Game of Thrones (HBO)

[ritmomundo]

It just hit me why Sansa and Dany are... at odds.

"Sometimes when I try to understand a person’s motives, I play a little game. I assume the worst. What’s the worst reason they could possibly have for saying what they say and doing what they do?"

The student has become the master.

 

[Roller]

And I admit, I’ll be very disappointed if Cersei wins, but honestly who knows with this author? One of several curve ball endings, It could be Gendry who ends up on the Iron Throne with Ayra as his Queen.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner David Benioff is quoted as saying "Now that the show is ahead of the books, it seems the show could ruin the books for people. So one thing we’ve talked to George about is that we’re not going to tell people what the differences are, so when those books come out people can experience them fresh."

So it's possible that the TV series will end quite differently than the books, assuming George R.R. Martin finishes them. His foreknowledge of what happened in the show may cause him to change his plans for the books, but it'll be up to him. In any case, I expect that at least half of the series' fans will be disappointed with how things turn out in Westeros.
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she sure looked disappointed.

That scene has gotten a lot of attention in the popular press, mostly because of Arya's age, even though she's 18 in show years and Maisie Williams is 22. It's annoying that some sites have basically posted spoilers on their home page. For example, a story on CNN today is titled "Arya Stark's sexual awakening on 'Game of Thrones' is a big deal."

 

[Huntn]

It just hit me why Sansa and Dany are... at odds.

"Sometimes when I try to understand a person’s motives, I play a little game. I assume the worst. What’s the worst reason they could possibly have for saying what they say and doing what they do?"

The student has become the master.

That practise may protect the individual, but may also not reveal the truth of the matter, and result in squandered opportunities based on faith, not religious faith, but faith in your ability to judge character.

 

[Falhófnir]

It seems like the logical end for this series.

For the entire 7 book series (2 yet to be published) although a journey for a group of characters, the story seems to be centered on the Iron Throne, with the knowledge that it was a Targaryen who united 6 of the 7 Independent Kingdoms, the 7th through a marriage alliance with Dorne.

Daenerys journey, although she has been in the story from the beginning, the theme was not apparent from the start, which has been to take the throne back (her brother was the one, until he proved unworthy) she feels was stolen from her father, The Mad King. So I’ll be very disappointed if she were not to survive for the final conflict with Cersei Lannister.

And I admit, I’ll be very disappointed if Cersei wins, but honestly who knows with this author? One of several curve ball endings, It could be Gendry who ends up on the Iron Throne with Ayra as his Queen. But it would be a shame if Dragons were not in the final picture, but then you could ask, how would they stay in the picture?

It has been mentioned that the sex of Daenerys’s dragons are unknown, but it is suspect they can change sex, and it’s possible that her 2 dragons could reproduce, if they survive, maybe they are not subject to the same genetic diversity needs that other animals have to produce healthy offspring.

Also, I’m not clear on exactly who can master dragons. Blood of the dragon is referenced by Daenerys and her brother, the ability of their family to withstand fire, as possibly related to the ability to domesticate dragons, but also related to their Valyrian ancestry, yet they were 1 of 40 dragonlord families. So, my guess is they don’t necessarily have a lock on dragon riding.
https://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/House_Targaryen

Hmm, not going to say too much but there's a considerable amount in the books that's different enough that I could see ASoIaF the book series taking quite a different path to GoT the television series - I'm actually quite glad because it will mean the remaining books lose little of the excitement/ anticipation as they wind towards an ending themselves

 

[Huntn]

Hmm, not going to say too much but there's a considerable amount in the books that's different enough that I could see ASoIaF the book series taking quite a different path to GoT the television series - I'm actually quite glad because it will mean the remaining books lose little of the excitement/ anticipation as they wind towards an ending themselves

So if we hate the ending of the series, there is still hope for the books? That would be devilish! ...or it could be the other way around.

I know of the significant differences, like Little Finger arranging for Sansa to be married to a Bolton. Also I don't remember Lady Breanne fighting the Hound. And then there is Catelyn Stark...
My impression is that shortcuts were taken for the abbreviated story of which the series is composed of, but I also think I remember a statement by the author that both stories would end up in the same place. Maybe the same place, but with different characters surviving... Who knows?

 

[MacDawg]

Disclaimer: I watched part of the 1st season because I bought it on iTunes when if first came out... but didn't finish it

But I have read all the books
So, does anyone really believe after all this time (and the HBO series) that GRRM will actually finish the books/series?

 

[Huntn]

Disclaimer: I watched part of the 1st season because I bought it on iTunes when if first came out... but didn't finish it

But I have read all the books
So, does anyone really believe after all this time (and the HBO series) that GRRM will actually finish the books/series?

It is an unknown, yet a promise was made. Not saying how much confidence I have,
https://ew.com/books/2018/12/11/geo...es-he-will-finish-his-game-of-thrones-novels/

Did you not finish the first season cause you disliked it? I thought the first season was very true to the book, at least good enough. It was starting with the second season, I felt the series story telling was very abbreviated and equated it to being an outline.

 

[JBGoode]

Disclaimer: I watched part of the 1st season because I bought it on iTunes when if first came out... but didn't finish it

But I have read all the books
So, does anyone really believe after all this time (and the HBO series) that GRRM will actually finish the books/series?

Seeing as there is another whole book to be written/published after we get the elusive Winds of Winter, my guess is probably not. Personally, I stopped caring a while back. I’ll have my ending in a few weeks.

 

[MacDawg]

Did you not finish the first season cause you disliked it?

I was fast-forwarding too much of each episode to make it worth watching TBH

 

[Krayzkat]

I don’t think the book story will ever be finished by GRRM due to his age and health and how complex he keeps making the story. The series might get finished by another author after his death, but I think employing 1 or 2 (or more) ghost/under-writers, who could bang out the books under his guidance and they basically fill in all the waffle (drawn out descriptions etc) while he just concentrates on ‘bullet points’.

So he would dictate the story but just not have to personally write out everything and let others concentrates on very small points.

.....

On another note, I just don’t see the Night King dying in episode 3. It would just feel rushed. Maybe the living will defeat his army at Winterfell and the NK survives and rides away somewhere. We know the ep3 is going to have the longest battle in TV history but that doesn’t mean the battle is a decisive victory.

If I was the NK I would simply wait outside Winterfell for a few weeks until they run out of food. Time is on his side, as I don’t believe his troops or horses need any subsidence or shelter (or sleep) etc.

I am pretty sure I read or heard somewhere that there will be 2 major battles this season. So if the NK survives Winterfell then maybe the 2nd battle will be against him again somewhere else. Which would mean the war against Cersei must end some other way.


Edit: I’ve just read this back and the word “subsidence” is not what I meant lol. The word I’m looking for basically means ‘food and drink’, but I appear to have completely blanked the correct word from my vocabulary

Edit 2: 2 hours later..... ‘subsistence’ was the word lol

 

[Roller]

Edit 2: 2 hours later..... ‘subsistence’ was the word lol

"Sustenance" would be even better.

 

[Krayzkat]

"Sustenance" would be even better.

Yes lol, that's what i meant to write the first time, and the second time. For some reason my fingers don't want to type it. I am probably being worged or something.

 

[Huntn]

Yes lol, that's what i meant to write the first time, and the second time. For some reason my fingers don't want to type it. I am probably being worged or something.

I'm always dealing with my iOS device changing my words! I must be vigilant, but am not always.

 

[Falhófnir]

So if we hate the ending of the series, there is still hope for the books? That would be devilish! ...or it could be the other way around.

I know of the significant differences, like Little Finger arranging for Sansa to be married to a Bolton. Also I don't remember Lady Breanne fighting the Hound. And then there is Catelyn Stark...
My impression is that shortcuts were taken for the abbreviated story of which the series is composed of, but I also think I remember a statement by the author that both stories would end up in the same place. Maybe the same place, but with different characters surviving... Who knows?

There's a couple of other bits too like (perhaps) another surviving Targaryen and several characters that were just killed off as surplus in the show still being around so if the destination is the same I'm thinking at least the path taken to get there will probably be quite different, which should keep things interesting!

 

[zmunkz]

So, does anyone really believe after all this time (and the HBO series) that GRRM will actually finish the books/series?

I don’t. His story is revealed, his twists exposed, his ending soon to be public... what motivation is left to slog on? What’s more, it’s not like the HBO series botched his vision or fizzled out. The show is (by the numbers) the most popular show of all time... that adds incredible pressure. If he doesn’t beat their execution, he damages his legacy. I’m sure he could, but that kind of pressure can be a massive anchor to creativity.

I’m an amateur writer myself — for many years now — and I spend a lot of time in that community. For many many authors, the excitement of revealing the story is what keeps them excited and energized. If I were GRRM and the HBO series was the success it is, I’d never be able to get any words on the page either.

 

[zmunkz]

Wow.

Spoiler: S8e3

That is not what I expected. I’m surprised to be saying this after such an intense and well executed episode, but... anti-climactic? That’s really it for the night king...? What did he want with bran? So much unanswered.

If there are no further twists, the night queen theory, and everything related to that are done. Now it’s just a battle for the iron throne? Really not what I expected at all.

Fantastic episode, though. Fewer deaths than I expected. Way fewer.

Arya rocks! I had her to kill Cersei, not him. She’s pretty bad ass.

 

[JBGoode]

Wow.

Spoiler: S8e3

That is not what I expected. I’m surprised to be saying this after such an intense and well executed episode, but... anti-climactic? That’s really it for the night king...? What did he want with bran? So much unanswered.

If there are no further twists, the night queen theory, and everything related to that are done. Now it’s just a battle for the iron throne? Really not what I expected at all.

Fantastic episode, though. Fewer deaths than I expected. Way fewer.

Arya rocks! I had her to kill Cersei, not him. She’s pretty bad ass.

Bran already told us what the Night King wanted. The Night King wanted to wipe out humanity as well as all memory of it. Bran being the Three Eyed Raven was essentially the vessel containing the memory of all of human history and is why he was targeted. I agree that it was a bit anti-climatic, although that was a pretty bad-ass moment.

 

[AustinIllini]

Spoiler: S8E3

Both dragons made it. That was really surprising to me

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Bran already told us what the Night King wanted. The Night King wanted to wipe out humanity as well as all memory of it. Bran being the Three Eyed Raven was essentially the vessel containing the memory of all of human history and is why he was targeted. I agree that it was a bit anti-climatic, although that was a pretty bad-ass moment.

It was the only possible ending. There was no other way that result could happen. Night King's eyes were squarely on Jon Snow.

 

[Roller]

I didn't see the end coming, either...

Spoiler

Arya killing the Night King (along with all the White Walkers and wights) was sudden and dramatic, but where does it leave things? Will we ever get to hear more about the relationship between Bran and the Night King? And are the final three episodes about the North vs. the Lannisters? I'm thinking and hoping that it's not that simple and there are some wrenching twists still to come.

I was also expecting more major or at least second tier characters to die. The only ones I think I know of are Jorah, Melisandre, Lyanna, Edd, and Beric. Looks like Brienne, Tormund, and the Hound are still around. Not sure about Sam and Grey Worm. And how many dragons are left? Jon and Dany did some fancy flying in IFR conditions, though the scene above the clouds was spectacular.

 

[zmunkz]

Bran already told us what the Night King wanted.

Spoiler: S8e3

Yes, but I guess I was expecting more twists on top of that rather simplistic explanation. I was a big subscriber to a variation of the Night Queen theory, so I really though there were layers in there to unpack over the coming episodes. I guess not.

[doublepost=1556507089][/doublepost]

I didn't see the end coming, either...

Spoiler

Arya killing the Night King (along with all the White Walkers and wights) was sudden and dramatic, but where does it leave things? Will we ever get to hear more about the relationship between Bran and the Night King? And are the final three episodes about the North vs. the Lannisters? I'm thinking and hoping that it's not that simple and there are some wrenching twists still to come.

I was also expecting more major or at least second tier characters to die. The only ones I think I know of are Jorah, Melisandre, Lyanna, Edd, and Beric. Looks like Brienne, Tormund, and the Hound are still around. Not sure about Sam and Grey Worm. And how many dragons are left? Jon and Dany did some fancy flying in IFR conditions, though the scene above the clouds was spectacular.

I agree with every word of that.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Loved the episode!!

 

[Roller]

A few more random thoughts:

Spoiler

1. As far as we know, Bronn is still on his mission to kill Tyrion and Jaime. He no longer has the incentive to join them in the battle against the dead, so what will he do? I doubt if this won't be resolved.
2. If the Night King is truly dead, never to return to Westeros, what role will Bran play from now on?
3. Could the Night King, as the saying from The Princess Bride goes, be mostly dead and come back to wreak more havoc?
4. Is Cersei the Night Queen or its equivalent?
5. The Hound and The Mountain are both still alive (or mostly alive), so is Clegane Bowl still a possibility?
6. Will Jon marry Dany only to have one of them die?
7. Will Tyrion and Sansa re-tie the knot? (Sort of kidding, but the scene between them was touching.)

 

[zmunkz]

Yes, re/ #2 and 3 particularly.

Spoiler: S8e3

The more this episode simmers, the more I can’t believe the Night King is gone. The next episode is the battle for king’s landing... I’m betting it ends with the Night King respawning. That can’t be it for the threat that’s backdropped the entire series, it just can’t! And it doesn't take three 90 minute episodes to take Kings Landing, or die trying. There must be more to this.

 

[invisibleshoes]

Now they're going to stretch out the ending for 3 episodes?

 

[bobob]

Now they're going to stretch out the ending for 3 episodes?

Episode 3 was the stretch episode.

The Night King was always just a b-story to enable the producers to throw in these yet crowd-pleasing, yet dull battle episodes.

The true primary storyline's conclusion starts next week:

"When you play a game of thrones you win or you die."