on the throne, is that necessarily a bad thing for LF if he wants the North? Are they allies? I’m genuinely asking I can’t remember much of their interactions
@Davy, no they are arch rivals, but very similar IMO. Anyway, LF is systematically taking down Westeros, one house at a time. How’s Varys gonna put a Targ on the Throne when Westeros is in absolute chaos?
I was wondering what the F happened to Varys after he lost Tyrion. I was thinking that was their way of writing him out of the show, but I am glad to hear he is on his way back!
Edit: Glad to know I am not the only LF fan here! I know he’s evil just like the rest of em, but damn do I enjoy his scenes!
mimif: Varys wants Westeros in chaos. It’ll be easier for Dany when she gets there. All the major parties will have weakened each other so much that they’ll be easy pickings. The North won’t back the Boltons, the Riverlands won’t back the Freys. The Lannisters are running dry.
But I thought he just wanted peace in the realm? 😉
Yeah, I agree that Varys benefits from chaos, but certainly not LF’s version of it.
@mimif, why am I being side-eyed? I enjoy Little finger immensely and want to know the game he is playing. But I miss Varys. Although I know he disappears for a long while in the books after sending Tyrion to Pentos. But he returns. Quietly. With stealth. And cunning. And a plot for chaos – yes, he wants chaos. I do hope the show follows the book on this score.
@Lilac, because I stole your Full Batch™ term and made it Full Baelish. 😀
OK. No need to side-eye. I like Full Baelish.
Ramsey is despicable. It’s hard for me to hate Cersei and Littlefinger. I love their scheming.
But Littlefinger sold out Sansa, eventhough he professes to have loved Catelyn. How could he do that to her daughter ? Unless there’s a part of his plan ‘we’ haven’t heard/seen yet. Sigh ! 3 more episodes in this season and soooooooo many questions !
Did he sell her out, or did he return her home with some new skill sets to not only survive, but reclaim her position and dare I say, even dominate this new world she’s been thrust into?
mimif – that’s what I think. Littlefinger does “love” Sansa, in his creepyily obsessive way. I don’t think he’s done with her just yet.
I watched an interview with Aidan Gillen about his character, and it totally changed the way I think of Little Finger. I used to think his creepy obsession with Sansa was motivated by his unrequited love for Catelyn, but now I think she’s just another pawn. A pawn that he’s fond of and whom he seems to be mentoring, but I don’t think he has any grand scheme of ending up with her.
I think he wants to tear all of it down.
I think that Littlefinger was truly in love with Catelyn Tully… in his own way. But not in the way that we’d normally classify romantic love. In everything Littlefinger does, there’s an element of self service, and while he claims to have always been loyal to Catelyn we know that the person that Littlefinger has always been most loyal to is Littlefinger. And what we’re seeing between him and Sansa is even more of that, but now colored by years of selfishness and self service in King’s Landing. A man that owns a brothel can’t view sex, sexuality, love, and loyalty in anything other than a jaded fashion. There’s simply no way that he wants to marry Sansa, but I do think that the notion of a great love is Littlefinger’s attempt at his own redemption. After all, Brandon Stark may have delivered that beat-down on him years ago, but Littlefinger considered himself more civilized. If he’s not doing this all for love, then he has to face the fact that he’s utterly rotten to the core.
I will also say, I genuinely think he wants Sansa to succeed. She’s the rightful heir to the North (unless Rickon shows up) and I think that given time it would end up back with her no matter what. But this way he gains an ally, and he at least professes to care for her.
I agree with your assessment of him and that he wants Sansa to succeed (he’s obviously quite pleased to see her picking up the game). And I think you’re right that his justifications for his actions help whitewash the fact that yeah, dude is pretty rotten. I certainly drank the Kool-Aid.
Once Sansa finds out he’s the one that betrayed her family and is (one could argue) in/directly responsible for their deaths, well I’m calling him done. The irony of mentoring your unrequited love’s daughter only to be killed by her seems right up GRRM’s alley.
“The North remembers” = Sansa will remember what Littlefinger did when he convinced her marrying Ramsay was a good idea (even if it ultimately works out in her favor).
I just realized after reading an article about why they had Dany and Tyrion meet this season that the HBO show runners are to the story as Varys is to Westeros. They do what they believe is good for the realm (book purists may disagree). Does that make GRRM more like Littlefinger? Three steps ahead of everyone else and trying to bring down the system (where system to GRRM = known heroes/bad guys and expected happy endings)?
And Kaiser, if you read this, I can only think of Dany’s noble future king as Meereen’s Lionel Richie. I can’t manage to remember so many unintelligible names.
I have a question. If Danaerys can’t be harmed by fire does it mean that if she dies (and her body can’t be burnt) she can get warged by white walkers?
Tyrion is just the best. So much dignity in his character..and Lady Olenna is just about to happen. I think she has now done watching and trying to be diplomatic.
I really miss Tywin. Olenna and Tywin would have been the best team EVER against the high sparrow.
I just hope Brienne will never stop staring at that tower from the window. Who am I kidding?? She’ll never give up on Sansa! She’s her only hope.
How is it possible that the news of Sansa’s wedding to Ramsay has not reached Jon Snow or at least Stannis??
Brienne will have a busy week when she’ll try to save Sansa and kill Stannis all at once.
And as I said many times before.. Reek is beyond salvation. Now Sansa knows she has to get out of there alone, with no one slowing her down.
He was never trustworthy, not even when he was a ward at the Starks’.
I quote Catelyn on this one. ‘Never trust a Greyjoy’
mimif manifest yourself!
I’m here! I need to caffeinate properly because we have some very serious sh-t to discuss. That was such a good episode!
@mimif where is that interview you watched? I would love to get your perspective on LF. He is fascinating but I can’t get myself to like him but I’m willing to try 😉
It’s an old interview (not many interviews with him actually), but it was interesting. I love Aidan Gillen, dude is the sex.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwSD1erxrWQ
@mimif, thanks for that. That accent :p damn…….
And it was a really interesting interview.
That interview is evrything! He said what we all pretty much already knew but yeah… spot on about LF.
Cersei looking concerned while still smirking was one of the best moments of the whole game of thrones.
So well acted, she just killed it. Olenna and the High Sparrow too! Jonathon Pryce is such an awesome addition to the cast.
Comment on Dany… She CAN be harmed by fire. She has a higher heat tolerance than most but flames can kill her. GRRM did an essay or interview to clarify this. The thing where the dragons were born was a miracle and a one time thing and does not mean she is invincible to fire. (Hence her trepidation with the dragons)
Blood magic is what hatched the dragons, but what about in the House of the Undying when the wee dragons blew fire through her to roast Purple Lips?
It didn’t look to me like it went through her; I thought it was under her arms. Anyway, GRRM clarified himself that she is not immune to fire and can be killed by it. How he justifies it is up to him but anyway, she is vulnerable to fire.
I disagree with you. Tywin was a blunt instrument, he didn’t have any finesse.
I adore Cersei but it was about time this whole religious crap blew up on her face. Seriously, Cersei, your sexual deviations are the worst kept secret in Westeros.
I used to feel bad for Theon but now I just hate that PoS. Ramsey at least makes a good villain – we all want him to suffer and that’s the point. Theon’s storyline just got stale for me. He lost all his will and sense of self. We knew that by the middle of season 3. What now?
Dorne is so boring. They should’ve just written that whole thing off and focus on the other Greyjoys instead. Now that’s one part of the book I’d really like to see. I liked the Sand Snakes and Arianne as characters, but not their “Myrcella should be queen!” plot.
Yara is supposed to show up by the end of the season. How many times did they refer to Balon in this episode too?! Is dude dead? Sansa called him Lord, not King, when she was talking to Theon. And how come Mel didn’t mention Balon the Usurper when she was talking to Mannis? Dude, Mannis is giving me major feels with that beard…
Somebody please address these pertinent questions, because I can’t bring myself to post on reddit.
What about Jorah flinging his grey scale everywhere?!
Right?!?! I had that question last week at what point does he become contagious because too many have been touched and nada yet
Exactly! How has it been kept hidden when people are putting shackles on him?! Hasn’t anyone noticed?!
Apparently not, but he pretty much touched everyone in that practice pit and notice he didn’t kill them. Grey scale epidemic to commence in 3…2…1…and is Tyrion immune to it, or what?
From my understanding, greyscale will only infect a person if it the infected touches a person’s bare skin. A Stone Man grabbed Tyrion and dragged him underwater but only touched the part of his body covered by clothing.
So Jorah should be able to touch a clothed person but if he touches their bare skin, they just got GREYSCALED! Jorah did use his bare fingers to punch a few dudes, break a few arms – coming in contact with their bare skin. So those guys are done.
at this point he has touched or been touched by quite a lot of people but nobody has flipped out yet. it almost seems the show creators have not fully decided who contracts it and at what speed it spreads. then again maybe books explain more
@booboobird
The Stone Men near Valyria have been living with greyscale for years. It’s a very slow disease. People aren’t going to immediately start flipping out on contracting it,
Maybe it only spreads if the infected skin is touched? So far it’s only on the inside of his wrist so maybe his hand is not contagious?
@booboobird, it progresses slowly in adults. Also, in the books, Jorah doesn’t have it, another character fights the stonemen off Tyrion and contracts it but he goes back to Westeros instead of Meeren (the other character, not Tyrion. Tyrion does go to Meeren because he is taken there as a slave.)
Meeren does suffer an epidemic in the books but it is the Flux, not Greyscale.
Tyrion manages to come into contact with but escape both diseases.
I think Jorah’s greyscale is the second part of the gift. He’s going to wipe out the Harpies.
That would be interesting. I didn’t really think about what an epidemic would mean in Mereen.
Ohhh yes!
In the end, it’s good that Sansa knows for sure that Theon is gone and she needs to rely on herself. I’m glad she stole that knife before she knew that though because it shows that her brain is always thinking of survival.
Ramsay will kill Walda or slip her moon tea or something. Sansa stung him and he stung back, but he made a massive error telling her about Jon’s new power.
Everyone just wants Tyrion to be a part of D’s small council, right? Awesomeness will surely ensue. Especially once Varys arrives (miss him!!)
Maester Aemon was talking about his little brother Aegon who was NOT the mad king, but the father of Aerys who is the one who was the Mad King.
Sansa annoys me and always has. She seems to only know how to be a victim. After what Theon did to her family, I wouldn’t have trusted him even before Ramsey broke him. I knew the Stockholm syndrome was strong with that one. And did she learn nothing from Littlefinger? He tried teaching her the game. Even if you are physically weaker, you can still win with wits and she should have never trusted Theon telling him she still had friends. That was a stupid move. She should have just made up a story to get him to light a candle for her in the tower. She did grab something on her walk with Ramsey. I hope she has a plan.
So glad Ghost was there for Sam. That butt whipping he was getting was sad and brutal.
As for Stannis, I hope he keeps his backbone and doesn’t let Melissandra and his wife convince him to mess with Princess Shirene!
My exact thoughts on Sansa. She’s just so dense! I can’t stand her moping around letting life pass her by.
I am worried for Shireen. I just don’t think Stannis will stop now, he’s so close and his speech to Daavos (his Hand — is that his name) was so impassioned.
However, even if Stannis wins Winterfell, won’t he be promptly slain by Brienne? That’s Brienne’s whole purpose now and even if no one cared about Renley, *she* cared and she will see “justice” done, I think. I’ve already stopped caring about Stannis to some extent because I feel like his fate is written. However, a lot of things that Brienne has sworn to do (like protect Arya) have not come to pass, so….
I do hope Stannis at least makes enough racket at Winterfell to be a distraction for Sansa, so she can kill Ramsey and hopefully Roose, too, and get away in the thick of the battle.
like some above, I’m a little disappointed in this season. Especially considering that this is one of my favorite shows ever! In prior years, each season the story had some compelling arc that seemed to begin and end within the framework of the particular season. This year it strikes me that while the story is moving along, there hasn’t been much that’s a completely new departure, and the story appears to be spinning in place. I’m sure there will be some nifty surprises for the remaining few episodes, but for the most part this year just didn’t really seem to go anywhere that I found compelling, nor were there any new characters that dragged me in and kept my attention.
Dany’s wedding to Hizdhar mo Loraq (or maybe it’s zo Loraq, I read the books but it’s been awhile): In the books Dany agrees to marry Hizdhar (pretty sure he is the one that suggests it, she doesn’t come up with the idea herself) to try to win allies in the Mereenese government. Her back is pretty much against the wall and her hands are tied and she marries Hizdhar not very willingly. The book does a better job of explaining the politics and just how inexperienced Dany is. But if this season ends the way Book 5 ends, it’ll be interesting to see what happens.
Sand Snakes: Love the Dorne storyline in the books, poorly executed on the show. Getting rid of Arianne was a mistake. Also the Sand Snakes are just reduced to caricatures which is sad becaus Oberyn was so great on the show.
Cersei getting her comeuppance: it’s brutal in the books and looks like it is going to be to be brutal on the show. I’ve loved how they’ve handled her storyline’s and Margary’s and having the Queen of Thorns come back!
Sansa and Winterfell: I think we all saw how her marriage to Ramsay would turn out and I wasn’t surprised Theon betrayed her. I hated how they made her a victim again but she isn’t goinf down without a fight!
Dany and Tyrion: this never happened in the books and I can’t remember if Jorah and Tyrion ever meet (maybe as slaves??). But I’m hoping this will revive Dany’s storyline.
Confession: I don’t have HBO, and don’t watch Game of Thrones (though I’ve read two of the books, a long time ago.)
But I read EVERY CB GoT thread. So I’m good–I don’t HAVE to watch the series! 😀
Ha, that’s awesome!
I like Littlefingers character but I absolutely despise the way he delivers his lines, his voice is like nails on a chalkboard. It’s like he is speaking out of the side of his mouth.
Also….I still miss Khal Drogo….so hot.
Oh, and as for who wore it better–Twitter reminded me that Princess Leia did the look MUCH better (and first by decades) in the Star Wars medal ceremony. 😉
Did anyone noticed Strong Belwas?
I am SO happy we’re finally moving past what everyone knows will happen in the books to some new material! Following the books to set up the story was a good idea but the story is so long, it’s much more interesting this way. I’m excited for next week, things are FINALLY happening.