A Game of Thrones

[Cagliostro]

Someone mentioned how fast Jaime Lannaster's army moved on to meet Blackfish, whereas in previous seasons it would take about 5 episodes for them to get so far.

[dlbpharmd]

Weren't they planning on seven? Seems way too soon to reach an ending now, but that's what I remember.
Edit: Looks like they're aiming for eight.

I've read that the producers plan for 13 more episodes after season 6, and will split those into 2 seasons.

[dlbpharmd]

Good episode last night.

Spoiler

Multiple fan theories dissolved into the ether.

1. No Jaime vs. Brienee battle

2. No trial of combat for Cersei (as soon as the scene opened with a royal proclamation, I knew what was about to happen.) Thus,

3. No Clegane Bowl (but could always be one later.) BTW, the scene with the Mountain vs. the sparrows was great!

4. Unexpected battle in Merreen. Daenerys is back! How will Tyrion fare once she learns of his deal with the Masters?

[Cagliostro]

I've read that the producers plan for 13 more episodes after season 6, and will split those into 2 seasons.

Wow, that really does not feel like enough time to wrap up all the loose ends. I really hope this isn't a rush job from here on out. This season has already felt a bit like that so far.

[dlbpharmd]

Last night's episode may be the best one yet!

Spoiler

1. Didn't expect to see Daenerys and Tyrion to start the episode. The scene with the dragons was awesome!

2. Does anyone else get the feeling that Daenerys may turn out to be the uber villain of this show?

3. Poor Rickon.

4. Amazing battle scene!

5. I haven't shouted "Die, you bastard, die!" since the Purple Wedding.

6. Even without Wun Wun, I think Jon and Sansa would have found a way around the gates.

7. How did the wooden carving survive Shireen's pyre?

[Cagliostro]

Spoiler

2. Does anyone else get the feeling that Daenerys may turn out to be the uber villain of this show?

Spoiler

No. Because the White Walkers are going to be the uber villains of this show. It's how they started the series, and although we haven't seen much of them, they are saving the best for last. Maybe.

I think she is going to be part of the saving force with her dragons, "fire and ice" and all. Though I suspect the mother of dragons will lose at least one of her children.

It's interesting how one by one the show has flipped from bad folk succeeding to the better people starting to get ahead now. I guess most high fantasy is kinda that way, but this one seems so pronounced in the show, as it was really sucky watching the first few seasons (not that it sucked, but I mean how sad it was to see good people die and crap people rising to the top). It definitely is whittling down to the good guys now. But there is always room for twists.

[jelerak]

What I find that is interesting is that back in a Clash ok Kings you had 5 factions vying for the throne. Now they are all gone, only the Lannisters and Tyrells seek the power, and they both currently hold it in tandem in each of their own respective ways.

Robb Stark. Dead.
Stannis Baratheon. Dead.
Renly Baratheon. Dead.

Spoiler

All of the one who would be kings are gone. Who is there for Dany to really fight for the throne? Who would have a reason to stop her with the exception of the Lannisters and Tyrells? For this reason, I do not see her becoming the uber villain. Whereas 4 books ago everyone wanted the throne, now it seems that no one does. Jon knows the danger on the other side of the Wall. He would have no problem unifying behind Dany. He has no aspirations of being King. Dorne is a lost cause. Nothing interesting is going to happen there. The Greyjoys are in a civil war. The Others are the last unifying cause to unite against. And if Dany would be the uber villain, who would be there left to take her place at the Iron Throne who would want it?

[dlbpharmd]

Another season done, and it was outstanding! I think I still prefer season 4, but this ranks right up there.

Spoiler

1. We all saw the wildfire coming, and we knew Tommen would die somehow (I actually thought the Mountain would kill him.) Cersei certainly put the king's death aside quickly and seized power for herself. Did she even care about Tommen at that point? Or, was she just over him because he chose Margery and the High Sparrow over her?

2. Great scene with Arya getting even for the Red Wedding.

3. What will be Littlefinger's next move? It seems he wants to undermine Jon and Sansa's relationship.

4. The Lyanna reveal still left room for speculation. It seems obvious that Rhaegar is Jon's father. But, why keep that quiet? Is there another twist coming?

5. The Varys scene in Dorne was a major break with the books. Not sure why that was necessary.

6. Hated to see Margery die in the Sept explosion. Now, we won't find out her agenda with the High Sparrow. It seem obvious that they had a deal, especially when she protested over Loras' mutilation.

[Zarathustra]

I agree, great episode! So many iconic scenes here:

Spoiler

Sam seeing the Library.

The white raven announcing that Winter Has Come!

Cersei claiming the Iron Throne (what she wanted all along).

Finally learning Jon's parents.

Repeat of "King of the North!" scene.

Arya finally getting some revenge.

Danaerys setting sail upon the poison water, leading her armies to her destiny!

Wow. So many plotlines have collapsed into their conclusion phase, I can't see how this show can be stretched into 2 more seasons, even shortened as they will be.

I think we can conclude that Margaery's deal with the Sparrow was straightforward: confession for leniency. I'm stoked that Dany's chief foe for the Iron Throne will be

Spoiler

Cersei. That's somehow fitting. It would have sucked seeing her fight a child.

[I'm Murrin]

Spoiler

So we see now how they got around Aegon's invasion storyline, having all the people who might have died because of it in the books die instead in Cersei's big coup. I'm curious what'll happen to Loras in the novels, since his storyline is so extremely different. One thing we did lose because of the cut, though, was the idea that Aegon's allies want Cersei on the throne, because she's a terrible ruler.

I expect Cersei won't show her emotions about Tommen until she's alone with Jaime.

Speaking of Cersei, she has no government and no heirs. She killed the entire Small Council, and the last members of her own family other than Jaime and Tyrion. Wonder what that'll do for the running of the country and the succession (the latter obviously won't be an issue because dragons). Who was even next in line after Tommen? That ought to cause some issues, you'd think there'd be someone somewhere who thinks they should legitimately be on that seat.

We're back up to 4 monarchs again - Daenerys, Jon, Euron, and Cersei. Surprised no one is making an issue out of Jon's oathbreaking.

Jon will almost certainly marry Daenerys by the end of the story. He's her nephew, so it fits Targaryen tradition, and marrying him will mean she has everything except Casterly Rock and King's Landing.

Littlefinger needs to eliminate Jon to put Sansa in power, and Sansa knows it, hence the meaningful looks.

I suppose Bran's role now is to a) tell Jon who he is, and b) tell people how to destroy the White Walkers.

I'm not sure what purpose Sam even serves in the story now. They've let his storyline lag so far behind everything else, he hasn't even gotten through the book 4 material.

How did Varys end up on the ship with Daenerys at the end? He went all the way back from Dorne, just to turn around and travel with the fleet? I really doubt it's the case, but I briefly wondered if one of them is an impostor.

Edit: Can I also add that the music and cinematography on this episode were incredible. They need to keep this director around.

Edit2:

Spoiler

I came across this article which explains that Cersei (or possibly Jaime) is in fact the legitimate heir to Tommen's throne.

[dlbpharmd]

Murrin:

Spoiler

Re: Cersei or Jaime as rightful heir - how so?

I wondered the same thing about Varys. Why even show him on the ship at the end, when he was just in Dorne?

[I'm Murrin]

Spoiler

Apparently the Varys thing is meant to just have had more time passing before the end, and there are Martell and Tyrell ships in Daenerys' fleet. I kinda think that would have worked better if they'd shown the Dorne scene immediately before the fleet sailing - you'd get a better sense of time passing between the Sept explosion and Olenna in Dorne, and also it'd connect the two Varys scenes together so you assume there's time passed and one is a consequence of the other.

[Cagliostro]

Spoiler

Apparently the Varys thing is meant to just have had more time passing before the end, and there are Martell and Tyrell ships in Daenerys' fleet.

Spoiler

I just figured he teleported.

[I'm Murrin]

I've been listening to this track a lot since yesterday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8yvnG0yqnY

[Cagliostro]

At the beginning of the season, I kept watching this.

[dlbpharmd]

I saw an article that suggested daenerys picked up Varys along with the Tyrell and Martell armies at Sunspear, and they're closer to King's Landing than what we may have believed.

[Sorus]

Spoiler

4. The Lyanna reveal still left room for speculation. It seems obvious that Rhaegar is Jon's father. But, why keep that quiet? Is there another twist coming?

I realize I'm late to the party - and I still have not seen the season, but I am fully spoilerized. That is a word.

Spoiler

Anyway, what has always bugged me about the Lyanna/Rhaegar theory (guess it's more than a theory now) - why couldn't Ned Stark have come up with a better story, or at least let his wife in on the truth? She was horrible to Jon, and I always disliked her because of that.

Okay, so he promised to keep his sister's secret and I can accept that, but he couldn't come up with any other story? "It was Ser Madeupname's dying wish that I raise his son." Or something.

[dlbpharmd]

Spoiler

Perhaps he was concerned that Jon would look too much like a Stark to claim he belonged to someone else.

[wayfriend]

Spoiler

The only plausible explanation for secrecy was that he was a Targaryen, and so he had to be hidden so that he wouldn't be hunted down and killed after the Baratheons took the throne. But he was a bastard and so that would not matter, and he was also a Stark and so that would not matter double. (But if somehow he was in line for the throne...)

And I bet Catelyn couldn't know, and be spared the indignity, because Ned thought no one would believe it unless Catelyn truly hated him. Eddard Stark -- master plotter one minute, beheaded political idiot the next.

I am at a loss for plausible explanations. Which is why, when I heard the rumours, I said, "Won't happen -- makes no sense."

[Sorus]

Totally random theory that I just pulled out of my hat:

Spoiler

Mainly regarding the prophecy back from the beginning of season 5 -

Cersei's flashback conversation with the fortuneteller in Lannisport:


"Three questions you get. You won't like the answers."

"I've been promised to the prince. When will we marry?"

"You will never wed the prince. You will wed the king."

"But I will be queen?"

"Oh, yes. You'll be queen. For a time. Then comes another. Younger, more beautiful, to cast you down and take all you hold dear."

"Will the king and I have children?"

"No. The king will have 20 children and you will have three."

"That doesn't make sense."

"Gold will be their crowns. Gold their shrouds."


She assumed the 'younger and more beautiful queen' was Margaery, but it could refer to Daenerys - or even someone else, but Daenerys seems the most likely.

Book spoiler:

Spoiler

And I had to scrap the more important part of the theory because after watching the scene again, I realized the important part was only in the books. But I went through all the trouble of researching it, so I'm posting it anyway.

"And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you."

It's always been assumed that valonqar (brother) referred to Tyrion, but what if it's Jaime? Considering Cersei went and did what he killed Aerys to prevent...